Chapter 7 Arc 2 The Ring of Andrea

Chapter 7

Arc 2

The Ring of Andrera

The next morning at 10 a.m., Sophie nudges Koro. “Yo, purple eyes. Did Alice heal your injuries from the windmill?”

Koro glances up from where he’d zoned out staring at her curves. “Huh? Oh yeah, she healed them just fine. I’m completely regenerated now. She really is the opposite of her brother.”

Sophie looks ahead. “So you seriously don’t like water magic?”

Koro squirms in the straightjacket Sophie has him wrapped in. “No—not just water magic. I hate water in general. Now get me out of this dumbass thing!”

He wobbles around dramatically. Sophie drops him. “Aww, you’re such a big baby. Relax, dude. I’m just testing a theory.”

Koro looks up at her. “Huh? What theory?”

She hoists him over her shoulder, his face inches from her lower back. “Ahhh, damn—why the hell are you so heavy?”

Koro smirks, eyes locked on her. “Well, you’re an elf woman and I’m a human male.”

Sophie frowns. “Huh? The hell is that supposed to mean?”

Koro keeps staring. “Elves have less muscle mass than humans, but more mana output. Not to mention your—”

Sophie glances at his dangling legs. “Why’d you stop? Keep going. You already pissed me off.”

Koro looks up from her backside. “You’re an elf and a woman—so that’s double the defect.”

Sophie’s expression darkens. “You know I’ve noticed you staring at my ass the whole time, right? You even zoned out to it.”

Koro pauses. “Well… there’s nothing else to look at besides your massive—”

Sophie hurls him off the cliff toward the river below. “TMI! I HATE YOU!!!”

Nine minutes later, Koro coughs up water and rips free of the straightjacket. “What kind of adventurer even wears leggings anyway? I was distracted.”

Sophie glares. “The elf kind, dumbass.”

Koro stands. “So that was your grand theory? Throw me down some stupid riverfall just to see if I’d live?”

Sophie scratches the back of her head. “I was gonna pull you out… eventually.”

Back at the guildhall, they stand in front of the bulletin board.

“Hey, color eyes—which quest next?”

Koro points. “Probably the one with the ring in the picture.”

Sophie snatches the paper. “Wow—S-rank. Are you sure both of us combined even hit S-rank mana output?”

Koro nods confidently. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure we do.”

Sophie sighs. “Well… guess we need to get our mana checked by the guild master.”

In Telrais’s office, the guild master raises an eyebrow. “So let me get this straight—you two A-rankers want to take an S-rank quest?”

Koro nods eagerly; Sophie looks unsure.

Telrais pulls out the magic scale. “To qualify for an S-rank quest, your mana has to be capable of leveling an entire kingdom.”

Koro and Sophie exchange a glance and nod. Koro places his hand on the scale first.

AHHHHHH!!!

A swirling mix of blue and purple aura erupts from Koro’s body. Telrais murmurs to himself, “Huh… strange.”

The scale absorbs and reads the output. “Pretty strong—large city level, almost mountain. Now you, Sophie.”

Sophie steps up. Golden mana pours out. Telrais reads the result. “Large city level… but slightly weaker than Koro’s.”

Sophie’s jaw drops. “Wha—HOW?! But I’m… and he’s…”

Koro bursts out laughing. “Damn! Guess that makes you my bottom second fiddle. I always knew you were just some lame-ass el—”

Sophie jabs her fingers into his eyes. “Shut up, purple-eyed freak! I fucking hate you. Hey, guild master—does this mean we can do this stupid quest already?”

Telrais smiles nervously. “Umm… yeah. You two just barely meet the requirements.”

Sophie drags Koro out by the arm while he rubs his eyes, still laughing.

A young teen boy drives the carriage. Koro and Sophie cram into the backseat—Sophie perched in Koro’s lap, his head ducked low.

“Is this seriously the best ride you could afford?” Sophie complains. “I thought the windmill quest paid well. Where’d all the money go?”

Koro blushes in the tight space. “Most of it went to buying a house in the village. And some training equipment.”

Sophie rolls her eyes, leaning back against his chest. She lazily slaps his cheek. “You useless, pathetic, arrogant, low-IQ dumbass. Ugh—you can’t even drive your own carriage, so you gave it to a sixteen-year-old?”

The boy stops. “Mr. Hailey, this is as far as I can go.”

Koro nods. Sophie climbs out of his lap and steps down. Koro stretches his legs. “Damn… why is your butt so big? My legs feel like acid.”

Sophie smirks. “Eh, deal with it. You’re like 6’6”.”

“No—I’m 6’7”. Get it right.”

The boy hands over their travel bags. Koro takes them and tosses him a handful of gold coins. “Thanks, man.”

The boy catches them. “Thank you, mister. Hope you guys do well on your quest.”

Koro and Sophie nod. Sophie reads the quest paper aloud.

“Okay… apparently the Ring of Andrera belongs to royalty—Princess Andrea the Third, in the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Rushdan. Generations ago, it was stolen by a thief and his crew. It originally belonged to Queen Andrea the First—one of the ten legendary weapons of power. It connects to the spirit world, granting access to spirit energy. The thief fled to an ancient temple and sacrificed his life in a magic contract: the temple would bar anyone from the capital or anyone with good intentions. His crew could enter freely to retrieve it—but they were arrested before they could. The only way past the barrier now is S-rank-level power. Our goal: bypass the barrier, enter the temple, find the ring, and return it to Princess Andrea the Third.”

Koro stares. “Huh… seriously? One of the ten legendary weapons? No wonder it’s S-rank.”

Sophie glances at her bow, then ahead. They approach the temple, a massive dome of magic shimmering around it.

Koro and Sophie exchange a look. They step forward—BOOM. Both faces slam into the barrier.

“Owww!”

They groan in unison.

They press both hands to the dome and unleash their full mana output. After a few seconds, the barrier gives way. They tumble through.

Koro and Sophie stand inside. They stare up at the grand, ancient temple.

Forty-five minutes later, Koro peers into the dark tunnels, his purple eyes glowing faintly.

“Hey, color eyes—where are you going? I’m clearly over here, idiot.”

Koro grumbles. “Oh, shut up. I have a bad sense of direction in the dark.”

Sophie sighs. “But we’re barely even in the dark. Look—my fire arrow is lighting the place up.”

Koro rolls his eyes. “Like hell it is.”

Eventually they reach a chamber bathed in bright light. Sophie dismisses her fire arrow. There, on a stone pedestal, sits the Ring of Andrera.

Koro approaches. Sophie follows. “Hey, wait—don’t just rush in. What if it’s a trap?”

Koro waves her off. “Nonsense. There’s no trap. Come on, let’s grab the ring and head back to the capital.”

He reaches out with his right hand.

SPLECHE!!!!

Blood sprays. His pinky, ring, and middle fingers are gone—severed by a massive sword projectile.

Koro’s hearing fades. He turns his head slowly. Sophie’s eyes flicker with shock and raw fear—fear of losing him. Tears spill down her cheeks almost instantly, pure concern etched across her face.