The soft creak of wood and the faint murmur of voices woke Yoshiya from his sleep. He blinked up at the low ceiling beams of the inn, sunlight already streaming in through the thin curtains. Beside him, Omina was still sprawled across her bed, an arm thrown over her eyes, her dark hair in wild tangles from the night. The scent of baked bread drifted from the kitchen below, mingling with the smell of old pinewood.
"We overslept," Yoshiya murmured, swinging his legs off the mattress.
Omina groaned. "We were up training until midnight. Of course we overslept."
Downstairs, the common room of the inn buzzed with low conversation. Merchants in travel-worn coats whispered over their mugs. Two adventurers hunched near the window, murmuring in urgent tones about the Doom Forest-the same rumors Yoshiya and Omina had been hearing for days.
"They say stronger monsters have moved into the southern edge," one man muttered. "Earth wolves with horns. Boars big as wagons. And that's only what's been seen."
"Wouldn't go near there myself," the other replied. "Not without a full party."
Yoshiya and Omina ate their breakfast quietly-warm porridge sweetened with honey and a wedge of dark bread-and paid the usual price to the innkeeper. Coins clinked on the counter as Omina slid them across. As they stepped out into the street, the crisp morning air felt sharper than usual, laced with anticipation.
Their first stop was Muramura's smithy. The place was alive with heat and sound-sparks leaping from the forge, hammers clanging against metal. Muramura himself, a broad-shouldered dwarf with an apron blackened by soot, glanced up from his anvil as they entered.
"Back again, eh?" His beard quirked in a grin. "Looking for upgrades?"
"Just browsing," Yoshiya said. "But... we're starting to take tougher jobs. Thought we should see what's possible."
Muramura wiped his hands on a rag and leaned across the counter. "If you two bring me rare materials-fangs, pelts, enchanted cores-I can forge something special. Until then, keep your weapons oiled and your spells sharp."
"We'll keep that in mind," Omina said, eyes roaming the racks of blades and staves. Her fingers lingered on the hilt of a curved sword before she turned away.
When they left the smithy, the street was busier than usual. Carts rattled over cobblestones. A cluster of adventurers headed toward the guild outpost, their armor clinking. Yoshiya and Omina followed.
The outpost's main hall was different today. The wooden counter where Lia usually sat had a new face behind it-a tall young woman with short blue hair and fiery eyes. She wore the guild's pink-and-yellow dress uniform with a ribbon and the emblem stitched on her shoulder. Slim, fair-skinned, and elegant, she drew glances from nearly every adventurer in the room.
"Guess she's new," Yoshiya murmured.
Before he could approach the counter, Omina stepped in front of him. "Let me handle it."
Yoshiya arched a brow but stayed back.
Omina marched up to the desk. "We're here for a quest. Something with boars or wolves. Make it quick."
The blue-haired receptionist blinked, then smiled nervously. "I'm Kireina Miyu. I just transferred here. Of course-"
"Just give us the paperwork," Omina snapped, slapping her hand on the counter. "We're in a hurry."
Kireina handed over two quest scrolls without question. "Good luck, adventurers!"
Omina grabbed Yoshiya by the wrist and dragged him toward the door.
"Don't you want to ask about the conditions? Or failure penalties?" Yoshiya protested as they stepped outside.
"That's not important," Omina said.
"It's literally the most important part," Yoshiya muttered, unfolding the scrolls. His brow furrowed. "These aren't normal hunting requests..."
The first read: **Hunt a Berserker Boar**-a massive crimson wild boar notorious for attacking anything on sight.
The second: **Hunt a Dire Fang Alpha**-a large, mutated earth wolf with horns.
"This isn't what we asked for," Yoshiya said. "These are high-risk targets. Canceling will cost us a penalty."
Omina's jaw set. "Then we finish them. We can handle it."
"Sometimes," Yoshiya said under his breath, "I really question your definition of 'handle.'"
They left Korvath through the southern gate, following the path toward the Doom Forest. Their map had red marks showing the beasts' territories-at least Kireina had included that much. Trees thickened around them as they walked, the canopy above darkening the path. Omina picked herbs as usual while Yoshiya kept a watchful eye on the underbrush.
Hours later, a guttural roar rolled through the woods ahead.
They found the Berserker Boar in a clearing. It was larger than any boar Yoshiya had ever seen, its skin flushed deep red as if blood surged right beneath it. Saliva dripped from its tusks as it bellowed and smashed its head against a tree. Birds burst from the branches and scattered.
"Great," Yoshiya whispered. "It's angry already."
Omina's fingers tightened around her sword. "Then we'll make it angrier."
"Wait." Yoshiya caught her arm. "We use the terrain. The rocks over there-if we draw it close, we might get an advantage."
They crept along the edge of the clearing toward a line of boulders. The boar snorted, pawing the earth. When it turned away, Omina broke from cover.
"Battle Cry!" Her voice rang through the trees as she charged, sword blazing with Aura Blade.
"Wait-!" Yoshiya started, but she was already in motion.
"Heavy Slash!" she shouted, driving her blade into the boar's flank. The beast roared, staggering.
"Why do you always-never mind." Yoshiya thrust out his hand. "Protect!" A shimmering barrier wrapped around Omina just as the boar swung its tusks toward her.
"Mana Parry!" Yoshiya raised his mana-coated shield, redirecting the boar's charge away from Omina and into the rocks. The impact shook the ground. Stones tumbled down, striking the beast's head.
Omina darted behind it. "Guard Break!" Her sword slammed into the same wound, ripping deeper. Blood splattered across her boots. The boar stumbled, its left hind leg dragging.
"Blessing!" Yoshiya called, infusing Omina with a glow that strengthened her grip.
"Fall back!" he shouted. "Let's reset."
The boar roared, eyes rolling, and charged at Yoshiya instead. He braced himself.
"Mana Shield!" A second barrier wrapped around him. He dashed sideways, striking the beast's snout with his wand to keep its attention. "Come on, you brute..."
"Mana Parry!" He deflected its charge again toward the rocks. More stones rained down on its skull. The boar squealed in pain.
Omina seized the opening. "Aura Blade! Guard Break!" Her sword carved into the damaged leg, severing tendons. The beast collapsed onto three legs.
They backed away, panting. Omina fished a blue-green leaf from her pouch and chewed it.
"Now? Really?" Yoshiya demanded.
"I've noticed something during training," Omina said around the herb. "These azure herbs restore my stamina."
"That's-actually brilliant." Yoshiya's eyes widened.
The boar lurched forward, one leg useless. "Protect!" Yoshiya cast another shield. The beast stumbled and fell, snout smashing into the dirt.
"Mana Parry!" He struck its neck with his shield, keeping it down.
"Aura Blade! Guard Break!" Omina drove her sword into the base of its skull. The impact cracked bone. The boar let out a strangled cry, blood gushing.
They both retreated as the beast thrashed. Its movements slowed, then stilled. Finally, the crimson giant collapsed, dead.
Yoshiya leaned against a tree, breathing hard. "That... was luck. Those rocks saved us."
"Whatever works," Omina said, wiping her blade. "We won."
They skinned the boar quickly, stripping off the pelt, tusks, heart, and eyes-anything that might sell for a good price or be forged into equipment. They stored the materials in their packs, then ate a simple lunch of bread, herbs, and wild fruit they had gathered. By the time they rose again, their strength had returned.
As they pressed deeper into the forest, Omina became even more aggressive about picking herbs. "If these really help in battle, we'll need more."
A few turns later, they spotted movement through the trees. A massive wolf stepped into the clearing-gray and dark blue fur bristling, a long horn curling from its brow. Two smaller dire wolves flanked it, lips curled back over sharp teeth.
"That's the Dire Fang Alpha," Yoshiya whispered. "And it has company."
Three against two. If they weren't careful, they'd be overwhelmed.
"I'll go first," Yoshiya said, formulating a plan. "I draw their attention. When they attack me, you take out one of the small ones fast."
Omina nodded. "Got it."
"Blessing. Protect." Yoshiya cast buffs on both of them. "Mana Shield." Blue light flared around his shield as he charged the Alpha.
"Shield Bash!" He slammed into the huge wolf. Lighter than the boar, it staggered backward. He swung his wand at one of the smaller wolves, clipping its snout.
"Now!" he shouted.
"Aura Blade! Heavy Slash!" Omina's sword flashed. She cut deep into the neck of a dire wolf. Blood sprayed as it yelped and fell.
"Protect!" Yoshiya cast a barrier over her just as the Alpha snapped its jaws.
The wolf howled, but Yoshiya lunged, striking with his shield. "Mana Parry!" He drove it into the Alpha's neck, cutting off its howl. Omina finished the wounded wolf with another Heavy Slash. One down.
The Alpha snarled, hackles rising. Only two left-one huge, one small. Yoshiya glanced at Omina.
"Get behind a tree. Let me hold its attention."
She slipped into cover, chewing another herb. Her breathing slowed, steadied.
Yoshiya and the Alpha stared at each other. Neither moved. The first to misstep would lose.
Then Omina burst from the side. "Aura Blade! Guard Break!" She slashed the Alpha's front leg. The wound was deep, making the wolf limp.
It retreated a step and howled again.
"I know that trick!" Yoshiya yelled. He charged. "Mana Shield! Mana Parry!" Again he struck its throat, silencing it. The Alpha reeled.
Omina leapt in. "Heavy Strike!" Her blade hit the same spot. Blood poured from the gash. The Alpha stumbled, coughing.
It couldn't run, couldn't howl. It panted, eyes glassy.
They retreated, panting themselves.
"One more?" Yoshiya asked.
"One more," Omina said, wiping sweat from her brow.
He approached, wand raised. "Protect!" A barrier wrapped around him. He smacked the wolf with his wand, drawing its gaze.
Omina sprinted from the side. "Guard Break!" Her sword plunged into the wolf's throat. The Alpha collapsed, lifeless.
They both sank to their knees, grinning at each other.
"We did it," Yoshiya said.
"Exhausting," Omina replied, "but exhilarating."
They skinned the wolves, taking pelt, claws, fangs, and horn. Everything went into their packs. By the time they trudged back toward the guild, their clothes were smeared with mud and blood.
At the outpost, Lia herself stood at the reception desk.
"You're here too?" Omina asked.
"I'm training the new receptionist," Lia said. She glanced toward a corner where Kireina was being scolded by a manager. "She's still learning. Sometimes she gives quests above people's ranks."
"That explains a lot," Yoshiya said, showing the quest paper and their loot.
Lia's eyes widened. "You fought these monsters? Those are Rank Three targets. And you survived."
She smiled. "Your guild contribution will increase greatly. If you keep this up, you'll be eligible for promotion soon." She gestured to a carved ranking board on the wall.
"Rank Three already?" Yoshiya murmured. "That's fast."
"Faster means stronger," Omina said, her eyes alight.
"Exactly," Lia said. "The stronger you get, the more valuable you are to the guild."
They counted out the reward-eight silver and forty copper for the Berserker Boar, ten silver for the Dire Fang Alpha Wolf.
"If you want to sell your loot," Lia added, "you can earn even more. Or bring it to a blacksmith to enhance your gear."
"We'll think about it," Yoshiya said. "For now, we need rest."
"Is that the boar's heart?" Lia asked, eyeing the wrapped bundle in Omina's hands.
"Yes," Omina said.
"Take it to an alchemist while it's still fresh," Lia advised. "West gate, third street on the right. The sign has a circular leaf. You'll like what they offer."
Yoshiya and Omina exchanged a glance. The idea of new potions-or perhaps enchanted upgrades-was tempting.
"Let's go," Yoshiya said.
They left the guild hall, the weight of coin and loot heavy in their packs but their spirits lighter. The sun slanted low over the rooftops as they walked toward the west gate, toward whatever awaited at the alchemist's shop.