“Perfect timing!” Thalia greeted with a bright smile as Daisuke approached the ter. “I just got done updating yuild card—grats on the promotion; you’ve definitely ear.”

  “Thanks,” Daisuke replied, whisking the lise away in his iory.

  Thalia observed him in amazement, her cheeks flushed as she nervously met his gaze befng away. “Um, I heard there’s a ight be leaving Wonderelle soon?” she murmured, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.

  “Yeah… at some point.”

  Thalia’s heart sank at his firmation, but she maintained a posed expression. “Before you go… would you be willing to apany me in visiting my foster parent’s grave? It’s not far, just oskirts of town. But tely, there have bees of bandits lurking along the road to the cemetery.”

  “Alright,” Daisuke nodded, his thoughts drifting to his own mrave, which he knew could use some attention and fresh flowers.

  “R-Really?!” Thalia excimed.

  “Sure, you’ve helped me out a lot; it’s the least I do.”

  “Thank you so much!”

  Daisuke turned, a casual wave as he made his exit. From the back of his clothes, Zephyr's head popped out, his paw pointing at his own eyes before swiveling to Thalia, veying a clear “I’m watg you” gesture.

  Thalia’s expressioled into a poker face. “This isn’t going to be easy, is it?”

  ***

  As they traveled, Daisuke kept the Eye of Verity active, casually sing for hidden treasures. Meanwhile, Zephyr was busy terrorizing the local monster popution, which sisted solely of low-level monsters.

  An open ndscape stretched endlessly, a tapestry of rolling hills and lush meadows dotted with wildflowers. A gentle breeze rippled through the tall grass, creating waves that shimmered uhe warm sun.

  In the distance, a crystal-clear river wound its way through the valley, refleg the sky’s brilliant blue. The tranquility was only broken by the distant calls of birds, adding a harmonious melody to the serene vista.

  The evenings had bee noticeably chillier, but the daytime remained pleasantly fortable. It was the season for farmers to harvest their crops in preparation for winter. But instead of being hard at work doing just that, Daisuke and Zephyr came across an elderly man nervously clutg a scythe, seemingly on the hunt for something.

  “What’s the deal with that scythe?” Daisuke murmured to Zephyr. “Is he an adventurer or something?”

  Zephyr cocked his head curiously.

  “No, I think he’s a farmer, but the wheatfield is at least a mile away.”

  Moved by the kindness he’d experienced from the Robinsons, Daisuke felt pelled to assist the elderly man. As he approached, he raised his hands in a gesture of peace, ensuring the supposed farmer knew he meant no harm.

  “Hey, gramps,” Daisuke called out. “Is everything alright?”

  The man’s eyes darted from Zephyr to Daisuke before he raised his scythe threateningly. “M-Monsters!”

  Daisuke raised his hands in a calmiure and took a cautious step back. “Easy now,” he said soothingly. “I’m not here to cause any trouble. “My name is Haxks, and I’m not a mohis is Zephyr,” he gestured at the pup. “He’s harmless.”

  The old man obviously wasn’t buying it. “Of course a monster would say that,” he accused. “You’re obviously some kind of bloodsug shapeshifter wearing human skin. My skin isn’t as firm as it used to be, so why waste your time on an old man?”

  Daisuke’s expressioled into a poker face. He’s gotta be senile. “If I were truly a monster,” he tered, “would we be having this versatiht now?”

  The man’s grip on the scythe loosened as the few good brain cells he still had actively processed the cim. “Well, I’ll be… you’ve got a point there, d.”

  Daisuke finally breathed and lowered his hands.

  “…If you’re not a monster,” the man mumbled ptively, his suspis nding on a new angle of paranoia. “Then you have to be a bandit! You’re just trying to butter me up so that you steal all my eggs!”

  Daisuke sighed noisily.

  Zephyr rolled his eyes.

  ***

  “Ah! So you’re a traveling adventurer,” the old man mused, handing Daisuke a cup of tea after returning his guild lise. “Why didn’t you mention that right away?”

  Daisuke accepted the hot beverage, his eyes narrowing. “I tried, but you seemed more ied in lopping off my head,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Did you say something?” the man asked, raising his gray eyebrows. “My hearing isn’t what it used to be,” he added with a slight chuckle, tapping his ear to emphasize his point.

  Daisuke took a sip of the tea and wihe bitterness catg him off guard. The man gri his response. “My sense of taste has been a bit off, too,” he grinned, a pyful twinkle dang in his eyes.

  Daisuke cleared his throat and pushed the cup aside. “…So what were you searg for so far away from home?”

  The man joined his silver-haired guest at a small wooden table behind his modest home, his eyes sing the acres of nd divided between crops and livestock.

  “…My Mariam had always dreamed of living on a farm since we were children,” he recalled with a bittersweet smile. “Sadly, she passed away st year.”

  Zephyr looked up from his boh somber eyes.

  “I’m truly sorry for your loss,” Daisuke offered his dolences with siy.

  The man’s gaze drifted downwards, his fingers gently g the cup before him. “In honor of her memory, I’ve poured my heart into tending to the crops and tranquilids,” he fessed softly, a shadow passing over his features. “But tely, a monster has been wreaking havo our livestock.”

  Daisuke frowned. “A monster?”

  The man nodded. “The wounds left behind paint a clear picture.”

  “Is that monster what you were searg for whe earlier?”

  “That’s right—if that thing isn’t stopped, it’ll keep wiping out our livestock, ruining everything Mariam and I worked so hard for,” he asserted, his words carrying a blend of vi and desperation. “I ’t allow everything to end without a fight!”

  Daisuke caught the refle of Mr. Robinson’s determination in the man’s resolute expression. He was vihat if anything endangered Diana, Dale would exhibit the same unwavering resolve aermination to address it—such was the depth of their love and itment to each other.

  Daisuke uood that Kaine Bckhorn wasn’t Dale Robinson, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that assisting the man would be a small way to repay the couple for their kindness, even if only in a minor way.

  DING!

  [The quest ?Preserving Mariam’s Memories? has been received.]

  [Preserving Mariam’s Memories]

  [Quest Difficulty: C

  Kaine’s wife, Mariam, had a deep e with nature, fav the tranquility of the tryside over the bustle of towns and cities.

  After eloping, Kaine helped Mariam realize her childhood dream of living off the nd. When she passed away, he felt her presen the fields and livestock they had nurtured together. Now, a dark entity threatens to destroy everything he has fought to preserve.

  Clear ditions: Help Kaine banish the evil threatening the paradise he strives to protect.

  Rewards:

  ?? Affinity with Kaine +100%

  ?? EXP +35,000

  ?? 17 Gold

  Quest Failure:

  ?? Kaine will be ed by hopelessness

  ?? Death of the livestod crops

  ?? Sporadic hauntings by Mariam]

  Hauntings? Daisuke paled slightly. You must be kidding me, he thought incredulously as he looked up at Kaine. “Do you still have the carcass from the most ret livestock attack?” he asked, trying to stay focused despite the uling news.

  ***

  In Sehrei Online, monsters were akin to the wildlife of the real world. Among them, several species, known as tranquilids, were distinguished by their docile nature. Much like cattle, sheep, chis, and pigs, these creatures were domesticated for their milk, eggs, and monstron.

  In well-secured enclosures, Kai his livestock segregated by species. Minitaurs were a subspecies of the Minotaur. These muscur, quadruped mammals resembled bison. Though they didn’t produce milk, their monstron was tasty, and their hides were remarkably sturdy.

  Horned Rabbit was a staple among adventurers, and their hide was great for making fashion accessories. Zephyr approached the enclosure and growled, but he was soon fronted by a protective Bearhound that was Kaine’s own panion. The es sniffed and circled each other cautiously.

  Woolox were a ve blend of cow and sheep, epitomizing the tranquilid species with their exceptionally docile and social nature. They were a farmer’s treasure and celebrated for their rich milk and incredibly soft wool.

  The fourth and final tranquilid that Kaine raised was the rare and elusive Mithrilcrest Deer. Majestid as rge as an elk, their monstron was a delicacy, but what farmers and oisseurs truly coveted were the creature’s antlers, made of pure mithril.

  Once a year, the Mithrilcrest Deer would naturally shed their antlers, which would then regrow. Farmers were tent with this cycle, as the rarity of the antlers made them highly valuable. However, poachers cked such patiehey hunted and sughtered the Mithrilcrest Deer for their antlers, which fetched high prices on the bck market. sequently, the species was now on the brink of extin.

  Without even seeing the carcass, Daisuke kly what was happening. Mithrilcrest Deer were mags for bandits and thieves; it was obvious they were mutiting the creatures for their antlers. However, as Kaine led him to the se of the crime, what he found was a far cry from his clever dedu.

  Three Minitaurs y motionless within their enclosure, their massive bodies rigid with the o or mortis.

  “…They’re not the Mithrilcrest Deer,” Daisuke murmured, somewhat dazed as he scrutihe creatures’ bodies for any visible wounds.

  “That’s right. All the deer are safe and ated for,” Kaine informed.

  Daisuke’s eyebrows furrowed in thought. “Which makes it less likely to be the work of a poacher,” he muttered to himself. “Minitaurs are tuskless, unlike elephants and rhinos whose tusks are sold on the bck market in the real world. So, what exactly would poachers be after?”

  A thh s of the creature’s body revealed small puncture marks on its forehead and back. Surely a predator that could overpower a Minitaur would have left more promi scars than this. Daisuke couldn’t picture a Lipanthyer, Owlbear, or Bullgator leaving such small incisions when they had such deadly ons at their disposal.

  “What kind of predatory monsters roam these parts?” Daisuke asked.

  “Nothing powerful enough to cause this,” Kaine responded.

  “And at what time do you think the attack took pce?”

  “…Mmm. I suspeetime st night while I was asleep since I didn’t hear any otion.”

  Daisuke cupped his in ption. Based on the development or mortis, I’d say he’s right. Si hasn’t been too long, maybe I find some enviroal clues around.

  As he activated the Eye of Verity to survey the area, Zephyr diligently applied his keen sense of smell, sniffing the ground and the surrounding air.

  RUMBLE.

  But while they were hunting—

  BOOOM!

  They were also being hunted.