The next morning, Haruto, Miyuki, and Emi sat together at the dining table on the lower floor, quietly eating breakfast. The atmosphere was calm, a brief moment of peace after everything they had gone through.
Suddenly, Emi's eyes shifted toward a faint glow coming from her device. A notification had appeared—it was a message from the guild.
Her expression changed instantly.
She straightened in her seat. "I have to leave," she said, her tone calm but urgent.
Miyuki paused, watching as Emi quickly began gathering her things.
"You both stay here," Emi continued. "I have to go out, and if anything happens, I might be away from the village for a few days. Don't worry… everything you need is here in the house."
Haruto frowned slightly and stood up from the table. "I'm coming with you," he said firmly.
Emi froze, clearly surprised. "It's dangerous out there," she replied, concern evident in her voice.
Before Haruto could respond again, Miyuki spoke.
"I know," she said, her voice steady. "But you're going to the guild. I can't just stay behind. You don't know how strong we are. Haruto and I can fight."
Emi hesitated, shaking her head. "No… it's too risky. You can't come with me."
Miyuki stepped forward slightly, her eyes unwavering. "Then I'll at least go with you to the guild. No arguments."
A long silence followed.
Emi looked at her carefully, seeing the determination in her gaze. After a moment, she let out a quiet breath. "…Alright," she said finally. "But we move quickly."
Without wasting another second, the three of them left the house, their footsteps echoing softly as they hurried through the quiet streets.
They soon arrived at the guild building and stepped inside.
The meeting room doors were already open. Inside, several guild members had gathered, their expressions serious. Emi's older brother, Toru Tanaka, and her sister, Nao Tanaka, were already present among them.
At the head of the room sat the guild master, positioned behind a large round table. His presence alone commanded silence.
As Emi entered, all eyes turned toward her and then toward Haruto and Miyuki.
The guild master's gaze narrowed slightly.
"Who are they?" he asked. "And are they the ones you reported to me about?"
Emi stepped forward respectfully. "Yes, Guild Master. They are my companions. Her name is Miyuki… and his name is Haruto."
The guild master's expression hardened slightly. "You know this place is only for guild members and adventurers," he said. "Outsiders are not allowed here."
Emi nodded. "Yes, I know. But this is an emergency. They can help us. And you know… we don't have many adventurers here."
The guild master studied her for a moment before nodding once.
"…Very well. Sit down."
The three of them moved forward and took their seats. Around them, the other members watched quietly, curiosity and unease visible on their faces.
A receptionist standing nearby cleared her throat and began speaking.
"We sent a patrol to the east side," she said. "It was supposed to be a routine mission. They go there every day. But today… we haven't received any reports."
She paused briefly.
"We've tried contacting them multiple times, but there's been no response."
Emi frowned slightly. "How could enemies even enter our village?" she asked. "It's surrounded by mountains. It should be impossible for outsiders to get in."
Nao Tanaka leaned forward, her expression sharp. "Were there any magical items involved? And how many were in the patrol?"
The receptionist checked her notes. "Approximately sixteen."
"And the adventurers we sent to assist?" Nao asked.
"They… haven't returned either," the receptionist admitted.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Tension spread through the air as unease settled into everyone's minds.
Toru Tanaka spoke next, his voice low but serious. "If they haven't returned… something must have happened. It could be monsters."
The guild master shook his head. "Impossible. No monsters appear in that area. It's considered safe. I don't believe a creature is responsible."
Emi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then… it must be them."
The guild master looked at her sharply. "Who?"
"Bandits," Emi replied without hesitation. "I'm certain it's Akira Kurotsuki."
A wave of shock spread through the room. Several guild members exchanged uneasy glances, whispers rising among them.
The guild master raised his hand. "Silence. Don't jump to conclusions."
An elderly man sitting beside him spoke calmly. "And how can you be so sure it's him? It could be any group of bandits."
Emi slowly stood from her seat. "I've read his records," she said, her voice firm. "When we returned to the village, I noticed something… the villagers who were killed showed the same pattern as before."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"And when I checked his files again… everything matched."
Her eyes hardened."He's behind this. I believe our village is his target."
The room fell silent once again.
Far away, deep in the eastern forest…
Akira Kurotsuki smiled as he prepared his next move.