Chapter 4:

I took a deep breath, trying to dig through my memory.

This place… Did I know it?

The game had tons of side quests, hidden areas, and forgotten lore.

But nothing about this trade post immediately clicked.

I needed to see more.

More details. More clues.

Something had to jog my memory.

——

Meanwhile, Edward and Silvia just shrugged.

Like a door slamming shut on its own wasn't a big deal.

Edward grinned. "Well, that's not ominous at all."

Silvia sighed. "We should be careful."

Blaire, as usual, didn't react.

Just stood there with her blank expression.

No fear. No tension.

Just… calm.

Then again, when you're hiding ridiculous levels of power, maybe nothing really bothers you anymore.

I exhaled. "Alright. Let's move."

And that's when we found something… different.

——

At first, it just looked like a ruined storage room.

Broken crates, rotting barrels, dust-covered shelves.

But at the center of the room—

A mirror.

Tall. Unbroken.

And wrong.

It wasn't dusty like the rest of the place.

It looked pristine.

Like someone had just cleaned it.

Edward frowned. "Huh."

Silvia tilted her head. "Strange. Why is this still intact?"

Blaire narrowed her eyes. "I don't like it."

Neither did I.

Because the closer I looked at it, the more my skin crawled.

This wasn't just some leftover furniture.

This was important.

I just didn't know why.

Yet.

I exhaled.

"Alright," I muttered. "Now I really need to remember."

Because something told me—

This wasn't just a missing person's case and it's likely what i thought.

We stepped closer to the mirror.

It's as i guessed, some kind of portal, thus we decided to go directly.

No hesitation. No second-guessing.

The moment my foot touched the surface, it rippled like water—then pulled me in.

A brief sensation of weightlessness.

A flicker of cold air against my skin.

And then—

I was somewhere else.

——

The transition was seamless.

No dizziness. No feeling of being torn apart and reassembled.

Just one step in, and we were through.

I exhaled slowly. "Well. That was smoother than expected."

Edward looked around, whistling. "Yeah, I was expecting more drama. Maybe some weird magic effects."

Silvia adjusted her cloak. "This place feels… untouched."

Blaire, as usual, said nothing.

She just scanned the area with cold precision.

And honestly?

That was fine by me.

Because if anything unexpected popped up, she'd clear it instantly.

No need for caution.

No need for holding back.

It was just us here.

And Blaire at full power?

That meant nothing could touch us.

——

The space we entered was massive.

Not a cave. Not a temple.

But a corridor.

Long. Silent.

Made of smooth, obsidian-like stone that reflected faint blue light from an unknown source.

The air was cool. Still.

Not hostile.

Not welcoming.

Just… waiting.

Edward stretched. "Well. No monsters yet. That's a good sign, right?"

Silvia smiled. "I wouldn't be so sure."

Blaire exhaled. "Let's move."

And so, we did.

——

As we walked, I found myself sighing internally.

Because for once?

For once in my life, I didn't have to struggle.

I didn't have to worry about some overpowered enemy wrecking us.

I didn't have to be the one figuring out all the solutions.

I could just… follow along.

Safe. Carried.

I almost wanted to laugh.

Edward noticed my relaxed expression.

He raised an eyebrow. "You seem suspiciously chill."

I smirked. "For the first time in my life, I'm getting carried. Let me enjoy it."

Blaire shot me a glance. "You're pathetic."

I grinned. "Yeah. And?"

She didn't respond.

But I caught it—

The smallest twitch of amusement on her face.

Silvia giggled. Edward shook his head.

And as we walked deeper into the the corridor, I couldn't help but think—

The might actually be easy.

…Probably.

______

After walking for some time, we finally reached the end of the corridor.

The chamber we entered was vast and empty.

No decorations. No signs of life. Just smooth, black stone stretching endlessly in all directions.

And at the center—

A skeleton.

A massive one, clad in ancient armor, holding a tower shield almost as big as its own body.

Unlike the Corrupted Lord, there was no overwhelming presence.

No crushing aura of death.

But that didn't mean it wasn't dangerous.

This thing was built like a fortress.

And the moment its empty eye sockets flickered with eerie blue light—

I remembered.

——

This guy was in the main story.

Not some hidden event. Not an optional boss.

This was an early plot boss from the game.

A test of skill. A brutal opponent for new players to struggle against.

I could already see the patterns.

The way it held its shield slightly forward, reducing openings.

The way its massive sword was positioned to strike from above.

The deliberate movements—slow, but powerful.

This wasn't just a skeleton warrior.

This was a guardian.

A guardian of something important.

I kept my expression neutral, not reacting like the others.

But of course—

Blaire noticed.

——

While Edward and Silvia were still processing the sheer size of the thing, Blaire's sharp eyes flicked to me.

Then, without a word, she stepped closer and tapped my shoulder.

Gently.

It wasn't much.

Just a simple action.

But it meant she noticed.

She always noticed.

I didn't look at her, but I knew exactly what she was thinking.

"You know something."

I kept my mouth shut.

She didn't press further.

She never did.

But she was watching me now.

Waiting.

——

The boss moved.

Slow. Calculated. Deliberate.

And the fight began.

——

It was a bit hard.

This thing wasn't as horrifying as the Corrupted Lord, but it was still a pain to deal with.

Its shield made it nearly impossible to land a direct hit.

Its massive sword could crush you in one clean strike.

And its movements were just fast enough that you couldn't get careless.

Edward cursed as his attack barely scratched its armor. "Tch. This thing's built like a wall."

Silvia kept her distance, preparing spells. "We need an opening."

Blaire, already analyzing its movements, didn't waste words.

She was waiting for a sign.

A clue.

I exhaled.

And decided to give her one.

——

Between dodging and moving, I muttered just loud enough for Blaire to hear.

"Watch its shield. It only moves it slightly when preparing for a heavy attack—that's when you strike."

She didn't even look at me.

Just nodded.

Then, the moment the boss raised its sword, exposing just a small gap—

She moved like lightning.

Her blade slipped through the opening, cutting into the armor's joints.

The boss staggered.

Just a little.

But enough.

Silvia launched a spell. Edward rushed forward.

And just like that—

The tide of battle shifted.

——

I kept giving small tips.

Nothing too obvious. Just quiet suggestions when I noticed something.

Blaire listened.

Never responding.

Never reacting.

Just adjusting.

Every time I whispered something, she executed it perfectly.

And by the time the boss was finally crumbling, I caught it—

That subtle glance she gave me.

Not questioning. Not demanding.

Just… acknowledging.

Then she nodded once.

______

The guardian crumbled, its massive body collapsing into dust, leaving behind only the faint echo of its former presence.

Silence filled the chamber.

Then Edward exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Whew. That was a workout."

Silvia smiled softly. "We worked well together."

Blaire simply wiped the dust off her sword and sheathed it. No words. No reaction. As usual.

Me?

I was already looking ahead.

Because I knew exactly what was next.

And even though I had seen this before—in the game, behind a screen, as a scripted event—

Experiencing it in real life?

That was something else entirely.

——

At the center of the room, past where the guardian had stood, was a raised stone platform.

And embedded into that platform was a longsword.

Classic.

Stone, sword, ancient writing—the whole deal.

I sighed internally.

"Alright. Let's see what we've won."

We stepped forward, approaching the sword.

And as we got closer, I noticed something I had forgotten.

Words.

Carved into the stone beneath the blade.

"I was in the past, now the future is yours."

…Huh.

That was kind of dramatic.

Fitting, though.

I guessed that this was probably Edward's ancestor's sword.

Or at least, something related to him.

Because Edward?

He was staring at it like a moth drawn to flame.

His expression shifted.

The usual grin was gone.

Replaced by something quieter.

Something serious.

He didn't even speak.

Just stepped forward, his hand hovering over the hilt.

I crossed my arms, watching. "So… you gonna pull it out or what?"

Silvia gave me a look.

Blaire, standing beside me, didn't react at first.

Then, almost absentmindedly, she raised a hand and tapped my shoulder.

Again.

She was getting too good at that.

I didn't say anything.

She didn't either.

We just watched.

Because whatever this was?

It was Edward's moment.

——

Then I noticed something else.

A name.

Written in the stone.

"Sword of Clarity."

…Huh.

I had expected something with "light" or "holy" in the name.

But Clarity?

That was… different.

Edward tightened his grip.

And then—

He pulled.

_____

The Sword of Clarity came free with ease.

No dramatic flashes of light.

No sudden surge of divine energy.

Just a quiet pull, like the sword had been waiting for Edward.

He held it up, examining the blade with an unreadable expression.

For a moment, none of us spoke.

Then I sighed. "Cool sword. But this wasn't why people disappeared."

Edward blinked, as if just remembering why we were here.

Silvia frowned. "You're right. This place was just… guarding something. But it wasn't the cause."

Blaire nodded. "We need to keep moving."

I exhaled. Great. More walking.

——

As we made our way toward another passage, I glanced back at the crumbled remains of the guardian.

I had hoped to loot something.

The shield? Gone.

The armor? Dust.

Even the sword it carried? Shattered.

There was nothing left.

No rewards.

No rare items.

No secret drops.

Just ash and dust.

The only loot I had managed to get since meeting the trio was from those wolves I harvested when we first met, and that poor shaman, rest in peace buddy, i will remember you forever.

I sighed deeply.

"Man… this world is stingy."

Edward smirked. "What, hoping for treasure?"

I crossed my arms. "Listen. If we're risking our lives, we should at least get something cool out of it."

Blaire gave me a blank look. "You survived."

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and?"

She stared at me for a second longer.

Then she just shook her head and kept walking.

Silvia giggled.

Edward patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy. Maybe next time we'll fight something that actually drops something."

I muttered under my breath. "There better be."

——

We followed the new path, moving deeper into the depth.

The air grew colder.

The walls became rougher, more ancient-looking.

And the deeper we went, the more we felt it—something was wrong here.

Then, finally, we found it.

——

A ritual site.

Massive.

An open chamber with black stone pillars, each carved with twisting symbols that pulsed faintly.

At the center—

An altar.

Dark, towering, and stained with something old.

Something that looked like blood.

Silvia inhaled sharply. "A sacrificial altar."

Edward tensed. "This… is bad."

Blaire didn't react.

But I could tell—she didn't like this either.

And me?

I was already scanning the area.

Trying to remember if this was something I had seen before.

I scanned the altar, my mind racing.

This… looked familiar.

The dark stone. The strange symbols. The eerie, pulsing glow.

I had seen something like this before.

But in the game, this was just background lore.

An old cult. A forgotten ritual site.

It was never a main event.

So why was it here now?

I frowned. Something was different.

Something had changed.

Edward tightened his grip on his sword. "So… any ideas?"

Silvia stepped forward cautiously. "This site is active. The magic here isn't just old—it's still in use."

Blaire nodded. "That means someone's been here recently."

That was not good.

I exhaled slowly. "Alright. Let's think. If this is an active ritual site, then that means—"

Then I saw it.

And my stomach dropped.

Chains.

Hanging near the altar.

Blood still fresh.

This wasn't just some old abandoned site.

This was a place of sacrifice.

And it had been used recently.

Edward followed my gaze and cursed.

"Shit. That means the missing people…"

Silvia's expression darkened. "Might still be here."

Blaire didn't say anything.

She just stepped forward, her hand resting on her sword.

Ready.

I sighed deeply.

Of course.

Of course, our simple missing person's case had led to a cultist nightmare.

Why did I even expect anything different?

I took a slow breath. "Alright. Let's search the area."

We spread out, moving carefully.

Looking for any clue about what was going on here.

Then something moved in the shadow.

——

Blaire was the first to react.

She turned her head slightly, her hand already on her sword.

Edward and Silvia noticed too.

The air felt wrong.

Heavy. Suffocating.

Like something unseen was watching us.

Silvia whispered, "We're not alone."

Edward exhaled. "No kidding."

Blaire didn't say anything.

She just moved.

And that's when it happened.

——

From the darkness, they emerged.

Hooded figures, robes tattered and dark.

Their faces were obscured—either by shadow or something worse.

Their presence sent a shiver down my spine.

Because even without seeing their expressions, I knew.

These weren't ordinary cultists.

The way they moved—slow, deliberate, with an unsettling calmness—told me everything.

They weren't just here.

They were waiting.

For us.

For something.

And then, in a low, hollow voice…

One of them spoke.

"Ah… you arrived sooner than expected."

What.

——

That wasn't right.

That was not something a generic enemy should say.

That sounded… personal.

Like they knew us.

Like they knew I was coming.

I clenched my teeth.

Okay. Screw that.

I kept my stance firm. "And you are?"

The figure chuckled.

Soft. Mocking.

"We are merely servants. And you… you are about to play your role."

My fingers tightened around my weapon.

Edward whispered, "Yeah. I don't like this."

Silvia's magic flickered around her hands.

Blaire's posture shifted.

She was about to strike first.

I exhaled.

Well.

It's as expected.

The tension between us reached it's peak.

One of the hooded figures at the front stepped forward.

Then—he lowered his hood.

A face was revealed.

A face that shouldn't have been here.

A face that Silvia recognized immediately.

Her eyes widened.

And then, in a voice filled with confusion and disbelief—

She shouted his name.

"Dorian?!"

——

The name hit me like a hammer.

Dorian Vale.

The merchant from our report.

The last recorded person to go missing.

The one we were supposed to be looking for.

And here he was.

Standing before us.

Dressed in cultist robes.

With lifeless, unfocused eyes.

——

For a moment, no one moved.

Edward muttered, "What the hell?"

Blaire's grip on her sword tightened.

Silvia looked shaken. "No… this isn't right."

I narrowed my eyes. "He's not acting like himself."

We all saw it.

Dorian's skin was normal.

Not twisted. Not decayed.

And that was the problem.

If these were just monsters or undead, it would make sense.

But this?

His blank stare, his unnatural stillness—

It screamed being under control.

——

Then more figures stepped forward.

One by one, their faces became visible.

And they were all human.

Different ages. Different builds.

But every single one of them matched the missing people from the report.

Edward exhaled sharply. "No way…"

Blaire's eyes flickered between them, calculating.

Silvia whispered, "They're being manipulated."

I clenched my jaw.

That led to one question.

By who?

And then—

We got our answer.

Because from the darkness behind the altar, a voice emerged.

Smooth. Cold. Filled with amusement.

"Ah… you noticed quicker than expected."

A new figure stepped into the light.

And I immediately regretted seeing it.

It was wrong.

A twisted humanoid mass of flesh, its face looking like two slabs of meat glued together in the worst way possible.

Like someone had tried to make a face but gave up halfway.

And instantly, I felt it.

This wasn't just another cultist.

This was the one behind everything.

The true threat.

And for some reason—

I felt like I had seen it before.

Somewhere.

In the game.

And then, before I could stop myself, the words just burst out of my mouth.

"BUTTFACE?!"

——

Silence.

Edward and Silvia just sighed.

Blaire rolled her eyes.

Like they had already accepted that I was like this.

The creature, however—

Did not take it well.

Its body twitched violently, and I swear, even though it had no proper eyes, I could feel the sheer amount of hatred directed at me.

It let out a low, distorted screech, and I just knew.

I was the target now.

——

I groaned, already preparing to dodge.

"Great. I pissed it off."

Edward smirked. "You did call it 'buttface.'"

Silvia sighed. "Could you at least try not to anger the horrifying creatures?"

Blaire just muttered, "Idiot."

I waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah, whatever—more importantly, I know what to do."

That got their attention.

Blaire raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

I pointed at the controlled people. "This thing's main attack is dark magic."

Silvia's eyes widened slightly. "Which means…"

I grinned.

"I can tank it."

Blaire exhaled sharply.

Edward chuckled. "Oh, I love where this is going."

I cracked my knuckles.

"This thing thinks it can control people with dark magic?"

I grinned wider.

"Let's see what happens when it wastes all of it on me."

The monster twitched again.

Then, with a hateful shriek, it attacked.

And I?

I charged straight at it.

Time to ruin this ugly creature's plan.

The monster screeched, its entire body shuddering like a mass of unstable flesh—then it threw its hands forward.

Dark magic surged toward me, swirling like black fire.

I ran straight into it.

—---

Pain ripped through me.

Like my bones were being crushed from the inside.

Like my skin was being burned without fire.

I clenched my teeth, stumbling slightly, but I kept going.

Because while it hurt like hell—

That was it.

Just pain.

No corruption.

No control.

No being turned into a mindless puppet.

I was fine.

Which meant this monster just wasted a massive attack for nothing.

Perfect.

—---

The creature stilled, as if it couldn't process what just happened.

Edward whistled. "Oh wow, you're really doing it."

Silvia sighed in relief. "It worked."

Blaire just shook her head.

I grinned, flexing my fingers. "Alright, buttface. Come again?"

The monster twitched violently at the insult, then launched another attack.

I charged forward again.

—---

This was the plan.

I was going to be its favorite target.

I was going to tank every single one of its spells.

And while it wasted all its magic on me—

The others would clean up.

—---

The moment I took another blast of dark energy to the chest, Edward sprinted forward.

His new sword, the Sword of Clarity, flared with brilliant light as he slashed at the controlled people—not to harm them, but to break whatever magic was holding them.

It worked.

With each hit, the cultists jerked violently, their eyes flickering as if waking up from a nightmare.

Silvia backed him up, using small purification spells to speed up the process.

One by one, the captives started collapsing, free from control.

—---

The monster finally realized.

It let out a furious screech, snapping its attention away from me to the others.

Big mistake.

Blaire moved instantly.

She blurred forward, her blade cutting deep into the monster's side, her movements precise and lethal.

The creature howled in agony, its body flailing, trying to retreat.

I didn't let it.

With my body aching from repeated dark magic blasts, I grabbed its disgusting, pulsing arm and held on tight.

It struggled, screeching, but I kept my grip firm.

"Where do you think you're going, buttface?"

Blaire didn't hesitate.

She finished it.

One clean strike—straight through its core.

The monster let out a guttural, warping cry—

Then collapsed into itself.

—---

Silence.

Then Edward exhaled. "Well. That was gross."

Silvia wiped her brow. "At least it's over."

Blaire sheathed her sword. Unbothered.

I just lay on the ground, wheezing.

"…Ow."

Edward grinned, stepping over me. "Good job, meat shield."

I groaned. "I wonder why i always do that even if i say i won't."

Blaire scoffed. "You're going to do it again."

I sighed deeply.

She was probably right.

But at least we won.

I hope next time won't be here soon.

I stayed on the ground, staring at the ceiling.

everything was quiet.

No monsters.

No horrifying bosses.

Just… peace.

For now, anyway.

——

The people who had been controlled slowly started waking up.

Groggy. Confused. But alive.

Dorian Vale, the merchant Silvia had recognized, was the first to fully regain his senses.

He groaned, rubbing his temples, then blinked rapidly as his surroundings came into focus.

"What…?" His voice was hoarse. Tired.

Silvia kneeled beside him. "You're safe now."

Dorian's eyes widened. "The cult! The ritual! We—"

He cut himself off, looking around.

Noticing the collapsed figures of the other captives.

Noticing the disintegrating remains of the monster.

Realization slowly settled in.

"…It's over?"

Edward grinned. "Yep. We took care of it."

Blaire simply nodded, arms crossed.

Dorian exhaled deeply, his entire body relaxing as tension left him.

Then, finally—

He told us everything.

——

What Happened Here is simple.

It started with strange disappearances.

Travelers, merchants, even some adventurers had been vanishing along the western roads.

Dorian himself had been captured just days ago while traveling alone.

They were dragged here—forced to kneel before that altar.

And then…

That thing appeared.

The Buttface Monster.

(Not what he called it, but I was sticking with the name.)

Dorian described the sensation of losing control.

How his mind had been pushed aside.

How his body had moved without his will.

"It was like… I was watching myself," he muttered, rubbing his arms as if still feeling the phantom sensation. "Like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from."

Silvia frowned. "And the monster? What was it trying to do?"

Dorian hesitated, then shook his head.

"I don't know. But it was looking for something."

I raised an eyebrow. "Something?"

He nodded. "It wasn't just capturing random people. It was… searching. Testing. Like it was looking for someone specific."

Edward hummed. "That's creepy."

Blaire was silent.

Her gaze flickered toward the now-empty altar.

But she didn't say anything.

I exhaled. "Well, whatever it was planning, it's dead now."

Dorian gave me a look. "You… took that thing's magic head-on, didn't you?"

I blinked.

Then I sighed.

"Okay. First of all, rude."

Edward laughed.

Silvia giggled.

Blaire just exhaled sharply.

Not quite a sigh.

Not quite a scoff.

Just her usual way of acknowledging my existence.

I was used to it.

——

With the mystery solved, the captives freed, and the Buttface Monster officially deceased, there was nothing left to do here.

We helped the survivors regain their strength, gave them food and water, then prepared to head back to the city.

As we walked toward the exit, Edward stretched.

"Alright. That went smoother than expected."

Silvia smiled. "It could have been worse."

Blaire said nothing, just walking calmly ahead.

I just sighed.

Another ridiculous quest completed.

Another weird, horrifying enemy defeated.

And another piece of information that I couldn't stop thinking about.

It was looking for someone.

I glanced at my companions.

At Edward.

At Silvia.

At Blaire.

…Or maybe,

it was looking for me.

I shook the thought away.

For now, I was going to enjoy the moment of peace.

Because it wouldn't last that long when I'm hanging out with this guys.

The journey back to the city was peaceful.

For once.

Just a quiet walk under the open sky.

And honestly?

I liked this.

——

The rescued merchants and travelers were still recovering.

Some were chatting amongst themselves.

Some were still shaken, processing what had happened.

Some just walked silently, staring at the road ahead.

I didn't blame them.

Being mind-controlled by a nightmare creature probably wasn't something you got over in a day.

Silvia stayed close to them, offering gentle words of comfort and reassurance.

Edward, naturally, was telling ridiculous stories to lighten the mood.

Blaire just walked ahead. Quiet. Focused.

Like usual.

And i was just enjoying the fact that I wasn't dying during a fight.

——

By the time we reached the city gates, the sun was beginning to set.

Warm, golden light bathed the rooftops, casting long shadows across the streets.

The sight of civilization after everything we'd been through felt… nice.

Dorian, still looking tired but grateful, turned to us and bowed slightly.

"Thank you," he said. "All of you. If you hadn't come, I…"

He trailed off, shaking his head.

Silvia gave him a warm smile. "You're safe now."

Edward grinned. "Yep. All in a day's work."

Blaire didn't say anything.

I just nodded.

Because really, what else was there to say?

We did our job.

We got everyone back safely.

And now we could finally rest.

——

We went directly to the inn this time, screw the guild I'm hungry.

The moment we stepped inside, I let out a deep breath.

Warm lighting. The smell of food. The buzz of normal life.

It was comforting.

Edward stretched, looking around. "So, food first or sleep first?"

I groaned. "Food. Always food."

Silvia giggled. "I'll order for us."

Blaire just walked toward the nearest table and sat down.

I followed her lead.

Then, once I was seated, I immediately slumped forward.

Dead weight.

Eyes closed.

Not asleep.

Just… existing.

Edward chuckled. "You good there, buddy?"

I mumbled into the table.

"I am one with the chair now."

Silvia came back with food, setting it down in front of us. "Here. Eat before you fully merge with the furniture."

I lifted my head just enough to grab a piece of bread.

Blaire watched me, then exhaled sharply.

I glanced at her. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

Translation: She was judging me.

I didn't care.

I just took a bite of bread, sighed in relief, and finally—finally—relaxed.

I started to love this feeling, where everything was okay.

We didn't go to the guild immediately.

This time we directly rested at the inn.

A full night at the inn, without interruptions.

Just good sleep.

And when morning came, I was completely at peace.

Until Edward dragged me out of bed.

——

At the Guild

Edward, still way too energetic for this hour, practically shoved me through the guild doors.

Silvia smiled. "It's good to start the day early."

Blaire just walked ahead. Clearly, she had no sympathy for my suffering.

I sighed. Fine. Let's get this over with.

——

We gave our report.

The Guild Master listened silently, nodding along as we explained what happened.

When we finished, he grunted and handed us the new task list.

I glanced over it.

And for the first time since I joined this guild—

No more disappearance cases.

I nearly shed a tear.

Edward smirked. "Nice. Maybe we can finally take a normal quest."

But before we could choose anything, the Guild Master suddenly spoke up.

"Oh. Right." His eyes flicked to Edward. "Your father wants to see you."

The room fell quiet.

Edward blinked. "Now?"

The Guild Master nodded. "Said it was urgent."

Edward sighed. "Guess we're heading there next."

Blaire was already turning to leave.

Silvia nodded. "We should go now."

I just sighed.

There goes my free time.

——

At the City Lord's House

Edward's father—the City Lord.

I already knew him.

Met him before.

He told us to sit down, then looked directly at us, and went straight to the point.

The Corrupted Lord.

Specifically, our report about him.

The City Lord's expression was calm, but his words were carefully chosen.

"I assume you understand the weight of what you encountered," he said.

I stayed quiet, glancing at the others.

Edward and Silvia didn't react much.

Blaire?

She was completely unreadable.

Like this was something she had already expected.

Which left me completely lost.

Did they already know something I didn't?

The City Lord noticed my confusion.

And to my absolute surprise—

He actually took the time to explain things to me.

A full history lesson.

Yay.

——

The City Lord leaned back in his chair, eyes sharp, voice calm.

And then, he began.

——

"Long ago, before this city was built, before the guilds, before the world became what it is today, this land was a battleground."

"A place where great warriors and cursed beings clashed in a war that reshaped the continent."

"The Corrupted Lord… was one of the greatest terrors of that time."

I stayed silent, listening.

Edward had no reaction.

Silvia nodded along, familiar with this tale.

Blaire Completely unreadable.

The City Lord continued.

——

"He was not always like that."

"Once, he was a ruler. A king. One of many who sought power."

"But he wanted more. And in his arrogance, he struck a deal with something ancient. Something that should never have been awakened."

"And in return for power—"

"He lost everything that made him human."

——

A classic tale.

A ruler consumed by ambition, twisted into something unnatural.

But this wasn't just a story.

This was real.

And we had fought the aftermath of that ambition.

——

The City Lord sighed.

"In the end, he was too strong to kill."

"So the warriors of that era—the ancestors of certain families that still live today—"

"Sealed him underground."

"An eternal prison. A fate worse than death."

"And for centuries, he was forgotten."

——

My fingers tapped against the table.

"But the seal weakened," I muttered. "Didn't it?"

The City Lord nodded. "Not by accident."

Silvia frowned. "Someone tampered with it."

Edward muttered, "Which means someone wanted him to return."

Blaire remained silent.

——

The City Lord looked at us carefully.

"You weren't supposed to be the ones to deal with this."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, too bad. We did."

He let out a tired chuckle.

"Yes. You did."

He exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple.

"It is strange… how you youngster managed to take care of something that was believed to be undefeatable."

——

Silence.

I crossed my arms. "Maybe we're just built different."

Edward grinned. "Maybe we're just that good."

Silvia smiled softly. "Or maybe… it was simply time for a change."

Blaire, finally, spoke.

"In the end," she said, "strength alone doesn't decide fate."

The City Lord studied her for a moment.

Then, he nodded.

"Perhaps."

——

One thing was certain.

The past was supposed to stay buried.

But now, it was stirring again.

And we unexpectedly calmed it before it cause any big waves.

The heavy atmosphere settled for a moment.

The weight of history, of ancient battles and forgotten bloodlines, still lingered in the air.

But then—

The City Lord sighed.

And just like that, he let it go.

——

He leaned back, stretching slightly, his serious demeanor fading.

"Well, no use dwelling on things that are already done," he said, his tone much lighter.

Then—he turned to me.

And suddenly, his gaze was way too focused.

"So, Gunavor."

I blinked. "Uh… yes?"

He smiled.

And then, in the tone of a worried father, he asked—

"How is my son?"

——

Silence.

Edward choked. "What—Dad, no—"

The City Lord ignored him.

"Those two always cover for him and won't report honesty to me about my son"

"Is he eating well?"

"Does he train properly?"

"Does he get into too much trouble?"

Edward groaned, burying his face in his hands.

Silvia giggled.

Blaire just exhaled sharply.

"Well, let's see…"

——

For the next few minutes, I thoroughly enjoyed answering every question.

I told him about Edward's questionable decision-making.

His lack of personal space awareness.

His habit of grinning through life-threatening situations.

And the City Lord listened carefully, nodding along.

Like a concerned parent taking notes.

Edward, meanwhile, was dying inside.

"Why are you like this?" he muttered at me.

I smirked. "This is payback for dragging me to the guild this morning."

Silvia just kept laughing.

——

Then, the City Lord noticed something.

His eyes landed on the Sword of Clarity, still strapped to Edward's back.

"Ah," he murmured, standing up. "Let me see that."

Edward hesitated, then handed it over.

The City Lord examined it carefully, running his fingers along the blade's smooth surface.

Then, he smiled.

"This," he said, "is…..a lost relic of our family."

Edward blinked. "Wait. Seriously?"

The City Lord nodded. "The Sword of Clarity was forged long ago, meant only to be wielded by a Wither. Its name is not about light or purity—it represents understanding."

He turned the blade slightly, watching the metal gleam in the light.

"It is not a weapon of destruction, but of revelation."

Edward rubbed the back of his neck. "Huh. So it's… important."

The City Lord chuckled. "More than you know."

——

Then, setting the sword aside, he looked at all of us and smiled.

"Stay for dinner."

I blinked. "Wait, really?"

He nodded. "It's the least I can do. Besides, I'd like to hear more about your journey—and perhaps a few more details about my son's questionable choices."

Edward groaned.

Silvia giggled.

Blaire, didn't object.

I grinned.

"Free food? Say no more."

——

And just like that, we stayed for dinner.

Just good food for today.

A Well-Earned Rest

Dinner at Edward's house was actually nice.

Just good food, good company, and a lot of embarrassing Edward stories.

(Which, by the way, his father had plenty of.)

Edward suffered.

Silvia laughed.

Blaire ate quietly.

And i enjoyed every second of it.

——

After dinner, we stayed the night.

And in the morning, after a good breakfast, we headed out.

Back to the guild.

Back to work.

——

At the Guild

The moment we stepped inside, I braced myself.

More missing people? More cursed ruins? Another "oh no, something ancient has awakened" situation?

I scanned the mission board.

And for the first time in forever—

No insane disasters.

No world-ending threats.

Just normal quests.

I nearly cried.

Edward patted my shoulder. "You okay there, buddy?"

I wiped an imaginary tear. "We finally get a normal job."

Silvia smiled. "A simple beast subjugation."

Blaire nodded. "Efficient."

I sighed deeply. "Finally."

——

We took the mission, confirmed the details with the Guild Master, and prepared to leave.

A simple beast hunt.

Just us, some weapons, and an unfortunate creature that needed to be taken down.

It almost felt like life is smiling at us.

_____

I take back my words.

Who.

WHO was the absolute motherfucker that called this a "normal beast"?!

I cursed loudly, unable to stop myself.

Because the creature sleeping in the valley ahead of us wasn't some oversized wolf.

Or a mutated bear.

Or even a lesser wyvern.

No.

It was a bone dragon.

A massive, skeletal dragon.

Just lying there, peacefully snoozing like it wasn't an undead nightmare capable of wiping out entire villages.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "I hate everything."

Edward whistled. "Well… that's a surprise."

Silvia frowned. "The quest didn't mention anything about this."

Blaire, arms crossed, simply muttered, "Idiots."

Yeah. Idiots indeed.

Who even wrote this quest?

"Go to the northern valley. Kill the beast. Good luck."

THAT WAS IT.

No details. No warnings. No "by the way, it's a freaking DRAGON."

Why are quest givers like this?!

—---

I sighed deeply, forcing myself to focus.

The good news? It was still asleep.

The bad news? If it woke up, we were in deep shit.

I glanced at my weapons.

I hadn't used my bow in days.

All I had been doing lately was dodging, tanking, and getting smacked around by monsters way stronger than me.

Maybe it was time to remind myself that I actually had other skills.

I looked at Silvia. "Can you bless my arrows with holy magic?"

She blinked, then nodded.

"That's a good idea. Undead creatures are weak to divine energy."

I grinned. "Then let's start this fight the right way."

—---

Silvia whispered a soft incantation, her hands glowing faintly as she passed them over my bow and arrows.

A soft golden light settled onto them, pulsing with divine power.

I pulled back the bowstring, exhaling slowly.

Edward asked. "So, what's the plan, fearless leader?"

I answered honestly. "We bombard it before it realizes what's happening."

Blaire nodded approvingly.

Silvia smiled. "Let's take it down before it wakes up."

Edward cracked his knuckles. "I like this plan."

I took aim.

The bone dragon still slept soundly.

Unaware.

Unprepared.

And as I released my first holy-infused arrow, watching it soar toward the massive undead beast—

I couldn't help but murmur:

"Don't let me meet you the idiot who posted this quest"

The first arrow struck true.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Each one glowed with divine energy, piercing through the dragon's skeletal frame like burning spears.

The effect was instant.

A horrifying screech tore through the valley as the dragon jerked awake, its massive body shuddering from the impact.

Its bones cracked and splintered where the arrows landed, the holy energy eating away at the necrotic magic holding it together.

I grinned. "Oh, hell yeah."

Then the dragon tried to take off.

And that's when Blaire and Edward moved.

—---

The instant the beast spread its wings, they launched themselves at it.

Blaire's sword sliced cleanly through the dragon's right wing joint, severing half of it before it could gain altitude.

Edward, meanwhile, slammed the Sword of Clarity into its spine, locking its movements.

The dragon screeched in frustration, its flight completely prevented.

Silvia, standing behind me, kept channeling divine energy into my arrows.

I didn't stop shooting.

I kept firing, one shot after another, every impact sending cracks through its undead body.

And with each hit, I screamed—

"DIE, MOTHERFUCKER!"

Silvia let out a small giggle at my rage.

Edward, despite literally hanging off a dragon, still had the audacity to laugh.

"You really took that bad quest description personally, huh?"

I fired another arrow.

"OF COURSE I DID!"

WHO THE HELL CALLS A DRAGON A "BEAST" WITHOUT MENTIONING IT'S AN UNDEAD DRAGON?!

Blaire, still cutting through bone and stopping it from flying, just sighed.

"Focus."

Right.

Killing first, complaining later.

I pulled back another arrow, aiming for the skull.

"Alright, let's end this."

The bone dragon thrashed violently, trying to shake Edward and Blaire off, its wings now useless and its body weakened by divine energy.

It was still dangerous, though.

Every movement sent shockwaves through the ground.

Its tail swung wildly, smashing through the rocky terrain.

Its jaws snapped at anything within reach, trying to tear us apart.

But we weren't letting it win.

——

Edward drove his sword deeper, the holy-infused blade cutting through the dark energy keeping the dragon together.

Blaire, still holding on to its massive frame, moved with precision, slicing through critical weak points.

Silvia kept channeling magic into my arrows, her hands glowing as she whispered another blessing.

And i was still unloading arrows into this overgrown skeleton, screaming like a madman.

"JUST! STAY! DEAD! ALREADY!"

——

Then, I saw the moment.

A split-second opening.

The dragon threw its head back, its entire frame shuddering as cracks spread across its chest—right where its cursed core was.

That was it.

The weak spot.

I pulled back one last arrow, Silvia pouring everything she had into the enchantment.

The arrow glowed brilliantly, burning with pure divine energy.

And then—

I let it fly.

——

The arrow pierced straight through the dragon's chest.

Light exploded outward, cracks spreading violently across its entire body.

It let out one final, earth-shaking screech—

And then, in a blinding burst of holy energy,

The dragon collapsed.

Bones shattered into dust.

Its dark magic burned away.

And just like that—

It was over.

——

Silence.

The valley was still.

The dragon's remains had completely disintegrated.

Nothing left but scattered ash.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then, finally, Edward groaned, flopping onto his back.

"Okay. Ow."

Blaire landed gracefully, barely winded.

Silvia let out a relieved breath, smiling softly. "We did it."

I dropped to my knees, bow still in hand, staring at the pile of ashes that was once a massive bone dragon.

Then, after a long, deep breath—

I collapsed backward, feeling tired mentally, arms spread out, and muttered:

"Why does nothing ever go normally for us?"

Edward, still lying on his back, snorted. "Come on, that was fun."

I slowly turned my head to glare at him. "You call that fun?"

Silvia giggled. "Well, at least it went smoother than some of our other battles."

Blaire just exhaled sharply, arms crossed. "You're still alive. Stop complaining."

I groaned. "I can complain all I want. That was not a 'beast subjugation.' That was an undead dragon purge."

Edward chuckled. "You did scream a lot, though. That was entertaining."

I rolled my eyes. "Glad my suffering amuses you."

Silvia smiled, then tilted her head. "By the way… shouldn't a dragon this big have dropped something?"

I froze.

Wait.

She was right.

Big monsters—especially this kind of big wild creature like dragon infused with dark magic—always leave something behind.

Materials. Treasure. Some kind of remains.

I quickly sat up, scanning the ash-covered ground.

And there—

Half-buried in the dust—

Something gleamed faintly.

Blaire noticed first. "There."

I scrambled up, rushing over and digging through the ashes.

And when I finally pulled the object free—

I stared.

A bone.

But not just any bone.

It was a rib fragment, still faintly pulsing with dark energy, yet not corrupted.

Somehow, it had resisted purification.

Edward crouched beside me. "Huh. What is it?"

I turned it over in my hands, feeling the strange energy coming off it.

"I don't know," I admitted.

Silvia looked at it carefully. "It's… not normal. That's for sure."

Blaire studied it silently. Then she finally spoke.

"I think i saw it before."

I glanced at her. "Where ?"

She rubbed her chin. "It wasn't destroyed. A bone that can resist the corrosion and purification, i forget where i read that before, it seems the book also said 'it was meant to be' something around this line."

That… was a concerning thought.

Edward hummed. "So, what do we do with it?"

I sighed, stuffing the bone into my bag.

"For now? We take it back to the guild."

Then I stood up, dusting myself off.

"And then, we find the idiot who posted this quest—and demand an explanation."

Silvia giggled.

Edward smirked. "Now that, I can't wait for."

And with that, we headed back.

Mission complete.

…Sort of.

The road back to the city was peaceful.

Nothing unexpected.

Just a quiet, uneventful walk back home.

Which, given our track record, felt almost suspicious.

——

When we finally reached the guild hall, I wasted no time.

I walked straight to the Guild Master's desk, pulled out the bone fragment, and set it down.

He barely reacted.

Just picked it up, studied it for a moment, then nodded.

"A rare alchemist ingredient," he said simply. "Or it can be used to enhance certain types of armor and weapons."

That was it.

No ancient secrets.

No hidden lore.

Just a fancy material for crafting.

I frowned. That's all?

Edward smirked. "What, were you expecting some legendary prophecy?"

Silvia smiled. "At least it has value."

Blaire just watched silently.

I hummed. "Alright, then what kind of armor or weapons that can be enchanted with it?"

The Guild Master answered without hesitation.

"Weapons and armor made from bones."

Silence.

Then, in perfect sync, Edward, Silvia, and Blaire all turned to look at me.

I blinked.

"What?"

Edward grinned. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"

Silvia giggled.

Blaire sighed.

I crossed my arms. "Look, I'm just curious."

But the truth was…

They were right.

Because I had something that just might work.

——

Time for an Experiment

I dug into Silvia's portable storage, pulling out my masterpiece.

Or as Edward liked to call it—my Junky.

A rib cage armor, made entirely out of bones I had harvested from the lovely bugs that i ate.

It was horrible.

Crude.

Messy.

Looked like something a necromancer would throw together in five minutes.

And yet…

It had saved my life multiple times.

So, naturally, I had to see if this worked.

——

With absolutely zero hesitation, I took the dragon bone fragment and casually shoved it into the empty gaps of my rib armor.

No delicate crafting.

No expert-level alchemy.

Just… forcing the pieces together and hoping for the best.

Silvia covered her mouth, stifling laughter.

Edward watched with pure amusement. "You're really doing this."

Blaire massaged her temples. "I can't believe you."

I adjusted the armor, testing the fit.

The dragon bone fit perfectly, as if it belonged there all along.

And just as I was about to say something—

The entire armor pulsed.

A faint energy rippled through it, spreading from the dragon bone to the rest of the structure.

I froze.

Silvia gasped.

Edward whistled. "Well. That's interesting."

Blaire, arms crossed, simply muttered in an unbelievable tone

"Of course it worked."

I blinked.

Then I grinned.

"Alright," I muttered. "Now this… is getting interesting."

I adjusted the armor, feeling the strange pulse of energy still lingering in it.

It wasn't strong—not like some legendary artifact suddenly being awakened—

But it was there.

A subtle shift.

Like the dragon bone had actually fused with the rest of the armor.

I tapped the ribs experimentally. Still solid.

Still ugly as hell.

But now?

Now it felt different.

And that meant only one thing—

I was keeping it.

——

Edward grinned, clearly entertained. "So, uh, what does it do now?"

Silvia tilted her head. "It absorbed the dragon bone's energy, so maybe it has some kind of undead resistance?"

Blaire, arms crossed, just sighed. "Knowing him, he's just happy it didn't fall apart."

She wasn't wrong.

I smirked. "I guess we'll find out in battle."

Edward chuckled. "Or when it explodes."

I frowned. "Thanks for the confidence, man."

——

With the armor situation settled, we packed up, ready to leave the guild and finally relax.

Right as we stepped outside—

I froze.

"…Wait."

Edward blinked. "What?"

I turned to Silvia. "Did we ever ask who the hell posted that dragon quest?"

Silvia's eyes widened. "Oh."

Blaire also paused. Then, slowly, she turned back toward the guild.

"…We didn't."

Silence.

Then Edward, still completely unfazed, shrugged.

"Eh. Too late now."

I groaned. "Damn it! That was the whole point of coming back here!"

Silvia laughed softly.

Blaire shook her head. "Unbelievable."

——

Meanwhile, Somewhere Else…

In the city lord mansion, sitting comfortably in his study, Edward 's father sneezed.

He rubbed his nose, muttering to himself.

"Did I catch a cold?"

He sighed, shaking his head, then went back to writing reports.

Completely unaware that four adventurers were, at this very moment, cursing his entire family.