"It's already getting dark. Why are we wearing sunglasses?" Mira held hers gently by the frame, but didn't take them off.
Rhodes adjusted his own pair with a smirk. "Precaution. And remind me when we get back, we should buy a couple pairs of plain glasses."
"So this is for self-defense? Here I thought you just liked how I looked in them."
"Well…" Rhodes glanced at her. "You're not wrong. I do like it."
Girls in glasses were, in his opinion, pretty great.
Just in case, Rhodes left behind two pairs of Krugs disguised as ordinary stones near the village perimeter.
Then he summoned two Scuttle Crabs, and he and Mira rode them out toward the scene Jasper had described.
As expected, the village chief's directions weren't exactly accurate. Once they arrived at the general location, Rhodes had to release his Murk Wolves to sniff out the scene. After a bit of searching, the wolves unearthed traces of dried blood, buried beneath disturbed earth and scattered leaves.
Nearly half a month had passed since the crime, and the path had seen its share of foot traffic. The road itself showed little sign of what had happened.
Still, along the roadside, Mira noticed something. Some of the bushes and tall grasses had been sliced clean through. Fallen twigs and leaves had been cleared by passersby, but deep, deliberate gashes were still visible in the hard-packed soil.
Mira knelt down and ran her fingers across the marks. "Whoever did this had serious swordsmanship… or was wielding powerful Wind Magic."
Aside from that, there wasn't much else to go on.
Rhodes scouted the area, but time had erased nearly every trace. No footprints. No wheel tracks. No scent of magic left behind. Even the air was muddled with too many layers of scents and elements to discern anything clear.
He sighed and stood. "If we want more answers, we'll have to ask around in the town. Maybe tomorrow or the day after."
Left with no choice, the two returned the way they came.
By the time they reached the village, night had fully fallen. Still wearing their sunglasses, they met Jasper, who, used to the quirks of wizarding folk, didn't even comment on their appearance.
"Thanks for your effort," Jasper said. "Was there anything useful?"
Rhodes shook his head. "The clues are too scattered. We'll need to stay alert tomorrow."
Mira smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, we'll make sure the festival goes off without a hitch."
"I appreciate it, truly." Jasper led them back to the small guesthouse from their last visit. "My wife will be back shortly to prepare dinner. Please make yourselves comfortable in the meantime."
"There's no need," Rhodes declined politely. "We ate before returning. We'll just rest."
He didn't feel comfortable accepting any food from someone whose honesty was still in question. Until he figured out what Jasper might be hiding, it was better to stay cautious.
That night, the two took turns bathing.
A single man and woman, no, an unmarried couple, sharing a room was one thing. But sharing a bed?
Rhodes glanced at Mira as she stepped out in her pajamas. He didn't dare do anything out of line.
Not because he lacked desire, but because if something did happen and they were interrupted mid-moment, like in the middle of a mission, it'd leave him traumatized. At the very least, it would completely tank his mood. At worst, it'd leave him with a complex.
They agreed to take shifts, with one person keeping watch during the first half of the night and the other during the second.
Mira, completely trusting, flopped down beside him and rested her head against his chest like a contented cat. She found a comfy spot and drifted off peacefully.
And just like that… Rhodes knew he wasn't getting any sleep tonight.
He stared up at the dark ceiling, quietly despairing, then shifted his attention to the vision of his patrolling Scuttle Crabs to distract himself.
Outside, the waning moon hung above the village, casting soft silver light across the rooftops.
One of the crabs completed its second lap around the village wall. Everything was quiet.
Another Scuttle Crab moved quietly through the village's alleys. Most houses had already gone dark, though a few windows still glowed with warm candlelight.
If this had been a leisure trip instead of a mission, wandering through such a peaceful little village at night would have had its own charm.
Back in bed, Rhodes felt something warm press against his chest. It was Mira, who had shifted closer in her sleep, nuzzling against him.
Too much.
He made a mental note to tease her mercilessly once the mission was over.
The next morning, Mira clutched the pillow tighter, fumbling around half-awake. Something didn't feel right.
Then she opened her eyes and realized, she'd spent the night hugging Rhodes.
'Yikes. Did I oversleep?'
She sat up in a panic, only to find Rhodes already awake, looking at her with amused, slightly bloodshot eyes.
"You're up?" Rhodes greeted her, smiling at the mess of hair on her head.
Anyone who'd stayed up all night would act a little weird the next day.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Mira asked, sounding both concerned and annoyed.
"You looked too peaceful," Rhodes replied, stretching. "Didn't want to disturb you."
It had been tough, sure, but not unbearable.
Then Mira suddenly leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Rhodes blinked. "...Well. Good morning to you too."
After freshening up, the two left the house together.
For young mages like them, pulling an all-nighter wasn't that big of a deal. It was just like staying up on New Year's Eve, except this time, it was for the Harvest Festival.
The two Scuttle Crabs had done their job for nearly a whole day and night and were sent back to Summoner's Rift to rest.
Today's patrol duties were handed over to the Raptors.
There were a lot of them, and they could fly high and scout wide. While Rhodes couldn't share their field of vision like with his wolves, they could still alert him if they spotted anything unusual.
He decided against using the Murk Wolves. They were too famous, and their presence might draw unnecessary attention.
The village was bustling now. Every household was decorating in preparation for the evening festivities.
Unlike in the city where you'd find paper lanterns and flashy flags, the villagers here used nature's bounty, colorful garlands made from red peppers, golden corn, purple eggplants, and more hung above doorways and under rooftops.
Rhodes blinked at the sight. For a second, it reminded him of the countryside in some faraway land. The strings of golden corn in particular looked incredibly satisfying.
He was tempted to ask for a few and throw them in a stew.
Mira gently took his arm as they strolled through the village. "You look like you're enjoying yourself."
"Can you blame me?" Rhodes smiled. "I didn't grow any of this, but I can still feel the joy of the harvest. It's different from the city's parties. This feels more real."
As they wandered, a group of laughing children ran past, brandishing peeled corn stalks like makeshift swords. The younger ones shouted out roles, knights, wizards, and bandits, all caught up in their own adventure.
Among them was the little girl from yesterday, Fei. She had no stick or stalk in her hand, but she was gleefully acting as the "wizard."
In fact, before Rhodes and Mira had come to the village, the kids always held sticks when pretending to be mages. But now? No more staffs. Just fancy poses and dramatic words.
It seemed the kids' image of a wizard had been permanently altered.
Mira chuckled as she watched them. The children's laughter was contagious. For a moment, she imagined their own future children being just as full of energy and joy.
Rhodes watched with a fond smile as well. Though in his case, he was secretly itching to snatch one of the corn-stalk swords and join the fun.
He shook off the mischievous urge to "borrow" a kid's toy and turned his attention to the bundles of vegetables hanging outside every home.
"When we get back," Rhodes said, eyeing the festive decorations of produce, "let's buy some eggplants, corn, and potatoes. I'll stew them up for us."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "You'll cook?"
Rhodes paused. "If I cook... will you actually eat it?"
Mira smiled sweetly. "If it's made by you, I'll eat it."
Rhodes felt touched.
Then she added, "Besides, poisons don't affect demons."
Not touched.
Rhodes narrowed his eyes. "Fine then. I'll mix in half a pot of sleeping powder and do all sorts of things to you while you're knocked out!"
Mira tilted her head playfully. "You do realize I make your breakfast every morning, right?"
"Right."
"And what exactly do you mean by 'all sorts of things'?" she asked, still smiling innocently.
Rhodes hesitated, then muttered, "Maybe a leg massage? Shoulder rub?"
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Anyway, no time to fool around," Rhodes said, slipping back into a serious tone. "I'm leaving the wolves and Krugs with you. Use them to patrol the village. I'm going to scout outside."
"Got it. Be careful."
"Take over: Raptor!"
Crimson feathers burst from Rhodes's arms as wings formed, flapping powerfully. In seconds, he soared into the sky, heading southeast.
One of the Raptors in that direction had retreated to the canyon, and he needed to confirm the situation himself.
Mira watched as Rhodes vanished into the distance. Then she turned to the summoned monsters.
The six wolves and four Krugs silently nodded and scattered according to Mira's instructions, hiding around the village perimeter.
Mira herself made her way to the central square—the heart of the Harvest Festival and the most crowded area. It needed to be secured.
"Miss Mira!" Jasper called, jogging up to her with urgency. "I was just about to send someone to fetch you. The ceremony is about to begin... wait, where's Mr. Rhodes?"
"He sensed something odd and went out to check," Mira explained. "You don't need to wait for him. Go ahead with the ceremony as planned."
Jasper looked nervous. "Is someone really trying to cause trouble? I-I just... wanted to be cautious..."
Mira offered a gentle smile. "It's not confirmed yet. We'll wait for Rhodes to verify it. But don't worry. If anything does happen, we'll handle it."
"R-right." Jasper nodded quickly, though his unease was plain. "Should I organize some of the younger villagers just in case?"
Mira chuckled. "How many young men do you have here? Do they outnumber Rhodes's 'army'?"
"..."
Jasper recalled the earlier invasion of blue and violet creatures, scuttling bugs, snarling wolves, and flying beasts. He shuddered, then relaxed.
Thinking back, he even felt like cursing the gossip magazines. One of them had written that Mr. Rhodes's strongest summon was "a few oversized wolves." What nonsense! Clearly that reporter had never been swarmed by fifty bugs in the middle of the night.
"Then... shall we begin the ceremony?"
"Please. Go ahead."
Reassured, Jasper gathered the villagers, waited for everyone to arrive, and then climbed up onto the central platform.
His speech was heartfelt. He spoke of the challenges the village had faced, the rat infestation, the hardships of rebuilding, and the hope that had carried them through. He thanked the villagers for their hard work, the wizards for their help, and the heavens for their blessings.
Then came the ritual.
Jasper raised a wine cup, and those nearest the platform followed suit. They dipped their fingers in the wine, flicked drops skyward three times, then down three times, and finally sprinkled the rest onto the ground beneath their feet.
Then, with hands clasped in front of their chests, the entire village bowed their heads in prayer, offering thanks for the bountiful harvest and wishing for clear skies and good fortune in the coming year.
At the same time, Rhodes spotted a group approaching the village.
They all wore the same attire, black suits over white shirts, plaid-patterned trousers, and messy, unkempt hair. A few had styled their hair into horn-like spikes.
There were around forty of them. Some were unarmed, others carried weapons. From above, Rhodes couldn't tell whether they bore any guild insignias.
Still, judging by the way they moved, organized, tight, and silent, they definitely weren't coming with good intentions.
Even so, Rhodes decided to hold off on making the first move. He didn't want to cause unnecessary injury if it turned out they were mistaken.
Luckily, he had already stationed Voidgrubs near the village to begin spawning reinforcements. By the time this group reached the outskirts, there'd be hundreds of creatures waiting. Perfect for testing their strength.
For now...
Rhodes swooped in from above, landing quietly on a stretch of dry grass some distance behind the group. He summoned two crabs, sending them to skitter ahead as scouts.
The terrain around the village was mostly flat, and the vegetation had already turned golden-brown in the autumn air. The greenish hue of the crabs stood out against the landscape, but they pretended to be just ordinary wild crustaceans scuttling through the fields.
Coming in from the rear helped. Most of the intruders didn't even glance at them, until the crabs got close enough to be heard.
Through shared vision, Rhodes got a better look at the intruders. Patches stitched on their coats showed a black letter "B." Most of their guild insignias were hidden beneath their clothes, but two of them had the symbol inked boldly on their necks and faces.
Black Unicorn.
A dark guild.
Well then... no need to be polite.
Rhodes remembered clearly, at the last official guild meeting, the Magic Council had designated Black Unicorn as a threat. The mission to eliminate them had been handed over to Quatro Cerberus Clearly, they hadn't been caught yet. Which meant...
Too bad this was an official crusade mission and not a bounty-based task. Otherwise, he'd be cashing in on double the reward today.
Still, the pay for eliminating them wouldn't be bad. Couldn't complain.
The vision showed some movement. A few of the Black Unicorn mages had finally noticed the crabs.
One guy with a massive cleaver backed away in tears. "Wh-what the hell is that?!"
His partner wasn't faring much better, clearly freaked out by the oversized crustaceans. A third mage fired a magic bolt that shattered one of the crab's legs.
In response, the two crabs spun around and bolted, their legs clacking furiously.
Some of the dark wizards gave chase, eager for target practice, or a seafood dinner, but the leader barked at them to stop.
"Focus. We've got business to handle. No time to mess around."
Rhodes, watching from a distance, let out a sigh of relief. At least they weren't scared off entirely.
He took back to the skies, returning to the village outskirts where the Voidgrubs had continued spawning.
The worms had multiplied rapidly by now, there were nearly five hundred of them writhing and clicking beneath the dirt and underbrush.
Rhodes raised a hand.
Voidgrubs let out guttural screeches, and the swarm charged forward in a tidal wave of armored legs and snapping mandibles.
The mages of Black Unicorn stumbled back in confusion and panic.
"This was supposed to be some backwater village!" someone shouted.
"Why the hell are there so many bugs?!"
And then someone squinted ahead.
"Wait... the guy behind them... doesn't he look familiar...?"