“We’ve arrived, men! Cast the anchor and ready the delivery!”

"Yes, sir!”

A sizable trading vessel came to a halt at the tail end of a raucous rattle, a grinding of a hefty chain that came to an abrupt stop seconds later. A hooded figure’s ears perked then trembled at the upper racket amidst the darkness of the vessel’s underbelly. A clear sign to all aboard that the ship had finally arrived safely, and yet their breath became unsteady as their jaw quivered.

Stay calm, Qhin... I can’t let them see me. Just stick to the plan...

His grip tightened over a clothed item that was pressed against his chest, cradled as if it were a prayer charm. It made him feel at ease as he attempted to imagine and borrow even a snippet of courage from its original owner.

“Your breathing is a bit too loud over there. Keep at it, and they will certainly find you.”

Qhin shuddered at the voice that came from across his hiding spot. Just like himself, there was another who had stowed away in secret, too. Yet, despite sharing the space for the entirety of their long voyage, they had barely said a word to each other.

“S-sorry...”

“No worries, friend. It’s perfectly natural, that arising fear of yours. After all, the sneaking of a ferry crossing actually costs the price of one’s head if caught! Haha.”

He could only further embrace his item at that notion, hiding the contrast of that child-like laugh that came from across where he hid with a tense lip bite. His ears then twitched from under his hood once more, as an obnoxious, muffled serenade began drifting across the dockyard outside.

“Mmmm. It really is nice to finally hear something other than the waves and the barbarians shuffling on the upper decks. Even better when it’s the sound of a successful journey. Do you hear it?”

Qhin reluctantly listened in. Seagulls and the like were crying about, alongside bell chimes and hollers from the departing and arriving vessels. Shipments were being prepared to cross the sea, whereas wares that had journeyed from afar were being unloaded in between loud thuds and grunts.

Port Lindes... I really made it, brother. I’m finally here. This is the land of...

His eyes glowed dimly as he surveyed the amidship storage area from behind his barrel. It was almost pitch black, but his vision wasn’t fully obstructed in the darkness. His eyes then stopped at a pair of doors on the left-side center walls that could only be opened from the inside.

“Once they start unloading the cargo through there, that will be your best chance to leave. We need to simply wait for now, so relax and be patient.”

The nameless, similarly veiled figure seemingly read his mind as Qhin awkwardly nodded in their direction. Despite their apparent child-like stature, almost equivalent to his own, he couldn’t help but feel tense every time they spoke.

“I-It won’t be easy, though...”

Sneaking in was simple. The merchants had thrown a party the night before they had departed from the port in Espen. From that night’s scent alone, Qhin could even tell that it was served with fine foods and spirits—enough for the intoxicated and sated group to not pay any mind to anyone that snuck aboard.

That won’t be the case...this time... It’s broad daylight and they’ll surely be sober...

“...W-We should d-distract them...somehow... I think... I think we can...”

Amid his stutter, Qhin hesitated as he realized his mistake within the moment. He had an idea, and it was one he had considered thoroughly over the long crossing. It had involved the item that he held against his chest, but there was an issue when regarding others.

I didn’t consider adding another person at all...! Even if this could be used to help them... I’m certain only brother could pull it off... Not someone weak...like myself...

“Distract them, huh? But you know, you’re a weird one. You have the courage to ride overseas, far, far from home, despite so clearly wearing your fear over your clothes. It makes me wonder – for what or whose sake, hm?”

“I...”

“Or possibly, was it to simply escape the Aarala’s spreading control? Maybe even...?”

There was a gradual shift in their voice as they then whispered under their breath. Even so, Qhin’s hearing was far better than most as he could still make out what they were saying. It left him puzzled as his brow tightened.

Escaping Espen as a whole...? What is this person even talking about...?

“Well, that aside, don’t you worry, friend.”

“H-huh...?”

“By the mercy of the Goddess, I shall act as Her harbinger. This is a meeting of fate, yes? Just leave it to me and keep yourself hidden.”

Qhin blinked in their direction as they remained seated behind their own barrel, not even budging to make any kind of preparation on their part. And shortly after that rather empty assurance, the stairway door at the opposite end of the vessel began to rattle.

It’s the human merchants...!

The door swung open after a few seconds of fiddling, while two men groaned in annoyance as they inspected the storage area from where they stood. A small bit of light could be seen from the above entrance, partially illuminating the stairway.

“I can see fuck all down here... Pass me that lantern already.”

Snatching the light from his associate, with precise yet careful steps, one of the men began walking around the barrels and crates. Qhin peeked nervously from behind his barrel, following the man’s journey toward the left-side wall.

The human merchant is finally unlocking the door... But...

As the man slid open one of the doors, the interior brightened as a mixture of various scents from the port crept inside. And it wasn’t until that moment that Qhin’s nameless accomplice decided to make their move.

“What a beautiful morning the Goddess has delivered upon us today, hm, gentlemen?”

They leapt to their feet, out into the open, loudly giving away their position. Their nonchalance simply stunned Qhin, immediately forcing him to bury himself deeper into hiding while his hands began violently shaking. In a quiet but stressful rush, Qhin ineptly began attempting to uncover his item.

“Who goes there?!”

“It is I! You may refer to me as Hugues for this short duration, as thanks for the ride. Discarding formalities is a common sign of friendship, isn’t it?”

Still standing near the shadow end of the vessel’s underbelly, their appearance remained barely visible to the two men. Regardless, with an aura of nobility whilst their head was still covered, they promptly delivered a formal bow in the merchants’ direction.

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“Ah. That’s right, the plight of the ignorant masses. Someone in my position should be understanding. Many know not that name, but instead recognize me as—”

“A stowaway?! You have some balls on you, hitching a ride on our ship without paying, kid.”

“Look. He’s even hiding his appearance, too. You think he’s some demi-human slave, maybe? Trying to seek freedom in a foreign land? Either way, little shit has probably been nabbing our rations this whole time...”

“Now, now...”

Hugues kept a mellowed tone, yet was quick to lift his hood and expose his face. Amid his dull, messy, light teal hair that he kept in a short high ponytail, a few scattered gray strands peeked out. A deep scar stretched down his left cheek, branching toward his chin and ear. And his eyes were hidden behind a thin, white goggle-like eye wear that had narrow openings, seemingly making it difficult to see.

Wait... A h-h-human...?! B-But his scent...was different from a h-human's...

“Let us discuss this in a civilized manner, shall weeee—eh?”

Hugues’ line of sight suddenly dipped as his foot was evidently caught in something. A heavy thud echoed throughout as his body smacked the ground—face first—bringing silence once more.

H-He fell! Is he dead...?!

Qhin could only hold his hand over his mouth, suppressing every bit of his breathing while refraining from making any sudden movements.

“He’s...he’s not moving...? Did the kid knock himself out with that fall...? Anyway...”

The man gave a heavy sigh, and while turning toward his associate that was behind him, they could only respond with a confusing shrug.

“Get the spare rope from upstairs and tie this fool to the pole outside. We’ll deal with him after we finish unloading the stock.”

The associate nodded and immediately disappeared to fetch the rope. In a panic, Qhin’s focus was back on his item. It was finally uncovered; a short dagger with a dial-like hand-guard. He held it out upright in front of his face, trembling as his thumb sat on a small mound that was protruding from the hand-guard.

“Now, I’m sure this can’t be the only one. Show yourselves! Don’t make this difficult.”

The merchant began slowly walking toward Qhin’s location with the lantern held outward with one hand, while his other was resting on his weapon at his side.

“If I have to, I’ll drag you all out by force!”

I need to do it right now...or else it’s over for me...! I can’t get caught after coming this far...!

Qhin took a deep breath as his quivering finger rotated the dial slightly. There was an immediate sound, a winding click, that quickly caught the attention of the merchant. Qhin could tell that the merchant’s movement had become more energized as a result.

Please... Pray for me, brother!

“[Temporal Steal]!”

A staunch wall of wind erupted from under Qhin’s feet, halting all movement but his own. He leapt from behind his barrel and toward the vessel’s exit without any hesitation. With one eye opened, he glanced at his apparently unconscious accomplice.

S-sorry, but...

Qhin’s apology didn’t leave his lips as he continued forward alone. He had no lingering attachments to the person he was leaving behind, the strange and boy-ish man he knew nothing about. And most of all.

...I don’t trust any of you humans...

He disregarded the merchant that now stood as still as a statue, making it out the exit and continued running. Another winding click came from the dagger, signaling the ability's end. Even so, Qhin didn't bother looking back nor did he spare another thought to what remained behind.

❖

Hours later.

The eastern branch of the Old Palisade in Port Lindes was as active as ever. A constant exchange of Adventurers cycled through the doors as Qhin watched from a nearby alleyway, making certain to keep his distance. Hanging onto every word spoken and every face that passed by, he was overcome with a sense of disappointment and hopelessness.

"Nothing... Nothing at all... Not a single lead. Where could you have disappeared to...?"

An empty yield of information as dusk falls. With his back toward the wall, he slumped to the floor, embracing the covered dagger against his face as he held back his tears. He was tired beyond his limits, yet he still pushed himself to obtain even a tidbit of what he was after.

"Brother, just what am I supposed to do—?”

Qhin suddenly turned his attention back toward the Old Palisade's building, focusing on two people who had just exited. Despite hanging around the building for hours, their topic of discussion was a first.

A cave...?

"How unlucky, super unlucky. You finally get to be an Adventurer and then this happens. I've never heard of Ordell Den ever being closed off until today."

"Is there really no other place for beginners than that cave...?"

"Well, there's a forest that's a bit southwest of here, but I can't say for certain whether you'd be able to handle it or not. It's often used by the soldiers stationed nearby, too."

"If that's the case, I'd rather not get in their way..."

Curious, Qhin began rustling through his pocket and pulled out a partially crumpled and worn-down scroll. Spreading it across the ground, he ironed out the creases with his hand as he studied the parchment. It was an old map of Cretho.

"Since the clerk said it's too dangerous, I guess you'll just have to wait until they finish their investigation."

"But how long is that going to take...?"

"Beats me. She said that even the veteran Adventurers stationed around here couldn't clear the Den as it stands now. Whatever decided to hole itself up, deep inside, must be pretty damn strong..."

Ordell Den... Ordell Den... Found it!

Scanning the map with the drag of his index, Qhin's finger landed in between Ruoul and Port Lindes, at the mountains that bordered the southern edge of Lake Ranka.

If it's a place that not even veteran Adventurers are able to take on, then maybe he'll...

"Huh? What's going on here...?"

"...?"

With his complete focus on the laid out map in front of him, Qhin hadn't realized that the two Adventurers were now standing over him. And before he could stop himself, he looked up at them—a mistake on his part—as his face was revealed.

"That's...?! A kobold?! What the hell is it doing inside the city?!"

"A kobold...? Ah! That species of monsters that originates from Espen...? Wait, you're right! It is a kobold!"

"You damned, furred goblin!"

Before he could even speak, the boot of the Adventurer was driven into his side, throwing him across the alleyway with ease. Pained and out of breath, Qhin immediately curled into a ball.

"Do you think it's some enslaved monster that was shipped from Espen and then escaped? Should we report it to the guild?"

"Hold on a moment. Was it reading this map...?"

"C'mon, there's no way that's possible. It's a monster."

"D-Don't...."

Holding the side of his stomach, he forced out his words, his eyes not leaving the piece of parchment that they naively gawked at.

"...t-touch that...."

"It can speak!? I've never heard of a speaking kobold..."

"Hey... That means it has to be pretty valuable, don't you think? Instead of turning it into the guild, we should search for its owners ourselves. We might walk away with a few coin. And if we don't find them..."

"We could try and sell it ourselves!"

The two men laughed and smiled together at their sudden fortune. A talking monster, unlike a demi-human nor a beast-kin, the kobold race was essentially still categorized as "monsters" after all.

It hurts... Brother....

Any attempt toward moving was a sure struggle, as his body was naturally weak to begin with. Qhin couldn't accept the result, the end of a long journey that only led to such a brutal encounter. But he was powerless, even lacking the strength to use the concealed dagger he cherished. He bit his quivering lip once again, deploring the idea of resigning to his defeat—to the inevitable suffering to come.

Brother Qrun... Please save...

"Darling, are you going to speak up and help this poor child or are you just going to keep staring at these two offscourings?"

"Who...?!"

The two puzzled Adventurers immediately followed the voice that came from above, only to find that the feminine tone was coming from what seemed like a silver-haired man in their eyes. With a bow resting on their lap, the individual dangled their legs off the side of the building, gazing down in unfiltered scorn.

"If you don't do something about them, I will."

"I was trying to think of a cool entrance before you went and ruined it, Sathea!"

A deeper voice then came from directly behind the two Adventurers, leaving them baffled and without words as they turned around. They hadn't noticed him at all. They were greeted by a shirtless, tan-skinned man that wore an opened, loose and black trench-coat that sat over his shoulders.

"Yo. It's been a while, but I didn't know the people of Cretho had a habit of picking on those who were weaker and different than themselves. So, how about we reverse the roles a bit? Take this as a lesson and learn."

Waving his arms above his sides, he dropped his coat onto the ground, fully exposing his chiseled chest. He proudly crossed his arms and smiled their way.

"I am Garel, a simple monk. I will now take that child's place. You two may come at me however you please. You will have sixty seconds—and then I will do the same to you. Good luck."