BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM



As the two remaining Mires made their way toward Erik and Mira, the atmosphere was tense, at least for Erik's companion.

Mira took a long breath before quickly nocking an arrow, her fingers finding the familiar position and releasing the projectile. Mira released her arrow when one of the beasts approached her with its horrifying maw gaping open.

The arrow flew through the air, hitting its target directly in the middle of its eyes and penetrating its brain. The Mires died and fell to the ground in a single swift motion. At the same time, Erik concentrated his mana, causing a glow around both fists.

He made a beeline for the final Thaid and landed a decisive blow directly on its carapace. The intensity of the hit caused the shell to break quickly, which sent the creature to its "knees."

Erik looked at Mira. He wasn't tired, but he still faked a little to be tired. That's the last of them," he said, wiping sweat off his brow.

Mira chuckled and then surveyed the area to ensure no more monsters were around. "And to think, it's still so early in the morning. We completed the quest before lunch. I can't figure out if that's efficient or just overachieving."

Erik laughed, "Maybe a bit of both. Either way, I'd say it's a job well done."

The roar of far-off engines abruptly cut them off in the middle of their chat. Vehicles belonging to the Porter company drove up, each geared up to deal with recovering the bodies of the Mires.

The workers moved quickly and effectively as they loaded the creatures' dead bodies onto their vehicles. After having placed everything on the VANs, they were ready to turn around and go back to the city.

"We should get going," one of the Porter workers said, pointing towards the vehicles.

Both Erik and Mira nodded in assent while exchanging a brief look. The two joined the Porter company on board the transporter. As they emerged from the woods, the city's walls started to be seen in the distance.

***

They were alerted to the completion of the transaction by the blinking of the digital receipts on their respective devices as they left the guild's trade post.

After completing the paperwork, 25,000 Eurems were deposited into their bank accounts. It wasn't the weight of the coins in their pockets that made them feel good; instead, the significance of completing the quest in such a short amount of time made them feel better. That was true for Mira, at least, but Erik felt simply good at having the chance to show how strong he was in front of such a cute woman like Mira. He was still a kid, after all.

The woman stared at her account balance, her eyes widening. "The split would've been much smaller with Aiden, Kael, and Lila. This is much more than I'm used to for a single quest."

Erik grinned. "That's the beauty of being in small teams, I guess. And, well, taking down a heap of Mires early in the morning does have its perks. At higher levels, the pay is much higher. I'm only one mercenary rank above you, and my earnings doubled, but that is also because I can do a team's job alone."

She understood what he had just said, and in fact, she looked at him with a grateful look and said, "You have no idea how grateful I am. Today was... fun and rewarding, not just because of the money. It's been a while since I had a hunt as easy as this."

Erik's eyes softened, and he nodded, genuinely pleased. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. That was the whole point, right? To find joy in what we do, earn well, and share good company," he said, hidden behind his mask.

The atmosphere became comfortably quiet for a few moments. Around them, other guild members were going about their business as usual. Merchants were haggling, hunters were discussing their latest quests, and officials were watching everything.

Breaking the silence, Mira suddenly yawned, stretching her arms. "Oh, that felt good." She thought momentarily and said, "I think a long shower is calling my name."

Erik chuckled, "Sounds like a plan. Rest is as important as the hunt."

She looked at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "You know, you could come over if you'd like. See my place. It's not as grand as some, but it's home."

Erik raised an eyebrow, intrigued. It was a weird request, but after everything he got through, he wasn't any more inclined to shy away from certain... opportunities. "Really? Well, I wouldn't mind. I'm curious to see where you've set up your "base" in this city."

She smiled, her fatigue apparent but her spirits high. "Great! It's not too far from here. Plus, I've got some aged wine I've meant to crack open. Could be a good way to wind down after today."

Erik laughed, "You know, you shouldn't ask an underage guy to drink wine," he said teasingly.

"Well, if I shouldn't, then the guild should have prevented you from becoming a mercenary in the first place," she replied teasingly.

"Hahahaha, yeah, you are right. Then show me the way."

When the two of them left the guild hall, the sun was already relatively high in the sky. Mira signaled for a neighboring taxi with a glossy exterior that reflected the ambient lights of the city.

They were seated in the car within seconds. The taxi's plush seats quickly adjusted to their shapes for comfort. The radio was tuned to a rock station, but the volume wasn't that high as to interrupt their conversation.

"23 Lorian Street," Mira instructed the cab's driver as they settled in. The vehicle hummed to life, moving smoothly through the interconnected roads of the city.

As they traveled, the views outside the window rapidly changed, going from a lively marketplace with various colorful stalls to peaceful parks where children played and couples enjoyed the evening air.

Erik turned his gaze from the window to Mira. "You live in a good part of the city," he commented, noting the gradual transition from commercial districts to more residential, tree-lined areas.

She chuckled. "It's peaceful and close to the guild, making things easier."

They passed the time during their trip by talking about random topics and listening to rock music. In contrast, the sights and sounds of the cities they passed created a calm atmosphere.

Before they knew it, the taxi was beginning to slow down in front of a well-- maintained apartment complex. The front of the building had a distinctive allure thanks to its contemporary architecture, filled with historic architectural elements.

Mira paid the fare, and they stepped out. "Welcome to my place," she said, leading the way.

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