Endless Winter's
Chapter 8: The Smiles Cry

"I'll destroy you, Aris! Just look at it later!" Akemi's growls.

"Where should I go? Should I go back to my friends again? Ah..impossible! I'll make new trouble again!" Inner Akemi while walking without a destination.

From above, a strange cardboard box fell on Akemi.

"Dark! Who's throwing this shit out!" Akemi growled while looking up.

"A cardboard? Who threw it away? Take a look ah!" Inner Akemi who was curious about its contents.

Once opened, there is a mysterious mask with ancient lettering engraving with a strange facial expression.

"His mouth was smiling but how did his eyes look so sad?"

Akemi looked at the mask for a moment. Unwittingly, he begins to be influenced by the negative energy that makes Akemi wear the mask.

"Huh... What was that? Like someone was watching me! Huh.huh..huh..!" Said Akemi whose breath was wheezing.

"I'd better take it. I need to know what this mask is!" Akemi said while putting the mask back in the cardboard.

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"Is everything complete?" Ask Chika.

"Already! Especially less? Does the registration cost anything?" Ask Riyo.

"That's for sure, none of it is free, Riyo! The air you breathe is also not free." Said Hinata who offended Riyo.

"Can you be this! All right, let's go!"

"Yumoo!"

Then, they also left for the national adventurer guild. The distance is not so far, because it is right on the border of the kingdom of Venzonia. They decided to walk to get there.

In the afternoon, they arrived at their destination.

"Is this really his place?" Chika asked while holding the map.

"Yes, I think so." Answer Hinata.

"How did you know?"

"Are you stupid? Up there it was clearly written showing the national adventurer guild!" Firmly Hinata while pointing fingers.

Once inside, they are presented with a very crowded and bustling view of the adventure society.

"A lot! The queue is also very long. This place is wide enough to line up like a snake." Said Chika in a flat tone.

"Do we have to wait for this long queue? It could be done until tomorrow!"

"If we go, what will we eat with? pay for lodging with what? You have to be tough, Riyo!"

"Yes, I know!" Reply to the broken-hearted Riyo.

2 Hours have passed....

"It's our turn. Let's stand up everyone!"

"All right, so... Is there anything I can help with?" Ask the guild receptionist.

"Yes.so we want to register ourselves as adventurers."

"Oh... So hero huh? Let's follow me!" Said the green-haired female receptionist.

The receptionist delivered them to a man with short black hair with a thick, long mustache.

"Introduction, this is our Magus! He is Cozen, he will test your strength and ability to determine which class you deserve. Then I go first!" It was clear from that green haired woman who left the three of them behind.

"Alright, if you want to become adventurers, then you are required to touch these crystal balls one by one. And it starts with you being blond!" Said Cozen pointing at Chika.

Chika started by closing her eyes while touching the crystal ball.

"Hmm. okay, it's done. Next one!"

Then, it was Riyo's turn.

"The last one!"

Followed by the last Hinata.

"Okay, your results aren't bad! I want you to sit down while you wait for the results of class placement." Cozen.

A few minutes later...

Cozen goes back to see Chika and the others to give the test results.

"So these are your test results! I didn't think you guys were placed in A class. You guys are so lucky!"

"What's? Class A?" Chika who does not believe.

"Wow, I'm in class A!" Ryou Riyo.

"I thought I'd be placed in that class." Said Hinata smilingly.

"Before I leave, are there any more questions?"

"Ah... anu, how many classes are there adventurers?" Chika asked, raising her hand.

"Oh good question! The adventurer class is divided into 6 classes. The first is the SS class. The highest class that only legendary heroes can achieve. Then, Class S. This class is usually filled by heroes and strong people. Not only is strong required, but supportive knowledge and experience is much needed in this class. And proceed with classes B, C, D." Cozen.

Chika's hand clenched on her chin.

"Thank you for the information, Mr. Cozen!" Said Hinata in a friendly tone.

"Together! If there's anything you don't know, look for me by asking the green-haired lady! See you all!" Cozen said as he waved his hand.

Long story short, someone in a shabby brown robe came with a mysterious box.

"Excuse me, I'd like to ask you about this!" Ask the man in the robes.

"If you want to ask about artifacts, you can ask with our magus. Wait a minute, I'll call you!" Answer the receptionist who went inside leaving the man.

"Is there a problem, sir?" Chika asked the man right in front of their table.

The man just stood still and did not say a word.

"Hey...! You didn't hear what he said? What's your problem?!" Strictly Riyo who stood up from her seat.

Then, Cozen came and met the man who inquired about the artifact.

"What is this storm?"

"This man suddenly approached and acted very strange!" Riyo.

"Just follow me, sir!" Cozen said to the man.

The robed man complied and followed Mr. Cozen.

"Who the hell is he? It's so weird of him! Until it scares me!" Said Chika wondering.

"Just calm down, Chika! If he does anything, I'll beat him up!" Saying with confidence.

"Don't be your hotshot!" Hinata Eject.

"Currently, you've always been so direct to me!" Riyo said while throwing her face.

Suddenly a loud voice came from inside.

"Waaaah! This is unbelievable! It turns out that these artifacts really exist! God has blessed you, son!" Cozen shouted after seeing the artifact that the robed man had brought.

The three people who were curious, finally took a look inside.

"Precious of this artifact?" Ask the man.

"Of course, son! This is the Smiles Cry mask that became a myth for the other magus, and it turns out that it's right here, right in front of us!" Cozen said in admiration.

"What makes it valuable?" Ask the man again.

"This mask, when worn, will give you tremendous power that you cannot imagine. The wearer is allowed to take or steal his opponent's powers or abilities in a single glance!" Obviously Cozen was still amazed.

"Oh so yeah."

"Son, may I know your name? I want to buy this artifact!" Asked Cozen who was curious.

The man decided to dismantle his identity by unlocking the robe he was wearing.

"My name is Akemi Ryouta! It can be called Akemi! For our transaction, I think I should reject it. Whatever you got, I won't just hand it over!"

"What's? Akemi?" Wonder Chika.

"So she's Akemi?! That's why he came to see us earlier! I think it's time I teach her a lesson! Hehe..." Inner Riyo with her evil intentions.

"Is that so? I'm not forcing your decision! But, I warn you to always be careful. There will most likely be an attack on you in order to obtain those precious artifacts." Warning from Cozen.

"Okay, Mr. Cozen! Thank you for your call. Excuse me first!" Akemi left Cozen.

"Revelation! He's here! Get back in place!" Said the panicked Chika.

They started to panic and went back to their table.

After leaving the room, Akemi returns to meet her old friends.

"Hello, everybody! How's things? Sorry for that one. I was too nervous to say hello to you." Akemi said with a friendly tone.

"Oh, no problem. We didn't know it was you. Hehe..." Chika said with a bitter smile.

There is no warning, Riyo is still upset with Akemi. He immediately hit Akemi suddenly.

*Bua.... Buaaack...Yoooooo!!!

"You think your life will just calm down? Don't dream of you! Don't forget all your actions!" Grumpily Riyo by hitting Akemi's face.

"It's enough Riyo! Don't exaggerate! Release Him!" Said Chika who tried to divorce Riyo and assisted Hinata.

Akemi stood up and rubbed her nose which was bleeding.

"Until now, I will not forgive you! You wimps!" Riyo is riding apitam.

"Haha... don't you realize who's behind all this?" Said Akemi who grinned.

"Huh? What do you mean? Who else isn't you!" Shouted Riyo.

"Already! Don't get carried away with emotions." Said Chika holding Riyo with Hinata.

"Haha.your thinking is very narrow. What I mean is Aris. He's the real mastermind that made our friendship collapse!" Akemi.

"How could he be, Akemi? He's been helping us at the beginning of the mission." Said Chika defending Aris.

"Heah... I can guess the dirty game! I thought that he had teamed up with the devil at the beginning of the mission! And reality is proven to be true!" Opinions of Akemi.

"No way! If that's true, he should have let us be killed by the demons if he wanted to." Chika who defended desperately.

"You still don't understand, do you? He enjoys us fighting more than seeing the death of us all." Obviously Akemi with an evil smile.

"..." - ".Chika could only be silent.

"Hows it? Do you understand now? That time, how about we work together to give him a little lesson about friendship?" An offer from Akemi.

"Ugh.." - UH...."

They have trouble choosing.

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Seriate....