The men on the floor were so beaten, just talking took a huge strain. Like Team FRIK, it seemed that they were also Rookie-Ranked Adventurers. Their bronze badges said it all.
Renjiro sighed, "It's unfortunate, but we'll have to pause this quest for now."
"It is going to take us at least an hour to bring these people to a hospital, let's make haste."
All nodded in agreement with Renjiro's decision. Each one helped lift the injured, making their way to the lower floor, then the surface.
The leader of the battered group was the only one left who could speak. Two of them fell into a deep sleep, while the other one was in too much pain, he could only groan on Fugo's back.
"Thank...you," the leader said while breathing heavily.
"You don't have to speak, save your strength," Renjiro told him.
"Rest assured, none of you will die on my watch."
A few minutes passed by, and the group made it to the second floor. Kael noticed more spiders slowly sneaking their way above him and his teammates.
He had someone resting on his back, so the bow and arrow were already in his hand. Without stopping, he nocked an arrow and loosed it in one motion.
The arrow killed one of the spiders, signaling the rest to flee before getting any bright ideas.
"So annoying, I'm getting tired of seeing the same thing over and over...." Kael sighed.
"Sounds like you want to visit the higher floors..." said Renjiro.
"Of course, there's more money up there...Have you noticed? Hardly any Expert Adventurer or above even bothered taking up this quest for a few gold. To them, that's chump change."
Renjiro flexed his arm, testing for any delayed effects from the previous webbing. "So far, my arm feels fine."
"I'm amazed that the only ones in our party who use magic is Irene. She's the only one who truly needs to avoid the webs at all cost."
The journey back to the surface was grueling but filled with a shared sense of duty.
When Team FRIK finally reached the bustling town outside the Tower, they made their way to the nearest hospital, a modest stone building with a bright red cross hanging above its entrance.
Inside, the air smelled of antiseptic and urgency as medics hurried to and from.
The team carefully set the injured adventurers down on waiting stretchers. The leader of the injured group, still conscious but visibly drained, clasped Renjiro's arm as they transferred him to a stretcher.
"Thank you... You saved us," he rasped, his eyes wet with gratitude.
Renjiro placed a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. "Rest now. You're safe."
The medics rushed the men into the treatment area, leaving Team FRIK standing in the quiet aftermath. Irene stretched her arms with a satisfied sigh.
"Well, that was fulfilling. I love a happy ending."
Kael smirked. "Yeah, except for the part where I'm carrying spiders. Let's head to the guild and hand in these specimens before I kill them, they reek."
When they arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, it was livelier than most days. The air filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses.
The reception area was lined with counters where guild officials processed quests and rewards. Team FRIK approached one of the counters, their caged spiders in tow.
A guild clerk, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and an efficient demeanor, greeted them with a raised eyebrow.
"Good day, let's see what you've got."
Kael plopped the cage onto the counter. "Only spiders."
The attendant inspected the cage and then nodded. "I see," she said, jotting notes in a book on her desk. "But... no rabbits?"
Renjiro sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "No. We ran into... complications."
The attendant glanced at them knowingly, her expression softening. "I heard about the injured adventurers. You did the right thing. Still, without the rabbits, I can only authorize half the reward."
"That's fine," Renjiro replied, his tone steady. "We can take on the quest again.
There's still time before the collection period ends, right?"
"Correct," the attendant confirmed. "Another two weeks."
Kael groaned playfully. "More spiders, great. Just what I wanted."
Irene smirked. "Think of it as practice. Besides, it's not like we have anything better to do. We can't traverse the higher floors yet."
The attendant handed Renjiro a small pouch of gold coins, the half-reward jingling softly inside.
"Here you go. Thank you for your contribution."
Renjiro accepted it with a nod. "We'll be back with more soon."
The four grabbed a seat around one of the few empty tables remaining, ready to discuss today's events. Renjiro picked up their earlier conversation, leaning back with a casual grin as he did.
"About living with me." Renjiro reminded the others.
"It'd be completely free, but there's a catch. My house is a complete mess, and I'd love for someone to clean it from time to time."
Fugo frowned at the suggestion, "I don't like the idea of moving to another place just for my wife to end up being someone else's maid again."
Renjiro's grin faltered as realization hit him. That thought never occurred to him until now. "Oh, my bad! Forgot you were married for a sec."
"That does make things tricky."
Irene crossed her arms in discomfort. "How did you even manage to get married, Fugo? Don't you think it's unfair to me that you're already taken?"
Fugo avoided eye contact with Irene, staying on topic. "Well...she and I are childhood friends."
"We confessed our feelings to each other years ago. It's nothing grand."
Fugo hesitated for a moment before continuing. A sudden conflicting thought approached his mind.
Should he speak of the incident about his wife with his party?
Or leave it for another time?
"Unfortunately, something happened four years ago. And an incident that caused her to lose her sight." Fugo stated.
"Blindness, you planning on curing that someday?" Kael asked curiously.
"Cure blindness? Is that even possible?"
"Yes. There are medicinal substances, mainly originating from dragon's liquid."
"Their drool, blood, even urine can be converted into a potion that cures blindness and other illnesses. I'm not sure if this part is true, but it can also regenerate missing body parts."
"Sadly, Dragons are extremely rare, even on the high floors. If you're rich enough, you could even bid for them during the Loria City annual auctions. They go for about 10 million gold as a starting bid."
"Ten million!" Fugo's voice echoed through the guild hall.
"Yep, but I know for sure your family has the cash. It's very easy for them to acquire one if they really wanted."
Fugo clenched his fist and his eyes lit up, suddenly determined. He reached out to Kael's right arm, gripping it with gratitude.
"Thank you! You have no idea what you just told me...this is incredible news."
Renjiro chuckled at Fugo's sudden burst of enthusiasm.
"Haha, even I've heard of that potion. The Dragon Potion, right? Adventurers talk about it all the time, but most of them don't make it back."
Fugo clenched his fists, his resolve clear. "I'll get one. No matter what it takes."
Irene and Kael smiled at Fugo's unwavering determination, but Renjiro's expression darkened, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a serious glare. It was so sudden, the others did not recognize it right away.
"Listen up." Renjiro grabbed their attention with a thud on the table.
"Be careful with phrases like 'No matter what it takes'. Humans only have one life. I won't risk my or this team's lives unless it's for something that benefits humanity as a whole."
Kael was surprised by his sudden shift of tone. Renjiro was dead serious with his declaration.
"You're out of nowhere sometimes...where did this sudden lecture even come from?"
Irene was equally surprised, causing her to agree with Kael.
"You're being way too serious."
"It's how it should be. People who put their desires above their team end up costing lives. I don't want any of us to become like that, and share their fates."
Renjiro's words forced everyone to think for a brief moment. Silence filled that table, with each member contemplating those words. A part of them wanted to argue, but another part knew it was for the best to stay quiet.
"Anyway, my offer to move in was not just for Fugo. It's open to any one of you three. My parents left me a house."
"It's a three-bedroom place with a living room, kitchen, and one bathroom. Plenty of space too."
Irene politely declined the offer, "I'm good with living with my mother. She's who I want to become, I see no reason to leave her side. Sorry"
Kael on the other hand seemed intrigued by the offer. "I'll consider it. It sounds cheaper than my current place."
Fugo nodded, "I'll keep it in mind too...as a last option."
As they turned to leave, the leader of the injured group, now bandaged but on his feet, appeared at the guild entrance. His voice, though hoarse, carried across the room.
"Team FRIK!"
They stopped and turned to face him. He bowed deeply, his movements slow but filled with sincerity.
"Thank you again. You didn't have to save us, but you did. We owe you our lives."
Renjiro smiled, his expression warm. "No need to thank us. Just get better and stay safe out there."
The man straightened, his face lit with gratitude as Team FRIK headed out the guild doors.
The team was quickly gaining distance, and before they were too far away, the man yelled, "It's Darwin! Darwin Reefs!"
Renjiro turned, also giving his name. "Renjiro Tokita! A pleasure!"
The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the town. The four were on their way to Cruz Forge.
"Half the reward isn't so bad," Fugo said, adjusting his gear. "And we'll get the full amount next time."
Renjiro glanced at him with a small smile. "It's not about the gold, Fugo. The real reward is knowing we did the right thing."
Kael rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure. But next time, let's get some rabbits and save some adventurers. Balance, you know?"
The group laughed, their camaraderie unshaken as they set their sights on their next challenge.