Brigante Ark

The one who greeted them is obviously the butler of the household. He’s probably taller than Ken by two inches. He was clearly trained properly and for his old age his posture was straight. His suppressed bulking chest made it clear that he’s trained well despite his age.

“Forgive us for unruly greetings. Our lord has been prudent on choosing adventurers to take the job. Previous people that who took the job has been slain by the beasts in the Berningham forest. We would like to avoid any unnecessary deaths as much as possible.”

Alastor nodded. “We understand your queries but your test is quite easy for us. You need to better than that.”

“Is that so?” He asked. It was more of a challenge and question of his authenticity. “I hope your actions won’t remain as simple words. It will be disappointing otherwise.”

Linda intercepted, “Don’t worry, we’ll do our best. We’re not any like other adventurers.” She confidently replied.

“Very well then.” He spoke. “Follow me.”

They all followed throughout the mansion. It was extravagant the very same as the others, but the difference is that defenses were built in the necessary of the protection for the lord of the land. The felt a heavy sensation filled with suspense and distrust around the corner. They notice gazes around the corners inconspicuous regarding their presence. For Alastor, it made clear that they harbor suspicion about their arrival. It has been long time ever since the constant failures that the previous adventurers have shown. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they considered a possibility that they’re bandits pretending to be adventurers.

They entered the luxurious house. The butler guided them throughout the lounge to the second floor and into an empty room. They were instructed to wait in there and sat on the chairs on the round table opposite of what it seems a seat reserves for the lord that has different design and golden linings on the chair. The tense they have felt had gradually decrease but still the guards that moves like an assassin remains their attention to them.

For whatever reason it is, they seem to be anxious enough to show excessive suspicion of their party. The lord of the land was held high regard for agricultural purposes. They maybe insignificant compared to the nobles and politicians but they have great significant in regards to local products and most importantly in the economic world. They’re the ones who make sure to supply the country’s demands in terms of domestic products with producing products just like rice, wheat and varieties of fruits.

But not at all times their products are needed. The needs of the products also coincide with the season; if it’s summer, the needs of refreshing fruits such as melons, coconuts, pineapple and others would cause booming in their profit. While in winter, wines, cocoas, or animals specially during the holidays would be a high demand in the market.

Finally, the lord has arrived. It would be presumptuous to assume that the lord has the similar stature as the others, broad, slump and stout. But this one is different, he maybe not muscular unlike the butler, but his body is in good shape considering that most of a lord’s time would revolve around paper works and product managing.

The lord immediately went to his chair and seated. A dread expression settled in his face. With his dismay countenance the room was immediately filled with anxiety and intense. The situation he is in clearly is dire and needed to be dealt. But more importantly, he’s quite curious to them.

“For an adventurer, you all quite young. Are you sure you picked the right quest?”

Linda lifted her gazed. “Yes, we are. Don’t worry, we are quite experienced just like the others.”

“I doubt about it. Young people tend move slow and accept little quests to ensure security of their lives.”

Actually, his suspicion is on the right track. Normally, young adventurers around their age would take it easy. Most quest they accept would be minimum to danger to none. It’s completely rational to think ahead of them like that but he seems to forgot the fact there are adventurers that are hasty. In some sense, adventurers who’s rush ahead of their career can be describe either smart or an idiot.

There adventurers same to their age roughly knew anything about the world. They completely neglect the danger and unfortunately had their life ended in such young age. The pressing matter now is how to convince the lord that they’re actually what they claimed to be.

“You can say that we’re not one of those people who are such slow pokes. We are blessed.”

Blessed. If an adventurer was called as that it would mean they’re on par with the experienced adventurers. The reason lies with their abilities that was hone through years of training in early age.

“Is that so? I don’t mean to offend. But what kind of quest have you done throughout your journey?”

Ken couldn’t help it. “Exterminating monsters, such as Oniram, werewolves, Blue Klitz, but most of the time we explore dungeons.”

Lord’s brow furrowed.

Alastor stomped his feet. Ken did not react but only to suppressed the pain.

Ken might have exaggerated it. Operation within dungeons is rare as sweet delights. It would normally take more than one group to fully understand and explore the dungeon in which includes the older and much more experienced adventurers could handle.

Alastor coughed, “It wasn’t much to brag on, given that we weren’t the one who discovered it first. We were but an insurance to make sure to fully explore and understand the structure of the dungeon that is.” Alastor explained elaborately.

“I understand.”

The lord nodded.

Felt satisfied about his explanation, Alastor probed to ask about the quest.

“So, tell us. How can we offer our service?”

“Before that…”

The lord held and rang the bell. The butler came in, strolling a cart with two sets of four tankards that is dripping in froth. They reluctantly accept it, except for Alastor. He hasn’t been able to drank a booze for quite some time.

As the lord relentlessly drank it until he’s satisfied enough, an anxiety fell over his face, remembering the days.

“As you read about the poster, my land has been infested by those pestering monsters. All was started some six months ago, when the fruits are ripe and months of waiting for the rice field has come to fruition, a beninghol appeared out of nowhere and spread havoc. Now my guards have managed to kill the thing but it doesn’t end well.”

Linda looked down and think deeply.

Beninghol are dog like monster that is roughly about ten feet and doubled the body of a bear. Its strength may not rival the werewolves but its fangs are dangerous as it is.

Ken continued. “A beninghol, huh. Maybe that’s just stray monster that unfortunately saw your land as a potential killing spot.”

Linda contradicted the thought. “No. Beninghol aren’t stray monsters. They’re territorial and even if they hunt, they wouldn’t gone that far and usually hunt in groups.”

Alastor nodded in agreement. “Given that you’ve lived in this land for long, I doubt that there’s a chance that you’ve disturbed their habitat.”

“But still, their behaviors are odd.” Ken added.

The lord intercepted with a heaved of sighed. “Odd case, it is. But the weirdness has come and arisen yet as monsters appeared in my land out of nowhere such as liger and oniram.”

“This is an odd case indeed. I cannot find any kind of condition why would such monsters act like this.”

The lord shakes his head.

“We have consulted over the adventurers but none of them successfully solve the case.”

“Then why didn’t you ask the police to help?” Linda asked.

“Darling, my land is over the border of the region and neighboring the Vesoga Plain, of course no sane person would ever go to help in such desolated place.”

Stating the fact, Alastor fell in his thoughts. This is troublesome.

“A tamer.” When Ken muttered those words, their attention gathered to him. “That’s the only thing I can came up of.”

Tamers are the kind of people of who mainly uses monsters to battle. They are far more troublesome than the monsters or any kind of enemies. Crafty and witty, that’s how most of the adventurers would describe them. They would utilize every monster’s ability to turn the tide on their hand. If a tamer has tamed more than five monsters and has experienced, then, one tamer is enough to destroy an entire group. They’re so powerful that they can travel alone without any backup.

It may sound to be true, but there’s a thing that is gone amiss.

“If all of this are done by one person, then he or she would have stated his or her agenda.” Alastor stole the tankard of Ken and flickered the flies. “But it’s a good guess though.”

The lord was silent for a while. He inserted his fingers on the grip and clench it one by one. He heaved a sigh “Please, do what you can to solve this case. I will pay 50,000 thousand haz if you ever succeeded it.”

They all froze over his statement. They understand that he’s in despair, but the price for the quest is quite over top on the hill. If they were good people, they would have to reduce the offer, but they’re not and they are, too, desperate to have money.

Linda broke off the silence. “Much obliged. We promised to exterminate the monster as soon as possible.”

The lord sighed in relief.

“My butler already has prepared your room. If you have more queries, please, do not hesitate to state it. I will support your quest as much as possible.”