"I'm back..."
The guild door creaked open, and Rina entered, looking completely drained. Her shoulders were slumped, and her footsteps were heavy as lead. Behind her, the softly glowing silver furball, Pero, walked in majestically, wagging his tail.
"Oh my, our Rina is back? You worked hard!"
"Was gathering moss harder than you thought? You're covered in sweat."
The guild members drinking beer welcomed Rina with pitying expressions. Rina smiled weakly and approached the counter.
"Anna unnie... please confirm the quest completion."
"Sure, sure. Good job. Did you bring the moss?"
Groaning, Rina heaved the magically expanded bag, now bulging to the brim, onto the counter. The bag was so stuffed that the zippers were practically screaming.
"I brought the moss... but on the way back, I picked up something 'big'."
"Something big? Did you pick up a pretty rock or something?"
Anna smiled and opened the bag.
"Alright, let's take it out. Heave... Huh? Why is it stuck so tight?"
Anna tugged at the contents, but they didn't budge. Rina jumped in to help.
"It's because I forced it in. One, two, three!"
POP—!
With a cheerful sound, what burst out of the bag wasn't a rock.
Crimson fur, vicious teeth, and a head with a lump from hitting a rock.
THUD!
The carcass of a massive 'Red-Maned Wolf' filled the counter to the brim and then spilled over onto the floor.
"..."
Instantly, a silence fell over the noisy guild. The bearded man lifting his beer mug, the young man throwing darts—everyone froze with their mouths wide open.
"A... A Red-Maned Wolf?!"
"That's a C-Rank beast! Why is that coming out of Rina's bag?!"
Anna covered her mouth with trembling hands.
"R-Rina? Are you hurt anywhere? Did you catch this?"
"Oh, no! I didn't catch it..."
Scratching her head, Rina recited the 'Pure Luck Scenario' she had practiced in the forest.
"I was digging for moss when this guy suddenly popped out. But maybe it was too hungry? It tried to pounce on me but lost its footing and slammed its head—BANG!—right into a rock. It fainted instantly. I think it hit a vital spot because it died right away... so I just picked it up."
"..."
The guild members looked at each other's faces. A C-Rank beast dying from a concussion after tripping? Logically, it made zero sense.
But look at those innocent, doe-like eyes of Rina. She was the kind-hearted maknae (youngest) who didn't know how to lie.
"Wow... really?"
"Oh my god, the Goddess of Luck must have been watching over Rina!"
"That's right! Heaven helped our Rina because she lives such a kind life!"
The guild members accepted it in one second and cheered.
'Wow... these people are simple-minded.'
Pero sat elegantly on the floor and clicked his tongue. Well, thanks to that, no annoying explanations were needed.
It was then. Breaking the warm atmosphere, the sound of glass shattering rang out. Clang!
"Oi, wait a minute. Hold it right there."
Three men with vicious impressions stood up from a corner table. The man who appeared to be the leader had slit eyes that looked just like a snake's. His name was 'Viper'. He was infamous as a nasty mercenary.
"You should lie in moderation. A D-Rank brat picked up a C-Rank beast? Do you think that makes sense?"
Viper approached the counter with a sneer.
"Isn't this the one that escaped from our trap? I think you stole what we practically caught."
"What? N-No! I really just found it at the forest entrance..."
Flustered, Rina stepped back. Viper blocked Rina's path threateningly.
"Stop lying and hand it over. We'll be taking the money for the pelt."
"W-Wait a minute! What are you doing!"
Anna tried to intervene, but Viper's lackeys blocked her way. Viper's greedy eyes landed on the silver furball hiding behind Rina's legs.
"Oh, what's this? The fur is quite artistic. Did you steal this too?"
Viper reached out his filthy hand to grab Pero by the scruff of his neck.
"Hold still. If I skin this one and sell it, it should fetch a pretty penny."
"No! Don't touch Pero!"
Rina gathered her courage and slapped Viper's arm away. Viper's expression contorted instantly.
"You bitch, how dare you..."
The moment Viper raised his hand to slap Rina's cheek.
Pero's blue eyes shone coldly.
'How dare you touch my meal ticket?'
[Skill Activation: Psychokinesis (Lv. Max) — Fine Control]
[Target: Viper's Belt Buckle & Beer Mug at his feet]
Slip.
Viper's belt buckle came undone without a sound. Simultaneously, the beer mug sitting on the floor moved ever so slightly, right in front of Viper's foot.
"I need to teach you a lesso— Ugh?!"
Taking a step forward, Viper stepped on the beer mug and slipped. As he lost his balance and fell backward, his unbuckled pants obeyed the laws of gravity and slid smoothly down to his ankles.
THUD!
"..."
Silence flowed through the guild. Viper, sprawled on the floor in a 'dae-ja' (大) shape. And revealed to the whole world were his tacky polka-dot boxers.
"Pfft... Pu-hahahahaha!!"
"Hey! Viper! Your taste in underwear is killer today!"
"Polka dots at that age! Hahahaha!"
The guild members started rolling on the floor clutching their bellies. Viper's face turned as red as a beetroot.
"Y-You little shits...!"
He scrambled to pull up his pants and stand up, but the humiliation had already been done.
At that moment, a burly bearded adventurer blocked Viper's path.
"Oi, Viper. If you know what shame is, get lost. Threatening a kid like that."
"That's right! Get out right now!"
As the guild members stood up with fierce expressions, Viper ground his teeth and retreated.
"Just you wait... You damn bitch, and that little mutt..."
Viper glared at Rina and Pero as if he wanted to kill them, then left the guild. Pero stuck his tongue out at his retreating back. Bleh.
'Who told you to mess with a Divine Beast?'
The commotion settled, and the settlement was completed.
"Here! Including the reward for the Red-Maned Wolf and the bounty, it's 3 Gold Coins and 50 Silver Coins!"
"Gold coins... Three of them?!"
Rina's eyes went round. The scary incident from earlier was completely forgotten in the face of the brilliant shine of gold coins.
"Jackpot... Pero! We're rich!"
Rina jumped up and down, hugging Pero and spinning around.
She immediately ran to the dining area and ordered the most expensive item on the menu.
"Give me the highest grade T-Bone Steak here, largest size, cooked rare! It's for our Pero!"
A moment later, a bright red steak dripping with juices was placed in front of Pero. Rina, spooning up the cheap vegetable soup she ordered for herself, watched Pero eat with a satisfied look.
"Eat a lot, Pero. You didn't even get scared of that big guy earlier... Our Pero is so brave."
'...'
Pero stopped chewing the steak. An owner who eats soup that tastes like dishwater while spending her entire fortune to buy top-tier cuisine for her pet.
'What a fool.'
Pretending not to care, Pero nudged a piece of meat with his paw, dropping it next to Rina's bowl. It meant 'Let's eat together.'
Rina picked up the meat with a moved expression.
And so, a happy evening deepened.
However, in a dark alley outside the guild.
Viper and his gang, who had been humiliated and kicked out earlier, were watching Rina through the window with snake-like eyes.
"Boss... are we just leaving?"
"As if."
Viper spat on the ground and pulled out a dagger.
"She must have gotten quite a bit of money. Plus, that silver furball... it'll sell for a very high price."
"Kukuku. Take the money, catch the dog, and get revenge. Killing three birds with one stone."
Viper's eyes glistened with greed and murderous intent.
"There are no streetlights on the way to her house. In a secluded spot... I'll make sure to 'educate' her properly."
Three shadows melted into the darkness, waiting for Rina and Pero to come out.