A few months had quietly passed since the intense battle against Varnex. The memory of that fight still lingered in the hearts of The Rising Heroes, a constant reminder of both their triumph and the dangers that awaited them in the world. Even after defeating such a powerful foe, none of them allowed themselves to grow complacent. Instead, the fire to become stronger only burned brighter within each of them. They had seen firsthand how fragile victory could be, and how close they had come to falling. That thought alone kept pushing them forward.
During these months, the group did not remain idle. They accepted quests one after another, ranging from small village requests to large-scale guild missions. Their contribution to the Dungeon of Varnex had already made their names known across the Capital, but through their continued work, they had gained recognition throughout the entire Cero Kingdom. Slowly, their reputation as a reliable and powerful group spread. What once had been a young party still learning their way had now grown into a respected adventurer teams in the land.
It wasn't long before their growth was recognized officially. Their ranks within the Adventurer's Guild had risen. Lila, Drakar, and Adrian had all reached the prestigious status of A-Rank Adventurers. Their strength, leadership, and courage had made it clear they deserved the promotion. Doran and Sera, though still a step below, had also advanced and were now B-Rank Adventurers, showing their own rapid improvement. Together, they now carried the name of an A-Rank Party, a force that many in the Capital looked up to.
Although new corrupted dungeons had appeared in various parts of the kingdom, none of them were on the same terrifying level as Varnex. Other adventurer groups had been dispatched to deal with those dungeons, and the Guild as well as the Crown carefully monitored any unusual activity. Yet, the presence of the mysterious intruders who had once appeared remained unresolved. The Kingdom was still working tirelessly to track them down and eliminate any possible threats, but no clear answers had yet surfaced. What the future held for the Rising Heroes remained uncertain. Still, they were ready for whatever awaited them.
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"Okay then, let's take on this quest. This one seems interesting," Lila said with a bright smile, holding the quest slip in her hand.
Sera looked up curiously. "What is the quest about?"
Lila blinked and looked away. "I… don't know."
"You don't know?" Sera raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"Well," Lila said with a nervous laugh, "you see… the quest came directly from the Guild Master, so I just accepted it on the spot."
Doran's voice immediately cut in, sharp and irritated. "Wait. You accepted a quest without even knowing what it is? Are you stupid or what?"
Lila puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms. "No, I'm not stupid. I'm brave. I know I can fulfill the quest because the Guild Master himself gave it to us. Are you scared, Doran?"
"Scared? I'm not scared at all," Doran shot back. "Don't try to cover up your carelessness by turning it into courage."
Sera quickly stepped in, trying to defuse the rising tension. "Let's calm down. There's no need to argue over this. How about we just go talk to the Guild Master and hear the details directly?"
As if on cue, the Guild Master himself appeared, walking toward them with his usual calm authority. His presence immediately silenced the group.
"Lila," the Guild Master began, his tone both firm and amused, "I'm glad you accepted the quest, but why did you rush out of my office without even hearing the details?"
Lila laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head. "Hehe… I just got excited and wanted to share it with the team right away."
The Guild Master sighed, shaking his head. "You never change, do you? Well, since you're all here, I'll explain now. The quest isn't very complicated. All you have to do is guard some goods while transporting them."
"Goods transport?" Doran frowned deeply, clearly unimpressed. "We're an A-Rank group. Why would you give us something like that? Shouldn't you assign us a more challenging quest? Something worthy of our rank? Something more… adventurous?"
"Listen to the full details first," the Guild Master said firmly. "This is not just any transport job. The goods must be delivered safely to our neighboring kingdom. Specifically, you must escort them to the border, where a group from their kingdom will receive them. These goods are sent directly from the Second Prince himself, as part of an effort to strengthen relations between our kingdoms."
The room grew still at the mention of the Second Prince.
Adrian's expression shifted, his tone becoming serious. "From the Second Prince? Then this is indeed a serious matter. I understand now. With such political weight behind it, there's no room for error. And considering the dangers near the borders… it makes sense why you asked us."
Lila tilted her head, still cheerful but slightly confused. "Is the border really that dangerous?"
Adrian nodded firmly. "Of course. Thieves, gangs, wanted criminals, and dangerous beasts often roam those areas. Traveling unguarded is practically a death wish. That's why this mission is more than it seems. By the way, which border are we talking about?"
"The western border," the Guild Master replied. "The Jagareth Border, leading to the neighboring Kingdom of Wyali."
Adrian's eyes lit up slightly with excitement. "So we have to go through the deserts? I've always wanted to see them."
"Deserts, huh?" Lila smiled, clapping her hands. "That sounds very adventurous!"
"For once, I agree," Doran said with a grin. "This actually sounds interesting."
Fizzle, who had been listening quietly until now, finally spoke up in his usual worried tone. "You lot are way too energetic about this. Will there even be enough food and water in the desert? Right? That's what we should be worrying about."
"Okay then, it's decided!" Lila declared confidently, ignoring his concerns. "We'll take this quest and head west to the border."
"Yes," Sera said, smiling softly.
"Now this is what I'm talking about," Doran said, clearly more motivated now.
Adrian didn't speak, but a small smirk played on his lips, showing his quiet excitement.
Drakar, who had been sitting silently at the side throughout the entire discussion, slowly raised his cup of coffee and took a sip. He nodded once in agreement, saying nothing more.
"Are you not even listening to what I just said?" Fizzle cried out, hrowing a small tantrum.
The group burst into laughter at his outburst. The tension from earlier completely disappeared, replaced by a warm sense of excitement for the journey ahead. With the desert adventure awaiting them, the Rising Heroes prepared themselves for a new chapter—one that would test them in a different way, far from the dungeons and cities they had grown used to.
Their destination was clear: the western border, the harsh desert lands of Jagareth, and the Kingdom of Wyali beyond. What dangers awaited them there, none could say for sure. But together, as always, they would face it head-on.
And so, with laughter and anticipation filling the air, their next journey began.