A few days had passed since the events. The morning sun rose gently over the Empire of the Brave, illuminating the bustling streets with golden light. Merchants called out their wares, children ran laughing through narrow alleys, and birds chirped from the rooftops above, filling the city with life. The early hours were noisy, yet full of mundane charm—the kind that gave people a false sense of safety amidst the chaos slowly creeping into the world.
Inside the Twin Apple Blossom Inn, the warm aroma of fresh bread and roasted meat filled the air. Phoebe descended the stairs, the wooden steps creaking faintly under her careful steps. Around her, the inn was alive with patrons enjoying breakfast, and the staff, led by Ryze, moved gracefully, serving dishes and drinks with practiced efficiency.
As Phoebe approached the reception bar, Ryze noticed her and gave a soft, wry smile.
"Oh, Phoebe! You're awake. Please wait a moment—I'll just finish serving these orders," Ryze said, her voice gentle yet filled with energy.
"Okay, Ryze. Take your time," Phoebe replied, settling onto a barstool.
While waiting, Phoebe's attention drifted to a nearby table where three individuals were speaking in low, urgent tones.
One was a towering male ogre, easily over two meters tall, with dark blue eyes and matching hair. He wore a brown wolf hood, a gray leather vest, and matching pants, black boots laced tightly around his ankles. Spiked arm cuffs adorned both wrists, and a gray necklace with a two-winged emblem rested around his neck; a small circle in the center bore the letter "D" above and the number "30" below. Beside him rested a massive silver halberd, reflecting the morning sunlight through the inn's windows. A thin crimson stripe ran vertically through each of his eyes—a characteristic of his race, known for their emotional-driven bursts of strength.
Next to him were twin female elves, cloaked in brown with black boots. One had green hair swept entirely to the right and soft pink eyes, wearing a gray two-winged emblem necklace marked with "D-55." A single dagger hung at her right belt. The other twin had pink hair swept to the left with green eyes, wearing a matching emblem necklace marked "D-50," and a dagger at her left belt. Both twins exuded a sharp, alert presence, their elf grace visible in every subtle movement.
"Yes, that's what I heard, Von. That's why the Adventure Association and all its branches are on high alert," the green-haired elf said, voice low but tense.
"A-Are you serious, Sel? If that's true, things are getting more dangerous for rankers. Sil… what should we do?" the ogre asked, sweat forming at his brow.
"This is serious. They're becoming extremely aggressive," the pink-haired elf responded, her tone measured yet worried. "They've put bounties on the heads of rankers."
"Yeah… the criminals have started issuing bounties against the rankers, just like the Association does for criminals," Von said, his tone grave. "That's… a bold, reckless move."
"Things are going to get bloody, very soon," Sil added, his voice low, eyes scanning the room for potential eavesdroppers.
"We need to stay vigilant. Some of them might strike without warning," Sel said, her voice sharp with focus.
"Y-Yes, I agree. For now, the best thing is to go to the Association and ask about the procedures for handling this… this calamity," Von said, worry etched deeply into his features.
The twins nodded solemnly. Rising from their seats, the three rankers left the inn, their expressions heavy with concern. Phoebe watched them go, puzzled. The discussion of "bounties" piqued her curiosity. What could possibly warrant such drastic measures?
Just then, Ryze approached with a plate of breakfast, her smile soft and apologetic.
"Sorry if it took long, Phoebe. There were a lot of people," Ryze said, placing the plate in front of her.
"Oh, it's fine, Ryze. It didn't bother me," Phoebe replied warmly.
"I'm glad," Ryze said, relief evident in her expression.
Phoebe leaned closer, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Ryze, I heard those three rankers talking about a bounty… they seemed really disturbed. What's going on?"
Ryze's smile faded slightly. "Oh… that. Wait, I'll show you."
She disappeared behind the reception bar and returned moments later, holding a folded newspaper.
"Look at this, Phoebe," Ryze said, handing it over.
Phoebe unfolded it carefully. The headlines made her eyes widen.
"What… what is this? 'The Nest of Evil,' the strongest among all calamities, has issued bounties on rankers? And they call it 'The Hunt'?" Phoebe whispered, disbelief coloring her voice.
"Yes. They've placed bounties according to rank:
One hundred billion gold coins for any S-ranker, dead or alive
Five hundred million gold coins for any A-ranker, dead or alive
One million gold coins for any B-ranker, dead or alive
Seven hundred thousand for any C-ranker, dead or alive
Three hundred thousand for any D-ranker, dead or alive
Thirty coins for E-rankers
Five coins for F-rankers" Ryze said, her expression tense, almost frightened.
"T-That's insane! This is essentially a declaration of war on the Adventure Association," Phoebe said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yes. A bloody conflict is inevitable if this continues," Ryze replied solemnly.
Phoebe shook her head, bewildered. "How could this happen so suddenly?"
"It started when decapitated bodies of five B-rankers were discovered in the capitals of each sovereign domain, hanging on statues, each with a stone slate listing the declaration of The Hunt and rankers bounty," Ryze explained, her tone grim.
"W-What? Which B-rankers?" Phoebe asked, horrified.
"They were numbers 13, 33, 48, 53, and 58," Ryze replied. "They vanished last night, only to be found this morning, already decapitated."
"How… how is that even possible? They were elite rankers! And this happened right in sovereign domains without detection? That's terrifying," Phoebe said, sweat forming at her temples.
"It doesn't end there. The Nest of Evil has granted protection to all criminals who swear loyalty to them, and demands obedience from both small and large criminal organizations," Ryze said, her voice cold and serious.
Phoebe's hands trembled slightly. "This faction… it's frighteningly powerful. Among all criminal organizations I've ever heard of, these are the most extreme."
"Exactly. That's why oracles are needed to predict calamities capable of destroying entire continents—the Nest of Evil, Dusk Lost Society, Dark Throne… all of them. The prophesy exists to warn us before the chaos unfolds," Ryze explained.
Phoebe's gaze fell to the plate in front of her, but her thoughts were elsewhere. "At this rate… the world might descend into chaos before I even become a ranker," she muttered, teary-eyed.
Ryze's voice was soft, gentle. "Don't worry, Phoebe. It's early morning. Instead, how about I tell you something fun?"
"Hm? What is it?" Phoebe asked, curiosity piqued.
"The S-ranker idol, Starlight, number six, will hold a concert here in the Empire of the Brave," Ryze said with a soft smile.
"Starlight? Here? Where?" Phoebe's eyes lit up.
"In the central plaza. I already have two tickets, so we can watch together. My treat—I want you to enjoy life here too," Ryze said warmly.
Phoebe's eyes welled up. "Ryze… you're the best. No… you're a lumier (angel)," she said, voice filled with admiration.
Ryze laughed, waving a hand. "I'm just a rabbit beastman haha."
"No, you're definitely a lumier in disguise," Phoebe replied, firm and smiling.
"Hahaha, enough. Finish your meal, or you'll be late for the academy," Ryze said, teasing.
"Yes, I'll eat quickly," Phoebe said, rushing through her breakfast. Soon she left for the academy, weaving through the busy morning streets, alive with merchants and citizens.
At the academy gate, she noticed the guards were not the elf and dwarf she had befriended, so she chose to take the warp gates to her room.
Inside, Lucas slept soundly at his desk. Robrecka, as usual, conversed with her circles. Phoebe sat by the window, gazing at the academy grounds, her thoughts wandering.
"The rankers who are supposed to hunt are now being hunted. What will happen next? Who are the calamities, why do they oppose the Adventure Association and the gods, and why commit such atrocities? If they are so great, why use their power for evil?" Phoebe thought, staring out at the sprawling campus below.
Professor Niel entered, and the room fell silent. Lucas, still asleep, was the focus of the professor's menacing glare. When Lucas awoke, he found Professor Niel's furious face looming above him.
As punishment, Lucas was made to stand outside the room for the entire session. He obeyed with a wry smile and teary eyes, while Professor Niel continued his lesson, his voice echoing through the academy halls.