A horse-drawn wagon creaked and rattled as it rolled along the dirt road leading north from Fort nox. The six hunters sat in the back.
Yuki found herself wedged between Lyra and the big warhammer wielder from Gate Zero, whose name she had now learned was Oak. Across from her sat Felicity, the petite archer, her bow resting carefully across her lap.
Isaac sat at the front near the driver, his shield propped beside him as he remained ever vigilant. And Lucien, predictably, was bouncing with energy despite the early hour.
"So!" Lucien chirped, breaking the silence. "We're going to be working together for a while, right? We should get to know each other better!"
Oak groaned. "It's too early for this, kid."
"It's never too early for team bonding!" Lucien insisted, grinning. "How about this, let's go around and share our dreams! You know, what we're working toward. What keeps us going."
Felicity raised an eyebrow. "Dreams?"
"Yeah! Like, what do you want to achieve? What's your goal?"
Isaac glanced back from the front. "This is juvenile."
"Humor me!" Lucien pleaded.
Oak sighed heavily, then shrugged. "Fine. I'll go first if it shuts you up." He leaned back, his massive frame making the wagon creak. "My dream? Simple. I want to make enough money to eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Good meat. Strong wine. The finest foods from every restaurant back at home." He patted his stomach proudly. "I'm a simple man. I see food, I eat food. I see wine, I drink wine. That's the good life right there!"
He laughed, a thunderous sound that made the whole wagon shake.
Felicity smirked. "Of course your dream is about eating, Oak."
"What about you, Felicity?" Lucien asked eagerly.
Felicity twirled an arrow between her fingers. "I want to save enough money to retire early. Then I'm going to become a famous influencer. Maybe a streamer. You know, the kind with millions of followers. Travel the world, post aesthetic photos, get sponsorship deals." She smiled.
"No more dungeons. No more life-or-death battles. Just... a peaceful life in front of a camera."
Oak's eyes lit up. "Hey! When you become famous, we should do mukbang content together! I'll eat, you film. We'll make millions!"
He laughed again, slapping his knee.
Felicity actually giggled. "You know what? That's not a terrible idea."
They both turned expectantly to the rest of the group.
Lyra spoke next. "My dream is to continue supporting my guild master, Aurelius Solhart, in his vision. He wants to create a future where humanity doesn't live in fear, no more dungeon breaks, no more demonic monsters invasions. A world where people can live without constantly looking over their shoulders." She paused. "That's what I want. A safer world."
Oak clapped his hands together. "Now that's a dream! Way better than mine. Yours is noble. Mine's just... well, food."
"Food is important too" Lyra said with a faint smile. "Can't save the world on an empty stomach."
Isaac cleared his throat. "My goal is similar to Lyra's, I suppose. I serve in the Confederation. We guard the western border against demonic beasts and whatever comes out of that cursed continent. My dream is to keep serving, to keep defending humanity at the front lines. If I can hold that wall for the rest of my life and keep people safe, that's enough for me."
Lucien nodded enthusiastically. "That's so cool, Isaac! You guys are like real heroes!"
Isaac's expression didn't change. "I'm a soldier. Nothing more."
Then all eyes turned to Yuki.
She felt her stomach drop.
"Uh..." Yuki stammered. "I... I don't really..."
Lucien leaned forward. "Come on, Yuki! What's your dream?"
Yuki's mind raced. What was her dream? She'd spent the last two years just trying to survive. Trying to escape Vonn's abuse. Trying to become strong enough to protect herself. She'd never thought beyond that. Never dared to imagine a future where she wasn't running or hiding or fighting.
"I... I just..." She swallowed hard. "I just want to be happy."
The words came out quieter than she'd intended.
Silence descended on the wagon.
Oak's laughter stopped. Felicity lowered her arrow. Isaac turned fully around to look at her. Even Lucien's cheerful expression faltered.
Yuki's face flushed. "I'm sorry, that's probably not...."
"No" Lyra interrupted gently. "That's a respectable dream."
Yuki looked at her, surprised.
Lyra's sharp eyes softened. "At the end of all our complex dreams, saving the world, defending borders, becoming famous, it all comes down to happiness, doesn't it? We're all just trying to find a life where we can be happy. Your dream isn't small, Yuki. It's honest."
Oak nodded slowly. "Huh. Yeah. She's right. I mean, why do I want to eat good food and drink good ale? Because it makes me happy. Same thing, really."
Felicity smiled. "And I want to retire and stream because I think it'll make me happy too."
Isaac grunted. "Even soldiers want happiness. We just find it in duty."
Yuki felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. "Thank you."
Lucien's smile returned, but it was softer now. "See? Team bonding!"
Lyra turned to him. "What about you, Lucien? You're the one who brought this up. What's your dream?"
Lucien's cheerful demeanor flickered. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes anymore.
"Me?" He looked down at his hands, gripping his staff. "I guess... I have to tell you now, huh?"
He took a breath.
"Four years ago, when I wasn't awakened yet. I was just a normal kid. My family lived in a small house in the lower district of the city. My parents worked hard. My little sister, Emma, she was only eight. She was... she was the brightest kid ever. Always smiling. Always laughing."
His voice grew quieter.
"One night, criminals broke in. thugs looking for valuables. My parents tried to stop them. They... they didn't make it....they got hurt, real bad... And Emma..." His hands trembled slightly.
"She took a knife to the chest. She survived, but her lungs were damaged. But it wasn't just with an ordinary knife, it was aparenrnt a magically enhanced knife that was enchanted with dark magic and cursed. She's been in the hospital ever since, on life support. The medical bills are... astronomical."
Felicity covered her mouth. Oak's expression darkened.
Lucien forced a smile, but it was shaky. "So I awakened shortly after that. Became a hunter. Joined Gate Zero because they pay well. Every credit I make goes to Emma's treatment. The doctors say if I can afford the advanced healing magic from an SS-Rank healer, she might recover fully. So that's my dream. Save my sister. Give her a chance to live a normal life."
He looked up, meeting Yuki's eyes.
"Lyra was right. At the end of the day, we all just want to be happy. I just... I just want Emma to wake up and smile again."
The wagon fell silent.
No one knew what to say.
Then the driver's voice broke through the heavy atmosphere. "We're here!"
The wagon slowed to a stop.
The driver pointed toward a rocky mountain in the distance. "That's where the bandits are holed up. There's a cave system up there. That's their base. Good luck to you all."
The six hunters climbed down from the wagon and began the hike toward the mountain, Yuki found herself walking beside Lucien at the back of the group.
She reached out and tapped his shoulder.
He glanced at her, his cheerful mask already sliding back into place.
But Yuki smiled, a genuine, warm smile.
"Everything will be alright" she said softly. "We're going to clear this dungeon. We're going to get back home. And you're going to see Emma smile again. I promise."
Lucien's eyes glistened. He nodded, unable to speak.
Then he managed a shaky laugh. "Thanks, Yuki. I needed that."
"Come on, you two!" Lyra called from ahead. "Stay focused. We don't know what we're walking into."
Yuki and Lucien jogged to catch up with the group.