A new chapter! This one is quite shorter than the last one, but I hope you guys enjoyed it! Also, there's a slight spoiler. No worries, nothing big. One from the Kamen manga/light novel series. Anyway, enjoy!

~

"Just keep running!"

"What the heck did you just drag me into?!"

I'm running as fast as I could, tailing another person who's also running in front of me. And behind us, two tall, bulky looking men are chasing us.

I'm pretty sure you're wondering "Why they are chasing you and who is the other person?" . So before I continue, let me give you some context.

I rise with the sun as a new day arrives. After the dinner last night with Wiz, I head straight back to my room as I am so freaking tired after a long day. The room is much cooler compared to the guild's inn so I get my most relaxing sleep for the first time in this world.

After taking a bath and getting changed into my adventurer outfit, minus the armor, I go downstairs, where Wiz is cooking in the kitchen. "Morning Boss." I greet her. She turns around slightly to look at me. "Oh, good morning, Fajar. Take a seat. Breakfast will be ready soon." She says. I take a seat at the dining table. I look around and noticed there are nothing much in the house, except for Wiz's stuffs.

"Boss, may I ask you something?" I ask. "Go ahead." She says, taking out two plates from the cabinet. "Why did you retired? From adventuring, I mean." I ask her. From what I heard, she's a powerful adventurer, gaining the epithet Ice Witch during her adventuring days. So it gets me curious about her past. Wiz pauses before answers. "Well, something happens, and I took the decision to retire." She put a plate of pancake in front of me, topped with butter and honey. Her answer didn't quite satisfies me, but I won't push her if she didn't want to answer it. I cut a piece of the pancake and shove it into my mouth.

*KO*NO*SU*BA*

After the delicious breakfast, I ask Wiz's permission to head to the guild to meet with the others. We have agreed that I can still go out adventuring, but I need to inform Wiz if I will be away during a quest and need to help at the shop if I'm not questing, which works out for me.

I arrive at the guild several minutes later. I head inside and greet some familiar faces who's seems like always at the guild 24/7. I make a beeline to our usual spot, where the others are already there.

As I approach our party, I can hear the girls gushing over something. "Hey guys! What's up?" Aqua, Megumin and Darkness turn around as I greet them. "Oh Fajar! Look, Kazuma already had a new outfit now!" Aqua says. The girls move over to reveal Kazuma with his brand new adventurer gear. His outfits consist of a white long sleeved shirt, a green mantle with gold trimmings, dark gray pants and leather boots.

"Kazuma looks like a real adventurer now." Megumin says. I nod, agreeing with her. "Wearing a tracksuit ruins the fantasy feeling, doesn't?" Aqua says, as a matter of fact.

"So, now you're, as Megumin said it, a real adventurer, why don't we take some quests to start our day?" Kazuma nod, having the same thought as me. I kinda eager to know how well will our party work together. After all, this will be our first quest together as an official party. Teamwork makes the dream work, am I right?

"Let's go on a kill quest then! Ones with lots of small-fry monster! I want to test out my new staff's magic power!"

"No, one with super strong monster that hit with hard, pleasant blow!"

"No, let's do a profitable quest! I paid my tab, so I don't have any money for my meals today."

So much for a dreamwork...

"Okay, it's the giant frog's mating season,"

Oh no, I think that I have a clear idea of what are you going to suggest Kazuma, and I don't think I like it.

"And I hear they're infesting the area near the city so..."

"No!"

"Not the frog!"

"Heck no!"

Not those slimy amphibians again!

"Huh? Why?" Darkness seems confused as why we object Kazuma's suggestion.

"These two here have been traumatized by the frogs and I just genuinely hate those freaking hopping creatures." I explain to her. "Those two got eaten headfirst and covered in slime." Kazuma adds.

"C-Covered in slime?!" Ahhh... I see what's going on here. "Yes and please, stop get turned on with things like this. It's not a pleasant experience at all." I just sigh while trying to calm down those two girls who are having PTSD.

*KO*NO*SU*BA*

"The heck?!"

We head to the bulletin board to take a quest, but shockingly there's barely any quest available. There's so little of it that I can even count it with one hand.

"Huh? What's going on? There's hardly any requests." Kazuma also questions the lack of available quest.

"Kazuma! This is it! Let's do this one! A kill quest for a giant beast called Black Fang!" Darkness points at a poster.

If the name doesn't already suggest how ridiculously strong the creature is, the poster itself is full of red skull stamp, showing how dangerous the quest is.

"Are you out of your mind?! I know you love to get hurt, but that thing wouldn't just hurt you idiot! It probably can kill you in one hit!" I chew her out for the suicidal suggestion.

"What's this all about? Why there's only high difficulty quests left?!" Kazuma shouts in frustration.

"I am very sorry." A voice says. We turn around to see Luna. "The truth is, one of the Demon King's top leader moved in near town recently." She explains.

"A top leader? Why?" I ask. Why the Demon King even bother to have his top leader here, at a town full of rookies?

"I can't say for sure. Anyway, all of the weak monsters in the area have gone into hiding because of that, so there's been a sharp decline in request."

Well, that just sucks.

"What?" I can see the disappointment on Kazuma's face. "(sigh) So what now?" I say.

Kazuma scratches his head, clearly troubled by the situation. "Well, I guess we have no choice. We have to take some days off until the problem sorted out." he says.

"Oh, by the way. Fajar, have you found a place to stay yet? Some adventurers just checked out so there's a few available inn if you interested." Suddenly Luna asks me. I pretty sure the guild wants to make up for what happened.

"I appreciate the offer, but I have to pass. I already get a place to stay along with a part time job." I say, informing my party at the same time. "Thank God." Luna seems relief to know that.

"Oh, you're working now Fajar?" Aqua says, out of the blue (Get it? 'Cause she's blue. Ok, bad joke.) "Yes, I'm sure I just said that." I get a bad feeling about this. "So... You see... I've paid all of my debt. And now I don't have any money with me. So, I think maybe I could-" "Borrow some of my money? Heck no!" I didn't even wait for her to finish.

In the end, I end up lending her some money (after she won't shut up and keep crying and bugging me). We all agree to return home for the day since there's nothing we can do.

I return at the shop and get ready for my shift. It's still morning, so there's barely any customer yet. I help Wiz restocking the shop and sometimes go to shop to buy a few things.

It's already noon and I'm cleaning the dust on the shelves when a couple of customers enter the shop. "Welcome!" I greeted them. The customers, a tall man with dark brown hair, and a brunette-haired woman. They both seem surprised when I greet them.

"Err... Is Wiz here?" the man ask me. "A minute. Boss! Someone is looking for you!" A moment later, Wiz emerges into the shop from the kitchen.

"Can I help y- Brad! Rosary!" Suddenly Wiz exclaims and rushes to those two , much to my confusion. "Wiz! It's been a while!" "Nice to see you doing well, Wiz" "I'm happy to see both of you too!"

The customers and Wiz start to chatting casually, and finally the man's focus directed to me. "So, Wiz, who's this kid?" he says, much to my chagrin. "Wha- Kid?!"

Wiz giggles at my outburst. "She's not a kid, Brad. This is Fajar. My employee." Wiz told the man, Brad. "Employee? You didn't have any the last time we visited." the woman, Rosary if I'm not mistaken, says.

Last time? So they're kind of a regular here?

"Err... yes. I just get employed. Just yesterday, in fact." I explain to them.

"Oh, right! I didn't introduce you guys to him. Fajar, this is Brad and Rosary. They're my former party member back when I'm still an adventurer." Wiz introduces them to me.

"Brad. Or maybe perhaps you've heard me as the Great Sword Master of Belzerg." Brad offer his hand, proudly boasting about himself.

I just sweatdroped and take his hand and shake it. "Errr no... But nice to meet you." That's obviously not the response he's hoping for, since he's clearly seems dejected.

"Don't mind about my husband. Nice to meet you, Fajar. I glad Wiz finally decide to have someone helping her at the shop." Rosary says, just smiling as she's looking at the dispirited man.

Well, more like I'm the one insisted on working with Wiz.

"Please have a seat. We can talk more with tea. I'll make some." Before Wiz can even go to the kitchen, I stop her. "Let me handle this, Boss. You can sit and talk with your friends." I say. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah! I mean, how difficult could it be?" I go inside to the kitchen.

I take a kettle and fill it with water. I'm a bit impressed that even a medieval style fantasy world has gas stoves.

I put the kettle on the stove and let water boil. I search inside the cabinet and found a jar labeled as Tea. Wait, it's not in a tea bag, like I used to. Just dried tea leaves. Shit.

"Take two and a half spoons, mix them with hot water." I voice suddenly said, startling me and I almost drop the jar in the process.

I turn around, and I see Brad. "Oh. Errr... Thanks." I say. "Don't mention it. I have seen Wiz make it countless times that I unconsciously remember it." he says. I put two spoons of the dried tea leaves into a tea pot and mix them with hot water.

"So... Why Wiz?" Suddenly Brad asks me, much to my confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, why do you decide to work with Wiz? Most people wouldn't even consider working here when they knew this shop didn't have even single profitable month." Well, his question has truly come out of the blue. "Well... I'm not sure myself. Maybe because she's the only person I know that own a business. Also, I'm desperately needed a place to stay, so when I ask Wiz and she can provide not only a place, but also a job, I don't see why I should turn it down. About the not gaining any profit... I think I can help her with that."

Brad just sighs at my answer. "I really never understand her. Anyway, just a warning. Both Rosary and I owe Wiz our lives, literally. So if anything bad happens to Wiz, just remember that I'm still a powerful swordmaster. Get it?" Brad says, almost kinda threatening me at the end. I just gulp and nods.

Both me and Brad leave the kitchen and rejoin with the others. Wiz and Rosary seems to be in a middle of a conversation. "Sorry for taking too long." I say and I put the tray with the tea pot and pour the tea into four cups. "Don't worry about it." Wiz says as I hand her a cup. "Anyway, where's Mary?" She asks Rosary. Who's Mary? Another member of their party?

"Well... That's actually why we're here. Mary is at home right now, and tomorrow we have to leave town for a few days. We can't find anyone to take care of her since she's easily scared of strangers. I know this is a little bit too much to ask, but can you look after her for a few days, Wiz?" Brad explains. So Mary is their daughter, I assume.

Wiz thought for a while before answering. "Hmmm... I think I didn't mind taking care of her. She's a sweet little girl and I'm sure she wouldn't be much of a work to take care of. Besides, Fajar can help me with the shop." Well, I've no problem if Wiz want me to look after the shop, and not the girl. I'm terrible at handling kids.

"Thank goodness... Thank you Wiz! You truly are our most precious friend!" Rosary express her gratefulness, launching herself at Wiz and hugs her. Wiz just smiles at her friend's antics.

Wiz and his friends chat a little more, catching up with each other while I look after the shop.

"Bye Wiz! Bye Fajar! See you later!" "We will be back with Mary tomorrow!" Rosary and Brad bid us farewell as they head back home at the end of the day. We bid them back, and then start closing the shop.

After taking a bath and dinner, I head to bed and I'm just about to indulging my dreams when...

*Crash!*

"What the?" I heard a crashing sound from my window. I look at the window and saw a silhouette of a person through my curtain. "Who's there?!" And of course, like any other human beings, the person flinches at my voice and quickly leave my window. My curiosity gets the better of me, I quickly open the window and look out, trying to find that person.

It's quite dark to be able to see anything, but I caught some movement by an alley. I quickly hop out from the window and carefully step down from the roof onto the road. "Wait!" I shout, although it's a 100 percent confirmed that the person wouldn't wait. I run into the alley in hopes to catch them.

As I enter the alley, I couldn't find anyone. "What? They're gone?" I look around, trying as best as I could to see in the dark. Suddenly, my ears caught a clanging sound behind some boxes. "Whoever you're, reveal yourself!" I shout, using my power to create a trench knife*, preparing for whatever about to come.

"Hehe, you caught me." Coming out of hiding is...

"Chris?!" "Yo!" Chris gives me a fake salute while I'm still dumbfounded.

"What the heck are you doing here?!" I demand her some explanations.

"Actually, I-"

"I saw her running that way!" Before she could even explain herself, a voice of a man interrupts us. "Shit! They're here! Quick!" Without any warning or whatsoever, Chris took my hand and starts running. "Wa-Woah!"

"Stop right there thieves!" the same voice as before shout again, this time they're closer.

"Just keep running!"

"What the heck did you just drag me into?!"

I'm running as fast as I could, tailing Chris, who's also running in front of me. And behind us, two tall, bulky looking men are chasing us.

"I'll explain that later! Here! Throw these at them!" Chris gives me two black balls with the size of a marble.

I, who's still confused about all this fiasco, throw the balls at the two men.

As the balls hit them, the balls explode and emit black smoke. They're smokescreens. "Uhuk! Uhuk! You're not- Uhuk!- Getting away!"

We get away anyway.

*KO*NO*SU*BA*

After we settle down, Chris and I hide under a bridge. I'm panting, trying to catch my breath while Chris doesn't even sweating at all.

"Thanks for the help. Can't get away without you." No, I'm pretty sure you can without dragging me along.

"Now! Care to explain to me what happened?!" I really want an explanation now.

"Okay, okay. Geez... Calm down. You see those two man earlier?"

Seriously? "Kinda hard not to see them when they're chasing you."

"Right. Now, they're the guards of a noble mansion outside the town. And the reason they're chasing me is this." Chris shows me a dagger. Although seems well decorated and fancy, it still looks like a normal dagger to me.

"You risk your life for a bedazzled dagger?" Chris scoffed at my comment. "It's not just a dagger. It's a magic dagger. It's classified as a Divine Artifact." She explains.

Magic huh? Well, I suppose it's not that uncommon in this world.

"Still, that doesn't explain why you risk your life to steal it." "I steal because I have to. This dagger has the power to turn anyone or anything this dagger killed into an undead army for the user to command. With this kind of weapon under the possession of the noble, who knows what he will do." Okay, now that explain it.

"Alright, I understand. But why do you need to drag me along?"

"You're the one chasing after me in the first place."

...

Fair point.

"Come on! This way!"

Suddenly we hear some voice coming from the bridge.

"Quick! Hide!"

Without any warning, Chris shoves me against the wall.

And her face just inches away from mine.

Shit.

Too close!

Calm the heck down! I'm not a hormonally unstable teenager anymore for God sake!

"Err... Chr-" "Shhh! They're right above us."

We stay in that awkward position for almost a minute. And for almost a minute, my heart is beating so damn fast, that I can almost feel my chest is going to explode, and my face is burning red.

"They're gone." Chris let out a relieved exhale and she finally back away from me. "Huh? Hey, you okay?" I'm too embarrassed for some reason that I couldn't look her in the face. "Don't. Ever. Do. Something. Like that. Ever Again." I say under my breath, but somehow she's able to hear it.

And she smug at it.

"Are you flustered, mister berserker?" she teases me.

"Shut up! I'm leaving!" Now she cannot contain her amusement and erupts in laughter.

I manage to get back to the shop. I'm lucky that Wiz told me there's a spare key under the flower pot or else I would've stuck outside. I quietly return to my room, didn't want to cause Wiz to wake up, and rest my exhausted body on the bed. "What just freaking happened?" I say to myself. I close my eyes and eventually, I'm back into the dream's embrace.

Note

Trench Knife: Widely used during the World War, a trench knife is issued to soldiers for close-quarters combat like in a trench, hence the name. The trench knife typically built as a double edged dagger and a brass knuckle integrated with the handle. One of the most popular trench knife, the World War I Mark I Trench Knives adopted spikes on the knuckle to prevent an opponent from grabbing the knife hand, as well as to deliver more damage from close combat.

...And that's it for this time. I'm sorry if the chapter is kinda short than usual, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.