Outside Aster Hollow
The world felt calmer than the capital.
Cold morning air moved across the muddy road.
The rain from previous days had left the ground soft and uneven. Grass bent under the breeze while birds occasionally crossed the bright blue sky.
Ren and Lyra walked side by side.
Both wore simple adventurer clothing beneath dark cloaks and ordinary leather shoes.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing memorable.
Just enough to look like normal adventurers.
Ren walked quietly while observing everything around him.
Road.
Trees.
Terrain.
Open spaces.
Possible escape routes.
Lyra noticed and looked at him.
"…Do you always walk like this?"
Ren looked over.
"Like what?"
Her ears moved slightly.
"Like someone expecting an ambush."
Ren laughed.
"…Habit."
She looked ahead.
"You don't feel relaxed."
He thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"…Relaxed people usually become stories."
Lyra blinked.
Then quietly laughed.
After walking for around half an hour—
movement appeared.
More than fifteen creatures moved through the tall grass.
Wild Rabbits.
But unlike normal rabbits—
each had a sharp horn on its forehead.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
"…Everything in this world becomes dangerous."
Lyra nodded.
"These are weak monsters."
Then quietly added—
"…But fast."
Ren pulled out his pistol.
Lyra raised her hand.
Without discussion—
both attacked separately.
Lyra chose her strongest comfortable method—
single-shot lightning.
FLASH—
One rabbit collapsed.
Ren fired.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Two dropped.
Another lightning shot.
Another rabbit died.
But—
the rabbits reacted quickly.
Many scattered.
Several escaped.
Ren adjusted.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Four more.
Lyra hurried another cast.
Two more.
By the time silence returned—
many had escaped.
Results:
Ren — 6 kills
Lyra — 4 kills
Total: 10 kills
Ren checked mentally.
Starting bullets: 115
Used: 6
Remaining: 109
Drops appeared.
Rabbit Horn ×10
Rabbit Pelt ×5
9mm Bullets ×15
New total:
124 bullets
Lyra looked disappointed.
Her ears lowered.
"…Too many escaped."
Ren stored everything.
Then looked at her.
"Why attack individually?"
She blinked.
"…Single lightning is stronger."
Ren nodded.
Then asked—
"Can you attack groups?"
She thought.
"…Wide lightning."
He looked interested.
She continued—
"…But damage becomes weak."
"…Mostly stun."
Ren nodded.
"How long?"
She answered—
"Weak monsters…"
"…About twenty seconds."
She thought.
"Medium groups maybe ten."
Then quietly—
"Boss monsters… five."
Ren became silent.
Then smiled.
Lyra looked confused.
"…What?"
Ren raised his pistol.
"That's enough."
She blinked.
He continued—
"You stop them."
"I finish them."
Several seconds passed.
"…That simple?"
Ren nodded.
"No reason for both of us to do the same thing."
Her ears moved.
Then she smiled.
"…Okay."
Their first real strategy was born.
About one hour later—
heavy footsteps echoed.
Five Giant Monster Bears.
Large bodies.
Dark fur.
Long claws.
Lyra looked at Ren.
Ren smiled.
"Try?"
She nodded.
This time—
wide-range lightning.
Blue electricity spread.
Damage was weak—
but all five bears froze.
Bodies stiffened.
Stunned.
Ren moved.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Pfft.
Five shots.
Five kills.
Before stun ended.
Silence.
Lyra blinked.
"…That worked."
Ren smiled.
"Twenty seconds is a long time."
Drops:
Bear Pelt ×3
Bear Teeth ×5
Bear Nails ×5
9mm Bullets ×15
Bullets:
124
Used: 5
Remaining: 119
After reward: 134
Lunch happened beside a large rock.
Cold breeze moved around them.
Bread.
Jam.
Dried meat.
Lyra quietly ate.
Then looked at the bread.
"…Even nobles probably don't eat bread this soft."
Ren smiled.
"…Maybe."
She took another bite.
Then quietly asked—
"…Do you miss your world?"
Ren became silent.
After a while—
"…Sometimes."
She looked down.
"…Sorry."
He looked confused.
"For what?"
Her ears lowered.
"You lost everything."
Ren looked at her.
Then quietly smiled.
"…Not everything."
She blinked.
Ren looked ahead.
"…I still have things worth protecting."
Lyra became quiet.
Her face became slightly warm.
After resting—
another bear group appeared.
No discussion.
Wide lightning.
Five stunned.
Ren fired.
Five kills.
Smooth.
Bullets:
134
Used: 5
Remaining: 129
Drops:
Bear Pelt ×3
Bear Teeth ×5
Bear Nails ×5
9mm Bullets ×10
Final bullets:
139
Lyra smiled.
Her tail moved happily.
"…Our strategy works."
Ren smiled.
"…Yeah."
Then she quietly asked—
"…Why don't you fight like before?"
Ren answered—
"Strong people attract attention."
She listened.
He continued—
"We stay normal."
"We survive longer."
She nodded.
"…Understood."
By evening—
they returned to Aster Hollow.
Inside the guild—
they sold everything.
Rabbit Pelts: 25 silver
Bear Pelts: 6 gold
Bear Teeth: 50 silver
Bear Nails: 50 silver
Total:
18 Gold 5 Silver
Nearby adventurers stared.
One whispered—
"That much?"
Another frowned.
"…Lucky."
Lyra quietly moved closer to Ren.
Too much attention.
Ren calmly collected payment.
Night arrived.
Inside one of Aster Hollow's dark alleys—
two figures stood silently.
One was large.
Broad shoulders.
Muscular.
Standing opposite—
a figure hidden beneath black robes.
No face visible.
The muscular man handed over a folded note.
The robed figure accepted it.
Moonlight briefly illuminated rough drawings and short descriptions.
Then the note disappeared.
A low voice came.
"…Confirmed?"
The muscular man nodded.
"They match."
Silence.
Then—
"…Continue observation."
"…Do not approach."
The muscular man nodded.
The robed figure turned.
A black horse waited nearby.
The rider mounted.
Looked once toward the distant inn.
Then pulled the reins.
The horse moved.
Slow.
Then faster.
Soon—
the rider disappeared into the darkness beyond Aster Hollow.
Inside the inn—
warm lantern light filled the room.
Ren sat beside Lyra.
After some silence—
he said—
"Tomorrow."
She looked up.
"…Dark Forest?"
He nodded.
She smiled.
"…You really want that wood."
Ren smiled.
"…Very much."
She moved slightly closer.
Then quietly asked—
"…Will you still take me with you?"
Ren looked at her.
Then gently held her hand.
"…I already accepted you."
Her ears twitched.
Ren leaned forward.
Their kiss lasted longer than usual.
When they separated—
she rested her forehead against his.
The lantern was blown out.
Blankets moved.
And beneath the calm night—
the two quietly fell asleep together.
Tomorrow—
Dark Forest awaited.