Valenluire wasn’t just surrounded between a plain and a forest. In the south, a lake was named after the city. Since there’s no huge towns on the other end, it was never considered to build a port.

Actually, the area of the lake near the city became a huge fish farm of various types. As the distance goes farther from the city, the more toxic the creatures were, that includes the mob that we were hunting now.

We walked along the side of a huge lake, feeling the breeze on her face and the sun on her skin. Mountains reflected on the water, and the green trees contrasted the blue sky.

Elara led our group while the boy watched our flank. In their center, I gazed at an adventurer card with a rusty etch on its edge. I borrowed it from him just now.

“Dion, huh? You’re an F-rank? I’m jealous,” I pouted. The card contained his name and minor details about himself.

“…….What? It’s not that hard to become one,” Dion replied.

“But I’m still G-ranked. My card might become a home of termites.”

“That’s absurd,” he said, looking away at me.

“Dion, hmm…” I pinched my chin in deep thoughts. “Did I hear your name somewhere before?”

“You did? But it’s the first time we’ve met. I never saw you before, not even once.”

Thou, that’s not what I’m pertaining to. He might have been mentioned in the book since I can recall his name in my memory fragments. It’s the author’s fault for not describing what he looked like, making him a forgettable character.

“By the way, I didn’t know your name yet.”

“I’m Vena. The older person here is Elara. She is my sister,” I replied, pointing at Elara.

“Vena, Elara, I will leave myself in your care.”

“I’m the weakest one here. You should protect me since I’m just G-rank.”

“What are you saying? I saw how you beat those thugs earlier. I even witnessed a light from every move you did! Can you do magic?” He asked with glimmering eyes.

“……Yes, just enhancement magic to knock them down, nothing major.”

“It’s still amazing!” He exclaimed. “I’m having a hard time saving for my income in the guild. But those devils always took advantage of me and the others. It’s like they were always waiting for me to complete my quest.”

“That’s a harsh reality for you.”

“But when I saw you fight, I think I got the courage to be strong! You’ve saved not only me, but other starting adventurers as well!”

“If you have someone to thank to, thank Elara. Without her, the matter might have come into the worst.”

“Then…”

We tried to call Elara, but she was busy counting the coins in her purse. She picked out and put in gold and silver coins back and forth.

“What’s financially troubling you, Elara?” I asked.

“Can we stay a night in an inn with how much we have right now?”

“What do you think of buying? We’re going back home before evening. Also, a gold coin is more than a day worth of living. Honestly…” I sighed, pinching my forehead.

As we exchange arguments, Dion laughed and mocked at us.

Dion was a strong kid who have a a bright future soon enough. I could tell that his hard work would be paid off. How? He was like me in the past, a person victim of unfairness.

Earlier at the gates, the drunk guard captain named Connor wasn’t staring at me. He was gazing at Dion incredulously. After then, Connor whispered something in my ear.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

‘Be caweful, princessh. Za slumsh haf gone wild lately.’

Even with much of a blurred murmur, Connor hinted that Dion was from the slums. His clothing told us the same. The kid was struggling to find ways to earn money.

I could also tell that he has a strong motivation to acquire quests in the guild. His state showed us that he’s not looking after himself. That was just like me back then.

He joined our party not because he wanted to help us, but to ask us for help. Earlier at the guild, the moment he asked to join us, he also showed the commission he was taking.

The quests asked to hunt ten rabbit meat and hides in the nearby forest near the lake. Since we would pass in that area, I asked Elara to let him come along, but the condition was that we would only help him if he couldn’t handle it.

“We’re here,” Elara said, stopping midway. We also halted as per her gesture. “We’re going to watch behind you. Can you handle this?”

“…I could!” He exclaimed with some hesitation. “I didn’t become an F-rank from nothing! Just watch how badass I am,” he smirked, blowing his own trumpet.

How edgy. In my past life, I already encountered egoistic people from slums who see themselves as kings. There’s no point in talking to them since their massive earwax blocked themselves from listening.

I could only think of two ways to deal with them: With violence and with ignorance. Since I had no energy to spare with them, I always chose the latter.

Dion might have adapted that attitude from his environment. It’s just sad that even parallel or alternate universes have class divisions that determines one’s fate at birth.

And the only entropies are ‘become smart,’ ‘hard work,’ and ‘luck.’ In the sales world, those who don’t judge the book cover are the first ones drowned in debt……

“Vena, are you still there?” Ellyn asked, waving his hand across my eyes.

“Aaah!” I silently squealed from shock as I go back to reality, realizing that it has been half an hour passed. We’re both hiding behind the bush were we can see how Dion operates.

“How far did you dive in the future?”

“I already know my future, and it’s not what I’m thinking,” As I looked at Dion chasing his first rabbit, I sighed. “This is boring.”

“You’re the one who let him join us.”

I sighed. “He won’t be harmed if we left, right? Rabbits won’t even harm him…… Wait, something smells spoilled,” I commented as I pinched my nose.

When I peeked at Elara’s other side, a mountain of dead rabbit bodies flinched my head back.

“Why are there piles here!?” I squeaked.

“Let’s see how badass he was after he apologized to us,” Elara grinned. What she seems to be doing wasn’t right.

“Your sadism was reason why there’s only one he could chase right now! You’re the one that should apologize to him. Give him everything you’ve hunted. We aren’t here for rabbits.”

“But Miss Vena, this is my hunt—”

“No buts!”

Elara pressed her lips before calling Dion. The moment he came, she bowed down her head while kneeling.

Dion’s reaction was priceless. He hissed and squinted his eyes towards the pack of dead rabbits while showing his front teeth. “What is this even!?”

“You’re too slow,” I said with furrowed eyebrows. “We’re now going to hunt Entero Doflain. We’ll leave you if you took longer.”

“Anything but that!” He squeaked with a high tone. I once thought that he’s independent, but he’s still scared going this far. He was still a kid in body and soul.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“I’m ten.”

He was the same age as me.

We traveled deeper the road until we’re kilometer away from the city. We don’t have any means of knowing how far we are except the wooden sign beside the road.

“Do someone choose this route?” I asked.

Ellyn shook her head. “Only a few. This is a dangerous shortcut. If you looked upon the forest, you’ll witness skeletons of travel horses.”

“So one need to detour from a longer route for a safety trade? Exchanging goods must be really tough.”

After a few walks, we reached our destination, the lakeside. The dirt ate our feet as we stepped on it. Boulders scattered within the land and the water bodies.

The water was divided into blue and gray a kilometer after. Most creatures beyond the dark water were intoxicated. I could even see a smooth black bald head that reflects sunlight.

“What is that?” I asked, pointing at the bald head that popped out of nowhere.

“Vena, don’t move!” Elara exclaimed as they both froze in their places.

I, on the other hand, happily turned around towards them with a chuckle. “Look, Elara! It looks like an 8-ball. Do you have a billiard stick with you?”

I continued walking back at them, even though Elara extended her palm, signaling to stop me. I, who was dense on sign language, tilted my head out of confusion.

Suddenly, a tentacle appeared out of the muddy ground, twirling around and gripping my body. I gritted my teeth, moving around to free myself, but the more I do, the more it tightens the grip.

“Let me go, you disgusting pervert! You’re ruining my clothes!” I shouted.

“Wait for me, Vena! I’m going to free you,” Elara shouted, running towards me. She didn’t notice that she dropped her purse from her pocket.

The tentacle appeared completely from the ground, connecting itself to the hidden head from the lake. When I turned back, the body of a giant squid gave me goosebumps.

“Holy moly… I’m now in the soup,” I muttered with trembling lips.

Suddenly, the grip loosen as the tentacle falls down the ground. Elara caught me before I kissed my but down the ground.

“Thank you, Elara. That narrow escape made me on the loose.”

“No problem, Vena, but we’re not done yet. We still need to pour oil on troubled water.”

“Where’s Dion?” I didn’t notice him leave since I’m occupied by the monster.

“Peed himself and cocked away. He’ll never see how badass we are.”

I gazed at the monster, analyzing its features. The giant octopus has tentacles as long as a bus. It had eyes as large as windows, and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

“So that’s an Entero Doflain?” I asked.

“In the gall of bitterness, we need ten more.”