Thanks to Stella's quick intervention, the bleeding holes in Sean's shoulder were sealed, and his shattered scapula and arm were saved.
After the Iron Fist Maid and Insect Maid retreated, Barrett and Stella hired an express carriage to rush Sean to the city's finest hospital.
If Sean's arm had been ruined, his life as an archer would've lost all meaning. Fortunately, a healer skilled in both medicine and Divine Magic tended to him, so he'd likely recover fully without lingering issues.
In the adventurer's hall, EeDechi stood alone at the counter, there to collect the remaining half of the reward for their completed quest.
Normally, Barrett would be glued to her side during these coin-counting moments, making sure their out-of-town captain didn't get swindled. But today, Barrett chose to visit Sean at the local clinic, seemingly giving her the cold shoulder.
It was nearing noon, and the adventurer's hall was nearly deserted. The receptionist was nowhere in sight, probably off grabbing lunch.
EeDechi paced back and forth, irritation bubbling up. She tapped her fingers rhythmically on the oak counter, unsure if her frustration stemmed from the missing receptionist or something else entirely.
"Honored lady, what's got you so worked up? You're about to drum a hole through the counter," a calm, soothing voice said from behind, instantly easing her temper.
EeDechi turned to see the quest's client—the refined old gentleman. Still dressed in his dignified black tailcoat, he approached with light steps, his face all courtesy, extending an arm for a handshake.
EeDechi shook his hand, her tone sharp. "This quest you posted was a hell of a lot more trouble than we bargained for!"
EeDechi glared at the number hovering above the old gentleman's head—Justice Value: 300. Her voice carried a hint of resentment. "You knew something, didn't you? And you didn't tell us!"
The old gentleman, Sebas Tian, made an apologetic gesture, his tone gentle. "I didn't foresee this quest turning into such a brutal fight. Your battle with those monsters nearly leveled the entire manor. The enemies you faced must've been formidable. By the way, how's the archer doing? He didn't look too good."
EeDechi met Sebas's kind eyes, catching a flicker of genuine concern. She nodded. "Our cleric got to him in time. He's… probably fine now." Her voice wavered with uncertainty.
"Good to hear. I really don't like seeing anyone get hurt because of us," Sebas said, pulling a silver, diamond-encrusted pendant from his coat's outer pocket.
The pendant rested in his broad palm, its delicate diamonds sparkling like stars, intricate engravings catching the light with dazzling brilliance.
"What's this for?" EeDechi asked, puzzled.
Sebas handed her the silver pendant. "I didn't have to come here—the reward was already paid to the Adventurer's Guild for distribution. But as you said, this quest was far tougher than expected. So, I'd like you to have this as a token of our gratitude. This pendant is a cherished family heirloom, enchanted by a great wizard with powerful, permanent magic. It protects its wearer and brings good fortune."
EeDechi almost refused. Deep down, she knew nothing could shield her except her own strength.
EeDechi thought like Barrett for a moment—adventurers never let any wealth slip through their fingers, not even a single copper coin trampled into the muddy road by a carriage. So, she pocketed the silver pendant and muttered a quick thanks to the old gentleman.
Sebas waved off her gratitude. "No need for that. It's the least I could do." He gave EeDechi a slight bow. "Well, lady, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
EeDechi nodded. "Goodbye."
Sebas smiled warmly. "Oh, I'm sure we'll cross paths again." With that, he turned and left the hall, vanishing into the bustling street.
EeDechi tossed the silver pendant up and caught it, her face blank as she watched him go.
…
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the dark red rays clung desperately to the mountain peaks, refusing to fade. The sunset's glow spilled across the land, painting the clouds crimson and brushing everything with a faint golden sheen.
EeDechi trudged glumly along the riverbank. Earlier, she'd visited the hospital in the south end of the city, only to learn Sean had been discharged. He'd left with Stella and Barrett, and the three hadn't left a single clue about where they'd gone—not even a word to the healers.
Now, EeDechi headed toward the inn on the other side of the city, where the Last Defender of the Way adventurer crew had been staying. She had no idea if Barrett and the others were still there.
Time dragged on. The sun was half-swallowed by the earth, twilight deepening. On a bare sycamore tree by the river, a black crow perched on a branch, croaking hoarsely.
A wave of irritation hit EeDechi out of nowhere. "SHUT UP!" she bellowed at the crow, drawing stares from the handful of passersby strolling nearby.
But the crow didn't give a damn about the pissed-off adventurer captain. It kept squawking, "Caw! Caw!"—even flapping its wings, croaking louder than before.
EeDechi's temper flared. She grabbed something hard and hurled it at the crow.
The squawking stopped dead. The black bird tumbled off the branch, splashing into the river with a dull plunk.
EeDechi dusted off her hands, satisfied, and kept walking. She patted her pocket, only to realize the thing she'd chucked at the crow was the silver pendant the old gentleman had given her in the Adventurer's Guild hall. That fancy trinket, supposedly a treasured family heirloom.
Whatever. EeDechi felt a lot better, her steps lighter. She picked up the pace, heading toward the inn where she was staying.
…
Night had fallen, a crescent moon hanging high in the sky. After knocking on the fifth house, EeDechi finally got directions and found her inn.
The three-story building had only one window glowing with orange light—Sean's room. EeDechi crept upstairs, pushed the door open without hesitation, and stepped inside.
The room smelled faintly of herbal medicine. Barrett lounged in a cushioned chair, while Sean sat shirtless on the bed, Stella—dressed in her cleric robes—gently changing his bandages. Ureirika and Kuuderika, the blonde twin girls, sprawled on the bed, huddled together playing with stuffed dolls.
"Well, look who's back. Thought you got lost or something. Was about to go hunt for you," Barrett said, sitting up in his chair as the door swung open.
"I'm not some directionless idiot," EeDechi snapped, her face stern, though it softened quickly. She turned to Sean on the bed, her voice unusually gentle. "How're you holding up? All good now?"
Sean grinned, his freckles dancing on his face. "No worries, Captain! Thanks to Stella's healing magic, I'm right as rain. Give me a few days, and I'll be drawing my bow again!"
Sean thumped his sturdy chest with his good hand, the sound echoing with a solid thud-thud. But the motion yanked at his injured shoulder, and he immediately grimaced in pain.
"Hey, easy there. I didn't fix your arm— that was the city's high-level healer. Besides, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt…" Stella's eyes were soft as she wound a fresh white bandage around his shoulder.
"I just reacted on instinct, didn't want you getting hit. Don't sweat it—look at me, I took a nasty punch from those wolf-tooth gloves and I'm still kicking, right?" Sean said with a carefree grin, his vibe totally relaxed.
"Tch, don't get too cocky," Barrett cut in, squinting as he recalled yesterday's brutal fight in the manor against the Iron Fist Maid. "You better work on your close-combat skills, not just your archery. If that steel-fisted maid had landed a punch on your skull, you'd be a goner! When I went toe-to-toe with her, those fists were no joke—every swing was aimed to kill!"
Truth be told, that battle was the most harrowing of Barrett's nearly twenty-year adventuring career. Even the time he bragged about fighting a white frost dragon paled in comparison. When he raised his shield to face the maid, he was half-sure he was done for.
The Iron Fist Maid's strength, speed, and technique were damn near flawless. Yet, after wrecking two Adamantite shields, three longswords, and a spear, Barrett somehow managed to fight her to a draw.
Not that he could brag about it to other adventurers. Who'd believe his greatest battle ended in a tie with a maid?
Thinking back on the fight, Barrett realized what stuck with him most wasn't the Iron Fist Maid's flawless footwork or her terrifying fists that hit like battering rams. It was her poised expression, unshaken even in the heat of battle—the high bridge of her nose framed by those narrow black glasses, the strands of hair falling across her forehead afterward, and the graceful, gentle smile she flashed as she lifted her maid skirt and left…
Barrett shook his head, banishing her image from his mind. No point dwelling on that.
He turned to EeDechi, searching her dark eyes for a hint of guilt or… something. The adventurer captain glanced at him, her face blank, and waved a hand. "Since everyone's fine and ready, we leave tomorrow. We're heading to Re-Estize."
"Captain, I'm not trying to call you out," Barrett said, steeling himself to lay it all bare. "But in that fight, you shouldn't have ditched us to chase the other enemy."
"Why not? If I didn't go after her, she'd have gotten away," EeDechi said, arms crossed. "Besides, with you there, I knew it'd be fine. You're solid."
Barrett gave a bitter laugh. "You've got too much faith in me. I was no match for that maid. The three of us nearly got pulverized."
"She wouldn't have killed you," EeDechi said, brimming with confidence.
"Why the hell not?" Barrett asked, baffled.
"I saw her Justice Value. It's 150. She's a good person."
"No way." Barrett shook his head. "I felt her killing intent, clear as day. I'm telling you, she wanted us dead—all three of us! She's a maid; she follows her master's orders, not some damn Justice Value."
"I don't believe it, you think you're smarter than me?" EeDechi lifted her chin proudly.
"Fine." Barrett rubbed his forehead, exasperated. "Mark my words, you're gonna get burned one day trusting those Justice Values. We're a team, and you're the captain. It's your job to protect your crew."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," EeDechi said, waving him off dismissively.