Chapter 5 Arc 1 The Windmill

Chapter 5

Arc 1

The Windmill

Sophie looks at Koro. “Sorry for the misunderstanding. I took the same quest. There was this massive hill—I climbed over it. I saw the village but headed straight to the windmill. When I spotted you, I assumed you were one of the bandits.”

Crystal peeks out from behind Koro, shy. “N… no. He saved all of us. He already defeated everyone.”

Koro nods.

Sophie smiles. “Ha! Look at the newcomer. I guess I’ll have to tell Maya you did a great job.”

Koro starts walking, the survivors trailing behind him along with Crystal. Sophie tags along as they head back toward the village. Ahead, Rose and the chief stand frozen, eyes wide as the returning villagers come into view—not as many as before Crimson’s attack, but enough to warrant celebration. Rose sprints forward and throws her arms around her younger sister, Crystal.

Sophie gives Koro a soft punch on the arm. “Seems like you really did this place a favor.”

Koro nods quietly. His mind drifts to Crimson’s final words about the dark elf—and to the sheer number of souls sacrificed for one man’s selfish hunger for power. It makes Koro wonder: in a desperate, dire moment, would he ever do the same?

“Huh? Koro, what’s wrong? You look conflicted.”

Koro glances at Sophie. “It’s nothing.”

Sophie isn’t convinced. “What do you mean ‘nothing’? Oh, I see—you’re trying to play the stoic type, pretending your injuries don’t hurt. Well, I’m not buying it, mister. Something’s bothering you, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”

She leans in close, jabbing a finger into his cheek with a teasing smile. Koro meets her eyes. “Geez, I just met you. How are you already this annoying, huh, sharp ears?”

He reaches up and playfully grabs one of her pointed ears. Then he walks off, tightening the ropes on Selina. Sophie looks offended. “Wha—sharp ears? That’s rude! And I’m not taking insults from a Legend Cry newcomer who looks like he just got his ass handed to him.”

Koro flushes, embarrassed. “What? Shut up! You wouldn’t understand. I had to fight this stupid wolf thing and its psychotic owner.”

Sophie smirks and laughs. “Oh please, spare me the excuses. If it were me, I’d have finished this quest in thirty minutes tops. Not eighteen hours like you.”

Koro rolls his eyes. “No, you wouldn’t.”

Sophie stomps her foot defiantly. “Yes, I would.”

Koro smirks. “And I said no you—wait. Eighteen hours? Has it really been that long?”

Sophie laughs again. “You really are a dumbass. Don’t you keep track of time on the job?”

She crosses her arms, smirking up at him. Koro meets her gaze, a faint blush creeping in. “Never thought I needed to.”

He gently tugs Selina along. Sophie notices the green-haired woman bound and gagged but holds her questions for now.

Koro addresses the villagers. “Alright, listen up. Your village is destroyed, and I’m deeply sorry for that. We need to relocate you—and I’ve already decided where. Sierra Village, home of Legend Cry.”

Six hours later, Koro and Sophie had escorted the survivors all the way from Majane Village to Sierra Village, where they found refuge.

Sophie heads into the Legend Cry guild and sits down. Koro lingers just outside, leading the silent, guilt-ridden Selina into the woods. Tears stream down her face. “A… are you going to kill me?”

Koro looks down at her—completely vulnerable, tied, and emotionally broken. His eyes tremble with unease. He could turn her in… or let her go.

“If I turn you in, they’ll give you the death sentence, no question. But knowing your history—how Crimson forced you into this—I… I can’t see myself letting you die. I know it’s the ‘just’ thing, but I’m not really a hero. I don’t have to follow heroic rules. I’m just a normal person with high magical ability who wants to have fun and become a great adventurer. I’m an adventurer—not a hero. So I’m going to be selfish… and let you go, even though your new existence will be an insult to the villagers I saved.”

Koro slices through the ropes binding her hands and legs. Selina doesn’t look back. She stands, sobbing harder. “I don’t deserve this mercy.”

Her mind is relieved, but her heart is shattered. A single tear trails down Koro’s cheek. “Yeah… I know you don’t. That’s why I want you to change your name, your identity, your appearance. Then live the rest of your life morally. That’s my wish for you.”

Selina nods and slowly walks away into the vast woods, never to be seen again.

Koro returns to the guild. Maya approaches. “There you are, color-eyed boy. Come on—it’s time to meet the guild master. He wants to see you personally after completing the quest.”

Koro startles. “Hey, Maya, wait a second—ahhh, damn, you’re strong! Shit, you don’t have to pull so hard!”

Maya drags him by the ear upstairs. Sophie chuckles at the sight. Koro flips her off as he’s hauled into the office.

Maya forces him into a chair. “So, is this the new A-rank? I must say, I’m impressed, Mr. Hailey.”

“Umm… actually, just call me Koro. No need for the formal last name.”

The guild master turns in his chair. Gray hair, pale skin, black eyes behind glasses—an older man who somehow looks oddly youthful. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m so glad to have a valuable adventurer in my guild. My name is Telrais. Now, tell me about your quest.”

Koro offers a small smile and recounts almost everything: the adventure, Crimson, the dark elf named Kahlani. He deliberately leaves out Selina, as if she never existed.

Telrais looks surprised. “Did you say Crimson—the former A-rank adventurer? So that’s where he’s been. Well… I suppose he’s dead now, since you killed him. You did a great deed—obtaining cursed vitality is incredibly dangerous. As for Kahlani… I’ve heard of her. She belongs to a corrupted guild called Soul Shock, based in the capital. You’re probably wondering why the capital tolerates them. Soul Shock is more than a guild—it’s a system within the system. They’re so powerful, with an abundance of S-ranks, that the capital fears open conflict would spark a devastating civil war. Their leader, Jamar, is a terrifyingly strong guild master. The capital could hire other S-ranks, but most aren’t strong enough to take him down. Only about fifteen or twenty could—and they’re all tied up on high-value quests. The magic council has registered 337 S-ranks total. To reach S-rank, you need enough mana output to destroy a continent. That’s how rare—and how dangerous—they are.”

Later, at the bar, Koro sits brooding over Telrais’s words. Violet eyes him. “Hey, pretty boy. What’s got you so down in the dumps?”

Koro glances up. “Nothing much. This is just my poker face.”

Sophie slides in extremely close. “So, color-eyed boy… I’ve noticed your potential. How would you like to join my party?”

Violet raises an eyebrow. “Your party? Seriously? I thought you always worked alone.”

Sophie smirks. “Yeah, well… maybe I changed my mind. Besides, I wouldn’t mind having a pretty boy on my roster.”

Koro laughs. “Yeah, right. Like I’d join your roster. Face it, sweetheart—you’re not on my level. You’re way too soft. And I don’t work under anybody.”

Sophie presses her chest against him teasingly. “What about now, huh, big guy? Would this take the edge off, since you’re such a stubborn, hard-headed—”

Koro grabs her pointed ears and stretches them playfully. “Yeah, yeah—enough talking from you, sharp ears.”

He blushes as he toys with her ears. She glares at him, annoyed—but there’s a spark of amusement in her eyes.