In the vibrant and noisy market of Argol, an extensive commercial city in the world of Ky'lar:

"Where in hell were you?! Upon arriving in Argol, you suddenly disappeared! You are completely insane!"

Boudica shouted, letting out a gasp as she staggered, and pointing her finger at the newly arrived Melioris.

"Disappeared? Oh, no, no! I was just making an interesting acquisition."

... Who then brought a hand to her mouth, finishing chewing the popcorn she was carrying with an air of innocence, showing a beautiful smile, her heterochromatic eyes shining with amusement.

"Interesting acquisition, my ass! What the hell are you talking about? We've been looking for you all over this disgusting city!"

However, Boudica, still staggering from the shock of the sudden appearance, gathered strength and recovered enough to resume her fury.

"Oh, really? That's too bad."

But in the face of that explosive display of emotion, Melioris simply tilted her head, her expression of absolute innocence unaltered.

"But putting that aside, I just acquired the complete set of two sister goddess statues! It's such a fascinating piece of art... It cost me, of course. I had to pay the highest price."

She confessed casually with a broad, proud smile about the ridiculous financial expenditure she had made.

"In fact, I spent absolutely all the money we had earned so far on missions! It was the only way to guarantee the purchase!"

"....."

"....."

After those words, the silence that followed was more oppressive than the miasma of Argol's nearby forbidden dungeon.

"All... the money?!"

Finally Boudica, who had momentarily gone blank for an instant, recovered her senses and exploded in panic and rage.

"You damned bankrupt lunatic! What are we going to eat?! Where are we going to sleep?!"

Unable to process the absurd truth of that calm declaration, the soul of that pathetic bandit inside Boudica's body went insane and, forgetting with whom she was dealing, continued to rage.

"......"

For his part, Shija ended up being the most affected. Shock ran through his armored body, stopping his breath. All that money had been his sole goal: the only hope of restoring his ruined dojo, that place that Mireya had broken and that he had sworn to rebuild.

"...."

He had pushed himself to the brink of death on every mission, understanding that he could not rely on Mireya for the repair, only for all his effort to be so cruelly trampled in the end.

"We need to replenish the money."

(¡SSSHHRRRNG!)

The icy fury overcame the residual pain in his body as Shija squeezed the gauntlet so tightly that the metal creaked.

"NOW"

The need to rebuild their mission fund was immediate and desperate.

"Why are you so worried?"

But in the face of the crisis, Melioris blinked, completely unfazed.

"Regarding food and home, it can easily be solved using the inn I stored~"

And at Melioris's response, both Shija and Boudica exchanged glances, simultaneously deciding in an instant...

""NO!!""

... To flatly refuse.

"I won't go back to that damned place!"

The memory of that unnatural space in that living inn and the trauma rooted deep in their psyche that persisted even though the inn was stored inside Melioris's pocket.

"Have it your way~"

And in response to how Boudica was clutching her head with both hands, as if reliving the horror of that dwelling or that "Scream" forgotten by trauma, Melioris pouted, crossing her arms in boredom.

"In that case, why don't you recover the money by taking a mission?"

She then lazily floated up and placed her mechanical headphones (Brownie) over her ears, pointing towards the nearby Adventurers' Guild.

"That's a good point..."

In response to the suggestion coming from the cause of the problem, Shija, conscious of the immediate and desperate need to rebuild their mission funds, supported the notion.

Because of this, a few hours after the financial catastrophe, the group found themselves at the Argol Guild headquarters, searching for any high-paying job available.

However, the only viable option to compensate for the massive loss was a high-risk, long-haul job: accepting a mission as guards for a merchant caravan traveling from the city of Argol towards the next location of their journey.

That job met all the requirements the group was looking for, or more accurately, that both Shija and Boudica desired.

"This one is perfect!"

But the acceptance was strange, because there were missions of similar nature on the Guild board, but Melioris rejected them in an instant with a wave of her hand, this being the only one she allowed them to accept.

"It's a three-week route! I'm not going to waste my time on that stupid wagon just because you burned our money on some perverted stone dolls!"

And despite Boudica's obvious resistance to Melioris's decision, she only received a calm gaze of total indifference before feeling...

(CLACK!)

The impact, generated by a simple snap on the forehead, leaving her unconscious.

"You're prettier when you're quiet."

The message was clear: the mission was accepted by Melioris's order. Shija and Boudica's reasons didn't matter; this was the caravan she had chosen.

So, without further ado, with Boudica in tow, and Shija's cold determination to recover what was lost, the group headed to the meeting point to introduce themselves to their new employers.

There, at the meeting point located just outside the eastern walls of Argol, in a field of compacted dirt where several robust and well-reinforced wooden carts were already aligned. The air smelled of new leather, tar, and the sweat of draft animals.

"Ugh, ugh, it's so hot!"

There, waiting with sweaty impatience, was the man who had hired them: Baron Silvestre Glutt.

Baron Glutt was the personification of excessive success. An obese man who seemed to overflow the fine, tight fabric of his dark green velvet jacket. His jowls melted directly into his neck, and his sausage-thick fingers were overloaded with gold rings and precious stones. His constantly oily face shone under the sun, and a permanent satisfied smirk revealed slightly yellowed teeth.

But despite his repulsive appearance, his reputation was one of ruthless success. It was rumored that Glutt's fortune did not come from spices or silk, but from much murkier business: exploitation of dangerous routes, slave trading, and even the resale of "relics" of dubious origin.

Due to these dark rumors surrounding him—which suggested that any contract with him came with an extraordinary moral and physical risk—the vast majority of professional adventurers avoided getting involved with the Baron.

However, Glutt paid excellently. And for Shija and Boudica, whose accounts were at absolute zero, morality was not a luxury they could afford.

"They finally arrived!"

At the location, Glutt had already hired a few rough-looking mercenaries who were checking their equipment with a mixture of apathy and professionalism, but the Baron's attention was fixed on the approaching trio.

"Boo!"

But just as Glutt was about to open his greasy mouth to speak, a voice resonated from behind.

(BOOM!)

"?!"

And immediately, a curtain of smoke and a loud explosion sounded behind them.

"Did I surprise you~?"

Melioris then dramatically appeared behind Baron Silvestre Glutt.

"Guards!!"

To which the Baron, reacting immediately to the threat, staggered forward, his face turning from red to white.

""""!!!""""

Immediately afterwards, the mercenaries, trained for action, tried to react instantly, reaching for the hilts of their swords and daggers.

"STOP!"

But before the first mercenary could draw his weapon, Melioris spun around, her heterochromatic eyes briefly focusing on the group, dictating an "Order".

""""..........""""

In response, all movement ceased, and none of them were able to move; they were frozen mid-gesture, leaving a shocking impression of absolute power in the air, their faces reflecting confusion and fear, unable to comprehend the force that immobilized them.

"Well, well. You are a very interesting person."

But Melioris, completely oblivious to the terror she had sown, approached Baron Glutt playfully, studying his face with her head tilted before giving his jowls a soft pat.

"My name is Melioris, nice to meet you!~"

And with the same speed with which she appeared, Melioris retreated towards her guides, Shija and Boudica, who had involuntarily placed themselves on guard against the totally unpredictable actions of their "companion," feeling the air return to their lungs.

"Phew..."

"Haahhh..."

Thus, both sighed in relief upon seeing her return without doing anything further, attempting to calm the atmosphere with their rigid and formal presence, while the mercenaries remained petrified by the inadvertent "divine decree" used by Melioris.

This is due to the fact that a "Divine Decree" was a skill belonging to beings of a divine nature, such as gods. This technique forces any being whose existence is lesser than that of the user to follow the given instruction against their will.

"I deeply regret the disrespectful behavior of my... 'companion'!"

But, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere of divine coercion, Shija stepped forward. His rigid posture was a direct contrast to the anarchy that Melioris had imposed, and he made a slight bow.

"Allow us to formally introduce ourselves. We are the adventurers hired for your caravan."

His voice, although tense, maintained a professional tone.

"My most sincere apologies, Baron Glutt! We assure you that our colleague is under strict supervision and that we will carry out our work with the highest efficiency! You have nothing to worry about!"

Boudica, for her part, lowered her head until it almost touched her chest in an exaggeratedly flattering apology, forced by fear.

"Slurp~"

On the other hand, while the other members of the group tried to save face, Melioris completely ignored the situation. She pulled a lollipop out of her pocket, and proceeded to eat it with an audible 'clop', beginning to float lazily in the air, with her headphones on, as if the scene was nothing more than an annoying backdrop to her sweet moment.

"U-understood."

In turn, Baron Glutt, managing to recover from the initial shock, nodded courteously, his face covered in sweat.

"Baron Silvestre Glutt, a pleasure."

Saying those words, he brought a hand to his neck to fan himself, subtly continuing to observe Melioris with a mix of terror and deep intrigue.

"Allow me to explain, if you would be so kind, the exact details of this route and why I am paying so generously."

Baron Glutt, visibly calmer now that Shija had taken control of the situation, was finally able to concentrate on the logistical details.

"I appreciate the information, Baron."

In response, Shija nodded with a serious expression.

"We are heading towards the Flambell Kingdom to make a last-minute delivery."

Glutt leaned slightly, regaining the arrogance that his fright had snatched away.

"It is for the funeral of the ancient Flame Priestess, Shula, who founded that kingdom long ago. That is why the delivery is urgent."

It was then that the Baron sighed, his obese face turning grave.

"The problem, and the reason for the pay, is that according to reliable sources, there recently appears to be a group of powerful Bandits on the road. They are not common thieves; they are organized and extremely strong. They will not stop for a simple escort."

Shija listened carefully to the description of the mission risk, assimilating the urgency of the funeral and the threat of the bandits before responding affirmatively.

"I understand the situation. We accept."

After which, with a professional nod, he closed the deal.

(FZZZT!)

But just as Glutt was about to offer thanks or a handshake, reality warped once more.

"Right! With that said, let's do it. There's no time to waste on nonsense."

"?!"

Then Melioris, who had been floating lazily, reappeared out of nowhere with a flash directly behind Baron Glutt, finishing her lollipop with one last, noisy 'clop'.

"But, since it will be a long journey~"

Glutt, already at the limit of his sanity, gave an involuntary jump, but restrained himself from screaming. The mercenaries whom Melioris had released with a simple thought now looked upon the trio with respect and absolute terror.

"I propose a game of chess!"

In this way, Melioris proposed, her gaze fixed on the Baron's eyes, negating the possibility of refusal.