Beyond the Virge

Chapter 6: Money

Looking at the quest board, there were simple hunting expeditions, killing goblins, dire wolves, slimes, skeletons, bandits, rats, zombies, and basic enemies that were easy. After completing a few quests, we headed towards the tavern to get something to eat. Getting inside of the tavern, there was a bunch of adventurers talking about a raid on a nearby castle once owned by a rich noble, now a traitor to the kingdom.

I decided to come to a nearby table and ask a few fellow adventurers, "Excuse me, sirs, I hear there's going to be a raid on a castle?"

"Yeah," one of them says, "the bard from the King's castle announced that there would be huge rewards if we were to take part in the quest."

"Thanks, I'll take part in this quest."

"Good luck young one. I heard that that castle is heavily guarded, but the reward is surely worth it."

Rii walks next to me, "So, we're taking part in this mission?"

"Of course."

We were told to wait at the entrance of the kingdom at sundown. The plan was to do a night raid so we could swiftly attack the enemy. On our way, there were many types of adventurers from all backgrounds. Reaching to the side of the castle, the leader told us to split into groups. As an archer, I was told to hold back until the others push in and Rii was told to push inside. I decided to move farther back to stay more hidden as I grab my rifle. As the soldiers rushed in, the archers rained down the area with arrows as they slowly moved up, taking aim. I shot the enemy archers one by one, seeing holes in their armor as they fell to the opposite side of the wall.

As soon as the archers were taken down, we were told to rush in with the others. I decided to go from the back and go under the area with my SMG. As I took out the two guards that were guarding what seemed like a cell, I started to look around. There was a juggernaut up ahead. Shooting it, I thought I would take it down, but I then was smacked down to the ground and his point of the pike. Seeing a little opening within the crack of the armor, I was able to grab my gun and shoot him within the opening, killing him in the process. Looking around the room, I noticed it wasn't a prison, It was a dungeon. Each cell had slaves inside and I started to hear a bell ring as I passed a cell. Looking back, I see a young woman chained up in a cell. There was a bell in her hand. Her hair was white as snow with black spots. Her ears and fluffy tail reminded me of a tiger. I decided to break the lock and break the chains.

"Hey, are you alright?"

The woman looks up to me and nods her head. There seemed to be a purple spot on her leg and I decided to help her. There was something we had in common. Betrayal...Revenge...I took her leg and gave her a healing potion along with me bandaging her leg.

"Can you still fight?"

Nodding, she takes out her bell and a white glow shows her outfit. She had a long inner white sweater with a white native dress with a black scarf going around her neck. As I walked out of the dungeon, I called many others that were in a dungeon. Meeting back up with Rii, she was so battle-focused that she didn't notice our new member.

As some of the adventurers were still fighting the defending soldiers, I met up with the leader as we pushed into the main building. As guards from all directions pushed us, we were able to take them out in a breeze. As the leader pushed into the throne room, the owner was begging for his life, but justice was all that the leader needed. The castle owner seemed unfit, snotty, cocky, bastardly. He reminded me of the time where I had to kill someone like him to protect my sister. I wanted to kill him, but Rii and the tiger girl held me back.

Arresting the owner, we walked out of the main building, the sight of the success of this operation filled many with joy. Guards surrendered as their knees dug into the ground like an ostrich. Others helped those captured free and cured of any diseases and the mages behind us burnt the castle into a crisp.

Reaching back to the castle, we were told to come to the castle of the kingdom to earn our reward and to see the execution of the traitor. Walking in, we were first greeted by the queen of the kingdom. She was a beautiful woman. Hair purple in the morning as her dress matches her hair.

"I'd like to thank you all for helping me with the liberation of this traitors' rule," she says, showing the head of the man holding it by his hair. "As a reward, I'd like to give all of you five thousand gold." Everyone started cheering and the Queen's face went from a serious face to a small smile. Each adventurer held a line as one by one, they were given a bag of gold.

Reaching me, she noticed Haywire and smiled, "Thank you Hero of the Wire for participating. I thought you'd be part of the war against Elderon?"

I chuckled, "There was a little problem with me and my old group."

"I know, I can feel that too. Betrayal, revenge, no mercy. I know anyone that has that same feeling as you do."

"I appreciate that, your majesty," I say.

Heading back to the Inn, Rii notices the girl that was walking beside me. "Hold up, Clover, who's that girl? I noticed that she kept on holding you. What's up with that?"

"Honestly, I don't know, there was some sort of connection I felt while I was down at the dungeon."

"How about we get some food and ask her, she must be starving."

She nods. Back at the inn, we ordered some food and ate.

"So first of all, what is your name?" I ask.

Slowly talking she says, "I-I-I," starts coughing, and Rii helps her with some juice. "I'm Umi Yodogawa, I'm the Dire Wolf queen."

Rii and I's eyes widen, "The queen of the dire wolves?'

"I know I may not look like one, but this is just customary in my race."

"So what happened? How did you get captured into slavery?" Rii asks.

"It was the time after I was assumed queen. The dire wolves lived hand and hand with many species. We would act like any other person within this kingdom until a witch cursed my tribe so we took the vision of wolves and our time as demi-humans closed, but I still had my blessing. We hunted on a daily basis. As more and more of my tribe are slaughtered, more of my hope and feelings toward peace and humanity starts to dwindle. I was soon captured during a raid of my tribes' cave." she started to cry. "I witnessed so many horrible things. They wiped, tortured, and raped my kind. They said my body was not good enough even for the lowest of males. I was all lost in hope...Until you," she looked at me, "You came and helped me and my pack."

I blushed, "Well, I'm glad to help you then. We should probably take a break, for now, tomorrow, we start a new quest."

"Thank you, Master."

"Master!?"