A Dysfunctional Party

Before dawn a few days later, the seven had already set out.

Sir Logan wanted to avoid as much attention as possible, so on top of this, while he and the other three knights mounted on horses, the three criminals had to sit together in the covered wagon, hidden from the outside, while Nout’n drove. For however necessary it was that the most obedient one of the criminals would be the one to drive, even Frederick found it concerning that the tall and crooked man in all black was driving the wagon. After a few hours, when they finally were just far enough from the kingdom gates–

“No more!” Robin shouted and jumped out. He grabbed the wagon bow right at the edge and used it to lift himself up, gracefully landing on top and taking deep breaths and basking in the sunlight kissing his skin. Seeing the small fellow so gleeful, Frederick couldn’t help but stare.

“What is it?” Robin asked, noticing Frederick’s gaze.

“Nothing,” he replied. “Are you sure that will be all you’ll need? We would have provided you more enhanced gear if you asked.”

Robin wore mostly the same outfit he did during his outlaw days. Leather gear over his plain clothes with a bushy green cloak. Truthfully, with a look like that he could easily blend in with the trees, but his bow and arrow as well as his forearm braces were much too old fashioned, it looked like they were one step away from breaking.

“This is what I’m comfortable with. They’re chock-full of runes and enchantments anyway. They may look weak or outdated, but I guarantee they will be much more useful than whatever you guys can offer.”

What’s more, just the night prior, Robin went out to gather equipment, and most of what he chose consisted of gunpowder, a magnamite sharp stone for rune carving, and other seemingly random utility equipment Frederick did not understand the use for.

“Well… I didn’t end up getting everything I normally use, but since I’m not stealing from the castle, I guess I won’t need them,” he sighed.

Just hearing that made Frederick jolt. The bag Robin carried before they left must have been just as big as he was. In the end, the sight just made him chuckle slightly.

“Did I really look that funny to you?” Robin said.

“Kind of. I’ve heard rumours about a great thief before, but never would I have thought it’d be someone so tiny,” Frederick covered his mouth, trying to remain polite in the face of such irony.

“That’s rude. I don’t believe height has anything to do with one’s skill in being a thief of all things. Besides, this was one of the reasons I was able to escape this whole time.”

Somehow, when it was with Frederick, Robin shared more about himself than he normally would. Sometimes he’d catch himself in the act and quickly bite his tongue. The fact he was just so earnest whenever he asked a question made the green hood lower his guard, much to his own dismay.

*******

A few days later, they had their first argument.

“We seriously gotta put up with this shit?” Darakota groaned.

They were all sitting around a campfire, gnawing away on the dried meat they had rationed. It was the perfect night for a quiet meal, ignoring the hardships that were about to come, but Darakota was displeased. As soon as the rations were offered, he gave a disgruntled growl, and while the others started eating, he slammed the meat to the ground and stood up.

“Hey, we need to ration that. If you weren’t gonna eat it, at least leave it for the others,” Robin said.

“Ya wanna eat my leftover shit? Be my guest.”

Darakota stretched his arms and walked away.

“You see, I don’t really understand Darakota. He says he’s hungry, but then slams the food and walks away, that can’t be normal, yes~?” Nout’n said.

The meals they had prepared for this expedition should have been “normal” as far as what adventurers would normally bring in long quests. Lightweight dried rations that could last for long periods of time. But it seemed like Darakota was not one to indulge in such “low quality” food.

“Even if he doesn’t like it, he shouldn’t complain,” Robin said. “Plenty of people would be grateful to be offered something like this. People who barely get enough to survive in a day…”

Rather than angered, the more Robin spoke, his face looked to be in pain. Recalling a memory too displeasing to open up about. As he sank deeper in thought, as if something clicked in his brain, the green hood turned to face Junge with another sharp glare, which made him jump and hide behind Nout’n.

Tristan questioned if they should just leave the adventurer be, but Sir Logan seemed rather unbothered by it. The others also caught onto his strangely relaxed posture, but stayed quiet.

Before long, two distinct loud roars echoed in the forest. One came from a creature that couldn’t have been any smaller than the largest boar they have ever seen, standing at over three meters tall, and another from the large man laughing maniacally and riding it.

Junge screamed as his legs gave out, unable to stand, seeing the beast charge straight at him.

“You idiot!” Robin jumped onto a tree, aiming right for the beast's eye and landing a perfect shot to the small and moving target.

The boar roared in pain and changed directions, but Darakota did not give it the opportunity to turn away. He jumped down, tugging on the boar’s ear and using its momentum to slam it to the ground. And before it could stand up again, the adventurer slammed its head, jamming the arrow even deeper before throwing more and more strikes until all that remained were the grotesque sounds of meat being pulverised.

In the end, the mad man roared once more, wiping the sweat off his brow and smiling gleefully.

“Ya see!? This–is food!”

He laughed out loud while the others just stared in shock and dismay.