Ahrie stepped out of the building.
Daiki rushed up, looking pissed.
"Where the hell did you go?"
Ahrie held up the ring, striking a pose.
Daiki blinked. "You're engaged?"
Ahrie tilted his head, staring at him like a gangster.
They moved on toward the Town Square. The place was noisy—voices cutting over each other, recruiters waving papers and shouting.
"We need three more for a subjugation job—anyone interested?"
"Temporary Link Members! Equal share, no tricks!"
"Looking for a Tank—"
Clang.
A voice cut in.
"Here! Here! I'm a Tank."
A wiry man stepped forward, a small shield strapped to his back.
The recruiter squinted. "You sure? You're… Kinda small and slim to be a tank."
The skinny guy slapped a hand on the recruiter's shoulder, grinning.
"I'm the best tank around."
From the back, Daiki muttered, "He doesn't look like a tank…"
Ahrie didn't even glance at him.
"And you don't look like a human. Shut up. Focus on finding a job, you dimwit."
Ahrie and Daiki kept weaving through the Town Square chaos.
"Close-combat fighters needed for a subjugation job!" someone bellowed.
Ahrie and Daiki looked at each other…
And rushed over there.
"Hi, we fight close-combat," Daiki said, a little too eager.
The man grinned. "Perfect. Come on, I'll take you to the others for the details. Name's Henry."
They followed him down a side street until the clamor of the square dulled.
The place he stopped made them freeze.
A polished sign. Lanterns glowing warm. Windows so clean they looked fake.
An expensive fucking restaurant.
Daiki leaned close, whispering through clenched teeth.
"Psst… Ahrie… this place looks expensive."
"Then the pay must be good." Ahrie replied.
Henry pushed the door open and waved them in. The smell of roasted meat and spiced wine hit like a punch. A long table in the corner was already occupied.
"Yo, Cap. I found people." Henry smirked, sliding into his chair.
Now there were seven.
The man at the head of the table raised his hand. Calm, steady voice.
"I'm Luar, leader of this subjugation. These are my Link members."
He motioned around the table.
"Henry—our tank."
"Hello," Henry said with a grin, thumping his chest.
"Olivia—our mage."
"Hiii~" wiggling her fingers, creating a small glimpse of her skill through her pinky.
"And Aisyah—our healer."
She just gave a small nod.
Daiki leaned forward. "I'm Daiki, and this is Ahrie. We're both swordsmen. In a way…"
The table turned toward the only one who hadn't spoken yet.
A figure cloaked head to toe in a long hooded robe. Her voice was gentle and soft,
"My name is Amariel… I'm a mage."
Luar clasped his hands together. Satisfied.
"We're pretty balanced, alright."
Luar leaned forward, both hands on the table.
"Here's the request—five wild boars. Reward's 210 bronze coins. So 30 each."
Henry let out a low whistle. "Not bad."
"All set?" Luar asked.
Everyone gave a nod.
"Good, We head out tomorrow."
After the meeting, the food rolled in. the four Link members didn't hold back.
Plates stacking, mugs clinking.
Ahrie and Daiki eyed the menu. Then their coin pouch.
Ten bronze… for one fucking set.
"What do you two want?" Luar asked.
The answer, perfectly in sync… "Water."
Henry burst out laughing. "Don't worry, I'll cover it."
The switch was instant. Ahrie and Daiki both raised their hands.
"Two sets of this each."
Ahrie leaned in, smirking. "This bastard set the meeting here just to flex he's rich."
Daiki snorted. "Yeah… Let him pay."
The two grinned like hyenas.
After eating, they split ways to prep for tomorrow—stocking up, sharpening steel, buying what they needed.
Ahrie and Daiki grabbed a couple of mana potions, heading back to their inn—until a flicker of cloth caught Ahrie's eye.
"Is that…" Ahrie muttered.
"That's Amariel…" Daiki confirmed.
The hooded mage was moving quickly, slipping into a narrow alley.
Curiosity… or maybe suspicion pushed them to follow.
She turned left into a slim, lightless corner.
When they rounded it—she was gone.
That corner was a dead end.
"Weird…" Daiki whispered.
Ahrie's face hardened.
He closed his eyes, then opened them with a cold stare.
"Let's go back," he said, turning.
They walked out, silence heavy between them.
The alley stayed empty.
Then—
Drip
Drip
Blood fell from above.
Morning came.
Everyone gathered at the Town Square.
"Why the hell do we have a big-ass carriage?" Daiki asked.
Henry laughed. "We don't have subspace here. This ain't a game."
Aisyah was busy feeding the horse.
Ahrie scowled. "What a drag…"
Then his eyes flicked to Amariel—quiet, hood drawn low.
Caution in his stare.
"Everyone ready?" Luar asked.
They all nodded.
The group rolled toward the gate.
Olivia glanced back. "What's your level, Ahrie? Daiki?"
"We're both Level 1," Ahrie replied.
"We just got here a few days ago," Daiki added, trying a little too hard to sound smooth.
Olivia chuckled. "Ohh… so that's why."
Ahrie narrowed his eyes. "What about you guys?"
"Cap's almost Level 3. The rest of us? Level 1, nearly 2," Olivia said.
Daiki frowned. "Wait—what? You've been here how long?"
"Four months, give or take," she answered.
Henry leaned over, smirking. "Wuut… you guys don't know? Once you kill monsters, you'll get it. Exp, progression. You'll be pissed for sure."
Ahrie's gaze cut back to Amariel.
"And you? Your level?" His tone was sharp.
"Two," she said flatly.
Ahrie turned his head toward the road again, silent.
The carriage rattled on, wheels grinding stone. Carrying them toward the hunt.
After a few minutes of rattling down the road, Luar yanked the reins.
The carriage lurched to a stop.
"We'll rest here. We're close to the edge of the Southern Forest."
They got to work. A small firepit was dug, pots and pans clattering into place.
Clink
Clank
Henry unhitched the horse, letting it graze in the open grass.
Luar dusted his hands and glanced over.
"Henry…"
"You, Ahrie and Daiki hunt something. Help them get accustomed here."
He gave a quick wink.
"Got it," Henry replied with a smile.
He turned, stretching his shoulders. "Hey, let's hunt some food."
The three slipped into the brush, boots crunching over dead leaves.
Snap
Crack
Not long after, two shapes came into view: a slim rabbit grazing on roots… and that goddamn chicken.
Daiki's face soured instantly. "Ugh…that fucking chicken again."
Ahrie groaned, pointing. "Henry… mind if we hunt the rabbit instead?"
Henry just grinned, wide and suspicious.
"You wanna hunt it? Okay, let's go."
Daiki muttered under his breath, voice sharp. "...what's that bastard's deal?"