Chapter 06

Back in Roaring Mountain Town, Naya and Leon split a bounty of 150 silver coins.

After dusk, inside the equipment shop—

"How’s it feel?"

Naya fastened the chainmail over Leon’s torso, carefully adjusting its edges while studying him.

"Claustrophobic. It’s crushing my chest," Leon replied stiffly.

"You’ll get used to it. Upgrading your gear is priority one with our first bounty."

Her eyes flicked to a gleaming suit of armor on the display shelf. "What about that one?"

*110 silver coins… brutal. Maybe 100 if I haggle?*

"Uh, I’d look like a tin can. Nah, lightweight suits me better…"

Leon tore off the chainmail the moment he’d tried it. When Naya glanced at the armor, he bolted for the door.

"Leon—" Naya chased after him. "Heavy armor drastically boosts your defense! As… your teammate, I’m responsible for your safety."

"But it’ll slow me down. It’s just not my style."

Naya fell silent.

"Now that I think about it, your fighting style *is* kinda like a Berserker’s… though your build doesn’t quite match."

"Berserker? Another warrior class?"

"Mhm. When I registered your occupation, I hesitated. That guy from the other team we partnered with? *He’s* a textbook Warrior."

"No wonder you wanted me armored like that…"

"No! I support your style, Leon! I just… worry you’ll get hurt."

"Aren’t you here to protect me?" Leon grinned over his shoulder, backlit by the setting sun.

Naya’s cheeks flushed crimson again. "Truth is… *you* protected *me*. I was just support," she stammered.

Unconsciously, Leon found her blushing utterly endearing. Sunset gilded her silver hair, making it shimmer like molten gold.

"Don’t stress over my gear or class," Leon said. "If ‘Hero’ were a profession? I’d be the first."

"Hero…?" A trace of confusion flickered across Naya’s flushed face. The word felt distant—reserved for those who saved the world from ruin.

*If Leon ever became a Hero… I’d stand beside him as his Priestess.*

*This scene… this vibe… is it heading toward—?*

Alas, not so fast—

The hunter girl who’d fought the Cockatrice with them sprinted over, breathless. "Found you!"

*She used Tracking just to locate people!?*

Naya and Leon stared, baffled.

"The Adventurer Guild’s gathering every team in town. Big meeting… urgent matter."

*Big matter?* Questions swirling, they followed her back to the Guild hall.

Inside, a makeshift table formed from several desks was surrounded by over a dozen adventurers. Naya spotted Holy Knight Aire immediately—sitting with her back turned, long ponytail swaying.

Also present: the famed one-star team "Hunters’ Edge"—

Shield Warrior Marcho the Unbreakable,

Dark Knight Grimgale the Necroblade (devotee of the god Laphis),

Rogue Xuen the Blade Dancer (master of throwing knives),

Trap Specialist Bangriz,

and Greatsword Wielder Ouka.

Monstrously strong veterans, all. Even the lone-wolf bounty hunter "The One-Eyed Owl" sat among them—a thug with spiky hair and an eyepatch, known only by his alias.

His glare pinned Naya like prey.

As twilight deepened, a clerk lit a candle on the table, casting long shadows that made everyone seem more inscrutable.

Aire waved Naya and Leon to seats beside her. The hunter girl slipped back between her two teammates.

*Alright. Every adventurer in town is here.*

"Has anyone heard of the Demonkin?" the clerk asked the assembly.

*Demonkin—?*

Silence fell. Naya glanced at Aire—the ever-energetic knight now wore uncharacteristic gravity.

"Creatures born after the Cataclysm. Legends say they’re tied to magic… possibly cursed remnants of Sorcerers’ wrath." The clerk slammed a bounty notice onto the table. "*This* is what I mean by Demonkin."

*That!?*

**Obsidian Armor.**

Naya’s expression hardened—the very armor that slaughtered her former team. *So the Guild finally acknowledges its threat…?*

"This phantom armor lurks nearby. After each massacre, it deliberately spares one witness—to spread terror. Ten teams have fallen to it. By order of the Adventurer Guild HQ, we’re assembling a joint strike force to eliminate it!"

"Sparing witnesses? Sick joke," someone muttered.

"Just one monster? Post it on the bounty board. Or let *us* handle it. Why mobilize everyone?" Greatsword Wielder Ouka scoffed.

"No. Due to its threat level, HQ has classified it as—**A+**."

"A+? Seriously?" Ouka’s eyes widened.

"Didn’t you hear? It’s killed twenty people," his teammate cut in.

"Pfft. Just rookies."

"It killed members of a one-star team."

"*What?*" Ouka blinked, doubting his ears.

*A+?*

*No—*

Naya’s composure cracked.

*They’ve grossly underestimated the Obsidian Armor!*

*Everyone here… will die.*

To be continued.