The Druid's Deception
Fortunately, we arrived at the first rally point before nightfall. Before departing, Spilvena had mentioned that the rally points were temporary checkpoints set up by the guild's search teams. It was just as the bear said. There was no need to prepare a campsite at the rally point.
When Rapi and I arrived, several adventurers were already settled in. The adventurer bastards were chatting away, and when we showed up, they gave us a quick once-over, lost interest, and went back to their own conversations.
"Evan... I'm hungry."
"Hold on."
Sleazy pricks. I could see their ears practically swiveling toward us the moment Rapi opened her mouth. I pulled some simple provisions from my inventory and handed them to her.
"Thank you..."
With more people around, the kid's voice got quieter. Her whole body seemed to shrink a bit.
"Evan, how far is the next destination? It was already so hard just getting to this first rally point..."
Rapi whined while gnawing on some jerky. She was rubbing her sore legs with her hands.
"The second rally point is close, so it'll be fine. And there's still the final search point after that—you can't start whining already."
"Ugh... You're right, but..."
Rapi slumped over, hugging her knees and propping her chin on them. With her belly full, sleep was hitting her hard; her eyes were already drooping.
I shifted my attention from the kid and tuned into the other adventurers' chatter.
"Those guys look like the last ones... Did the others tuck tail and run? Too pathetic for Red rank."
"Better this way. Fewer rivals for the master sword."
The adventurers were sizing each other up, greedy for the sword Amon had put up as bounty. From their talk, it sounded like some parties had bailed, but reality was different. The mana traces I'd spotted on the way here outnumbered the adventurers gathered. Plenty of parties had pushed on without resting. And they knew why.
False info to bait me and Rapi. I'd already clocked their knowing glances, you bastards.
"...Evan... I'm sleepy... Sorry, can I take watch later...?"
"Doesn't matter. Mages conserving mana is smart. Crash first, Rapi."
"Thank you."
I pulled a sleeping bag from my inventory, and she dove in like a cat. Her breathing evened out quick—she was out.
The kid signed on because nailing the Hayes search would bump her straight to Red rank. Bonus: she wants that Clockwork City artisan's famed sword for tuition. Her sleep-talking on the way mentioned scraping by. Weird for a Bael family noble and archmage disciple. Wonder if she's blowing it on something shady. As an academy student, Rapi was pure compared to these adventurer scum. Dropping her guard to sleep like this? She just didn't know the life yet. I could read the thoughts in the eyes still gleaming our way. They'd bolt for the next point before dawn.
Dawn broke. As expected, everyone at the first rally point was gone. Figured at least half would stick around, but all vanished. Greedy fucks.
"Uwaaah..!? A dream..? There were tons of people... What happened!?"
Rapi blinked around with her messy hair, eyes going wide.
"They dipped ahead. Probably skipping the second rally, straight to the final target."
"Eeeek..? Wait! Then we gotta hustle!!"
Half-asleep Rapi sprang from the sleeping bag like a cat. Never gets old.
"Still good."
I pointed behind her to calm her down. Bushes rustled. Heavy thuds closed in. Something burst through.
"Grrr...!"
A bear, teeth bared, snarling viciously.
"B-bear..! Bear!"
Freaked-out Rapi scrambled for her staff, kicking up dust. I nabbed the back of her neck to stop her.
"Chill, Rapi. Looks mean, but it's Spilvena."
"...!"
Rapi gawked at the bear, mouth agape.
"Krahahaha! Teased Rapi a bit, but that reaction's too damn fun, kruhuhuhu."
"Fair play. What the hell'd you chow down to bulk up twice the size?"
No shock Rapi flipped—she knew Spilvena well. The already massive bear now loomed like a skyscraper. Easy 5 meters. What, not a vampire monster bear?
"Krahahahaha—!"
The bear bellowed with laughter, the sheer size making the air vibrate. Even the laugh packed natural force now, fiercer vibe.
"Searching for the Dark Lord? Gotta prep!"
"And why you soaked? Lake nearby?"
"Dawn demands a clean body. Tribal rite."
Still dripping, the bear shook hard. Water flew everywhere, splattering Rapi's face.
"Eeeek—! Cut it out, branch chief..!"
"Krung-!"
The bear snorted and crossed its arms. Total uncle-nephew prank vibes. Speaking of... Spilvena's sex? Unknown. Never seen the druid out of bear form, hard to guess.
"Hm..? Evan, why the stare? Got business..?"
"...Nah."
"Party pooper."
The bear shifted, each step thumping the ground like thunder.
"Anyway, why you two still here? Rest already past second rally."
"Eeeek..!? Already!? Evan, we're screwed!! Too late!?"
"Told ya, still fine."
Freaky Rapi shot me pleading eyes for explanation.
"Heh... Evan. No medal, but adventurer pro already."
"How 'bout guild chief explains to Rapi?"
"Krung-! Guess no choice."
I nodded at the arm-crossed bear; it dipped its head.
"Listen up, Rapi. Academy skipped this, huh? Adventurers always got choices."
"Choices..?"
"Yup. Quests pack risk, rewards match."
"...?"
Still lost, Rapi eyed me. Finish it.
"Weighing risk vs. return. Burn stamina rushing ahead, or pace safe."
"Eh..? But first one's best, right? Insane payout!"
Fair question. Return was nuts: unique item, worth a fortress at least.
"Catch: rushing first don't guarantee hitting goal first."
"Kruhuhu-! Bingo."
Bear boomed on.
"Spot I gave: life mana hotspot. Monsters here all crave it."
"Ah!! Deeper in, more beasts..!"
Rapi fist-palmed, then cocked her head.
"B-but... all Red rank... Not that risky..?"
Red meant knight-tier: aura blades, mana projection elites. But that's the issue.
"Not beasts. Life mana's the killer. Know concentrated mana zone hazards?"
"Uh.. Yeah..? Academy said tough terrain."
"Sloppy teach..? Or you snoozed."
"Mana overload: unlivable. Prolonged hit? Body mutates without you knowing."
"...Mutates..? Like extra eye?"
Rapi gulped, imagining it.
"Worse."
Flashback: freeing Hayes' prison, life mana flooded out. Nearby beast exposed. Leopard-thing turned horror: legs sprouting from ribs, tail-brain hijacking half body, spine splitting for new head. Put it out of misery. Inside? Organs grown teeth, eyes—chomping each other.
"...Point: no prep, you die."
Mana starters get cocky. "Won't happen to me." Same cowards who bolted at real apocalypse. Masters humble instead.
Early birds prepped?
"Right. Evan's risks all final point. Easy now."
Bear grinned, arm up. Nature power wrapped Rapi, easing her shakes.
"Real worry: poison gas from big snake bones on route."
"Poison gas... Evan, what do we do..?"
"Got it covered. Bear gave three days prep."
"Whoa!! Evan you're the best!!"
Rapi bounced high, pumped. Or just people gone?
Quick meal done, off to next rally. Path cleared—early birds offed monsters, no signs despite distance.
Noon-ish, my senses snagged something off.
Swish—!
"Evan! Bushes moved..!"
Rapi muttered finally monsters, staff aimed. Lightning crackled around her.
"Rapi, drop it. Not monster."
"Huh..? Then?"
Foul blood reek rode the wind. Sticky monster stink? Nah—human blood.
"Spilvena."
Bear face hardened, nodded, took point. Druid senses beat mine. Blood trails spotted.
"Huh..?"
Trails said attacked, fled. Rapi caught on, grim.
Followed to... what was human.
"Eeeeek—!"
Rapi went sheet-white, shuddering, clutching my collar.
Made sense. Grotesque. Upper body gone, half lower left. Guts strewn, ground blood-puddled.
Stooped for close look: gnaw marks on legs.
Rapi dry-heaved nonstop. Mana-infused hand calmed her shoulder.
"Checked. Red medal left. Mark says early leaver."
Bear scowled, sniffed deep.
"Druid sense?"
"...Nada. Too clean for leaving legs. Show-offy. Such monster..?"
"Bury and bounce. Others hit too maybe."
Bear nodded, hands clasped. Earth rose, gathered guts and corpse, buried.
"Rapi, good? Move."
"...Yeah."
Mana hand soothed as we went.
Rapi's head looped the gore. Bones, guts dancing on bloody dirt—stomach lurched again. Evan's touch forced it down; she sped up.
"...Surv..!! Haaaaaaa!!"
Scream hit soon. Chief and Evan bolted, faces hard.
"..."
Legs jelly. Couldn't move. Won't move. Propped on precious staff from Prof. Ariel. Forehead to blue gem: head cleared some.
"Rapi! You ok..? Turn back maybe."
Zoned out, Chief doubled back. Kind paw pat on shoulder, nature power flowed.
"Screamer alive? What went down?"
Chief's face darkened.
"...Last words, then gone. Not monster. Betrayer in our ranks... Sigh.."
"..."
"Rapi, sorry.. But watch out. That Evan guy."
"Evan..?"
Chief loomed closer, voice low. Musty bear whiff.
"Long-time guild chief here. Gathered old reliables—all trustworthy."
"..."
Trusts adventurers. Suspects Evan.
"But he's off. Red power, no history—like dropped from sky. And.."
Chief knelt, muzzle to her ear. Whisper:
"Sword's prize all crave. Rapi, anything shady from Evan on way?"
"..."
Spot on. Grief hit—fooled all along. Betrayal tears blurred sight.
"No tears. Adventurer life's rougher."
"...Yeah. Sorry. Favor, Chief."
"Favor?"
Rapi looked up. Chief's bear face puzzled.
"Chief... Big laugh to reassure..?"
"Haha, Rapi, anytime. Laugh—"
Stab—! Sword pierced Chief's chest, out the other side.
"What!? Wha.. Krraaaaa—!"
Chief's savage roar blasted nature power. But starlight already flowed down the blade.
Swoosh—!
Before move, starlit sword cleaved. Thud—! Massive shoulder slab hit dirt. Rapi's hair, clothes soaked in Chief's blood.
"Evan..! You goddamn traitor..! Dodge, Rapi!!"
Chief whipped around roaring, power hurling Evan's form. Paw-claw mime froze him midair.
"Oho? Druid real deal. First time for this trick."
Crunch—! Earth flipped, stone pillars surged at Evan.
"Punish you here..! Traitor who duped Rapi!!"
"Rapi, blast."
"Wha..!?"
Chief—no, Spilvena—snapped head around. Blue-white currents condensed on staff's gem. Lightning spell, prepped ages ago, unleashed on Evan's cue.
Zzzzt—!
BOOOOM—!!