One quest was done. Now I just needed the second one... assuming this idiot actually showed up.

The Guild had already sent a message to the client, Mr. Menny, but there was still no sign of him. No footsteps at the door, no one asking around, nothing. Either he was late, drunk, or asleep somewhere.

We did not have time for that.

Midnight was getting closer, and the road to the Circle was not exactly short. If he delayed any longer, the whole thing could fall apart.

At least we got paid for the first job. We split the reward evenly, which left us with five silver each. Not much, but still better than nothing. And, admittedly, the view inside that place had not been terrible either.

"When is this guy coming..." Ken muttered, his voice dragging with boredom.

"Good question."

We were sitting at one of the wooden tables near the wall. Ken had turned his chair around and was leaning over the backrest, arms folded on top of it, chin resting on his wrist. His legs were spread out, rocking lazily as he stared toward the entrance.

"What if he doesn’t show up?" I asked. "We still get the silver, right? It counts as completed?"

"Yeah," Ken said without moving. "But I want him to show up at this point. I’m dying of boredom."

"Not worried about the Circle?"

"I’m worried about going inside the Circle," he replied. "We’re just escorting him to the western entrance, waiting there, then walking back. That’s easy."

"Hopefully."

A shadow fell over the table.

Both of us looked up.

A man stood there, broad-shouldered and thick-built, easily taller than both of us. His head was shaved clean, his scalp marked with faint scars that continued down across his face. A short, rough beard framed his jaw, uneven and graying at the edges. He wore heavy armor, layered metal plates over dark leather, scratched and dented from use. A longsword hung at his side, the hilt worn smooth from years of handling.

He looked like someone who had seen too many fights and survived all of them.

"Oi, kid," he said, voice rough. "You supposed to be my escort?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Mr. Menny?"

"Yeah."

Ken leaned forward, clearly unsure. "You... really need an escort? You look like you can handle yourself just fine."

"I do," the man replied flatly. "Road’s dangerous these days. Damn elves."

"Right..." Ken nodded. "We can help."

"Then move."

We stood up and followed him outside.

The woman behind the counter gave us a strange look, then she talked to a guard inside, whispering something to him.

The moment we stepped into the street, something felt off.

I could not point to one thing, but it was there. The way he walked, the way he did not look back, the way his hand stayed a little too close to his weapon.

Still, we followed.

We moved through the streets, the noise of the Guild fading behind us. Lantern light thinned as we went further, replaced by darker corners and narrower paths.

Then he turned into a dark alley.

No hesitation. Just straight in.

Ken slowed down. "Uh... where are we going?"

"Shortcut," the man said without turning. "Come on."

I exchanged a glance with Ken. Then we followed.

The alley was tight, the walls close enough that you could touch both sides if you stretched your arms. The ground was uneven, damp, and the light barely reached inside. The further we went, the quieter it got.

Too quiet.

"Mr. Menny," I said, keeping my voice steady.

He grunted. "What?"

"My friend used to run errands for you," I continued. "She told me a lot about you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," I said, watching his shoulders. "She said your wife was attacked near that waterfall. Goblins, right? I’m sorry."

A pause.

"Yeah," he said. "It was bloody."

"And your dog died protecting its owner," I said. "That’s something else, Mr. Menny."

"That’s how a dog should die," he replied. "Alongside his owner. Like a man."

I stepped closer, already reaching for Ken’s dagger.

"Huh?" Ken asked. "What are you..."

"And she was pregnant," I continued, sounding sincere. "Gods... what an awful way to go. I hope you find peace in everything, Mr. Menny."

"There’s only hoping, kid... but what’s done is done. And I—"

I moved.

╔══════════════════╗

> BACKSTAB DMG (x1.5)

╚══════════════════╝

And I... what?

’And I now have a dagger buried in my neck, oopsie?’

His voice broke into a wet choke as the blade sank deep. His body jerked, hands flying up too late, fingers scraping uselessly at my wrist.

His voice cut off into a wet choke.

He staggered, hands flying up too late as the blade sank deep. I twisted it, feeling resistance give way with a sickening sound.

He dropped to his knees, grabbing blindly behind him, trying to reach me.

I did not let him.

I twisted again, then ripped the dagger free.

He collapsed forward, choking on his own blood.

I nudged him onto his back with my foot and stepped over him, placing my boot against his chest. His eyes were wide, unfocused, his breath coming in broken, bubbling gasps.

"How about you join your imaginary wife and ’manly’ dog?" I said.

"B... bastard..."

A few seconds later, his body went still.

╔══════════════════╗

> ENEMY SLAIN

╠══════════════════╣

> +25 EXP

╚══════════════════╝

"FUUUCK!" Ken shouted, stumbling back. "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!"

"This guy wasn’t Mr. Menny," I said, wiping the blade clean on his tunic before handing it back. "You heard him. He agreed with everything I said."

"ACE! You just killed someone!"

"It was him or us," I replied, crouching down to check the body properly. "I chose us."

"What if you’re wrong?!"

I looked up at him. "We’re in a dead alley. No cart. No cat. No gear for a trip. He was bait."

Ken opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"I saw him earlier," I added. "When I took the quest. He saw me too. This was planned. He ’accidently’ bumped into me."

Ken swallowed hard. "So... what do we do? Call the guards?"

"They killed the decoy." The voice came from above.

Sharp. Clear. Close. Both of us froze. I looked up.

Figures moved along the rooftops, silhouettes shifting against the dim sky.

"Kill them!"

I took a slow step back, eyes scanning the alley.

"Ken," I said quietly, "I think we need to run..."

"You think? No shit..." He whispered.

╔═══════════════════════╗

> Ace | LC: 37 | EXP: 93/236 | LVL 4

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> HP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱ 108/110

> MP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 70/70

> STA ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱ 60/90

────────────────────────

> Class: MAGE

> Known Abilities:

• Fireball

• Heal

────────────────────────

> PERKS

• +10% More magic damage

• +10% CRIT chance

• Backstab DMG

╠═══════════════════════╣

> [ BAG ] [ MAP ] [ SHOP ] [QUESTS]

╚═══════════════════════╝