Chapter 3: The Dawn of the Revolution

☆34 Reunion 

The season was transitioning into early summer. But as we traveled north toward the Zephiria Empire, the air grew increasingly chilly. It was almost as if it was defying the season. 

On both sides of the road, lush green mountains stretched out. Their peaks were hidden by the clouds. 

As we moved through the forest, a cold wind whispered through the trees. It made the leaves rustle softly. Occasionally, the distant murmur of a river could be heard. The sound of pristine water cascading over rocks created a soothing ambiance. 

It would take just under a week by carriage to reach Zephiron City, where Lilith was waiting. 

Along the way, we crossed an old stone bridge and traversed vast grasslands. And by dusk, we would stop at a small village to find lodging. No matter which village we stayed in, the locals would always wave warmly, as if welcoming us. 

“Boss, I’m starting to feel nervous. Lilith Starseeker is that ‘Red-Haired’, right?” 

Red-Haired? 

What is she, Sh*nks? 

She had that cool, androgynous charm like a top star in the Takarazuka Revue. 

(Note: Please search this one yourself as I’m not familiar with this reference too.)

But honestly, that nickname doesn’t reflect her abilities at all. 

Are nicknames like that even allowed? 

“Well, yeah, she does have red hair. But she’s just a normal person. Just, you know… insanely strong.” 

“Well, if that’s the case, I guess it’s fine. But…….. I ain’t exactly the most well-mannered guy. You think I’ll get along with her?” 

“You’ll be fine. Your abilities will definitely come in handy.” 

Hearing that, Kai seemed to relax a little. His tension was easing. 

◆◆◆

The cityscape of Zephiron was lined with imposing buildings that carried a sense of deep history. 

The cobblestone streets were flanked by old shops and cafés. It gave the town a nostalgic charm. 

The streetlights were adorned with intricate decorations. And when night fell, their soft glow would envelop the city. As I walked down the streets, the occasional chime of an old church bell echoed. It brought a peaceful stillness to the town. 

The guild was located slightly away from the city center, in a quiet area. 

As I pushed open the heavy wooden doors, a spacious hall came into view. 

The high ceiling was illuminated by simple yet elegant lighting. And portraits of past guild masters adorned the walls. 

I’d never seen a guild like this before. 

At the back of the hall was a lounge where adventurers gathered. Large sofas and tables were arranged throughout the space. The shelves were lined with various books and maps, making it a hub for information exchange. 

And there, in that very lounge, I immediately spotted Lilith. 

Her overwhelming mana presence made it impossible to miss her, even if I wanted to. 

Not that she was aware of it herself. 

“Hey, Souta! Over here, over here!” 

She called out cheerfully, waving her hand. 

The moment she did, all eyes turned to us. 

Please, stop drawing attention… 

Sure enough, I could hear people whispering, *Who the hell are these guys?* 

And, of course, there were plenty of men gawking at Elysia. Their gazes were practically dripping. 

“Long time no see. Thanks for putting my name on the map of the ‘Great Southern Chasm’. It feels like my status has gone up, and everything’s been going a lot smoother because of it.” 

“Glad to hear it! Anyway, don’t just stand there—sit down, sit down!” 

As we settled at the table, I introduced Kai. He was so nervous that he seemed like a completely different person. 

“Ahaha, no need to be so tense. I’m not gonna eat you or anything. Anyway, let me introduce these two as well. This is Orion and Elios. They’re both A-rank. I’ll go over their abilities along the way.” 

Orion had long, jet-black hair and deep violet eyes. He wore light armor and, with his tall stature, looked quite handsome—at least at first glance. But his quiet demeanor gave him an eerie aura. 

Elios, on the other hand, had short silver hair that gleamed like lightning. His bright blue eyes radiated energy. His muscular build made him look powerful. 

“Alright, let’s get down to business. This is an emergency situation. The guild master of Zephiron personally requested my help.” 

Wait, what? 

There’s some kind of emergency S-rank request system? 

Then why wasn’t it triggered back during the whole Asmodeus incident? 

“The target is a village northwest of here. We’ll get the details from the client—a young boy—but it looks like we’ll be hunting a vampire.”

Vampires? 

This world even have those? 

“So vampires actually exist… What kind of abilities do they have?” 

“They’re a rare species. I’ve never encountered one myself, so I can’t say for sure. But after reviewing past extermination records, their abilities seem to vary a lot. So honestly, we won’t know until we face one directly.” 

Lilith shrugged as she answered. 

“Of course, you’ve prepared crosses and garlic, right?” 

I struck a confident pose as I said that. 

“A… cross? What’s that?” 

Lilith blinked in confusion. 

Oh, right. The churches in this world aren’t Christian. 

Though they do have garlic. 

“Well, I know we just got here, but how about we head out right away?” 

Lilith showed little interest in my comment. She simply proceeded to stand up. The rest of us followed after her.

(Note: There is an Extra for this chapter that you can buy with coins.)