A Bug In Fate

Rank: Gold Rank

Mission: Capture a Mistfeather alive.

Location: Noctis Ruins.

Reward: 90 Gold Coins.

Alden read through the mission details.

"The target is a bird-type monster," Liam said.

"It’s a rare bird that lives deep inside the Noctis Ruins. Mistfeathers are known for their incredible speed, and because of their small size, they’re difficult to spot in the dark."

"The guild wants it captured alive, so we have to be careful not to accidentally kill it."

"Hehe, it’s getting interesting."

Alden said with a grin.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let’s go."

"You’re the one who has to follow us."

Mina said from the side. She had finally calmed down, only to get annoyed again by how Alden was acting as if he were their leader.

"Whatever."

Alden waved his hand dismissively.

"Um..."

Liam smiled awkwardly.

"It takes about two days to reach the Noctis Ruins. It’s a long journey, so don’t you need to prepare yourself first?"

"Prepare?"

Alden asked in confusion.

"Yes."

"Things like equipment, supplies, and other necessities."

"I have my sword."

Alden replied as he pulled his sword out of its sheath.

"You’re planning to come with us using that sword?"

Liam said with a speechless expression.

The sword looked old and worn. Even though he wasn’t a swordsman, he could tell it had been forged by someone with little experience.

"Yes. Why not?"

Alden shrugged.

"Don’t worry. I’ve been using it for the past week."

Mina, who had been silent until now, finally lost her patience.

"You bastard."

"If you’re poor, just say so."

"You’ll get yourself killed with that thing."

She said in an annoyed tone.

"Hehe, don’t worry."

"The only difference between me and a cockroach is our appearance."

Alden said with a mischievous smile.

Mina, who didn’t like his expression at all, simply turned her head away.

"Well, suit yourself. We should get going now."

Liam said from the side. He was already feeling exhausted just from watching the two of them.

The three exited the inn and began walking through the streets.

Suddenly, Alden stopped.

"Wait."

He looked at the two.

"Do either of you know a fire spell?"

Liam and Mina stopped as well and turned to look at him.

"Yes. Mina does."

Liam answered before Mina could say anything.

"Why?"

"We’re going to spend a few days there, right?"

Alden asked.

"So I was thinking of buying some spices to cook monster meat."

"And?"

Liam asked.

"And if you guys help me light the fire..."

"I think it’ll help build teamwork between us."

Alden said with a straight face.

For a brief moment, the only sound around them was the bustling noise of the city.

"..."

Mina’s eye twitched.

"Teamwork my ass."

"This bastard is basically asking us to waste mana just so he can grill meat."

"Haha."

"If you put it that way, it does sound a little selfish."

Alden laughed as he waved his hand and began whistling to himself.

"Mina, calm down."

Liam quickly stepped in before another argument started.

"...Though he isn’t completely wrong."

He then looked at Alden.

"Can you cook?"

"Yes."

"I mean, it’s the least an adventurer should know."

Alden replied as his relaxed smile returned.

Liam and Mina suddenly felt strangely insulted.

The corners of their mouths twitched.

Yet neither of them could think of anything to say in return.

"Well, wait here for a moment."

Before either of them could react, Alden had already run into the crowd.

He stopped in front of a shop, took out a few coins, and bought several spices.

Liam and Mina thought he was about to return.

Instead, Alden changed direction and stopped at another shop.

Then another.

What followed was nothing short of a shopping spree.

"...Sigh."

Liam let out a helpless sigh.

"That guy’s looks poor by his sword but his actions says otherwise"

Mina, however, was thinking about something completely different.

"He used my coins..."

She muttered under her breath.

As for how she recognized the coins...

No one was brave enough to question a woman’s instincts.

Nearly ten minutes later, Alden finally returned.

Two small bags hung from his hands, no doubt filled with spices and probably some tea leaves.

"Sorry for the wait."

"I’m ready now."

Alden said with a smile.

Liam could only shake his head helplessly.

Mina simply ignored him.

Together, the three of them began walking toward the city gate.

---

The three of them could be seen running across the open fields.

The sun was high in the sky.

They were heading west, with Liam in the middle while Alden and Mina ran on either side of him.

"Hey, why do we need to capture it alive?"

Alden finally asked the question that had been on his mind for a while.

He didn’t know why the guild wanted the Mistfeather alive.

Obviously, there had to be a reason.

Maybe it could be tamed.

Or perhaps there was something that required it to stay alive.

The possibilities were limited only by his imagination and his experience in this new world.

"You might not know this, but a Mistfeather is valuable for many reasons."

Liam explained calmly while continuing to run.

"It can be tamed, so professional assassins and detectives often use them because of their near invisibility in the dark."

"And eating one can also enhance a person’s eyesight."

"There are even historical records saying that a blind person has a chance of regaining their vision after consuming one."

"Of course, it depends on the quality of the Mistfeather and the cultivator’s realm."

Finally, everything made sense.

Alden became quiet for a while as he digested the information.

"Haha... humans and their nature."

He suddenly laughed.

Even after coming to another world, he was still amazed by how humans always found ways to benefit from everything around them.

"Old man..."

Mina muttered under her breath.

Even she found it amusing how Alden sounded like someone who had already seen the entire world and was giving his final words to the younger generation.

"I heard that."

Alden said before suddenly increasing his speed, as if trying to prove that he was still young.

"Hmph."

Mina immediately sped up as well.

Just like that, the journey suddenly turned into a competition.

The two of them ran ahead with everything they had, leaving one poor soul behind who was forced to keep up with them.

"Mina!"

"No, wait for me!"

Liam could only shout in frustration, but the only response he received was silence.

For what felt like the hundredth time that day, he began questioning his decision to get out of bed that morning.

Maybe...

It would’ve been better if he had stayed home.

Unknown to him, every living being had a fate.

And it wasn’t easy to break free from it.

No one could truly predict what the future held.

But perhaps...

Alden’s journey would reveal the answer.

After all, he wasn’t even registered within Fate itself.

Or perhaps there were others like him.

No one knew.

Because every story...

had another side yet to be revealed.