"I have to head to the main cathedral for at least a month," Delia said calmly.
"What!?" Scarlett exclaimed, her tone and expression filled with surprise. Beside her, Aui appeared indifferent, though those who knew her well would notice the subtle flicker of surprise in her eyes.
"It was one of the conditions the head Pope required me to agree to," Delia explained. "But don't worry, it'll only be a month—I promise."
For a moment, it seemed like the girls were about to protest, but just as quickly, they relented, nodding in silent acceptance.
Delia stepped closer, wrapping both of them in a warm embrace. "It's okay. You're both my girls—daughters of Delia White. Take on challenges, complete quests at your rank, grow stronger, and impress me. But more importantly, take care of each other, okay?"
Scarlett and Aui returned the hug, savoring the quiet warmth of the moment.
The next morning, when they woke, Delia was already gone. Remembering her words, the two set out to train.
One month later…
Time had passed swiftly.
Scarlett and Aui had grown immensely during Delia's absence. No longer the untrained children they once were, they had matured into capable adventurers.
Scarlett, once an excitable and loud girl, had transformed into a calm, collected, and natural leader. Her voice carried a confident, commanding tone, and she had developed a sharp tactical mind. Aui, ever the analyst, remained her usual composed self, calculating every move before taking action.
During this time, they had formed a close bond with Golan, Showler, and Mi—three other young adventurers they had met at the guild.
Golan was the cool and cheerful type, always lightening the mood, while Showler was a shy but deadly assassin, skilled in stealth and precision. Mi, the most experienced among them, had already reached C-Rank, guiding the others as they started their careers as E-Ranked adventurers.
Together, they had formed a party—Blue Phoenix.
They had faced challenges, fought monsters, and grown stronger together.
The moment Delia stepped back into the guild, she was met with two pairs of eyes locking onto her with intensity—Golan and Showler.
Both men were struck by her beauty, completely captivated at first sight. Golan and Showler found themselves instantly drawn to her.
Though Delia didn't see it, Scarlett and Aui exchanged knowing glances, already seeing the brewing admiration.
Eina approached the group with a sheet of paper in her hand.
"It's good to see you back. How about it? This quest in my hand will give me, the other girls, and the newly formed Blue Phoenix the opportunity to witness your Angelic Skill firsthand."
Delia considered Eina's request, recalling the promise she had made. With a small shrug, she agreed, but a moment later, she froze.
Something Eina had said just registered in her mind.
"…Wait, did you say Blue Phoenix? Who are they? A new party that formed while I was away?" she asked, clearly bewildered.
Eina sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. In her excitement over the quest, she had completely forgotten that Delia had been absent from the guild for an entire month.
Instead of answering, she simply pointed behind Delia.
Turning in the direction Eina indicated, Delia saw Scarlett and Aui standing confidently—alongside three unfamiliar boys, all wearing smug expressions.
She was taken aback, particularly by Aui's uncharacteristically smug look.
Scarlett stepped forward, her voice steady and professional. "We are the Blue Phoenix party."
To the surprise of Scarlett, Aui, Golan, Showler, Mi—and even Eina—Delia didn't react with shock or skepticism. Instead, a radiant, motherly smile spread across her face, overflowing with pride.
"Huh?" was the only response the group could muster.
"I knew my girls would impress me, but this… this is beyond my expectations. I'm truly proud of you," Delia said, her voice soft yet filled with unmistakable pride.
The weight of her words struck them all at once. Their hearts, male and female alike, skipped a literal beat in sync.
"Mother… Delia…" Scarlett and Aui whispered tearfully, overwhelmed by emotion.
"Enough with the tears," Delia said gently. "Let me properly meet the members of my daughters' party. And, Eina, give me a day or two to get to know them before we take on that quest. Sounds good?"
Eina simply nodded, a warm smile on her face as she watched her friend happily interacting with the newly formed Blue Phoenix.
Two days later…
Delia, Eina, the Delia fan club and the Blue Phoenix's were all heading out of the city towards the direction of Alcreme forest– Why? Because of the A-rank quest Eina chose.
The mission was to clear a large portion of the Alcreme Forest, the same place where Delia had once taken her first quest. Recently, the area had become overrun with dangerous creatures, making it impossible for lower-ranked adventurers to pass through.
The group setting out included: Delia, Aui, Showler, Mi, Golan, The Delia Fan Club & Eina herself.
Over the past two days, while Delia spoke with Mi, Golan, and Showler, she learned more about their pasts.
Golan, contrary to what she had assumed, was not an orphan. He came from a well-known family but was kidnapped and held for ransom. When his family was unable to pay the demanded sum, he was sold into slavery. Despite their efforts, his family had yet to find him. Over the years, Golan had attempted various ways to reach them, but none had succeeded. In the end, he chose to become an adventurer, hoping that through fame and recognition, his family might one day hear of him.
Mi, on the other hand, had a relatively normal upbringing. However, he mentioned that something about himself felt "wrong"—a vague and unsettling statement that Delia never got the chance to fully understand.
Since he was unwilling or unable to elaborate, she chose not to press the matter.
After learning about the boys' origins, the system suddenly activated once more, revealing an unexpected truth—Golan, Showler, and Mi were all lost children.
Alcreme forest
The team moved cautiously through the Alcreme Forest, their eyes scanning the thick undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the sounds of distant creatures echoed between the trees.
It wasn't long before the first wave of monsters appeared—giant, armored centipedes. Their segmented bodies rattled as they moved, their mandibles clicking hungrily.
"Positions!" Scarlett ordered, her voice steady and commanding.
Aui raised her hands, magic crackling at her fingertips. "I'll slow them down."
A pulse of ice magic spread across the ground, freezing several of the centipedes in place. Scarlett dashed forward, her twin swords flashing as she sliced clean through their hardened shells.
Golan and Showler moved together, one drawing attention while the other struck from behind. Mi, the most experienced, focused on protecting the group's formation.
The battle intensified as more creatures emerged—shadow panthers that blended into the darkness, giant venomous frogs launching poison darts, and tree-like golems that smashed the ground with massive wooden fists.
Scarlett, with her newfound composure, led the charge, barking out orders:
"Aui, cover Golan! Showler, flank from the right! Mi, keep the backline safe!"
They fought as a team, efficiently cutting down the waves of creatures. Even the Delia Fan Club, eager to impress their idol, fought with determination.
It wasn't easy, but they were winning.
__
After a long day of clearing monsters, the group finally found a safe clearing deep within the Alcreme Forest. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the treetops. Birds chirped softly in the distance, and the scent of damp earth mixed with the cool evening air.
"Alright," Scarlett stretched her arms above her head. "I think we've earned a break."
Mi dropped his gear next to a fallen log.
"Agreed. No way we can keep going without some proper rest."
Golan flopped onto the grass. "Ugh. Finally."
Aui, always thinking ahead, looked around the area. "We should gather food while there's still daylight."
Showler, quiet as ever, nodded in agreement. "I'll check the surroundings. Make sure it's safe."
Delia watched them with a small smile. They were working together well. This was how a true adventuring party functioned.
Scarlett and Mi worked on setting up camp, gathering firewood and clearing the area.
Aui and Golan searched for edible herbs and berries, using Aui's knowledge of flora to avoid anything poisonous.
Showler scouted the perimeter, ensuring there were no threats nearby.
Meanwhile, the Delia Fan Club… mostly just admired Delia from a distance.
"Delia, do you need anything?," inquired a girl with golden hair and exact eye colors. Her name was Zola, if Delia wasn't wrong.
Delia just shook her head in a no gesture.
"Are you comfortable? We can set up a better seat for you!"
"Would you like a foot massage?"
Delia chuckled. "Just focus on dinner, you guys."
After some time, the fire crackled warmly, and the group began cooking.
Golan and Scarlett worked on roasting some freshly caught fish over the flames, while Aui prepared a simple herb soup using the edible plants they had gathered.
Mi, surprisingly skilled in cooking, managed to make a delicious roasted meat dish using some preserved rations.
The meal was simple, but after a long day of fighting, it tasted like a feast.
"This is amazing!" Golan said between bites.
Scarlett smirked. "We should make campfire cooking a tradition."
Aui took a careful sip of her soup. "As long as we gather proper ingredients."
Even Showler, who rarely spoke, gave a small nod of approval.
—
After dinner, the group sat around the fire, letting the warmth soak into their tired bodies.
Delia watched them interact—Scarlett joking with Golan, Aui analyzing the flames, Mi wiped his sword and gauntlets, Showler quietly listening.
It was… peaceful.
This was the kind of moment adventurers lived for.
Eventually, one by one, they drifted off to sleep.
As Delia leaned back against a tree, gazing up at the starry sky, she had a feeling…
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
—
Morning came with the soft chirping of birds and the golden light of the rising sun.
After a quick breakfast, the group packed up and continued their journey deeper into the forest.
By afternoon, the air began to change.
The wind grew colder. The silence became unnatural. Even the wildlife had vanished.
Scarlett, sensing something off, gripped her swords. "Does anyone else feel that?"
Aui frowned. "Something… ancient is here."
Then, a deafening howl shook the air.
From the shadows, seven massive wolves emerged.
Each radiated a different elemental force—fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness… and something more.
Golan stepped back. "Oh… we are so screwed."
Mi's grip tightened on his sword. "Everyone, battle positions! NOW!"
And so, the real fight began.