Early the next day, the members of the Blue Bound began their journey back to their headquarters in the town of Lipayran.

Morning mist lingered across the trail as the sun broke through the horizon, painting the sky in hues of gold and rose.

Their horses moved swiftly along the dirt road, shoes runching over gravel while the rhythmic clip of hooves set a steady pace.

The group was quieter than usual, their bodies still carrying traces of exhaustion, but there was also a visible ease between them now—a calm born from shared triumph.

With their first quest as a four-man team complete, the bond between them had grown stronger. What began as an awkward mix of personalities now felt like a balanced, if chaotic, unit.

Last night's celebration helped.

After their hearty dinner and a few bottles of wine, laughter and stories flowed like old friends who had known each other for years.

Auren, sitting at the edge of the campfire, finally learned the quirks and colors behind each of his new companions.

Essel, true to her class, was indeed like an angel among humans.

Her tone was always gentle, her eyes soft and warm, as if she could forgive the world for every sin it had ever made. Her voice had that serene, calming effect that could soothe a person even in the middle of chaos.

She hated loud crowds, hated violence even more, and yet she had chosen the path of a healer—someone who mended wounds created by war.

Last night, she was also the one who kept the group from spiraling into drunken madness.

When Blas began to get too rowdy, Essel quietly tapped her staff, and a wave of purifying magic rolled through their camp, flushing the alcohol from their systems before anyone could cause trouble.

Auren could still remember her embarrassed laugh as Blas whined about losing his buzz.

She had joined the Blue Bound around two years ago, forming a strong duo with Alyssa, the team's leader.

The two made a name for themselves in Lipayran, earning recognition even from other guilds.

But as their quests grew harder and ranged enemies became frequent, they needed firepower. That was when Blas entered the picture—a recruit who changed the rhythm of their battles for better or worse.

Blas, Auren learned, was trouble wrapped in charm.

The man was loud, brash, and always talking about his next "big win."

He had two wives, one in the Khodian Empire and another in the Khankod Kingdom. Apparently, he became an adventurer just to feed his growing family—and his questionable habits.

He gambled, he drank too much, and he had a terrible weakness for the red-light districts. There were even rumors that he had once gotten into a bar fight against an entire mercenary crew just because someone called him a "wannabe hero."

Despite all that, his skill with a bow was unmatched.

Auren had to admit it—Blas was the best archer in the region. His aim was precise, his control perfect. If only his mouth were as disciplined as his hands.

The only time Blas had been humbled was during his duel with Auren, when Auren unveiled his bazooka, it was his first time to get humbled that bad. The memory made Auren grin faintly.

Then there was Alyssa, the leader.

Auren had pegged her as a noblewoman the moment he met her.

From the way she carried herself to her taste in food and clothing, she was clearly raised in luxury.

Her posture was always poised, her hair perfectly tied even after hours of travel. But once a quest began, she transformed.

The noblewoman disappeared, replaced by a fierce and wild commander unafraid to crawl through mud or dive headfirst into battle.

Still, she had her flaws.

When drunk, she could get dangerously violent—especially toward men. The only person she never raised her voice to was Auren.

She respected him deeply, though no one knew why. To everyone else, she was sharp-tongued and merciless.

'hm. Tsundere spotted.' he grinned.

Auren knew about her mission, though. She wanted to become strong enough to serve beside her childhood friend, Austaire—the ruler of Austerra.

"What an interesting bunch,"

Auren murmured softly that morning, watching them from the side of the road. The breeze brushed against his face, carrying the scent of grass and soil. He smiled faintly.

"Quite the team I ended up with."

No one knew that Auren himself was Austaire's half-brother, hiding under the name "Herbon." The irony made him chuckle to himself.

As the sun climbed higher, the group's energy lifted. Birds flew alongside their path, and the fields around them stretched endlessly, dotted with wildflowers.

Twelve hours of travel awaited them, with three planned stops to rest their beasts and eat.

Around midday, they encountered a migrating herd of Wild Turovans—massive bison-like beasts covered in thick brown fur.

The ground shook beneath their hooves as they crossed the plains, their thunderous grunts echoing across the horizon. The herd numbered in the thousands, and their leader, a towering bull with white horns, watched the Blue Bound with suspicious eyes.

"Let's not test their patience," Alyssa said, narrowing her gaze.

"Follow me."

They took a detour along the ridge, keeping a safe distance until the herd moved away. Even Blas, usually reckless, stayed silent during the encounter.

Hours later, they came across several merchant caravans escorted by adventurer teams from different Kingdoms.

One has banners hanging on the wagons bore the symbols of trade guilds from Khodian Kingdom.

"Yow, how's the quest going?" shouted a cheerful team leader as their caravan slowed beside the Blue Bound's.

Alyssa ignored the man entirely, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Blas, however, puffed up proudly.

"Of course, with my ability, those ogres stood no chance! We finished it in one day!" he boasted, slapping the side of the wagon.

The other adventurers stared at him in disbelief.

"One day? That's impossible!"

"I heard that was a B-ranked subjugation quest. You finished it in one day?"

Their eyes shifted toward Auren, who was quietly adjusting his gloves. He met their curious stares calmly.

'A herbalist?' one of the caravan guards thought. 'Since when did herbalists become frontliners?'

Auren didn't say a word, but the small smirk tugging his lips said enough. Maybe it was time people stopped underestimating his class.

"Well, see you soon!" Blas waved dramatically as the caravan rolled away.

A few of the merchants smiled and waved back, particularly at Essel, who returned their gestures with a graceful giggle.

Her kindness was disarming even in the middle of dusty roads. Alyssa, on the other hand, walked past without so much as a glance, her cloak fluttering behind her.

By dusk, the town of Lipayran appeared in the distance.

The familiar sight of stone walls, hanging lanterns, and bustling smoke rising from chimneys brought a warm sense of relief. They entered the gates as the guards saluted them with recognition.

The moment they stepped into the Adventurer's Guild, chatter erupted.

"What? Already done? You must be kidding me!" shouted Marjun, the guild master, his eyes wide in disbelief.

He slammed his hands on the counter as the Blue Bound handed over their quest proof—a collection of dark magic cores, one of them enormous and glowing faint red.

Marjun whistled. "This is... the Ogre Chieftain's core? I don't believe it. You really did it!"

Normally, a subjugation quest like that would take three to five days. Adding travel and rest time, a week was the average. But the Blue Bound had done it in just three days.

Marjun laughed in amazement and raised his hands.

"Good job, Team Blue Bound! B-class quest cleared in three days! That's a new record!"

The guild hall erupted into whispers. Adventurers turned to look, some impressed, others envious.

"Congratulations!" one adventurer called out.

"Wow, a B-class quest in three days? Never heard of that."

"That's Blue Bound for you," another said.

But not all the comments were kind.

"Probably because of their new member," one muttered. "Lucky bastards."

"You mean that herbalist? What can he do?" scoffed another. "Bet it was just Alyssa carrying them again."

Auren heard everything but said nothing. He watched the crowd, sensing the unspoken competition that filled the air.

Rivalry was the language of adventurers, and in that moment, he knew their team had just painted a big target on their backs.

Still, he smiled faintly. 'If this is the road to the top, then so be it. I will help this team get stronger, and bring them with me.'

Marjun leaned forward on the counter, his thick beard twitching as he studied them. "I'm impressed.

You've got the smallest team in the guild, yet you're at the front of the rankings. Is this really what happens when you have both a healer and a herbalist on the same squad?"

Alyssa stood proudly, her chin lifted.

"We finished fast thanks to Auren's planning."

Auren blinked, a bit surprised by the unexpected praise. But before he could respond, Blas raised his hand with a grin.

"And my arrows, of course! I gave that Ogre Chieftain a bullseye farewell gift. That's what sealed the deal!"

Alyssa rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt to watch. Essel just giggled softly, shaking her head. Auren sighed, amused by how predictable Blas could be.

"Then it's perfect," said Marjun, stamping their record sheet.

"Three more successful quests, and you'll qualify for your first A-Class mission and of course- your team promotion."

He looked up at them with a proud grin. "So, Blue Bound... are you ready?"

Alyssa crossed her arms, her eyes gleaming. "We were born ready."

Blas pumped his fist in the air. "Bring it on!"

Essel smiled gently. "As long as everyone stays safe."

Auren chuckled quietly. "Guess we're not resting anytime soon."

As the guild filled with murmurs of admiration and envy, the Blue Bound stood together in the glow of lamplight, their victory small yet significant.

Outside, the wind carried the scent of rain and adventure, as if the world itself was eager for their next journey.

And for Auren, it was only the beginning of his adventurer life.

"Just a little more,"

Auren thought, his gaze fixed on the worn map spread before him. His finger traced the jagged outline leading toward the far north, to a vast stretch of land left unmarked by name or border.

Yet deep inside, he knew. That empty space wasn't forgotten—it was hidden. And somewhere within that massive, unnamed continent lay the place he sought most—Thaasa.

He dove into his mental space and touched the ever slumbering golden egg that rested his ace.

"For now, let's wait for you to return."

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