LUCIUS
We kept our discussions open while we still had time. Ms. Forza remained convinced that an old, defeated Chimaera could be taken down — maybe even killed — if the two of us worked together. But there was one major factor she was ignoring. One that could turn the tide against us in a real life-or-death scenario.
"This old, tired, defeated beast you're underestimating," I said flatly, "remember one thing, madam — the old ones? They're often the most experienced. In combat. In escape. In survival."
The Valgura Mercy and I took down — that one was young, stupid, reckless. It ignored its instincts because of the stage of life it was in — hot-blooded, impulsive. This Chimaera? This one won't be like that. It won't charge blindly and fight to the death for pride. No, it'll approach with a sharp, battle-hardened mind, full of scars and instincts honed through a thousand close calls.
Even Mr. Roid, her ever-stoic butler, nodded in approval. Forza, on the other hand, finally paused. She seemed to consider my words for the first time since she'd started this whole pitch.
"This Chimaera we're dreaming of killing," I added, "can also go kaboom. If things go south for her — I mean, the last thing I want to experience is a mana sacrifice at point-blank range in this lifetime."
Especially not from an SS-ranked beast. Their "mana kabooms" aren't just flashy explosions. They're vaporisation-level blasts — erasing everything around them. Wide-radius devastation. Enough to make even someone like me, fast and agile, genuinely worried. Hell, even scared.
And just then, another important detail hit me. One I had almost allowed to slip from my mind, buried beneath all the strategising.
"What about the Wraiths?" I asked aloud. "What if they somehow intervene? I'm sure you've heard the circulating rumours... And there's the corrupted beasts, too."
If we were seriously going to take this mission, then every single parameter had to be discussed, analyzed, prepared for. Anything less than that would be a suicide pact dressed up as a job offer.
Forza gave me a confused look, most likely about the Wraiths. Corrupted beasts don't surprise us anymore. They're nuisances now. Persistent, ugly, destructive nuisances — but not shocking. Not like they used to be.
"...The shadow demons. The grim reaper types that wander the outer rim, levitating above the ground... You haven't heard?" I tried again, watching her reaction.
I wasn't sure if I was reminding her or explaining it for the first time. Either way, it surprised me that she looked so lost — Wraiths were supposed to be a hot topic across the entire eastern region by now.
Then, Mr. Roid — who had been quiet all this time — slowly shook his head. Not in confusion. In disappointment. He wasn't saying anything, but his expression screamed: How can you not know this?... Wait, why does it feel like he's... Disappointed in me?
Forza's voice finally cut through the tension.
"...That's a lie. Circulated by the higher hierarchies of the Eastern Union. A straight-up fabrication. There are no Wraiths. No shadow demons levitating in the Rims."
What?
The hell?
Wait, what?!
Why would someone make up something like this?
Before my thoughts could spiral into the familiar rabbit hole of overthinking, Forza raised her hand — not to defend herself, but almost like she was asking permission to continue. It was… unexpected. And for a second, my heart sank.
Girl, you really are all alone, without any friends...
Still, I gestured for her to go on.
"As you know," she began slowly, "the war against the corrupted beasts is at an all-time high. The alliance forces, led by Commander Avraham and Rartar, are close to locating what might be the beasts' hidden dens — the places they actually spawn from."
"Because of this, the focus has shifted to a single coordinated location, unfortunately allowing several beasts to escape from other fronts."
"And by 'several,' I mean thousands. These corrupted beasts have already wreaked havoc near the regional cities of Valoria and Vela, costing many, many hunters and adventurers their lives."
Rartar huh?
She paused. Her voice lowered slightly, taking on the weight of what she was about to say.
"So the rumours. The Wraiths. They were fabricated — intentionally. To prevent adventurers like yourself from recklessly entering the outer rims. The descriptions were made as far-fetched as possible so that no one would take them seriously, but still feel just afraid enough to stay away."
"Because if you do run into something that strong... something matching the description of a Wraith... there's nothing you can do. No strategy. No retreat. No chance."
She let that silence speak. Then continued.
"The opposed ban on solo venturing — that was the only real step the Eastern Union of Guilds could take without facing huge backlash from its members. Too many rely on freedom of movement. But this? This was their compromise."
I slumped back into the sofa, exhaling hard. My hand raked through my hair as my shoulders sank.
So that's why even Arcane hadn't bothered to react to the Wraith reports. Not because they didn't matter... but because they mattered too much — in a way no one wanted to believe.
I let the weight settle in my chest like a boulder. At least there was one thing to worry about less...
Or maybe not — because something in me still resisted this mission. My gut practically screamed at me not to join her. Even that deep instinct I've had since childhood, the one that helped me survive my first night in the Rims, was bristling... Still, an SS-ranked mana core, that's worth the risk I'm prepared to undertake... Though I'm gonna need some time, a few days perhaps.
"I'll need time to prepare. At least a week," I said, my voice steady. A week wasn't enough, not really — but if everything aligned, and if I absorbed the Guardian Alpha's mana core properly, I might just push into S-rank, which will increase our survival, as well as our mission's success, which wasn't guaranteed at all.
"A week?!" she repeated, as if I'd just told her I needed a year. Her look said it all — why waste time when the beast wouldn't wait for us? Predators, adventurers, or even another SS-class might kill it- her* before we reach it.
"I need to prepare thoroughly," I replied, letting my gaze wander. Nice interior, this room — bright, spacious, and kind of pretentious in its elegance. I liked it, I pretended like a fucking idiot.
"What are you, a little girl?" she shot back, tone sharp and arrogant. "Three days. I'll spare you three days, no more."
With that tone, good luck tryna make new friends... No wonder you're so alone, I thought. My jaw tightened, but I kept my eyes on the glittering chandelier above us. Three days… it wasn't enough, not really. But I could try. If I failed, I'd ditch her. Simple.
"I'll take that. Thank you."
She didn't respond, simply blinked slowly once, so I leaned forward again as we began discussing tactical details — the beast's potential defences, our loadouts, mana strategies, fallback points as Roid bought in some maps related to the areas, the beast might head towards, or settle temporarily.
***
"Hmm. You're… on time," Sara noted, standing beneath the wide shade of a low-hanging tree. Evening had softened the sun's glare, the light warm and gold across the fields. I joined her, shoulders heavy. That conversation with Forza had drained me more than any sparring match.
She looped her arm around mine as we started walking away from the Guild Association's grounds. Her voice danced with energy as she recounted her latest chats with April and Ms. Kiwi. I listened — or pretended to, nodding when it felt appropriate, throwing in a question here and there. I didn't want to make her feel unheard, even if I desperately wanted silence to sort through the gut-deep unease crawling inside me.
"Where are we heading now?" she asked after a while, her tone lighter. "Home? Your place? My place? Or… somewhere else?"
Her cheeks flushed pink, subtle, but enough for me to notice. As much as I would've liked to say "your place" and let the night fade there, I had work. A task passed down by The Mighty One himself. It meant heading back to a place I hated.
"The Ra-Ai Colony. We have to visit a family there."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Ra-Ai?" she repeated, like I'd just mentioned a ghost town. I'd talked about that place maybe twice in my whole life, and both times with venom in my voice.
Now we were actually going there.
An odd sensation curled in my chest — not quite dread, but something heavy, something that whispered, don't. Like the world itself was urging me to turn back. But I wouldn't. This visit mattered. And I had Sara with me.
What could really go wrong, anyway?