Ash's jaw slackened, his mind racing as Lirien's words echoed in his ears: "We conquered the rift." His gaze darted between Lirien, Aeloria, Yomi, and the beast girl. His thoughts whirled in overdrive. Could they truly be S-class adventurers? That would explain their survival. No ordinary group could withstand a red dungeon's challenges, let alone conquer one.
Sliding off his horse, Ash took a deep breath to steady himself. His boots crunched against the gravel as he strode toward Lirien and Aeloria, his sharp eyes watching their every move. Despite their battered appearances, there was a quiet confidence in their stances, an unspoken assurance of their abilities.
Stopping a respectful distance away, Ash gave a slight bow. "Ash Yolkervier," he introduced himself, his voice firm but deferential. "A-class scout under the Aegis of the Fates Adventurers Guild. On behalf of the Tethlan branch, I commend you for what seems to be a truly extraordinary feat."
He straightened, carefully choosing his next words. "I'd like to invite you back to the Melanos branch. We'll need to take your statements and assess the situation in full." He snapped his fingers, signaling to one of the mercenaries behind him. "Bring them a pouch. Something to carry their gold. They probably didn't have time to loot properly before the dungeon reset."
The mercenary hurried forward with a large leather pouch, holding it out to the group. Ash noticed how Yomi shifted slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing as if sizing up the offer. Lirien, however, raised a hand, declining.
"That won't be necessary," Lirien said, her voice calm but firm. "We... appreciate the gesture, but we can't accompany you."
Ash arched an eyebrow, intrigued by her hesitation. "Why not?"
Lirien hesitated, glancing at Aeloria, who avoided her gaze. Aeloria's lips pressed into a thin line, and Yomi remained silent, his expression unreadable.
The truth weighed heavily on Lirien. She knew the rules of the Adventurers Guild. Reporting a new dungeon's emergence was an unshakable duty for any registered adventurer. But her group had violated that sacred oath, lured by the promise of rare, high-quality loot from the first drops of an untouched rift. They'd believed it to be a mere yellow or blue-tier dungeon, a manageable endeavor. Instead, it had been their undoing.
Ash misread her hesitation, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Ah, I see. You're S-class, aren't you?" He gestured vaguely. "You adventurers of that caliber think you're beyond the rules sometimes. But even the most elite among us have obligations."
Lirien stiffened, opening her mouth to object, but Ash raised a hand to forestall her.
"I'm not accusing you of anything improper," he said smoothly. "But as adventurers, regardless of rank, you're obligated to file a formal report. Come back to the Melanos branch. Let's do this by the book."
Ash sighed, his tone softening. "I promise, this will be painless. You have my word. Let's avoid any misunderstandings."
What Ash didn't say was the truth: failure to report a dungeon emergence was a punishable offense. He didn't want to risk a confrontation here and now. If they were truly S-class, a fight would end in disaster for him and his men. Better to tread lightly, secure their cooperation, and sort out the details later.
The tension hung heavy as Lirien weighed her options, Ash's gaze fixed steadily on her. Yomi, meanwhile, remained impassive, his sharp eyes flicking between Ash and his mercenaries, assessing every potential threat.
Yomi's mind worked rapidly as his eyes scanned Ash's group. These were not the ragtag adventurers of Lirien and Aeloria's ill-fated party. The strength in their stances, the confidence in their eyes, and the gleaming weapons they bore bespoke experience and skill.
A wave of exhaustion coursed through him as he felt the depleted state of his Ki reserves. If it came down to a confrontation, their odds of survival were slim. The thought lingered bitterly in his mind—fleeing might be his only option. His skills could give him a head start.
His musings were cut short as a gentle tug on his arm broke his concentration. He looked down to see the beast girl clutching him tightly, her wide eyes betraying both exhaustion and fear. Her presence stirred a mixture of frustration and guilt in him. "Why does there have to be a child in the middle of this mess?" he muttered internally, shaking his head. He gently shifted her to a more secure hold, his gaze returning to Ash and his group.
"Just one moment," Lirien told Ash, her voice steady, though Yomi noticed her fingers fidgeting against her thigh. Without waiting for a response, she approached him, her steps deliberate, her expression unreadable. As she leaned close, Yomi caught the flicker of curiosity from Ash and the branch guild master, both raising their brows at the warrior's need to consult a supposed slave.
Lirien lowered her voice to a whisper. "I'm sorry," she began, her tone uncharacteristically soft. "I should've asked earlier, but... do you have a name?"
Yomi studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing. He had almost forgotten how fragile these two women were under the façade of strength. Finally, he relented, speaking low enough for only her to hear. "Address me as Yomi."
Relief softened Lirien's tense features, and she offered a faint smile. "Thank you, Yomi." She hesitated before continuing, her voice more uncertain. "What should we do? I—" Her voice faltered. "I don't know how to handle this."
Yomi sighed, glancing back at Ash and the others. "I don't know what's going on either. But..." His gaze hardened, and his voice carried an edge of warning. "You've been leaning on my kindness a little too much. I didn't save you so you could make me a crutch."
Lirien flinched, her shoulders dropping in shame. "I— I didn't mean to—"
Before she could stammer an apology, Yomi reached out, placing a hand firmly on her shoulder. "Relax," he said with a faint smirk. "I'll help you this time too. But remember—it won't come cheap next time."
Lirien blinked at him in surprise, his words sinking in. Then, with a renewed sense of purpose, she nodded.
"Follow his lead," Yomi said, gesturing toward Ash. His expression was calm, but his tone carried a hint of authority. "Let's see what they want."
Lirien straightened her posture and turned back toward Ash, newfound determination in her steps. Yomi shifted his focus to the beast girl in his arms, who was watching the exchange with quiet curiosity. He tightened his grip on her protectively, his mind sharpening as he prepared for whatever lay ahead.
Lirien returned to Aeloria, her shoulders squared, her expression calm yet resolute. The unease that had been etched into her face earlier was gone, replaced by a quiet determination. She reached out and clasped Aeloria's arm tightly, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The touch was a silent promise, a way of saying that they would get through this together. Aeloria, though still tense, glanced at her companion and nodded back, drawing strength from Lirien's steadiness.
Lirien turned her gaze to Ash, her voice firm as she spoke. "We'll follow you to the branch. We'll comply with whatever you need from us."
Ash, who had been bracing himself for resistance, visibly relaxed. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he tipped his head in acknowledgment. "Good. That's the right call," he said, his tone lighter now.
As Ash gestured for his men to ready themselves, his sharp eyes flicked to Yomi. The brief exchange between the warrior woman and her supposed slave hadn't escaped his notice. He didn't like mysteries, and something about their dynamic felt unusual. Why would an experienced warrior, who clearly outranked a common slave, need his counsel before agreeing to cooperate?
Still, the fact that they were complying meant he wouldn't have to deal with unnecessary conflict—at least for now. The last thing he wanted was a scuffle at the base of the mountain, especially with the rift so recently reset.
"Let's move out," Ash ordered, signaling his men.
The group began their march back toward the Melanos branch, their movements purposeful but cautious. Yomi kept his head low, the beast girl cradled in his arms, his mind already strategizing for the next encounter. Lirien walked close to Aeloria, her hand brushing against her companion's arm in a silent show of unity, while Aeloria's sharp eyes darted nervously from Ash's men to the surrounding woods.
Ash rode slightly ahead of the group, his gaze periodically drifting back to the strange party walking behind him. His instincts told him there was more to these people than met the eye, but he chose to leave his questions for later. For now, the rift was quiet, and they had time to get to the bottom of this.
And so, they departed, the mountain at their backs and the looming uncertainties of the Melanos branch awaiting them.