After leaving the Adventurer Guild, the figure of Alex and Gracier could be seen walking on the highway outside of the city.
''Big brother Alex can you tell me what kind of request we are going to complete?" Gracier asked until now she didn't know what kind of request Alex had taken.
''Sure, my apologies I was lost in thought. Well, the request this time is to subjugate soldier ants.'' Alex explained.
He recalled the contents of the request that had been posted in the guild. In the past few days, near the city walking distance, that is to say within a few hours the appearance of Soldier Ants had become more frequent.
For the subjugation request of the Soldier Ants, the proof of subjugation was the dagger-like protrusion that grew on their backs. The reward for each part was 5 copper coins, about double that of the goblins.
According to the requester, there was probably a nest with a Queen Ant near the city, and that the so-called Queen Ant might appear. Therefore the normal E rank request may turn into a C rank because of the appearance of the Queen Ant. To put it simply while Soldier Ants are rank E monster, their Queen Ant is considered a rank C monster, because of this the request rank may increase, it was best to not mess with it if it was found.
Alex was not sure if the requester assumption was right but he was anticipating an encounter with the Queen ant, he wants to test his power against a rank C monster, well a standard rank C monster, one of the weakest rank C monster.
''I hope you are ready?" Alex asked while observing Gracier, the latter was slightly trembling, she was doing her best not show it. Who can blame her, she was about to face monsters, monsters who were responsible for the massacre of her village, the current monsters may not be the same as the one responsible for her tragedy still they are monster nevertheless.
Alex waits for her to regains control of her emotion, she needs to overcome her fear before facing the monster, or else she may commit a blunder.
After what seemed to be a few minutes Gracier regained control over her emotion, she was still trembling but it had reduced.
''I'm fine now Big brother let's go,'' Gracier said with a stiff smile.
Petting her fiery red hair, the two continued as they started chatting, Gracier's mood brightens. Slowly but surely the two neared the location where the soldier ants were spotted.
The two stopped walking as Alex's eyes were fixed in front of them.
''Be ready they're coming.''
Saying this Alex had already unfastened two Black Bettie's as he switched to his combat state, Alex's eyes zeroed right on the thing that comes out from the bushes surrounding the roadside, it was black.
As expected it was an ant, a black ant. Aside from their size, they looked like normal ants. If there was one difference, it would be the dagger-like protrusion that grew on their back.
''Gi~gi!"
Only two Soldier Ants come out, one of them ran toward the duo, Alex spotted Gracier whose body was trembling nonstop, she seemed to have frozen, fear could be seen in her eyes, her face was pale.
Sighing Alex dashed toward the incoming Soldier Ant after throwing the two Black Betties at the other Soldier Ant, even without looking Alex knew that it was dead, since his throwing knife Skill advanced into the Master level, Alex felt like he could throw the knife at any target even with his eyes closed, his throwing had become so fluid and so natural that he asked himself what it would be like if this skill was maxed.
Shaking his head Alex evaded the Soldier Ant in front of him that was trying to bite and tear him apart with its sharp mandibles, its speed wasn't particularly fast. It was a less formidable enemy than the goblin rare that Alex fought recently by a great extent.
Slice!
The Soldier Ant that had opened its mandibles to bite Alex was cut in half by Razor.
Although some say that Soldier Ants can still act if one of their legs were lost, it doesn't seem to be possible if its body is cut in half, its legs didn't twitch for long before its movements stopped.
Although Alex took down the two Soldier Ants that come out in flash, more Ants came out, six more Soldier Ants to be exact. After retrieving the knives he had thrown Alex glanced at Gracier who was still lost in thoughts. Approaching her Alex gave her a hard chop on the head.
''Ouch!" Gracier grunted in pain and with teary eyes she stared at Alex, red-eye clashed against green eyes. In a harsh tone, Alex rebuked her,
''Stop being a coward and face reality already. Do you want to avenge the others who had sacrificed their lives for you? If you want to avenge them then be strong, the monsters you are facing are weak, one of the weakest monsters out there. If you can't even kill these weak monsters better stop now and return to the Inn. You should think of changing job as well. For my part, I don't need a coward, a weakling who can even overcome her fear. I need someone that I can trust my back to, someone who can protect me as I can also protect. The current you have no use for me, you'll be a burden instead.''
Leaving these harsh words behind Alex left, he dashed toward the incoming Soldier Ants, after eliminating three of the Soldier Ants with his throwing knives, Alex dispatched the other three with his knife.
〖Don't you think you have been too harsh on her?〗Silveria asked after a moment of silence.
Shrugging his shoulders Alex reply while fighting against the new Soldier Ants that came out,
''I know but she needs to hear something like this or else she may not be able to overcome her fear.''
〖Still, what if you broke her instead? What if she went back as you suggested?〗
Toward Silveria's words, Alex's response was short ''So, be it then.''
''Well, I doubt it would happen. I'm sure she can overcome her fear. She's more strong than you think. Don't be fooled by her gentle exterior, inside she is the fiery type, maybe not the battle hungry type but she is not the innocent type she showed. Just wait and you'll see.'' Alex added while fighting against the incoming Soldier Ants completely disregarding Gracier who stood frozen behind.
〖Heh! The big brother looks confident that his little sister will overcome her fear and become strong.〗Silveria teased him.
''Well, a good Big brother must have faith in his little sister and as a good Big brother I have faith in my little sister,'' Alex said while dispatching another Soldier Ants.
〖Mou! I want to come all ready for some action, it's boring here.〗Silveria said.
''Sorry, that will wait, let me enjoy myself without using you a little bit. With you, it won't be fun.'' Alex refused while he continued dancing amidst the Soldier Ants.
〖It seems that you slowly turning into a battle junkie.〗
Silveria said while observing her master killing Ants after Ants with the minimum amount of movement, it was like he was dancing, sometimes he would kill the Ants with his deadly throwing knives skill while sometimes he would just cut them with Razor, his custom made Knife.
Her master seemed to be enjoying himself, he had already killed his fifteenth Soldier Ants since his first kill.
Meanwhile, Gracier was still frozen, tears running down her cheeks, she was lost in her little world.