As we stepped into the guild hall, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The usual lively hum of adventurers sharing stories and clinking mugs had been replaced by hushed whispers and anxious glances. Everyone seemed on edge, their faces etched with worry. Lupin and I exchanged a glance, her wolf ears twitching slightly as she took in the scene. Her crimson eyes narrowed, scanning the room for any signs of danger.
We made our way to the receptionist, who was nervously shuffling papers behind the counter. Her hands trembled as she tried to organize the chaos, and her eyes darted around the room as if expecting something terrible to happen at any moment.
"What's going on?" I asked, leaning against the wooden desk. "Why is everyone so worked up?"
The receptionist looked up, her eyes wide with concern. "Sir, there's a new task on the board. It's… caused quite a stir."
"A task? What's it about?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued.
She hesitated, glancing around as if afraid someone might overhear. "The new hero… they failed to eliminate the demon hounds. Now the creatures are multiplying and slipping into Wisteria. The kingdom is in danger."
I frowned. Demon hounds were no ordinary threat. They were vicious, relentless, and known for their ability to overwhelm even seasoned warriors. The fact that the new hero had failed to contain them was troubling, to say the least. But what was even more concerning was the palpable fear in the room. Everyone had realized the hero's incompetence, yet no one dared to speak openly about it.
Word had spread quickly about the king's response: a decree that all knights double their training regimen. The announcement had sparked outrage among the guild members, who were already stretched thin. I overheard a group of knights grumbling in the corner, their voices slurred with drink.
"Damn it all," one of them muttered, slamming his mug on the table. "Double training? We're barely keeping up as it is."
"It's that useless hero's fault," another spat, his words dripping with venom. "If they'd done their job, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Quiet, you fool!" the third knight hissed, glancing around nervously. "You want to get us all killed? Keep your mouth shut."
I ignored their drunken ramblings and turned back to Lupin, who was sipping her drink with an air of indifference. Her wolf ears twitched slightly, a sign that she was listening intently despite her calm demeanor. She set her glass down and leaned closer to me, her crimson eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Darling," she purred, her voice low and teasing, "let's take on the demon hound task. It's the perfect opportunity to show everyone how strong you are."
I chuckled nervously, scratching the back of my head. "Me? Strong enough to take on demon hounds? You're giving me too much credit."
She pouted, her tail swishing impatiently. "Don't sell yourself short. You defeated me, didn't you? And I'm a million times stronger than a pack of those mutts."
"That was different," I protested, trying to downplay her praise. "I'm sure there are stronger knights and guild members who'll handle it."
Lupin's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine. If you won't do it, I'll go alone."
"What? No, that's too dangerous," I said, my voice firm. The thought of her facing those creatures alone sent a chill down my spine.
She smirked, clearly enjoying my concern. "If I defeat them all by myself, it'll prove that you're even stronger, since you defeated me. Isn't that right?"
I sighed, knowing there was no winning this argument. "Alright, alright. I'll come with you."
Her face lit up with a triumphant grin. "Yay! I'm glad you decided to come along, darling. But really, I could've handled it myself."
"I know," I said, shaking my head. "But I'm not letting you go alone."
We approached the receptionist, who handed us the task details with a look of relief. "Thank you for stepping up, sir. The guild has arranged for you to stay in a house near the border of the capital. It's close to where the demon hounds have been sighted."
I nodded, tucking the parchment into my bag. "We'll take care of it."
With a flick of my wrist, I activated my teleportation magic, and in an instant, we were standing at the edge of the forest near the capital. The air was crisp, and the faint scent of pine filled my nostrils. In the distance, I spotted the duplex the guild had prepared for us. It was a modest but cozy-looking structure, surrounded by tall trees and a small garden.
"That must be the house," I said, gesturing toward it.
Lupin tilted her head, her ears perking up. "Must be. But really, I could've handled this alone."
"Yes, but I don't want you to," I replied, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Before she could retort, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. Lupin's ears twitched, and she turned sharply toward the sound. "It's coming from over there," she said, her voice tense.
We sprinted through the trees, following the sound until we stumbled upon a chaotic scene. A group of four girls was being attacked by a pack of demon hounds. Their weapons were drawn, but they were clearly outmatched. One of them, a dark elf with striking curves, was clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers. Another, a fair-skinned girl with a sword in hand, was shouting orders, her voice strained with desperation.
"Jennifer, step back! You're too injured to keep fighting!" the leader, Helene, yelled.
"No, I'm fine," Jennifer insisted, though her trembling hands betrayed her words. "I can still fight."
Before the situation could escalate further, I raised my hand and summoned a bolt of lightning from the sky. It struck the ground with a deafening crack, obliterating the demon hounds in an instant. The girls stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide with shock.
"What just happened?" Helene muttered, her sword lowering slightly.
Before anyone could answer, two more demon hounds emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malice. Lupin didn't hesitate. She leaped into the air, landing on one with enough force to crush its skull. The other met a swift end as her claws tore through its flesh like butter.
"Who… who are you?" Helene asked, her voice trembling.
I stepped forward, offering a reassuring smile. "It's me, Fernando. Remember?"
Her eyes widened in recognition, and a relieved smile spread across her face. "Fernando! I'm so glad you're alive."
The others. Jennifer, Ruby, and Emma rushed over, their expressions a mix of relief and gratitude. Jennifer, the dark elf, winced as she moved, but her smile was genuine. "We thought you were dead," she said, her voice soft.
Emma, the witch with purple hair, stepped forward and placed a hand on my arm. "I'm glad you're okay," she said, her eyes filled with warmth.
Ruby, the backup fighter, grinned and punched my shoulder playfully. "Good to see you, Fernando."
As we exchanged greetings, Lupin stood a few paces away, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. The girls turned to her, their curiosity evident.
"Who's she?" Helene asked, her gaze lingering on Lupin's striking appearance.
I glanced at Lupin, who was clearly waiting for me to introduce her properly. "Oh, her? She's my travel partner," I said casually.
Lupin's eyes narrowed, and I could almost feel the heat of her glare. "Travel partner?" she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is that all I am to you?"
I chuckled nervously, scratching the back of my head. "Well, you are, aren't you?"
She huffed, clearly unsatisfied with my answer, but before she could retort, a low growl echoed from behind us. A demon hound had crept up on us, its teeth bared and its eyes locked on Lupin. She turned to face it, her expression shifting from annoyance to sheer fury.
The demon hound froze, its growl dying in its throat. It lowered its head and whimpered, as if recognizing a far greater predator. Lupin smirked and stepped closer, her claws retracting as she reached out to pat its head.
"Can I keep it as a pet?" she asked, her tone surprisingly innocent.
"What?" I exclaimed, my voice rising an octave.
"I mean, if it does anything wrong, I'll kill it. Promise," she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I just think it's cute."
I sighed, knowing there was no talking her out of it. "Fine. But we can't have it running around looking like that. It'll scare people."
I activated the body-changing spell, and within moments, the demon hound had transformed into a small, fluffy rabbit. It looked harmless, but I knew better. This was no ordinary rabbit. It was a psycho rabbit, a calm beast that could turn wild if threatened.
The girls stared in disbelief, their jaws practically on the ground. "You're… keeping it as a pet?" Ruby asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
"Apparently," I said, shrugging.
Lupin scooped the rabbit into her arms, cradling it like a prized possession. "Don't worry, darling. I'll take good care of it."
As we made our way to the shelter, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The demon hounds were multiplying, and the kingdom was on edge. But with Lupin by my side, I knew we stood a chance. Together, we'd face whatever challenges lay ahead and maybe, just maybe, we'd come out stronger on the other side.