"We can finally see the front gates I cant wait to sleep in my own bed surrounded by the beautiful women of Querth!" Hutch was ecstatic to be home like usual but Captain Lara put an end to his happiness as swiftly as it started.

"Yea enjoy cleaning the company stables and keeping guard of or supplies tonight." She spat at him with a cold laugh that killed his dream.

"Wha...What why me captain why do we need to even guard the supplies they are locked up in the city storage anyways?" He tried to argue back but it fell on deaf ears.

"Punishment for holding us up today, plus you had plenty of fun last night. We all take turns guarding the supplies just be happy you get to be over with it the first night. Now shut up about it before I assign you to guard duty all week for pissing me off!"

"AWW man, why does she always got a stick up her ass I mean were living the good life getting paid to protect a fat-rich man and his useless trinkets. But no, she's always gotta have a shit attitude!" Hutch whispered to Ash his feelings about his unfair life always making sure that their captain couldn't hear any of it.

"I don't know Hutch sure we got it pretty easy compared to most but picture being cap. She's responsible for anything that could go wrong not to mention keeping us in line. The weight of making sure we are provided for with the pressure of not messing up this cushy gig we got, I know I couldn't do it." Hutch went silent taking in what Ash just said. If he were honest he never thought about how it felt to be responsible for 30 people.

"Her being angry and yelling at us is her way of watching over us. At least that's how I like to think about it. That she considers us her family and this is how she shows love." Ash chuckled before speaking again.

"Not that she would ever admit to it but I'm sure that's how it is." Hutch was shocked, to say the least. Ash wasn't one to get all touchy-feely but when it came to cap he had a soft spot. A small smile crept onto his face as he thought of something incredibly stupid to do at that moment. He could never help himself when it came to messing with Ash.

"Yeah well that's cause you have a big fat crush on her and made an elaborate story so that she loves you too," Hutch shouted getting the attention of his fellow mercenaries who all quietly snickered while trying to avoid their captain's wraith. Lara whipped her head around to look at her snickering subordinates her face a shade pinker than a moment ago matching Ash perfectly.

"Hey come on man why you do you have to be like this you're just making it worse for yourself," Ash said in a defeated tone. Captain Lara dropped from the carriage intimidatingly cracking her knuckles as Hutches fear started kicking in as he cowered behind his friend and now bodyguard Ash.

"You just bought yourself Two weeks of stable work and Guard duty for the next month you little twerp!" Her feet stomped with anger at each step towards the two.

Ash's smirk was not missed by his captain making her even angrier. " What the fuck are you smiling at? You trying to join him I'm sure he would love somebody to cuddle up to at night its been getting colder I'm sure you could share a sleeping bag!" Ash's smile just got bigger making her even angrier.

But she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw tears start to form in the corners of his eyes as his smile was getting so big it almost looked unnatural. His body started shaking making her more confused as she was getting genuinely worried for her lieutenant.

" I can't believe it! No, it can't be her, am I dreaming" Ash started walking forward slowly making Lara move to the side. That's when she finally looked behind herself towards the gates of Querth and noticed a girl not far off in the distance running full speed towards them Followed by two men. one with bright white hair not far behind within arms reach. The man farther away made her grimace as the man who had been bugging her for the past two months constantly asking for a meeting.

She thought he was a rival merchant trying to get one over on the competition or a snobby noble wanted to hire them. She vehemently denied his invitation not wanting to make trouble for their new employer it was too sweet a gig to mess up. Especially over politics, she despised.

While she was trying to make sense of the situation Ash had started from a slow walk to barreling down the beaten-down dirt road as fast he could. Ria was doing the same thing. she tried to wipe her tears but they just kept flowing blinding her.

"RIA!!" Ash yelled as they met in the middle of the road crashing into each other. Ash put on the breaks before they collided so he took the brunt of the force falling backward with a sobbing Ria on top of him. Neither one of them said anything as they both hugged each other as tight as they could. At that moment it was like they were trying to make up for the past year of being apart. The ache in their heart slowly fading being replaced by the warm feeling off joy.

Ash tried to hide his tears knowing his companions weren't far behind and him crying like a baby wouldn't be great for his reputation most of them didn't even know he had a sister besides Hutch and Lara.

Ash grabbed his sister's shoulders pulling her away so he could get a good look at her eyeing her up and down. "It's only been a year and you've grown up so much already!" His vain attempts to keep his tears hidden came to an end when he looked in her big blue blurry eyes.

Ria was just as big a mess as her sibling not even being able to form words just sobs and half words that made no sense. "Where were you all this time? Is mom with you? How did you find me?" Ash started rapid-firing questions as his confusion caught up with him.

Of course, Ria didn't respond just hugged him harder with no sign of getting an answer he looked to the two men accompanying his sister. His eyes landed on Barret and Ash could immediately tell he was a noble. He could even tell he wasn't that far up the food chain in terms of nobility a viscount at best probably a Baron or Service knight. Making a note in his head to ask about it later.

ASh had served many low-level noblemen it only took one look to know if someone had that smug air to them. Not that he discriminated but you can always tell a noble apart from the general public. The rigid posture, high chin, and the infamous I'm better than you face that just reeks of arrogance and entitlement.

His eyes moved to the more mysterious of the two his red eyes and white hair made him hard to miss not to mention the sheer aura surrounding the guy. Any seasoned warrior could tell this man was strong not just strong experienced, just like a noble gave away key signs of who they are by their overall demeanor the same could be said about warriors.

Ash noticed the stance that seemed casual to the untrained eye but to anybody worth their spit as a warrior could tell he was ready for anything. His hand on his hip one swift movement from his sword his feet planted and shoulder-width apart ready to jump to any movement or attack. his eyes calmly scanning the open field.

A loud trampling sound came from inside the forest, trees where being smashed down at a fast pace The seasoned mercenary group took action almost instantly. " Hutch! Ash, you're the front line get ready to assess the monster and plan a counter-attack. the rest of you V formation grab spears and shields focus on doing damage from afar we don't know what's coming!

Magic casters buff Ash and Hutch and set explosion traps on the open field they don't need to do damage just stun it or at least slow it down whatever the fuck it is! I'll shoot the flair to warn the city guards hopefully backup isn't too far behind."

Yuuta watched on at the commotion listening to the woman shout out orders. He was rather impressed that they came up with a detailed plan in mere seconds. Not just that but they were executing it perfectly not one mercenary looked out of place. There was no panic in their eyes just determination and resolve to follow out their orders.

Ash jumped into action his first thought was his little sister he looked down at her expecting a fear-ridden face but instead, she was calm and cool as winter snow. Her eyes weren't focused on the trampling trees or the mercenaries jumping into action instead they were staring at the man she was traveling with her eyes seemed to be speaking to him as he nodded his head in a silent understanding.

"Ria you need to hide behind the horses use them as cover if things get out of hand. If we get separated you need to head back to the city gates they should be sending soldiers as we speak it won't take much time for them to arrive."Ash spoke in a calm but quick and serious tone.

"It's ok Ash Yuuta will take care of it." She said with a confident tone and smile that even made him ease a little. He didn't have time to question what she meant as the unknown monster broke through the tree line.

"Goddamit whats a Troll Boar doing this close to the city." Captain Lara spat out. "Everybody steel yourselves this is a B class monster he's not gonna go down without a fight the ugly bastard gonna knaw till his last breath. New plan get the bows and have the magic casters buff them we need to do as much damage as we can before we fight it head-on. Aim for the legs and eyes if we can weaken its foundation the explosion might just be enough to knock it off balance. ASh, Hutch get ready for the fight of your lives!"

Ash could only smile back as he knew what she meant this was his fight she was putting the fate of their company in his and Hutches hands. Fortunately, Yuuta had other plans seeing as he didn't want Ria's reunion to be ruined by some weak ass monster not to mention Ria had asked him to take care of it (The silent eye conversation they had).

"Ria you need to listen to me it's about to get dangerous in a second, this is a B-class monster its no joke a whole knight brigade wouldn't win against this thing do you understand? You need to hide I can't fight if I'm worried about you, please!" Ash's voice turned to panic as the monster started barreling towards them. At full speed, it was faster than any horse easily hitting 80kmh as it tore up the ground behind it.

Ash was about to physically pick up his sister and move her to safety but a white flash moved his attention to the battlefield. Now in the middle of the open field was Yuuta staring down the closing boar. Ash tried to make sense of what happened less than a second ago he was in arms reach and know he's well over 300 meters away.

"What the hell is that idiot doing he's going to screw up our plan and get us all killed. The dumbass isn't even wearing armor! Everybody get ready after the boar flattens that toothpick out there the battle starts." Captain Lara didn't seem to be impressed, to say the least using Yuuta's death as the start of the battle.

"Its fine Ash this monster doesn't stand a chance against Yuuta if a dragon couldn't kill him an overgrown pig won't even get close to the man I love." Ria backed her fiance with that fiery passion she only showed when it came to him.

"I could tell from looking at him that he is an experienced warrior but that doesn't mean he's gonna win against every... Wait did you say dragon!? Wait did you say, love!?" Ria let out a nervous giggle as she focused on the brewing battle. She would be lying if she said her stomach wasn't in knots and she was not scared out of her wits. But if she could trust anything in this dark world it was that Yuuta would protect her. She also made it very clear that he was not allowed to die or she would kill him.

Yuuta was eyeing up his foe he defiantly was a big boy easily 3 meters tall and twice as long it would intimidate any warrior who had to face this beast alone. Of course, Yuuta wasn't your average warrior. taking his stance, ready for the boar he gripped the handle of his sword with his right hand and with his left hand on the sheath holding it parallel to his waist.

The monstrous Troll Boar was closing in quickly 100 meters, 50 meters, 10 meters, 5 meters. Everybody in the Dustless sword company held their breath in anticipation Lara watched in disgust expecting to see a young man be pulverized. Hutch was shitting his pants not wanting to have any part in this battle. Ash was still trying to make sense of what Ria said at the same time a small part of his warrior soul bubbled up in anticipation for the incoming clash.

Yuuta pumped fire magic into his sword as he took one last deep exhale. 1 meter, In a flash of red Yuuta, drew his white-hot blade at blistering speeds, a bright flash blinded the battlefield and in an instant, it was back to the afternoon sunset.

"Fuck the little twirp didn't even scratch it. It's coming right at us get the bows ready shoot on my command." Lara gave her orders swiftly.

The boar still running full speed at the Mercenaries frontline made it 3 more trots before its legs gave out and started sliding on its belly. That's when damage became clear momentum from the abrupt stop of its lower half sent the top half the Troll Board sliding from its lower body in a clean-cut Yuuta had severed the boar diagonally in half. A gruesome scene continued to play out as the body separated revealing the two halves the gigantic boar.

Everybody looked on in amazement as they watched the boar wiggle and screech in pain before its heart gave out. "What did I just watch?" Ash And Lara both said simultaneously. " You just watched my fiance, Lord of Yuart, and A-class adventurer in action."