As Ackster kept running without pause, the pain in his toe gradually numbed and became a constant throbbing, similar to a bee sting. It was infinitely more comfortable than before, but he could sense that the bone was still far from healed. Since he was traveling through a nigh endless sea of grass and flowers, only the sun’s journey across the sky, the healing of his toe, and the occasional arboreal interruption to the grassy fields helped him keep track of time.

But the only thing keeping track of time did for Ackster was make him nervous since he knew the more time that passed, the lower his chances of getting his hands on Karandiel. Still, he didn’t lose heart and kept running, his bare feet hitting the ground like the hooves of a runaway horse.

Eventually, he saw another interruption to the grassy ocean, and it was straight ahead. As he thought about whether it would be faster to go around or go through, he realized that he wasn’t alone.

He sensed other humans around and within the small forest. And not only that, but he could also see a lemon-yellow glow emanate from the grove.

Ackster had found the crash site of a certain Fallen Angel, and he wasn’t the only one. But at least it didn’t seem like anyone had taken away Karandiel yet. So, while keeping a wary eye on his surroundings and the various adventurers lurking through the grass or hiding among the trees, he approached the source of the yellow glow, which was most likely related to Karandiel.

He could sense others, who had arrived earlier, giving him threatening or warning looks to tell him to stay away. But unlike when he had faced Kargas, and it had looked like the Dragon Slayer was about to kill him, Ackster barely even felt the gazes. Many of those around were also in groups, and considering the Cloven Grasslands’ inhabitants’ strength, he was probably looking at D to B-ranking adventurers.

A group of B-ranks would likely give him some trouble, especially if they were veterans or good at fighting other humans. But Ackster believed in his skills and stats. Strong Body and the skills it had helped him acquire gave him a reliable advantage against other beings similar in rank to himself.

The irregularly grown leafy trees gave cover from the sun, but the shade was far from enough to hide the twenty or so adventures that had popped up like snails after rain from Ackster’s senses. He had barely even seen tracks of a single adventurer after he entered the Grasslands, but now he was sensing a whole apartment building of them in one place.

Though, considering the spectacle of Karandiel’s entry to the mortal realm and the time that had passed since, a lot of people would have had time to look for and find this grove. If anything, it was more surprising that Karandiel had landed in one of the few clumps of trees dotting the vast Cloven Grasslands.

Ackster looked around and stared down anyone who tried to threaten him into backing off. It seemed like no one was interested in actually fighting or colliding until the opaque yellow dome of light faded.

The sunflower-yellow dome was as tall as the shortest tree in the grove, so not much higher than the top of Ackster’s head. And it was as wide as it was tall. But, if the crater-like mound around the dome was any indication, the dome was a sphere. So, it would be more than twice as tall as Ackster.

Ackster walked up to Karandiel’s capsule and was about to knock on it out of curiosity when a spear from a nearby adventurer appeared right in front of his chest.

Ackster followed the red shaft with his gaze until he locked eyes with a lean man wearing red leather armor. He raised an eyebrow while shoving the spear out of his way.

“You call dibs or something?”

The spear-wielding man took back his spear and rested its butt against the ground next to him.

“No. But I’m not letting anyone do something to jeopardize this.”

“Do you even know what this is?”

At Ackster’s hostile attitude, the spear user’s companions, equipped with similarly colored armor and weapons, stepped up and glared at Ackster in support of their leader-apparent.

“Do you?”

A woman with black and red hair tied up in a ponytail, wearing light red leather armor and resting her hands on the pommels of a pair of scimitars with blood-red cloths tied around the handles spoke to Ackster.

Ackster assessed the four people who had decided to stop him from touching the sphere. The moderately handsome—not as handsome as Ackster— spear-wielding man had the scimitar woman, a large hairy mountain-like man carrying a battleaxe, and a young swordsman with short hair accompanying him. All of them were dressed in crimson leather armor and had decorated their weapons with various blood-red details.

But the group dressed in red wasn’t the only one eyeing Ackster. Their meeting hadn’t gone unnoticed, and anyone with a clear view was looking at them.

Ackster scoffed. He could tell that the four people in red were strong. They might even be the strongest non-Guild affiliated ones he had encountered. But that didn’t mean much since almost everyone he had met or talked to was part of the Guild.

However, even if they were strong, Ackster didn’t feel that threatened.

“I know enough to tell you that touching this isn’t going to ‘jeopardize’ anything.”

Ackster mocked the spear user with air quotes and a snide tone.

Hopefully, he could stir up trouble before the dome went down and get everyone to indulge in a chaotic fight he could make use of to escape unnoticed.

Unfortunately, the spear user was unfazed by Ackster’s taunt and smiled.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“It seems we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. I’m sorry if my caution ended up offending you. My name is Hansel. I’m the leader of the Crimson Edge. You?”

“Hugo.”

Hansel’s companions, especially the scimitar woman, seemed less than pleased with Ackster’s curt answer and attitude. But it didn’t seem like they would interfere with their leader’s conversation unless Ackster went too far.

“Hugo, is it?”

Hansel hid it well, but Ackster could sense that Hansel wasn’t treating him like an equal, even if he used polite expressions and words. So, he didn’t say anything to Hansel, needlessly asking for confirmation.

“I’m guessing that you, like everyone else here, made your way over after seeing the phenomenon in the sky, right?”

“...”

Ackster looked around and pretended to be disinterested in whatever it was Hansel had to say. It was clear he wouldn’t let him pass and touch the dome, and forcing his way through would direct too much ire to Ackster. So, he waited for Hansel to talk with a bored and nonchalant attitude.

Hansel sighed but didn’t let Ackster’s attitude dissuade him from telling him what he needed to know.

“Hugo, if you want to be allowed to stick around, you’ll have to follow the tacit agreement of waiting for this protective barrier to fall before doing anything.”

Ackster harrumphed and crossed his arms while looking Hansel up and down in disdain.

“And who are you to give me permission? Who are you to tell me what I’m allowed to do or not do? To tell anyone here what they’re allowed to do?”

“I’m–”

Ackster raised his voice and interrupted Hansel, much to his and his companions’ displeasure.

“Wouldn’t it be better to settle everything while the barrier is still up? It will make sure no one sneaks off with it in the middle of the battle, and whatever is inside will be protected from any attacks.”

Ackster looked around the grove and made sure the other adventurers couldn’t sit back and watch with mocking grins as Hansel and his Crimson Edge took control of the situation. It seemed like Ackster hadn’t been the first to try and approach the yellow sphere. And the Crimson Edge’s attitude made it seem like they were in charge.

“Yeah! Let’s duke it out now. Winner takes all!”

A bare-chested martial artist with muscles carved out of rock stepped out in response to Ackster’s words and encouraged the rest to do the same.

“I’m in! The Crimson Edge can’t defend against all of us if we work together.”

A large woman in a heavy suit of armor also joined Ackster next to the stubble-haired martial artist. With the two of them stepping out, a few other adventures also lined up next or close to Ackster and stared down Hansel and his three companions.

Hansel sighed, and his polite and pleasant expression faded. A cold and impatient one took its place as he glared at the adventures, both those who had stepped out in response to Ackster’s and the other two’s encouragement and those who were still hesitating.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Even if you all come at us, you’ll be lucky to escape with your lives. Besides, who of you would dare lead the charge knowing you’ll die at the tip of my spear–”

“I will.”

Before Hansel’s words could scare the other adventurers further, Ackster once again interrupted him. He was a little curious about the Crimson Edge group and their apparent status since it seemed like everyone, or almost everyone, at least, knew about them. As training-focused as he was, Ackster had no idea who they were.

But it didn’t matter. Ackster wouldn’t let the reputation of some random group of red-dressed posers scare him away from Karandiel. It also seemed like the Crimson Edge’s behavior had earned them enough displeasure to make others, like the martial artist and the knight, want to fight them.

“Fool.”

Hansel glared at Ackster before facing the crowd.

“Since it would be a shame to see all of you die because you wanted to fight following a lackwit, I will give you all a chance. We, the Crimson Edge, will provide ample compensation to anyone who temporarily fights with us to defend this heavenly treasure against the dirty hands of this cretin and anyone who follows him.”

Since he didn’t get an immediate response, which was understandable considering the tense situation, Hansel continued.

“Of course, if the treasure, whatever it is, can be shared, we will naturally do so in favor of those who contributed to this seemingly inevitable brawl. And if it isn’t, we will provide even more compensation. Those who have heard of us should know that I’m not lying when I say we can afford it.”

At the promise of being able to get a share of whatever was inside the dome or the monetary reward, several adventurers joined up next to Hansel and his Crimson Edges. There were even several who left the ranks that had formed behind Ackster, the martial artist, and the knight.

“Do any of you honestly think this guy, using a shit-stained spear, is telling you the truth? As soon as the numbers are reduced, he will kill everyone like the bastard he is. I guess adventures around these parts are as naive as the sheep they hunt.”

Ackster’s judgemental words convinced a few to reconsider taking Hansel’s side, and, in the end, both sides were numerically even. Considering Hansel’s words that the Crimson Edge would win, even if everyone in the grove charged them, it wasn’t looking good.

And since the Crimson Edge had the advantage and were protecting the yellow sphere, while the adventurers behind Ackster didn’t seem very keen on charging forward, a stalemate developed.

“What’s the plan, boss?”

The tan martial artist with shorts and bandages around his wrists as the only things adorning his body walked up to Ackster and tapped on his shoulder as a greeting and to get his attention.

“What do you mean?”

Ackster raised an eyebrow in response to the martial artist’s expectant attitude. He could also sense that the knight and the few other adventures close by were curious about what he had in mind.

“Your plan, you know, to defeat the Crimson Edge. What is it?”

“Fight.”

The martial artist’s face paled a little, but he didn’t lose all hope.

“Fight them? That’s it?”

“Of course. What were you expecting?”

The martial artist sighed.

“Considering they’re the only unofficial A-rankers around, they’re working together, and they’ve also gotten their hands on a ruin’s inheritance, I was hoping you had a trick or two up your sleeve to deal with them. But I guess I should just give up on this.”

The martial artist turned around and began walking away.

“Why would I need something like that to deal with a bunch of overgrown brats?”

Ackster snorted.

It was a shame if the martial artist decided to pull back since he seemed pretty helpful. But Ackster had headed for Karandiel’s crash site fully prepared to fight everyone there on his own. Well, he hadn’t been fully prepared to fight unofficial A-ranks, so it would have been nice if the martial artist and the others fought alongside him and helped him clear out the biggest threats.

Slightly hesitant, the martial artist turned around and looked at Ackster after hearing his confidence that seemed to be enough even to fell trees.

“What did you say your name was again?”