Slash! Slash!
Zak enthusiastically hacked away at the foliage, clearing a path for the quartet behind him. He whistled with joy, while Raven followed with a smile that made him look like an innocent brat. Behind them trailed Andel, Helga, and Bzord, though Bzord couldn't help but narrow his eyes at Raven. The suspicion wasn't his alone; the other two shared it as well.
"What are you doing in the jungle again? You're aware it's dangerous, even for experienced adventurers," Helga asked.
"Well, I've always wanted to know what it's like to be one," Raven replied.
"Even though the legal age is sixteen, my sister wouldn't let me. She says adventuring is too hard, that there's a sixty-percent mortality rate."
"But I've trained hard enough. Still, my sister has eyes in the Adventurers' Guild. Not even they would sign me up, even though I'm of age."
"So I took matters into my own hands and came here alone… only to get caught in a crossfire." Raven shrugged.
"Seems you have a caring sister. She knows the dangers of adventuring and wants the best for you. Cherish her, some of us don't have that privilege," Helga said warmly.
Raven went silent for a moment before replying, "I will. And this time, I'll protect her." His fists clenched. Andel glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
Some time later, they reached the edge of the forest. Civilization was visible not far ahead.
"So, we've gotten you out of the forest. Can you hand over the core shard as promised?" Zak asked eagerly.
"I will. But I want something else in exchange… I want his sword." Raven pointed to Andel's blue-glinting blade.
"What! You already agreed to give us the shard if we took you out. Why change your word now?" Andel snapped.
"For one, I know goblins are sharp when it comes to business, and greedy when it comes to money. Seeing him so eager over the shard spoke volumes about its worth," Raven countered.
"You can't even use the sword. You're forbidden by your sister," Andel retorted.
"But I can always sell it. If I sell the shard myself, I'll be suspected."
"…Fine." Andel yanked his sword from its strap. Raven also took out the core shard, and the two exchanged items.
The moment the trade was made, Helga and Zak lunged at Raven, trying to snatch the sword back. But he only smirked. Infusing mana into his legs, Raven leapt with extraordinary speed, startling them.
He zipped past Andel, snatching the core shard back in the process. He stopped a short distance away, smugly holding both items.
"Get him!!!" Andel roared.
The quartet charged at once. Raven smirked.
"Catch me if you can."
Skill activated:
Raven dove into the shadow beneath him and reemerged under a nearby house, obscured from sight. The quartet froze, stunned by what they had just witnessed. Andel's face twisted in fury, he had been duped.
Blending into the crowd, Raven moved seamlessly through the city. Even as the group searched frantically, they never found him.
Within minutes, Raven reached his abode. He collapsed onto his bed, laughing hysterically. It had been too easy. He had tricked them cleanly, and now he had a fine sword to show for it.
What he'd told them was true, at this time, Dinah wouldn't let him near the Adventurers' Guild. She had even taken away anything that could fuel his desire, including practice swords.
The only reason he still had one was because he'd hidden it where she could never find it, even if she tore his room apart.
He knew why she went that far: he was all she had left. Their parents were dead, killed by the unknown. Alone, they had been forced to fend for themselves.
In his past life, he hadn't gained freedom from her until he was eighteen, and even then, only by secretly applying to the army. This life would be different. He planned to grow strong quickly, strong enough to one day defeat the Archmage.
He smiled, remembering why he had tricked the adventurers in the first place. As both a soldier and adventurer in his past life, he had quickly assessed them from the small badges on their gear:
Zak and Bzord were both Class D adventurers. Helga was Class C. Andel was Class C★, explaining his quick temper and confidence.
They could have beaten him, especially Helga and Andel. That was why he'd needed to play vulnerable, using the fact that he lacked an adventurer's badge.
His eyes fell on the sword, the blue sheen glinting as he ran his hand across it. Normally, he wouldn't stoop so low as to steal another's survival tool. But he was broke, Dinah only gave him enough for food.
'They were planning to scam me too. I shouldn't feel guilty'. He thought to justify himself.
Now, with a proper weapon, he could finally apply to become an adventurer. That meant easy access to money, a chance to grow stronger, and most importantly, the means to protect Dinah, who would face tragedy in a few years.
"I must say," he muttered, "they make a good test for my new ability."
[Celestial Energy