The warm afternoon breeze carried the scent of roasted nuts and dried meat across the small camp near the mining site. Yoshiya leaned against a tree trunk, taking a sip from his waterskin, while Omina happily munched on a piece of bread stuffed with smoked ham. For a moment, everything felt quiet and simple—almost peaceful.
Then, Omina's chewing slowed. "...Yoshiya," she whispered, pointing toward the treeline.
A figure stood in the distance, half-shrouded by shadows. Tall, imposing, with a large black blade resting against his shoulder. Bright red stripes ran along the length of the sword, like veins pulsing with silent aggression. He wore a helmet that concealed his face, light armor across his torso, and a single shoulder pad. His boots were built for movement, not protection.
Yoshiya straightened up, studying him. That's… a blade master, he realized. Just like Omina. But something about the man's gear made his stomach tighten. No body armor. Minimal protection. That's reckless for someone in close combat. Either he's confident… or suicidal.
The man didn't move. He simply stood there, watching them with the stillness of a predator sizing up its surroundings.
Yoshiya decided to break the silence. He waved lightly. "Hey there. Want to join us? We've got some food—"
The stranger didn't even glance at him. He turned his head away slightly, as if the offer wasn't worth acknowledging, and began walking toward the mine entrance.
Omina puffed her cheeks. "Hmph! So rude. I was even going to offer my special bread…"
Yoshiya chuckled under his breath, though his eyes remained sharp. "Don't mind him. He's probably the lone type. Not exactly the talkative kind."
They finished their break quickly after that, curiosity hanging over them like a thin fog.
The tunnels of the mine grew darker as they ventured deeper, their lanterns casting dancing shadows on the rough walls. Yoshiya swung his pickaxe with steady rhythm, while Omina carefully extracted ores from the vein embedded in the stone.
When Yoshiya looked up, his gaze caught the stranger again—now standing silently at the edge of the chamber. He hadn't joined in the mining. He hadn't said a single word. He was simply watching, like a hunter waiting for something to happen.
What is this guy planning…? Yoshiya thought, unease curling in his chest.
Then it happened.
With one particularly strong swing, Yoshiya's pickaxe struck a brittle support column embedded in the wall. A deep crack echoed through the tunnel.
"Yoshiya—!" Omina shouted.
Too late. The stone column split, and a portion of the wall crumbled away. Dust filled the air. When it settled, a hidden passage was revealed—leading into a wider chamber. Flickering orange light spilled out from within.
They cautiously peeked through the opening.
On the other side lay a kobold encampment. Crude tents, makeshift campfires, piles of scavenged weapons. Dozens of kobolds scurried about, unaware of the newly opened hole that connected the two areas.
Yoshiya's breath caught. "We found… a whole camp."
He turned to Omina, already thinking of how to report this to the guild. But before either of them could plan their next move—
Clank.
They both whipped around.
The stranger—Kaito Mugenrei—stepped forward, gripping his massive black sword with both hands. He didn't say a word. No hesitation. No signal.
And then—
He charged straight through the opening like a storm let loose, sword raised high, a single man against an army.
"Kaito—?! What the—" Yoshiya's words were drowned out by the roar of his war cry and the startled shrieks of kobolds as the berserker blade master crashed into their midst.
The calm of the mine shattered into chaos.
To be continued…