Page 1 — After the Applause
The street is quiet again.
Cleanup teams drag away monster remains… and a human body covered with a tarp.
Maru sits on the curb, legs spread, mace resting beside him.
Still shaking.
"…I think I screamed too much."
Sain stands nearby, wiping his spear clean.
"…You screamed efficiently."
Maru looks up.
"…That's a compliment, right?"
Sain nods once.
Page 2 — Watched
From across the street—
Ten hunters observe them openly now.
Different weapons.Different stances.None of them look casual.
One steps forward.
Reva.
Confident. Relaxed. Dangerous.
"You two working solo?"
Maru straightens immediately.
"Uh—yes! I mean—mostly! Sometimes! Today was—"
Sain:"Yes."
Short. Direct.
Page 3 — The Offer
Reva's smile widens.
"That explains how you survived."
She gestures behind her.
The rest step into view.
Vyan cracks his knuckles.
Kaal watches silently.
Virgo studies them like specimens.
Grim's scythe rests on his shoulder.
Anya stands solid, unmoving.
Maya gives a gentle nod.
Bete watches reactions.
Fugu waves cheerfully.
Sagittarius spins her khukri.
Reva:"We're forming a long-term party."
Maru's eyes sparkle.
"A party?"
Sain narrows his eyes.
Page 4 — Why Parties Exist
Kaal:"Solo hunters die fast."
Anya:"Groups make money."
Virgo:"Survival rates increase when skill sets complement each other."
Vyan grins.
"Plus, it's fun watching teammates mess up."
Maru chuckles nervously.
"…I do that a lot."
Page 5 — Sain Hesitates
Sain looks away.
"Thank you for asking… but I prioritize my family above everything else."
He pauses.
Sain:"If it comes down to it…I would protect my family first.Even if other people are in danger."
A heavy silence.
Bete:"There's nothing wrong with that."
He nods.
"It's the same for most of us."
Grim smirks.
"I'd let the world burn if it kept my family safe."
Silence deepens.
Reva steps closer, eyes locked on Sain.
Reva:"You didn't fight like someone who didn't care."
Sain stiffens.
Page 6 — Maru Chooses Instantly
Maru jumps to his feet.
Maru:"I'm in."
Everyone blinks.
Sain:"…You didn't think."
Maru:"I did!"
Beat.
Maru:"I don't ever want to fight bugs alone again."
Sagittarius laughs.
Sagittarius:"I like him."
Virgo exhales.
Virgo:"That concerns me."
Page 7 — The Question of Names
Later.
They sit in a loose semi-circle.
Guild paperwork scattered between them.
Fugu:"So… we need a party name."
Vyan:"Something intimidating."
Maru:"Heroes"
Immediate rejection.
Virgo:"No."
Maru:"But why?"
Reva:
"Too generic"
Page 8 — The Observation
Bete flips through the documents.
"…Interesting."
He looks up.
"All twelve of us were born in different months."
Maya tilts her head.
"…All twelve?"
Sagittarius blinks.
"That's rare."
Sain grows thoughtful.
Page 9 — Zodiac
Sain speaks quietly.
"Twelve months.Twelve signs."
Reva's eyes light up.
Reva:"…Zodiac."
Maru:"That sounds cool!"
Kaal:"Symbolic."
Virgo nods.
"Acceptable."
Grim grins.
Grim:"Fate-based names always sell."
Page 10 — Roles Begin to Form
Reva stands.
Reva:"Then it's settled."
She lowers her trident.
Reva:"We fight as Zodiac."
She looks around.
Reva:"But don't expect your personalities to disappear."
Reva:"They'll decide how you fight."
Vyan cracks his neck.
Vyan:"Perfect."
Page 11 — Friction Foreshadowed
Kaal and Vyan exchange a sharp glance.
Virgo watches Maru with concern.
Grim studies Sain.
Anya subtly steps between louder voices.
Maya notices everything.
Sain exhales.
Sain (thinking):Twelve signs.One cycle.
Let's see what kind of future this creates.
Page 12 — Chapter End
The Guild stamp slams onto the document.
APPROVED PARTY: ZODIAC
Maru beams.
Maru:"…Do we get jackets?"
Fugu laughs
"of course , if you perform well !"
Everybody laughs.
FINAL TEXT BOX
Some groups are formed by strength.Others by necessity.
Zodiac was formed by fate.