With a clear and somewhat strained sigh, Lu Shizhong rolled out his map on the table. His eyes carried a heavy weight on them, his exhaustion from dealing with the day’s events quite evident. However, as a Mythril rank adventurer, and the party leader, he would never allow himself or his team to take any shortcuts. This would include ensuring that, no matter what, The Red Sun will NEVER miss their party mission briefings.

Even if it was a struggle.

…

Usually, it was quite the struggle thanks to a couple of his usual culprits.

“Terra, stop playing around. Ahusaka, I will not let you drink yourself out of this meeting either! I told you that you can only get one drink, and THAT is what you ordered?!”

Lu’s eyebrows creased in frustration, his eyes narrowing threateningly.

A massive tankard of ale reflected in the Owlkin’s large, luminous eyes as he stared in wonderment at his drink.

“Hoooo, stop being so picky! Yooou know, I could have ordered the half-keg, but I was trying to behave! Hoo hooo!”

“Haha, yeah! Cool off Lu! Cmon, it’s already so late, so just tell me what I am playing with next! Hahahaaha!”

Terra’s boisterous laugh echoed in the mostly empty guild hall, as she walked a small pink stuffed bear along the edge of the table.

“And whose fault is it that we are here so late? YOU promised you could stay composed enough for us to scout out Diane and MAYBE recruit her as a trainee for our team. Then, rather than sticking to the plan, you went and made a huge mess that, yet again, I. HAD. TO. CLEAN. UP.”

“Hahahaha, oh yeah! That was a really fun fight! I had a feeling she would have something up her sleeve considering how hush hush Mr. Reclusive (B.M. Baal) has been over her. Although, I thought you were supposed to be the one to step in if things went off-plan? You know, since you called in all your favors with Elsie to be Diane’s “proctor” and she absolutely insisted this exam was merely a formality and was supposed to be done quietly? Isn’t that right fluffy?”

Lu winced at the jab, as Terra had her small pink bear lean in and point accusingly at Lu. However, he winced only in the context of how the day had gone.

Baal was certainly displeased that Lu had slipped in and replaced his hand-picked gold rank as exam proctor. However, even after all the paperwork, and during the chewing out with the city officials, Lu could not shake the feeling that Baal was thoroughly distracted by something else. Normally Baal wouldn’t hesitate to turn any situation he could to the guild’s favor, effortlessly deflect all blame, and fearlessly take charge and set the direction of any meeting he was involved in.

The fact alone that Baal quietly took the verbal assault, took all the blame as the guild’s fault alone, and left negotiations to Lu was an extremely strange change of pace. All of it centering on one piece: Diane’s involvement.

(Lu)What is it about her that would throw our branch manager this far off track?!

*Slam!*

With a metallic slam, the heavily armored paladin slammed her hand on to the table. While her voice initially sounded chiding, her eyes constantly darting back to Lu for approval and the soft, sweet change in tune by the end completely sucked all the seriousness out it.

“Hey! This isn’t supposed to be a blame storming session! We ALL have to work together here to make up for the panic and damage we caused! Lu has been trying so hard for us ALL day, and he still went to so much effort to plan out our next mission! Let’s just focus and work on our plan, isn’t that right Lu? Don’t worry, I will still hang on to your. Every. Word!”

Lu couldn’t help but face-palm at Grace’s obvious ploy…

Why did I think I could make normal adventurers out of these people again?

Grace has phenomenal healing prowess and her ability to protect and defend is far superior to most other paladin’s, but her fanaticism to Venus makes working with her thoroughly challenging. Then there is Ahusaka, the owl famous for ALWAYS being drunk. If it wasn’t for his incredible survival skills and his miraculous drunken archery… Lu would have given up on him long ago. And Terra… that child-like monster is the absolute worst. Her strength and power are absolutely unparalleled… however, her personality flips on a dime, and her strength only really shows when she gets excited in a fight and her ‘other’ self comes out.

It’s fine… since I know how they all fight, I can always plan around their eccentricities.

With a deep breath, Lu regains his composure, restoring his calm and focused demeanor.

“Look, the city council has decided to punish us by making the guild handle one of their subjugation missions, and by guild, I mean us.”

At the mention of a subjugation mission, everyone’s ear perked up. Ahusaka even took a moment to look away from his drink.

“The intelligence is still raw right now, but the city has received reports that a small hamlet was wiped out not far from here, and that there are growing reports of travelers and small merchant caravans having been destroyed near the Hawthorne wilderness. Trackers have found numerous signs that it most likely is Goblins, but their behavior is far different than the norm. Due to the tense political situation, the city is more than happy to keep their troops at home and pass responsibility for ‘pacifying’ the region.”

“What? A subjugation mission with just the four of us?! Hoooo, now how do they expect this to go?”

“Well, I don’t plan on it being just the four of us. We weren’t the only ones who made a mess today, so of course we will pick up our help first thing in the morning. After all, I do have a little delivery to make.”

A small smile seeps through onto Lu’s face.

Make a mockery of me, boy? Fine. But it’s only fair that punishment is shared! If I can put up with these personalities, then I can also handle whatever baggage Diane will bring!

“Now then, let’s get back on to the details of the plan.”

…

Well, at least I kept their attention a little longer than usual.

The owl proceeded to bury himself back in his Ale, and Terra was softly giggling as she turned to sharpen her titanic battle-axe.

The inn was in a completely somber mood after Diane returned today.

Without a word, after the city guards brought her back in, she ran up to her room with Clover and Emily in tow and locked herself in, leaving the guards and Thistleman to explain everything to Rhyme and Jotuun.

Why? Why did he do that? Maybe if I visited him sooner… he wouldn’t have…

Tears began flowing from her eyes again, as she tightly hugged onto Emily, and Emily quietly held her back, tears slowly dripping from eyes shut tightly in pain and sadness.

Clover wandered slowly towards the window, where he took a seat and watched the quickly darkening evening sky.

With a quiet, cracking whisper, Diane delivered her commands to Emily.

“Emily, don’t you forget, don’t you ever forget, your one of my people, okay? As one of my people, there are rules you have to follow. And… and my first rule, is that you aren’t ever allowed to die on me.”

Diane’s grip tightened, as she locked eyes with Emily, her eyes pleading with desperation.

“You absolutely can’t. You have to be one of my loyal friends, and friends don’t hurt or die on each other! You absolutely have to live, ok?”

From below, Diane could still make out through the murmured sounds of the inn Thistleman’s voice.

It sounded extremely quizzical, lacking any serious emotion.

“Hey Auntie, why would somebody do something so dumb as to kill themselves?”

A loud *SMACK* echoed in the inn, followed by the scraping of numerous chairs as various patrons quietly excused themselves.

“Ah! I’m sorry I hit you! Don’t just ask something so insensitive! Ah, ah, I’m really sorry!”

That idiot… at least… he will be fine...

*sniffle*

“Now nod you head Emily.”

Shutting her eyes tight, teardrops still shining at the edges of her eyes, Emily nods her head vigorously.

“Good. Good! Now, you have to accompany me to bed! We are going to have a sleepover.”

I absolutely can’t leave her on her own! I won’t! I won’t lose anyone again!

Diane manages a small smile, even through her tears.

Under the full cover of nightfall, a pale, gaunt man quietly exited the tree-line near Njord. His eyes were cold and unfeeling, and in spite of the extreme chill of night this far north, he didn’t wear more than a simple brown peasant’s outfit, stripped of his old sigil of a knight kneeling under the moon.

I don’t know what interest my master would have with a child out here, but if he commands it, so I shall obey. I simply just need to watch and report. Although it IS her fault I am in this mess now…

He carefully timed between the lamps of guards walking along the city walls, before making a leap on to the parapets, and once again onto a roof of the slums below.

His body almost blended with the silent darkness even with the potent moonlight, his steps incredibly light, leaving almost no trace as he passed. The guards didn’t even take a moment to pause in their rounds.

From his vantage point, and the advantage of his inhuman sight, Asimore took a moment to appreciate the view of the city during his descent.

The light of the nearly full moon reflected beautifully off the water in the enclosed harbor, blending serenely with the torchlight dotting across Tormund’s Wharf, and the natural majesty of the mountains to the north cut through the night sky. The only contrast to the beauty was a dark and distant wave of clouds, slowly growing and approaching from across the ocean in the East, with small arcs of lightning visible to his eyes only due to nightfall. The contrast only further emphasized the serenity of the moment.

Perhaps I should paint a portrait of this view to send to my master? I suppose some of those “noble” pursuits will prove useful to have learned. He would certainly appreciate this! I suppose this mission isn’t entirely a waste! Ah, but first, I should familiarize myself with the town and find a nice, empty place to stay… I shall have to remember this sight to paint afterwards.

Asimore quietly began to make his way across the town, completely unaware that from the moment he had arrived, he was being watched by a familiar hooded figure, perfectly camouflaged in the shadows of the city and quietly murmuring to himself.

“One thing after another, I am not even sure if this is anything Dagon would want me to act on… perhaps I should leave this one to him too? Hmmm, I need to speak with his Demons up North… I cannot risk interrupting his plans. If I upset him, there is no way I will be able to finish my contract successfully… if only I could just speak with him directly…”

As the light of dawn began to break across Njord, Lu and the Red Sun were attempting to navigate their way through the slums to find the Skeever and the Bear.

While they were adventurers, they were also still a Gold rank party and were able to afford living in better quarters up in Midtown, with wider, well-maintained roads and clear routes. Thus they were unused to the narrow and winding paths in the lower districts.

I should probably ask for directions…

With Terra and Grace acting as if they were sightseeing, and Ahusaka already halfway through a refill of his ridiculous new tankard, Lu could not rely on them for help.

*ugh*

Lu released another audible sigh.

Outside of one of the questionable bars, called the One-Eyed Grog, was a group of three men. One was a very large, burly man with several scars and a knife clearly strapped to his waist. Next to him was a greasy looking scoundrel and a gaunt looking fellow with a scraggly beard.

“Ay! Whatchu lookin at, short stuff? I’m havin a bad day and I ain’t feelin too nice this morning, hehehe!”

The large man grimaces intimidatingly at Lu, before his friend, blood draining from his face, tried to jump in.

“Hey Joker! Dem’s The Red Sun! Watc…”

“Configuration 7: Wind Blast.”

“UWAH!”

With a motion faster than their eyes could follow, Lu had drawn what had at first appeared to be a sheathed Odachi, but instead of a blade it had a fan attached to the hilt. It was made of a green and red metal weave with a large circle imprinted on it, which changed shape and symbols with how much the fan was opened or closed. The other one was still sheathed on his waist.

The blast of wind was more than strong enough to knock all three of the ruffians completely prone, and when they looked up, they could see Lu point his fan threateningly at them.

“Whatever your day has been, I can assure you, my mood is much worse than yours. Now if you would like to make amends, it would be wise of you to help me find something.”

(Slick) “Ay, yes Meester Lu! Gladly! Errr… what can us fine geenteelfolk do fer yah?”

“I am looking for the Skeever and the Bear, a rather famous little girl should be living there. I presume locals like you would know where that is?”

Slim, unconsciously swallowing, nodded. “Ah, there. Ay, yessah, we know.”

If I play dumb were dead meat… Everyone knows that Lu is a damned monster! ah but I don’t wanna get caught up in that little devils mess either! If she pissed off Lu, we’re screwed either way!

The morning breakfast rush was a far quieter than usual affair this morning.

Nobody wanted to be the first to broach the topic from the night before, with Rhyme trying to fill the quiet void with chatter about chores and breakfast.

The usually boisterous patrons were able to feel the mood, and for those few that chose to stay for breakfast made sure to hurriedly eat their meals and say a quick “thanks” before leaving.

Soon, the inn was completely silent again, with Diane, Emily, and Thistleman sitting at the counter, slowly picking away at their meals while Rhyme scurried around cleaning the kitchen and dishes and Jotuun cleaned off the tables. All of their faces showed varying levels of being lost in thought and concern. The only one who seemed to have a voracious appetite was Clover, as he greedily devoured the leftovers from breakfast.

In that sense, the commotion that soon broke from outside the inn was a welcome relief!

“Ay, yessah meester Lu, dem’s da place! I thank ye fer yah mercy! Aiight, we be off den, as we dun wanna cause trouble in yeh business!”

“Excellent. Now make sure to remember your manners in the future, as we will likely be coming this way more often.”

“Hahaha, see? Can’t keep saying I am the only one causing trouble Lu! You’re just going around town scaring people when you can’t find your way!”

“*urp* If we followed you, Hooo knows how long until we would have got here?”

“Psh, that’s rich coming from the drunk! Hahaha!”

“Why don’t you appreciate what Mr. Lu has done? If left to either of you, we wouldn’t be here until after nightfall! Yet his wisdom brought us here without any fuss at all!”

With a defined swish, the door to the inn flew open, meeting the incredulous gaze of everyone within.

The stressed-looking Asian man from the day before entered first, his temples clearly throbbing. Right behind him was the fully armored paladin, one hand clamped (reassuringly?) on his should, as she was yelling at the towering woman following behind her. Lastly, the owlkin came stumbling into the bar.

As he was the closest to the group, Jotuun approached them first.

“Welcome to Bear and Skeever. Me Bear, she Skeever. One night, one silver. More beds, more silver. Lunch at noon.”

With a slow yet pointed gesture, Jotuun points to Rhyme during the introduction.

Lu has to look up to meet Jotuun’s eyes, as he is one of the rare creatures that can stand taller than even Terra.

(Lu)Ho? An Ursine out here? What an interesting arrangement… no wonder the locals are careful around here. Just need to stay friendly.

“Hey Uncle Jo, I don’t think they are here for a room or food. They were at my exam yesterday.”

“Exactly. I brought something for you, and we someth…”

Lu was cut off by a menacing Jotuun.

“Hm. So… one who hurt Diane…”

With an unexpected quick and powerful swing, Jotuun’s paw slammed into Terra’s stomach with a thunderous impact, launching her with incredible force and sending her careening into the wall on the other side of the street! The audible yelps of the departing ruffians could be heard rushing more quickly away. Rhyme also let out an audible EEP! Before covering her mouth.

“GRACE! AHUSAKA! HOLD!”

Lu outstretched his arms quickly, trying his best to also block as much of Jotuun as he could.

Grace had drawn her mace and Ahusaka immediately notched an arrow on his bow.

“Now even. You can come speak now. I fix mess later.”

Without even taking a pause, Jotuun returned to cleaning the tables.

“Grace, go check on Terra. Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid!”

Grace nodded, then cautiously backed out of the door.

The beads of sweat forming on Lu’s face and the daggers he stared at his teammates to get them to comply were the only indication he showed of how threatened he felt in this situation.

Never fight an Ursine in close quarters! There are dozens of ways to handle them, but never fight an Ursine close quarters! Please just take the hit calmly, Terra!

With a cough, and then a laugh, Terra walked back in the door.

“Hahaha, see? This is why I like bears so much! Now THAT is what I call a punch! I’mma feel that for at least a week!”

A small line of blood was dripping from Terra’s mouth, the sudden impact having caused her to bite her lip.

“Pahahaa! See? That’s my Uncle Jotuun for you! He’s the best uncle ever!”

Diane’s face broke into a large, unrestrained smile, while Thistleman was quietly trying to hide his.

“Diane! Shush! Don’t make more trouble!”

Rhyme’s sharp retort cut into Diane’s moment of triumph.

“Ok, sorry Auntie….”

Yet, her apology certainly did not feel authentic.

Lu relaxed and breathed an emphatic sigh of relief, seeing as she showed no more aggression and things weren’t going to escalate.

“Alright, so, getting back on track…”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bronze colored guild card.

“Diane, I brought your new card from the guild to personally deliver on behalf of the guild.”

Diane’s eyes lit back up, as she jumped from her seat on the stool and rushed to Lu.

“YES! MY NEW CARD!”

After picking up her card, she was practically prancing back to the counter to show it off to Thistle, Emily and Rhyme.

After giving them a moment to enjoy Diane’s achievement, Lu cleared his throat and continued on.

“Also, there is one more thing I wanted to talk about… and it is a pretty big affair.”

His eyebrows twitched in annoyance, as he was ignored yet again.

Why do I do this to myself? Are skilled people with a decent personality that hard to find?

GUILD CERTIFICATION CARD: DIANE CULAINE

*Items marked in red are removed from the official guild card, also reminder that this current image is an older Diane than our current point in the story.*

Growth Potential: A

Aptitudes:

Mana Capacity: 155

Magic (Fire)

Melee (Rapier)

Mana Regen: 8/???

Healing Factor: 1.5x

Mana Reinforcement: 2.25x

スピリチュアルアンプ

汚染された魔法

Skills:

Fireball

Reinforced Strike

Swift Strike

Precision

悪魔の光景

共感リンク

悪魔の怒り

シャドウステップ

悪魔の抵抗

隠蔽

Contract Capacity Available: 0

Contracts Held: エラー

Power: 71

RANK: BRONZE (S)

Issuer: Njord A.G.

Exam Proctor: Lu Shizhong, Mythril Rank