With a kick, Wells sent the lunging hound flying, then hastily shifted his stance to deflect an arrow aimed straight at his face.

When he looked again, the opposing hunter had already retreated seven or eight steps.

Damn Ralph—what did he mean, “Go deal with the hunter”?

With the dog by his side, wasn’t that a two-on-one?

It was a miracle Wells hadn’t already been kited to death.

The fight had started far too suddenly. Just moments earlier, Ralph had been haggling with the rival team’s leader over the price of their unused monster corpses.

The next instant, the other side launched a surprise attack.

The dwarf had been caught off guard and injured in the arm. The battle was clearly against them.

But what Wells couldn’t figure out was why. They hadn’t even been the ones to grab the A-rank mana crystal.

Sure, the crystal was valuable. But was it worth throwing away lives?

Could it be someone on that team wanted to use the chaos to kill a few of their own for a bigger share?

No… that was far too risky and stupid.

He twisted aside, narrowly dodging another arrow—this one spinning with a skill’s added force. Out of the corner of his eye, he checked on his companions.

Ralph was locked in a deadly dance with the enemy leader. Both were agility fighters, their blades flashing dangerously close but never quite landing a fatal blow.

Jeanne was safer, focused on healing the dwarf. Under her gray-white light, the dwarf’s condition rapidly improved.

Then she turned her staff toward Wells, bathing him in the same glow.

A surge of boundless energy roared through him.

He felt unstoppable.

The hound lunged again, while the hunter loosed two arrows—one at Wells’s face, the other cutting off his retreat.

Normally, that might have spelled his end. But now—!

His longsword flicked up, batting away the arrow, then he swung down in a brutal arc toward the charging hound.

The strike carried far more speed and power than before.

Steel bit flesh, splitting the beast from shoulder to belly. Its howl of pain turned to a whimper as it staggered away, half-dead.

Wells’s chest heaved, his cheeks flushed with exhilaration.

He raised his gaze, eyes blazing with battle lust. This time, he would be the hunter.

…But wait. Wasn’t something missing?

The mage. Where was the mage?

——

In the mushroom forest, Lin Jun’s enforcement squad had no chance to act.

The adventurers hadn’t kept fighting in the cavern but had dragged the battle outside.

As long as Fatty Puji—and the treasure in its belly—remained safe, their squabble wasn’t his concern.

Besides, the outcome was nearly decided.

The dwarf had been wounded, and the mage had slipped away. But with Jeanne recklessly spamming Potential Surge, her party’s power had climbed far above their opponents’.

They’d pay for it later—half a month bedridden, most likely. But a victory was a victory.

——

Clang!

Steel rang out as Ralph knocked aside another blade.

Suddenly, the opposing leader staggered back, clutching the glittering A-rank mana crystal.

“No more! We surrender! Take it and let us go! Otherwise, I’ll blow it up!”

He poured mana into it. The crystal flared with blinding violet light. He even had Mana Control.

He hated giving up such a fortune. But he had no choice.

They had been losing from the start. He himself had nearly had his throat slit by Ralph’s twin blades several times.

Their hunter, stripped of his hound, was reduced to swinging a hatchet in close combat, barely surviving.

If he delayed surrender, the hunter would surely die.

Fortunately, Ralph wasn’t eager to risk losing the prize.

Seeing the crystal glowing near detonation, he quickly raised a hand. “Wait—don’t be rash.”

Truthfully, Ralph didn’t even understand why they were fighting in the first place.

He was greedy for the crystal, yes. But these opponents weren’t weak—he wouldn’t have struck first.

Their sudden attack made no sense. His team hadn’t flaunted wealth or loot. Why target them?

Well, no matter. They’d fought, so he might as well take the spoils.

“Fine. Hand it over and you can go.” Ralph extended his hand.

The enemy leader nearly laughed in disbelief. “Do you take me for a fool? Clear a path. We’ll give it once we’re safe.”

“Tch.” Ralph signaled his team, and they shifted aside, opening a narrow way out.

The other party edged past. But before they had fully cleared, Ralph called out, “That’s far enough. Give me the crystal. I won’t pursue you.”

The leader’s jaw tightened. He knew Ralph’s stance was immovable. Any refusal would restart the fight.

Exchanging a glance with his companions, he hurled the crystal—sending it flying past Ralph, toward the mushroom forest.

Then, without hesitation, they bolted, leaving even the hunter’s unconscious hound behind.

Grumbling, Ralph retrieved the crystal. It had landed just at the forest’s edge.

“Jackpot!”

The sudden windfall erased much of Wells’s resentment.

“Shame one coward abandoned his teammates.”

Ralph meant the mage. The others seethed with the same anger.

Wells spat, “Next time we see him, I’ll make sure he pays.”

“This fight really wore me out.” Ralph rubbed his shoulder.

The fatigue was worse than two sleepless nights—and only worsening.

“The cave still has monster corpses. We’ve got a few as well. Who has the strength to trade them in? I need to rest.”

At that, Wells and the dwarf realized their own exhaustion, too.

So the burden fell to Jeanne, still alert.

“Sorry, Priestess. Hate to make you do grunt work at the end,” Ralph said.

She smiled warmly. “Nonsense. You three worked the hardest. Rest well. I’ll finish the trade and stand guard.”

Her smile was as reassuring as ever.

The three slumped against a nearby mushroom, too drained to move further.

Within moments, they had fallen asleep.

——

Muffled voices roused Wells.

Huh?

How long was I out?

He tried to rise—only to find himself bound tight.

What the—? Who tied me? Ralph?

He looked around. No one.

“Damn it! Ralph? What the hell are you—”

“Aaaaahhhhhh—!”

A sudden scream froze him.

That voice… Ralph!?