Rangers Endgame

Chapter 137: Hunting for Blood

YAKERU:

Yakeru followed his mentor through the congested Capital streets, ignoring the pestering of nearby vendors. The scent of lavender beckoned them before the herbalist's shop came into view. Upon entering, the same woman they'd met a week and a half prior was there tending to a plant.

She looked over and greeted them with a smile. “Welcome! How can I assist you today?”

Itsuki glanced around to ensure they were alone. “We’re here for a pickup.”

She studied his face, her memory visibly working behind her eyes as she rounded the counter. “Name?”

“Itsuki,” he verified.

She snapped her fingers in remembrance and turned. “Please wait here,” she said before disappearing into the back.

When she returned, she had a sturdy, yet unremarkable box in hand. She set it on the counter, and Itsuki undid the latch and lifted the top. As Yakeru peered inside, the scent of something sweet caressed his nose. Resting within the box lay a honeyed orb with the air twinkling alluringly around it.

“That’s the Lazarus Fruit?” Yakeru whispered, holding himself back from reaching inside.

“Indeed,” the woman confirmed, a touch of reverence in her voice. “Just one of these can bring a person back from the brink. Which is why I’m obligated to ask: are you sure you wouldn’t like to donate it? A single Fruit could help hospitals make leaps in medicine, and you’d receive a handsome reward from doing so.”

Her professional tone didn’t indicate any interest in his actual answer. Itsuki gave him an expectant look, also awaiting his response.

Cold reason shed unhelpful emotions from Yakeru’s decision. A Lazarus Fruit was only practical in the hands of those who danced with death regularly, people who rarely had a moment of respite during the heat of conflict to recover. It’d be wasted on anyone outside of his profession who wouldn’t suffer even half the amount of grievous injuries he’d seen.

“No, thank you,” Yakeru answered, frigidness still lingering in his voice.

The woman nodded with understanding, closing and locking the box again. “In that case, please handle it with care.”

Itsuki accepted the box and placed it in his satchel for safekeeping. After paying for her service, the two rangers bid her farewell and stepped into the bustling afternoon streets. With the Lazarus Fruit now in their possession, they followed the current of pedestrians to the guild.

They turned a few corners before walking through the doors, ignoring the familiar smell of ale in search of their other two party members through the raving rangers. Kenji and Fuyumi sat at their usual table, the conjurer chatting to pass the time while Fuyumi idly listened as she sipped her drink. A sheet rested at Fuyumi’s side, which Yakeru assumed was the mission they had settled on.

Though another group of rangers conversing at the neighboring table caught his eye. One young man, equipped with a shield with serrated edges, kept stealing glances at Fuyumi, but she was obviously ignoring him. The other was a woman peeking over the rim of her drink at Yakeru, batting long lashes, but he also pretended not to notice.

Kenji, being the one facing Yakeru and Itsuki, noticed their approach first and waved. Fuyumi glanced over her shoulder, giving an acknowledging nod as they slipped into their seats.

“Kenji. Fuyumi.” Itsuki greeted with a soft smile.

“You're here. Was the Laz—” Kenji caught himself. “Was it ready?”

Itsuki flashed the box, Kenji and Fuyumi giving satisfied nods.

Yakeru eyed Fuyumi’s drink, confused, and she followed his questioning gaze, quietly realizing.

She swirled her cup. “Just water.” She shot a glance at the drunkards clinking their mugs with their parties. “Nothing disgusting.”

“Mm.” Yakeru shifted his attention to the sheet next to her. “What’s on today’s agenda?”

She slid him the sheet, and he looked it over. Fuyumi must have picked the mission this time because it was to exterminate monsters, more specifically a fungus blight infestation. He recalled their first encounter with the creatures when Kenji began overusing enhancement elixirs, and a twisted wave of nostalgia passed over him.

They already had experience fighting them, and according to the mission sheet, the monsters weren’t any stronger than C-tier. The infestation bordered on the Inner and Mid Rim, so it was relatively close as well. Although it wore the face of a simple mission, he knew better than to fall into the trap of naivety.

“I heard these blights just reached C-tier, so their next spike in power won’t be for another month or so. We have plenty of time.” Kenji explained, adjusting his glasses.

“Got it,” Yakeru said curtly.

Before they actually set out, Itsuki shared his advice on fungus blights: the best way to approach their nest and optimal strategies to dismantle it. Their last battle against them was a frontal assault, but his approach seemed more surgical.

As he explained, Yakeru’s periphery caught the young man leaning towards the woman and whispered something above the noise. She raised a knowing brow and subtly gestured with her head towards Fuyumi.

“The worst she can say is ‘no’, as they say,” she assured, resting her chin in her hand to watch the show, shifting one leg over the other.

When Itsuki finished, the young man took that moment to tap Fuyumi’s shoulder awkwardly. Her already disinterested gaze turned to him before she had the chance to stand.

“Sorry if this is sudden, but I couldn’t help but notice, uh,” he stammered, his eyes trailing to the side before settling on hers again. His blush deepened, but he clamped down harder on his withering confidence. “Your eyes are just as enchanting as you are.”

She only stared deadpan as the air between them plunged into awkward silence. Itsuki and Kenji watched the one-sided exchange while Yakeru facepalmed. The young woman at his table hid her amusement behind her drink.

The quiet grew unbearable until Fuyumi, not bothering to entertain his poor attempt, turned to her own party. “Let’s go.”

As they were about to leave, Yakeru overheard the young man ask his friend what he had done wrong in an agitated whisper. The woman left a generous tip on the table for the beverage and rose to her feet, her heels clicking as she rounded the table.

“Maybe next time, charmer.” She patted her sulking party member’s shoulder, the scratched bracelet around her wrist rustling. “Come on. Those bloodhounds aren’t going to hunt themselves.”

Fuyumi froze dead in her tracks, stunned as she forced herself to turn back to them. “What did you say?”

The woman looked back at her, light sparkling in her blonde hair as she did. “We were on our way to hunt bloodhounds. Apparently, there were sightings in the Frostmarrow Mountains.”

Fuyumi’s fist clenched white, suppressed rage burning behind her eyes. Yakeru didn’t need to hear her reply. He already knew what she was going to respond with.

She carelessly tossed the rolled-up mission sheet aside, landing in Kenji’s hands, and stepped toward the woman. Without acknowledging Yakeru or the others, she declared, “I’m going with you.”

Kenji glanced at Yakeru with worry. Though he never witnessed the battle, the conjurer saw the brutal aftermath of her narrow victory against the last bloodhound she’d faced.

The woman dismissed her serious words with a shrug. “I don’t see why not. And your rank is?”

“An A-rank close-quarters combatant.”

“Perfect.”

The man who’d hit on Fuyumi brightened, likely excited for a second chance, but her piercing glare erased his lifted mood a moment later.

Kenji stepped forward after her. “Then we’re going too.”

The woman turned to the remaining three in Fuyumi’s party, her soft ruby eyes lingering on Yakeru. “Sure. The more, the merrier. And your ranks?”

“I’m a C-rank conjurer that specializes in—”

She held up a forestalling hand, her face turning regretful. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but though the mountains are located in the Mid Rim, the guild doesn’t want to risk the safety of C-ranks or lower since they’ve confirmed the type of monster we’ll be facing.”

Kenji’s face fell. “Oh, okay. I understand.”

Yakeru laid an entrusting hand on his mentor’s shoulder. “Itsuki, please stay with Kenji.”

Itsuki looked between him and the conjurer, torn between his guardian duty and watching over Kenji.

“That’s okay. I know what to do against fungus blights,” Kenji responded.

Yakeru shook his head insistently. “It’s not the monsters that concern me. It’s the people who will tag along.”

Kenji’s features scrunched in confusion, but at least Itsuki begrudgingly understood. They shared the same experience after all.

“Fine,” Itsuki sighed in agreement. “But only on one condition.” He materialized the box from his satchel. “Keep this on you at all times.”

For a reason he couldn’t quite place, Yakeru hesitated. Perhaps it was a twinge of guilt from taking such a powerful item from him.

His mentor shoved the box into Yakeru’s possession before he could protest and took a step back. “Now you don’t have an excuse to return battered,” he smirked.

Yakeru breathed a sigh that carried his quiet amusement, slipping it into his own satchel. “We’ll be back.”

Itsuki and Kenji gave him and Fuyumi one last departing look before splitting to search for another party to carry out their own mission. When Yakeru turned back, the woman had taken a step closer than necessary, her soft perfume tickling his nose.

“Where are my manners? I don’t believe I’ve introduced myself.” She wore a charming smile, as if already accepting him into her party even when she still didn’t know his rank. She dipped into a curtsey. “I’m Risa. An A-rank conjurer who specializes in perimeter defense.”

He stepped back reflexively. “Yakeru. A B-rank swordsman.”

“Welcome aboard, Yakeru,” Risa chimed.

She gestured to her only other party member, who appeared hypnotized by Yakeru’s aloof partner waiting by the exit. Risa cleared her throat, snapping him out of his trance. His oddly designed shield clanked against his armor as he jogged up.

“I’m Yuto. I’m an A-rank hybrid specializing in close-quarters combat and shielding.” He dipped his head.

Yakeru’s curiosity piqued as he'd never heard of a hybrid before. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to watching him in combat.

Risa gave an apologetic look to Fuyumi, who visibly counted the seconds until the group was ready.

“We’ve kept your poor friend waiting long enough. Shall we?” She gestured to follow.

Now that he thought about it, Risa and Yuto were originally a party of two about to go on a mission.

He glanced at her. “I thought the guild only permitted teams of three or more to go on missions?”

“That’s right. Our last member is in the Mid Rim as we speak and actually works closely with Guild Master Adrian. We’ll get everything we need from there.”