[Melanos Branch]
The heavy wooden doors of the Melanos guild creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. The vast hall was eerily empty, devoid of the bustle of adventurers exchanging stories or planning their next quests. Only a single receptionist sat at the counter, her head resting on her folded arms as she dozed lightly. The sudden sound of boots against the stone floor startled her awake. She shot up, her hair slightly disheveled, and bowed quickly.
"Welcome back, Branch Master!" she greeted, her voice cracking from disuse.
The branch master waved her off dismissively. "Bring refreshments to my office for our guests," he commanded, not even sparing her a glance.
"Yes, sir!" she replied, hurrying away as if relieved to have a task to focus on.
Yomi's sharp eyes scanned the guild as they walked further in. The structure was sturdy, built with thick stone walls and reinforced beams, exuding an air of practicality rather than grandeur. The banners of the Aegis of the Fates hung above, their insignia weathered but proud. Yet to Yomi, the purpose of the establishment was unclear.
What's the point of this place? he mused silently. The lack of people only deepened his confusion.
The group soon approached an intersection, a hallway branching into private rooms and offices. Just as they neared the branch master's office, Ash abruptly turned and stepped in front of Yomi and the beast girl, blocking their path.
"Beyond this point is for authorized individuals only," Ash said coldly. "The slaves will wait here."
Yomi narrowed his eyes, his gaze hardening. "What makes you think I'm a slave?"
Ash raised a brow, clearly not expecting the defiance. His lips curled into a sneer as he pointed at the beast girl. "That collar around her neck says everything. It's a mark of her enslavement contract." His finger shifted to Yomi, taking in his ragged clothing and thin frame. "And you? Look at yourself—filthy, tattered, and carrying no equipment. If that doesn't scream 'slave,' I don't know what does."
Lirien opened her mouth to interject, but Yomi's hand reached out before she could speak, gripping both sides of the beast girl's collar.
"What are you—" Ash began, but his words caught in his throat as he watched Yomi's actions.
Yomi closed his eyes, his focus narrowing. The familiar hum of his Ki coursed through his body, flowing into his arms. As his hands glowed faintly, a voice echoed in his mind.
"[Warning: Destroying another's enslavement artifact may result in fatal consequences.
However, channeling Ki directly to sever the attachment will avoid life-threatening outcomes.]"
Trusting the voice, at the moment, Yomi let his Ki surge into the collar, probing the intricate weave of magic that bound it to the beast girl. It was like cutting through tangled vines—delicate but precise.
"What are you doing?" Ash demanded, his tone sharp with disbelief.
The collar glowed faintly, cracks appearing along its edges. With a sharp snap, the metal shattered, falling to the floor in pieces. The beast girl flinched but immediately touched her neck, her wide eyes filling with confusion and disbelief.
Ash stood frozen, his jaw slack. "Impossible..." he muttered under his breath.
Yomi bent down, picked up the broken collar, and tossed it at Ash's feet. "I might not have a change of clothes," he said calmly, "but I can assure you—we're not slaves."
The room fell silent, the air heavy with tension. Ash's men exchanged nervous glances, while Aeloria and Lirien stared at Yomi, their faces a mix of awe and disbelief.
Ash's fingers twitched, his mouth opening as if to respond, but he found no words. For the first time, the commanding scout was at a loss.
The silence was thick, the weight of Yomi's actions hanging over the room like a storm cloud. Aeloria broke it with a commanding voice that cut through the tension.
"Both of them are our companions," she said firmly, her piercing gaze daring Ash to object.
Ash blinked, the declaration snapping him out of his stupor. He stepped aside reluctantly, gesturing for Yomi and the beast girl to follow. "Fine. Come in," he said, though his tone was laced with confusion.
As they entered, Ash's mind raced. Companions? What kind of relationship do they have? A warrior, a mage, and two slaves—or ex-slaves? This whole situation is beyond bizarre.
The group settled into the branch master's office. It was a modest space with a heavy oak desk dominating the room, shelves lined with scrolls and ledgers, and a faint smell of ink lingering in the air. The branch master, a stout man with a receding hairline and a sharp demeanor, rummaged through his desk before pulling out a stack of documents.
"These are for the dungeon report," he said, handing the papers to Ash along with a quill pen. Ash nodded and turned his attention to Aeloria and Lirien.
"I'll need your adventurer identification," he said, his tone professional but firm.
The two women exchanged uneasy glances, a flicker of hesitation passing between them. Taking deep breaths, they reached into their pouches and produced their metal badges. Aeloria's fingers lingered on hers for a moment before she handed it over.
Ash examined the badges carefully. They were silver, inscribed with their names and roles—Aeloria, a mage, and Lirien, a warrior. He frowned as a sense of unease crept into his thoughts. Silver badges? That's C-class adventurer rank. Did I really mistake them for S-class?
He scrutinized the badges again, hoping he was wrong, but the evidence was clear. His heart sank as realization dawned.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, his fingers tightening around the quill.
His eyes darted to Aeloria and Lirien, then to Yomi and the beast girl, who sat silently at the back of the room. The whole picture was wrong—two C-class adventurers with two individuals who looked like they'd crawled out of the dirt. It didn't add up.
Without warning, Ash's voice boomed. "Men! Get in here!"
The door burst open as several of Ash's group poured into the office, their weapons drawn. They formed a tight semicircle around the group, their expressions stern and unyielding.
"What's the meaning of this?" Aeloria demanded, standing up sharply.
Ash ignored her question, his tone cold and authoritative. "There's been a misunderstanding," he began, addressing the room. "And now that your adventurer IDs have cleared that up, I have no choice but to detain you."
"Detain us?!" Lirien's hand instinctively went to the twin swords strapped to her back.
Ash raised a hand to forestall any resistance. "You are being detained under the Dungeon Suppression Decree," he declared. "Adventurers are required by law to report new dungeon rifts immediately, not to plunder them for personal gain. Your actions have violated that decree."
Yomi's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. Aeloria and Lirien were visibly tense, their postures defensive. The beast girl clutched his arm tightly, trembling.
"This isn't going to end well," Yomi muttered under his breath, his mind already racing for options.