Daisuke stepped into the guild’s bustling lobby in time to observe as Thalia placed five hefty coin pouches on the counter.

A sense of elation spread through Elena, Rexar, and Milo, who eagerly hoisted their share above their heads, worshiping it as though it were a sacred gift of immeasurable worth. Their actions were met with amused laughter from the other adventurers in the room.

“Ah, Haxks,” Gavric greeted courteously. “I just cashed in the Mana Core. Thanks to you, my family can finally be at ease.”

“And we managed to stay alive and secure our license too,” Finnian added, offering a respectful ninety-degree bow in an echo of Gavric’s. “We owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you.”

“Ah—”

Stowing their loot, Elena, Rexar, Milo, and Lyanna scurried forward and followed suit, much to the astonishment of the other adventurers.

“What’s happening?” whispered one man to another.

“Who is he?” murmured another.

“Is he someone famous?”

“He’s not exactly dressed the part.”

Daisuke raised his hands awkwardly, breaking into a sweat. “Wait, there’s no need for that,” he said, coaxing them to lift their heads. “I survived because we were a team.”

Though his words didn’t seem to convince anyone, they accepted his gratitude.

“Normally I’d treat you to a feast for everything you’ve done,” Gavric began solemnly, “but given the circumstances, I must return to my family.”

“I feel the same,” Finnian added. “It’s been over three weeks since I’ve left my siblings to fend for themselves; I’m really worried about them.”

Elena, Rexar, and Milo were visibly jostled by the words of the two men; they couldn’t help but reflect on their circumstances as well.

“I truly didn’t expect anything in return,” Daisuke confessed with a dismissive wave of his hand. “And a feast wouldn’t sit well with me, not when we all have unfinished business. You both should get going; it’s a small town, and we’ll likely cross paths again at the guild.”

Elena and the others nodded in agreement.

“Thank you for being so understanding,” Gavric responded, followed by Finnian’s nod of appreciation.

“Family always comes first,” Milo chimed in earnestly.

“Yeah, you both should get going,” Rexar said with a gruff but compassionate tone.

“…I should get going too,” said Lyanna as she gave Elena a warm hug. Rexar boldly reached out for a turn but got clobbered instead.

"By the way," said Daisuke, offering one final piece of advice before they departed. "Be sure to invest a portion of that coin into acquiring better gear. Formidable power stems not only from strength but also from having powerful equipment."

Gavric, Finnian, and Lyanna waved their goodbyes and made their way to the door, leaving Elena lost in thought.

“After that exchange,” Daisuke said, observing the group, “I’m sure you’re all eager to return home as well.”

Elena's eyes widened with surprise, and as she locked gazes with Daisuke, his warm smile put her at ease. "Since I'm already here," he suggested, "why don't I sell my Mana Crystals? After that, we can pick up some supplies at the apothecary before we head out. Sounds good?"

Everyone eagerly nodded in agreement.

Thalia started waving like a maniac when she spied Daisuke’s approach. “I’m so relieved that you’re okay,” she gushed when he was within earshot of her voice.

"Every day you were MIA, she's been looking like a zombie at work," a fellow guild clerk teased playfully.

“H-Hey! Lovanna!” Thalia retorted, her cheeks swelling up like balloons.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Elena’s expression turned into a pout of jealousy, setting off warning signals in Thalia’s feminine instincts, which she impulsively acted upon without a second thought.

Daisuke flinched when a pair of large breasts pressed against his face as Thalia pulled him into her chest from across the counter.

“Whoa~” echoed a chorus of lewd gasps from the watching male population. Some looked on with jealous envy, sending shivers down Daisuke’s spine.

“Y-You! W-What’re you doing!” Elena exclaimed in bleat alarm, clutching Daisuke by the shirt and pulling him back with all her might. Yet Thalia held onto him even tighter.

“…Is this really appropriate behavior for the workplace?” Daisuke protested, hopelessly caught in-between the two.

Thalia released him, her expression serious. “S-Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” she confessed candidly. “You’re setting out on another dangerous adventure, aren’t you?”

Elena loosened her grip upon noticing the hint of dejection in the girl’s voice.

“Think of that gesture as a good luck charm,” Thalia continued. “Take care of yourself and come back safely.”

Daisuke offered a small smile. “Your advice from the lectures really helped while we were tackling the dungeon,” he admitted. “Thank you.”

Thalia beamed at his rare show of friendliness before returning to her professional demeanor. “I’m glad I could assist. Is there anything else I can help you with before you go?”

Daisuke placed the 8.5 pounds of Mana Crystals he had accumulated over the past month onto the counter. Suppressing her shock, Thalia weighed them on a magic scale before disappearing into the back room.

Upon her return, she promptly slid a tray piled high with a shimmering mountain of silver coins across the counter. Milo and Rexar beamed and salivated with excitement, while the other adventurers sighed in amazement.

“Is he some sort of celebrity after all?” remarked one man.

“He’s not exactly dressed the part,” quipped a familiar voice.

Ignoring the unwelcome attention, Daisuke swiftly passed his hand over the coins. They shimmered blue and then dematerialized, transferring into his inventory.

DING!

[12,240 silver has been acquired.]

“So lucky~” Elena whined with an envious pout. “It must be nice having a magic bag.”

Daisuke simply nodded while listening to her brief rant, his eyes betraying a hint of amusement.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said to Thalia before turning to leave, his gaze lingering for a moment, expressing a silent reassurance.

“Please take care… all four of you. The guild doors will always be open for your return,” Thalia said with a subtle air of concern.

When Rexar and Milo turned to follow Daisuke, Elena stuck her tongue out at Thalia. Zephyr was perched on her shoulder, and he cheekily mimicked her playful gesture.

PAJIK!

A blood vessel pulsed visibly in Thalia’s forehead, her face contorting into an almost ghastly form as her anger surged.

Lovanna laughed playfully.

***

After stocking up on potions and other essential supplies, the party promptly left Wonderelle. A day and a half and plenty of monster corpses later, their journey on foot southwest of the town brought them into the sprawling embrace of the Fleecia Forest.

Daisuke became curious when they came to a halt within a large glade. An ominous mountain loomed over the trees in the distance, but aside from that, nothing seemed particularly noteworthy.

“Why did we stop?” Daisuke inquired with a raised eyebrow, his gaze shifting between his comrades and their surroundings. “Are you guys tired already? We only recently took a break.”

He looked to Zephyr who would have started making a fuss if there was a monster within proximity, but the pup looked equally confused by the sudden respite.

Although it wasn’t quite his intention, years of adversity triggered alarm bells within Daisuke. Tension coiled his muscles. Now that he had helped the trio escape the cave with their lives, his usefulness may have now expired. Perhaps it was their plan to do away with him.

“Just wait and see,” Milo said in a hushed tone, gesturing toward Rexar who took a few steps ahead of them.

With a grace that could only be achieved from years of practice, the Wolfkin produced a melodious series of whistles that was akin to the warble of a majestic nightingale.

Moments passed.

Elena, Rexar, and Milo’s jubilation was undisguised, yet Daisuke and Zephyr remained anxious. Daisuke, especially, remained vigilant, keenly observing his surroundings and the comrades he still regarded with caution.

His fingers twitched in anticipation. Even though their levels far surpassed his own, just a moment’s notice was all he would need to summon his dagger and dispatch all three individuals within a heartbeat.

Just before he activated the Eye of Verity to assess his surroundings, the panoramic view ahead briefly distorted, introducing more questions than answers.

“It’s okay,” Milo reassured with a smile. “There’s no need for alarm; we simply relayed a message.”

The reassurance was ambiguous at best, but as an invisible force field silently lifted, revealing the elusive Elmridge village, Daisuke displayed rare surprise. Elena, Rexar, and Milo observed his reaction with fascination.

Rays of sunlight filtered through clouds, casting columns of soft light over a mysterious settlement. Beyond an overgrown and vibrant meadow were the traces of intelligent life. Instead of conventional houses made of timber, stone, clay, or straws, large mounds covered in grass were nestled in the shadows of lofty trees.

Except for the large, round stones blocking the entrance of each dwelling, the landscape retained a natural and largely unaltered appearance. This gave the impression more akin to a hidden fortress rather than a cozy and inviting sanctuary.

Despite the beautiful weather, the village seemed devoid of life. Concerned, Daisuke glanced at the others, fearing the worst. Yet, they exuded calmness, even sentimentality.

“Ruff!” Zephyr’s bark hinted at signs of life. On closer inspection, Daisuke realized the village wasn’t deserted; its inhabitants were merely cautious. They peeked through doorways and inconspicuous ventilation holes, observing the strangers warily from their unique dwellings.

Suddenly—

“Big Brother!”