Plus One

After departing from Don's, I made my way back to the guild, a familiar hub of activity bustling with fellow adventurers and aspiring heroes. As I stepped inside, the vibrant chatter of guild members echoed off the stone walls. My destination was the quest board, adorned with various job postings, each representing opportunities for glory and reward. 

I perused the board and quickly zeroed in on a bandit-clearing quest that had been hindering the trade route connecting the towns of Gemso and Tebin. This particular task was categorized as a Tier 0 with an impressive five-star rating.

Decision made, I grasped the paper detailing the quest. However, before I could make my exit, a familiar voice caught my attention. It was Asa, a higher-ranking receptionist of the guild known for her keen eye and thoughtful judgments. She beckoned me over, showing a rare smile. 

"Congratulations! The higher-ups have noticed your outstanding performance in the boar quest," she announced, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "They've decided to promote you to Tier 0, two stars!" 

After which Asa then requested my ID and disappeared into the back room for a moment. When she reappeared, she handed my card back to me. My eyes widened as I saw it updated with two golden stars gleaming against the backdrop of the black card's design with my mana design etched onto its background.

After a moment of accomplishment, I then exited the guild's welcoming halls and set off toward the bandit hideout, though instead of running the daunting 35 miles outside of town as per the quest report. To save time and energy, I opted for a carriage, parting with 2000 Ran for the privilege. The journey was uneventful; the rhythmic clopping of horse hooves against the cobblestones created a calming tempo as the landscape blurred past.

Once I arrived at the designated location, I was met with an imposing sight of a large cave. Though I took a moment to gather my thoughts and enhance my abilities. With a focus that became instinctive, I boosted my stats from their base levels to: Strength to 1.1, Dexterity to 1.1, Stamina to 1.051, and Luck to 1.2, giving me an edge in the looming encounter.

Closing the system interface, I stepped into the cave's darkness, my eyes rapidly adjusting to the dim light. The chilly air wrapped around me, dense with anticipation. To maintain the element of surprise, I summoned my wind magic, whispering incantations that concealed my footsteps from anyone in the cave. 

As I ventured deeper into the cave, I traversed winding hallways decorated with flickering torches that cast dancing shadows against the rocky walls. After a brief yet tension-filled minute of moving silently, the narrow passage opened into a vast chamber. There, to my astonishment, I spotted ten bandits lounging, their raucous laughter echoing off the walls—completely oblivious to my presence thanks to the protective veil of my wind magic. The air crackled with tension, ready for what was about to unfold.

The next thing I did without thinking, first I ended my wind magic, I then summoned ten icicles and hurled them towards the back of the heads of bandits, which hit their marks causing blood to first bleed out of there mouths then followed by it spewing out of the back of their heads in a burst, finally falling over. Though this time I learned to stay far away from the target causing me to not be covered in blood.

I then continued into the room and looted the bandits and searched the rest of the room. Which netted me 25000 Ran, two iron swords, a shield, and a bow. After looting I then was going to decapitate the bandits' heads for proof of my quest, but first I heard a noise coming from an adjacent room which made me walk over to find out the mystery noise. Inside the room there was a cage with a white cloth over the cage which I removed, in the cage there was a small malnourished tiger boy who look like he was on the brink of death.

Seeing what was in the cage I then took one of the iron swords I looted and sliced the bars off the cage, where I then picked the small kid up who was 15 but looked like he was 9 because of malnourishment. After that I then went back into the other room with the child in hand and took the heads of the bandits and exited the cave.

I got back into the carriage and returned to town, paying the driver 4,000 Ran for the round trip. Afterward, I went to my hotel room and placed the child on my bed. I then left the boy and headed to the guild, where I turned in the quest by showing the receptionist, Asa, the ten heads of the bandits. She noted them down and then got up to take the heads to the back. 

As she walked back into the room, the soft clink of metal echoed in the air. She held a polished silver tray delicately in her hands, and on it lay two ornate stakes, each glistening under the warm light. With a gentle smile, she placed the tray in front of me, the stakes almost gleaming with a sense of importance.

Her voice was calm and measured as she began to explain, "For your recent quest, the total amounts to 150000 Ran, and the bounties for the captured bandits add another 225000 Ran to your bill. Altogether, that brings your final total to 375000 Ran." There was a hint of satisfaction in her tone, perhaps a reflection of the hard work that had gone into earning those rewards.

After that, I carefully placed the Ran into my storage bag, ensuring it was secure before leaving the guild. After which I made my way back to Leo's shop. Once inside, I browsed through the racks, selecting a few outfits that I thought would suit the tiger child. Afterward I then headed back to the hotel.

As I pushed open the door to my room, surprise washed over me as I found the kid sitting up on my bed, wide-eyed and gazing intently at me as if trying to make sense of my return.

Before he could be consumed by the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm him, I took a deep breath and began to explain his situation. "You're safe now," I assured him, my voice steady despite the gravity of his circumstances. "I rescued you from the bandit camp, where they had locked you away in a cage, treated like an animal." The words hung heavy in the air, and I could see his eyes widening in disbelief.

I continued, trying to paint a picture of hope amid the remnants of fear. "I've brought you new clothes—everything you need to feel comfortable again. And in about thirty minutes, there will be a warm meal waiting for you, to help regain your strength." I could see the flicker of understanding slowly dawning on him, yet he remained rooted in silence, processing this unexpected turn of events.

Realizing that he might be feeling a bit disoriented, I gently prompted him to freshen up. "Why don't you wash up in the bathroom? It's just over there," I said, gesturing towards the simple yet inviting bathroom that adjoined our room. "Take your time; you deserve to feel clean and rejuvenated after everything you've been through." With that, I hoped to offer him a small semblance of comfort.

But Before he went to wash up, I handed him a simple yet refined-looking outfit, crafted from soft, breathable fabric that would complement his dashing fur. He then glanced at it with a hint of curiosity but chose to hold off on his questions, likely sensing that there would be time for explanations after he completed what I had asked of him.

After taking his shower, the steam still clinging to him, he emerged from the bathroom looking like quite a dashing young man. The outfit suited him perfectly, enhancing his lean frame and beautiful fur that contrasted with his strikingly dark blue eyes. As he stepped into the softly lit room, I couldn't help but admire how he seemed to carry himself with a mix of vulnerability and newfound confidence.

Feeling it was time to connect on a personal level, I inquired about his name. "Heath Kento," he replied, his voice steady despite the weight of his past. When he shared that he hailed from the continent of Beastmen known as Sol, there was a flicker of nostalgia in his gaze, as if he could almost see the landscapes of his homeland in his mind.

After that the truth surfaced. As he recounted the tale of his family's demise at the hands of ruthless raiders, The pain etched on his face gave away the torment he had endured. He spoke of being sold into slavery and how he had been trafficked by merciless pirates who preyed on the vulnerable. Each word was heavy with sorrow, and listening to his story filled me with equal parts shock and empathy.

In that moment, something shifted within me. I realized that I would become his guardian, vowing to protect him from the remnants of his troubled past and help him forge a new path forward.

After making the decision to take care of Heath, I sat him down and gently told him that I would support him unconditionally. The moment the words left my lips, he was overcome with emotion, and tears streamed down his cheeks. It was as if a weight had lifted off his shoulders; he had been waiting for someone to show him genuine care rather than trying to control his every move. To comfort him, I wrapped my arms around him in a heartfelt hug, allowing him to feel the warmth and safety of my presence. We lingered there for about ten minutes, and gradually, I could feel him relax, his breathing steadying as he absorbed the moment.

Once he seemed calmer, we decided to venture out for dinner—a small but significant step in our journey together. We arrived at a cozy little restaurant, and as soon as we were seated, Heath wasted no time scoping out the menu. When his meal arrived, he dove into it with enthusiasm, savoring each bite. It was heartwarming to see him enjoy something so simple yet comforting, a stark contrast to the turmoil he had been feeling.

After our meal, we made our way back upstairs to my hotel. I felt the familiar heaviness of sleep creeping in as I settled into bed. Not long after I drifted off, I felt the gentle presence of Heath as he slipped under the covers beside me, curling up close. Even in his silence, I could sense his gratitude and the sense of security he had longed for. As I lay there, I knew that we were both embarking on a new chapter.