The married couple welcomed the adventurers into their proud restaurant. As the adventurers step their feet into the restaurant, they were welcomed by all the waitress inside. After leading them to their seats, one of the waitress hand out the menu. The food listed varies and the prices are considerably low. Apparently the restaurant brought all their ingredients straight from the harvest site nearby thus keeping the prices considerably low and ensure their freshness.

After talking to people on the counter, Arte approached the adventurers. "As I mentioned before it's all free. And also, there is an inn above so if you people are looking a place to stay, we're more than delighted to have you all in" Arte politely informed. Meanwhile, Gin pay no heed to his missing pouch or maybe he just didn't notice that. In the end, he never touched the subject. After deciding it's the right time to start, the manager, Gin straighten his posture and start his explanation.

"Well then, I'll first start with the reason they doing *cough* such thing..."

Just few days ago a young waitress in-training named Mau went missing when she went out on an errant. One of the kid in the town apparently sees her being carried unconscious by a man wearing black robe. Mau is a nice kid who liked by many, and Aian, especially, is very fond of her and take care of her like his own little sister. Hearing that she is kidnapped, he couldn't help but to take action. Since rumor about a bandit clan is famous around the area one of the kid proposed to 'ambush' them.

"Well, that roughly what happened. My wife and I have been looking for her actually, but we got our hand full with other thing"

Gin lower his head after he finish. However that is no concern for the adventurers. Now that they've arrived to a town, they able to take on get some money through quests from this town Adventurer guild and fill-in their resources. Furthermore, this restaurant is also an Inn so they've pretty much secured place to sleep.

Shortly after, a woman emerge from one of the room. She's wearing a white lab coat and has surgery equipment right on her wrist. Her appearance normally would count as that of a doctor, however in this world, nearly all medical treatment is done by magic making physical treatment mostly unnecessary.



"Oh manager, there you are. I just receive news from the southern hill, it seems monsters start appearing again around the area, hindering our people from delivering our order. And from what I heard from the chef, we're starting to run out of ingredients as well. I suggest we sent Aian to... wait, what happened?"

Noticing the wounded man, the woman couldn't help but to be surprised.

"Well, this is bad. Should I issue a request on the broad?"

By the broad it would be the quest broad where Adventurer take on quests. Since this restaurant also managed Adventurer Guild issues, the broad is set right inside the restaurant. Arl look over other party member. Even if they don't want to help searching from the missing girl, they will still have to take on quests to gather money for their next trip.

Shortly before the woman arrived, Dodger rose from his seat. "Order me some omelet rice an' call me when it comes" Dodger said "I'm going to 'ave a look around". With that said, Dodger began wandering around the building, stopping by the quest board to tare down the wanted poster of him, flirting with the more attractive waitresses*, and lifting the occasional coin purse/money pouch from customers/staff.

*But not Arte. A thief he may be, stealing married women ain't Dodger's thing.

Erva wore a look of disgusted confusion as she was brought in and made to sit at a table, having a menu slapped in front of her. She pushed it away with a growl. She didn't sign up to the Adventurer's Guild to sit around and nibble on fancy foods in a less than trustworthy restaurant in what she felt like was the middle of nowhere. She stood from the chair she was placed in and tromped over to the board, boots tracking dirt and mud all over the floor as her eyes darted over it, looking for a new job. She made her feelings about the entire situation known as she said, "I didn't come here to be wined and dined. I came to do jobs and get paid. Now, will we be headed to deal with these monsters over the southern hill, will we pick up something from the board, or will we be staying to eat. Personally, if the last option is to be the task, I will be waiting outside."

"Don't worry, Erva. Monster fighting will come. For now, we have to eat. I, for one, am happy to have found a nice place to get a good, fresh meal before we have a ludicrously violent battle with hell-beasts and behemoth creatures from beyond the veil" Iwa calmly laid back, reading the menu and casually smiling. Despite his natural calm and his overwhelmingly sickening optimism, he was still pretty troubled. First, they're mistaken for bandits, then these two weird inn-keepers show up and give them free meal and board, now there's a missing woman? That can mean only one thing: Either they're evil and the party is getting ready to chow down on human flesh, or they're innocent and something even more convoluted is happening. Either way "I'll have the steak, medium well, your finest soup, and several sweetened rolls, please. Oh, an an omelet rice for Dodger." a meal is a meal, and he'll need quite a bit of energy if he plans on using shooting star style in the fight to come.

Aian later taken to medical room by the lab coat lady. After taking note of everyone's order, Arte bowed and go to the counter, putting on the order to the kitchen. Gin, after expressing his gratitude for taking the request, walk to the second floor, resuming the work he had left earlier. It didn't took long for the food to arrive and Arl happily devour his meal. "Oi, it's here!" Arl happily call Dodger while munching the beef steak he ordered. Compared to other party member, Erva doesn't seem to keen about eating. 'Well, she probably will get better once we go out there' Arl thought.

Several minutes later, the lab coat lady approached them, bringing several sheet of papers. "These are the documents and data you need. It's an easy task, I need you to watch over the area for three nights up in the southern hill, we prepared a small Inn up there specially for this occasion. Just make sure monster to not get close to the field. Show your adventurer ID to the people there and they will prepare your place to stay" After finishing her explanation, the woman walk back into the medical room but then stopped and turned.

"I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Mirfi. If you got wounded or anything, go to my place here, I'll treat you all real good"

Dodger returned to the table the moment he heard Arl's call. When Mirfi came to deliver the documents, she made the mistake of passing too close to Dodger. Once Mirfi had walked out of sight, Dodger pulled Mirfi's belt of surgical tools out from under the table and studied them. "A surgeon?" Dodger mused to himself before tucking the tool belt into one of the hidden pockets in his jacket, along with all the other valuable things he'd stolen in the restaurant. "Now 'ere's a fine 'ow d' ya do" Dodger said with an air of nostalgia "I ain't seen a surgeon since I left me 'ome city". Dodger then ate some of his omelet rice and smiled. "This is some good stuff" Dodger said happily "Tasty as yer birthday, it is".

As happily as he chew the beef he ordered, Arl also concerned about his friend's "bad" habit. However Arl himself is not man of justice, as long he can get what he want he won't bother anyone. Even so he still impressed of the nasty thief's skill to 'collect' stuff so easily. Taking a quick glance towards the documents the doctor Mirfi had gave them, Arl quickly lost interest. Reading isn't his specialty, in fact he hates it. The only thing he can decently read is map and kid books, simply because it have illustration on them. Arl then tossed the documents towards Iwa who seems to be more suited for this kind of thing.

While all male party member seems to be enjoying their meal, the only female member, Erva, is outside, uninterested in simple free meal. As she waits outside the restaurant, a figure of a masculine woman shows up in front of her. That woman is pretty tall, around 180cm, wearing a light armor and a rather big sword. From the looks of it, she is adventurer just like them. She's accompanied by a group of man who seems to be her party member.



"That was quite big haul!"

Happily cheered one of the man, looking incredibly happy, same goes for other man. The woman in exchange, just lightly smile confidently, seems to be satisfied as well. Their conversation continue as they passing by.

"The newly discovered Zardan cavern is truly like gold mine. Rare monsters roaming around and their remnants are good stuff to sell."

"Indeed, we should thank Aian for finding the place"

"But still, having to order special menu at that restaurant for the information is just..."

"Can't be helped right, he can't go against that married couple"

"Yeah, I wonder why"

"Dunno, from what I heard he--"

The conversation fades away as the group walk further and further.

Erva stood, her back against the wall beside the inn's front door. From the window she could see her compatriots digging into a supposedly 'free' meal prepared for them by complete strangers. She toyed with the string of her bow absentmindedly, making sure it was taut and secure. A triad of mice scurried up her leg and across the stretched hides of her armor, up her stomach until they came to rest at her shoulders. She spared a smile and a scratch behind one's ears before dismissing them with a sigh as she looked back inside. The situation was suspicious as a whole to her. She would wait outside, as she preferred, and watch the roads. She hated being cooped up inside anwyay.

It wasn't long before she saw another group of travellers heading up the road. Her keen eyes spied the one leading them. A woman. A woman warrior, slightly taller but much less athletic by the look of her. As she walked closer, it was plain to see that she was not equipped for the dangers and perils of the open road. Her armour was more of an adornment than a protective measure, and that made Erva's blood boil to no end. She looked down at her own armour. Tanned, stretched hide covering every inch of her body from neckline to toe, interrupted in crucial areas by sturdier areas of thick leather, all covering a light suit of mail for added protection. The only part of her body exposed was her fingers, to operate her bow.

One well-placed arrow could end the hoity tart's adventuring career rather suddenly if she didn't cover up properly. A fact that she made known, her harsh voice addressing them as they passed. "I suggest you get better adornments, miss. You look more like you're trying to put on a show than fare the open road. Outfit like that will get you a blade in the belly."

Hearing the words addressed to her, the woman stops. She inspect the appearance of her caller and smiled. "No worries young miss, I'm fine just like this" She said, pushing her chest high to show her confidence. The men behind her seems to be used with this kind of thing and just simply watch over the conversation. "Furthermore, I'm not comfortable with tight clothing" she add. But even though she said that, that outfit of hers sure do not provide any additional protection, hardly qualify as an armor. However the woman still proudly proclaim that she's fine like that.

"My name is Ky. Ask other people about me, I'm sure they will answer you" With attitude of a famous artist, she walk off and her party member quickly follow. Was that just baseless-confidence or she's skillful enough to not rely on actual armor. Regardless whichever it is, her attitude is annoying in general.

Soon after a familiar figure shows up from inside the restaurant. It is the giant armored man, Aian. It appears he have finished his medical treatment just now. "It seems Miss Ky went off already. Too bad, I was hoping to talk with her again" the man said, probably speaking to himself.

"Ya know what" Dodger said once he'd finished his food "Although all o' this stuff is free, I think I'll leave behind a tip for the jolly good service". Dodger proceeded to pull Gin's from a hidden pocket and place in the table. "Now if you'll excuse me" Dodger said "I'm gonna go explore the town". With that said, Dodger rose from his seat and left the restaurant.

Erva scoffed at the passing woman, Ky, and debated drawing back an arrow to plant in her exposed buttock, but held back on it. Better to not interact with the daft woman at all than to incur both her and her allies wrath. She shoulders her bow once more, checking her arrows at her hip before searching around for the mice once again. Nowhere to be found. Sadly. She let out a short sigh before turning to the newly emerged Aian. The man caused them all that trouble on the road, along with those kids. She spoke, tone sounding gruff and annoyed. "Why bother, the woman is thicker than a block of wood in the worst way. Show-boating tramp."

Dodger's emergence from the inn made her push herself from the wall, finally someone had come to their senses and pulled themselves away from the suspicious hospitality of the innkeepers. "Are we finally going to get moving? This whole accepting free food thing is bad enough as it is."

Dodger shook his head. "Not yet" the young thief said "Fisticuffs and Om-Nom* are still eatin'. I'm gonna go look around for a bit". With that said, Dodger continued walking. After a few steps, Dodger stopped and looked back at Erva. "By the way" Dodger said helpfully "I noticed a pet shop near the way we came in. Seein' 'ow ya like animals so much, that should keep ya busy for a while". With that said Dodger continued walking.

*Dodger's nickname for Arl.

I didn't took long for Arl to finish his food fest and celebrate in joy. He ate nearly dozen serve of food and now delightfully rub his stomach. According to what Mirfi said earlier, they need to protect the field on southern hill for three days so it means their job already begin.

"Well then, should we go" said Arl. The two other party member were waiting for them.

Kastra is a prosperous and considerably a big town that provide you with anything you can ask for. The location itself is pretty strategic, not under the rule of any kingdoms and serve as gateway town for those who want to visit other kingdom. The town massive growth for the past four years is thanks to no other than the manager of the Demon-Den restaurant, Gin. However despite his big fame as the ruler of this town, no one know his past. What he used to be or where he was born. But regardless, everyone in the town respect, fear, and love him.

Just recently carriage service have been implemented, allowing more foreign traveler to visit the city. The newly discovered dungeon also attract many brave adventurer to come here and challenge it.

"I don't see a reason to be in a hurry. The paper said the southern hill place is close, I think. So I suppose we can enjoy this town more, I personally would like to see what food this town has to offer"

"I'd like to 'ang about a bit longer too" Dodger said with a smile "I hear say that there's a thieves guild hideout in this town. I might 'ead there for a while to fence off some things".