As they strolled through the bustling streets and shops, Seraphina and Garrick crossed their path.

“Lila-san, Thorin-san,” greeted Seraphina politely, but as her gaze reached Roderick, she seemed to overlook him without greeting. Roderick was left surprised by the apparent coldness.

“Where’s Haruki?” inquired Garrick. “He’s right here on my back. Couldn’t handle a shot of beer, so he’s out for the night,” replied Thorin.

“Hehe, Mei—Your—Bento—” mumbled Haruki, lost in a dream about his sister. “He looks adorable when he’s asleep like that,” observed Seraphina. “I’ll join you guys.”

“What were you guys doing at the Guild?” inquired Seraphina.

“I was talking with Kilin for not giving a warning in my quest,” explained Thorin.

“Oh, really? What quest were you undertaking?” she asked.

“It was supposed to be a quest to retrieve a relic deep inside the southern dungeon, but it turned out to be nothing but a fake and a near-death experience,” Thorin revealed, motioning towards the group. “That’s where I met these three.”

“Lila, what kind of quest were you on?” Seraphina probed.

Lila hesitated for a moment before answering, “We were meant to clear out… spiders.”

“Spiders?” Seraphina’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

Thorin, who had been silent until then, added, “It was more than just a few spiders. Dreadmaw Scuttlers, to be precise.”

“Dreadmaw Scuttlers?” Seraphina’s eyes widened. “I’ve heard stories about them. They’re tough to handle, right?”

Lila, with a faint nod, confirmed, “Y-Yes. And I… I’m afraid of them.”

Seraphina’s expression softened as she observed Lila’s nervous demeanor. “I see. Well, those spiders can be quite menacing. But you’re safe now.”

The tension seemed to ease a bit, but the lingering fear was evident in Lila’s eyes, despite her attempt to hide it.

Haruki’s mumbled words sparked a ripple of chuckles among them, softening the tension that had briefly settled during the conversation about Lila’s arachnophobia. His nonsensical muttering somehow broke the serious air, drawing smiles and shared amusement from the group.

Seraphina’s gaze lingered on Haruki, a faint blush tinting her cheeks. “Lady Seraphina, what’s wrong?” Garrick inquired. “N-Nothing,” she replied, abruptly turning away. “Besides, will you be joining us for training tomorrow?” she asked.

“We won’t be able to make it; we still have to clear our quest,” Roderick explained. “Ah, I see,” she acknowledged.

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“Lady Seraphina, where’s Elara? I haven’t seen her,” Lila inquired. “She’s engaged in crucial training with Mother, focusing on enhancing her magical abilities,” Seraphina answered.

As they reached the Inn, Seraphina and Garrick bid goodbye. “Good luck with your quest tomorrow, Lila-san,” Seraphina wished them.

Once inside, Thorin inquired about Haruki’s room. Lila guided them to Haruki’s quarters, where Thorin gently placed him on his bed.

As they prepared to exit the room, Haruki muttered something unintelligible, prompting a smile from the group. “He’s truly hopeless, that lad,” chuckled Thorin.

The day dawned, and Haruki woke up, greeted by a robust hangover. “Ugh… what happened?” He muttered to himself, memories of last night’s strong drink flooding back. “Oh, that’s right, that drink was really potent,” he muttered.

Taking his time to ready himself for another encounter with the Dreadmaw Scuttlers, Haruki eventually descended the stairs. Below, he found Lila and Roderick engaged in a casual chat, patiently waiting for him. Upon seeing him, they greeted him warmly and invited him to join them for breakfast.

Deep within the southern dungeon, they confronted a horde of Dreadmaw Scuttlers. Despite her arachnophobia, Lila found newfound courage, spurred on by the support of Haruki and Roderick. With determination, she assisted her companions, attacking the creatures from behind without faltering.

As the number of spiders began to dwindle, Haruki signaled to his friends, indicating that he was about to unleash a powerful strike against the remaining creatures.

Haruki infused his sword with magic, releasing a powerful burst of energy that swiftly eradicated the remaining spiders. As the brilliance of the magic faded, the sword’s mysterious nature once again manifested in fleeting and enigmatic flashes.

The blurred visions portrayed a world in tatters, an eerie scene of devastation and chaos. Hints of an ancient catastrophe lingered within these cryptic glimpses, leaving an unsettling impression of colossal power and a history shrouded in mystery. The fragmented images suggested a past that held ominous secrets and untold stories, alluding to an enigmatic, cataclysmic event lost to the annals of time.

Haruki’s voice faltered as he murmured to himself, “What was that?” Roderick turned to him, questioning, “What’s wrong?” “Ah, nothing,” Haruki responded quickly, brushing off the strange occurrence as if it were inconsequential.

“I think that’s all of them. Let’s venture a bit deeper to ensure they’re completely eradicated,” suggested Haruki. They proceeded further into the dungeon but found no traces of any Dreadmaw Scuttlers. Satisfied, they ascended to the surface and made their way back to the Guild.

“Hello, Aria-san,” greeted Haruki. “We’ve completed our quest,” he announced. “Oh, thank you for your work!” she replied. “Wait here for a moment; I’ll take your quest sheet.”

Aria came back with the quest sheet. It had a symbol that wasn’t there before. Haruki noticed it and asked, “Aria-san, what does that symbol mean?”

“Ah, this green symbol? It’s an indicator that the quest has been completed. It’s quite complicated how it works, actually,” she explained.

Handing over a pouch of 15 Auric golds, Aria continued, “Anyways, since you guys completed this quest, thank you for your service, Haruki-san!”

Haruki collected the gold and expressed his gratitude to Aria. Showing it to Roderick, the latter became excited. “Oohh! Maybe I can buy some better equipment,” he exclaimed.

Lila cautioned Roderick, saying, “Don’t forget, equipment is quite expensive. Let’s save this up for more important things.”

Seraphina and Garrick entered the guild, greeted by Aria with respect. She inquired about the purpose of their visit. “We’re looking for Haruki’s group,” Garrick explained. Seraphina noticed some of the men in the guild staring at her, causing her discomfort. She subtly signaled to Garrick to hurry. Fortunately, Haruki’s group promptly responded to Garrick’s call, and they made their way out of the guild.

“What is it?” Haruki inquired. “We’ll be heading for another training session, along with Elara. They’re waiting for us at the training grounds,” Seraphina responded. “We’ll explain some rules once we arrive,” Garrick added.