On the outskirts of the city's outer ring, a group of farmers appeared to be preparing for something.
They were carrying a variety of tools—hoes, rakes, machetes, bows, traps, food, and various other supplies. Each person carefully checked their belongings with focused attention.
Meanwhile, a few individuals stood in small clusters, glancing around anxiously.
"Damn it, where the hell is Bravus? Didn't we agree to leave at dawn? The sun's already up, and he's still nowhere to be seen!"
"Exactly! That guy has no sense of punctuality. Who does he think he is, making all of us wait around like this? Arrogant bastard!"
"Yeah, ever since he got that perfume, he's been acting all high and mighty!"
Grumbling voices echoed from all directions. Arthur stood off to the side, silently observing the growing unrest. He occasionally stepped in to calm those getting too riled up. He wasn't happy about Bravus' tardiness either, but as the saying goes: under someone else's roof, you bite your tongue.
After all, nearly half of the group's recent prosperity could be traced back to Bravus.
Without his contributions, these greedy, impatient farmers would never have waited for someone they considered worthless.
So, Arthur simply let things run their course.
Time passed, and by the time the clock struck nine, frustration had reached its peak. Just as they were about to give up and assume they'd been stood up—Bravus finally arrived.
Reactions were mixed: some sighed in relief, others smiled, while many still looked visibly annoyed. But none of them dared confront Bravus directly.
"Hehehe, hey guys! Sorry I'm late. I overslept—had some important business to handle last night," Bravus said with a wide grin.
Though he apologized, his expression told a different story—there wasn't a hint of remorse. Anyone paying attention could tell he was showing off.
The same farmers who had just been complaining moments ago instantly changed their tune, now shamelessly fawning over him.
"Hahaha, no worries, Bravus! We didn't wait that long, really!"
"Yeah, yeah! What matters is that you're here now!"
"Even if you were later, we'd still have waited!"
"That's right! We'd wait all night if we had to!"
Bravus sneered internally. He knew exactly what they were thinking. Their fake smiles looked more like grimaces. But he didn't care. In fact, he felt proud—proud that he could inconvenience so many people and get away with it. Wasn't that proof of his power?
Arthur could only shake his head at how quickly people changed their behavior.
"Alright, that's enough. Since everyone's here, let's pack up and move out," Arthur called.
Bravus didn't like having his moment interrupted, but he knew he'd already been pushing it. He kept quiet and started organizing his gear.
The farmers who had just been sucking up to Bravus now brimmed with energy. Their tired faces lit up with excitement and hope. They were counting on today's hunt to yield even better results than before.
Once they were ready, the group began their journey away from the city walls.
As they walked, Bravus seemed unsteady on his feet, swaying slightly as though struggling to stay balanced. His skin looked pale, and heavy bags under his eyes suggested he hadn't rested well. He was clearly in poor shape.
Some, including Arthur, began to grow concerned. One misstep from Bravus—or anyone—could ruin the entire operation.
"Bravus, are you sure you're alright? If you're feeling unwell, it might be better to head back. You don't look so good."
Bravus scoffed dismissively. "Relax, Arthur. I'm just a little tired from last night's work."
Arthur didn't believe him, but he nodded anyway.
Others were worried too—not out of concern for Bravus himself, but because they feared the hunt might be canceled if he bailed. Now that Bravus had committed to joining, they all breathed a little easier.
The journey continued. Hours passed, and the open fields gave way to denser, wilder forest.
Bravus still staggered along, and Arthur grew more anxious. He moved closer… and caught a faint whiff of alcohol on Bravus' breath.
Arthur clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to curse him out. In his mind, Bravus—despite being a low-tier magic apprentice—wasn't essential to the team. The only thing that mattered was the perfume.
He decided to keep Bravus out of harm's way and simply exploit the perfume.
Unaware of Arthur's true thoughts, Bravus was lost in his own world—focused on one thing: getting revenge on Clayton.
He'd spent the entire night drafting a rough plan, though the details were still vague.
As the group moved deeper into the woods, Bravus spotted a familiar figure in the distance: Equus. Though Equus kept to the shadows, Bravus recognized him right away.
He wondered why Equus was acting so suspiciously. They were in a big group—there was no need to be so cautious. But he quickly brushed the thought aside. He had bigger ideas brewing.
Suddenly, a brilliant thought struck him. He headed straight for Equus.
Equus, who hadn't noticed him at first, was soon greeted by Bravus' smug smile.
"Hey, Equus! How's it going?"
Equus frowned. "Fine. What do you want?"
Bravus ignored the cold tone.
"Oh, nothing much. Just wondering... do you have any beef with Clayton?"
Equus hesitated. "No, it was just a misunderstanding," he replied quickly.
Bravus smirked. "Heh, really? Well, I've got a lot to say about that. You know what they say: the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Equus stayed silent, eyes on the path ahead. But Bravus, undeterred, grew even more animated.
"How about this... I've got something that attracts monsters. What if we, say, slip it onto Clayton's clothes? Let him deal with the fallout."
"We can talk about the details later."
Equus thought for a moment. The idea was cruel… but also effective.
Seeing him hesitate only made Bravus more confident.
"Well? Want to team up and make that arrogant bastard pay?"
"If it works, I'll even cut you in on the profits," Bravus added smugly.
Ever since he got the perfume, Bravus had become wealthy. Arthur split the earnings fairly, and Bravus' role was now seen as critical.
Equus let out a long sigh.
"No. I won't take part in your nonsense," he said flatly.
Bravus froze.
"What? Are you seriously chickening out just because that bastard roughed you up a little? You that used to getting stepped on?" he yelled, hysterical—