Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 321: Price Of A Guide

As Ren walked inside the home of the strongest person in Ur, he had to admit that it wasn’t what he was expecting.

The interior of the house was sparse but... refined.

The walls were draped with heavy furs and hides, serving two purposes at the same time. Keeping the house warm and serving as decoration, trophies from beasts long dead.

A low fire burned in the stone hearth, casting flickering shadows across the wooden floor.

Weapons lined the far wall. Swords, spears, and other weapons that some nobles back at Albion wouldn’t be caught holding.

The house was surprisingly warm and cozy, but it was also pretty clear the woman who lived here had seen more battles than most.

"Welcome to my humble abode, newcomers." The woman took a seat on a fur-covered bench and gestured for the three of them to do the same. "I’m Luna."

Ren, Lilith, and Thorn lowered themselves onto a long, sturdy bench opposite her.

"How does everyone know we’re newcomers?" Thorn was the first to speak, asking with a slight frown.

"You don’t have it yet." Luna grinned.

"Have what?"

"The edge." She answered. "The bloodlust that those who have spent decades in the Search have."

"It’s something we can all see in the eyes. The hopelessness. The fatigue. The fear that we might never find what we’re looking for. The despair that we would have to live with this itch in our soul forever. But you three... you’re too new. Green."

She tilted her head. "This has to be your first stop in your Search. But here’s the question. How did totally new Searchers have the idea to pay their respects to the strongest being in town?"

"That’s because we’re not totally new." Ren finally spoke.

"Hmmm." Luna hummed. "Well, I guess so. She’s not totally new." She pointed at Lilith. "She had that... look in her eyes."

Lilith said nothing, just staring hard at Luna.

"So... to what do I owe the pleasure of your... company?" Luna turned back to Ren.

"We need the help of one of your guides, Dario." Ren said. "We’re looking for the Seventh Peak and we wanted your permission for him to take us there."

Luna raised an eyebrow, tilting her head thoughtfully. "The Seventh Peak? Dangerous path, even with Dario leading. Few who go there return. Why do you want to go there?"

"For personal reasons." Ren said simply.

Luna studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "You do you. But you know that what you’re asking for can’t be given for free."

"I can’t let my best guide, Dario, out of my sight when I have a major expedition coming up. Which means if you want him, you’d have to make it a profit for me."

Ren stared at her. "What do we have to pay?"

"Oh, I don’t want coin." Luna grinned. "For this, I want something else."

She stood, walked over to a chest beside the fire, and pulled out a folded map.

Spreading it on the table, she pointed to a jagged outline etched near the top of the mountains.

"There’s a place called the Hollow Crown. It’s a natural structure. A massive ring of black stone that juts from the mountain like teeth."

"Inside the ring grows a flower known as the Bloom of Ashes. It only grows where lightning strikes the same place more than a hundred times. It’s rare, volatile, and guarded."

Ren leaned forward. "Guarded by what?"

"A Thunderwyrm." Luna replied. "One of the old beasts. It nests there."

"But here’s what’s special about this particular Thunderwyrm. It’s blind but senses movement and heat. It doesn’t control lightning like it’s supposed to, but if it roars, it can shatter stone. And you know what that can do to human bones."

"Essentially, it’s more like a Soundwyrm than a Thunderwyrm."

Thorn let out a low whistle. "And you want us to bring back a flower from its nest?"

"That’s right." Luna said, leaning back in her chair. "I’ve always wanted the Bloom of Ashes. Get it for me, and I’ll make sure Dario takes you to the Seventh Peak. Simple as that."

Lilith folded her arms. "Why can’t you take it yourself?"

Luna smiled. "Because it’s just too much of a hassle for me to go and fight the wyrm. I’m much too lazy for that."

They exchanged glances. Ren nodded slowly. "We’ll do it."

Luna handed him the map. "Good. Don’t get eaten."

Once they stepped back outside, the cold mountain wind hit them like a wave.

They walked towards the garden of tables and chairs not too far from Luna’s house.

A few of the citizens of Ur were seated there. It looked like it was a public area for people to sit and speak among themselves.

Ignoring the others, they gathered around a snow covered table near the edge of the ’park’.

Brushing off the snow, Ren placed the map on the table. "So..."

Thorn looked toward the peaks. "Thunderwyrm, huh? I’ve always wanted to see one up close. Just... didn’t want to die doing it."

Lilith smirked. "Then try not to scream. Maybe it won’t see you."

"It doesn’t need to see me." Thorn yawned. "Didn’t you hear? It can sense movement and heat. Two things we’re most definitely going to generate."

"Don’t worry. The Thunderwyrm won’t kill you, because I will." Lilith said flatly. "One day."

"Enough of that." Ren finally spoke. "According to the map, the Thunderwyrm’s nest isn’t too far from here. If we start now, we can get there just in time to sleep and get refreshed for whatever we have to do tomorrow."

"Alright." Thorn nodded, standing straight. "Let’s go kill a Thunderwyrm."

"Which way do we go?" Lilith asked. "East? West?"

"Just follow me. I’ll lead us there." Ren rolled the map back into a scroll and stored it inside his spatial pouch.

And as the sun slowly crawled across the sky and began to dip again toward the mountain, the three of them made the journey to their next fight.

The Bloom of Ashes awaited. And so did the beast that guarded it.

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