Hiori and Barnard stood before the quest board. The large wooden board was covered with scrolls and sheets of parchment, nailed in rows with handwriting of all kinds—some neat, some hurried, some scribbled over with marks of failure. Each mission bore a danger symbol with stars and ranks.
The area around the board buzzed with activity. Adventurers whispered to one another, pointing at certain missions while weighing the risks. Some laughed loudly after reading simple quests, while others grew tense upon spotting the higher-ranked ones.
Hiori's sharp eyes scanned the rows one by one. She pressed her finger against one of the parchments. "A caravan escort mission… fairly safe, but too much of a time waste." She shifted to the right, her gaze catching a scroll with a red seal. "Hunting black wolves in the western forest. Danger level C. This could be good for a warm-up."
Barnard didn't reply immediately. He leaned in, carefully reading through the other quests. "Black wolves are only fit for beginners," he muttered. His large fingers paused on a parchment that few had touched—the warning ink was bolder, with a small skull symbol in the corner.
"Investigation of the vanished village at the edge of the northern marsh. Danger level B." His voice was heavy. "This one… suits us better."
Several adventurers nearby turned their heads, expressions filled with surprise. A man armed with a spear whispered to his companion, "That mission's already been declined three times. The last team never came back."
Hiori looked at Barnard with a serious expression. She knew her partner never joked about matters like this. "If we take this, there's no turning back. Are you sure?"
Barnard turned to her, his golden eyes glowing faintly under the torchlight. "We didn't come to this guild to hunt wolves."
A brief silence settled over them, then Hiori swiftly reached out and pulled the parchment from the board. The sound of tearing paper echoed sharply, silencing the room for a heartbeat. Several eyes followed their steps, a mix of awe and doubt.
They walked back to the reception desk, carrying the quest that even seasoned adventurers had refused to touch.
"Uh… excuse me, we'd like to take this quest." Hiori placed the parchment on the receptionist's desk. Her voice was calm, yet her tone was clear and firm.
The woman lowered her gaze, reading the words on the parchment again. Her brows furrowed almost immediately. "Investigating the missing village at the edge of the northern marsh…" She let out a long sigh, then looked at Hiori and Barnard seriously. "Are you sure? I don't mean to underestimate you, but this quest… it's not an ordinary mission. It's extremely dangerous."
Her eyes shifted toward Barnard. For a brief moment, hesitation flickered in her gaze, as if recalling what he had said earlier about his age. "Three teams who took this mission never came back. Even higher-ranked adventurers failed to complete it. The only things ever found were broken weapons and signs of battle near the swamp."
The guild instantly fell silent. The chatter of adventurers that had filled the hall slowly faded, most of them secretly listening. Some turned their heads with curious expressions, while others smirked inwardly—thinking Hiori and Barnard were being reckless.
"Rumors spread constantly," the receptionist continued in a lower voice, as if afraid of being overheard. "Some say the entire village was dragged into another world. Others whisper its people were sacrificed in a dark ritual. Nothing has ever been confirmed. What is certain is this—anyone who goes there… never comes back whole."
Hiori listened intently, her jaw tightening. She knew the risk that awaited them, but retreat was not an option. Barnard still stood firm beside her, his presence heavy enough to make the receptionist hesitate to speak further.
"Danger is always there," Barnard finally said, his voice deep and calm, yet carrying a weight that made several adventurers swallow hard. "That is why we are here."
Hiori added, her tone unwavering, "We didn't come here to take small errands. If no one else dares to face that darkness, then let us be the ones to do it."
The woman fell silent, staring deeply at the two of them. She could feel a conviction that was more than just empty bravado. With some reluctance, she took the guild seal and pressed it onto the parchment, leaving an official red mark.
"Very well," she said quietly, handing the sheet back. "This quest is now officially yours. But remember… once you set out, there's no guarantee you'll return. Make sure you are ready to face whatever awaits in the northern marsh."
Her words echoed in the ears of many adventurers. Some shook their heads, some sneered, yet others secretly held a spark of respect.
Hiori tightened her grip on the parchment. Barnard only cast a brief glance at the quest board before looking straight ahead again. The two of them left the receptionist's desk, their steps firm—showing not a trace of fear toward the danger that had just been described.
Two hours later
"The investigation of this missing village is going to be a piece of cake…" Barnard said with a smug grin, strolling along as if he were just taking a walk to the market.
"Really?" Hiori raised an eyebrow at her overly relaxed teammate. "If a whole village can just disappear, I'd say something is definitely wrong."
Barnard chuckled, puffing his chest like a show-off. "Ah, don't worry. Facing a bunch of crazy cultists is way harder than some low-level quest like this."
"But…" Hiori's eyes lingered on the narrow path ahead. The trees were closing in, their shadows twisting across the ground, and the breeze carried with it a foul, metallic stench. "…this village vanished without a trace. No bodies, no signs of an attack, just… gone."
Barnard went quiet for a moment. He scratched the back of his neck, then let out a forced laugh. "Heh, maybe they all went on a group vacation. You know, like a spontaneous 'move-the-entire-village' festival?"
Hiori sighed deeply. "A festival that leaves bloodstains on the ground?"
Barnard coughed, glancing nervously at the crimson marks scattered across the dirt. "Uh… minor detail, not important."
Their steps halted. The wind stirred, carrying with it faint whispers—like countless voices overlapping into one. Barnard swallowed hard, his confident smile slowly fading.
"Still think this quest is low-level, Barnard?" Hiori asked with a half-mocking tone, her hand already resting on her sword's hilt.
Barnard raised a shaky thumbs-up, his face pale. "Of course! …Well, maybe not that low-level."
"Hmmm…" Hiori raised an eyebrow at Barnard's reply, but before she could respond—
"Aaagh!!"
A shrill scream suddenly erupted from the trees ahead.
"Huh!? Who was that!?" Hiori's eyes widened as she snapped her head toward the sound. "Come on, Barnard!" Without a second thought, she dashed toward the source.
"Oi, oi, don't be reckless!" Barnard groaned, sprinting after her. "What if it's a trap? What if it's some monster pretending to cry for help? You really are—ugh, why am I running along with you!?" He exhaled sharply, pulling out his small hammer as he hurried to keep up.
But when they arrived, what they found wasn't a monster at all—it was a young boy. His body was entangled in thick roots that writhed like snakes. His face was pale, his eyes brimming with tears.
"H-help me!" the boy cried, struggling against the binds.
Hiori let out a relieved sigh. "Huh… just a child." She stepped forward, ready to help.
Barnard, however, narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He crept closer with his hammer raised. "Or… maybe a fake child. You know, like one of those ghost brats from horror stories that eat people? I mean, really—who gets caught in creepy roots in the middle of the forest at night?"
"Barnard, you've been reading too many horror novels at the inn," Hiori muttered with a sigh.
"Wait, wait," Barnard raised a finger dramatically, "if his head spins three times, I'm the first one out of here!"
"In that case, I'll make sure you're the first bait," Hiori replied flatly, though the corner of her lips twitched with a restrained smile.
Barnard fell silent, glancing back at the boy. "…Okay, fine. Let's save him first. But if he starts floating, I'm done."
Barnard approached the boy with a half-bored expression. "Alright then, let's hope you're not some shape-shifting monster." With a heavy swing, he smashed his hammer against the roots binding the boy. BRAGH! The roots shattered into pieces, fragments scattering across the ground.
"Phew…" The boy dropped to the ground, brushing the dirt off his clothes. Relief spread across his face. "Uh… umm… sorry for troubling you."
Barnard crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at him. "What are you even doing here? This village is dangerous, you know!"
The boy stammered. "Uh… I-I… I wanted to take the investigation quest for this village."
Hiori raised her brows, surprised. "What? Oh… so this quest really was spread to every guild, huh?"
Barnard groaned, slapping his forehead. "Brilliant. The guild really doesn't care who takes a quest. Next thing you know, they'll be letting pet cats join in."
"And besides," Hiori leaned in, her tone more serious, "aren't you still… a child?"
"W-what!?" The boy's face turned red, fists clenched at his sides. "I'm an adult! I'm eighteen! I-it's just my body that's short!"
Barnard burst into laughter so hard he nearly toppled over. "Bwahaha! You're serious? At that height, you look more like… a lost kid at a festival!"
"B-Barnard…" Hiori's voice carried both a hint of reprimand and the struggle of holding back a laugh.
"I mean it, Hiori! Look at him—if I draped my cloak over his head, people would think he was a missing child!"
"Ughhh!" The boy huffed, turning his head away. "So mean! I'm a real adventurer, you know! A real one!"
"Okay, okay." Hiori stepped in to calm the tension. She crouched slightly, speaking more gently. "What's your name… kid?"
The boy grit his teeth, answering in a raspy but determined voice. "M-my name is Kaze… Kaze Tsurahashi."
Barnard let out a long whistle. "Cool name. Too bad your height doesn't match it."
"Barnard!" Hiori snapped, glaring at him.
Barnard raised both hands in mock surrender. "What? I'm just stating facts."
Kaze puffed his cheeks, his face burning red. But behind that flustered expression, there was a sharp glint of determination in his eyes—enough to make Hiori think that this short kid might be more than just a walking comedy act.
"Hmmm… Kaze…" Hiori studied the boy for a moment before giving a faint smile. "You can call me Hiori. And the bearded one over there is Barnard."
Kaze nodded quickly. "Oh! Alright… uh, Miss Hiori and Mister Barnard."
Barnard snorted, his eyes narrowing with a hint of offense. "What!? Mister? I'm still young! I'm only 475 years old."
Kaze froze in place, his mouth falling open. "…475… years?"
Hiori shot Barnard a flat look, her voice icy. "Only, he says. I swear, your brain must only work on the right side."
Barnard didn't answer. His gaze shifted toward the dark trees around them, his expression turning serious as a heavy aura settled over him.
Kaze shivered. "S-so… you're not ordinary adventurers…"
"That's not the point." Hiori gently patted his shoulder. "What matters is—if you truly want to come with us, don't become a burden. This village hides something far more dangerous than a few wild roots."
The wind stirred again, carrying with it a faint, rotten stench that stung their noses. Kaze swallowed hard, a chill running down his spine.
Barnard tightened his grip on the hammer. "Finally… looks like something's waiting for us."
"Come on, let's explore this swamp," Hiori said calmly, stepping forward without hesitation.
Barnard followed behind her, his footsteps heavy, small hammer gripped tightly in his hand, ready to swing at any moment. Kaze, face pale, clung to the back of Hiori's cloak, hugging it as if it were a lifeline.
"T-this is scary…" Kaze muttered, his voice trembling.
The swamp was shrouded in thick fog, as if something was deliberately trying to conceal the secrets within. The stench of mud mixed with a foul, rotten odor, making every breath feel heavy. The water churned faintly, whether from swamp creatures or something far more dangerous lurking below.
Barnard scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. "This place… it's not normal. I can feel… something watching us."
"Don't let it get to you," Hiori replied flatly, her steps steady as she pushed through the fog. "Fear will only make us lose focus."
Suddenly—plop… plop… came from the swamp beside them. Large bubbles rose to the surface, followed by an even stronger, choking stench.
Kaze let out a small scream and pressed himself even tighter against Hiori's back. "Wh-what is that!?"
Hiori halted, her gaze fixed on the bubbling water that grew more violent by the second. "Be ready. Something's about to come out."
Barnard raised his hammer, his expression now serious, filled with vigilance. "Finally, some entertainment."
The swamp water suddenly erupted, mud splashing in all directions. From within, a massive figure slowly emerged—a swamp creature, half-human, half-plant, its glowing green eyes piercing through the fog.
"Welcome…" the creature's voice was hoarse, echoing like it came from the depths of the earth. "…you have wandered too far."
Barnard stepped forward, his eyes gleaming. The small hammer in his hand trembled, then in an instant expanded—becoming a massive warhammer engraved with glowing runes. The air rumbled like clashing steel as energy surged into it.
"My Essence Skill—Corebreaker Mode." His voice was deep and commanding, making the very air around him vibrate.
Kaze flinched in shock, instinctively letting go of Hiori's cloak. His breathing quickened as he drew two firearms from his belt. Black sparks crackled around him, smoke-like shadows clinging to his body. His fingers trembled, yet his gaze sharpened with resolve.
"H-hmph… my turn."
Hiori glanced at him briefly, then gave a small nod. "Good."
She drew her sword, and instantly flames roared to life along the blade, scorching the air with searing heat. This fire wasn't ordinary—it blazed crimson, like the inferno of the underworld.
The swamp creature watching them let out a guttural roar. Its body of mud and roots quaked violently, its glowing green eyes radiating pure hatred. "Essence… you all bear Essence… disgusting!"
The fog around them thickened in an instant, and black roots crawled out from the ground, coiling to ensnare their feet.
Barnard slammed his massive hammer onto the earth. A shockwave burst outward, shattering the roots in a single blow. "If you want to toy with us, then be ready to be smashed into pieces!"
Kaze raised both pistols, black smoke swirling around the barrels. BANG! BANG! Two shots split the air, the dark bullets tearing through the swamp creature's chest. Its muddy body hissed and bubbled where the holes burned through.
"So weak…" Kaze muttered, though his hands still trembled slightly.
Hiori stepped forward, her flaming sword raised high. The firelight reflected off her cold, focused expression. "Don't underestimate it. The battle has only just begun."
The swamp creature shrieked, its body collapsing before fusing back together—this time larger, darker, more grotesque. The fog thickened into an oppressive shroud, and the entire swamp shuddered as if alive.
"Humans… YOU WILL DROWN WITH ME!"