New World with Four Husbands

Coco had no choice, but to lead the team out of the city gates.

She had agreed to let them watch her hunt the lurking monsters, so she can be left alone after whatever shenanigans they want to pull on her later.

Sighing, she led them through the woods.

The air held a hint of misty chill, their breaths visible in the air as they trudged through the fallen leaves.

The four members followed behind her, their footsteps the only sounds other than the gentle crunch of dead leaves under their boots, and Coco herself walked in front, her eyes sharp as she scanned her surroundings— her hand gripping the handle of her unbreakable hoe.

She doesn’t know how long they have been walking, but they soon reached a familiar area.

Coco raised a hand, her dark gloves fitted snugly around her fingers, and waved at the small team she’s leading to come to a halt behind her.

All of them did, their footsteps slowly crunching to a stop.

The sole of their boots crushed snows quite loudly, causing the female mediator to flinch and reach out to grab the tallest member’s arm to pull him back.

Right in front of Coco was a slightly dimmed stone, but all of them could feel that the stone wasn’t ordinary.

It still has a glow— the kind that makes them shiver just by looking at it, and they don’t know if it was just their imagination, but they felt like it pulsed when their eyes landed on it.

"What’s that, ma’am?" The female mediator asked, her grip on her teammate’s arm tightening.

"It’s a spawn stone." Coco answered, placing her hand back down to her side and approached the said stone, her footsteps quiet and careful. "It’s where monsters usually come from."

The people behind her let out a gasp, each sound escaping their lips causing Coco’s lips to twitch.

"Don’t worry." She quickly added to assure them, glancing over her shoulder to look at them. "The purpose of the spawn stone wasn’t recorded in writings until recently. I’m pretty sure it will be spread nationwide to lessen any possible casualties."

With that said, she started walking towards the dimmed stone.

The four members could only stare in awe, their eyes wide in amazement as they watched her approach the faintly glowing spawn stone— its energy flickering weakly amidst the frosty woods.

Without hesitation, she tightened her grip on her hoe and swung it down in one sharp motion.

CRACK.

The stone shattered into fragments instantly, its pieces scattering across the snowy ground as its magic dissipated into the air.

Her team watched in silence, and was impressed by her strength.

She exhaled, her breath visible in the cold air as she turned back to them. "One less nuisance to worry about for now, but there’s a few more around."

Coco huffed and dusted off her hands.

All of them could only stare at their supposedly team leader for a moment, before finally snapping out of their trances.

"You’re so strong!" The shortest of the four members gushed, eyes bright.

"Is this your actual strength? Or can you hit harder than that, ma’am?" The female mediator quickly followed up her teammate’s question with another, her own eyes bright with delight.

"I mean, I can hit harder than that." Coco mumbled, scratching her cheek sheepishly.

"Really?" The tallest male echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Ah, I almost forgot. Allow me to introduce myself to you, ma’am."

As if noticing just now that something was amiss, everyone straightened and cleared their throat.

"I am Elaina." The female mediator introduced herself, smiling shyly towards the person she admired. "Please call me however you like, ma’am. It would be my greatest pleasure."

Huffing, the shortest male of the three went next.

"My name is Jade." The short man stated, his eyes flickering to Coco’s hand up to her emerald eyes. "Just like Elaina, please call me however you like, ma’am."

Coco nodded her head, then from the corner of her eyes, she spotted the tallest one moving.

"I’m Fan." The man mumbled, his deep, gravely voice rumbling in his chest. "But people like to call me ’An’ for short for some reason. I would appreciate it greatly if you create a new name for me."

"Alright, Fa." Coco hummed, making Fan brighten up significantly.

"Thank you." He whispered, lowering his head to show his sincerest gratitude towards the woman before him. "I will not allow other people to me Fa, and will reserve it only for you."

That got Coco chuckling nervously and shifting on her feet.

"So dramatic." The last, but not least member of the team commented, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, I am called Leroy. What you call me doesn’t matter. I just want you to teach me how you do that."

"Do what?" Coco inquired, tilting her head.

"Smash a stone in one hit." Leroy stated bluntly, gesturing stiffly towards the said stone. "I heard that you have incredible strength, but I wasn’t expecting it to this extent."

Coco raised an eyebrow, her grip on her unbreakable how tightening as she pointed it towards Leroy.

"You think teaching you this strength is something I can do casually?" Coco mumbled, eyes narrowed into a menacing glare. "I had to go through hell just to acquire this power. You must go through hell to acquire it as well."

"Hell?"

The other three members murmured among themselves, their lips pursing in a straight line.

"What kind of hell?" Leroy asked, taking a step forward and keeping his gaze leveled with Coco. "I’m pretty sure this hell you speak of is something I can go through without a hitch."

Hearing those words snapped something inside Coco, but her hand remained clenched tightly around the handle of her farming tool, because if she didn’t keep it there, she would have used it to smack the guy before her.

Coco tilted her head, her blood warming up. "Does this mean that whoever you hold dear isn’t significant to you?"