The city of Novara was still trembling from Deton's explosions, the air thick with energy, so much so that the protective barriers were barely holding. Yet, amidst the chaos, true eyes were focused elsewhere—on something unseen, something not yet revealed.
In an unknown location within the wealthy district, Number Six sat calmly, her eyes glinting from beneath her hood. In her fingers, a small device pulsed with streaming data, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Everything is ready…" she whispered, speaking both to herself and to the events about to unfold.
Number Seven stood before the Seal Regulator Devices, his eyes carefully observing every detail.
Slowly, he extended his hand toward one of the devices, a weighty feeling creeping into his chest.
Then he questioned himself, his voice almost a whisper:
"Am I… making the right choice?"
Number Seven remained standing, his hand still extended toward the Seal Regulator Device, yet he paused for a moment.
His thoughts drifted back, to the days when he was merely an adventurer, completing missions, moving through dangers with nothing in mind but finishing the task.
It was almost a year ago, when Number Seven was just an adventurer completing missions without restrictions, moving freely through dangers.
His hair was short black with a slight undercut on the side, practical and ready for every movement. He wore a dark, sturdy adventurer suit with a belt carrying small tools and daggers, perfectly suited for every mission he undertook.
Beside him was the girl who always accompanied him, her hair dark blue, short, cut in a bob neatly framing her ears, practical and lively for adventures. She wore a light adventurer outfit, dark with blue accents matching her hair, and a small tool belt, ready for any situation that might arise during their missions.
Before I became an adventurer, I lived in a city called Lumara.
It was a relatively small, quiet, and simple city compared to larger cities like Novara.
I lived there with my mother and younger siblings, trying to balance my family duties with my small ambitions.
I worked for a man who treated me harshly, exploiting my kindness and assigning me tasks beyond my capability.
I endured his cruelty for a long time, tolerating every insult, every unfair order, every abuse of my patience and obedience.
But after a long period of enduring, during one final incident, I felt a surge of anger explode within me.
I clashed with him with full force, and the result was being fired from my job.
That moment was painful, yet it gave me a strange sense of freedom.
For the first time, I realized that patience has its limits, and strength is not only physical, but also in the ability to stand up for yourself and resist injustice.
But after my father's death, life became somewhat difficult for my family.
We struggled to get by with what little we had, and my options were limited, the path ahead unclear.
Fortunately, Novara offered a grant that allowed people to become adventurers there.
It was completely free—unlike Lumara, where only the wealthy or influential could afford to become adventurers.
I didn't hesitate.
I accepted the grant and traveled to Novara.
There were only a few of us, but we arrived safely.
I took the test… and passed.
That was how I officially became an adventurer.
Even so, I wasn't accepted into any guild.
My applications were rejected again and again, without clear reasons.
I hated taking missions alone
the solitude was heavy, and often dangerous.
And that was when it happened…
The first time I met that girl.
At that time, I saw her standing alone in front of the mission board,
staring at the posted requests as if she were trying to read her fate between them.
She was lost in thought, murmuring softly to herself:
"Which mission should I choose…?"
I hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer.
I gathered my courage and decided to speak.
"Hello… are you alone?"
She lifted her head and looked at me.
For a brief moment, I felt flustered
my face turning slightly red without realizing it.
She spoke calmly, her voice cold and detached:
"I see… I assume you work alone as well."
Then, without hesitation, she added:
"But don't try. I won't work with you."
"You look… weak."
Her words at that moment
truly shattered my feelings.
At that moment, I realized my reality…
that no one would work with me.
I quietly turned my head away from her,
my gaze shifting toward the mission board.
I began to examine the posted requests one by one.
Most of the missions were difficult—
dangerous,
requiring full teams or experience I did not yet have.
Missions no lone adventurer like me could accept.
Except for one…
A single request,
standing apart from the rest.
The mission looked simple on the surface.
A beast attacking agricultural crops in villages near Novara, devouring them before fleeing without a trace.
According to the description, it was an ordinary monster… somewhat resembling a bull.
That was enough for me to decide.
As I reached out to take the paper from the board,
another hand touched it at the exact same moment.
I looked up.
It was her.
She stared at me coldly, irritation clear in her eyes.
Without hesitation, she said,
"Let go, idiot. I saw it first."
People had always found it easy to take the things I wanted.
I was used to stepping back.
To staying quiet.
To accepting reality.
But…
not this time.
I needed the money.
My family was waiting.
And this was the only easy mission on the board.
I tightened my grip on the paper and looked at her with a steadiness I didn't know I had.
I spoke calmly, despite the turmoil inside me.
"I'm sorry… but I won't give it to you."
After a brief pause, I added,
"I'll be the one taking this mission."
Suddenly,
the girl yanked the paper violently.
"Are you challenging me, you bastard?!"
she snapped, trying to pull it from my hand.
"Let go before it tears!"
I spoke in a low, honest voice almost pleading.
"I'm really… sorry."
Then I tightened my grip.
"But I won't let it go."
A few minutes later,
we stood side by side in front of the Quest Coordinator.
We handed over the paper together, in unison:
"We'll take this mission."
The coordinator looked at us with a calm smile, seemingly amused:
"You two seem very well coordinated."
She let out a light chuckle.
She looked at me, her voice cold and annoyed:
"I can't believe I'm going to work with you after all…"
I looked at her, surprised:
"Wasn't that your suggestion?"
She shot back quickly, clearly irritated:
"Shut up!"
I looked at her and smiled faintly:
"What's your name, anyway?"
She shot me a side-eye,
tiny wrinkles of annoyance forming around her brows:
"Why would I tell someone like you my name?"
She paused for a few seconds… then, more quietly, more honestly, she said:
"Luneth… my name is Luneth."
I smiled at her lightly, trying to break some of the tension between us:
"I'm Theron… nice to meet you."
She looked away, as if ignoring me, and let out a short sigh:
"Tch… whatever…"
The coordinator handed us a highly advanced map,
showing the location with pinpoint accuracy, the estimated travel time, our current position, and all the details we'd need to reach the fields.
Theron looked at it with curiosity and awe:
"Wow… we don't have this kind of technology in Lumara."
Luneth looked at him with clear disdain:
"Idiot."
After we agreed on the departure time and prepared everything, we set off.
The journey took two days, and we arrived on the second night.
The villagers welcomed us warmly, hosting us with genuine smiles and heartfelt words.
The village was small, modest, yet it held a unique charm, with clustered wooden houses and fields surrounded by nature.
But the damage caused by the beast was painfully clear…
Trees were broken, crops scratched and trampled, and the land bore the marks of violent struggle.
Luneth observed her surroundings carefully, while I studied the area with concern,
knowing that this mission would not be as easy as I had expected, and that the beast had left nothing to chance.
The next morning, we finally found the beast.
It looked strange, with bull-like horns, slightly larger than normal, and its skin a deep, dark red. It was heading toward the crops, trying to eat them.
I rushed forward, sword in hand, ready to strike, but I was slightly late.
In that moment, Luneth appeared beside it.
A strange sword in her hand, like a shimmering screen, sliced through the beast's claws with precise strikes.
The beast screamed in fear, and instead of fighting back, it tried to flee.
Luneth glanced at me coldly:
"Chase it quickly before it escapes!"
The beast bolted, sprinting at incredible speed.
Theron chased from behind, charging his energy, transparent in color, attempting to strike its heart from the back.
But the beast was just a little faster, evading his strike at the last moment.
Luneth sighed in annoyance, brushing her strange sword as if what had just happened didn't matter:
"You really can't do anything right in this life, Theron… why don't you just die!"
Theron looked at her, smiling awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry… my fault."
At that moment, the beast began to move away slightly, dragging its wounded body, trying to escape once again.
Luneth narrowed her eyes, fully focused.
"I won't let you escape… Infiltration!"
She fired a glowing blue shot, shaped like interlocking cubes, shooting straight toward the beast's left leg.
The instant it hit, the leg completely stopped responding—
as if it had been disconnected.
The beast lost its balance and crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Theron stared in shock.
"Is… that your unique ability?"
Luneth spoke calmly, never taking her eyes off the beast.
"I named my ability Infiltration."
She stepped forward and continued:
"Anything… even living beings."
"Just like a virus in a computer, I can infiltrate them
control their movements temporarily,
or force them to perform certain actions."
The beast rose from the ground, breaking free from Luneth's effect.
Luneth smiled slightly, though a twinge of annoyance crossed her features:
"My ability can be resisted easily if the opponent has strong energy or a solid body…"
The beast glared at them, eyes full of rage, then sprinted at Luneth with incredible speed.
It leapt into the air, raising its massive hand to strike her—the ground trembling under the force of its movement, the air around it compressed with fury.
Luneth felt a hint of unease as the beast charged at her, yet she didn't hesitate.
She raised her glowing weapon, ready to block the attack head-on.
But suddenly—
Theron dashed forward, his sword crashing against the beast's arm, sparks bursting violently from the impact.
Luneth shouted angrily:
"I didn't tell you to protect me!"
Theron was pushed back by the beast's overwhelming momentum, his feet sliding across the ground as his breathing grew heavy.
Then he roared with all his strength,
his aura igniting transparent yet fierce wrapping around his body like raging fire.
With a final push, he successfully blocked the attack and forced the beast backward.
Luneth stood frozen in place.
He hadn't hesitated… not even for a moment.
Not because he doubted her strength,
but because he chose to protect her.
A faint glimmer shone in her eyes,
and her gentle gaze settled on him
silent respect, and feelings she hadn't yet acknowledged.
The beast lunged forward, trying to bite Theron,
but Luneth intervened instantly, slashing its jaw.
Its mouth was forced open, unable to bite anymore.
She stood in front of Theron confidently, her posture firm.
"Step back, rookie."
She looked at the beast clutching its mouth, tears streaming down its face as it screamed in pain,
and smiled coldly.
"You deserve this."
Theron, however, watched it with sorrow in his eyes.
The beast swung another punch at Luneth,
but Theron rushed forward and blocked the strike with his sword.
The beast began attacking wildly,
and Theron did nothing but block—again and again.
Luneth grew irritated and shouted:
"Why aren't you attacking? You missed so many chances to cut its arms!"
Theron raised his voice at her for the first time:
"No! It has suffered enough!"
Luneth froze, genuinely shocked.
She had never seen someone so merciful… even toward a monster.
The beast attacked Theron with both arms.
He blocked them, pushed them away, and the beast lost its balance.
Theron leapt forward, charging his energy into his sword,
and pierced straight through the beast's heart.
The beast screamed for a few moments,
its blood splashing across Theron's face and body,
before its heartbeat stopped and it collapsed to its knees, head lowered.
It was finally dead.
Theron wiped the blood from his face,
pulled his sword free, and stepped back.
"May your soul rest in peace… monster."
Luneth placed a hand on her forehead and sighed slowly.
"You're really a strange one… kid."
Theron turned to her and spoke calmly.
"Let's go."
Luneth frowned immediately.
"Don't order me around like that!"
Theron let out a small laugh without meaning to.
Annoyance crept onto Luneth's face as she glared at him.
"Stop laughing like that, you idiot."
But when she focused on his expression, she noticed something was off.
He looked pale… completely shocked.
"W- What's wrong?"
Theron suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Watch out!"
Beside her, something strange was crawling along the ground—
a distorted, octopus-like creature, slimy and unnatural.
Luneth turned instantly.
In a split second, a massive blue-energy handgun formed around her entire arm.
She planted her feet, ready to fire.
"Parasite!"
Luneth fired a blue beam shaped like glowing cubes straight at it.
The parasite leapt with unexpected speed, dodging the attack,
and darted past Theron.
Theron swung his sword, trying to cut it down,
but the parasite twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the strike,
then suddenly jumped and landed on the beast's corpse.
It paused for a brief moment…
as if it had found exactly what it was looking for.
The parasite burrowed into the beast's body,
disappearing beneath its torn flesh.
Within mere seconds—
the beast stood up again.
But this time… it was no longer itself.
It let out a horrifying scream, one that didn't belong to any living creature.
Its body became even more grotesque.
The wound in its jaw split wider,
its right arm suddenly swelled,
veins bulging as dark energy ignited around it.
It raised the arm high
and launched a lightning-fast punch straight at Theron.
Theron froze in place,
shock locking his body.
But suddenly—
he felt something shove him aside.
Yes…
it was Luneth.
She pushed Theron away without hesitation.
"Watch out!"
The blow didn't vanish.
The punch struck her square in the chest,
lifting her off the ground for several seconds
before her body crashed down hard
Theron rushed toward her as fast as he could, his heart trembling.
"Luneth!"
He knelt beside her, lifted her gently, and held her against his chest.
"Hey… wake up, please…"
Tears streamed down his face,
falling one by one onto her pale skin.
Slowly…
Luneth opened her eyes.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
With effort, she raised her left hand and pressed it against her chest,
speaking in a weak, broken voice:
"You idiot… what are you doing?"
She took a painful breath,
then whispered:
"Run… quickly…"
Her words came out slowly,
as if each one hurt more than the last.
Theron screamed at her while crying, his voice shattered and trembling.
"How can I leave you like this?! Are you insane?!"
Suddenly…
he felt something massive behind him.
Theron slowly turned around,
fear crawling into his heart,
his eyes widening at the sight before him.
The beast stood right behind him.
It let out a thunderous roar,
shaking the ground and the air around them.
Theron stood up,
tears streaming endlessly from his eyes.
He raised his sword with a trembling hand
and turned to face the monster head-on.
"DIIIIIIE!"
That was…
one of the most painful and terrifying moments
I had ever experienced in my life.
End of the chapter…