「Story Quest」 Chapter: Ira Incaendium

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Act I: A World Swept by Fire

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The Traveler and Paimon were talking to Katheryne. They had come to the Adventurers' Guild after having completed a commission. All that was needed was to finalise the documents and receive the reward. The woman had her usual expression when she informed the two of something.

"A new commission has just come in: a group of Treasure Hoarders have established in this place and have been bugging the bypassing adventurers and merchants. Things like weapons and possessions have been stolen."

The Traveler looked at the piece of paper with all the information. It wasn't that late in the day. In fact, it was still only eleven in the morning. The last quest went so smooth, it was over before they had realized. Paimon hadn't agreed immediately. Instead, she looked for the amount, her eyes scanning over the document. She got surprised when she saw how many Mora they could receive for completing the request.

"We'll definitely do it!" she stated without even discussing it with the Traveler. But, even if she hadn't insisted on it, they would've gone to there anyways, since those Treasure Hoarders would be a nuisance to them as well when they pass through that route in the future.

"Understood," Katheryne said and registered them as the quest acceptors. She especially marked the place on the Traveler's map, so nothing major could go wrong on their journey — unless they can't read maps and are directionally challenged (but that wasn't the case for these two).

It wasn't that far for the Traveler, but Paimon complained about it. "Anyways, let's just get a move on it. Her companion rolled their eyes. She, who could float, shouldn't complain about having to walk a long distance, is what they thought.

"Hm! We're almost there!" the little guide pointed to the road ahead.

The Traveler walked leisurely on the road, having small talk with Paimon. An ambush quickly overthrew them when they were close to the location. "H-Huh? What's this!?" the latter quickly rushed out of battle, not being useful for fighting anyways. So the former was left to use their fine arts of combat.

"Careful!" she shouted from her safe place.

When the first one jumped unto them, the Traveler held them back by reflecting the attack with their sword. They pushed them back and knocked them out cold — if it weren't cold already in Snezhnaya. Unbeknownst to them, someone came up from behind them.

"Annihilate," was whispered through the air.

A heat passed through behind them. When they looked back, only a flash of shadow was seen. Paimon hadn't seen it either, too busy hiding away from danger. The Traveler didn't have long to question it, as another Treasure Hoarder threw himself at them.

They felt the same heat again behind them. As their gaze fell on the direction where it was supposed to be, only a body on the ground was left. There was hardly any trace except for the snow having melted under the footprints of whoever it was.

There were about five Treasure Hoarders left for the Traveler to defeat. With vigor, they knocked them down and unconscious, so they wouldn't be able to do anything for the time being.