Cassian slowly regained consciousness.
His eyelids felt heavy. The rhythmic creaking of wood and the steady vibrations beneath his body were the first things to greet him. Above his head, a curved canvas roof swayed with the movement of the vehicle. He blinked several times before realizing one thing.
He was inside a caravan.
...What?
His head was still spinning, and his body retained a strange sensation he couldn't quite explain. His memories returned in fragments. Ares's flaming fist. The crushing pressure in the air that had made it difficult to breathe. Then his body being sent flying before he could even launch a single attack.
Cassian covered his face with one hand.
...I'm truly pathetic.
"Oi, you're finally awake?"
The casual voice came from across the caravan. Erebus sat leaning against one side, Hades was beside him with his usual expressionless face, and Ares sat with his arms crossed over his chest. Ares looked so pleased with himself that Cassian wanted to turn away.
All three appeared perfectly relaxed, as though nothing unusual had happened a few hours ago.
However, something was missing.
Cassian scanned the entire caravan before asking in a hoarse voice, "Where's Indra?"
"Taking care of something," Erebus replied without turning his head. "He'll catch up with us later."
"Oh."
Cassian nodded slowly and tried to remember the last thing he'd been conscious of, but his memories stopped right where Ares had stood before him. His brows furrowed.
"Wait. Why are we in a caravan?"
"Because we're traveling."
"I know that!"
"Then why are you asking?"
Cassian opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Beside him, Hades showed absolutely no interest in their conversation. He simply stared outside through a gap in the canvas, as though the passing trees were far more interesting than Cassian's confusion.
Fine. Asking these people questions was a mistake.
"Anyway," Erebus continued, shifting his sitting position, "our current destination is Hechnea, the capital of a small kingdom on the eastern frontier."
"What are we going there for?"
Erebus shrugged. "No idea."
Cassian stared at him without blinking.
Does this guy have absolutely no intention of explaining anything?!
Before he could protest, a short burst of laughter came from the other side of the caravan.
"Pfft!" Ares grinned broadly. "Hey, brat! How did it feel to pass out before you could even fight for three seconds?"
Cassian slowly turned his head.
Ares was clutching his stomach, clearly enjoying the memory.
"You couldn't even take a proper step! I just stood in front of you, and then—" He raised his fist, imitating the movement from earlier. "BOOM! You went flying!"
"Hahaha!"
"...I hate you," Cassian muttered, turning away.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you!"
"I said I hate you!"
"Good! That means you're healthy enough to shout!"
Cassian clenched his fists.
One day, he would make that muscle-bound bastard pay for every last insult. For now, though, he wasn't even sure he could survive a single punch from him.
The journey continued for several hours. Cassian spent most of his time watching the scenery through the gaps in the caravan's canvas. Dense forests gradually gave way to stone-paved roads, farmland, and small settlements scattered along the route. Occasionally, they passed merchants transporting wooden crates or herding livestock.
This world was far larger than he had ever imagined.
Eventually, the caravan began to slow. The creaking of its wheels grew quieter until it came to a complete stop.
"We're here," Erebus announced.
Cassian leaned forward to look outside.
A towering stone gate stood before them, flanked by guard towers on either side. Carvings of crossed swords and shields adorned its walls, while dark blue flags fluttered at the top. Beyond the gate, tightly packed rooftops stretched into the distance, marking the presence of a bustling city.
Hechnea.
It wasn't as grand as the kingdoms in the stories he had heard, but it was certainly no ordinary settlement.
"Stop! Show us your identification!"
Two armored guards approached. One knocked on the side of the caravan with the handle of his spear, while the other peered through the doorway and examined the passengers one by one.
Cassian instinctively straightened his back.
He had no idea whether the three strange men around him would cause trouble, and the last thing he wanted was to get involved with the kingdom's guards on his first day here.
Fortunately, the inspection was brief. After exchanging a few words with the driver, one of the guards raised his hand.
"All right. You may enter!"
The moment they passed through the gate, the city's atmosphere swallowed Cassian whole.
The streets were crowded with people. Merchants peddled everything from fruit and clothing to weapons and travel supplies, while the sounds of haggling mingled with the clatter of hooves and vendors shouting to attract customers.
Groups of adventurers walked along the street corners. Some wore full suits of metal armor, while others dressed simply, with weapons hanging from their waists.
So this was what life in a fantasy world looked like.
Cassian nearly forgot to blink.
"Stop gaping, brat. A fly's going to get into your mouth."
"I'm not gaping!"
"Of course not. You've just been staring at an apple for ten seconds."
"That's because I've never seen an apple that big before!"
Ares fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"BWAHAHAHA! You really are from the middle of nowhere, aren't you?!"
Cassian snorted and turned back toward the street. He was determined not to respond to that man again, at least until he figured out how to get even with him.
Before long, the caravan stopped at a parking area near a row of commercial buildings. The driver turned around and held out his hand.
"Journey's over. Now, the fare."
Erebus said nothing. He merely turned toward Hades.
Hades returned his gaze with his usual blank expression, then raised one hand and pointed at the driver.
There was no incantation. No magic circle.
Just a small movement of his hand.
Yet a moment later, the driver's pupils flashed purple, and his gaze turned vacant, as though his mind had just been diverted from something important.
"All right," he said quietly. "Have a pleasant journey."
He pulled on the reins and drove the caravan away.
"W-why did he just leave?" Cassian stared at the receding caravan before turning toward Hades.
"Because we don't need to pay," Erebus replied, straightening his clothes.
"That's called stealing!"
"Incorrect. We did pay."
"When?!"
Erebus pointed his thumb at Hades. "He handled the payment."
"The transaction was completed through an alternative method," Hades stated flatly.
Cassian clutched his head.
I'm traveling with a bunch of criminals.
"Forget it," Erebus said, walking away. "We have other business to attend to. According to Indra, you need to register as an adventurer at the Guild. That way, you can find work, gain combat experience, and earn money to support yourself."
That made sense.
He had nothing right now, and if he wanted to survive in this world, he needed to start making his own way.
However, after taking a few steps, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Wait! Why do I have to become an adventurer? Why can't you guys do it instead?!"
Erebus looked at him for a moment, as though the question wasn't even worth answering. Then he smiled faintly.
"Because we're merely your shadows."
Cassian had no chance to respond.
He still didn't understand what Erebus meant, but he knew these men weren't ordinary humans. And that was precisely what made the situation so absurd to him.
How could beings this powerful be nothing more than the shadows of someone as weak as himself?
His thoughts were interrupted by the whispers of people along the street.
"Who are they? Just look at their clothes. How strange."
"Begging, perhaps."
"They must be from some remote village."
"Disgusting."
Cassian's shoulders stiffened.
He glanced at his own clothes, then at the three men beside him. Only now did he realize just how conspicuous they were. Erebus was dressed entirely in dark colors, Hades wore unusually pale clothing, and Ares looked as though he had just walked off a battlefield.
And what about himself?
His clothes were rumpled and dusty, hardly presentable by any standard.
He quickened his pace, hoping to escape the crowd as soon as possible. Erebus, however, seemed to notice his discomfort.
"Hey. Don't let it bother you too much."
With both hands in his pockets, Erebus continued walking leisurely, as though the entire city were nothing more than a path through his own backyard.
"People always talk about things they don't understand. If you worry about every little thing they say, when will you have time to take care of yourself? Your worth isn't determined by people who don't even know your name."
Cassian fell silent.
The words were simple, yet strangely comforting.
"If they keep running their mouths," Ares interjected with a grin, "I can destroy this entire street. I guarantee no one will dare insult you again."
"MMPH!"
Erebus immediately clamped a hand over Ares's mouth.
"Shut up, you idiot!"
"What?! I'm just offering a solution!"
"What kind of solution is that?! You want to destroy half the city just because people are gossiping?!"
"If they don't want to be destroyed, they should watch their mouths!"
"You're the one who needs to watch his mouth!"
Cassian watched them bicker, and before he realized it, the corners of his mouth had lifted into a small smile.
They were annoying, perhaps dangerous, and one of them clearly had a habit of solving every problem with violence.
But for now, he didn't feel entirely alone.
After passing several intersections, they arrived in front of a large, two-story wooden building. An emblem depicting a sword and shield hung above the entrance, wide windows faced the street, and a notice board beside the building was covered with sheets of paper.
Above the door, a wooden sign read:
ADVENTURERS GUILD
Cassian's eyes lit up.
Finally, something that truly felt like a fantasy world!
Erebus pushed the door open, and the old hinges let out a long creak.
The interior was bustling with activity. Glasses clinked together, laughter erupted from various tables, and overlapping conversations filled the room. The smell of liquor mingled with the scent of old wood and the sweat of adventurers returning from their journeys.
At some tables, people discussed the results of their hunts. In another corner, a group of adventurers played cards while trading insults.
Behind the long counter, a brown-haired woman with her hair neatly tied back was examining a stack of documents.
Cassian had only just begun to take in the lively atmosphere when he noticed the room gradually growing quieter.
One by one, heads turned toward them. The same whispers began spreading from table to table.
"Newcomers?"
"What kind of clothes are those?"
Cassian's throat went dry.
He had a feeling his first visit to the Guild wasn't going to go as smoothly as he'd imagined.
That feeling was quickly proven right.
"Hey, you lot!"
A burly man rose from his chair on the right side of the room. He wore battered leather armor, a sword hung at his waist, and a thick black beard covered half his face. A cup in hand, he staggered toward them.
But what caught Cassian's attention wasn't the man's drunken state.
Two men at the table he had just left also stood up and slowly moved toward the entrance, as though making sure no one could leave.
The burly man stopped in front of Ares and flashed a crooked grin.
"Newcomers, huh? The rules here are simple. Before you can use the Guild's facilities, you have to pay an entrance fee. Five silver coins per person."
Cassian frowned.
He glanced at the notice board and the reception counter, but there was no mention of any entrance fee. The woman behind the counter had already raised her head, and the look in her eyes was one of exhaustion, not surprise.
This clearly wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
"Excuse me," she called out firmly from a distance, "the Guild has no such rule. Sir Brenn, you've already been warned about this. Last week."
"Shut up, Mira! I'm taking care of the newcomers!" Brenn snapped.
He turned back toward Ares and held out his hand.
"Pay up with money or something valuable. I'm a reasonable man, so I won't ask for much. Or do you want trouble?"
Cassian finally understood.
This man wasn't a Guild official. He was extorting every newcomer who looked like they had no one to protect them, while his companions guarded the exit.
Ares didn't answer.
He merely stared at the outstretched hand before slowly lifting his gaze to Brenn's face.
"Interesting. You really think you can demand money from me?"
Ares's smile vanished.
For the first time since they had entered the Guild, his gaze turned cold, and a faint pressure began to spread through the air around him.
Cassian felt it before anyone else.
His instincts screamed that the atmosphere in the room had just turned dangerous.
Brenn was far too drunk to recognize the warning.
"You arrogant bastard!"
CLANG!
He drew his sword, pointing its tip directly at Ares's face. Chairs scraped against the floor as several people stood up, and the conversations throughout the room died out like candles being blown out.
"Oi, put that sword away!" someone shouted.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
Cassian held his breath.
He knew exactly what happened when someone made Ares angry, and this man had just made a terrible mistake.
Ares lowered his gaze to the sword in front of his face. A vein throbbed at his temple.
"How dare you..."
His voice was so low that it nearly disappeared into the silence.
Brenn grinned, believing his opponent had finally become afraid.
Then—
SWISH!
No one truly saw the movement.
There was only a faint flash in the air, followed by the sharp sound of breaking metal.
CRAAACK!
Brenn's sword split in two.
Half the blade clattered to the floor, while the other half remained in his trembling hand. He stared at it in confusion, as though his brain couldn't yet process what had happened.
The next second, his body was hurled backward. He crashed into a table and fell motionless among the shattered glasses.
Silence.
Cassian stared at Ares with wide eyes.
He hadn't even seen the attack. The man who had threatened them was now sprawled across the floor, while Ares stood exactly where he had been, his expression unchanged.
"Ares..." Cassian's voice came out small. "Is he... dead?"
Hades walked over to the fallen man and briefly examined him.
"Still breathing," he muttered flatly.
After a short pause, he added, "Unfortunately."
"Hades!" Erebus reprimanded him.
Ares shrugged. "I held back, you know."
"You held back?!" Erebus pinched the bridge of his nose. "You've caused another mess right after waking up! And you couldn't even control yourself for five minutes!"
"He pointed a sword at me."
"That doesn't mean you have to immediately—"
"Fine. Next time, I'll let him stab me first."
"Don't twist my words, you idiot!"
The tense silence finally broke when the two men near the entrance drew their daggers and stepped forward.
Before either could do anything, however, Hades slowly turned his head toward them.
There was no purple flash this time.
Only his impassive gaze.
For some inexplicable reason, both men froze in place. Their faces turned pale, and their daggers trembled in their hands. Slowly, without uttering a word, they sheathed their weapons and backed away.
"Troublesome," Hades muttered again.
This time, he sounded slightly more irritated.
Behind the counter, Mira had already risen to her feet. Her expression was tense, but her hands didn't tremble, and she made no attempt to scream for the guards.
Instead, she gave a brief signal to a young man standing nearby. He immediately ran up the stairs to the second floor.
Then she turned her gaze toward Cassian's group.
"Brenn is a Platinum-ranked adventurer," she said quietly. "The Guild has wanted to get rid of him for a long time, but there has never been any evidence, and no one has dared to testify against him."
She paused for a moment.
"Now you've given us a reason to act, along with an entirely new problem. His associates won't take this lying down, and the Guild Master will be coming down personally."
Her eyes moved to Ares, then Erebus, then Hades, and finally settled on Cassian, her expression unreadable.
"So, who exactly are you people?"
Ares grinned.
Erebus closed his eyes, as though gathering what little patience he had left.
And Cassian stood frozen in the middle of the room.
Just a few hours ago, his biggest concern had been being laughed at by the townspeople. Now he was standing in a Guild full of armed adventurers, beside a man who had just taken down a Platinum-ranked adventurer without breaking a sweat.
...I just wanted to register as an adventurer.
That was all.
But judging by how their journey had gone so far, Cassian was beginning to suspect that this simple wish would be the beginning of much bigger problems.
And for some reason, he had a terrible feeling that every single one of those problems would drag him straight into the middle of them.