In the quiet forest, the sound of people walking down the narrow road was the only noticeable sound.
With four people with giant shields in the front, and three with the sword and spears behind them.
Two people with mage robes behind them and at last one lady with two different people.
The lady had a normal brown-green dress with a normal look and the two people with her were protecting her.
One was a mage with a blue robe and white mask and the other was someone unexpected.
The merchant leader of the fifth team, sir Cody.
They knew that he was a good, (Rank-3) swordsman but they didn't expect him to join them too.
The weirdest thing was that they both were protecting this unknown lady who didn't seem any special.
They didn't even know why she was going with them to such a dangerous place.
But... none of them argued about that.
The two-person behind them were strong so they didn't have to worry about their backs as they traveled through the forest.
As they walked forward towards the lake, the plants around them started to turn black and they seemed to release some black smoke.
The mages in the back, cast some different protection spells as they marched forward. Everyone also drank some potions.
—Shhhhhhhhhhh.
The sky was turning dark and the wind was getting creepy.
And after walking for just another three minutes, everyone heard a strong voice from the back.
"Get ready! There are three coming from the front."
The voice carried strange charisma as well as intimidation.
Everyone strengthened their backs and assembled into the positions.
This was an instinctive response as if they were following their leader's order unconditionally.
Some of them knew this voice and understood everything.
[Authority]
A special power that only a few select individuals held throughout the continent.
It was something one would be born with.
Unlike Mana or Aura or any other [Energy], this power was somewhat like an absolute order.
One had to follow it if they didn't have high enough mental fortitude to resist.
And one with such power was considered best at leading a group in fights.
The normal-looking girl with them was definitely not normal.
To have such power, no one would believe it was from someone who seemed so... normal.
And as ordered from the back, three black figures flew towards them from the front.
—SRUSH! —SRUSH!
Tearing the leaves and branches, they came and sat on a tree branch before them.
As if mocking, they stared at them with somewhat smirking under their large curved beaks.
With black bodies which seemed to be covered in black armor, they looked down on them with their blood-red eyes.
Long beak and sharp talons... sharp enough to tear apart an armor.
There was one common expression on everyone's face and it was naturally... disgust.
They were sore to the eyes.
Just a look at them was enough to send a frown on everyone's face.
"Everyone! Pay attention!"
With those few words, everyone's mind cleared up and a serious look spread on their faces.
—SKHIIIIIIIIIIIII!
With a sharp scream, the birds dove towards them.
The shield man held their ground firmly and at the same time, some spells of different colors flew toward them.
They were (tier-2) and (tier-3) enhancement spells.
—Clank! —Clank! —Clank!
The fight started with loud collusion.
Two sounds of metal clashing echoed in the silent forest.
They fought with their swords and spears. Some arrows struck them from behind.
The fight continued for ten minutes.
They were tough opponents but they didn't have as much stamina or [Demonic energy] as their opponents.
With spears and swords piercing their tough armor-like skin, black blood splashed in the surrounding.
The mages' preserved their Mana for the following fights, which they knew were going to be tough.
—Skhhhhhhh!
With their last, painful cry, they dropped to the ground.
Black blood was splashed out everywhere around them.
The hideous corpse of demonic birds definitely wasn't an eye-pleasing sight.
"We should store the corpses..."
The familiar female voice spoke from behind them.
The suggestion was definitely normal but, there was clear hesitation on everyone's faces.
"I have a spare storage device, don't worry."
The corpses of these demonic creatures were something that polluted everything around them.
It was even true inside the storage spaces.
They could affect the things inside if not careful.
Considering the prices of even the most normal storage devices, not many could afford two at the same time.
They were happy that they had her with them as well as ashamed that they looked down on her at the beginning.
The corpses of these demonic creatures can be sold to different churches or could be purified by them.
The divine energy could purify the remaining negative energy and the corpses could be used as materials.
The price is always good when it comes to the demonic beasts so it was certain that they were going to make good money from this.
She taped on her wrist and a beautiful large purple bracelet with a golden gem became visible.
Everyone present had their eyes wide open at this site.
This 'bracelet' wasn't a storage device.
Everyone here knew this thing's value and a greedy look instantly flashed in their eyes.
But... it vanished in an instant.
Just beside her, they saw the red, glowing eyes.
The concentrated blood lust on them sends shivers down their spine.
They turned their heads away in unison, not daring to even think about that again.
She saw all this and rolled her eyes in exhaustion.
It was understandable.
This bracelet wasn't a storage device but an [Artifact].
And... it was special to her.
Sighing again, she tapped on the gem on it twice and a black cube with a red pattern appeared on her hand.
She threw the storage device with a very large capacity toward one of the mages' in the front.
Stunned, he barely managed to catch it.
The thing that he just caught could pay for everything they needed for at least one month.
"Let's finish this quickly and go home~."
She cheerfully said without any worry in her tone.
Now... everyone here knew.
The person in front of them was anything but, an ordinary girl.
There was no way in hell that she could be a commoner or a simple merchant's assistant.
Another cold shiver ran down their back and they started to clean up the place.
On the other hand, the person with a white mask and red eyes gazing out of them sighed.
'Thank god... she knows how to control herself so well.
Things could have gotten difficult just now.'
He had spent enough time with her to know her very well.
He even knew about the [Artifact ] to some extent as well.
If she wanted, any of them could have died in total silence without knowing anything.
He already knew she was scary and... that was the very thing he liked the most.
She was strong on her own and... cold.
He had seen the coldness and he knew, in some circumstances maybe even he could lose to her.
Not that he had ever won.
They had done everything she liked and they had fun doing everything, together.
He even knew that she wanted more from him but, she knew how to control her emotions.
"Hay Brian~. Let's go."
He felt a warm touch on his hand as he came back to reality.
As he looked around, everything was cleaned up and the corpses were stored away.
"Be careful," he said and walked forward.
She smiled warmly and walked forward.
***
A dark, stormy sky.
A large lake with swamp-like dark green water.
Black trees without leaves.
Corpses of different beasts cover the ground.
Ash-white ground painted in black, red, and green.
Large, disgusting birds flying in the stormy sky.
Bright red lightning falling from the weird storm in the sky.
Some people walked in this 'beautiful' area with different expressions.
Fear, shock, disgust, anger, and helplessness.
They looked up in the sky or, more specifically, towards the folk of large birds.
There were easily 15 monsters but... they weren't the source of fear.
They had killed a total of twelve such monsters on their way here but, this... was different.
With a three times larger body than others, it flew highest.
Almost at the eye of the storm, with its black wings covering the sky.
Sharp beak, long pointed talons, black-armored skin, and metallic black feathers covering its body.
It looked down on the small bug-like humans with keen purple eyes.
And...
One human with the red eyes... looked up straight at it in the eye.
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