Chapter 48 – Mission Race Rivalry

The guild hall buzzed with energy that morning. The mission board was packed with fresh scrolls, their parchment edges still crisp and smelling faintly of ink. Adventurers clustered around the board, arguing loudly over which missions were worth taking, their armor clanking as they jostled for position.

Zareen had just stepped closer, scanning the list for something worthwhile, when a firm hand landed on his shoulder.

He turned—and froze. Gino stood there, that familiar confident grin on his face.

“Hey, Zareen,” Gino said, voice dripping with challenge. “How about we make things interesting?”

Zareen blinked. “Interesting… how?”

“A race,” Gino replied, his grin widening. “You pick a mission, I pick one. We see who finishes first.”

Before Zareen could respond, Sari gasped dramatically, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “A race? Oh, this is going to be fun. I’m betting on Gino!”

“What!?” Zareen sputtered. “You just… stabbed me in the back without hesitation!”

Doni leaned over and gave Gino a hearty pat on the back. “Sorry, Zareen, but I’ve got to agree with Sari. No offense, bro, but his aura just screams winner.”

Zareen sighed, dragging a hand down his face. *Why is it that every time there’s a bet, no one ever has faith in me?*

Only Yuna remained silent, her expression calm but her sharp eyes flicking between Zareen and Gino. She didn’t speak, but something about the way she was watching them felt… serious, as if she was weighing more than just the outcome of a game.

---

### Choosing the Missions

Gino strode confidently to the board and selected a mission without hesitation: *Exterminate the Goblin Nest in the Western Caves.* It was the kind of task that demanded raw strength and speed.

“Straightforward, fast, and brutal,” Gino said, tapping the mission scroll against his shoulder.

Zareen stepped forward next, deliberately scanning the board. His eyes landed on a different type of request: *Secure the Water Supply for the Southern Village.* It wasn’t a mission of pure combat, but it required creative problem-solving and protection.

He turned, meeting Gino’s eyes. “I’ll take this one.”

Gino smirked. “Fine by me. First one back to the guild with proof of completion wins.”

“Deal,” Zareen said, gripping his staff a little tighter. “Don’t regret it when I come back before you.”

---

### Gino’s Mission

Rumors spread quickly through the guild. Barely half a day had passed when Gino returned, dragging the severed head of the goblin leader behind him as proof of victory.

“Did you see him?” a younger adventurer whispered.

“He walked out of that cave without a scratch,” another replied in awe.

“They say the entire nest was cleared in under an hour!”

When Zareen heard the news, he could only let out a long sigh. *Figures. His speed is insane.*

---

### Zareen’s Mission

While Gino basked in the attention, Zareen set off for the southern village with his party. The problem there wasn’t dangerous monsters, but rather small, slippery water fiends that had been contaminating the village wells and making the water unsafe to drink.

The fight wasn’t difficult, but it was tedious. The creatures scattered quickly, and each had to be driven away without shattering the fragile well walls.

“Speed buff,” Zareen called, channeling lavender light into Sari, who darted forward and disabled the fiends with quick, nonlethal strikes.

Doni covered the area with precise shots, picking off stragglers, while Yuna stood like a sentinel at the well, making sure none of the monsters escaped past them.

But Zareen didn’t stop at just clearing the fiends. When the last of the creatures was driven off, he knelt beside the well and traced runes along the stone with glowing fingers.

“Barrier Seal,” he murmured. A pale lavender light covered the well, forming a magical ward that would protect it from future contamination.

The villagers watched with wide eyes.

“Our water is safe again!” one of them cried.

“Thank you, young mage! You’ve done more than just drive them away—you’ve made sure it won’t happen again!”

Zareen gave a small, tired smile. *Maybe I won’t beat Gino’s record today… but at least this village won’t have to worry anymore.*

---

### Results of the Race

By the time they returned to the guild that evening, Gino was already lounging in a chair, one leg propped casually on the table as he drank from a large mug, looking every bit like someone who had just conquered the world.

“Well?” Gino asked as soon as Zareen entered. “How long did it take you?”

Zareen rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Longer than you.”

Sari slapped the table with a laugh. “Just like I predicted! Gino wins!”

Doni grinned, jingling a small pouch of coins. “And I just got richer from that bet. Thanks, Zareen!”

Zareen groaned and slumped into the nearest chair. *Some friends you guys are…*

But before he could say anything, Yuna spoke up for the first time. Her voice was calm, but it carried through the guild hall.

“Speed isn’t the only measure of success. Zareen’s mission may have taken longer, but the villagers now have lasting protection thanks to the barrier he set. That counts for more than just time.”

The room went quiet for a moment. Gino glanced at her, then turned his attention back to Zareen. His grin softened into something more genuine.

“Heh. Still the same stubborn support mage as ever. Fine. I’ll admit it—you’ve got your own way of winning.”

Zareen looked up, surprised. For the first time that day, the weight in his chest eased. He might have lost the race, but it didn’t feel like a defeat.

Because even in rivalry, there was respect. And that respect was enough to remind him that his path—though slower—was still worth walking.