Ahrie chased the jacked horse.
Through the forest. Branches slapped his face, twigs snapping under his boots.
The damn horse didn’t even look tired.
Their chase led them back into the river.
"Wai—wai—wait! Time out!" Ahrie yelled, waving both hands.
The horse skidded to a stop, snorting.
Both of them walked down the riverbank. Cold water washed off dirt and sweat.
Ahrie fished for food, stabbing at the water with his rapier.
The horse joined in, stomping hard, splashing, cutting off the fish so they couldn’t slip past Ahrie’s reach.
Ahrie built a small fire, skewered the fish, and held them over the flames.
Smoke curled up, skin crackled, juices hissed as they dripped into the fire. The smell spread quickly.
When the food was done, the horse shoved its head closer. Asking without asking.
"The hell? You eat this too?" Ahrie blinked at him.
The horse gave a slow nod. Serious.
Ahrie barked out a laugh. "Figures. No wonder you’re jacked as fuck."
They ate together. Quiet. Only the crunch of cooked skin breaking.
After eating, the two of them lay in the shade to rest.
A few minutes later, Ahrie muttered, "That field over there... flat and wide, huh?"
The horse flicked an ear, then nodded.
Ahrie stared at the sky. Bright. Calm. "Weather’s good too."
The horse agreed again.
Ahrie’s grin crept in. "Perfect for sparring."
The horse’s eyes shot wide—like, you gotta be kidding me.
Both stood in the same breath.
The quiet broke. Chase back on.
"Come on, fucker!" Ahrie roared. "Just one round—let me beat you up!"
Boots and hooves tore through the dirt.
By the time they slowed, the gates of Glimmerfen were already in front of them.
The jacked horse ran for its life, straight back to the Elder’s stable.
Meanwhile, Ahrie stood at the gate, eyes tracking the horse disappearing down the street.
He tapped his foot, annoyed as hell, glaring at the guards.
"Hurry it up. Verify me faster," he muttered.
After stepping into Glimmerfen, Ahrie checked his coin pouch.
Barely a coin rattled inside.
He let out a long sigh. "Goddammit..."
Yesterday, he’d blown it all with Derimiel and Daiki.
Shaking his head, Ahrie headed for the plaza in front of the Seekers Hall—eyes scanning for someone worth teaming up with.
"Need members for a dungeon expedition!" someone shouted from the plaza.
Ahrie blinked. Wut... there’s a dungeon here too?
He glanced down at his worn-out armor, scratches and dents glaring back at him.
"Fff... too risky," he muttered.
"Looking for a Link I can join!" a man called out, raising his hand. "I’m a level two frontliner—swords, mostly!"
Ahrie snorted. Pff... this lonely bastard.
A chuckle slipped out—until it hit him. He was alone too.
"Fuckkkk!" he cursed under his breath, dragging a hand down his face.
Ahrie slumped in the corner like some bum-ass, knees out, back against the wall.
Across the plaza, a greenhorn-looking bastard was shouting his lungs out, voice cracking over the crowd.
"We’re looking for members to hunt two Hoppers! Rabbit beasts near the south forest!" the newbie yelled.
Ahrie’s ears perked. Ohh... so that’s the name of that juicy meat... Hoppers, he muttered.
He pushed himself off the wall, sauntered over, and grinned.
"Really... thank you," the man muttered.
"Name’s Ethan," he added, sticking out a hand.
"Ahrie," Ahrie said, grabbing it without hesitation.
"Come on," Ethan said. "I’ll introduce you to the rest."
They left the plaza behind.
Ethan led Ahrie to an open field—kids running, families sprawled on blankets, laughter floating in the air.
In the shade, on a lone bench, Ahrie spotted a girl Seeker sitting quietly, watching the crowd.
"Madisoooon! I found one!" Ethan shouted, waving his arms like an idiot.
"Ohh... great. Hi, I’m Madison," she said, offering a small smile.
Ahrie reintroduced himself. "Ahrie."
Ethan pointed at her. "Despite her looks, she fights in the front line."
"I fight in the rear, though... I use a bow," he continued, grinning like he was proud of it.
"Ethaaaaan!" someone shouted from afar.
A man in a white robe strode forward, someone trailing behind him.
"You found one? I found one too," the robed man called out.
"Hi, I’m Segun... I’m a mage."
The guy behind him waved like a show-off.
"Hey, hey, hey! What’s up? I’m Min Jae... you can call me Min," he said, puffing up his chest.
"Best tank around," he added, grinning proudly.
Ahrie’s thoughts: Eyyy... it’s that guy...
Ahrie remembered all the times he’d seen Min, pitching himself to everyone in the plaza whenever he and Daiki wandered through.
"Ohh, he’s a tank," Ethan said, pointing at Min. "Now we just need a healer—"
Ahrie cut him off. "I’m a healer."
All of them tilted their heads. Eyes flicked to Ahrie’s rapier. Eh?
"T-Then we’re all set up..." Segun muttered.
After the awkward stares, Ethan jumped into the mission briefing.
"Here’s the job. Deliver two Hoppers to a tavern called Ale’s Well That Ends Well.
The owner’s giving a small cart for transport."
"So... probably they want a supply of Hopper meat," Madison said.
"Yeah, something like that," Ethan nodded.
"The pay’s around a hundred and fifty bronze coins each Hopper," he added.
"Plus a week of free dinners at the tavern," he continued.
"So... does everyone agree?"
They headed to the tavern to confirm the request.
The owner gave a thumbs-up and handed over a small wooden box cart for transporting the goods. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
The group stared at it.
Gloom hung over them like a cloud.
They headed back to the park, plopped down in a corner, eyes glued to the tiny cart.
A human-powered box. Handle in the front for someone to... push.
Is this it... Ahrie muttered, frowning. Disappointed.
Everyone sighed. Heavy. Loud.
Then Min piped up with the obvious question.
"Who’s gonna push it?"
All of them stared at each other.
Ahrie sighed and stepped forward.
He raised his hand, palm flat. "Hands in," he said.
The others glanced at each other, but one by one they stacked their hands on top of his.
"Alright, here’s how it works," Ahrie continued. "When I count to three, you flip your hand—palm up or back of the hand.
No fancy shit. Just those two."
They muttered, but nodded. "Now listen," Ahrie went on, his tone almost like a teacher lecturing unruly children. "If four of us show palm, and one of us shows the back of the hand, then the odd one out gets to push the cart. Simple."
"And if there’s two left?" one of them asked.
"Then those two settle it the old way—rock, paper, scissors."
Ahrie smirked. "Fair, fast, and no whining after."
"Three... two... one..." Ahrie counted.
The three of them—Ethan, Madison, and Segun—stared at each other.
Something passed between them, quiet but deliberate.
Like they were planning... something.
Ethan, Madison, and Segun slapped their palms down.
Ahrie and Min flipped theirs to the back.
"Fucked... you rigged it," Min grumbled.
The three just waved him off.
"It is what it is," Ethan said with a shrug.
Now it was down to the two—Ahrie and Min.
"Battle it out with rock-paper-scissors," Ethan said, puffing up like a referee.
"Rock—paper—scissors... shoot!"
Ahrie slammed down a rock.
"ARGGG!" Min muttered.
"Fufu..." Ahrie grinned.
"Round two..." Ethan announced, acting way too official.
"Rock—paper—scissors... shoot!"
Ahrie slammed down scissors.
"GODDDAAMMIIIT!" Min groaned, squeezing his head.
"Rock—paper—scissors... shoot!"
Ahrie slapped down paper.
Min... in pure desperation... threw something wild. Arms raised above his head, fingers wiggling up and down.
"It’s rain," Min muttered, sulking.
"Beats paper," he added proudly.
Ahrie burst out laughing.
Ethan and the rest giggled behind him.
"Give him that..." Ahrie muttered.
"Rock—paper—scissors... shoot!"
Min... What the hell is this again? Ethan called it in referee mode.
He pointed a finger at the air.
Ahrie slammed down a rock.
Min muttered, "This is a drill!" —pathetically, chest puffed but shoulders slumping, trying to act tough.
"Oho..." Ahrie grinned.
Ethan raised his hands. "Min wins!"
"Rock—paper—uh... is it still rock-paper-scissors?" Ethan muttered.
Min raised his hands above his head, fingers wiggling open, close, open.
"It’s the rain thing again," Madison groaned.
"Ohh... What’s this? A middle finger... and his fingers are curled like he’s holding something," Ethan said, referee mode still on.
Ahrie slowly dragged his hand toward himself.
Min froze. "NO FUCKING WAAAAY!"
The rest of them burst out laughing.
"Argghhh... fuckkk..." Min groaned, positioning himself in front of the tiny wooden cart.
He pushed, muscles straining, while the others trailed beside him.
They wandered through Glimmerfen, picking up what they’d need for the journey—camping bedrolls from a human store, spices to make the meat they hunt taste better, extra mana potions. All tossed into the cart.
By the end of the spree, everyone was broke.
"Let’s set out!" Ethan shouted.
Min was already heaving, sweat dripping.
"This won’t cut it," Ahrie muttered.
The rest of them joined in, shoving the cart together.