☀️ Arselia and Akonia

“What strange names,” Ayano thought, habitually examining their auras. “Ehh…? Mendokse…” she sighs. “Is there much nobility in robbing defenseless women? And isn’t this the life you dreamed of? Have you seen the mosquitoes here? They’re the size of a fist. Enjoy, gentlemen. Wouldn’t it be better to settle in a town or, even better, in a mentally healthy rural area and live a peaceful, honest life? The empire’s economy is growing, and workers are needed everywhere. You’re just risking your lives, expecting some kind of raid from law enforcement or random glory-seeking adventurers every day, and you’re also taking a sin upon your souls. Sambrosia-san, your dapper appearance is wasted in these forests. Wouldn’t it be better to parade around town in it, head held high, attracting admiring glances from women and envious looks from men? Escape 2-san, you yourself said that you don’t like violence and that you worked in the guard. Even your name sounds noble, like a king’s. I don’t know what happened to you, and I won’t make empty guesses out of respect for you, but losing such a job isn’t the end of the world; you can always find something else. Clerhanter-san, you give the impression of being a friendly person; don’t you think that in a town, as a member of society, you could find many more beautiful women than in the forest? Who usually travels through the forest anyway – some scoundrels who go out for a barbecue with vodka? You’re wasting your life potential. Queensglory-san, even behind your laconicity, I see a so-called go-getter. Have you seen how many well-paid quests are posted in adventurers’ guilds? And there’s also the hunters’ guild, and many other paths – the risk isn’t necessarily higher, but the rewards are much greater. Massage-san, I don’t sense any resentment in you, which is typical of an ordinary thug. I could easily imagine you working in a forge or running a tavern… or even, for example, as a masseur. Managerovich-san, have you thought about working, hmm… as a property manager, for example? Sometimes, these positions are held by some fat, unpleasant, toad-like old men or mustachioed old women, so in your case, there would at least be one fresh exception in the form of an energetic person whom everyone would want to live near. Ordermade-san, what are you doing here? Well, at least you understand that this isn’t right, right?…” she sighs again. “But don’t think that this is some desperate attempt to talk you out of it, to buy time, and shake your resolve. Not at all… I just think that it makes sense to try. You’re not just background characters, not some giant mantises that immediately attack; you have names, appearances, and personalities. Neither gold nor “payment in bodies” can heal emotional scars or provide some kind of long-term life plan. Why spoil such a day with all this nonsense? Let’s just change our minds and go our separate ways, trying to get something spiritually beneficial out of our meeting.