The first rays of dawn slipped through the window of their small room. Yoshiya stretched, feeling the dull ache of yesterday's mining expedition still in his arms, while Omina was already tying her hair and preparing her gear. They had rested well, and today's goal was clear: return to Orleaf.
Downstairs, the smell of freshly baked bread and steaming stew welcomed them. They ate quietly but contentedly, saving their words for the road. Their stay at the inn was only for a night, so once their plates were cleared, they gathered their belongings and headed straight for Reflynne's outpost.
The outpost's request board was more crowded than usual, covered in notices from top to bottom. Among the stack of papers, one set caught Yoshiya's eye.
"Escort missions… bound for Orleaf."
Omina leaned in and scanned the details. *Perfect timing.* The rewards were structured by adventurer rank:
* 1 silver for 1–2-star adventurers.
* 2 silver 50 copper for 3–4-star.
* 5 silver for 5-star and above.
"Not bad," Omina muttered. "Covers food and the trip home."
"Better than walking empty-handed," Yoshiya added with a grin. They signed their names and received their assignment.
Outside the city gates, the caravan yard was already alive with activity. Five covered wagons stood in a neat line, each hitched to sturdy horses. Merchants barked orders while workers secured crates under tarps. Adventurers gathered in small groups, checking armor straps, testing bowstrings, or murmuring spell chants.
A guild officer shouted above the noise. "Each caravan gets three adventurers! Fifteen in total. Form your groups and get ready!"
The sight inspired Yoshiya and Omina both. There were swordsmen with greatswords slung over their backs, nimble rogues twirling daggers, healers adjusting their staves, and archers stringing longbows with practiced ease.
It felt like a glimpse of the road ahead—the kind of adventurers they hoped to become.
A loud, cheerful voice broke through the hum.
"Eeeyyyy\~\~\~ so you're my partners, huh?"
They turned to see a girl in dark robes with bright eyes and twin tails of jet-black hair. Her presence radiated playful confidence, and faint sparks of mana danced around her fingertips.
"I'm Yami Kurikage," she declared, grinning wide.
"I'm Yoshiya Hazeru," Yoshiya said with a polite nod. "This is Omina Mizuraga."
"Eeeyyy\~ pleasure!" Yami sang out, then eyed them up and down. "Weird setup you've got. Girl with a sword, guy with a wand and shield? Vanguard in robes? Sir, are you for real?"
Omina crossed her arms. "Don't underestimate us."
Yoshiya just sighed. "As long as we get the job done, right?"
Yami laughed, clearly amused. "Relax, relax. I like odd combos. This'll be fun!"
The caravan rolled out of Reflynne with the steady rhythm of wheels and hooves. The morning air was crisp, the road wide, and spirits were high. For the first stretch, everything seemed smooth.
But trouble was never far.
It began with rustling in the underbrush. Low, guttural growls followed. Soon, goblins emerged from the treeline—green-skinned, yellow-eyed, brandishing crude clubs and rusty daggers.
At first, they came in small groups, easily handled by the swarm of adventurers. Arrows whistled, spells burst, and blades slashed. Yoshiya blocked a charging goblin with his shield, forcing it back before Omina's sword carved it down.
"Nice block," Omina muttered, giving him a quick glance.
Yami raised a hand, mana swirling. "Incoming!" A sharp beam of light shot forward, piercing another goblin squarely in the chest. It crumpled with a hiss.
The caravan pressed onward, but the further they traveled, the bolder the goblins became. Eventually, the forest thickened, and the wagons slowed. That was when the real ambush came.
A guttural horn echoed from the shadows. From both sides of the road, more than twenty goblins poured out, snarling with bloodlust. A few rode mangy wolves, their claws scratching at the dirt as they bounded forward.
"Formation!" the guild officer bellowed.
The caravan halted. Adventurers spread out, each group circling their assigned wagon. Yoshiya, Omina, and Yami stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to guard their merchant.
The first wave struck fast. Two wolf-mounted goblins charged straight for their caravan.
Yoshiya braced, shield raised. The impact rattled his arm, but he held steady, shoving the beast back with all his weight. Omina darted past him, blade flashing as she slashed the rider from its mount. The goblin screeched and hit the dirt, only for her to finish it with a swift downward strike.
The second wolf lunged for Yoshiya's side, jaws snapping. He barely shifted in time, the fangs scraping his shield's edge. "Yami!" he barked.
"On it!"
Mana flared in Yami's hands. A violet sphere shot out, exploding against the wolf's flank. The beast howled as the rider toppled, stunned. Omina seized the opening, her sword driving through its chest.
But there was no time to breathe.
Three more goblins closed in on Yoshiya, swinging rusted blades. Sparks flew as metal clashed against his shield. He gritted his teeth, focusing his mana. His hands glowed faintly as he whispered:
"**Focused Heal.**"
A warm pulse surged through his arm, numbing the sting from the impact and restoring his strength. The spell cost less than before—just as Mako had taught him.
"Push left!" Omina shouted, cutting down another enemy. Yoshiya shoved forward, shield bashing a goblin hard enough to send it sprawling. Yami's mana bolts finished the creature before it could rise again.
The skirmish grew fierce. Screams and shouts filled the road as every caravan was attacked. Arrows zipped overhead, adventurers clashed steel with claws, and goblins screeched in fury.
Despite the chaos, Yoshiya felt his role clearer than ever. He was the wall. He absorbed the brunt, keeping Omina and Yami safe so they could strike back.
Finally, after what felt like endless blows, the last goblin fell with a gurgling cry. The road was littered with corpses, and the smell of blood clung to the air.
The merchants quickly urged the caravans forward again, not wanting to linger near the bodies. Adventurers regrouped, patching wounds and catching their breath.
"You really stood your ground back there," Omina admitted quietly, wiping her blade. "Even in a robe."
Yoshiya gave a small smile. "Told you. Shield, wand, and some healing—more than enough."
Yami clapped him on the back with a grin. "Eeyyy\~ not bad, robe-boy. Maybe you'll survive this crazy world after all."
Yoshiya just rolled his eyes, but inwardly, he was proud. He had tanked. He had healed. And he had protected.
The rest of the journey went smoother, with fewer goblin sightings as they neared Orleaf's outskirts.
When the caravan rolled into Orleaf, the merchants descended from their wagons with visible relief. One approached Yoshiya, Omina, and Yami.
"You three… thank you. Without your defense, we might've lost goods—or worse." He pressed coins into their hands.
Yoshiya and Omina received **one silver each.**
Yami twirled her share between her fingers, smiling lazily. "Easy money. Anyway, I've got business elsewhere. Don't get yourselves killed, alright?"
She gave them a final wave before disappearing into the bustling streets.
Yoshiya and Omina watched her go. For all her eccentricity, she had been a dependable ally.
With their reward secured, they wasted no time heading to Bren's forge.
"Bren," Yoshiya began, dropping the pouch of stones on the counter, "I don't know which of these are useful, but we brought plenty."
The blacksmith sifted through the stones, his practiced eye gleaming as he inspected each one.
"Hmm. Not much iron ore here. Not enough for reforging your sword, Omina."
"What? After all that hauling?" she snapped.
"Calm down," Yoshiya muttered.
Bren ignored them both and lifted a faintly glowing azure stone. "These are mana stones. Good for a healer. I can embed them into your wand, make your spells flow stronger."
Then he held up a dark, metallic stone laced with crimson veins. "And this… taconite. Not iron, but if I mix a bit, I can overlay your blade. It'll cut sharper, last longer."
Omina's anger softened into interest. "So… it's worth something."
"As for your shield," Bren said, eyeing the battered piece of metal Yoshiya carried. "Forget it. Beyond repair. But trade me some of these stones, and you can pick one of the shields on display."
Yoshiya hesitated but knew he had no choice. He walked to the rack, ran his hand along several shields, and finally chose a medium-sized one with solid balance and sturdy weight.
"This one," he decided.
Bren nodded. "Good choice. Leave it here. Come back before nightfall; I'll have everything ready."
With time to spare, Yoshiya and Omina went to the Orleaf outpost to log their contribution.
The moment they stepped inside, they froze. The hall was packed to the brim—adventurers shouting, clerks rushing paperwork, guild officers barking commands. The quest board was swamped, covered with new postings.
Omina frowned. "What's going on here?"
Yoshiya narrowed his eyes. "Something big. And I don't think it's good."
Indeed, the air was thick with tension. Whispers spread of goblin forces gathering in the west, too many for local guards to handle. Orleaf needed adventurers.
And it looked like Yoshiya and Omina were about to be swept into something much larger than an escort mission.