*rustle *rustle

Their eyes widened as they heard something coming from the bushes. Sighing when they know it was the members of their group.

Anko brought a basket worth of fruits while Chika carried a lot of sticks on her back, and hugging many stones on her hands. Tenko asked, "Aren't those heavy?"

Chika responded, "No, really, it's really, really light. I can carry these kilos of stone a mile away. I can even deliver them to the kingdom right now." Tenko noticed her sarcasm, "Ahh, sorry."

She quickly went and a.s.sist her with it, laying down the stones and putting down the twigs.

"Thanks, your turn now."

Tenko nodded knowing what to do.

"Oh, here." Anko threw an apple-like fruit to her, and Tenko managed to catch it easily even though it's sudden.

She frowned whilst looking at it. Nervous at first, but…

*chomp*

*munch *munch

Salivating the fresh juice inside her mouth, her expression relaxed in an instant. The taste is so sweet and refres.h.i.+ng, she can't help but wanting more. However, work comes first. She then went to do her job then.

Tokaya took the bow that Tenko left for her and turned around to see Chika and Anko, "Didn't take you guys so long, were you looking for them nearby?"

"Yeah, there's a lot of stuff here, you won't believe it" said Chika.

"Hmm… well, I wouldn't know."

Chika grabbed a fruit that Anko has cleaned, and then eat it.

*chomp*

Asking with her mouth full, "So, that's what she made?"

Tokaya nodded as she picked up the fruit, "Mhm."

"Hmm…" Chika yelled to Tenko, "Hey, I don't know how to use that thing, can you make something else for me?"

Tenko turns, "Ask away."

"Hmm…" holding her chin, pondering about it for a moment. Her eyes widened as she has decided, "A blade! Make me a dagger or something, like a knife! A SHARP ONE!"

"All right!"

Turning her head back to Tokaya, "I saw some monsters up in the north, might want to look for another place to call home."

Tokaya paused, "Hmm… something big?"

While tilting and moving her lips, "Mm, I guess. Size like a small bear, probably a boar or something, but it got teeth. Like, very sharp teeth."

"…" Tokaya nodded lightly, "Okay, but no. We'll handle it when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on leveling up."

"Hm, oh yeah" Chika's eyes widened, "Anko here, she's like a priest, but she can also use water magic, and that thing on her necklace is a magic item. One that amplifies her magic."

"Okay… the magic aside, how do you know that?"

"Heh" Chika palmed her head stylishly, and raising her hand high, "Bow down to me mortals, as I am… the Keeper of Knowledge!!"

"…"

Tokaya blinked her eyes a few times in silence. Despite that Chika didn't break character, with a proud smile, she snapped her finger and said, "Amazing, ain't it?"

"… sure, but what does it mean?"

"…" Chika went silent, "Err… it means…"

Anko chuckled hearing their conversation, she decided to step in. "That means she has and will have all kinds of [Knowledge] related abilities. Well, one thing for sure is that she's forgetting things less often and instantly know about things when she sees them."

Tokaya's eyes widened, "Ohoh, really? That's quite something" turning to Chika, "You should've known this since it's YOUR ability. Study them properly."

Chika sighed, "Fine…"

She then realized something, "Oh yeah, what about you and Tenko? What can you guys do? I mean, your abilities."

"Tenko is a cleric and uses holy magic, she can heal too. For me… I'm an Attribute-less Mage."

"Uhh, what does that mean?"

"Hmm… my abilities are neutral and remain ever-changing, meaning each spell I cast will not a.s.sociate themselves with any kinds of attributes but will change once—"

"Okay, okay, you can stop there. I'm getting a headache."

"…" Tokaya was annoyed, thinking, 'This girl…'

Anko bites through the skin of the fruit.

*Crunch *Crunch

She then spoke, "So, we have 1 attacker, 2 supporters, and one AIO?"

Chika tilted her head, "I'm guessing the last one is Tenko, but what do you mean AIO?"

"Well, Tenko can use magic, able to heal, and she's good at Martial Arts. Don't you think she has all three roles in her pocket?"

"You mean, you're leaving Tenko to tank for us?"

"… well…"

"Absolutely no, we're a team. We can't just push—"

Tokaya tapped her shoulder, "It is exactly why we're a team that we have to optimize everything to its fullest… but you're right, we can't just push the heavy work to Tenko."

"What work?"

"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!" Chika screamed in shock.

Tenko suddenly popped out of nowhere. "Aahh, s-sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

*pant *pant

"No, my fault… letting my guard down."

A bit of sweat dripped from Tenko's cheek, "Anyway, here. The weapons are ready."

Tokaya was surprised, "So fast?"

"Ehe, it's not really complicated. Though, I only made a few arrows. There are not enough materials left. So, I can only make 20 of them."

"That's… already plenty, Tenko. Thank you."

Tenko paused for a moment, it's the first she heard it, "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said…"

Tapping Tokaya's arm with her elbow, "Hey, speak up. I can't hear you."

"Ugh, Nevermind" Tokaya rolled her eyes out, and Tenko smiled at it while she's blus.h.i.+ng in embarra.s.sment. Seeing the two of them in that kind of atmosphere, made Chika feels weird.

"Okay, enough! Times up! Discussion time!"

Tenko's eyes widened, and then the four of them circling to each other, talking about the strategies of how they are going to fight.

…