Chapter 30 - Chapter 23

====[ Advance Note ]====

It seems that life just simply does not want to give me a break, nothing is currently going to plan and my life is crumbling at it's seams, expect nothing of note.

====[ Advance Note End ]====

" Nice to meet you all, I'm Alexandra Heiman, leader of the 33rd wolf pack of the Guild's Forest Security Service. ".

The woman named Alexandra called out to us. She claims to be affiliated with the Guild, maybe she's a park ranger or something. We did nothing wrong as far as I can remember, we didn't litter either, so maybe she and her team are just going to check up on us.

" Oh? The Security Service? I thought you were some bandits. ". Melania commented while lowering her weapon.

" Oh please, if we were bandits, we'd already have shot y'all from behind the foliage a while ago. ". Alexandra replied, laughing.

" That's right~ That's right~ ". A man said jovially. He has long, curvy blonde hair with downturned emerald green eyes, a well defined jawline, and a lean, agile build. He looks like the playboy type of person.

" That's a rather rude conjecture, Evan. ". Nitidus said to my comment about this playboy type of guy.

" Oh, right. I haven't introduced y'all to my team. This one right here is Marcello, call him Marcy. He's our scout. ". Alexandra said while gesturing to the playboy looking fella.

" How you doing, good lookin'? ". He said.

" Don't flirt with them you utter fool. Ahem, don't mind him, he might be like this but I can assure you he won't bite. ". Said another guy, he was wearing glasses, with short platinum blond hair and upturned, clear blue eyes.

" The glasses guy is Rhett, my second in command. ". Alexandra introduced him.

" Nice to meet you. ". Rhett said.

" Okay, this little girl is Soraya, she's our specialist. ".

" I'm not a little girl, Alexandra. ". Soraya retorted, she has long, straight dark green hair tied up into a ponytail with a cap and black, almond shaped eyes, with a petite build.

" And last but not least, this guy here is our team healer, Axel. ". Alexandra said, introducing the last member of the team.

" Uhhh... Hi there... I'm Axel, nice to meet you all. ". A scrawny looking fella said, he has straight, silver hair with bright cerulean blue eyes. Contrary to his name, he looks quite... uhhh... How should I put it... Weak... Although that makes sense because he's the healer, and a healer's job is to stick to the back of the group and support them, unless he's an assault healer, that is. He's the only one in this team who's carrying a magic wand, it's made of a shiny, silvery metal with a bright yellow magic stone embedded on its tip.

" Well, that's about our introductions done. Now how about y'all? What're Y'all's names? ". Alexandra asked.

Taking the initiative, I introduced myself first. " My name is Evan, nice to meet you. ".

" I'm Luke, nice to meet you. ".

" How do you do, my name's Melania. ".

" Okay, first of all I would like to see your Guild Cards to prove your identities please. ". Alexandra said.

We're not rude so we immediately handed over our Guild Cards to Alexandra who briefly glanced at them before she chanted some sort of spell on it making the card glow a beautiful color, it's probably some sort of authentication method or something.

"Okay, a party of three E rank Adventurers on a Ruin Exploration and Clearing quest, everything looks alright so there's no problem, thanks! ". Alexandra said happily while handing our cards back to us.

" Ummm... It looks like one of your party member is injured... I can... Ummm... Treat it for you if you want me to... ". The timid healer named Axel offered, what a nice guy.

" Oh could you? Then that would be greatly appreciated! ". Luke answered.

" Okay... Umm... I'll go ahead and cast << True Recovery >>, this might sting a little so please bear with it for a bit. ".

With that, Axel chanted the spell << True Recovery >>, causing Luke's wound to glow softly and close up completely, it didn't even left a scar. Impressive. Although it did look like it hurt.

" Uahh, thank you for that, you're really talented! ". Luke said while adjusting to his newly healed leg.

" Ehehehe... That wasn't much... ". Axel said bashfully.

" Come now, Axel, what that guy said was true you know? You really are talented! ". Said the blondie named Marcello, causing Axel to go red from embarrasment.

" Don't tease Axel too much, Marcy. ". The glasses guy known as Rhett said to Marcello.

Soraya was visibly bored and Alexandra just watched the exchange without a word from the sidelines with a warm look in her eyes, is she a mother?

" Then, now that your party member has been fully healed, what are you guys gonna do next? We're currently trekking back to Vansborough ourselves so if you guys want to we could trek back together as a group. ". Marcello offered.

" Hmmm... That does sound like a good idea, what do you think... Evan? Would you like for us to trek back to the city together or not? ". Rhett suddenly asked me, heheheh... Did he think that I am the party leader? Heheheh, I'm flattered.

" What do you think, Nitidus? ". I asked Nitidus in my head.

" These people seem trustworthy, my calculations determine that the likelihood of these people having bad intentions toward us is really quite low. Personally, I agree. However, the decision is up to you, I would say that there is safety in numbers. ". Nitidus answered in my head, Nitidus spoke really fast.

" Okay, we'll join you in trekking back towards Vansborough. You guys don't mind it, right? ". I turned around and asked Luke and Melania.

" I'm fine with whatever~ ". Melania answered.

" It should be fine. ". Luke answered.

" Great, then, I'll have to take you up on that offer, Marcello, Rhett, Soraya, Axel, and Alexandra. But you guys would have to wait for a little bit though, we still need to pack away our camp. ". I said to these Guild Officials in front of me.

" Alright! We'll be watching out for hostiles while you pack up okay? Don't take too long! ". Marcello said.

And with that, we tidied up our camping spot and set off once more for the final leg towards home.

=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=

We are in quite the pinch... We're currently surrounded on all sides by monsters commonly known as <>. Or, as I call them, "Murder Armadillos" because that's exactly what they are, armadillos that could murder and eat flesh.

Anyways, we're now surrounded by tens of them, all of whom are completely aggresive as if something had agitated them, which is weird because they're usually calm creatures who only attacks when provoked or when hunting. Their shell, which is almost as hard as steel, makes them hard to kill. One of the more efficient ways to kill them is to use blunt force to damage their insides, or cook them alive with [Fire Magic] but that would be a bad idea because forest fire... Duh...

" Kuh! It seems that we are completely surrounded! ". Alexandra complained while parrying a Murder Armadillo away.

" Umm... Can I do "That", leader? ". Axel asked Alexandria with anticipation in his eyes. What is he talking about? "Can I do That" he says, how ominous. Hell no.

" Hmmm, this situation does seem like it could use your help... Alright, you can do "That", but don't push yourself. ". Alexandria answered. Again, what the hell is "That" I'm really gonna get scared now.

Axel flashed a bright smile before answering " Yes! I understand, I'll do my best! ".

He then took a pendant of some kind and held it close to his chest, then he started praying. His entire body then glowed a gentle golden light before it dissipated into him.

Axel opened his eyes which were blue, but now, both of his eyes are glowing gold, he then wielded his staff like a mace before cracking a terribly blood thirsty grin.

" You better stand back, be careful now that he's like this! ". Marcello shouted.

I was about to ask why before I was presented by the answer...

Axel lunged forward towards the crowd of these Armadillos, swinging his magic staff around like a mace, decimating those poor monsters.

====[ Author's Note ]====

.

.

.

.

.

Please enjoy this chapter, I guess.

If you enjoy this story, vote with a power stone! If you don't want to miss anything, add to Library! Leave a review maybe? You want your friends to read too? Please share! If you have something to say, feel free to write a comment, I'll do my best to answer some of them, even if you just wanted to vent your stress, and even if you're just feeling a little lonely, it's okay! Comment it out! Don't bottle it all up! I am always here to listen!

Please be informed that this is a Fictional work and any and all resemblance to a real Person or Place or Things or Ideas are purely coincidental and know that this humble author means no harm.

And remember kids! Piracy is Frowned Upon! So don't steal stuff unless you want to be turned into a coffee table made of your own flesh and bones!