It had been one week since Wiz's oh-so-helpful "Bloodline Resonance Spell" suggestion. Levi was sitting in the guild with Kyouya, both nursing drinks, and, once again, speaking in English where no one else could follow.
Levi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"And that's what happened a week ago."
Kyouya chuckled, giving him a hearty pat on the back.
"So, either your party members can turn into a semi–Demon Lord or a semi–Succubus. That's… kind of funny, actually."
Levi groaned.
"Yeah. Hilarious. I'm surrounded by ticking time bombs, Kyouya. One's a shut-in genius who's a ritual away from 'all hail the dark queen,' and the other is a 16-year-old who—if she ever figures out what the succubus shop really offers—will probably die of embarrassment before puberty finishes."
Kyouya nearly spat out his drink, wheezing with laughter.
"…Bro. Your life is a Rpg side quest."
Kyouya leaned back, giving Levi a curious look.
"So… which one do you want Yunyun's ancestors to be?"
Levi sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Probably Lilith. Not Lucifer."
Kyouya raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Damn, didn't know you were into that."
Levi shot him a glare.
"Not like that. I just… I'd rather her end up a semi-Succubus than a semi–Demon Lord. At least that means no apocalyptic destruction. Worst-case scenario? I don't get a full night's rest. And I'm not even dating her, so why am I worrying about this!?"
Kyouya raised his mug with a chuckle.
"Spoken like a true man who's already accepted his fate."
Levi groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"Don't make it sound like I'm signing a contract with the devil. I just don't want to wake up one day and hear 'oops, your girlfriend accidentally leveled a city.'"
Kyouya smirked, taking another sip.
"Relax. If it comes to that, we'll just make sure she levels someone else's city."
Levi shot him another glare.
"...You know, I keep forgetting you're supposed to be the 'hero' here."
Before Kyouya could fire back, a loud clap echoed through the guild.
Luna, the guild receptionist, stood on the counter with a rolled-up notice in her hands.
"Attention adventurers! We have a high-level request that requires two full parties to accept. This will be a joint quest! Interested groups, please step forward!"
Levi and Kyouya looked at each other in silence.
Then Kyouya grinned.
"Well, speak of the devil."
Levi sighed into his mug.
"I hate how appropriate that sounds right now…"
Everyone got up, as all the adventure went quest board, and it was not fully vague, if anything, it put a clear picture.
---
Quest
In the Forest near Axel, a large number of Dark Marked Animals have been shown, they are not like normal, organised, and a large number of them.
It's even said, it looks they are ready to attack, from what has been spotted Wolves', Bears, Eagle, Roc, and shockingly enough.... A lot of peacock.
The part must have 3 to 5 members, and leaders must be, Level 3 or Higher
---
The guild erupted into chatter the moment Luna pinned the quest sheet to the board. Adventurers crowded around, muttering everything from excitement to disbelief.
"Dark-marked wolves and bears? That's no joke…"
"Eagles and even a Roc? Sounds brutal."
"...Wait. Did that say peacocks?"
One adventurer squinted at the parchment.
"Yeah, it does. A whole lot of peacocks."
The guild went silent for a beat, then someone in the back finally asked the obvious.
"...What the hell is dangerous about a peacock?"
Another adventurer answered grimly, "You've clearly never been chased by one."
Luna cleared her throat, snapping the guild back to order.
"As the request states, the creatures are not acting naturally. They're moving in coordinated groups, and signs indicate they may attempt an attack on Axel itself. This is not a solo mission—parties must form alliances. Each group requires three to five members, and at least one leader at level three or higher."
Kyouya smirked, elbowing Levi.
"Well, that rules out most rookies. Guess it's our turn."
Levi rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Great. I signed up for slimes and low-level bandits, not… roc-riding peacocks of doom."
Kyouya grinned wider.
"Don't worry. If it gets too bad, you can always use Yunyun as bait."
Levi shot him a look sharp enough to kill.
"Say that again and you'll be the bait."
In the background, the guild descended into madness. Adventurers were arguing, some already throwing fists.
"I'm not fighting a Roc!"
"Then you can take the peacocks!"
"LIKE HELL I WILL!"
Two burly warriors were now grappling on the floor, rolling past the quest board while Luna tried (and failed) to restore order.
At their table, Kyouya leaned forward, ignoring the chaos.
"Ok fine, sorry. But—so, ready to join?"
Levi sighed, resting his cheek against his fist.
"My party is only two people. Me and Yunyun."
Kyouya raised a brow.
"That's… not even a full party."
Levi tapped his mug thoughtfully, then snapped his fingers as something clicked.
"Wait. There is someone else… If I can convince her."
Kyouya smirked knowingly.
"Wiz, right? The shopkeeper who's way too nice to say no to you?"
Levi glared at him.
"Don't call her 'nice.' Call her what she is—suspiciously immortal and extremely soft-spoken trouble waiting to happen."
Behind them, a chair smashed over someone's head, and Luna screamed into the crowd, "NO, YOU CANNOT SUBMIT A QUEST REQUEST TO 'SLAY THE PEACOCKS BEFORE THEY SLAY ME!'"
Levi pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…Yeah. I think convincing Wiz might be the easy part compared to dealing with this circus."
The chaos only grew worse. Someone had started swinging a chair, another adventurer was shouting about "forming a Peacock Extermination Party," and Luna looked one scream away from quitting.
Then—BANG!
A shot echoed through the guild hall. Everyone froze mid-motion, mugs half-raised, fists mid-swing. A small puff of smoke curled from Levi's Gunblade, the round embedded in the wooden beam above.
Levi stood there, calm as ever, eyes sharp beneath the faint glow of his draconic pupils.
"Quiet," he said, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "And stop destroying the guild's property."
He holstered the weapon with a click, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve.
"Some of us," he continued, "are actually trying to think of a strategy to handle this quest properly."
A tense beat passed. Then one of the adventurers coughed awkwardly.
"...He just shot the ceiling."
Levi turned his gaze toward him. The man immediately sat back down.
Kyouya raised his mug with a grin.
"Still the Noble Warrior of Axel, huh?"
Levi smirked faintly.
"Someone has to act like an adult around here."
Luna exhaled in relief, visibly grateful for the sudden order.
"Thank you, Levi-san… next time, maybe don't shoot the ceiling?"
Levi shrugged.
"Collateral motivation."
A few minutes later…
Inside Wiz's shop, the faint scent of herbs and dust lingered in the air. Yunyun sat quietly by the counter, swinging her legs while Wiz turned a bright shade of pink, fidgeting with the edge of her cloak.
"M-me? Join your party for a quest?" Wiz stammered, glancing away. "I'm just a humble shopkeeper, Levi-sama…"
Levi crossed his arms, giving her an unimpressed look.
"Wiz, everyone in Axel knows you're a lich," he said flatly. "And not just any lich. To become one, you need either an absurd amount of magical power… or be at least Level 17 and a spellcaster."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone more matter-of-fact than accusing.
"Let's be honest—you're probably the strongest person in this town, and you spend your days running a store that's permanently in debt."
Wiz's blush deepened as she waved her hands defensively.
"T-that's because I'm bad with money! I'm not strong, really, I just… um… sometimes destroy things by accident."
Yunyun raised a hesitant hand.
"Wiz-san, didn't you erase a mountain once?"
"...It grew back!" Wiz protested quickly, her voice cracking a little.
Levi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah, you're coming with us."
Wiz looked panicked. "Ehh?! B-but my shop—"
"I'll make sure it's still here when we get back," Levi replied, already turning toward the door. "Besides, we'll need someone who can handle anything above Level 10 monsters without exploding."
Yunyun smiled awkwardly. "That… sounds like a compliment?"
Levi shrugged. "Close enough."
Wiz just slumped in defeat, muttering under her breath, "I really need better hobbies…"
Wiz fidgeted with her sleeves, then suddenly perked up.
"Um… there's one tiny problem," she said, pulling out a dusty old card. "I need a new Adventurer's Card. I was never registered with the Axel Guild… and, well, I left my old one behind years ago."
Levi blinked.
"…That's it?"
He shrugged.
"We've got enough gold pieces, and Luna's shift isn't over yet. Come on."
---
The Guild – 10 Minutes Later
Luna looked up from the counter… froze… then slowly plastered on a strained smile.
"W-Wiz-san… long time no see. You, um… back in business?"
Wiz nodded shyly. "I-I'd like to register as part of Levi-san's party, please."
Yunyun held her hands together excitedly. "We'll be a team of three! And Wiz-san is super strong—"
Luna chuckled politely. "Well, we welcome all adventurers. Let's get you signed in."
After paperwork, a signature, and Wiz nearly tripping over her robe twice, they followed Luna to the card creation crystal.
"Alright, Wiz-san," Luna said, smiling. "Just place your hand here, and the system will analyze your stats."
Wiz gently pressed her hand to the crystal.
The machine hummed… glowed… then flared with blinding light.
BEEEEEP—!!
Everyone covered their eyes.
Levi looked at the display.
Yunyun's jaw dropped.
Luna let out a sound between a gasp and a strangled squeak.
---
Wiz's New Adventurer Card:
Name: Wiz
Race: Lich
Class: Archmage
Age: …N/A
Level: 19
---
Levi almost dropped the card.
"LEVEL NINETEEN?!"
Yunyun clutched her chest. "S-S-She's one level away from the MAXIMUM!!"
Luna staggered back like she'd been hit with a spell. "W-Wiz-san, how… how long have you been a Lich…?"
Wiz tilted her head innocently.
"Oh, um… I think a few centuries? I lost count somewhere after the Demon King War…"
Yunyun fainted.
Levi just sighed deeply.
"…And she calls herself a 'humble shopkeeper.'"
Wiz nodded proudly.
"I am!"
Levi stared at her card.
"You have more magic than everyone in this town combined."
Wiz blushed.
"Ehehe… I do?"
Levi handed the card back to her.
"Congratulations. You're officially the strongest party member I have."
Wiz beamed. "I'll do my best!"
Levi muttered under his breath, "I really hope that doesn't involve vaporizing a forest…"
Wiz slipped her new adventurer card into her robe pocket, still glowing with pride.
"So, Levi-san," she asked cheerfully, "what exactly is this quest about?"
Levi exhaled like a man already tired of explaining it.
"Okay, so first off—yes, there's a Roc."
Wiz nodded calmly. "A-class monster. Large wingspan. Creates tornados when flapping. Dangerous, but manageable."
Levi pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah… that's not the weird part."
Yunyun, now fully recovered from fainting, looked between them nervously.
"Levi-sama… w-what is the weird part?"
Levi held up the quest sheet, tapping the final line.
"Wolves? Fine. Bears? Fine. Eagles? Sure. Rocs? Okay."
He took a dramatic breath.
"But why in the hell are there seventy peacocks gathering in a war formation?!"
Wiz blinked.
"…Peacocks?"
Levi pointed at the sheet again.
"Organized peacocks, Yunyun. Peacocks marching like soldiers."
Yunyun paled.
"L-Levi-sama… peacocks don't do that…"
Wiz's smile slowly faded, and she leaned in, completely serious for once.
"…Peacocks only move in organized groups when controlled by a powerful magical influence."
Levi groaned.
"Exactly. So the Roc isn't the problem. The bears aren't the problem. The wolves aren't the problem."
He tapped the sheet again with dread.
"The peacock army is the problem."
Yunyun whimpered.
"I don't want to be defeated by colorful birds…"
Wiz clasped her hands nervously.
"Levi-san… I would like to revise my earlier statement. I am… slightly concerned."
Levi pointed toward the door.
"Yeah. Welcome to the party. Let's go deal with the world's most aggressively fashionable monster uprising."
After a few minutes of walking through the forest trail, Levi spotted Kyouya's familiar blue armour glinting between the trees. He motioned for Wiz to follow.
Levi gestured casually.
"Wiz, this is Kyouya and his party. We'll be teaming up with them. I think you've probably heard of him."
Wiz nodded politely—then paused. Actually, yes, she had heard of Kyouya.
Kyouya stepped forward with the confidence of a man who believes chivalry is still alive.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Wiz," he said with a respectful half-bow. "I am Kyouya Mitsurugi."
Wiz blinked. "M-Mitsurugi? That sounds… foreign…"
Levi coughed loudly in English behind her. "Yeah no kidding."
Kyouya immediately switched back to fantasy-German to keep the act.
"These are my loyal party members," he continued, stepping aside.
Cremea waved cheerfully.
"Hello! We've heard a lot about you! Your shop is a legend among adventurers—like a mystery box of magical chaos!"
Fio, more shy, gave a small bow.
"It's an honour, Lady Wiz… also, um… do you really sell potions that turn people blue?"
Wiz flinched, mortified.
"W-well, only temporarily! And only if they misread the label… or ignore the label… or drink it while drunk…"
Levi smirked.
"Which is 90% of Axel."
Yunyun raised a hand nervously.
"W-Wiz is very responsible actually! She only sells safe versions to kids!"
Cremea blinked. "Kids shop there?"
Wiz clasped her hands proudly.
"Oh yes! They like to dare each other to buy things! It's very good business!"
Kyouya sweatdropped.
"…I see Axel has only grown stranger since my last return."
Levi stretched his arms and got everyone's attention.
"Anyway, introductions are done. Now that both parties are here—"
He looked toward the treeline, where distant rumbling echoed.
"—it's time to deal with the Roc, the wolves, the bears, and whatever the hell a peacock army looks like."
Everyone went quiet.
Cremea whispered:
"…Do they… coordinate formations?"
Fio shivered.
"What if they hiss in unison…?"
Yunyun shook.
"I don't want to die to birds…"
Wiz gulped.
"…Peacocks can hiss, actually."
Kyouya drew his cursed sword.
"Then let us face them with courage!"
Levi raised his gunblade.
"Let's go
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give me Power stones and enjoy