The party made their journey across the western continent of Erln. They have passed the borderline of the last town they've visited. It will take quite a while before they able to reach their next destination. They might will have to camp a night or two. There are village nearby and they're planning to take refreshment there. Currently they're on the road flanked by two mountains. This is the road people rarely use. This actually a shortcut to their destination but often avoided by merchants and common folks because of story about some kind of bandit clan nesting on the area. Adventurer they may be, they're still group of amateur adventurer who had just recently received their adventurer license from the guild. Why would they go so far on such dangerous area? It all because one member of the group, Albirth, known as Arl, had a concern. "Wait, don't eat too much you say? Don't speak nonsense!" after endless struggle, Arl finally manage to persuade others to chose a shorter road so they able to resupply food faster, resulting less need for fasting. However, an unused road it be, it filled with obstacles such as rocks and unfavorable terrain, making the carriage to be constantly shaking like mad. One would not be surprised of any of them would puke any moment by now.

Dodger, who had gotten off after the 1st mile of bumpy terrain, was walking along side the carriage. As Dodger walked along, he began to ocasionally notice signs that multiple fights had taken place on the road they were traveling on. A blood stain on a tree, an arrow embedded in the side of the road, a broken blade sitting near a rock, all of these thing were setting off alarm bells in the young thief's head. Dodger had been on edge ever since they entered the western continent, bout now he was really getting nervous. "Oi oi" Dodger said to his traveling companions as they passed the corpse of a bounty hunter left on the road "Do ya think those stories 'bout robbers 'angin' round these parts are true? 'cause I'm startin' to think they are".

"Well, of course it's true, but, robbers or no robbers, Arl wants to use this shortcut and honestly? I wouldn't mind fighting some bandits. One needs to stay in peak condition and we could all use some battle experience." Iwa spoke as if the bandits weren't dangerous. As if the bandits HADN'T killed or plundered daily. Maybe it was because he liked to fight, maybe it was his confidence, but whenever the group had been in potentially life-threatening danger, Iwa never seemed to think it was all that dangerous. Despite the inevitable battle between them and the bandits, he was as calm as ever.

"Ya won't be sayin' that when a bunch o' blinkin' robbers pop out o' nowhere an' start makin' trouble for us, Fisticuffs*" Dodger said in response to Iwa's comment.

*Fisticuffs is the nickname that Dodger gave Iwa when they met.

Erva hung her head out of the window of the carriage, stomach roiling as it rocked side to side, up and down, back and forth upon the rocky mountain trail. With a swift movement, she pushed the door of the carriage open and practically fell out onto the road, wobbling on her feet with a pathetic groan. Her hair was messy and strands were leaping from her braid into the air, her clothing was crinkled and her eyes looked heavy and tired. "Remind me to never sleep in this thing ever again. I feel like there is a storm in my belly." She trudged alongside the carriage with the others, holding onto the side for support until the world started wobbling. The mention of bandits caught her attention and, as was expected, she spoke her mind on the issue, "I, for one, wouldn't adore a bandit attack. I'm not sure I would have enough arrows," Her tongue felt like a weight and her head swam, but the small of open air would help to clear her head in a moment.

A corpse on the road. Sure it's unused route, but it's too much to think that there will be corpses lying around untouched. All of the member of the party speak what they had in mind, but Arl remain silent. However, that did not stop him from commanding the horses to march forth. They've gone this far and they won't stop so easily. There are food waiting for him, that's all he could think of. "....What is that?" Arl couldn't help but to ask. A thin string, plainly in sight, tied on trees on both side of the road. And right before it are poorly hidden hole. There road they're on have no grass on them, but somehow the hole cover itself using grass and leafs. Arl stopped the carriage, commanding the horse to stop. He looked at surrounding it sees some bushes making noises. "Did they notice?" "No way" "So, when will this start?" "Psst, quite, they're gonna notice!" Group of youth voices, probably around 7-12 years old. They're the bandits? No, that can't be it. Arl recall back the corpse they encounter a bit ago. Is that even a corpse to begin with? "So... what are we going to do with this?" Arl completely clueless. Arl then glanced at other member, asking for respond.

"They can't possibly have thought that would work..." Iwa commented, looking at the poorly hidden hole and the thin wire. Judging by what he heard, the bandits, if you could call them that, had little to know clue what they were doing. "I say we just walk around the hole and ignore the kids. We're almost there, yeah? Might aswell walk or ride horses the rest of the way, 'cuz this carriage is not getting around that hole easily. Unless you wanna push it."

Listening to Iwa, Arl jumped out of the carriage and check the hole. He took nearby rock and threw it into the hole. It broke the cover and reveal the inside. It's not too deep, but still a hassle to push their way through. Meanwhile, the wire itself pose no threat. It's weak and probably the poor one used for fishing. Cutting it with a knife would be enough. Well then... "Oi! You brats come here!" Arl shouted towards the suspicious bushes. "Kyaa!" "They notice!?" "Idiot, run!" "Arrgh!!" group of children start popping out one by one, running away from their target. "Aian, now!" shouted one of the children. The moment that was shouted, the earth start shaking. "Wait... what!?" The source of all commission is coming from the opposite side of the road, right above them... a big boulder is rolling down! Arl quickly return to the carriage and command the horses to go back to the opposite way.

Erva shook her head and shook off her body, recovering from the dizziness as the carriage took off in the opposite direction. It took a second for her to notice the rolling boulder, but once she did she was off and running, swift like a bounding rabbit. She latched onto the back of the carriage and held on for dear life, staring back as the boulder crushed all in its path. She shouted up to the driver's seat at Arl with a look of panic, "I don't feel like becoming the world's flattest adventurer, I don't know about you!"

The boulder rolled pass the hill. The party would've became flat corpses if they were taken off guard. Thankfully, the party realize that and managed to run in time. Arl and Erva managed to escape the horrible fate along with the carriage, as well as all remaining rations they had left in it. If it were to be crushed Arl won't able to stand a chance to contain his hunger. Iwa and Dodger should've been fine as the boulder only goes in one direction. "Okay, now this is it!" Arl was furious. He quickly jumped out of the carriage once more, this time while clenching his fist. But before he able to chase after the kids, a shout was heard from the other side. "Oi, your opponent is me!" Right above, where the boulder was coming from, there stood a sturdy-looking man wearing a black steel armor with a giant sword tacked on his back. With a yell, the man slide to their direction. "Hmph, I won't let you harm them!" said the man, holding tight his sword. However, despite his intimidating posture and face... the man was trembling.

When Dodger noticed the incoming bolder, the young thief proceeded to live up to his nickname and dodge the bolder. Dodger caught up with the others just as the man began speaking. Dodger immediately noticed that the man was trembling with fear and subsequently burst out laughing. "Is this seriously what I've been so nervous 'bout?" Dodger asked when he stopped laughing "4 ruddy kids 'n' a shiverin' coward? This 'as to be a joke!". Dodger laughed again before continuing. "Tell ya what" Dodger said "Give us all yer loot, 'n' we'll let ya off with a warnin' 'ow does that sound?".

The man were startled by the thief's intimidation and start shaking even stronger. Seeing this Arl couldn't help but to wonder who the real bad guy here. If that man didn't wear such heavy armor, they might able to see his sweats flowing endlessly through his skin. However, despite being clearly haunted by fear, the man still refuse to let go his sword or even plead for mercy. "No, for the sake of justice, I mustn't back off now!" The man shouted, taking sturdier pose. Something the man said caught Arl's attention, but before he able to react properly. *SWOOSH* *BUMP* A rock.. pebbles? are being shot at them rapidly. Arl manage to glance at the direction of where the rock was shot from. It's those kids again, shooting with slingshots and throwing rocks at them. "Hei, didn't your mother told you to never shot others with those things!" Arl had completely lost his composer and yelled at them. However the rain of attack doesn't stop. Arl quickly took refuges behind the carriage. "Go Aian, get rid of those bandits!" "Yeah, for justice!" "Take down those meanie people!" "Don't stop! Keep shooting!" cheered the children. "Nnn! I will, I WILL PROTECT THIS LAND! HYAAAAAAH!!!" the man, encouraged by the cheers, march forth and swung his giant sword. What a tear jerking scene, Arl thought for a moment. But the man's power were not as expected. From the looks of it, the man are just a sissy guy with a huge body, but turned out his power are far beyond that. Just by one hit, the ground shakes. The shock from the impact causes dust to fly around, hindering their vision. Few seconds later, the dusts start to fade away, revealing the cracked ground, all accomplished by the man's sheer power alone. "Oi, Erva, do something about the kids with your arrows!" shouted Arl. The man sure is strong, but it's highly doubtful that he can win against four of them. The problem is the kids who were hindering them with all those puny rocks. If they didn't do anything about them, then it's over.

"Now wait just 1 moment" Dodger said as he dodged Aian's attack and the pebbles being shot at him by the kids "There's been a mix up 'ere, we're not the bandits. Actually, we thought that you were those blighters". Dodger hoped that Aian and his little helpers would see reason. Dodger was, after all, a thief rather than a fighter.

Erva clambered from the carriage with a quick step and landed in a crouch. Kids. She hated kids. Especially kids overstepping their boundaries. Throwing rocks at travelers was going to get these kids killed very quickly, so doling out a lesson wouldn't be a terrible thing. She pulled her bow's drawstring from her chest and pulled the frame over her head into a firing position. She nocked a arrow from the tight, leather quiver at her thigh and drew it back, a grimace on her face as she swept her head beneath an incoming rock. She loosed the arrow lazily and saw if find its mark in the clothing of one of the children, pinning him to a tree as the others fled, dropping their rocks and turning tail. She pointed her finger at the pinned child and frowned, "Stay there. Punishment is coming soon." She then rounded the side of the carriage and crouched low, nocking another arrow in preparation to strike. "Who actually is this guy? What is even going on?!"

Caught on something, Dodger speak up. Indeed, this man and the kids appear to be under some kind of misunderstanding. However, they pay no heed to Dodger's words. The kids still throwing and shooting rocks and the man is preparing to do another swing. Meanwhile, Erva who already jumped out off the carriage had her bow and arrows ready, and already incapacitate one of the kids, making others stop their motion.

In panic, maybe, the man still doesn't give up. After confirming the safety of his little companions his gaze return to his enemies. Her face is hardly intimidating but his huge build cover it up. This man strongest attack would certainly able to break any bone, no, killing is nothing but easy task for his strength. Arl prepared his fist, ready to fight back. Now that the kids stop giving hindrance, nothing will able to stop this group of adventurers.

"WAIT! AIAN... STOP!"

It was coming from the opposite side, from the direction where the adventurer were trying to go to. Seconds after the voice was heard, a adult man emerged. The man's hair is silver, and he appears to be wearing a rather tidy clothing. On his breast pocket is a silver pen just like the color of his hair. Maybe because he's running all the way here, it seems he's running out of breath. Clear enough, he was in a hurry.



"NO, RUN! HURRY!!!"

Running away from what? One would ask. But in an instant, another figure of a person emerge from his behind. Whatever it was, it's fast. The silver man was actually pretty fast himself, but whatever was behind him is on another level. In merely a second it cut off several meters of distance, and as if teleporting, stops in front of the armored man.

"A-I-A-N, HOW MANY TIMES I TOLD YOU NEVER CAUSE RUCKUS WITH THE KIDS!!!"

The armored man, Aian, that big fella just... flew. It all happened in an instant, no one able to understand what just happened. The man who've cracked the ground with sheer strength alone, are being blown off by...

"Agh, that big idiot never learn"

The culprit tap her skirt, trying to get rid of the dust that got stuck on it. Purple hair and golden eyes, in a glance she appears to be a beauty, but something about her reeks danger. Just by looking at her eyes, it feels like your body being sucked into it. Tied up, unable to run away. Just like... a serpent.



"Oh, pardon my rudeness. Greetings travelers, no, from the looks of it... adventurers I presume. My name is Arte, chief waitress of Demon-Den Restaurant, if you like would you mind to visit our place? We will give you some service"

With a bright business smile, the waitress, Arte, gracefully bowed in an etiquette you would find in a fancy dancing hall. Demon-Den restaurant, what a odd choice for a name of an eating place. Even Arl were taken back by all of things happening so suddenly, but the temptation of food never fail to draw him in. Several seconds later the man from earlier finally catch up. He stopped for a moment to regulate his breath. After surveying the surrounding he finally speak up.

"Ahh... too late huh."

The man can only sigh before the sight in front of him.

Completely unfazed by the feel of danger, Dodger sauntered over to Arte and returned her bow. "Pleasure to be makin' yer acquaintance, Arte" Dodger said with his most charming smile. "Dodger Flynn at yer service" Dodger said "I saw you send that armored idiot flyin', an' I must say that was amazing. Yer as powerful as yer pretty, if ya pardon the expression". Dodger then noticed the silver haired man and turned to look at him "An' who you be?" Dodger asked, speculatively eyeing the pouch attached to the man's waist.

Iwa, still standing around the remains of the carriage, watched everything as it happened. First, the dumb kids, then Aian, then Arte and this silver haired dude show up from nowhere. The hell is even happening at this point? Nonetheless, it didn't faze him. He continued to watch, waiting for his chance to either hit something or go somewhere that wasn't here. Of course, he definitely didn't want to go wherever these two were going to take them. Something bothered him about Arte's power and then there was the pretty speedy silver haired man. "Uhh, Dodger? Could ya step away from silver hair for a second? This doesn't feel right..."

Erva smirked at the child she pinned, intent on leaving him here until he could free himself. That would teach him not to interfere with travellers. He was lucky he didn't get seriously hurt or killed! Upon the introduction of the two new people, the one with silver hair and the waitress, she drew back the string on her bow and levelled an arrow at them. They had dispatched the other man with such ease that they didn't seem ordinary. "Dodger why is it you seem to trust anything with a pretty face and bared shoulders? If you are seriously considering their offer, you're as daft as you are blind."

She drew the arrow back further in an intimidating fashion and barked at them, "Why is the chief waitress all the way out here in the wilderness? What reason is there for you to come here yourself and not just send a messenger?"

"My, how flattering" replied the beautiful waitress to Dodger's words.

However the other party member doesn't seem to be as welcoming as him. It can't be helped, being randomly attacked by group of children and an muscle-idiot, one would expect this is some kind of bad joke. Iwa warned the curious thief to back off and Erva even aimed her bow at them. However, despite of Erva's intimidation, the waitress did not even flinched. She just continue to plaster the business smile of hers. Meanwhile, the silver haired man were taken aback but nothing more than that. Both of their faces were completely clam, despite the danger in front of them. To begin with, do they even count this as a danger?

"Oh, apologies for not introducing myself. My name is Gin, the manager of the place my wife had mentioned" the silver mam, Gin, calmly introduce himself. "I get your worries and concern, but fear not. We're people from the town just beyond this hills" Gin then faced backward, pointing to the direction where the adventurer party were actually going for.

"Wait a second, from the map we got, there aren't any town in this place, only a small village"

Arl finally speak out, taking out of the map they got in the previous town from the carriage. Gin then walk in and casually take a look at the map.

"Oh, about that, actually stuff happened and we do some renovation over the place. We will explain it along the way, please follow us"

Gin then approached the collapsed man, Aian, and slap him several time. After a shake or two, Aian finally woke up, confused of the current situation. After hearing some explanation from Gin, Aian finally stands up and approached the adventurer.

"I'm terribly sorry for my foolish action!!!" Aian shouted, loud. It seems this man don't even know what 'holding back' is. After that Aian approached the carriage and pushed it from behind. "Phew, now this should do it" said the man proudly after single-handedly pushed the carriage over the hole.

"Now then, shall we go"

After telling the kids to return home, Gin then lead they way to the town he mentioned.



After few minutes of walking you will see it. The town of Kastra, surrounded by beautiful green hills and flourish land. Being the main pathway to three nearby kingdoms, it often visited by travelers. This land used to be ruled by the merchant guild, being in full control of all market distribution. However, four years ago, a married couple visited the land and build a restaurant. Soon they joined the merchant guild, but after a mysterious incident all other members of the merchant guild went missing, leaving the husband, Gin, in charge. In the past four years, the land have massively grown. The place that used to be nothing but resting place for travelers now have become a destination to go to.

And being the center of all of it is Demon-Den Restaurant, owned and managed by Gin. Not only function as a place to eat, Demon-Den also operates as the town's Adventurer Guild where adventurers take on quests. Going to left wing area you will find equipment store where you can buy armor, weapons and more for adventurer to prepare themselves for quests. The second floor is an Inn where traveler rests to relieve their fatigue. Not to mention, there's also a doctor here. Seeing so many things in one place would make people wonder, just how can a simple restaurant that run by pair of married couple can achieve such a feat?

"Well then, I'm sure you all have lots of question in mind and we're obliged to answer that. But as apology allow us to serve you all with our menu, all free. Today special is our most praised, Omelet rice!"

The wife, Arte, happily announced.

'Omelet rice' Dodger thought to himself as he brought up the rear of the group 'All for free too! This is certainly a nice turn of events, yes it is'. As the group walked through the town, Dodger slowed down to survey the more profitable targets of larceny the town had to offer and also to lift the occasional coin purse to give some company to the pouch that Dodger had stolen from Gin a while they were still on the road. All the while, Dodger kept a constant watch for guards and bounty hunters. It would be a terrible inconvenience for Dodger if he were to be spotted by a man/woman of the law while stealing from someone, and it would be an especially terrible inconvenience for Dodger if he were to be spotted by a man/woman of the law who recognized Dodger as the thief who had a 10,000 gold price on his head in the western continent.