Chapter 04

Naya pressed a finger to the corner of her lips, utterly absorbed in the notice board right inside the Adventurer Guild’s entrance. Covered in bounty posters, it was where daily quests were claimed.

*What task suits us now, me and Leon?* Naya pondered. *Should we start with kobolds in the mines?* Kobolds were Challenge Rank C—already an overlevel challenge for a rookie team.

"Huh? Since when do roosters get bounty posters?" Leon blurted out.

Roosters—!?

"That’s impossible."

Naya watched Leon tear down a poster from a spot too high for her to reach. "Isn’t this a rooster? And it’s Rank B?"

After a glance, Naya sighed. No wonder Leon mistook it—the entire poster was dominated by a giant rooster.

"It’s a cockatrice," she pointed to a tiny detail in the corner. "See? Its tail connects to a snake."

"How about we take this one? 300 silver coins!"

"No! It’s too much for us. I… must keep you safe."

Indeed, a Rank B cockatrice was mini-boss tier—far beyond even the hobgoblins they’d faced before.

"Team up?" A voice came from behind. They turned to see a warrior-clad guy waving. Behind him stood two girls: an archer (hunter) and a rogue.

"I saw you take the cockatrice poster. Two people won’t cut it. With us, success is guaranteed. Everyone knows cockatrices have two heads—you two warriors tank the rooster and snake heads. Our hunter and rogue handle damage."

*He makes it sound like all the glory’s theirs,* Naya thought. *Even if we win, Leon and I’d get scraps.* Leon was naive, unaware of the unspoken rules. But Naya, a Priestess from a one-star team, guarded his interests fiercely.

"Actually, *you* need *us*," she countered. "Everyone knows cockatrice beaks and claws are venomous. You’ll need my Healing Art to cleanse the poison."

"...True," the warrior scratched his head. "How about splitting the bounty 50-50 after? Priestesses are rare. Bro, you struck gold." He grinned at Leon.

"Your class is *that* sought-after, Naya?"

"Leon, walk with me."

She led him aside, then turned abruptly. "Are you sure about teaming up?"

"Yeah! 150 silver coins each isn’t bad."

"Fine. But during battle—never stray more than twenty steps from me. Understood?" Naya’s final warning was firm.

"I promise." He raised a hand.

"What’s that for?"

"A high five! For our first quest’s success!"

"...Silly." She muttered, but still tapped his palm.

And so, the cockatrice hunt began.

...

...

...

The cockatrice earned its bounty by ambushing merchant caravans on this vital route. Fed up, the merchants pooled silver to hire the Adventurer Guild.

Thanks to the hunter girl’s tracking, they found the beast quickly. That enormous "rooster" was impossible to miss—no one knew where it came from, but it claimed the plains as its territory.

Crouched behind rocks, they planned. Twenty meters away, the two-meter-tall rooster prowled. *When ordinary things grow monstrous, they become terrifying.*

"Stick to the plan," the warrior whispered. "I tank the snake head, you take the rooster head. Nia, shoot on my mark! ...OK, Priestess—shield us."

"Three—"

Naya chanted silently. A Shield of Light enveloped Leon.

"Two—"

Another shield formed around the warrior.

"One! Go!!"

The arrow flew. The two warriors charged. The cockatrice whirled, flapping toward them. The arrow struck its neck, sinking deep into feathers—but missed the vital spot!

*It’s not slowing down!* The rooster’s dive radiated terror enough to make seasoned warriors tremble. *No time to wait for the hunter!* Leon gritted his teeth and met the charge. Sparks flew as Light Roar Sword clashed with its steel-like beak!

*How is its beak this hard?!* The warrior dashed past Leon—just as the snake head, hidden in the tail, lunged from behind! Perfect timing. But the warrior’s sword got locked in its jaws!

*So strong!* He strained against the snake’s grip. Then—its eyes flashed red. Staring into them, he froze solid. Petrified.

"Disaster!" The rogue girl lunged, heaving his stone body toward Naya. "He’s petrified! Break the curse—NOW!"

*Petrification is its hidden skill?!* Naya caught the statue. She began Healing Art—but stopped mid-chant. Instead, she cast Shield of Light on the rogue.

The cockatrice whipped its snake head. The rogue clung to the trapped sword, spun wildly by its force. She and Leon held separate heads—but the beast had more weapons! Its rooster claws raked backward, flinging poisoned shrapnel at the rogue!

*This is it—!* She dropped the sword to dodge, but couldn’t escape. The Shield of Light shattered just in time, absorbing the blow. Shaking, she stumbled back to Naya, a bleeding gash on her arm. Blood spilled from her lips.

*Poisoned!* Even a scratch from its claws carried venom.

"Don’t move or speak!" Naya knelt beside her, chanting Healing Art. *Poison is deadlier than petrification!* But—Leon was alone against the cockatrice now!

"Leon—RETREAT!" Panic cracked Naya’s voice. *We underestimated it. This rooster is a monster.*

Leon blocked another savage peck! The snake head spat out the sword, snapping at him. Light Roar Sword scraped against beak and fangs—he’d just parried a dual assault!

The cockatrice leapt, scythe-like claws kicking forward. Leon deflected the first strike, but the second—

*Thwip!* The hunter’s arrow struck its other leg. The claw’s force weakened, scraping harmlessly against Leon’s shield. He backflipped to Naya’s side. "Another weapon! Quick!"

Without hesitation, Naya tossed her staff. Leon gripped it like a hammer. The cockatrice landed, limping but enraged. It charged, bulging eyes fixed on Leon. He met it with both weapons! The staff slammed the snake’s jaws shut. Then—crossed blades blocked the rooster’s downward peck! The rogue stared, dumbfounded.

Naya raised her hand, chanting. "By Aio’s name! Blade of Light!"

The staff blazed, reshaping into a radiant sword.

*Perfect!* Leon wielded twin blades of light. He shoved aside the rooster head, then spun mid-air—two brutal slashes severed its neck!

*Not done yet!* He whirled, adding two more cuts in the same breath. The rooster head went limp.

*No chance to recover!* Leon thought fiercely. *End it now!* The snake head lunged—

He drove the Blade of Light deep into its throat. Simultaneously, the uninjured claw kicked out. Leon blocked with Light Roar Sword, but the force overwhelmed him. He dropped the sword, dodged sideways, then yanked the Blade of Light free and slashed the tail—

The cockatrice collapsed, blood pooling beneath it.

Silence. Everyone stared at Leon. Naya exhaled. *He’s… incredibly strong.*

"You—you solo-killed a cockatrice?!" the rogue gasped.

Leon scooped up Light Roar Sword, slinging it over his shoulder. "Naya and the hunter helped."

"I barely shot! Close combat’s too risky for friendly fire."

"Are you some undercover powerhouse?!"

"Every swing risked my life. Glad we’re all safe."

Footsteps approached from the distance.

To be continued.