Even Heroes Have Their Moments of Folly

Chaos Era, Year 1818.

"Ah... let me go, Musen! Release me!"

Musen stood behind Moke, his arms hooked under Moke's armpits, lifting him off the ground.

No matter how agile Moke was, once Musen had him in this grip, there was no breaking free.

Compared to Moke, Musen was towering—like an executioner's scaffold built just for him.

"Where do you think you're going, Moke?" Musen rumbled in his deep voice.

Moke turned his head away, but Musen kept marching forward with him in tow.

"Alright! Fine, I get it! I won’t run again, Musen. Just put me down... and don’t let Xia Lun find out about this—"

"Hm. Go on, keep talking," Xia Lun’s voice floated softly from behind Musen.

"Xia Lun sent me to catch you," Musen whispered into Moke’s ear.

Moke let out a resigned sigh.

He could tell—Xia Lun was clearly furious right now.

Liyana watched from the side, grinning with schadenfreude, ready to enjoy the show.

Aina stood beside Xia Lun, maintaining a careful distance. Only a few strands of her snow-white hair peeked out from under her hood, her face hidden in shadow.

"Moke." Xia Lun’s voice was low. "I believe I made it clear—I don’t approve of you leaving the team."

"Hah... Since when does an adventuring guild restrict personal freedom?" Moke’s retort lacked conviction. "I’ve made up my mind. I’m leaving Dawn’s Wings and going somewhere more suited for me..."

"If you want to leave the guild, you’ll need to file a resignation at the Adventurers' Association... Otherwise, you’ll always remain a member of Dawn’s Wings." Xia Lun spoke with absolute seriousness. "I’m the captain. You follow my orders."

Moke gritted his teeth. "Then... take me to the nearest Adventurers' Association—"

Xia Lun: "Bad luck. It’s closed today."

"What?"

"I said the Adventurers' Association is closed. No paperwork today."

"That’s impossible! I’ve never heard of such a thing!" Moke stared in disbelief. "The Adventurers' Association doesn’t just close! I don’t believe you—take me there!"

"Denied. Captain’s orders." Xia Lun shook his head.

Moke hadn’t expected Xia Lun to resort to such a childish trick to keep him.

"Then tomorrow!"

Xia Lun: "Might be closed tomorrow too. Liyana checked."

"Yep!" Liyana eagerly nodded, thrilled to have a role in this charade. "Give it up, Moke."

Moke took a deep breath.

"Xia Lun... Let’s be honest. I don’t want to drag you all down with me." Moke forced a bitter smile. "Mo Yi is strong. He commands the entire Assassins' Guild... I know you and Aina are powerful, but those guys don’t fight fair. They specialize in assassination. One slip-up, and any of you could die... So just let me go. I’ll keep running alone."

Xia Lun remained silent.

"As captain, shouldn’t you prioritize your comrades’ lives? Even if you and Aina can handle anything, what if Liyana or Musen gets targeted? Who knows what could happen—"

"Excuse me? Moke, what the hell are you saying? Say that again, and I’ll shove an arrow so far up your—I’m the one in danger? Get this straight—you’re the weakest link here!" Liyana snapped.

Xia Lun raised a hand, and Liyana promptly shut up.

"Moke. Are you done?" Xia Lun asked.

Moke paused, then gave a small nod.

"Then, as captain, I must uphold fairness... So let’s vote. Majority rules." Xia Lun raised his hand first. "All in favor of Moke staying, raise your hand."

Liyana followed immediately. After a brief hesitation, Aina raised hers. Then Musen—still holding Moke’s wrist—forced his hand up too.

Moke shot Musen a helpless look. Musen just grinned back, simple and earnest.

"Result’s in. Moke, you’re staying. That’s final."

Moke tensed. "Xia Lun... Mo Yi is dangerous—"

Xia Lun’s gaze was steady. "Enough. You’ve had your say."

Musen finally set Moke down, then cracked his knuckles—a silent reassurance.

Xia Lun drew his sword. A blur later, a lock of Moke’s crimson hair fluttered to the ground.

"You think so little of us? We’re Dawn’s Wings, Moke. Don’t underestimate your team."

Another flicker of steel—Xia Lun now held the severed strand.

"Uh... Xia Lun, what’s this for?"

Moke hadn’t even noticed when he’d stopped calling him "Captain."

Xia Lun twirled the red lock between his fingers. "Forgotten? We’ve got an extra teammate. Our reliable witch."

Aina’s brow furrowed slightly beneath her hood.

Moke blinked. "What does Miss Ankula have to do with this?"

Xia Lun: "From what I know, the Assassins' Guild takes any contract, no matter the target. Even philanthropists have fallen to them, yes?"

Moke: "Yeah... That’s true."

"And you—aren’t you the guild’s young master?" Xia Lun smirked.

"...I am."

"Then you’re tied to them. So—" Xia Lun’s tone turned strategic, "—we’ll have Miss Ankula use your hair to scry the guild’s headquarters... and raze it to the ground. First, we return to Olie City—"

"Wait."

Moke cut in.

"Do we have to go back to Olie City?"

Xia Lun: "Of course. The guild’s hideout is too well-hidden. We need Ankula’s divination."

"Uh... What if I already know where it is?" Moke scratched his head. "I did escape from there."

Xia Lun: "..."

Silence.

Then—

"PFFT—HAHAHA!" Liyana burst out laughing. "Xia Lun, you idiot! ‘I’ll raze the guild to the ground’—so dramatic!"

Even Aina’s lips twitched.

Ahem. "My oversight." Xia Lun cleared his throat. "If you know, this simplifies things."

Steel flashed again—

Moke slowly lowered his gaze, finding a strand of his own hair lying quietly in his palm.