[I sometimes wonder, Magus,] she said, her gaze fixed on Magus’s sealed form. His expression, though locked in stone, felt defiant, unyielding. [Just what is so special about Hellix that you won’t bend and serve me already?] Her voice was calm, yet laced with irritation as her fingers lazily toyed with one another. [He’s just some random…

Around eight years ago… “Attention!” A commanding voice echoed, sharp and unyielding. The young feline-halfling’s ears sprang upright, her tail curling in response as her gaze snapped forward. She stood rigidly among her ten older siblings, all of whom towered over her like giants. The source of the voice, their imposing mother, strode forward. Her…

The party moved across the open plains, a scattered formation of eight adventurers. At the front, Unicus led with a steady stride, followed by Savathon, Arnolt, Vaelthir, Sylva, the thief, and two others. At the back, Van walked silently, carrying an oversized bag stuffed with equipment—a load that could crush five men his size, yet…

“What’s going on in here!!?” Marcy yelled as she burst in the storage house, after hearing her daughter cry out. “Ah,” Anne called as she turned around, with Michael helping her move things. “That clutz had a crate fall on his face, mom. Got a little worried, so I let out a shout. Sorry,” She…

|I believe The Flame Revenant has gotten out of hand, My Goddess. He burned your proteges too, in that cavern.| Dauz muttered, kneeling in the vast golden chamber. The marble floor beneath him shimmered with an otherworldly sheen, its chill biting into his palms. Above him, the towering figure of the Goddess reclined on her…

Marcilla’s guild was lively, as always. High-ranked and low-ranked adventurers bustled about, drifting in and out, sharing boisterous conversations over breakfast, or pulling quest parchments from the well-worn board by the entrance. “Good morning…” Amoria greeted with a weary sigh as she stepped into the guild hall alongside Liz, her exhaustion clear in the slight…

The other gave her a reassuring tap on the shoulder. “It’s fine. He’s just some F-Rank spoiled brat. No way he’d pick an A-Rank mission… though, honestly, that one should be classified as S+ by now.” Despite her words, both receptionists couldn’t help but glance nervously at Van, exchanging worried looks with the other adventurers…

[“There’s something I wanted to ask,”] the guardian said as the two neared the guild hall—a much larger and more imposing building than Marcy’s guild. “Okay?” Van replied, squinting slightly as his gaze shifted away from a group of adventurers approaching them. [“Why were you asking that server if she was a Feline halfing?”] “…It’s…

“All done…!” the server exclaimed, watching as the broken wood dissolved into ash and drifted neatly into the trash can. ‘…To think I’d feel fulfilled doing something so trivial,’ the guardian mused, her gaze lingering on the dumpster. “You were such a great help! Thank you so much…!” the server added, clasping the Spirit’s hands…

Morning light poured over Marcilla’s guild building, filling it with a soft glow. “Someone seems to be in good spirits today,” Marcy observed, raising an eyebrow as she scrubbed the wooden reception counter, clearing away the dust and grime. She looked up, welcoming her daughter, who entered the guild with a distinct bounce in her…