The four adventurers are in dead silence staring at Akatosh drinking all the water they gave to him.

"Ah! Damn, that's good." Akatosh breathed in relief after he had greedily gulped all the water.

Still covered in blood one of the adventurers came expressing gratitude for helping them from those monsters. They are younger than Akatosh a teenager so to say.

In awkward silence the woman who gave thanks was embarrassed. Being stupid to finally realize the flow of the topic.

"No need to thank me," Akatosh said scratching his head.

Without knowing what to say. "Um… About--" The lass expressed in solitary unceasing nervousness.

"Well, it's nice meeting you all, and thank you for the water so I'm going to resume my travels," Akatosh says cutting her words.

Staring at the sky it was already dusk in the afternoon when suddenly, the sound of his stomach rumbling in hunger.

"Shiii… this is quite embarrassing."

When nighttime came, there he was sitting in front of a campfire waiting for the food to be a cook.

Observing the party preparing the nighttime, Akatosh was viewing the man cooking while the other two girls are preparing the camp. He didn't saw the leader thinking he went looking for some provisions or something. Some moments later their leader came with firewood and some ingredients.

Although doing nothing he was mortified just sitting waiting for a portion of food to eat. Adding up his rumbling stomach won't ease as it intensely making him more uncomfortable.

"Would this stomach of mine stop for a moment" Akatosh reckons to grind his teeth as his stomach pleads for food.

"Food's ready!" Exclaimed the lass wearing a robe that of a mage. Hearing her uttering the word 'food', Akatosh's eyebrows raise driving his gluttonous.

A woman came giving a bowl of soup consist of meat, mushrooms, and some other ingredients that Akatosh didn't know.

"T-thank you," Akatosh says, gathering around the fire.

He wanted to finish the meal quickly and gluttonously but, he first observes them eating slowly, thus he too slowly eat his meal.

It was silent at first until the man who seems to be their leader wearing a scaled padded with steel and leather first introduce himself towards Akatosh.

"I'm Sei a third-class silver rank adventurer." He says, knocking his other friend who looks chubbier.

"I'm sorry, my name is Reith and I'm a 4th class bronze rank adventurer." The man says.

After the two lads, the next were the two young ladies.

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Holding her chest then bows. "You may call me Sheila, and I am a mage just a 1st class bronze type adventurer." The lass says, adding a smile.

The last one however is shy, regardless she gathers enough courage to introduce herself. "Um… I'm Riya and… I-I'm also a bronze-type adventurer that of a 2nd class." She mutters in nervousness.

Blushing she was Akatosh too, introduce himself and with a smile. "Nice to meet you all, name's Akatosh just a traveler."

"A traveler?" Sei reply.

"Yes," Akatosh says, still holding the bowl.

"Why don't you register to the guild. You could become a high-class adventurer." Sheila says.

shaking my head sideways. "I would love to but, some things aren't fitted to be somebody." Akatosh shaking his head, silencing her.

While chatting continues, Akatosh didn't realize his bowl is already empty. Riya was first to notice so she gets up from her sit filling another bowl of stew. After that, she goes to exchanging Akatosh's empty bowls. Praying his thanks Akatosh continues his meal.

Sei was the first to crack some words. "I was hoping that no one could beat our gluttonous friend here," Sei says towards Reith.

"Hey, you're the one who's been eating food at night." Reith implores.

Hearing their words, the two young lady giggles while hearing the two young lads debating their shameless act.

Around the warm fire, a burst of warm laughter can be heard throughout the night. Seeing their priceless smile and laughter makes Akatosh smile from this group of adventurers.

"Not bad, not bad at all," Akatosh says, still smiling. Upon noticing his smile Sheila too smiles at him.

"Where did you come from." Reith implores after their laughter subside.

"Boy, you're asking the impossible." Akatosh humor.

knowing his jokes both lads begun to laugh while Sheila was a bit intrigue and for Riya, she didn't quite get it.

"Ah, what I said was where you are from," Reith ask smilingly.

"Earth." Akatosh smile.

"Earth? Never heard of that place." Sei reply.

"It's just a far faraway place from here," Akatosh says, not wanting to make it more complicated.

Changing the topic, he then asks about their task. "I was wondering, what brought you all to this place."

"Ah… we came here to scout and investigate the area. And as soon we found something we just head back to the guild and report it to the head." Sei answered hesitantly.

"I see, there must be a reason for this," Akatosh said hitting the core.

Seeing their face in distress Akatosh realize the reason was personal. So, he then quickly changes the topic.

"By the way," Akatosh says, searching the grimoire from his bag.

Asking Sheila if she knows something from the book. And for a moment of explicit ciphering, the book was far beyond her knowledge. Although she was shocked after turning the pages.

"This is an ancient word," Sheila says.

"Ancient huh, that's quite interesting." Akatosh thought relief to see someone who knows something about the book.

Sheila assumed that it was an ancient word during the birth of demi-humans. She also said that having an ancient and powerful grimoire like this would somehow lead you to become a sage.

"The only people who might decode this grimoire are the high mages at Maginum. And the great arc sage Azageis who said to be roaming around the world looking for something." Sheila says, after reading the book.

"Can a lich crack this grimoire." Akatosh blurt.

Following his word, it took Sheila some time to answer his question. "Well… it might work but who knows no man never spoke to a lich."

The night was getting late so Riya and Sheila went to bed at the tent they've prepared.

"Akatosh you can use our tent," Sei said.

"Thank you but I like to stay out for the night, you young one should take some sleep, don't worry I keep an eye watch." Akatosh refuses to shake his head.

After he had denial their words the two young lads keep there will not want to sleep. Not gaining their trust enough Akatosh fake his sleeping near the fire until the two boys doze off.

Akatosh didn't sleep due to his painful wounds and the effect of the potion stinging his muscle. Getting up to see the two you lads who already fall asleep, he muffles his groan.

While Akatosh is busy assessing his wounds he then notices a presence. Near the far end of the trees, seventy meters away from the open field campfire. He saw a man and after he saw him stalking from the woods, the person quickly pace out.