The three of them separated at the town gates in Primordia.
Kaede marched the bound bandits straight through the streets, their ankles clanking as townsfolk stared. Some people whispered to each other; others pointed. Kaede just smirked proudly all the way to the Town Guard Office.
Meanwhile, Yukio and Michibiki went to Candessa's shop to report back.
The moment they stepped into the elegant sitting room, Candessa stood from her couch, eyes wide.
"You… already tracked them down? And captured them? This quickly?"
He shrugged nonchalantly, dropping onto the couch.
"Yup. Turns out they were all planning to regroup at the same campsite. Made our job way easier."
Michibiki folded her arms, looking just a little smug.
"Honestly, me and Kaede didn't even have to help. Someone,"
She tilted her head toward Yukio,
"handled it solo."
Candessa's gaze shifted toward him, her expression softening into surprise.
"…You're actually stronger than you look."
Yukio blinked, then frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Candessa could reply, the door swung open.
In came Kaede, almost radiant with pride.
Slung over her shoulder was a massive sack filled with the unmistakable clink of coins.
"Turns out those idiots had bounties on their heads!"
She exclaimed, triumphantly.
"Jackpot!"
She let the sack fall with a heavy thud onto Candessa's coffee table.
"Here. Use this to cover your losses."
Candessa didn't even glance at it.
"Kaede. you've already helped me more than enough. I don't need your earnings. You can keep it."
Kaede opened her mouth to argue,
But Michibiki promptly intervened, grasping Kaede's arm.
"Please. Let's just take the money and go. We still have to deal with the forest monster."
Before Kaede could complain again, Michibiki lifted her hand and traced a small circle in the air.
A thin ring of blue light opened: a pocket-sized spatial vortex humming softly.
"Here"
Michibiki said, deadpan.
"Before you drop it and break the floor."
Kaede huffed but grabbed the oversized sack of bounty money with both hands and hauled it toward the swirling pocket space.
"You better appreciate this,"
She muttered as she shoved the entire bag inside. It vanished with a soft fwip.
The portal closed behind it.
Yukio blinked.
"…I'm never getting used to you casually opening wormholes."
Michibiki grinned.
"Spatial magic is convenient. You should try learning some."
Kaede puffed her cheeks out like an annoyed squirrel.
"Fine. You're all impossible. Let's go, you two!"
Yukio and Michibiki exchanged tired smiles.
Another problem done.
Another problem waiting.
Primordia was never boring.
The three were soon flying across the sky again: Michibiki carrying Yukio as though he were weightless, Kaede running on air with her wind platforms. The breeze stroked their faces, refreshing and cool.
They descended near the edge of the Evergreen Forest and touched down delicately on the soft dirt path. The tall trees rustled softly; sunlight trickled in through layers of leaves.
Kaede bent over slightly, hands on her knees.
"Whew… okay. I was kinda beat there for a sec."
She pulled a small vial from her belt-a thick green liquid sloshed inside and downed it in one go. Color returned to her face almost instantly.
Yukio blinked.
"…And what was that?"
Kaede pulled out another casually.
"Stamina recovery potion. Spells burn through both stamina and mana."
She held up a blue one.
"This is a mana potion. Obvious what it does."
Yukio nodded slowly.
"Right. Fantasy Gatorade."
Kaede ignored him.
"Alright! Forest Mauler time."
Michibiki cracked her knuckles and softly chanted:
"Mana Reverie Scan."
Her eyes shifted to a glowing blue hue, while faint lines of mana would appear in the air, visible to her alone.
"There's a strong trail this way."
They followed her through a dense forest until the trees opened into a small clearing near a dark cave.
There, seated comfortably and chewing on something, was the Forest Mauler.
It was huge, its body like that of a bear but covered with dark green fur, and jagged bark-like spikes ran along its back. Red eyes seemed to glow weakly in the shade.
Yukio activated Appraise; his eyes shifted blue as a window appeared.
---
[Monster Data]
Name: Forest Mauler
Level: 35
Threat Level: Dangerous
Known for territorial aggression and overwhelming physical strength.
---
Michibiki opened her pocket inventory, and light spiralled as a vortex appeared.
She took out Kaede's enormous hammer.
Kaede grabbed it with a grin.
"Alright. I'll handle this one. You two just watch."
Yukio raised a hand.
"Hold on, Kaede"
But she was already sprinting forward.
The Forest Mauler looked up, confused,
BOOM.
Kaede's hammer struck with such force that it shook the air. The Mauler collapsed instantly, having been killed in an instant even before it understood what was happening to it.
Silence.
Leaves fluttered down.
Michibiki breathed out softly, shaking her head.
"That poor thing… it never stood a chance."
A low whistle escaped between Yukio's parted lips.
"Yeah… that's A-rank power, alright."
Kaede rested the hammer on her shoulder and flashed a peace sign.
"Easy."
---
With the Forest Mauler defeated and their mission accomplished, the three began heading back in the direction of Primordia. Swinging her hammer back into the pocket vortex Michibiki opened, Kaede turned towards Yukio.
"Alright, hand 'em over,"
Kaede said, tapping her palm expectantly.
Yukio blinked.
"Hand what over?"
"Your weapons, genius."
She wiggled her fingers.
"I'm improving them tonight. You'll have them back tomorrow."
Yukio hesitated, touching the hilts of his daggers and his long sword protectively.
"Uh… all of them?"
Kaede snatched them before he could finish.
"Yes. All of them. You'll live one night without cutlery."
Michibiki snickered.
"You act like he's handing over his children."
"I'm emotionally attached,"
Yukio protested.
Kaede rolled her eyes.
"And I'm emotionally attached to sharp metal. See? We all have issues."
She proudly waved the weapons about.
"Anyway, I'm heading home. See you losers tomorrow."
Then she spun on her heel, wind magic lifting her slightly as she jogged off toward her smithy.
Yukio and Michibiki watched her go.
"…She didn't even say thank you,"
Yukio Muttered .
Michibiki shrugged.
"That was her thank you."
---
Back at Candessa's Shop
The elegant bells over the door chimed as Yukio and Michibiki stepped inside. Candessa greeted them from behind the counter, a pleasant smile already forming.
"You're back much sooner than expected. I assume the monster is dealt with?"
Michibiki nodded.
"Kaede handled it in one hit."
Candessa let out a relieved sigh, laying a hand over her chest.
"Thank the stars. You've saved my skin today."
Yukio gave a casual wave.
"No problem. We'll let Kaede brag about it later."
Candessa gave them both a small bow of thanks. She said little else-but the look of relief on her face spoke volumes.
With the report done, Yukio and Michibiki headed back toward the inn.
---
The sun was low, casting an orange and pink glow over Primordia as they strolled through it. The streets were considerably calmer now, lanterns lighting up one at a time.
Yukio stretched his arms, feeling very odd without weapons weighing him down.
"…I feel naked,"
He said flatly.
Michibiki blinked at him.
"You're wearing full armor."
"Yeah, but my hands feel empty."
"That's because your brain is empty."
"HEY"
She snorted and walked ahead before he could argue.
Despite the bickering, the stroll felt peaceful.
Before long they came in sight of the inn: its windows bright with firelight, the murmur of voices indistinguishable outside.
Michibiki halted at the door.
"Well, tomorrow we deal with whatever new nonsense shows up."
Yukio smirked.
"Hopefully something less furry."
"No promises."
They stepped inside together. Another day done.
Another day survived.
And who knew what tomorrow would bring?
The door shut behind Yukio and Michibiki, closing them in with warm light and muffled chatter.
Outside, the street fell still.
Perched atop a nearby rooftop, one figure sat unmoving, watching.
The breeze stirred their long black coat faintly, and the silver strands of snow-white hair slipped from beneath their hood.
A faint glow pulsed from beneath the shadow of the hood-one eye, sharp and unblinking, following Yukio's silhouette through the inn window.
"…So that's the one they chose."
His voice was low.
Too low.
Measured, steady, like someone who hadn't been surprised by anything in centuries.
"The Ruin of Providence… finally walks this world."
The figure then cocked his head slightly, as if listening to something far away, something nobody else could hear.
A soft breeze stirred around them, to momentarily lift their coat.
For just a moment, the air shimmered behind their back-like light bending, like something unseen stretching outward and then it was gone.
The figure stepped back and let the shadows of the rooftop swallow them whole.
"This will be… troublesome."
In a blink, they were gone.
And somewhere deep above Primordia, something stirred in response.