After choosing to eat pork belly roast, they didn't have much money so through the time they've spent traveling up to this point. They didn't have any food. All they had was a tiny bit of rations.
Which they all split with eachother though it did nothing for the hunger. To distract themselves all they could do was sleep. As Rika watched over them.
I'm the nighttime Dante had found himself dreaming, one of the nights where your mind just comes up with an amusing, multitude of thoughts.
He had seen himself as some big shot adventurer walking around like no one could touch him, in another dream he had been being chased by the night stalker again. Constantly behind him, and in front of him again at every turn.
Another. He had a strange homesick feeling, at this point he'd been in the wylds for weeks? He hasn't exactly kept track of the time. What he did know is that he'd been away from home long enough that he missed his mom.
The way she'd wake him in mornings. Greeting her, eating breakfast with her. He didn't miss life at the inn. He's finally got to be the adventurer he always dreamt of being. He just missed her smile, and her laughs.
It was only then that he started thinking of whenever the next time he would see her. It was hard to know since well, he was only getting further and further away from Mozam.
But before he could ponder on it longer his dream had changed once again. This time he was lying on the ground and someone was holding a sword at his face.
Although he never remembered dreams feeling this vivid. Then he realized that this was no dream. Someone did indeed have a sword at his face.
"Wakey wakey." A woman's voice called out.
Dante lazily blinked the sleep from his eyes, scanning the campsite to see what had become of his friends.
To his… well he didn't know if it was dismay or relief. Kaito and Rika was sitting with the thieves eating.
Kaito looked over and noticed Dante waking up. "Hey Dante," he said, swallowing the food. "We're being robbed." Kaito calmly said, as if it was a regular thing.
The woman smiled. "Yeah, we're robbing you guys, we've made you some toast and eggs, apologies for lack of sausage or bacon, we couldn't find any edible monsters." She says.
Dante looks and he notices it's the same group from before that robbed them. Then his eyes landed on Rika. "I thought you were watching the camp, what happened?" He asked as he walked over.
Rika with a mouthful of food responds. "I was watching, I WATCHED them come out of the forest with weapons and I gave up instantly."
Dante then turns his attention to Kaito, who is tearing into the food. "And why aren't you getting us out of this!?" He asked, careful not to move around too much. He didn't want any confused bandits thinking he was going for a weapon.
Kaito burps and then he clears his throat. "I was hungry and they came with food."
Dante watches as the bandits go through their bags and as Rika and Kaito both just eat food. He sighs and begins eating with them. "I can't believe how easily we lost this. All it took was food."
The bandit boss smiles at them. "Hope the foods good at least guys, I know being robbed is a lil stressful."
The fact the boss was such a respectful and kind guy annoyed Dante more, why's such a nice guy even a bandit.
The boss then knelt down to Kaito. "So, you still hanging onto the book, or can we take it off your hands?"
Kaito for the first time stopped eating for a moment. "If you try to take my treasure, i'll beat all you guys up."
The bandit boss laughs at this. "Right, who are you guys, robbed you twice now but never got names."
The trio introduces themselves although Rika uses her adventure name, the Trickster.
The bandit boss smiles again. "My names Modus, do well to remember the name of who's gonna be the biggest bandit in the liberty region!" He says and his party cheers at this.
They take the trios map. "If you head about four miles this way you'll find another city, it's got a barrier, but foot traffic is pretty heavy right now." Modus tells them.
Modus then waves them a goodbye. "Hope I see you guys around again!"
"I hope not!" Dante shouts
Walking away they couldn't see it as a complete loss, their pockets were empty but at least their stomachs were full now. So there's that at least.
Rika sees Dante is still upset so she pats his back. "I know we messed up watching but at least we can make some cheese at this next city."
Kaito raises an eyebrow at this. "What use is cheese here?" He asks.
Dante shakes his head at them both. "WE didn't mess anything up, YOU did!"
Rika rolls her eyes as her scarf folds itself like crossed arms.
Kaito giggled at this. "How does it keep moving on its own?" He asked.
Rika looked away with a koi smile. "Magic."
Dante couldn't help but to shake his head. "Whatever, he said the town greenmarsh was nearby, let's just go."
The sun had barely risen above the rooftops of the dusty town of Greenmarsh when the trio wandered in, Kaito leading the way, eyes half-closed. Rika walked behind him with her hands folded behind her head, humming, and Dante was already glancing nervously around as if someone was going to rob them at any second.
"Alright," Rika said, stretching her arms lazily. "New town, new gold, new start! Let's make some blastie!"
"Yeah," Kaito said through a yawn. "blasties good."
Dante frowned. "You make it sound like you don't even know why we need it."
"I don't," Kaito said. "But I'm sure it'll come up."
The trio found the Adventurers' Guild soon enough, a loud, creaky-floored building that looked one roof tile away from collapsing. Inside, the smell of sweat, ale, and paper hit them like a wall. Adventurers of all shapes and questionable hygiene crowded around tables, laughing, shouting, and clanking mugs together.
Rika's eyes lit up the moment she saw the quest board, a wall absolutely plastered with posters, notices, and warnings. She darted over before the boys even realized she'd moved.
"Alright, let's see…" she said, tracing her finger down the mess of parchment. "Hmm… 'Escort mission to the Crimson Peaks'....nope, that's dragon country. 'Exterminate the nest of Shadow Spiders'.... pass, I'm not doing legs again. 'Retrieve the cursed amulet of eternal screaming'.... what kind of idiot takes that?"
Kaito leaned over her shoulder, blinking slowly at one of the sheets. "This one says 'clear the haunted swamp of ghosts possessed by other ghosts.' That's… double ghosts. That sounds complicated."
Rika tore that one right off the board and slapped it back upside-down. "Absolutely not."
Meanwhile Dante was reading quietly through the others. "They pay well because they're all lethal. Maybe we should...."
"Ah-ha!" Rika cut in triumphantly, snatching a crumpled paper from the corner. "Here we go! 'Lost pet. Small, fuzzy, and harmless.' Easy money."
Dante frowned. "That's… suspiciously simple."
"Don't overthink it," Rika said, wagging the sheet at him. "You want to fight ghosts with ghosts, or go find a cat?"
"ONWARD TEAM," Kaito said, already halfway to the door. "Let's go get the kitty!"
The client was a frazzled woman wringing her hands in front of her home. "He ran into the cellar," she said. "My poor baby won't come out!"
"Don't worry, ma'am," Rika said, puffing her chest proudly. "You hired the right professionals."
"Since when are we professionals?" Dante muttered.
Rika ignored him and marched toward the cellar door. It creaked ominously as she opened it, a waft of musty air rising out. "Alright, little guy," she cooed sweetly. "Come on out! Who's a good..... kitty....?"
The floor shook.
A guttural snarl echoed up the stairs, followed by two glowing eyes the size of dinner plates. The creature that lumbered into the light was not small, not fuzzy, and most certainly not harmless. It had horns, claws, and what looked like a table leg stuck between its teeth.
The trio stared in silence. Then Rika quietly folded the flier, turned around, and started walking back up the stairs.
"Rika?" Dante said weakly. "What are you...?"
"Nope," she said briskly, brushing past the client. "Here's your flier back. Your pet's fine. He's, uh… thriving."
Kaito and Dante followed wordlessly, the woman's panicked screams fading behind them as they left the property.
They didn't make it far before fortune, or misfortune, caught up again. A sleek carriage rolled up beside them, its emblem polished gold. Out stepped a tall, overdressed nobleman with slicked-back hair and a face like he smelled something unpleasant.
"You there," he called out, eyeing Kaito. "That book you carry, may I see it?"
Kaito blinked down at the Unifates tome slung at his side. "Uh… see it? Sure, you can look at it." He held it up from a distance.
The nobleman's eyes gleamed. "Come to my estate. I insist. You'll be rewarded for your cooperation."
Rika grinned. "Did you hear that? Rewarded."
"Sounds like food," Kaito said. "I'm in."
The noble's mansion was massive, ornate, spotless, and filled with guards who looked like they'd stab someone for breathing too loud. The trio, however, seemed immune to the atmosphere.
They were too busy eating.
The noble had provided a feast fit for royalty. Before he could even begin his rehearsed welcome speech, Rika was halfway through a roasted pheasant, Kaito had both hands in the mashed potatoes, and Dante, despite trying to remain polite, had already refilled his plate twice.
"Excuse me," the noble said sharply. "Could you perhaps listen to me before consuming everything in sight?"
Rika wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Sure, sure, talk away." She took another bite.
"I said stop eating!"
All three froze mid-bite. Well, all except Kaito, who continued chewing while pretending not to.
The man sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Follow me, please. There's something I wish to show you."
The tour began, though "tour" might've been a generous term. Rika and Kaito both carried plates with them, nibbling on food as they walked. The nobleman's left eye twitched every time they dripped sauce onto his priceless rugs.
"These relics," he said, gesturing dramatically at a hallway lined with ancient treasures, "represent the pinnacle of historical artistry. Each one worth more than-"
"-my entire life, probably," Rika mumbled, licking gravy off her fingers.
Finally, they stopped before a massive marble statue of the nobleman himself, posed grandly with an open book in his hands. Except… the book was blank.
"This," the noble said, voice brimming with pride, "is my greatest piece. Yet it remains incomplete. I require your book to perfect it."
Kaito blinked at him, still chewing. "You… want my book? For your statue?"
"Yes. And I will pay-" He snapped his fingers, and a servant held up a briefcase bursting with money. "-one hundred million blastie."
Rika and Dante's jaws dropped.
Kaito swallowed his bite. "No."
Rika gawked. "No!? Did you hear him!?"
"It's not for sale," Kaito said simply.
The noble's smile faltered. "Young man… I don't think you understand the gravity of this offer."
Kaito reached for another roll. "I understand bread's still warm."
The noble's face turned red. "Guards! Take the book!"
Before anyone could move, Kaito stumbled back, bumping into a pedestal. A priceless golden vase wobbled once, twice… and crashed to the floor with an ear-splitting shatter.
Everyone froze.
The noble screamed, a sound that could've shattered glass itself. "MY VASE!"
"Alright, time to go!" Rika shouted, grabbing Dante by the collar.
Kaito stuffed one last roll into his mouth as the trio bolted for the door. The guards gave chase, but the adventurers were already gone, barreling down the street in a cloud of dust and leftover breadcrumbs.
By the time they slowed down, the sun had dipped low, painting the road in gold and orange. The three of them panted, laughing breathlessly.
"Well," Rika said, grinning. "So much for making money."
Kaito looked at his book, then at the crumbs on his hand. "Yeah, but at least the food was good."
Dante sighed, shaking his head with a smile. "You two are going to be the death of me."
Rika slung an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, you love it."