Oscar slammed his charged sword onto the thick shell of Gigyaki, but it had no effect. The strike didn't even leave a scratch. Gigyaki swung its claw at Oscar’s chest, breaking his armour and the skin on his chest. The impact flung him into a tree, and with a deep thud, his body collided with the trunk.

“Ugh,” Oscar let out a pained moan and passed out.

Gigyaki were Orc-like creatures with rock-hard red scales covering their entire bodies.

“OSCAR!!” Nash, a Level 3 Healer, shouted as she saw him.

“Stay back, Nash. I'll take care of him,” Finn, a third member of the party that had taken the commission to kill Gigyaki, said.

“Wait!!” Before Nash could stop him, he ran straight at the Gigyaki in desperation.

Finn gripped the sword with both hands, pointing it straight ahead. The sword's tip shone red.

"[Flame Lance]," Finn shouted as he thrust the sword forward to pierce the scale.

Gigyaki took the attack on its chest. The impact sent it a few steps back, but that was all. Finn failed to pierce the scales, and his eyes widened in horror.

Gigyaki didn't give him enough time to back away. Its fist slammed Finn into the ground, creating a puddle of blood.

“Finn!” The shout only drew Gigyaki’s attention, but it did stop Gigyaki from crushing Finn’s head. Nash, however, couldn't focus on them at that moment.

“RAGHH!” Gigyaki snarled and lunged at her. Nash stood frozen in place as the claw came directly towards her face.

Then, it stopped. Just an inch away from her eyes. Gigyaki was frozen in the air, not moving a muscle. Its whole body quivered from the effort it exerted but to no avail.

Then, it was torn to shreds, blue blood splattering on Nash as the monster was rendered into a pulp.

Nash’s legs gave way, and she collapsed on the spot. In front of her lay the mass that Gigyaki had turned into. Nash did notice thousands of purple glowing threads that had shredded Gigyaki as they vanished.

“Are you okay?” A child-like voice asked from behind.

“Y-yeah,” Nash turned, looking at a young and frail girl with a cat on her head. “Did you save me?” Nash could hardly believe her eyes.

“Yes, I needed to complete one commission in order to officially join the Mercenary Federation, and the receptionist said I should take on this one. Did I interrupt your plans?” Nash shook her head; they hadn't had any plans. All three of them were in a slump, on the brink of homelessness, and had hoped to earn some money from this commission. They had overestimated their capabilities.

“You saved us, I was about to die.”

“I see,” the girl turned to the other two, “They are alive. If you can find a healer, they’ll live.”

“I’m a healer, I’ll take care of them.” Nash stood and created a white ward around them.

[Greater Heal]

The world shone blindingly, visibly healing the wounds on both of the passed-out companions.

“I’m Iris.”

“I’m Natasha, but call me Nash.”

“There are other things here—things stronger than Gigyaki. I suggest leaving.”

Nash felt a chill upon hearing Iris’s words. She couldn't imagine what might have happened if Iris hadn't saved them.

“We – I mean, I have to wait until they wake up. You can go back,” Nash said, not wanting to impose on someone else because of her own mistakes.

“I will wait too… Leaving a healer alone is dishonourable.”

‘Healers are a blessing from the mother; leaving them alone is like abandoning the mother herself.’ Nash was familiar with the saying, even though not many truly believed in it anymore.

After five minutes, both of the injured companions woke up.

They left after collecting the monster core. Oscar and Finn followed Nash and Iris, who walked ahead. Surprisingly, Iris had brought four horses with her, as suggested by the Guild’s receptionist. Nash couldn't help but feel that Iris had been sent to save them instead of completing the commission.

….

About ten meters away from where the battle had taken place, hundreds of monsters hung from the trees, bound by the same purple strings.

This place was not ruled by Gigyaki but by a group of monsters that had gained intelligence. Whenever one was defeated, they would send another one to fight. It was a form of entertainment for them. The Commission had switched to six different monsters in the last week alone in this area.

Slowly, the strings tightened and started digging into the flesh, and then everything was covered in blood.

The next day's Beastbeat newspaper named this incident ‘Gracia’s Great Slaughter’, and the perpetrator was never found. They named the mystery murderer the ‘Beastbane Executioner,’ which later became a local household horror story. However, Iris only learned about this years later.

….

After leading Nash back to the city, Iris left for her next destination: lodging. However, due to the Trinity Festival, every lodge was filled to the brim, except for the one where Nash lived. She had given Iris the location. Nash wanted to lead her there personally, but getting both of her party members hospitalized was a priority, and Iris didn't mind.

The lodge was located in a back-end alley and was more expensive than most in the main hub, though it was not shabby. It even felt luxurious. Iris got a room for a week, which included breakfast and dinner. She could purchase lunch separately if she wanted to. Iris didn't need that much food.

The cost was seven silver. The receptionist also informed her about the currency system. Apparently, the guard at the entrance had scammed her for 6000 silver, which is more than an average human makes in a decade.

There were two types of currency: Shells and Silver. Around 40-60 shells would be enough for a lavish feast, and 1000 shells equalled one silver. A normal Mana core was worth one Silver. Silver was actually just a normal Mana core that shone like silver, while Shell was a hollow core without Mana. White mana cores were worth 1000 silver. And Iris realized she had enough money to purchase a castle.

After placing a weaver’s Orb in the room, Iris left for the dining hall. For the first time in her life, she would be eating tasty food. Iris had never had the best of food or even anything that humans might consider food. She had consumed, in the most generous terms, poison.

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Iris ordered a plate of whatever the staff considered the best as she didn't understand most of the items from the menu.

A waiter placed the plate and brought a table full of food. For the first time, Iris found delight in the curse of hunger. The flavours of the food were enough to make her weep tears of joy, except she couldn’t.

The delight was short-lived, so short that she didn't even finish one-tenth of a full meal. She had never had regular food to eat during her first twelve years of life, and the next six were spent in the Labyrinth, which had very few edible species for consumption, and finding even one of them took days. Most monsters’ blood would rot human skin. As a result, her body never really developed a capacity for food, and Iris had lived purely on mana.

Winny was no better. The single piece of meat she had been given was only half finished, and Winny already looked sleepy.

“Iris!” Nash called as she took a seat in front of her, “Is something the matter? You’ve been staring at the plate for a while without touching anything.”

“I’m full,” Iris replied, although she was actually contemplating what to do with the untouched food.

“You’ve barely touched anything.”

“That…” Iris panicked, not wanting Nash to think she was wasting food after ordering it.

“Well, if you’re not going to eat, then ask the waiter to give it all to beggars. That’s what I usually do.”

“Thank you.”

“Heh,” Nash grinned, “I wanted to thank you for helping us by taking you out for dinner, but that's not an option anymore. Is there anything I can help you with?”

Iris did need help with something, but she wasn't entirely sure if Nash would be of assistance. Still, she decided to try her luck.

“I’m searching for a blade called Edeath. It has the ability to unbind any curse. Do you know anything about it?”

“Never heard of it,” Iris sighed, “But I do know a few places where you can find information, though it would cost you a hefty sum. Unfortunately, I can't help you with that. I'm broke after paying off the lodge's debt.”

“Money isn't a problem, as long as I can get the information.”

“Then, off we go… come with me.”

Iris nodded and followed Nash. First, Nash asked the waiter and then led her outside.

“The place we're going to is in the under-market, a bit rough around the edges, but it's safe. Not that I believe anyone there can harm you anyway.”

“I don’t wish for conflict. I am capable of living without it,” Iris assured herself, although she wasn't entirely sure how much of that statement was true.

“Most people don’t…”

After a few minutes of walking across the bustling street filled with people who had come for the Trinity Festival, they arrived at the less pleasant side of the city. The smell of the sewer assaulted her senses, along with the stench of rotting animal corpses. Iris looked away.

“The Black Market has all the information in the world, and most unpleasant people live here. The Knight’s Legion has given up on reigning in this area; the casualties would be too great for such a small place.”

“Knights?” Iris remembered them; they were cruel people wearing shiny armour. She still felt the pain from when a Knight had ripped open her back with his sword. The pain haunted her, and she couldn't sleep for months.

“Hmm? Ah, you must not be from around here, that makes sense. Public order is maintained by the Knights. They handle everything from catching criminals to clearing out monsters' hordes. They have different departments for various tasks.”

Iris didn't completely believe her words but simply nodded and continued walking.

After another five minutes of walking and stepping over more than a few corpses, they arrived at a shabby pub with a broken sign and dangling doors.

Nash knocked on the window next to the door.

“Who's there?” A rough voice asked.

“Your household doctor.”

“Ah, Nash. Come inside, my dear.”

“Let’s go.”

Iris didn't know what to expect inside, but it certainly wasn't a lively pub filled with the stench of alcohol. She sneezed and looked around in embarrassment. No one paid any attention to her; they were all lost in their drinks.

They approached the counter.

“What can I do for ya, Healer Lady?”

“I’m looking for Old Han,” Nash whispered, leaning closer to the old bartender.

“Hmm… Five Silver.”

“What!!” Nash hissed, her fists clenched.

Iris placed the money on the table. She didn't care; the Mercenary Federation had exchanged her cores for money. She had five thousand silver and enough white monster cores to purchase any information, no matter the price. And if that wasn't enough, she would get the information without paying.

“Iris, no.”

“Price doesn't matter, Miss Nash,” Iris replied respectfully.

“Heh, deep pockets and a smooth brain. There's nothing more pleasing than doing business with ya.” The bartender laughed, revealing his yellow teeth. “On the fifth floor, Hall no. 4.”

“Fifth? Isn't it just a single floor?” Iris asked.

“Magic, my dear customer. Up you go,” he waved towards the stairs.

They ascended the stairs, and Iris immediately noticed the rune formation laid upon them. Whoever had created this place must have been more skilled in runes than she was. She wasn't really the best runes carver anyway.

“I'm sorry, I thought I could be more helpful.”

“You are. Money is insignificant. I wouldn't know how long it would take to search and find a hidden place like this.”

“Why do you need something like that?”

“Winny,” Iris patted the cat, “She is inflicted with a curse that has bound her identity. Edeath is the only thing that can unbind it.”

“I see…” Nash's voice was filled with sadness.

The second floor of the pub was five times bigger. A corridor led to the end where the stairs to the third floor were located. There were four rooms on this floor. Similarly, they reached the top fifth floor.

Nash knocked on the door, but there was no response. She tried again. On the third try, the door finally opened. Inside, the room was filled with books on all sides and stacks of folded paper. An old man wearing black garb sat at a desk by the window.

“You’re rude, Old man,” Nash muttered.

“What pleasure do I owe you, the Golden Healer Child, for approaching our humble abode?”

“She is searching for something,”

“She can find anything here, even the treasure trove of Gracia herself, if the price is paid.”

Nash held back from cursing him.

“A blade called Edeath.”

“Edeath,” he muttered and pushed himself up. His whole body was lanky, and his crooked back made him appear just a little taller than the desk. He scurried around the room, searching through books. In the process, he dropped more books than he opened. He was almost shaking.

“I have information that can lead you to the next clue, but the price is— 9000 silver. By giving you this, I am taking a risk. I will not budge a single shell,” he said, plopping back into his chair. His face tightened.

Nash looked at her, her eyes wide. Iris, however, had expected more. She had no real sense of money to realize how much he was truly asking.

Iris pulled out nine white mana cores and placed them on the table.

“Here, I don’t have silver.”

“Oh my,” Old Han’s eyes shone with greed. He hunched over the table and gathered all the cores in his hand. “... The last officially documented place of Edeath is Rinerhiem, three hundred years ago.”

“Is that all?” Iris found that information a bit odd. Three hundred years ago, what if someone had already taken it from there?

“That information is useless. Rinerhiem is broken into seven nations after being looted to its bare bones. Your info is as good as saying it existed at some point in time.

“Wait! Wait… I’m just beginning. The last unofficial information relating to Edeath comes from a scholar who met one of the Roundtable Rivals. He believed that they had Edeath. He is a trustworthy source. If you wish to know the location or bearer of Edeath, you must approach a member of the Roundtable Rivals.” He spoke in a hushed tone, almost inaudible, as if afraid the books would hear what he was saying. He was genuinely afraid, and Iris could see it in his eyes.

“Where can I find one?” The receptionist had been right; she was hearing about the Roundtable everywhere, and they seemed almost fairy-like.

“In this City, the Third Seat of the Roundtable, Lady Ilone, will be visiting tomorrow. She is the best lead you can have.” He pronounced the name with utmost respect. “But try not to approach her directly, lest you meet a meaningless death.”

….