3. A Task (2)

Serena and Violina walked slowly toward the Teleportation Site, located not far from the Hiddenama Guild Hall.

The city's streets were filled with four-wheeled wooden carts loaded with goods, pulled by large-bodied monsters of immense strength. The thunderous sound of their footsteps shook the ground, adding to the hustle and bustle of Hiddenama, where people busily explored every corner of the crowded shops.

“It’s been twelve years, huh,” Violina suddenly spoke, breaking the heavy silence between them. “We’ve been hiding from Human Hunters all this time.”

Serena let out a long sigh, her voice laced with frustration she could barely conceal.

“Twelve years living like this. Always being hunted. We even have to complete the gods’ quests just to earn a meal. It’s exhausting.”

Violina frowned, her wolf ears standing upright, as if catching every word with deep focus.

“I don’t get it either, Serena. What can we do to change any of this? We can’t even enjoy normal food—it tastes like sand. And yet, the food in human cities looks so good… from the smell and how it looks.”

Violina swallowed, her eyes rolling upward as if imagining all the delicious dishes she could never taste.

As they kept walking, Serena and Violina arrived at a place that felt removed from the chaos of Hiddenama.

A colossal tree towered above them, its roots sprawling in every direction, covering much of the path. However, beneath the tree was a large opening—wide enough to serve as the entrance to the hidden Teleportation Site underneath.

The words “Magic Teleportation Site” were clearly engraved in brown on the tree trunk, marking the area bustling with teleportation activity.

Around this area, the city’s noise began to fade. There were no longer rows of shops or crowds of shoppers. Instead, there was a wide open field reserved for flying monster races, giving them space to land freely.

“Hey, Violina. Something feels off,” said Serena, scanning the surroundings. “Why are there only merchants passing through here?”

Violina frowned, also observing the area around them. “You’re right. Where are all the Monster Hunters? Why aren’t they using this Teleportation Site to go to the human cities?”

Serena slowly shook her head, puzzled. “They’re usually always here, aren’t they?”

In front of them, only freight monsters were busy with their tasks.

Massive orcs with bulging muscles and centaurs—half-human, half-horse beings—moved swiftly as they carried heavy loads.

Above them, harpy monsters glided through the sky, their wings flapping gently while their claws gripped packages with expert precision.

Violina turned to Serena, her eyes shining with curiosity. “There’s only one way to find out. Let’s check the Teleportation Site directly. Maybe we can get some answers from the portal guard.”

Serena nodded, but unease was written clearly on her face. “Something might’ve happened,” she murmured, crossing her arms over her chest as if trying to steady herself.

They quickly jogged toward the hidden corridor beneath the giant tree.

The passageway was wide enough to allow many monsters to pass through while carrying large cargo.
Its walls were formed from thick, twisting roots of the tree itself, as if the tree acted as a living guardian, silently watching over anyone who entered. Despite being underground, the tunnel didn’t feel dark or eerie. Small lamps nestled between the roots glowed softly, casting a warm light along their path.

After passing through the corridor, they entered yet another different area.

Here, small shops lined up neatly, selling various supplies for monsters preparing to travel through the Teleportation Site. There was none of the luxury seen near the Hiddenama Guild.
These shops were built simply, using thick wooden logs. The rough framework was clearly visible on every building, giving the whole area a functional rather than decorative appearance.

Gear such as backpacks, lanterns, camping tools, and several bottles of potion were displayed in the storefronts. However, some shops also served breakfast.

A few demi-monsters sat in front of those food stalls, enjoying meals on their plates. The smoky scent of grilled food filled the air as Serena and Violina walked past, adding a sense of life and realism to their surroundings.

“We’ve arrived,” said Serena, her eyes scanning the area. “It’s not as empty as I thought. There are still some Monster Hunters here, but weirdly enough… they’re just sitting around the shops. None of them are heading to the teleportation portal.”

Violina followed Serena’s gaze, taking in the line of small stores filled with idle Monster Hunters.

Thin smoke from grilled meat drifted into the air, its savory aroma spreading across the open square. And yet, something felt off—only freight monsters were seen using the teleportation portals.
The usual crowd of hunters lining up to travel? Nowhere to be found.

“I don’t know,” muttered Violina, furrowing her brows. “Let’s just ask the portal guards. Maybe they can tell us what’s really going on here.”

Serena nodded, saying nothing more, and the two of them continued on, following a group of monsters who were dragging carts with their raw strength.

Ahead of them stood six teleportation portals shaped like altars, built from pale white stone bricks. But only three of the six altars were in use.

Lines of monsters carrying cargo were queued at three of the portals, while the remaining three stood empty and unused.

Each altar was guarded by a black-robed mage, standing tall with a staff in hand.
As soon as the monsters stepped into the center of the altar, the mage began chanting a spell. In an instant, blue light radiated from the altar floor, and the monster standing upon it vanished, as if absorbed by the glow.

Serena and Violina approached one of the unused altars. At the center stood a simple wooden booth, where three black-robed mages sat playing a game of chess.
They knew these three mages well.

“Excuse me, Grandpa. We’d like to travel to the human city. Please send us to the location marked on this map,” Serena said, pulling two scrolls from the pocket of her gown. They were still tightly sealed.

Upon hearing Serena’s voice, the three mages immediately paused their game. They turned in unison, their eyes settling on the two approaching girls.

“Serena and Violina, huh? What quest are you working on this time?” asked one of the mages in a raspy voice.

His face was deeply wrinkled, and the skin around his nose and lips had decayed, revealing the bones beneath. He looked like a walking corpse.

Serena gave him a respectful nod and handed over one of the old yellow scrolls.
“Here, Grandpa Grim,” she said shortly, but with polite tone.

Violina waved at the other two mages, Grandpa Grov and Grandpa Drar, who were still sitting nearby, not far from Grandpa Grim.

“How are you, Grandpa Grov, Grandpa Drar?”

Grandpa Grov looked like an ordinary human, except for his jet-black eyes that constantly emitted faint smoke.

On the other hand, Grandpa Drar had massive fangs protruding from around his mouth, resembling the snout of a wolf.
Both of them gave Violina a small smile.

“Hello to you too, Violina,” they replied almost in unison, their voices low and calm.

Grandpa Grim, who had been standing quietly at the side of the chessboard, observing his two friends' game, finally moved.

He stepped away from the booth and walked toward Serena and Violina, leaving the game behind along with his still-occupied companions.

With care, Grandpa Grim took the scroll from Serena’s hand.

His dim, but still sharp, eyes traced over the map, taking in the details of the location Serena and Violina had marked.

There, along a main road, three buildings were drawn in a neat row, with a vast forest stretching out behind them. A bold "X" was marked behind the structures, hidden near the edge of the drawn property.

“This ‘X’ is on the border between Alantropora and Grassiace,” Grandpa Grim said, his voice trembling slightly, a reflection of his concern. “Are you two really planning to go there… alone?”

His gaze fixed on Serena and Violina with a weight of quiet anxiety. Even though most of his face looked like a withered corpse, the faint movements of the remaining muscles around his eyes were enough to reveal his unease.

Violina, standing close to Serena, was the first to respond. Her voice carried a note of realization.
“The Alantropora border, huh? Serena, wasn’t that near where we rescued the monster children who had just been teleported to the human world?”

Grandpa Grim raised a finger, his eyes widening slightly as a sudden clarity crossed his features.

“That’s right! I remember now,” he said with conviction. “The Guild assigned you to free those being sold in the market on the city border.”

Serena fell silent for a moment, her mind flashing back to that chaotic rescue mission.

She recalled the tense moments—how she and Violina, with the help of her mentor and five other monsters, fought desperately to save the children from the hands of hunters. That day had left more than just wounds; it had left memories etched deep into her body and soul.

She took a deep breath, then looked at Grandpa Grim with tense eyes.

“Grandpa Grim,” she said, her voice deeper than usual. “What about Mr. Snade and Mr. Altrez? We lost track of them after that rescue.”

Grandpa Grim gave a casual shrug. But something in his eyes told a different story—not panic, not sadness, but confidence.

“Don’t worry,” he said reassuringly. “Mr. Altrez and Mr. Snade aren’t ordinary folk. Your teachers wouldn’t be taken down so easily by human adventurers. They’re definitely still alive.”

The mood in the air shifted as Grandpa Grov, who had been focused on his chess match with Grandpa Drar, suddenly spoke up in a flat voice.

“You two need to be more cautious now. A lot of Monster Hunters have been seriously injured during quests lately. Some ended up in the hospital. Others… never came back.”

“That’s true,” Grandpa Grim added with a slow nod. “You’re both rare kinds of monsters, kids. Don’t let yourselves get caught. If your bodies were used as materials for human magic weapons… the power those weapons would hold could be terrifying.”

Serena and Violina glanced at each other and fell silent, letting the weight of his words settle in.
The anxiety they both felt began to rise—but their determination remained steady.

“It’s okay, Grandpa Grim,” Violina said at last, her tone confident, even if the slight smirk on her face gave away her usual playful spirit. “If we run into any Human Hunters, we’ll just escape right after finishing the quest.”

Serena nodded and added, “Yeah, Grandpa. This is an errand from Aunt Mei. She asked us to gather food supplies since the pantry’s empty, so we have to complete the quest. Don’t worry.”

Grandpa Grim, his face appearing even older and more fragile than before, gave a slow nod. His bony fingers brushed against his nearly skeletal chin, as if pondering something before he finally spoke.

“Oh… so it’s food supplies for the monster inn,” he murmured. “Just yesterday, several scout Monster Hunters brought in new monsters rescued from Human Hunters. That might be why Mei sent you two.”

On the other side, Grandpa Drar, who had just defeated Grandpa Grov in their chess game, grinned triumphantly. Grandpa Grov could only sigh in disappointment and hand over a few paper bills to Drar.

“Don’t forget to bring a Step-Stone Portal,” Drar added with a wide grin, clearly still basking in the glow of his victory. “That way, you can teleport straight to the Eastern Portal without having to hunt for an altar in the human world.”

But Serena shook her head, politely refusing the offer.
“No need, Grandpa. It’s a waste of time to buy one. We’d rather leave now so we won’t be out too late. Once it gets dark, patrol officers usually start appearing on the streets.”

Grandpa Grim glanced up at the large clock hanging on the time-post. The short hand was nearing eleven, and the long hand crept steadily toward the top of the dial.

“Alright,” Grandpa Grim finally said, conceding to their decision. “I’ll open the teleportation gate.”

He tossed the scroll back toward Serena, who caught it with practiced ease.

Without another word, he turned and made his way toward the altar with steady steps. Though his body looked frail, an unmistakable aura of authority radiated from him.

“Teleportation magic,” Grandpa Grim intoned calmly.

From the air, a staff emerged—twisted wood shaped like a serpent coiling around several skulls. It floated slowly toward him until he reached out his right hand and gripped it tightly.

Without hesitation, he struck the staff against the floor of the altar. Immediately, the circle beneath them lit up with a dazzling blue light, while glowing symbols appeared and spun gracefully across the floor.

Serena and Violina exchanged glances, then began stepping toward the magical circle. But they were stopped mid-step by a voice calling out sharply from behind.

“Serena and Violina. Where are you going using teleportation magic?”

The voice belonged to an older woman. When they turned, they saw a figure standing not far behind them, her eyes sharp and serious.

An elderly woman stood there, her piercing gaze fixed directly on them.

She wore a long gown of black and gray, elegant yet chilling, adorned with intricate patterns that gave off a cold, mysterious aura. Her white hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her face—though rough in texture—had no wrinkles, as if time itself had been denied the chance to touch her.

Grandpa Grov, who had just started a poker game with Grandpa Drar, looked up in surprise, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
“Ida? Since when have you been here?”

Grandpa Drar turned as well, just as confused.
“We didn’t even notice you coming. When did you arrive?”

Grandma Ida—the woman who had suddenly appeared—merely snorted.
“You were both too busy playing games to notice,” she replied, her tone a quiet scolding wrapped in sarcasm.

Grandpa Drar and Grandpa Grov exchanged glances, a trace of guilt on their faces for being so absorbed in their match. But Grandma Ida ignored them now. Her sharp eyes returned to Serena and Violina, waiting silently, clearly not wanting to be left in the dark.

Serena swallowed hard, trying to remain composed under Grandma Ida’s intense stare, as if every word she spoke had to be chosen with care.

“We… we’ve been sent to gather food, Grandma. It was Aunt Mei’s request for the Western Monster Dormitory,” Serena said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Violina, standing beside her, quickly added with more enthusiasm, trying to reassure the old woman.
“That’s right, Grandma. We’re heading to the border between Alantropora and Grassiace to complete the quest.”

Grandma Ida frowned, clearly unsatisfied.
“Why didn’t you go to the Hiddenama Guild? They provide food supplies too, don’t they?”

“They ran out, Grandma. Aunt Ra told us to take on this quest,” Violina answered quickly, her voice slightly rushed. She hoped the explanation would be enough to ease Grandma Ida’s concern.

Grandma Ida’s expression softened slightly, though a cautious gleam still lingered in her eyes.

“The border, hmm? That area’s dangerous—especially at night. Human Hunters prowl there. Serena, Violina, both of you possess abilities that would fetch a high price. Don’t be reckless.”

Serena tried to smile, doing her best to show confidence despite the tension in her voice.
“We understand, Grandma. We’ll be careful. Once the quest is done, we’ll head straight back.”

Violina nodded in agreement, her tone cheerful.
“Yep! We’ll use the return location scroll right after we’re done.”

But her words only seemed to increase Grandma Ida’s worry. Her expression darkened, and her eyes narrowed.

“You’re only bringing the location scroll?” Her voice was firmer now—almost angry.
“You do realize most Monster Hunters avoid teleportation portals these days, right? They’ve been getting attacked by Human Hunters while traveling. That’s why the portals are so empty lately.”

Grandpa Drar and Grandpa Grov, who had been deep in their card game, looked stunned at the revelation. They froze, staring at Grandma Ida with open mouths, as if struggling to believe what they had just heard.

“So that’s why so many Monster Hunters have been coming back injured?” Grandpa Drar asked, disbelief on his face. “Because they got caught using teleportation?”

Grandpa Grov nodded slowly, adding,
“I didn’t know things had gotten that bad…”

Serena and Violina looked at each other, the worry on their faces now unmistakable.

The city border—the place they had assumed would be a simple challenge—suddenly felt far more dangerous than they had imagined. The weight of the risks ahead was beginning to settle in.

“Serena, Violina,” Grandma Ida's voice rang out again, firm and resolute. “Buy a Step-Stone Portal first before you leave. Even those who've used one have still come back badly injured.”

Her words hung heavily in the air, deepening the tension in the room.
Grandpa Grim, still standing atop the altar, already looked weary from waiting. His gaze was dull, his expression marked by a patience that was wearing thin.

“So, are you going or not? Keeping this portal open drains my magic,” he grumbled, tapping his staff once more against the altar floor.

Serena and Violina nodded quickly and rushed out of the altar room toward a small shop at the edge of the teleportation area.

The shop was modest, its shelves lined with everyday goods like lanterns, elixirs, and other basic supplies, all arranged on aged wooden racks.

Behind the counter stood an old man with a wrinkled face and tired eyes, watching them quietly from his post.

“Grandpa, do you have any Step-Stone Portals for sale?” Serena asked, hope clearly audible in her voice.

The old man shook his head slowly, as if he had answered the same question too many times before. His expression was somber, reflecting the limitations of his shop’s dwindling stock.

“Sorry, child. We don’t have any here. All sales of Step-Stone Portals have been centralized at the Eastern Teleportation Hub—most of the Monster Hunters heading to the human world go through there now.”

Serena and Violina exchanged glances, disappointment written all over their faces. With slow, reluctant steps, they returned to the altar, where Grandma Ida still stood waiting. The moment she saw them, her eyes locked on theirs, already sensing the outcome of their errand.

“There weren’t any, Grandma,” Serena said quietly. “They don’t sell them here. Everything’s moved to the eastern hub.”

Grandma Ida let out a slow huff, though she didn’t seem surprised.
“Then go buy one at the eastern hub. Your quest deadline isn’t anytime soon, right? Better safe than rushing headlong into danger.”

Grandpa Grov glanced up at the wall clock hanging in the corner. The hands were nearing half past eleven.

The shops and stalls around the teleportation plaza had grown more crowded, but the cold night wind didn’t deter the people who gathered there, laughing and eating at the late-night food stalls.

“You should hurry,” Grandpa Grov warned, his voice serious. “It’s already late. Look at the time. Patrols could start any minute.”

Serena and Violina looked at one another, fully aware that they didn’t have much time left.

Grandpa Drar, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally chimed in.
“Just go. Don’t listen to Ida so much. You’ll be fine.”

Serena hesitated for a moment. But when she saw Violina’s eyes full of determination and energy, she gave a firm nod.

They broke into a run, heading straight for the teleportation altar, their hands tightly clasped together.

“Sorry, Grandma Ida! We’ve got to hurry!” Violina called out between panting breaths as Serena pulled her past the stern-looking old woman.

In the blink of an eye, the two of them vanished—swallowed by a flash of teleportation light.

Grandma Ida merely scoffed, her eyes narrowing with frustration.
“Step-Stone Portals are important, but those two… stubborn as ever. I knew they wouldn’t listen,” she muttered under her breath, barely audible.

Grandpa Drar chuckled softly as he shuffled the cards in his hands.
“I know, Ida. But in the end, you always let them go anyway.”

Ida crossed her arms, her expression hardening.
“Lucky for them the scout hunters are still stationed in the human city. If they go missing, they’ll at least be easier to track. Otherwise, I would’ve personally dragged them back by their collars.”

Grandpa Grim, who had been standing on the altar all this time, now stepped down with an irritated look.

“If I may be honest, Ida, you should’ve just let them go without the lecture,” he grumbled. “You know, teleportation magic isn’t free. I just wasted a good chunk of it for nothing.”
He stomped his staff once more on the floor, closing the portal in a flash of fading blue light.

Grandma Ida turned away, her eyes sweeping over the quiet western teleportation grounds. The surrounding food stalls bustled with life—but not a single Monster Hunter was in sight.

The silence only made her more uneasy. She stood still, lost in thought, reflecting on what had just happened.

“You three,” Grandma Ida said firmly, her voice low and commanding as she looked sharply at Grandpa Grim, Grandpa Grov, and Grandpa Drar. “Don’t let any more Monster Hunters use the teleportation altar—at least not until we find out what’s causing all these injuries and attacks. Something’s wrong when they travel to the human world using the Altar instead of the Gate.”

Grandpa Drar, who had just begun dealing a new hand of cards to Grov, paused mid-motion. He raised an eyebrow, now eyeing Ida with a seriousness he rarely showed. The once-relaxed atmosphere suddenly shifted.

“Ida,” Grandpa Grov spoke, the smoke drifting slowly from his pitch-black eyes as he stared at her. “Are you certain? That the altar is the reason so many Monster Hunters come back injured?”

Grandma Ida nodded firmly, her tone filled with unwavering conviction.

“Yes. The data backs it up,” she replied. “Every injured Hunter Monster has been recorded—both at the hospitals and by the Eastern Teleportation Gate guards. It’s becoming too consistent. There’s something wrong with this altar. I need to head to the Hiddenama Guild to coordinate our next move.”

In an instant, Grandma Ida’s body shifted. Her form twisted into a massive black eagle with glowing red eyes. With a sharp screech and a burst of wind, she launched into the air, soaring swiftly toward her destination.

The night sky fell quiet once more.

Grandpa Grov looked up at the now-empty sky and sighed.
“I was just about to ask her to play poker.”

Grandpa Drar chuckled softly, shuffling the cards again with practiced ease. His sharp eyes flicked toward Grov with amusement.

“What kind of woman would enjoy playing like this with you?” he said teasingly, dealing the first hand of the new round.