Faced with one misfortune after another, the members of Benny's Adventure Team were miserable. The thought of leaving began to take root in their hearts. After all, what they sought was adventure, not death. As long as they followed behind Bennett, every adventure felt like walking into a death trap. No one knew what accident might happen next. It was deeply unsettling.
But Bennett didn't understand this. Weren't these dangers just part of adventuring?
"Companions, we'll be eternal companions, adventuring together forever, right? Let's go on an adventure!"
He tried to comfort his downcast teammates by shouting their adventure slogan again. In the early days of Benny's Adventure Team, whenever someone said the word "adventure," everyone would scramble to join in, not wanting to be left behind. But now, when Bennett called for an adventure, his companions' faces were filled with worry.
One of them said, "I have something going on at home recently. I can't go on this adventure with you."
As he spoke, he clutched his pocket tightly. Inside was an application to join another adventuring team.
Another teammate said, "Sorry, I've been feeling unwell lately. I can't go on an adventure with you either. May you return safely."
Return safely. For Benny's Adventure Team, returning safely from any mission was a奢望. Every time, something went wrong. Every time, someone got hurt.
And so, Benny's Adventure Team went from five members to three. But Bennett remained optimistic.
"Alright, we'll go on this adventure first. Next time, you have to come with us, promise!"
He led the other two teammates on another expedition. As expected, like the previous times, an accident occurred. They had barely entered the snowy mountain to search for treasure when a once-in-a-century blizzard struck. They had just found a cave to hide in when a once-in-a-century avalanche thundered down. The cascading snow nearly buried them all. After great effort, the team managed to escape from the mountain. Aside from Bennett, the other two had their fingers nearly frozen solid and were rushed to the Church of Favonius for treatment.
Gradually, the team shrank from three to two, and then to one.
Bennett made new adventure plans and tried to find his former teammates. But they seemed to be avoiding him. No matter how he searched, they were nowhere to be found.
Could it be that everyone really didn't like Bennett anymore? No, that couldn't be it.
Though Bennett was optimistic, when he was left alone, his heart was a mess. Before he knew it, he had walked to his dads' graves.
"Dads, what should I do? Will they ever come back?"
He leaned against his dad's gravestone, his emotions in turmoil. Just then, the faint sound of a harp drifted over from a distance. A song of freedom. A bard's harp.
For some reason, hearing that harp music made Bennett feel much better.
"Dad, was that music sent by you? I understand now. They may have left the team, but they haven't ended their adventuring careers. They must have joined stronger adventuring teams. As their former companion, I sincerely wish them well. During the time they adventured with me, they suffered too much hardship and too many injuries. All I ever brought them was bad luck. It was right for them to leave.
"Dad, don't worry. I won't give up on adventuring. And Benny's Adventure Team won't be disbanded. From now on, Benny's Adventure Team will just be Bennett."
As he spoke, his expression was filled with determination. With no one to be his companion, Bennett would be his own companion. With no one to like him, Bennett would like himself. The departure of companions was also part of adventuring, wasn't it?
Thinking this, Bennett stood up again before his dad's grave. He was back in action.
"Bennett, go on an adventure! Set out!"
Having made his decision, Bennett went alone to the Adventurers' Guild and found Katheryne. But this time, she handed him only simple commissions. Taking commissions as an individual meant he could only accept simple tasks. That was the guild's rule—a form of protection for adventurers.
Bennett was dissatisfied. "Benny's Adventure Team should be taking on harder commissions."
Katheryne said helplessly, "But you're only one person. Adventuring teams with fewer than four members are supposed to be deregistered."
According to guild rules, a single adventurer could not be called a team. By now, even Katheryne had heard about members leaving Benny's Adventure Team. The entire team was down to just Bennett. According to the rules, it should be disbanded.
Hearing her words, a flicker of panic appeared on Bennett's face. "They're just sick. They've taken a leave of absence and can't go on adventures for now. You should know, they get sick often. When they recover, they'll definitely come back. Please, don't disband Benny's Adventure Team."
Bennett was panicking. After his dads died, Benny's Adventure Team had become his new anchor. He couldn't bear to see the team he had built with his own hands disappear from the guild.
Katheryne sighed. She didn't expose the fact that those teammates had already joined other teams. Instead, she warned him, "Adventuring alone is far too dangerous. I hope you can go with companions."
After hesitating for a moment, she finally handed the commission to Bennett.
From that day on, Bennett began adventuring alone. Without companions to help him, whenever he faced danger, he fought all the harder. Even when exhausted, he forced himself to stand. Even when covered in wounds, he still swung his sword.
Because he knew: if he fell, there would be no one to save him. The only one who could save Bennett, aside from his late dads, was Bennett himself.
And so, time and again, he was knocked down by monsters. Time and again, he stood back up, swung his sword, and slew them. Dragging his body, broken bones and all, covered in wounds, he would make his way to the door of the Church of Favonius.
When the trainee deacon Barbara saw him, she was so shocked she could barely speak. She rushed forward to stop the bleeding.