“Wow~ Look at you, Verity!”

  At the gates of Plamodel, Verity stood by himself, striking poses with his armor on, until Felicia jolted him out of his fantasies.

  Verity froze at the sound of her voice, and mechanically turned his head toward her.

  Felicia grinned. “Don’t let me stop you. Keep going!”

  Verity cleared his throat. “...You have everything you need?”

  A snort escaped Felicia’s nose. “Changing the subject huh….” She looked at her inventory. “Potions, a map of the forest, snacks, sleeping set–”

  There was much to consider when going out on such a mission. There was no way to know how long the goblin extermination would take, and there was no worse feeling than that of regret due to lack of preparation.

  Of course, there was the issue of weight which made it impossible to bring everything. However, Felicia and Verity had the system inventory, an advanced kind of spatial storage that only accepted items from the system shop. For everything else, they could use the spatial storage bags they had obtained from their masters.

  This gave them ample space to store what they needed.

  Felicia finished recounting what she’d brought, and looked ahead, beyond the gates. Seeing the sun setting below the horizon, a playful idea sparked her mind and a smirk curled her lips. “Should we race there?” She asked with a grin.

  Verity arched an eyebrow. “You want to…race?”

  “Sure, why not?” She replied instantly.

  Verity scoffed. “You sure? I’m pretty confident if it’s a race.”

  “Oh?” Felicia placed her hands on her waist. “Are you now? Should we bet on it then?”

  “Bet?” Verity hadn’t expected that suggestion. “That’s fine with me, but… what should we bet?”

  Felicia’s grin turned mischievous. “The winner can ask anything of the loser.” She immediately extended her hand. “Deal?”

  Verity frowned, scratching his head.

  Still, he gripped her hand. He was confident he wouldn’t lose a race against Felicia. “Should we do a count–”

  Before he could finish his sentence, Felicia swept at his legs, sending him falling on his back, and she disappeared from sight.

  Verity couldn’t believe his eyes. He stayed stunned for a few seconds, then scrambled to his feet, and followed after her. “H-Hey!!”

  —

  “Haha!! I win!!” Felicia declared as she reached the rendezvous point. She glanced around her with a triumphant grin, her breathing unsteady. “Looks like I’m the first to arrive as well.”

  No more than a second later, a cloud of dust was raised as Verity skidded to a halt. “That doesn’t count!! You had a head start!”

  Felicia's eyes drifted to him, and she shrugged, a smirk on her lips. “We never said head starts weren’t allowed.”

  Verity’s eye twitched. “Because you didn’t give me time to set any rules!”

  “I don’t know… Once we shook hands, the deal was sealed.” She brushed her hair aside before settling on a nearby rock. “Or are you such a sore loser that you won’t accept the results?”

  Verity closed his eyes, and exhaled sharply. If he’d known, he would never have agreed to such a deal. In some way, he thought it fitting that Felicia used to work in a bank.

  To trick people into agreeing to unfair agreements was practically their purpose after all, or at least that’s what Verity believed.

  After a long pause, he let out a defeated sigh. “Fine...You win.” He groaned. “What do you want me to do?”

  Felicia smirked. “You’ll see~”

  “What do you mea-”

  He didn’t get the opportunity to finish.

  “HA!! I KNEW IT!!” A booming voice cut through the air, echoing between them. Both snapped their heads toward the source.

  Behind them, a large man approached, larger than most men Verity had ever seen in his life.

  “I knew it would be you guys!” The man continued.

  He was tanned, and wore nothing but pants tied onto his waist which left little to the imagination. His bulging musculature was visible for all, and even for Verity and Felicia who were quite fit themselves, the man was imposing.

  When Verity’s eyes finally landed on the man’s face, his eyes widened. That chestnut hair was unmistakable and if his eyes did not betray him, then he undeniably knew the man before him.

  “...Marco?” He said in disbelief.

  Marco smiled, crossing his arms with pride. “That’s right!”

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Verity’s jaw dropped as his thoughts raced.

  Felicia, on the other hand, kept her composure as she slowly stepped toward him. She scrutinized his bare body, fascinated by the changes it had gone through.

  Marco, who had only been slightly taller than Felicia in the past, now completely dwarfed her. Something major had happened to him in the last three months. “Interesting… What the hell happened to you?” She asked.

  Marco smiled, the setting suns reflecting off of his pristine teeth. He was rather happy to see some familiar faces. “Nothing much. I got lost on a mountain, got kidnapped by some half-naked guy, and he taught me how to fight.” He stroked his chin pensively. “...Yeah, I think that covers it.”

  Still not satisfied, Verity scratched his head as he approached Marco. “Right… but why are you so…big?”

  Marco had expected that question, as he’d also noticed the changes in his body, but his smile faltered as he reminisced. A long sigh escaped his lips. “...Honestly, I’m not sure. When I ask, all he ever says is that ‘a Martial Artist should be big!!’ or something like that. I’m pretty sure it’s due to the technique he taught me, but I don’t have the specifics.”

  Felicia gave a light tap to his bicep, and nearly gasped at how solid it felt under her palm. “Incredible….” Her hand instinctively slid to her sword, and a faint smile played on her lips. “Should we spar?”

  Marco tilted his head, taken aback. “Spar? You want to fight?”

  “Yes! Let’s do it! I’ve never fought a Martial Artist before!” She exclaimed as she pulled her longsword from its sheath.

  Marco’s hands shot up instinctively as he glanced to Verity for help, but before anyone could say anything, another voice rang out, this one too close to have slipped from their radar.

  “So you are here, my companions!”

  The voice, rather than just close, was right beside them, and as they turned to it, the scenery flickered. As though someone were manipulating their vision, reality rippled, tore open, and gave way to a new scene.

  A lone woman stood, clutching a large wooden wand. Though certainly a mage, her attire was anything but traditional. Her outfit reminded Verity of the magical girls of Earth, with a frilly, sun-bright yellow skirt brushing her thighs and a crimson ribbon securing her golden hair in a high ponytail.

  A matching crimson cape flowed behind her, its fabric catching the wind like a banner. Beneath it, she wore a snug black shirt, its dark tones complemented by the elegance of pristine white opera gloves that reached past her elbows, pulling together a daring yet strangely harmonious palette of colors.

  Instinct kicked in, and the trio drew their weapons, their guard now raised, but the mage seemed utterly unbothered.

  “You might wonder who I am…!” She began as her cape fluttered in the wind, almost unnaturally, as if controlled by an external force.

  She struck a dramatic pose, her arms overlapping over her chest “ Allow me to tell you. I am… The Star of Justice!”

  Motes of light popped into existence, swirling theatrically around her. “Hoshino Sterling is the name…and punishing evil is the game!”

  Felicia slowly lowered her sword, raising an eyebrow. “The hell…?” She whispered under her breath.

  Both Marco’s and Verity’s reactions were similar, but Hoshino pressed on.

  The motes of light expanded above her head, like twin stars illuminating her surroundings.

  “In brightest day, in blackest night.. No evil shall escape my sight!”

  Several more motes of light appeared, encircling her, and shining brighter with each passing second.

  “Why, you ask?” She laughed, throwing both arms skyward as the lights exploded into fireworks. “Because I alone shine bright!”

  Silence.

  Hoshino thought, completely satisfied with her performance.

  Marco’s eyes narrowed. “Wasn’t that–”

  “The Lantern oath.” Verity finished. He raised his finger, pointing to her. “You’re from Earth, aren’t you?”

  If surprised, Hoshino did not let it show on her face. Her voice, however, was another matter entirely. Large beads of sweat formed on her temple. “Ah-ha! E-Earth? S-Surely that must be a f-far-off land, beyond the horizon... where legends are born, no doubt!” She said, her voice trembling.

  As anyone who’d traveled here from the tutorial, Hoshino was well aware that she should never reveal where she’d come from. Unfortunately, however, she was a terrible liar when it came to this sort of thing.

  Felicia blinked. “The Lantern oath?”

  “Yeah, it’s comic book stuff.” Verity explained. As a shut-in, he was well-versed in all things fiction.

  Felicia’s eyes lit up in realization. “Oh!! The green guy!! Yes, I know that one!”

  “I-It’s not the Lantern oath! Or.. whatever that is..!” Hoshino exclaimed, her mask slipping further.

  Verity tapped his chin. “But it totally is though, except the last part I guess.”

  Marco nodded. “Yeah, it should be something like ‘Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power-”

  Hoshino clenched her wand as she stumbled over her words. “A-Anyway! What do you call yourselves, my companions!!” She pointed to Verity. “Starting with you! What is your name!?”

  Verity scratched his head. “... It’s Verity, but we’re all from Earth too, so it’s oka-”

  “Then you are now my Knight of Truth!” She turned to Felicia. “And you, stunning Fairy?”

  Felicia paused for a moment, but she ultimately smiled and extended a hand. “I’m Felicia, and you’re quite pretty yourself, Hoshino.”

  Hoshino gripped her hand firmly, a smirk on her lips. “Fitting name! You are now my Knight of Joy!” She then turned to Marco. “And you, imposing Giant?”

  Marco scoffed, entertained by the absurdity of it all. “I’m Marco, or The Man of Iron, if we’re talking adventurer names.”

  Verity thought, but before he could question why he'd chosen such a name, Hoshino thrusted a finger toward Marco.

  “A name worthy of your stature! Then, you shall be my Knight of Iron!”

  With a snap of Hoshino's fingers, lights flared above all three of their their heads. “Truth, Iron, Joy! You three shall serve me well!”

  They could hardly believe their eyes.

  Verity was certain she was from Earth, but no matter how hard he tried, he simply could not recall someone with such a character during his first trial. Even if he had failed to socialize, he felt someone that loud would have inevitably stood out.

  That left only one possibility.

  He concluded.

  A strange silence settled between the four, but eventually, a soft chuckle escaped Felicia’s lips.

  “What an interesting one,” She said with a smirk. A smirk on her lips, she gave a light bow and decided to play along.

  Her voice took on a dramatic solemnity. “Knight of Joy at your service, Lady Star of Justice! No harm shall befall you for as long as I stand, I swear it on my honor!”

  Hoshino nodded with approval, and then both women looked to the men, as if expecting them to do the same.

  The situation was.. Strange to say the least, but for some reason, they found themselves complying.

  Verity was the first to speak. “Uh... Knight of Truth at your service…”

  Marco sighed, following right after him. “Y-yeah, Knight of Iron at your service, Lady Star of Justice.”

  Hoshino huffed with satisfaction. “Good! Now, let us wait on Knight Jerin before embarking on our grand expedition!”

  As if summoned by her words, the bushes rustled, and a fifth figure clad in armor from head to toe, emerged.

  “It seems I have arrived just in time,” Knight Jerin said, removing his helmet as he walked forward.His sharp gaze swept over the group, and he gestured behind him. “I have brought an additional member.”

  Behind him, another figure emerged. This one draped in a dark cloak, its features obscured and a gloomy air covering it.

  The figure stepped forward, its steps echoing in the silence of night, and it carefully removed its hood. A young man with dark skin and dark hair was revealed, and for a moment, Verity felt as though the man locked eyes with him.

  “It’s nice to meet you all,” The man said with a slight bow, his voice smooth, yet measured. “I’m Dawn, a Bronze-ranked adventurer.”