Joseph said, "Then let's go meet the rest of the team!" and started walking, pointing at the group waiting ahead. I followed him and approached the other team members.

I took a moment to look around. It was time to meet the rest of the team. I carefully observed each face as I walked forward. Some had a cold expression, while others seemed more welcoming, but one thing they all had in common was that they had made it this far.

The first to speak was a large-built man standing at the front. He was wearing thick chainmail armor and carried a massive shield on his back. His short chestnut hair and deep green eyes made him stand out. His voice was deep and confident as he spoke.

"I'm Gareth, the tank. You can rely on me for defense." He crossed his arms and gave me a slight smile.

The tall woman standing next to him nodded slightly. She had long, wavy black hair and sharp gray eyes. The leather armor she wore looked flexible, giving her plenty of mobility. Two short swords were strapped to her waist.

"Isabelle. I'm an assassin." Her tone was neutral, as if she didn't want to give away too much.

Another man stepped forward, looking younger than the rest. His messy light brown hair and slightly amused expression gave him a carefree air. He wore light armor and carried a short spear on his back.

"I'm Roy. A spear-wielding attacker. I'm not much of a talker, so don't ask too many questions." He kept his introduction brief and stepped back.

Finally, Joseph, the one who had been teasing me earlier, took his turn. His broad shoulders and muscular arms made it obvious that he was a fighter. His short brown hair and smirking expression gave him a confident look. He crossed his arms and looked at me.

"I'm Joseph. I fight with a sword. I don't need much else, you know." He shrugged before chuckling. "But the real surprise will be learning our new friend's class. So, tell us—what are you?" His eyes narrowed with fake curiosity.

All eyes were on me. I cleared my throat. Since I didn't want to reveal my real class, I told the lie I had prepared beforehand.

"I'm an archer." My voice needed to sound as confident as possible.

However, Joseph caught onto something.

"Aha! Did you all see that? He hesitated at first because he picked the wrong path!" He burst into laughter. "I bet he relied on luck to make it this far!" His laughter echoed throughout the room.

Gareth smacked Joseph's shoulder hard. "Ignore him. He's always like this." Then he turned to me with a reassuring smile. "An archer, huh? We were lacking long-range firepower in the team, so you'll be useful."

Isabelle narrowed her eyes, as if analyzing something, but said nothing. Roy seemed to lose interest and looked away.

Joseph, still grinning, eyed me closely. "We'll see if you're a good archer or if you really did pick the wrong path."

Earlier, he had implied my class was intelligence-based, but now that I said I was an archer, he acted as if he'd never said anything like that. This guy was really just a loudmouth…

Either way, it was clear this would be a test. But at least, for now, they seemed to accept my lie. Now, it was time to plan how we would operate as a team.

Joseph narrowed his eyes as he scanned the group, then spoke with a serious expression. "The latest information we have on the Steel-Fanged Wolf pack is this: They've been hunting in the open grasslands beyond the Berwilt Forest, outside the town’s borders. However, pinpointing their den's location is difficult. We suspect they are hiding deep within the forest."

Gareth shrugged, resting his shield on his back. "Keeping such a large pack together isn't easy, so they must have a leader. Their den must be somewhere nearby, which means we have to be careful."

Isabelle, carefully scanning the area, spoke up. "They likely hunt at night and stay in their dens during the day. That’s a common strategy for many predatory packs. We need to approach quietly, or we’ll be surrounded in an instant."

Roy tapped his spear lightly against the ground. "The best way to find the enemy and separate the pack is to force them into action. My job will be to target the leader that holds them together. Once that’s done, we can take them down one by one."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Gareth spoke firmly. "Listen, trying to control this pack will be tough. Instead, we should lure them into the open plains. That way, we can drive them in a specific direction and separate them more easily."

Joseph crossed his arms and nodded in agreement. "Alright, we stick to the plan. First, we infiltrate the forest. Isabelle, you’ll move ahead silently and scout the area before we follow. Roy, your job is to locate the pack leader. Gareth, you'll hold the line while I focus on raw power. If anything goes wrong, everyone sticks to their role and does their best."

Isabelle nodded quickly. "Understood. Nothing will escape my sight."

Joseph’s personality was a bit different from what I had expected, but it was clear he was a good leader. Still, considering everything I had been through before, I couldn't trust anyone completely. This time, I had to stay alert and prepared for anything. If they betrayed me, I would be ready to strike back.

Joseph focused his gaze on the dark forest, thinking for a moment before turning to me. "Your job is to land the first blow on the pack with your archery. Identify your targets quickly and find the weakest link around the leader. Position yourself where you can launch a long-range attack. That way, you’ll weaken the pack and make it easier for us to control them."

Gareth swung his shield and added, "It looks like you'll be the one protecting the backline. If things go south, your archery will give us an advantage. But be careful—the pack can spread out quickly."

Roy nodded silently, gripping his spear tightly. "Don't stray too far," he said. "What matters most is that we don't make too much noise before we split the pack. Your role is crucial."

Joseph narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. "Remember, your job isn't just archery—it's survival. Find the target and strike, but be careful. Our real test is how well we can move together." He spoke, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"This time, there's no room for mistakes," Joseph said with a grin. "Let's get ready. We have a chance to hunt the Steel-Fanged Wolves."

After finishing our preparations, we set out together. Each team member knew their role and moved accordingly. Gareth, with his shield resting on his shoulder, walked at the front. Isabelle silently observed the surroundings. Roy held his spear across his shoulder, appearing ready to strike at any moment. Joseph carefully watched the entire group, ensuring our safety.

I lagged slightly behind, scanning the area to find the best position for my archery. With each step, I knew I had to be more cautious and deliberate to get closer to my target. I understood the team's strategy—archery was at the heart of this mission. Weakening the pack and tracking their movements required attacking from the right position.

Eventually, we reached the grasslands. This open area, stretching under the darkening sky, was wide enough to keep the team together. The grass swayed with the wind, creating a faint rustling sound. The eerie silence hinted at the approaching pack. Sounds from the depths of the Berwilt Forest carried the whispers of an unseen threat.

"We'll wait here until nightfall," Joseph said, his voice firm and cold. "Keep your eyes open. Signal before the pack moves."

Everyone quickly took their positions. Isabelle silently analyzed her surroundings. Roy scanned the area impatiently, eager for action. Gareth lowered his shield and patiently stood guard. Joseph looked at me and gestured toward a suitable position. "Find a good spot," he instructed. "Be ready to move."

As night fell, silence settled over the group. However, after some time, tension arose between Roy and Isabelle. Roy struck his spear against the ground and muttered, "How wise is it to trust a female assassin? Can you even identify the right target?"

Isabelle's expression remained unchanged as she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I can assure you my daggers will reach their mark before your spear does."

Roy scowled. "For a pathetic assassin lurking in the shadows, you sure talk a lot."

The tension in their exchange escalated, but Joseph quickly intervened. "Enough, both of you are making too much noise," he said, stepping between them. "This isn't a playground. Solve your issues after the mission."

Roy and Isabelle exchanged cold glances before backing off. The tension lingered, but no one spoke further. As I observed the surroundings, I had also been listening to their argument. It was clear that there was still a lack of trust within the group, but for now, everything seemed to be in place.

After a while, Gareth approached me. He set his shield down and spoke in a calm tone. "I've been in situations like this a few times before," he said. "But things are different around here. People struggle to truly trust each other. Trust and teamwork are crucial in these kinds of missions, but can you blame them for being cautious?"

I listened to Gareth’s words. "How do you usually handle things?" I asked, curious.

Gareth pondered for a moment before smiling slightly. "When there's a tank in the group, people tend to feel safe. They assume I can protect them completely. But this isn't a game. Even if we had a mage, the weakest monster could still kill us. It's tough—don't overthink it. Just focus on staying alive. You'll understand it better once you're in the thick of it."

We fell into a brief silence, listening to the wind howling across the grasslands. After a few seconds, Gareth spoke again. "Everything will be fine. Don't worry. Just do your job, and trust that we’re in this together—no matter what happens."