Earth: The Second

Black Claws's Act of Friendship

“Is that so? If that is the case then where is Hepaetus and the brat went to?” Gon is sitting at the desk while Adma and Rika are forced to stand in front of him. For once, his face is frowning, and full of suppressed rage. Different from the cheerful demeanor he used to show. 

Gon did not expect that when he returned to the inn, he would be greeted with half-destroyed tables, along with angry cooks and owner. They are demanding compensation because someone from the party started a fight that destroyed their property. He is forced to pay twenty silvers, and to bribe the owner to let them stay for two more days, Gon has to add a golden.

As a businessman who just lost his assets, this just makes him suffer more. Now, he asked for a complete explanation from his two employees.

“We don’t know about that either. Apparently, he knows that the kid will take too much attention, he grabbed that kid, and run outside of the inn,” said Rika.

A dragon-kin child inside the city. Without parents, and seems like she is focused only on Hepaetus. Gon thought that it is pretty hard to believe, but since they can hide their original form, the possibility is there. The only reason he believed that explanation, is when Adma changed the palm of his hand into a screen that showed a recording of what he has seen previously.

“And a dragon kid could beat you up Adma? Maybe you’re not that invincible after all,” said Gon, he still sitting angrily at the chair.

Adma wants to deny him, but he himself understands that some of the problems are coming from him.

“I’m not invincible in the first place, but I’ll make sure to never get hit by the same attack again,” said Adma, letting his pride wounded.

Right after that conversation, Hepaetus come inside the inn. Their companions have quickly noticed him, but also to the kid that following that man from behind.

Hepaetus pushing that kid to the front, whispering to her something that they have talked about before.

That kid is fidgeting, then she bowed down her head in front of Adma, Rika, and Gon.

“I’m sorry for the troubles that I have made! My name is Razazel! Hope we can work together!” she finished her words. Then, without waiting for their response, the kid walked to the counter, where the owner of the inn glaring at them. To him, he also said the same thing.

“Pardon me sir Hepaetus, are my ears playing tricks on me, or I just heard that she said something like ‘work together?’” confront Gon to the Master Forger.

“I talked to her just now. She is just a child that did not understand the political situation of her family. She doesn’t know about the war that her parent is facing, and why they keep approaching me to create weapons,” said Hepaetus.

“Ok, but you still haven’t answered my question yet, do you said that you wanted to recruit her or something? Because from it seems so!” said Gon loudly.

Hepaetus shrugged his shoulder as if asking what choice did he have. “That kid is the type that won’t be quiet no matter what you say. Also, you have seen how powerful she is in her dragon form right? She can handle herself just fine,” said Hepaetus.

Gon does not answers, but he still gave out an uneasy expression.

“Gon, we are kind of short-staffed here you know? I may fight, but it’s been a while since the last time I swung my axes. At this rate, we can only rely on Adma, which is not very ideal,” persuade Hepaetus.

“Hey, I can fight too you know!” protest Rika.

“Well, if missus maid wants to show her might, we will gladly give you the spotlight!” he stared at Rika, looking at her without saying that she missed his point. “In the first place, we don’t have an ideal party like how adventurers used to. every helping hand in a fight has to be counted on,” end Hepaetus. After finished her apologies to everyone, the kid returned to Hepaetus.

Gon looked at her from the corner of his eyes, then he finally letting out a sigh.

“Do as you wish, I will be in my room,” said Gon, he gets up and walked upstairs.

Both Hepaetus, Adma, and Rika kind of relieved that they manage to avoid the conflict. Hepaetus then proceed to introduce Razazel to Adma and Rika. As a fellow girl, Rika greets her with a big smile.

“Big sis Rika, you are so beautiful!” said Razazel. Reacting to that Rika is blushing.

“Jeez, turns out you can say something that sweet too!” said Rika, she is kneeling to match their height difference.

On the other hand, when Razazel looked at Adma…

“Food thieves!” she screamed out loud.

“I’m not food thieves damn it!” replied Adma angrily.

“ Jeez, Adma! You can’t be harsh to a kid you know! you’ll be blasted away again!” warn Rika. Adma got even more confused and upset.

“That’s because she is not an ordinary kid, come on!”

Without noticing the glaring eyes of other customers, they end the night with a new member at their party. A demi-human, with the power of a dragon. Although she is just a child, Razazel wielding a huge power and potential to become one of the strongest beings in the land. 

But for now, she learns how to live with another human, at least with a girl that is older than her. Rika and Razazel quickly bonding, and it is decided that they will be the ones that sleep in the same room. On the other hand, Adma gives up his bed to Hepaetus, and he chooses to stay outside of the carriage to spend the night. None of them are complaining.

Winds in the night are cold, and may make an ordinary man sick, but not with Adma’s machine body. He let the wind blowing past, as he looked up to the sky, stars are shining along the milky way, a scene that he would never find in the old world.

***

The next day, Adma gets a notice from the guild. It said that an adventurer has received the job, and asking them to meet at the departure gate. Adma, Rika, Gon, Hepaetus, and now with Razazel, finished their preparation and heading to the designated place. The departure gate, as the name implies, is the huge gate at the other side of the town, that is heading toward the dungeon.

Today, the amount of adventurers is not as crowd as yesterday. they wondered how they will meet the one that accepted their job.

Until a familiar friendly voice calling Adma. It was Boss.

“Hey! Adma!” He is shouting while waving a paper in his hand. Together with him, are the subordinates that Adma also knows very well, Boran and Kaina.

“The Black Claws!? What are they doing here?” Rika reaches out for the knife that she stored in her belt, but Adma holds her off.

“Let me handle this for a moment,” Said Adma as he stepped forward.

Rika just looked at him, confused. She thought that when Adma and Boss met again, they would proceed to fight right away. But Adma seems fine and composed when facing that mercenary.

“Missus, what is the deal with them?” asked Hepaetus, he does not know what is happening with Adma and the Black Claws previously.

“In the previous city, those groups are hired by someone to hunt Adma, but Adma himself managed to drive them away. They then proceed to make Adma’s life harder, by creating rumors, forcing him to have a rematch.”

“Let me guess, Adma win, right?” asked Hepaetus.

“How did you know?”

“That is an easy question. Adma can’t be beaten with brute force, since his technology would overpower them all,” said Hepaetus. “This is just a guess, but I think we have to proceed more carefully from now on,” suggest him.

Rika watches how Adma and Boss seem much more closely than she thought they will be, does something happened yesterday between the two of them? She decided to come joining the conversation.

“Oh, if it isn’t the maid from Mr.Green!” greet Boss,

“Hello, Boss, fancy meeting you and the crew here,” replied Rika, “This may be odd, but are you the adventurers that received our request for the guild?” 

“Of course we are!” shouted Boss. Rika just glancing at Adma, asking for an explanation.

“I have meet them yesterday, after some talk, I realized that we have many things in common,” said Adma.

“After talking, I heard from the receptionist that Adma is submitting a new request to explore the dungeon. That is why I decide to accept this job!” said Boss.

“Oh! I remember that we have something to prepared too! Please excuse us a bit.”

Rika brought Adma back to the group. 

“We can’t let them take the job,” said Rika blatantly.

“I know you guys are worrying, but please hear me out for a moment,” said Adma. “I’m not putting all of my faith in him either. I know what kind of people Boss is, and there are big possibilities of the trap that is hidden beneath his action.” 

Rika is almost asking about what they would do then, but Adma cuts her out.

“I already have guessed since what happened to Clara in the mountain base. Coming to the dungeon itself is a trap, and we all have the option to run away from it.” Adma paused, he turned his head and seeing all of his comrades. “But I’m not facing this person behind the screen, I would never find the answer that I looking for. I’m going to wander aimlessly, and in the worst-case scenario, I may use my power for evil purposes.”

With the corner of his eyes, Adma seeing the Black Claws are also preparing with their equipment. Just like Rika had said, there must be something going on with Boss, that makes him act friendly toward Adma.

“The dungeon has been explored completely and there are no other secrets left.

But what if they did found the secret of the dungeon, the secret not everyone can reach?” asked Adma to his comrade with a stern face.