A World Full of Adventurers, Criminals and Monsters! Volume 1: Chapter 1

A World Full of Adventurers, Criminals and Monsters! Volume 1: Chapter 1

Nordic, Our Town of Weirdos

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Part 1 Feel the mana flowing from my body to my hand... then to my palm. A warm sensation ran through my veins as I focused the mana to my palm that is emitting purple energy. Letting out the mana emitting from my palm to form a sphere.  Getting larger the more mana I transfer into it... not to mention it is also getting heavier... This should be enough. As I was ready to release it, smirking, I said in a cool deep voice. "Arcanite Blast." In front of me was a wide river. I aimed it at the middle of the river then I fired off the purple sphere, then the moment it touched the surface of the water it made a big explosion. Even I who was standing by the river almost got blown away by it. "Heh. Not bad if I say so myself. Well, that's just expected of one who will soon become an adventurer." I said as I posed while covering my face with my hand then nodded, then the water unexpectedly came drizzling down from above also displaying a rainbow. In the middle of the river where my magic exploded left a space and the water around it occupied it with a big splash at the end. Cool! That was definitely cool of me! "Wah. How cool." !!! I heard a girl's voice and instantly knew whose voice that was. I turned to look behind me where that voice came from and saw a girl with a blonde, shiny, and straight tailbone length hair. She has aquamarine-colored eyes. She wore a beanie and an alpaca turtleneck reaching to her thighs while holding a basket. “It would’ve been cooler if you haven't gotten wet like that though, Hiro.” Akemi!! D-Did she see that? No. She definitely saw it. I can already sense her making fun of me in that mind of hers. Gah! How embarrassing! "Y-Yo, Akemi. Didn't notice you standing there. W-Were you here the entire time?" I waved my hand then she shook her head and replied. "No. I just got here." *Insert Illustration* "...Really? That's alright then...” I still doubt her words. Well, it’s natural to think this way after you got caught doing something embarrassing. "Ah. The ground is wet. Now we can't spread the sheet in here. If only Hiro didn’t use magic just to act cool do a pose." “Well, sorry for that… Wait, what did you say at the last part?” “Nothing.” “You were here from the beginning, weren’t you!” Akemi giggled. “I don’t know. I saw you get drenched with water though.” “Be more direct would you!” I knew it! She was just playing around. Gah! How embarrassing! But now that she mentioned it, it is getting kinda chilly all of a sudden. I didn’t notice how my clothes have gotten wet. Possibly it’s because I got too caught up in the moment earlier. Akemi searches for a dry spot on the ground. "...So? What are you doing here?" "I just want to hang out and relax by the river. That’s if Hiro doesn't mind." "N-No. Not at all..." So that's why she’s holding a basket. “Then that’s good! Come help me for a bit then, Hiro. I’ll share some of my food with you.” Why should I also… Never mind… I followed her while embracing myself and watching her look for a place that didn’t get wet by what I did earlier. “Okay. This spot seems fine.” She puts down her basket and takes out a blanket and lays it on the ground. I helped her fix it and spread the blanket. “Thank you, Hiro. Ah. Aren’t you cold like that?” “Hmm? Oh. Now that you mention it, I do feel cold.” Suddenly, the wind blew making me shiver. Cold! I should’ve taken my jacket with me. Seeing my reaction Akemi chuckles as she places the basket in the middle of the blanket and said, “You want me to dry you up? I can use wind magic you know.” “You can?! Oh. Right, I remember. Thanks, but no thanks–!!” “Wind Breath.” ?! Before I finished speaking, she cast wind magic and a strong gust of wind blew from her open palm. Cold!!! Making me step back a few times. The wind almost carried me off the ground before it stopped.  “It’s f-f-freezing!! This is why I didn’t want you to do it!” I shouted and tightly hugged myself. I say that but I still don’t want to be dried by wind magic. “Hahaha! Sorry, sorry. I did my best to hold back.” “That was you holding back?!” Though it would be a bit better than Akemi’s. Her affinity for ice makes her magic icy cold. But thanks to what she did my clothes are up dried, though I still feel like I am freezing. I walked to where she is while shivering and I took of my sandals then sat down on the blanket and hugged my knees tightly. I feel much better now that the sun has warmed me up a bit. “Are you feeling better now?” She sat down on the other side of the blanket and started taking out things from the basket between us. “Yeah. Thanks to you.” I replied sarcastically then she just giggled.  Damn her. Always making a fool out of me. “…By the way. Isn’t it hot wearing that in this time of day?” Bothered by her clothes, I decided to ask her about it. “Hm? Oh, this? It actually keeps me warm. Though it would be warmer if I used more layers of clothing.” …Please don’t. People would be concerned if someone walked around the village wearing multiple layers of clothes under the sun… “But I also wear light clothes sometimes, you know. I have a bit of resistance to cold temperatures so wearing lighter clothes doesn’t really bother me much. Here.” “Ah. T-Thanks…” I took the sandwich she was handing over to me and observed it for a moment. ... Wait a minute…  “Hm? What is it, Hiro? I used mayonnaise and added boiled egg and lettuce in the fillings.” “Ah. No, It’s not that.” Its contents doesn’t bother me at all but this situation does. Because no matter how you look at it… Whatever… I took a bite from the sandwich and the rich flavor of the egg and mayo filled my mouth. …It’s delicious.  “So? How is it, Hiro?” “W-What do you mean? Rate it yourself. You made it didn’t you?” “Eh. But I want you to say it. Come on now. Don’t be shy.” As if she was making fun of me, she repeatedly pokes at my shoulder with both her index fingers then to my sides. “S-Stop it… Hey, stop- Guah! Alright! It’s good! It’s v-very good!” Snickering, Akemi stops poking me and said, “Thank you very much.” She takes out a sandwich from the basket. Really. If only she would just stay silent like this… After taking a bite, Akemi started a conversation. “So, you also want to become an adventurer, Hiro?” “Y-You… You heard that? You really were watching, weren’t you?” She just shrugged it off with a giggle. Sigh. Unconsciously, I took another sandwich from the basket. “Well… Yeah, I guess I want to. (Munch)” “I see. I guess all boys have the same aspirations, right?” “Who knows (munch munch). Though I know some of our schoolmates who thinks the (munch gulp) same as me.” Akemi giggles as she watches me take another sandwich from the basket. “Alex and Haruko told me they want to become adventurers as well.” Just when I said that I heard someone screaming my name. We turned to look at the direction where it came from and saw two guys started running towards us. It’s going to get a lot noisier here. “Akemi. Let’s hurry up and finish these sandwiches.” “But there’s no more left. Hiro just ate them all, didn’t you?” She replied and showed me the inside of the box. … “…Oh! Right. I did. Sorry.” “Hiroki!” Yelling out my name, Alex ran towards us followed by Haruko then started to slow down and stopped a few feet away from me. “What a coincidence to see you here, huh, Hiroki.” Coincidence, my ass. You already know that I often come here during weekends. “H-Hello there, Hiroki and Akemi. Sorry to disturb you. I tried to stop Alex but…” Behind Alex was Haruko, who was apologizing. Don't be… And you didn’t disturb us or anything. We were just eating. “No problem. Though I apologize in advanced because Hiroki already finished our sandwiches.” “Hey.” Akemi showed them the empty basket and Alex smiled in response. “No problem. We have brought our own lunch and blanket.” Alex puts the large box he was holding and revealed its contents. A big lunch box, good for five people, and a folded sheet on top. That’s just normal because he eats the same way as me, who eats anything as long as my stomach can take it.  Grabs a blanket and spreads it on the ground beside ours then he puts his large lunch box in the middle. “…” 2x As the two fixes their blanket, Akemi and I folded ours then she puts it in her basket. “Alright. Now we can–?!” “Well then. Excuse us. We’ll be leaving first.” Turning our backs on the stunned Alex, he shouted at us. “Hey! Why are you two leaving already?!” “Eh? What do you mean?” “Why? Well. We wouldn’t want someone to eat lunch beside us just as we ran out of food.” “Wha–!” Akemi and I replied in a teasing manner. I guess both of us really are similar when we make fun of other people. Maybe noticing us joking, Haruko spoke. “Now, you two. Please stop teasing him. You’re going to make him cry.” “Who will?!” Well, there’s also another reason for this.  Alex may not look it but he’s from a rich family and his food is always cooked by proper chefs. I can’t stand by and just watch him eat delicious food right beside us. “Just ask them to join us, Alex.” “...Fine then. Hey. We’ll share our lunch with you–” “Okay.” 2x Both of us are already on their blanket just as he said that and sat down properly. It’s because he asked us to stay. There isn’t any reason to deny him, right? "Are you guys mocking me?!” “What do you mean? You said you’d share your food with us. Right, Akemi?” “That’s right, Alex. Besides, how can we refuse a friend? Right, Hiro?” I guess Akemi also wants to eat his lunch. Alex who was about to yell at us sighed and has stopped making arguments and Haruko who was calming him down also sighed in relief. “…Whatever. I don’t care anymore. Let’s just eat. Good thing I brought extra spoons.” “As expected of Alex. Always ready for things like these.” As the two were talking, my gaze and Akemi’s are focused on the lunch box Alex was opening. Like a treasure chest, full of treasure inside. There were a lot of varieties of food in there. “Here. By the way what were the two of you doing here?” Alex started a conversation while handing us spoons and plates. “I just came here to relax then I saw Hiro doing–” “Aaah!!! I-I-I-I came here to practice my magic! Nothing else!” I interrupted Akemi who was about to expose something embarrassing. After filling my plate with fried rice, I carefully picked what to put in my plate. “Seriously? You should have called me if you were practicing– Hey! Only picking meat. Leave some for us as well, you bastard!” Ignoring Alex who was saying something, I scooped a large piece of meat and ate it without hesitation. !!! “Delicious!” 2x “Hey! Listen to me!” “Hahaha. Just leave them alone, Alex. Let’s start eating as well before they finish everything.” Haruko laughed and started to eat as well. Giving up, Alex let out a sigh and didn't start any more arguments. “By the way, I saw some adventurers earlier at Haruko’s house.”  Munch munch. “?? What were they doing there?” “I think they said something about watching over this town.” “Really? Maybe they’re just stopping over for a quest. Haruko, your house is a pub where adventurers mostly visit, right?” “Right. Also, I heard them say that this town needs to be watched over because of some monster sightings inside the town.” Monster sightings inside the town? Now that’s weird. We may not have walls or fences to keep monsters out of town, but I haven’t seen any monsters enter the village before. And if there were any, they would surely become food for the restaurants. “If the adventurers are here to take care of it then we wouldn’t have any problems, right?” “I guess that’s true.” Haruko agreed with Alex’s remark. We have seen monster being brought back to town by some of our people so it might not be a problem for adventurers who puts their lives on the line. I thought that and agreed to them as well. “Heh. Well, it’s no use bothering ourselves with it. If we were to encounter one, we’d be able to at least defend ourselves, right?” … Eh? Did I say something weird? “W-What’s wrong?” “…Hey, Hiroki... I think those kinds of statements are bad luck. Right, Haruko?” “I-I think so as well. I read it in a book. I think they are called ‘flags’ or something...” Flags? Just when I thought of that, a shadow appeared in the middle of our blanket. Then Akemi, who was silent ever since we started eating, seemed to notice it as well. “Hmm? Hey, what is that–!!” Seeing her reaction, we followed her gaze which was upward and made the same reaction when saw something big falling right above us. “!!!” 3x Is that a monster?!! “What the heck is that!!” “Move away!!” Hearing me scream, all of them jumped out of the blanket then a big monster fell right into where we were a second ago along with a loud crashing sound.… Part 2 “—Ouch!” How unlucky. To think that there was a rock where I dodged. !! More importantly, how about the others. Were they able to move away in time?! “Are you guys alright?!!” “Ptchu! Phweh! Dithgusthing! Dirth ing my mouh! (Dirt in my mouth!)” “The blanket! I just bought that earlier!” …Guess I don’t have to worry about those two. What about Akemi–? “Kuh. How disappointing. Just when I was able to eat a luxurious meal…” Why isn’t there a single one of you asking about what fell down on us?! Just when the dust was clearing away, a figure of a dragon-like creature appeared.  It stayed silent and still.  It is two-legged, and it has two wings and a sharp claw. Is this a wyvern? “Be ready to cast magic if something happens, Hiro.” “Got it.” “…H-Hey, what is that? Is it still alive?” “This isn’t a dragon or a wyvern, right?” Slowly and quietly, we went closer to the monster and checked if it’s still alive. “Of course, it isn’t. If it were then we wouldn’t have been able to get away from it. This is just a Guivre. A smaller specie of a dragon.” Alex explained as we were observing it’s features. "You sure know a lot…" "That's only natural. Unlike you, I have an intelligence that can be boasted at school." ...I want to wipe that smug look on his face but not right now… Ignoring Alex who is explaining things to himself, I observe the Guivre.  So, it’s called a Guivre, huh. Looking closely, it doesn’t have two claws, and it’s scales are less spiky like a wyvern’s. “How did this even fall down?” Just as Akemi asked that, I noticed an arrow in its throat. “Come look at this! There’s an arrow in its throat.” Maybe somebody nearby shot it down. I looked around to see if there are adventurers but there aren’t any. While I was thinking about it, the others were examining Guivre. “You’re right.” “That arrow might be enchanted with lightning magic. It might be from an adventurer.” I looked closer then focused on the arrow which was making electrical discharges at the Guivre’s scales. Maybe it's paralyzed… or not.  Since it isn't even making a slight movement.  …Now that I think about it if it tastes the same as a wyvern then… “…Hey. Can I take this home with me?” “?!!” 3x Hearing my suggestion, the other three looked at me in surprise. “Ha?! What are you talking about, you idiot? Can you even carry this home?!” “I don’t know if you can, Hiroki, but if it’s really adventurers who shot this down then we can’t do anything to it.” “Hiro, I think I know what you’re thinking. Stewed wyvern tail is your favorite but…” “F-Fine. Got it…” I was just asking, you know… "Also, those people over there are probably the ones who shot it down, right?" We followed Alex's gaze and saw some adventurers on their way here.  "Tch. What a waste." "Stop already…" "Hmm? Hey. I think they're shouting at us…" Feeling a bit uncomfortable, we stayed silent.  "Wait. I think I can understand what they're saying." Akemi, using wind magic to hear far away in the distance, said.  “'Get away from there! That thing is still alive!' Says one guy.” Changing her pitch as if to mimic the voice.  …What!? We looked at each other with a surprised look and slowly walked away from the Guivre while facing it. "...Ehehehe. That's impossible. It took an arrow in its throat. It isn't likely that it's still alive, right?" I said with my voice trembling without even looking back.  "...Hey. That's bad luck." "Those statements are bad luck, Hiroki." Noticing a movement from behind us, we turned slowly to look. Then for a moment we saw the Guivre open its eyes and moves its wings feebly. ...It's not my fault, right?  Spotting the four of us the Guivre forced itself to stand up and spread its wings, roars weirdly because of its injured neck.  It was only paralyzed after all!  The Guivre takes a step, Haruko and Alex shouts, “Gah! I-I knew it! It was still alive! And my blanket!” “Don’t move! It won’t attack you if you don’t move!” Really?! Then it’s best if we just stay–!? “Then why are you walking away, you bastard!?” Alex walks backward slowly as if to not alarm the Guivre.  “D-D-Don’t get the wrong idea. I-I-I’m only going to call for help.” “Help, my ass! You’re running away–! Hey!!” After yelling at Alex, he already started to run away. Not noticing, I didn’t realize that I started running away as well.  Same for Haruko who is shouting ‘Wait! Wait for me!’ in the back. Akemi, who was silent ever since the Guivre's eyes opened, was running beside me. How does she keep that composed look at a time like this? “Hey, Hiro. Isn’t this bad? Shouldn’t we strike first and kill it?” “Say that when you make sure that it doesn’t kill us first once we stop running!” Behind us is the Guivre that started chasing us while flapping its wings as if getting ready to take flight, and in front of us, far in the distance, was the adventurers running towards us. Having wider steps, the Guivre is almost catching up to us. “You ate most of our lunch, you stop it, Hiroki!” “Screw you, dragon-lover! You moved first so you're the one it wants!” “That was a lie! A Guivre’s favorite food is a fatty, meaty, juicy person!” “Are you insulting me?! If I die here, I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life!” Without stopping, we started yelling at each other while running for our lives.  “Gwah! Help!! It’s right behind me!!!” Haruko screams for help. Behind him was the Guivre attempting to chomp him off the ground. “Haruko!!” 3x With a face of ease Haruko looks at us and thought we would stop running to help him.  “You guys…!!” But that did not happen. “Good luck!!” 3x “EHHHH!!! Wha– Wait! Isn’t that the part where you’re supposed to stop and help me?!!” The Guivre caught up to him opening its mouth showing its sword-like teeth.  “I’m going to die! Freeze Aura!” Haruko’s skin gives off a cold smoke and thinking that it might at least help him increase his defense. Just as it was about to bite him off, an arrow pierced the Guivre’s left eye. Losing its balance, the Guivre trips and rolls sideways on the ground. “That was…” That came from the adventurers in front of us. “Nice! Now you still live for tomorrow, Haruko! Good job!” Alex yells.  “Huh? Yeah– Uwah!!” Looking back at the Guivre that stopped, Haruko rejoices but lost his balance and tripped and rolled sideways as well. Seriously?!  "Seriously?!" Alex voiced out what was exactly on my mind. I slowed down and went to help Haruko then the other two followed me.  Running towards him, I pay attention to the Guivre that was getting back up on its feet. Haruko groans in pain, with a few wounds from rolling. I helped him get up.  "Are you alright?" "You idiot. You didn't have to mimic its fall you know." "Sob. It hurts. My leg hurts… You guys are too terrible. Sob. I won't forgive you for this." He replied while wiping his tears away.  "It's back again. And it looks kinda angry." Alarmed at Akemi's warning, we looked at the direction of the Guivre bleeding on its left eye. Turning towards us as if glaring at us, roaring weakly, the Guivre started to charge at us again.  "This is bad! Fire Barrage!" My palm facing the monster, small balls of fire continuously charged at the Guivre stopping it in its tracks.  Tch. Such tough scales! Even my old man's armor would start to melt after a few hits like this.  "We could've done that sooner." Akemi said, then still continuing casting my magic, the Guivre positioned as if readying a breath attack.  "Guivre's poison breath, incoming!" Exclaimed Alex, I stopped my magic and Akemi chanted,  "Ice wall!" To shield us from the breath attack, a dense wall of ice formed in front of us. A second after it it was made, an arrow pierced and stuck to the ice. That was probably from an adventurer and we accidentally stopped it. I looked at the guy one that fired that arrow and saw his surprised face along with his party.  ...That was unavoidable. It'll protect us a bit from that Guivre. The adventurers are here. Now we'd better distance ourselves quickly– "No good. It'll melt instantly!" Seriously?!  "To hell with it. Just run! The adventurers are already here." "Guah!" Running again, this time Haruko was was in the lead.  I thought this guy said he injured his leg…  "Are you kids safe?"

In front are three