The house was quiet just before dawn.
Then the creak of floorboards. The sound of water splashing. Toothbrushes scraping. Soft yawns, sleepy footsteps. The morning routine had become habit over the past week.
Selena stretched in the main room while brushing her teeth. Rika splashed her face outside with cold well water. Yuzu hummed nervously as she combed her hair. Hina prepared breakfast in the kitchen, filling the air with the aroma of toasted root bread and dried meat stew.
Lio stumbled out of the bath, towel over his shoulder, his hair sticking up in all directions. The Greenie balanced expertly on his head as usual, already wide-eyed and alert.
"Morning," Yuzu whispered shyly.
"Mornin'... I think," Lio replied, trying not to yawn mid-sentence.
Once dressed and geared up, the group gathered for breakfast.
Red sat silently at the table, already cleaned and armored. His presence, as usual, grounded them like stone.
After eating, Lio knelt to tie his boots. That's when Lia and Lana ran into the room, half-dressed and still sleepy-eyed.
Lia: "Big Brother!"
Lana: "You're really going? On a real quest today?"
Lio smiled, standing. "Yeah. We'll be back before sunset."
Lia clung to his arm. "Promise you won't get eaten."
Lana nodded quickly. "Yeah! And don't let Yuzu get eaten either!"
Yuzu turned bright red. "W-why me?!"
Selena smirked. "Because you look the most edible."
Yuzu: "I do not!!"
Lio knelt and gently patted both girls' heads. "I promise. We'll be careful."
They gave him matching wooden practice daggers. "Use these for luck!"
Lio blinked. "These are fake."
"But lucky!"
He pocketed them with a grin. "Thanks."
They arrived at the Adventurer's Guild with the sun barely above the rooftops. The plaza buzzed with activity already, parties preparing for dangerous missions, supply carts rolling in, and rookie hopefuls standing around with nervous energy.
Inside, the quest board stood tall and crowded.
Red led them to the Rookie Tier section.
The board listed various entry-level tasks.
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"Escort a delivery wagon to East Farmlands – 15 copper."
"Investigate strange noises in barn – 10 copper."
"Suppress minor slime activity in orchard – 12 copper."
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They studied the jobs carefully.
"I vote slime orchard," Rika said. "I've got a score to settle."
"The delivery escort might help us practice teamwork," Hina offered.
"The barn noise one sounds spooky..." Yuzu murmured.
Selena looked to Red. "What do you think?"
Red crossed his arms.
"You pick," he said.
Red: "But remember your rank. Rookie. You take rookie jobs until you're strong enough for more. Low pay, low risk. But good foundation."
He paused.
Red: "You'll go together as a team. I'll observe, but not interfere. Not unless something beyond your level shows up. If you make mistakes, you learn. If you fall, you get up."
They nodded one by one.
Selena turned back to the board. "Then let's take the escort job. It gets us moving and teaches coordination."
Lio gave a thumbs up. "And no slimes this time. I hope."
The Greenie squeaked in protest.
Yuzu giggled. "I think he wants to come too."
Red took the job notice and handed it to Sophia, who stamped it and nodded.
Sophia: "Delivery departs from south gate in thirty minutes. Wagon's marked with a blue flag. You're officially hired."
They looked down at their badges again.
It was real now.
Their first quest.
Red turned. "Get moving."
And they did.
As the group approached the southern gate, they quickly spotted the delivery wagon: a sturdy, two-wheeled cart laden with crates of fabric, spices, and sealed wine barrels. A small blue pennant flapped from its rear post, marking it clearly as a guild-verified merchant job.
But what drew everyone's attention wasn't the wagon, it was the woman leaning casually against it.
She was tall and elegant, dressed in traveling garb that fit her a bit too well. Her blouse hugged her curves beneath a half-unlaced corset, her traveling skirt lifted ever-so-slightly to show well-kept boots and smooth legs. Her copper-red curls bounced with every movement, and her hazel eyes glittered like she already knew a secret.
The moment Red appeared, her lips curled into a smile that was almost predatory.
"Well well… they said I'd have some rookies, but I didn't expect him," she purred, strolling toward Red with an exaggerated sway. "A living legend escorting my wagon? Should I be worried… or flattered?"
Red stared at her flatly. "We're here for the job."
"Oh, you're all business, aren't you?" she said, stepping in a little too close. "But I've got a very fragile shipment, you see. Might need a hands-on escort."
Selena choked.
Yuzu turned bright red and looked down immediately.
Rika let out a low whistle. "Oh, I like her."
Hina tried to hide her face behind her sleeve.
Lio blinked. "Wait, is she flirting with—?"
"Yes," Selena deadpanned. "She absolutely is."
"Openly," added Rika.
The woman finally introduced herself with a mock curtsy. "I'm Maribel, merchant of fine silks, honeywine, and the occasional trouble. I promise to behave, unless asked otherwise."
Red turned, already moving to inspect the wagon. "The route?"
Maribel giggled. "East road. We take the lower hills through the grain valley. Bandits sometimes linger near the riverbank, but I'm sure your fine rookies will impress me."
She gave Lio a wink. Lio immediately panicked and looked at his boots.
Selena leaned over to whisper to Yuzu, "Don't worry. You're still his number one disaster."
"I...I don't know what that means but okay…" Yuzu squeaked.
Rika patted Lio on the shoulder. "Looks like even older ladies want you now. Must be the slime hat."
"I regret everything," Lio muttered.
Maribel climbed up to her driver's seat with practiced grace. "Shall we depart, my dashing protectors?"
Red gave a short nod. "Move out."
And so began their first real quest… with a cart full of goods, a shameless merchant, and a blushing trail of chaos.