The man ran.
He ran without looking back, his breath tearing through his chest like broken glass. Mud clung to his boots, branches scratched his arms, and fear drove his legs far beyond their limit.
"Help me!" he shouted.
His voice echoed through the fog-choked forest.
"Please—help me! Anybody here!"
Behind him, a low growl crawled through the mist.
The merchant stumbled and nearly fell, his heart pounding so violently it felt ready to burst. He could smell rot in the air—thick, sour, and unmistakable.
A zombie wolf burst from the fog.
Its fur hung in clumps, flesh exposed and twitching. One eye dangled uselessly while the other burned with dull hunger. Its jaws opened wide, revealing cracked fangs stained black.
The man screamed.
Just as the beast leaped—
A blade flashed.
The wolf's head flew into the air, rolling across the ground before dissolving into ash.
The merchant collapsed onto his knees, gasping.
Five figures stepped out of the fog.
They moved with terrifying calm.
All of them were women, dressed in dark adventurer gear marked with strange bone-shaped emblems. Their weapons were still dripping with black blood.
One of them wiped her blade clean and spoke casually.
"Pathetic."
The merchant looked up, trembling.
"You… you saved me," he said, his voice shaking. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
For a moment, relief flooded his heart.
They're kind, he thought. So cool… so strong.
"My name is Daniel Root," he added quickly. "I'm a merchant from the western road."
One of the women stepped forward.
She had sharp eyes and silver hair tied loosely behind her head. A cruel smile curved her lips.
"Hey," she said. "Give us all your merchandise."
Daniel froze.
"…What?"
"Aren't you listening?" the girl said lazily. "Everything. Hand it over."
Daniel forced a nervous laugh.
"Ah—do you want to buy something?" he asked. "I have good prices—"
Her expression twisted.
A massive aura exploded from her body.
Daniel's legs buckled instantly.
His vision blurred. His chest tightened as if an invisible hand was crushing his heart.
He understood at once.
Unofficial adventurers.
Fear flooded his mind.
"A—are you…?" he whispered. "Are you unofficial adventurers?"
Another woman laughed.
"Don't ask stupid questions, you bastard," said Latina, her voice dripping with contempt. "We want your goods. That's all."
"So drop everything," the silver-haired girl added. "And run."
Daniel's hands shook violently.
Without another word, he turned and ran.
He didn't look back.
Zero Trav Headquarters
Daniel burst into the hall of Zero Trav, panting and pale.
"I want to report them!" he shouted. "They stole my merchandise!"
The manager behind the counter frowned.
"That's a serious accusation," he said coldly. "Our adventurers protect civilians."
"It's true!" Daniel cried. "The group name is Dancing Hollows!"
The manager scoffed.
"There is no registered group by that name."
Daniel's heart sank.
But suddenly, another manager stiffened.
"…Dancing Hollows?" the second manager repeated, his face turning pale.
"You know them?" Daniel asked desperately.
The man swallowed.
"They're unofficial," he said quietly. "And all female."
Daniel nodded frantically.
"Yes! Only women! They're incredibly strong!"
The second manager exhaled slowly.
"They're stronger than a hundred registered groups," he said. "You have no chance of getting your merchandise back."
Daniel felt numb.
"So… you won't help me?"
"There is no one in Zero Trav who can fight them," the manager said bluntly. "Give up. Go home. Start a new life."
His words crushed Daniel completely.
A Desperate Choice
Daniel went to every adventurer group he knew.
Every door closed in his face.
No one dared challenge Dancing Hollows.
That night, he returned home empty-handed.
His wife saw his expression and gently held his hands.
"Please," she said softly. "Don't destroy yourself over this. If we work hard again, we can recover."
Daniel clenched his fists.
"You don't understand how much I lost," he said bitterly.
Then he sighed.
"…But you're right. I should move forward."
Still, the thought of his stolen merchandise burned in his mind.
The next day, at the market, Daniel overheard two men whispering.
"If adventurers reject your job," one said, "you can ask unofficial ones."
"That's dangerous," the other replied. "They demand valuable payment—or worse. They have no rules."
Daniel's eyes widened.
An idea formed.
Hered 7 Jungle
With a gold coin, Daniel bought information.
He followed the directions into Hered 7 Jungle, a place thick with fog and death.
Why does everyone keep staring at me? he thought nervously.
An adventurer approached.
"Whose job is this?"
"It—it's mine," Daniel said. "Are you willing to take it?"
The adventurer struck him hard across the face.
"You fool!" the man shouted. "How dare you disrespect Dancing Hollows!"
Daniel collapsed.
"S-sorry!"
"Stop."
A calm female voice echoed through the clearing.
The attacker froze.
A woman stepped forward, her presence commanding absolute silence.
Her name was Victoria van Arnold.
"Marcus," she said coldly. "Why did you strike an innocent man?"
Marcus pointed angrily.
"Look at his job, Miss Victoria!"
Victoria glanced at the request.
"If you find it disgusting," she said, "then don't take it."
Marcus hesitated.
"…I don't want this job."
Victoria continued.
"Then why attack him?"
Marcus lowered his head.
"…Sorry."
"Leave," Victoria ordered. "Before you get hurt."
Marcus fled.
Victoria turned to Daniel.
"Are you insane?" she asked. "You don't understand what Dancing Hollows are capable of."
She pointed toward the jungle path.
"Go home. If you stay here, you'll die."
Daniel's shoulders slumped.
He turned away.
Hope was gone.
Then—
"Hey."
A voice stopped him.
"I'll do your job."
Daniel spun around.
A lone adventurer stood there, his face hidden behind a black mask.
"…A-are you serious?" Daniel asked.
"Yes," the man replied calmly.
Relief exploded in Daniel's chest.
"Thank you!"
The surrounding adventurers murmured in shock.
"Is he mad?"
"Don't say that…"
"…That's Black Visage."
Victoria stared at the masked man.
"Are you truly insane?" she asked. "Dancing Hollows aren't weak."
Black Visage shrugged.
"Who said I'm fighting them?" he said calmly.
"I'm just returning the merchandise."