Vol3 Chapter 32 Blue Wolfs

The next morning, the Adventurer’s Guild was busier than usual. Amos showed up early—or at least early for him. He tightened the straps on his polished silver armor before stepping through the entrance, his weapon resting securely at his side and every piece of gear double-checked the night before. From Gareth, he’d learned one thing: never underestimate an S-rank ruin, especially when a seasoned A-rank team had already vanished inside.

Amos glanced around the guild hall.

Then stopped.

There.

Six women stood together near the eastern entrance.

Blue Wolfs.

Even without asking, Amos could tell they weren't ordinary adventurers.

The atmosphere around them was different.

Amos approached slowly.

He began studying them.

The first woman immediately caught his attention.

She was tall, perhaps a little taller than him, with long chestnut-brown hair tied behind her head. She wore heavy armor covering most of her body, though unlike the bulky armor Amos was accustomed to seeing on knights, hers was surprisingly look light.

A large shield rested at her side, a sword hanging from her waist. She stood at the front of the group, posture straight and expression calm, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings.

Frontliner.

Amos narrowed his eyes.

Probably the paladin.

If he had to guess, she was the one who made sure everyone stayed alive when things went south. Not the most powerful attacker, but the one who stepped in between the enemy and the rest of the group.

Makes sense.

His gaze shifted.

The second woman was almost the complete opposite.

She wore simple white and blue robes, with a small staff held loosely in one hand. Her hair was light brown and fells past her shoulders. Unlike the armored woman, she looked almost harmless.

There was something incredibly peaceful about her expression.

Cleric.

He nodded internally.

Probably the team's healer.

Then he looked at the third.

Amos paused.

...Oh.

She was huge.

Not enormous, but easily the largest person in the group.

A muscular woman with short, dark-red hair stood with her arms crossed. Her clothing consisted mostly of reinforced leather and metal pieces rather than full armor. A massive axe rested against her shoulder.

Amos stared, and the woman noticed. Their eyes met briefly before he quickly looked away.

Barbarian.

The fourth woman was harder to notice.

She stood slightly away from the others.

She wore a green cloak, her dark brown hair tied back in a short ponytail, a bow slung across her back. Unlike the others, her eyes roamed the guild hall—doors, windows, people, ceiling, exits, blind spots. Amos’s gaze narrowed. A ranger. She was watching everything, and probably everyone. If the ruin held monsters that favored ambushes or hidden passages, she’d be the first to notice.

Useful.

Then came the fifth.

A young woman with long violet hair stood silently, absorbed in the small book in her hands. Now and then, faint magical symbols flickered around her fingers before fading away. She showed little interest in the guild hall or the people within it, her gaze never straying from the pages.

Mage.

That one was obvious as well. Amos watched a tiny magical circle form between her fingers, only to disappear almost instantly.

Probably their main damage dealer.

Maybe it was elemental, or perhaps something more complex. He couldn’t quite tell yet.

Then Amos looked at the final member.

And stopped.

She looked younger than the others.

She had long black hair, pale skin, and a quiet expression. A dark cloak, adorned with strange silver markings, draped over her shoulders, giving the impression she was almost unarmed. Then Amos caught sight of movement behind her—a small black creature slipping out from the shadow beneath her cloak.

It stared at him.

Amos met its gaze.

The creature blinked.

Amos did the same.

Then it slipped back beneath the cloak.

...Summoner.

That explained the lack of visible weapons.

Amos slowly nodded.

A remarkably balanced party.

No wonder they're S-rank.

He took another moment to observe them.

The paladin protected the front.

The barbarian provided overwhelming physical force.

The ranger handled scouting and ranged attacks.

The mage dealt with magical threats.

The cleric kept everyone alive.

And the summoner...

Amos glanced at the girl again.

Flexible support.

Depending on what creatures she could summon, she could potentially fill several roles at once.

Tank.

Scout.

Damage dealer.

Crowd control.

Maybe even transportation.

That's a great party composition.

Amos finally stepped forward.

The six women noticed him almost simultaneously.

The paladin was the first to fully turn toward him. Her hand stayed away from her sword as her gaze swept over his armor, weapons, and gear. Then, she met his eyes directly.

"You must be Eoghan."

Amos nodded.

"I am."

The barbarian raised an eyebrow.

"So that's the A-rank adventurer we're bringing?"

Amos glanced at her.

"It's an honor to work alongside you."

She looked him up and down.

Then grinned.

"You're smaller than I expected."

Amos stared at her.

"You are bigger than I expected."

The ranger covered the corner of her mouth, concealing what could have been a smile. The mage at last shut her book. The cleric offered a polite smile. Meanwhile, the summoner’s odd little creature peeked out from under her cloak once more.

The paladin sighed.

The barbarian laughed.

"I like him already."

Amos wasn't sure whether that was a compliment.

The paladin stepped forward and extended her hand.

"Irene Marak."

Amos paused.

So, this was his daughter.

He shook her hand.

"Pleasure to meet you."

Irene studied him for another moment.

"Likewise."

Amos released her hand.

Then he glanced across the remaining five.

Well.

He smiled faintly beneath his helmet.

This should be interesting.

Behind them, the guild doors opened.

Gareth's voice echoed across the hall.

"Blue Wolfs."

The six women turned.

"Your transport is ready."

Irene nodded.

Then looked back at Amos.

"We leave now."

Amos adjusted his equipment.

"Understood."

Gareth waited near the guild entrance, his arms crossed as he watched the six women approach.

His eyes passed over each member of Blue Wolfs before settling on Irene.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then it disappeared.

"Irene."

She stopped.

"Father."

The other members of the Blue Wolfs shared silent glances. Gareth stepped toward his daughter, his eyes instantly drawn to her armor.

"Your left shoulder."

Irene blinked.

"What about it?"

"It's sitting too high."

She looked down.

Gareth reached over and adjusted the strap himself.

"You've been wearing it too tight again."

"I can manage."

"I know you can."

He tightened the strap properly.

"That doesn't mean you should."

Irene sighed quietly.

"I'm going into a ruin, not a battlefield."

Gareth stared at her.

Irene slowly realized what she had just said.

"...That was a poor choice of words."

Amos stood a short distance away, silently watching them.

So he's worried.

Gareth stepped back and examined his daughter again.

"You've checked the spare straps?"

"Yes."

"Potions?"

"Enough for the entire team."

"Emergency teleportation stones?"

"Two."

"Communication crystals?"

"Three."

"Food?"

"Packed."

"Backup weapons?"

"Already loaded."

Gareth nodded.

Then paused.

"And the healing supplies?"

Irene's expression flattened.

"Father."

"What?"

"You're asking the same questions you asked an hour ago."

"I forgot."

"You didn't."

Gareth looked away.

"...Maybe I wanted to hear the answers again."

Irene stared at him for several seconds. Then her expression softened.

"I'll be fine."

Gareth didn't answer immediately.

He looked past her, toward the guild doors.

Outside, the carriage waiting for them was already being prepared.

"I know."

His voice was quieter now.

"That's why I'm not stopping you."

Irene looked at him.

Gareth placed one hand on her shoulder.

"But being an S-rank adventurer doesn't make you invincible."

"I know."

"An S-rank ruin is different from a normal dungeon. You don't know what's inside. You don't know what happened to the A-rank team. You don't know what kind of monsters you'll encounter."

"I know."

"And if something feels wrong—"

"We retreat."

Gareth nodded.

"Immediately."

Irene smiled faintly.

"You've said that three times."

"I'll say it a fourth if I need to."

She let out a quiet laugh.

"Father."

Gareth's expression finally cracked into a small smile.

"What?"

"I'm not a child anymore."

"I know."

He looked at her for a moment.

"That's the problem."

She stepped forward and briefly hugged him.

Gareth froze.

The other members of the Blue Wolfs quickly averted their gaze, and Amos followed suit.

Probably best not to stare.

After a moment, Irene stepped back.

"I'll come back."

Gareth nodded.

"You'd better."

His eyes shifted toward Amos. Then his expression became serious.

"Eoghan."

Amos straightened.

"Yes?"

Gareth walked over to him.

"You're responsible for yourself. Don't do anything reckless just because you're trying to prove something."

Amos tilted his head.

"I wasn't planning to."

"I know."

Gareth glanced toward Irene.

"But if things go badly, stay with the group."

Amos nodded.

"Understood."

Gareth's eyes remained on him for another moment.

Then he lowered his voice.

"And if you have to choose between completing the mission and bringing them back alive..."

He paused.

"Bring them back."

Amos looked at Irene.

Then at the other five members of Blue Wolfs.

His expression became calm.

"Of course."

Gareth nodded.

"Good."

Irene called from behind them.

"Father."

Gareth turned.

"What?"

"We really need to leave."

He sighed.

"Right."

He looked at his daughter one last time.

"Come back safely."

Irene smiled.

"We will."

Gareth stepped aside.

The six members of the Blue Wolfs started toward the carriage, with Amos trailing behind. After a few steps, he glanced back to see Gareth still standing there—a father watching his daughter depart for a place she might never come back from. Amos fell silent for a moment.

...I understand.

Then he turned back toward the carriage.

The expedition was about to begin.