Chapter 9: The Cost of Strength

Haru's boots clacked against the cobblestone streets of the city's bustling marketplace, the scent of fresh bread and sizzling meat mixing with the tang of burning forge fires.

Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from common iron daggers to enchanted rings promising minor boosts in strength or agility.

It was a place of endless opportunity—if you had coin.

Haru didn't Or at least, not enough.

Standing before a merchant's counter, he narrowed his eyes at the glowing parchment floating before him. His system had displayed a new skill—a simple yet invaluable ability:

**Familiar Shift**. It allowed him to instantly teleport to any of his bonded familiars or switch places with them.

On paper, it seemed unimpressive. But Haru wasn't stupid.

With **Shira**, his silent, towering Oni warrior, it meant he could place her in the thick of battle, then switch places instantly when needed. With **Rhaelynn**, his Centaur archer, he could swap to a higher vantage point or escape danger in an instant. The possibilities were endless.

And yet…

**[Familiar Shift - 1500 Gold Coins]**

He clenched his teeth. **Way too expensive.**

Haru's entire purse held **30 gold coins**—just barely enough for a **basic equipment set**. If he wanted to afford the skill, he'd need to earn money fast.

"Not now," he muttered, dismissing the system screen with a swipe. "But soon."

For now, he focused on what he could afford.

A short, burly blacksmith greeted Haru as he approached a weapons stall.

"You lookin' to finally gear up, lad?" The man's bearded face split into a grin.

"About damn time. I remember when your old party threw you out. No offense, but you looked like a kicked mutt back then."

Haru smirked. "No offense taken. I'm here to fix that."

The blacksmith grunted approvingly and gestured to the spread before him. "What's your pick?"

Haru scanned the selection. Before, he couldn't afford to buy anything beyond scraps. Now, with his rising levels and bonded warriors, he needed real gear.

He selected:

- **A reinforced leather chestplate** (flexible for movement)

- **Steel-plated armguards** (for blocking and countering attacks)

- **Twin steel daggers** (light, deadly, perfect for precision strikes)

- **Throwing knives** (for when enemies were just out of reach)

The purchases set him back **20 gold coins**, leaving him only 10.

With that, he turned his attention to gear for **Shira** and **Rhaelynn**.

For **Shira**, the towering Oni who fought in raw, brutal combat, he selected:

- **Iron-plated gauntlets** (enhancing her already bone-shattering punches)

- **Leg guards** (to improve her balance in battle)

For **Rhaelynn**, the Centaur archer who relied on speed and precision:

- **A reinforced leather quiver** (to carry more arrows)

- **Lightweight arm wraps** (to stabilize her shots)

The final total? **10 gold coins—every last bit he had.**

Haru exhaled slowly, flexing his hands. It wasn't everything he wanted, but it was a start.

Now, he just needed **gold**—and for that, he needed **a job**.

The **Hunter's Guild** was a loud, rowdy mess of steel-clad warriors, robed mages, and cocky adventurers all drinking, laughing, or bickering over rewards.

Haru stepped inside, ignoring the stares. He wasn't the weakling they had once mocked.

His eyes flicked toward the mission board, scanning for something worthwhile. Most were standard hunts—wolves, goblins, minor beast threats. But one caught his attention.

**[Subjugation Quest: Cave Beast Hunt]**

- **Objective:** Eliminate the beast infestation in a nearby cavern.

- **Threat Level:** Moderate

- **Reward:** 50 Gold Coins

Fifty gold coins. **Exactly** what he needed.

He reached for it—

—and someone else's hand slapped against the parchment at the same time.

Haru turned, his stomach twisting as he recognized the person.

Clay.

His **former party leader.**

And beside him, the rest of the group who had abandoned him.

Clay sneered. He was a tall, muscular man, dressed in steel armor with a longsword strapped to his back. "Well, well, if it isn't the deadweight."

Raymond, the arch-mage, smirked. "Didn't think we'd see you back here, Haru."

Sarah, their priestess, crossed her arms. "Surprised you survived at all."

Archie, their brute-force warrior, just grunted.

And then there was **Aryan**—the one who had bullied him most. She was a red-haired swordswoman, her sharp eyes filled with their usual contempt. "You actually think".

Haru clenched his jaw as Aryan's words dripped with mockery, her smirk daring him to react.

He didn't.

Instead, he simply grabbed the quest parchment from the board, glancing at the details again. **Cave Beast Hunt. Moderate Threat. 50 Gold Coins.** A simple enough mission—one that could secure him the funds for **Familiar Shift**.

"Problem?" he asked calmly, turning back to Clay and the rest of his old party.

Clay's smug expression barely shifted. "Yeah. This is our job. We were just about to take it."

Haru raised an eyebrow. "Then take it. I'll take it too."

Silence.

Raymond let out a snort. "You actually think you can handle this alone?"

"Didn't say I was alone." Haru let a small smirk cross his lips. It wasn't a lie—Shira and Rhaelynn were within his **pocket dimension**, resting and watching. And judging by the slight pressure he felt in his bond with them, **they weren't happy**.

Their emotions thrummed through the bond. **Shira** was seething, her quiet, cold anger rising. **Rhaelynn** was only slightly calmer, irritation mixed with concern radiating from her.

They hated the fact that his old party was here. They hated that they had once abandoned him.

Haru sent a silent thought through the bond: *Not now. I'll handle this.*

A slow exhale in his mind—their reluctant acceptance.

Clay, oblivious to the silent tension, laughed. "Fine. If you wanna tag along, don't expect us to carry you."

Haru merely shrugged. **He had no intention of being carried.**

The journey to the cave took a full day of travel.

The party moved through the **dense forest**, the afternoon sun casting dappled light through thick foliage. Birds chirped in the distance, the rustling of leaves a constant whisper in the wind.

Haru kept to himself, walking slightly behind the group. He could feel their occasional glances, their unspoken judgments. He didn't care.

But something was… off.

It wasn't the usual disdain that his old party used to have for him. He could feel it, the way their energy shifted ever so slightly whenever they looked his way—especially **Aryan**.

She wasn't mocking him like before.

She was **watching him**.

And she hated that fact.

Haru didn't need his **Lady Killer** ability to notice the signs. Aryan's posture was rigid. Her arms were crossed more than usual. And every time he caught her staring, she'd immediately scowl and look away.

*She's attracted to me.*

It was subtle, but unmistakable. And it pissed her off.

Haru almost laughed. *That must be killing her inside.*

By the time the sun dipped beneath the horizon, they reached a **small clearing** and decided to set up camp for the night.

The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across the camp.

Haru sat at the edge of the group, sharpening one of his new daggers. The others were laughing, recounting past victories, boasting about their latest kills. He ignored them, focusing instead on the rhythmic slide of metal against stone.

But he could feel **Shira and Rhaelynn's** irritation bubbling inside his **pocket dimension**.

Haru sent another silent reassurance through their bond. *I know. I'm watching them too.*

Then, Aryan's voice cut through the noise.

"So, Haru," she drawled, leaning back against a log. "What's your grand plan, huh? Gonna prove to us you're finally worth something?"

Haru didn't even glance up. "Don't care what you think."

That struck a nerve. Aryan scowled, lips pressing into a thin line. She looked almost… frustrated.

"Big talk, considering you were useless last time."

Haru finally looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"*Last time.*" He repeated the words slowly. Then he smirked. "You still thinking about me, Aryan?"

Her face **twitched.** A flicker of irritation—or something else—passed through her sharp eyes.

Before she could respond, Clay let out a bark of laughter. "Damn, Haru. You got a death wish?"

Aryan scoffed and turned away. "Tch. Whatever." But she was **tense**.

And Haru knew.

She wasn't just mad at him. She was **mad at herself** for noticing him.

As the campfire dimmed, the group started settling in. Haru remained awake, watching the fire slowly shrink to embers.

A sudden **presence** flickered in his mind.

**Rhaelynn.**

*"Haru."*

Her voice was smooth yet firm.

*"She's staring at you."*

Haru smirked slightly. *I know.*

*"She's confused. It bothers her."*

*"I know that too."*

A small silence, then Rhaelynn let out a soft huff of amusement. *"This is entertaining."*

Haru chuckled under his breath. He didn't need to look to know Aryan was watching him again.

Then, from the **deepest part of his bond**, **Shira stirred.**

Unlike Rhaelynn, the Oni never spoke. But Haru could feel her presence—the quiet weight of **protectiveness and silent fury**.

*I'm fine, Shira,* he reassured her.

A long, slow **exhale** in his mind. She didn't like it. But she accepted it.

Morning came with the sharp chill of dawn.

The party moved in **near silence** toward the cave entrance, the air thick with tension. The closer they got, the stronger the scent of **rotting flesh** became.

The beasts were inside.

"Alright," Clay said, gripping his sword. "We stick together. No one does anything stupid."

No one objected.

The **cave entrance loomed before them**, gaping like the maw of some ancient beast.

Haru **exhaled slowly**, rolling his shoulders.