Obtain your quest.

Monarch, or whatever her true name may be, is not only a mountain bandit leader. It's what many may call her, but you know very well that it's more complicated than that. There may be others, you're not certain, but she's definitely a queen of the criminal underworld west of Tivera. She and Rose have a lot in common, even if they act as complete opposites. In a way, they almost dress like the other should. Rose looks like a bandit but lives in the city, while Monarch looks like a noblewoman but lives in the hills.

For a stretch of time up until recently, she hadn't been herself. You can tell she's still distressed about that. She hides it well, but she's lost sleep over getting things back in order, and while she idolizes Demon Kings, there's at least one she now despises.

"There are always games on top of games," you comment while waiting a few steps off the road. "It happened in Tivera too, but things were more straight forward. Evil man is evil, rise up against him, and then do it again. Now we have William working with Breiah on all sorts of things in the shadows, including the manipulation of the free cities, and then there's a conspiracy to feed an ancient elder god the souls of powerful beings to make him stronger for some reason."

"That's so relatable." Niki groans. "I'm gonna start doing stress-squats now."

While she begins bobbing up and down, Eva wanders past you and looks to the sky. "But it isn't so bad. I always wanted to make a name for myself without relying on my dad, and now look at how far we've come. It hasn't even been a year since I met you all."

"And with a name unfortunately comes a target on one's head," Amara responds. "I have always known this. Despite the risk, I will be a woman just like my mother."

Nyllia looks to the woman doing squats. "Does that help you think?" she asks.

"That's right," Niki replies.

"Ah. I see. Well, it also makes your rear look impressive."

Niki turns away, poking her butt out towards the party as she does another. "You think so? Huh. Hey, Kyle. Do I have an impressive butt?"

You nod. "Your ass looks incredible, Niki. I'm surprised you even have to ask."

She grins. "It's good to be reminded."

"I can do it every day if you'd like."

"See, Eva? You should do squats if you want a butt like mine."

"W-Wait. Why me specifically? I have a wonderful ass! You could have said that to Amara or something. She's more slender, and neither of us have a lot of muscle."

"Yeah but teasing Amara isn't as funny for some reason."

"Oh. You can tease me if you would like," says Amara. "I do not mind."

Then from around a hillside south of you, not far from the road, come three figures, though one is far more noticeable than the others. None would describe Monarch as subtle despite her career path. The elf steps towards you while her men keep a distance behind--weapons not drawn, but clearly ready for trouble.

"Do not fret, for I am finally here to grace you with my presence," says Monarch with a hand to her chest and a smile across her face. "It benefit us both to have this dealt with in the long run. That being said, I do expect you to return the favour at some point in the future, Demon King."

"Any time," you say with a confidence that catches her off guard.

The woman's cheeks turn pink for a moment before she calms herself down with a deep breath. "Now that is exactly what I wanted to hear. Come then. All of you. I have not only drawn a map for you to follow to find this cave, but where to go once beneath the surface so that you do not get lost in the dark. Be careful. I know little of what lurks below other than generic stories of monsters and disappearances. Nothing unusual for a place like that one. I have heard it all before."

Meanwhile, the two men whisper. One speaks a little too loudly as he says, "Isn't that the bunnyfolk who almost peed herself?"

"Oh come on!" Eva shouts in distress.

As Monarch watches, both you and Nyllia hold the maps together and look them over. You've been through a lot, but she's still technically a far more seasoned adventurer than you are--more than anybody else currently present. It's her livelihood, and it has been for presumably a long time. Next in line would be Niki, but you have a feeling that her strong suit was always moreso what happens when you get to the monsters.

That and Niki was one of the girls who was struggling to find a party to begin with, along with Eva and Amara.

Nyllia looks to you. "With the strength of our party, I think we should arrive there just as the sun is setting tomorrow evening, as long as we leave straight away. We will only need to camp once on the way here if all goes well."

"My job here is complete," says Monarch. "Try not to die. You are an exciting wild card, Demon King. Without you, I frankly worry for the future of the free cities. There are strange things happening, and I hate that I do not know more, so that is what I will be doing in your absence."

You mutter to herself, "How many more do I have left?" Then after fiddling around through the quivering holes of your Bag of Holding--both the smaller and then larger--you at last retrieve a spare FONE. It's likely your last one until more can be manufactured. "Monarch. Take this," you say.

"A gift?" she asks. Without question, she takes the silver slab in-hand, looking mostly towards your name engraved near the top. After flipping it over a few times, she returns her attention up to you. "I am unsure of what this is."

"It's called a FONE. Think of it as a better Sending Stone. Now we can contact each other anytime."

Contact List
Captain Silver
Xiaoqing
Queen Catherine II
Rose
Nyllia Tesgella
Yin
Galahen Fheargor
Lynx
Lady Vex*
Monarch

*Currently in the possession of Kashura Saylinor

"You have impressed me yet again, Demon King. I will treasure this tribute you have made. Now go. I have much to do." She looks back to her men and snaps her fingers quite loudly. "Come. To Tanver's Crossing."

They both straighten up, and the trio crosses the bridge back into town without looking back.

You look to your own FONE and the rather long list of contacts you've already amassed. It kinda is impressive, isn't it? I have the means to call people from all corners of the world I've been to so far. Oraang Desert. Tivera. Tanver's Crossing. Even way out at sea to the east, wherever Captain Silver may be. Eventually I'll have Gwynevere too, beyond the magic conch back home.

"Say, Masumi," Niki speaks up. "You sure you're good for a quest like this one? It's gonna be rugged. Off the road, exploring caves and stuff."

The kitsune returns her question with a light chuckle. "Do I look to be a woman afraid of dirtying her hands? I'm the right-hand of Lady Vex, and she does very much like my right hand. You don't have to worry about me."

You do understand Niki's concern. Masumi permanently appears half asleep, down to a loose-fitting outfit nearly slipping off her body, but you're aware at this point that everything she does is intentional. This is just her personality. You've also experienced what she can do, so you're not worried in the slightest.

"Shall we head out then?" you ask. "Let's prove to these villains that we're not just any adventurers. We'll find this place, backtrack the route the thief would have taken, and discover the truth behind the conspiracy."

"Very inspiring," says Masumi.