Chapter 2 - Home Sweet Home (1/2)

”We are looking for someone capable and everyone here, minus possible thieves and the mediocre bards, are invited to take the test to become bodyguards for the Strogueher family. Those who are interested should appear tomorrow at 1 pm at the main gate of the Strogueher family's second mansion.”

Everyone was surprised by the announcement, after all, a bodyguard earned hundreds of coins a year and all he had to do was to accompany someone during some trips and special occasions. It was the perfect job for someone who wanted to get rich.

However, the person would have to deal with thieves, kidnappers, maniacs, and many other types of people from the fringes of society.

Luke and his friends went out the back door before the man entered, but they could hear the call perfectly.

”Let's go home.” said Ynosuke to the half-wolf, who nodded in agreement.

Ynosuke was not as strong as Luke, so when he got the warning signal, he grabbed John and left Zack to be carried by Luke.

This one went much closer than the quartet would have liked. They didn't like to be in places where there might be a mess, and three strong steps were signal enough to leave. If not for the rain, Luke might have sniffed out the man's unpleasant smell a little earlier.

The robber duo ran for a few blocks, carrying their friends. John insisted that he could run alone, however, his only good skill was opening locks that no one else could, otherwise, he was about as useful as a child.

When Zack finally woke up from the turbulence, they were able to walk to the main street like normal people. It was much emptier than usual, because of the torrential rain.

The winding alleys of Oukiwa had already turned into real traps because of the mud puddles. If they had not stolen a wagon during the afternoon, the quartet would take advantage of all this temporal chaos to commit petty thefts.

John, while drying the lenses of his glasses, asked the other three: ”What do you think? Couldn't this be the big opportunity we've been looking for? The Strogueher's must have a safe with lots of gold coins.”

”What happened?” Zack asked confused. He was already fully sober after the little nap and just as predicted, he had a huge bruise under his eye.

”A messenger from the Strogueher Family announced to everyone in the tavern, that they are looking for a bodyguard...” Ynosuke explained.

”The Strogueher Family?” The big red-headed man inquired, impressed. ”They are very rich.”

”Yes, yes! They are the official spokesmen for the Guild here in Oukiwa.”

”I agree that we should take this opportunity to infiltrate there, but Meredith is too pessimistic to allow that.”

”That's four against one! And if we include Matthew in that, it's five to one! She won't be able to not take it.”

”It will be four against two. I don't support that.” Luke said as he took off his hoodie.

”Luke, we will soon run out of work in this town. It seems like every week they discover another mining Dungeon here and there are more and more adventurers waiting for Tower type Dungeons. Soon there won't be any space for thieves.”

”Ynosuke, the fact that there are more and more Dungeon is good for us, Because there will be more and more weapons and stone merchants, and maybe if Oukiwa grows to the point of becoming an Industrial City, there will be a chance for us to rob some Gene Store one day.”

The group continued discussing the possibilities until they reached the harbor area. Huge ships docked there, so there was a great amount of movement of people day and night. It was the perfect place for thieves to hide.

Meredith had lived for a long time hiding in dark alleys, so she believed that this was the perfect place for experienced thieves to hide. She had also grown tired of the misty forests. This was also why she now only orchestrated the robberies and took care of the gang's finances.

The shed where they lived could not be called 'home sweet home', however, it was a warm place where they could eat and rest. The aroma of the meat and vegetable stew, that they were already accustomed to, aroused the appetite of the four as they entered the warm warehouse.

”Have you finally arrived, you sons of bitches?!” Meredith shouted angrily.

Meredith had emerald green eyes and coppery red hair. When angered like that, her ears, which were normally hidden by her beautiful hair, perked up.

And well, she had a very good reason to be angry, because since early afternoon that day, they had gone out to carry out the wagon robbery as planned, and by now it was past nine o'clock at night.

”Say sorry for being so late, and don't even dare take a step inside before you take off those muddy boots!”

”Shhh! Keep it down!” Ynosuke pleaded, afraid that people on the street would hear.

”Sorry.” said John.

Zack, who was starving, apologized so fast he seemed to have spoken another language.

”Sorry, sis.” Luke spoke as he dried the inside of his right ear with his shirt.

”... I'm sorry too” Ynosuke spoke last.

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