Into the forest.

Morning arrived. The chill of dawn, carried by a strong wind, swept through the city, and Adam’s house was no exception. Leaves scattered, carried far by the gusts.

“Hah! Hyaa! Hmph!”

Galiene gripped her sword tightly, swinging it down from above again and again while keeping her breathing steady. She paused for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. In her mind, she pictured a bandit before her, dagger in hand. Stepping forward with her right foot, she planted both feet firmly on the ground and slashed horizontally. Her left foot followed her right, her body spinning clockwise as her sword cut upward from lower left to upper right. She turned again, swinging downward from upper left to lower right, repeating the motions over and over—training her muscle memory and honing her strikes. She ended with a leap, raising her blade high in both hands before bringing it down in a powerful vertical slash.

Meanwhile, Adam stepped into the storage shed. Rows of glass bottles, from slim vials to wide flasks, lined the shelves, while large wooden crates contained glowing powders and herbs.

On the floor lay a hide rug. Adam pulled it aside, revealing a hidden hatch. Opening it, he retrieved several slim glass bottles before descending the wooden stairs within.

He walked down a narrow, pitch-black passage, the only light coming from the chamber at the far end. That room, unlike the dirt tunnel, was wide, its walls reinforced with brown planks. Tables stood along the sides, covered with small boxes of colorful powders, gray, red, blue, brown. Adam filled his vials with the powders, then opened a drawer, pulling out a tiny mechanism of his own making. Pressing its trigger, he produced a faint spark. Satisfied, he attached it to a vial. One by one, he prepared them, tucking each into the inner pocket of his coat until no more space remained.

“All set.”

Adam retraced his steps, closed the hidden hatch, and shut the shed door before heading back to the house. There, Galiene stood at the entrance of his house, a leather pack on her back and Adam’s traveling bag in her hand. Adam took it from her and slung it over his shoulder.

“….What is it?” he asked, noticing Galiene staring at the bag.

“Your bag… it’s got such a strange texture. Flexible, with a buckle like a belt. It looked small at first, but it can hold so much. Where did you buy it?”

“…………………………”

Adam broke into a cold sweat, panicked, unable to answer. He started walking quickly, eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Heeeyyyyy! You haven’t answered me!” Galiene called after him.
But Adam kept walking, pretending not to hear.

“Oooooi…!”

-

On the eastern side of Spiritforest, near the city gates, eight horse-drawn wagons lined up neatly. Each was covered, hiding its contents. Around them, adventurers milled about with their gear, chatting and forming groups.

“Seven wagons, huh? That’s a lot to guard.”

“Guess that’s why the request sheet recommended bringing along acquaintances.”

“Yeah, but will we even get paid extra for bringing more people? I mean, they’re the ones asking for it.”

“Who cares? As long as I get my hundred silver coins, that’s all that matters.”

Amid the crowd, Grace stood alone at the treeline in her white cloak. She stayed silent, her eyes darting left and right as she watched adventurers trade plans, strategy, or how they’d spend their earnings. A part of her wanted to join in, to learn more about adventuring. But she knew barging in like that would only make things awkward.

After standing by herself for some time, her eyes lit up as she spotted two familiar figures. Without a word, she waved, happiness clear on her face. Then she hurried over to Adam and Galiene.

“Adam! Galiene! I’m so glad you’re here.”

Hooded, Adam and Galiene quickly gestured for silence. Grace clamped her hands over her mouth and approached more quietly.

“Sorry, I was just happy to see you.”

“It’s fine. We’re just trying not to draw attention,” Adam said, and Grace nodded.

“So, which one’s the client?” Galiene asked.

“Over there.” Grace pointed at a woman in a wide leather hat and a long light-green tunic, cinched with a belt. “I heard she’s only a representative, not the actual requester.”

“A representative? Then whoever hired her must be well-off,” Adam muttered.

“…Grace, can we talk for a moment?” Galiene asked.

“Of course. What is it?”

“Adam.” Galiene tilted her chin toward the right, signaling the forest nearby. Adam nodded, and the three slipped away.

-

“…Huh?” Grace gasped after hearing Adam’s words.

“Unfortunately, it’s true. Adam heard it himself,” Galiene confirmed.

“S-So, there’s a chance this convoy is headed straight into a city torn by civil war!?”

“Either that, or we’ll be diverted somewhere else before Dramur,” Adam replied.

“Either way, we’ll likely be attacked. Bandits, we could handle, but if Dramur’s citizens strike, it’ll be messy. Fighting civilians, desperate ones at that… The local government’s conflict with its people has already reached a boiling point. All it’ll take is one spark.”

“Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods, I’m such an idiot!” Grace cried, pounding her head with her fists until tears spilled down. Adam grabbed her wrists to stop her.

“Enough. Beating yourself up won’t help. What we can do is minimize the casualties to come.”

“With you bringing us along, Grace, at least we can help those who don’t know what they’re walking into,” Galiene added gently. Grace calmed at her words, wiping her tears.

“Then… what about the others? Don’t we have to warn them?” Grace asked.

“No. The fact the request came through a representative means nobles are likely behind it. If the job collapses before it even starts, they’ll send people to investigate why. If they discover we interfered, they’ll hunt us down. And the punishment will be one of two things: prison… or death,” Adam said flatly.

“…How do you know all this?” Galiene asked, stunned.

“The one who saved me… taught me.”

-

“Everyone, gather for registration!” the woman in the hat called. The adventurers assembled by the wagons. Adam counted fifteen in total, mages, ordinary adventurers, and even clear beginners judging by their lack of gear.

“Write your names here. These will be sent to the guild for official records so you’ll be paid the amount listed on the request.” She held up the sheet.

One by one, adventurers signed. Adam placed a hand on Galiene’s shoulder, signaling her and Grace closer. They turned to him, Grace startled but listening.
“…You two don’t need the hundred silver coins, right?” Both shook their heads. “Then don’t use your real names. Write fake ones, so the nobles won’t recognize you later.”

Galiene nodded in understanding, but Grace froze.

“I-I’ve never made up a name before…”

“Just write whatever comes to mind. As long as it’s not your real one,” Adam said.

At last, the paper reached them. Grace scribbled down an alias, followed by Galiene. Adam already had a name for his own and wrote Terumoto Maeda, then skimmed the other names, curious about the other names with their own handwritinh. His eyes landed on the final two:

Wand Grillmeat

Alexis Arlat

Adam looked over. Grace crouched, hiding her face behind her hands, while Galiene covered her mouth, stifling laughter.

After finishing, Adam handed the paper back, keeping his hood low. The woman snatched it, read, then rolled it up and tied it with string.
“Everyone listed here will be rewarded the amount stated if you complete your task.” She paused, then continued. “The wagons will depart Spiritforest and travel twenty kilometers east. There, another party will take over the goods. Once the handoff is confirmed, you’ll be brought back with four wagons.”

“We’ve provided drivers and two guards. If you have questions, ask them. Supplies of food and drink are in the crates marked with an S on the outer wagons.” She then raised her voice. “Do NOT touch the crates painted red. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am!” the adventurers replied.

“Good. Board the wagons. If all goes well, you’ll be back by evening, silver in hand to enjoy the night.” With that, she left.

“…Alright, you heard the lady. Get on!” barked one of the guards in chainmail, a greatsword strapped to his back.

The adventurers climbed aboard. The first four wagons were for passengers; the rest held cargo. Adam, Grace, and Galiene boarded the third wagon, sharing space with a few others.

The convoy started forward. And Their journey towards had begun.

-

Hours passed. The cool morning breeze gave way to scorching sun. At their pace, the wagons stirred little wind, leaving most passengers sweating.

But not those in the third wagon. Inside, a refreshing chill spread, as if they were elsewhere entirely. Grace held a shard of ice aloft, surrounded by a gentle spiral of wind magic. The cool air washed over them.

“Smart thinking, Grace,” Adam praised.

“It’s nothing. Just a trick I use when studying outside on hot days,” Grace replied.

“Still, a stress-free environment helps performance when it counts,” Galiene added. She turned toward the two adventurers riding with them, a young man and woman secretly basking in the cool air. Startled, they panicked and gave sheepish smiles.

“Sorry for freeloading .”

“Yeah, forgive us.”

“It’s fine, really. I don’t mind,” Grace said quickly, flustered by their apology.

“You two… you’re beginners, aren’t you?” Adam asked.

“Yes. I’m Ana, and this is Fiz. We’ve only been adventurers for a month.”

“Oh? What requests have you done so far?”

“Not many. Mostly city errands. I don’t know about Fiz, we only met last week, and I’ve been baby sitting him since then.” Ana said proudly.

“Mentoring!? We only met because you dropped your groceries in the street and I was the only one who helped you!” Fiz retorted.

“Anyway, I’m Fiz. Unlike Ana, I’ve helped with monster hunts.”

“Pfft. Slimes? Even newbies don’t count those as real monsters,” Ana scoffed.

“No, no! A monster’s still a monster, no matter how squishy!”

“Sure, sure. Preying on the weak won’t make you strong.”

“You’ve got nerve saying that, when I’ve seen you scolded for botching requests!”

“Stalker!”

“Klutz!”

The two kept bickering. Grace looked lost, unsure what to do, while Adam and Galiene chuckled at their antics.

“W-What do we do in situations like this, Adam?” Grace asked.

“Simple. Enjoy it. You’ll learn when to step in as a mediator. But this time? Just let it play out.” Adam said while smiled.

“What kind of advice is that!?” Galiene swatted his arm.

“Look at them. That’s not anger—it’s friendly squabbling. I’ve seen it plenty of times. Just let them vent.”

“Plenty of times, huh? Sounds like you’re used to this.”

“You saw them the other day. They’re the ones who gave me the idea of what friendly arguments look like.”

“Roger?” Galiene recalled, then fell silent, understanding who Adam meant.

“And watching them… reminds me of you, Grace. I thought you were reserved, but you’re actually pretty lively,” Adam added.

“R-Really…?” Grace muttered, face red as she lowered her head. She remembered their earlier moments and realized Adam was right.

“Hey, you two!” Adam called out to Ana and Fiz. They instantly froze, acting as if nothing had happened. “What made you take this request? It’s different from what you usually do.”

The pair exchanged looks before Fiz answered.

“Well… lately, rookie adventurers have been swapping stories about real adventuring, fighting monsters, climbing mountains for rare herbs. One guy even hauled in two Scrathrias tail with his partner and stayed humble. Isn’t that cool?”

Adam and Grace turned their faces away at that, while Galiene kept listening.

“So we figured we’d try something outside our usual comfort zone. With so many people here, it should be fine. It’s just delivering cargo, right? Nothing dangerous.”

“We? You’re the only one excited about this!” Ana shot back.

“Hey, you want the hundred silver coins too! Admit it.”

“Shut it, you do too!”

“Alright, alright. You’re a team, aren’t you? Don’t keep this up forever,” Galiene cut in.

Adam smiled as he watched. These little things made journeys worth it. And seeing Grace laughing along, he noticed her earlier fear had faded, at least for now.

“AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!”

bloodcurdling scream tore through the air from the second wagon.

“What was that!?”

“It’s coming from up front!”

Fiz and Galiene reacted first, crouching into ready stances. Adam, Grace, and Ana followed.

“EVERYONE OFF!” the lead driver shouted.

Galiene prepared to leap down, but Adam stopped her. He pulled two gray vials, triggered the mechanisms, and hurled them left and right. Small explosions followed, thick gray smoke engulfing both sides of their wagon and the one behind.

“EVERYONE OUT!” Adam roared, vaulting down and leading the charge into battle.

-

In the second carriage, a male adventurer with an arrow piercing his neck lay sprawled on the carriage floor, his body twitching slightly, while his female companion held his neck, desperately trying to stop the blood gushing from the wound.

“BRUNO! BRUNO!”

The woman screamed at him. No matter how hard she pressed on the wound, the blood kept pouring out, his skin growing paler by the second.

“ISN’T THERE A WIZARD AMONG US???”

“DON’T JUST STAND THERE! WRAP HIS NECK WITH CLOTH! COVER THE WOUND!”

“MOVE! I HAVE BANDAGES IN MY BAG!”

Chaos filled the second carriage—panic spread as one of their own collapsed, while others froze in shock, their faces splattered with his blood, the image of the arrow piercing his throat burned into their memory.

“SEIZE THAT CARRIAGE!!”

A shout rang from outside, sending the panic in the second carriage spiraling further.

“All of you, get off the carriage and find out what’s happening outside, while I try to save your friend,” said one of the adventurers with bandages in hand. With no other choice, three of them jumped off with their weapons, circling the carriage. They found themselves trapped between a dense forest on the left and high ground on the right, part of it sloping downward.

As the three kept watch, the sound of shattering glass followed by a small explosion erupted near the second carriage. A cloud of gray smoke suddenly engulfed them. The adventurers grew disoriented, unsure of what was happening.

“What’s with this smoke??”

“Can anyone see something out there?”

Soon, the sound of clashing swords echoed from the front and rear, accompanied by faint screams and cries of pain. The noises came and went, unsettling those still inside the second carriage. They drew their swords and readied their bows, scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement.

“…Bruno didn’t make it.”

The words left those outside weak at the knees—they had lost someone they knew. The man treating Bruno pulled the frightened woman from the carriage and dragged her out with him.

“What’s the situation out there?” he asked.

“HEY!” Getting no answer, he shouted again. He saw them, their focus broken, drowning in grief. Meanwhile, the sound of approaching footsteps grew nearer. Unable to rely on them, he drew a dagger and readied himself for battle.

“FRIENDLY! FRIENDLY!”

From the direction of the voice, Adam and Galiene appeared with Grace, Fiz, and Ana close behind. The man lowered his dagger and approached them.

“You know what’s—”

“No time to explain. Run into the forest on the left and take cover there,” Adam ordered.

“What?”

“This place will be bombarded with magic. Get everyone out!”

“Alright, I’ll handle them. You head to the front carriage and check the situation there.”

Adam nodded. With his group, he advanced toward the first carriage, weapons drawn, prepared for anything. Their eyes swept around clockwise as they moved. Within seconds, they reached the leading carriage, five adventurers stood among seven fallen bodies, four of them carriage driver, all dead.

“Are you all safe?” Adam asked, not seeing the guards who had been with them.

“We’re alive thanks to this smoke. We don’t know where the rest of the escorts went, this smoke has blinded us too. The drivers of both this carriage and the second are dead,” replied a mage, using his staff to heal the sword wounds of another adventurer.

“Forget the magic for now. Run into the forest and take cover, this place will be bombarded soon,” Adam urged.

“Galiene, how much magical energy can you sense up there?” he asked, her eyes fixed on the high ground.

“Eight, and still rising. They’re dead serious about blowing us all up!”

“Fiz! Ana! Head into the forest first, we’ll follow.” Adam clapped Fiz on the shoulder, urging him on.

“Fiz, I know this is your first time cutting someone down, but I need you focused. Can you do it?”

“I can!”

“Good. Go!” Hearing this, Fiz grabbed Ana and ran into the forest, leaving Adam, Galiene, and Grace behind.

“What about the three of you?” the mage asked.

“We have a little plan. Go!”

The Wizard left with the others into the forest.

“So, what’s the plan, Adam?” Grace asked, her gaze fixed on the high ground.

“Grace, I need you to create thick water magic and pour it beneath these carriages.”

“What???”

“Just do it!”

While Adam and the others stood within the gray smoke, someone was watching from above, flanked by a group armed with daggers waiting behind him.

-

“How’s the situation down there?” asked a hooded figure in a black cloak, approaching the observer watching the smoke-filled carriages.

“Honestly, I don’t know. The lingering smoke blocks the view. We don’t want to waste the few arrows we have left shooting blindly. We sent seven men down to check, but after the sound of clashing swords, everything went quiet again.”

“…We can’t linger here. I’ll order the bombardment on those carriages. Be ready to move.”

“Understood.”

The cloaked figure approached ten mages, all prepared to unleash their spells, waiting only for the command.

“Everyone, unleash the most destructive fire spells you know, but don’t destroy the rear carriages.”

“Yes, sir!” the mages replied in unison.

They began readying their magical tools. grimoire, staff, anything capable of channeling power. Aiming them skyward, they chanted their spells.

“Firbaoch!”

“Firscorain!”

As the chants rang out, magic circles appeared above their tools, forming blazing fireballs and countless fire lances. Once complete, the spells shot skyward before diving sharply toward the carriages below. Explosions erupted, fiery impacts lighting up the smoke-choked field, obliterating everything beneath.

“Wow…” the observer was stunned at the sight, the three front carriages vanished under clouds of dust and glowing orange flames. Horses hitched to the surviving rear carriages panicked and bolted.

“Everything below is burned. Order your men to go down there,” another cloaked figure instructed from behind.

“Understood.” The man turned to his subordinates.

“Everyone, we’re moving down. Take whatever you can from the remaining carriages.”

“Yes, sir!” fifteen men answered in unison.

The man and his fifteen subordinates descended toward the abandoned carriages, daggers in hand. Below, the carriages stood frozen, no driver or horses guiding them. One by one, they stepped onto the path. After confirming no one was nearby, some rushed toward the carriages carrying large leather sacks.

“Load those crates into the bags!” the man ordered. Without hesitation, they grabbed the wooden boxes, stuffing them into the sacks, whether they held food or unknown goods didn’t matter.

The dust cloud slowly cleared from the three front carriages, revealing a wreckage torn apart by the magical bombardment, only red stains scattered among the remains. The overseer watched it all unfold before him and concluded that every guard had perished in the blasts.

“How’s the loading going?”

“There’s still plenty left to haul! We need more sacks!”

“Damn it! Some of you head back up and fetch more!”

As the man turned to inspect the loading process, shards of ice began pelting his shoulders. Surprised by the strange occurrence, he looked up, only to be horrified at the sight many of massive chunks of ice forming above.

“EVERYONE, SCATTER!!!”

But it was too late. The ice crashed down at high speed beside the carriages, detonating upon impact, scattering razor shards everywhere, cutting down those without cover.

“FOR BRUNO!!!”

The adventurers burst forth from the forest, weapons in hand, charging at those who survives.