Adventurers Guild Adventurer's Guild - Receptionist Desk

*cough* also *cough*

 

#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]

Spoiler: Quest Report

After the approval of my first quest as an Adventurer by the Guild receptionist-sama, I readied myself for a slimy task.

Checking my equipment, I saw a small stain on my sleeves from the 7 cheese pizza i ate last night at the lounge. It's been 2 days since I left my village and haven't taken a bath nor washed my clothes yet. Oh well, I'll do it after the quest, since hygiene is an important factor for adventurers specialy newbies.

It was a bright sunny day, and warm wind blowing to the east. I passed by a few vilages and recieved warm smiles from the villagers. I deemed it a good day. I saw flying birds, jumping squirrels, fluttering butterflies, blossoming flowers and grass... lot's of grass.

Then i reached a crossroad and chose a random road.

It was a peaceful travel with no encounters from bandits or any other calamaties. (i only have some moldy bread and an apple with me...)

Looking around, i saw a lot of rocks and sand. The green grassy fields were passed by long ago, and the vast field of desert sand was in front of me.

I asked myself... "So... i need to kill a slime of the desert kind?"

Wait... What... Desert...

I took a piece of paper from my item box and read the following information:

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Location: Great Plains - Vast Landscape Filled With Perils

The heck!!! Wrong turn self!! Wrong turn!

I ran back as fast as i could until i saw some greenery again. Then went back to that crossroad and took the other path.

After a few hours of walking, I finally reached the Great Plains. It really is a vast landscape. The first monster mob i saw was a group of slimes wiggling together in a grassy plain.

So... what else is there to do but to finish my quest.

As a sorcerer, i take energy from a source. This source comes from my innate abuntant mana pool from being a Nephilim. I visualized a fist and my sorcerer magic force formed a semi-translucent fist on air. Then i targeted on slime and shouted... "Rock Shot!"

This was repeated around 23 times. A little sweat dropped from my eyebrow as i watched the aftermath of my "slimenation". That was refreshing.

I saw a couple of drops from the slimes. I looked like a sticky jelly jellopy thingy i don't recognize. Oh well, might be worth a coin or two. Atleast i can dispose of the moldy breads in mah pocket later on.

The journey back the the Adventurer's Guild was much faster since i was already familiar with the route.

I opened the door of the Guild Building and saw the receptionist-sama... then....

Note:
-found this [jelly substance thingy] x4

Hello Receptionist-sama! @brasca123 I finished mah quest.

 

#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
=========================
"Welcome back..." *peeks at his card* "Gin-san!

Let Hikari see... Eto... Make sure to take care when looking at the quest location! What if Gin-san had gone to a dangerous place!?" >.<

"At least nothing bad happened, good thing Gin-san's... Slimenation...?" *tilts head* "Go-good thing it all went well!

The reward will be of 50G!

Take care now!" ^^)/

 

@AliceShiki

North Volcano|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 3 Fire Golems [180 G]
North Volcano|#SC3|C-Ranked|Slay 5 Fire Spirit [190 G]

"We came back~" said Nally as she entered joyfully in the receptionist's desk.
"Hello~ Hikari ~ Cinere is a bit behind but he should arrive soon~ and Kynn is near~" she continued to talk as she held over the report with a silly smike.
"Here it goes~"

Spoiler: Report

"Hey Cinere! lets take this quest together!"
Kynn took two Subjugation quest papers and let Cinere see it, to see if he could be interested.

"Hm... Fire Golems and Spirits ~ ?" Cinere watched the two quests and nodded as he continued to talk with a kind smile.
"Sure, it seems fun. Do you want to also go with Nally ?"

"Sure! Can you do the procedure? "
Kynn said as she held the quest papers to Cinere and sat back for a bit, to wait for him while he is doing the procedures.

"No problems I will, Nally is probably in the Tavern, either eating sweets or maybe sleeping." Cinere took the papers and went to the receptionist's desk, while a sort-of complain almost slipped out from his mouth
"Could you kick her a- I mean bring her so we can go on the quests after I make the procedures~ ?"

"sure Why not! "
Kynn jumped off the couch and started walking around looking for Nally, wondering aloud where she could be… true, the tavern, but where in the tavern…
"where could she be... "

"Zzzzz..." Nally was sleeping on table, holding to a chocolate bar as she was drooling on the table, like father like… oh wait, he is only her creator.

" ....... "
Kynn just stared at her peaceful face for a moment then she began to gently tap her cheek to wake her up.
" Nally... wake up... "

"Zwzzzwaizziit..." Nally lifted her head and just caught Kynn's hand as she stood up, still feeling sleepy...
"...let's go... wait... where...? Whatever ~..."

" i haven't told you anything yet, yet you're ready as ever... "
Kynn helped her stand as she somehow felt perplexed by her firm yet lazy declaration… well, it’s better if she knows a bit about it.
" we're going for the northern Volcano by the way... do you have Heat Resistance?"

"Oh~ I already did a picnic at the Ash Plain~" Nally suddenly felt excited as she thought about picnic and food, she was also eager to go enjoy this time with Kynn who is quite fun.
"Heat Resistance~ ?...I wonder...? Maybe ? Meh I probably won't melt anyway~!"

" huh... well you won't melt but you will probably burn without you noticing... " said Kynn as she somehow tried to make her realize that melting was not the point.

"I already got frozen so it should be alright~" Nally said as she noticed Cinere far away, then she pointed her finger at him.
"Here is the despicable person who froze me~!"

" what... "
Kynn looked towards Cinere, not knowing how to react…
" what? "

"Don't worry about her nonsense, a bit of ice never hurt, after all~" Cinere teleported behind Nally and knocked her out, then he put her on his shoulder like a bag as he continued to talk.
"Let's go, I finished the procedures~"

" Okay... "
Kynn smiled wryly as she wears her Blizzard Robe

Leaving Aeternus and walking toward the North Volcan, Nally suddenly opened her eyes and asked with a bitter tone
"...could you release me...? Pl-...please....?"
"Sure~" Cinere only replied with a joyful tone as he stretched his tired shoulder, while Nally decided just to avoid him for a bit.
"Kynn~ are we going to arrive soon~?"

Looking through the map, Kynn answered Nally while looking at Cinere.
" yep... 10 more miles... this what happens if we walk slowly you know? "

"Then... Nally carry me so we can accelerate~" Supporting himself by leaning on Nally who has been sleeping, Cinere said on a joking tone... though, it looks like there was one who didn't agree.
"Ha ?! Do you seriously think that I will " Of course, she wouldn't, nevertheless she was quite foolish to believe him.
"Just kidding, let's just accelerate or simply run, personally, I am still fine, I can run at most for three days." Cinere shrugged as he chuckled

" hmmm.... "
Kynn smiled as she watched both of them jokes around. she then unfolded her wings and started her take off procedure

"Ah ! Kynn~ can you carry me~ ?!"
Nally said with a wide smile as she saw her preparing herself to take off, she didn't want to walk next to a certain person.
"Well, I will just go ahead, for now, you will catch me fastly anyway."
While this "certain person" decided to run, thinking that he should train harder, physically talking, instead of mutating his body every time he needed strength and stamina.

" It's Fine~ Cinere~ I'll be flying close so that we can help you when in need~ "
Hugging Nally, Kynn then jumped and Flapped her wings towards the sky, Flying 60 meters above the ground.

"Yahhooooooooooooooooooooooooo~~!!" her shout of joy was really loud, even if she was quite high, Cinere couldn't help but feels slightly tiresome, using wind magic and mutating his blood to a greyish-color, he suddenly accelerated, sometimes cracking the frail ground under his feet.

" Ooohh~ He's Fast~ Better to do the same~ "
a Magic Circle then appeared on the base of her wings and as if a booster has been installed and used, Kynn accelerated faster than an Airship made for Fast Travel or even a Magi-Jet Fighter. a wall of wind in front of Kynn appears as she accelerated.

"Cinere~ You are too slow~!!" Nally shouted while she was hugged by this lovely angel... Cinere only made a small noise as he tried to become even faster by mutating his body even further than that...
"Hmpf." ...his body just became even more colder as his speed only weakly increased, his voice became somehow mocking..
"If there wasn't Kynn, you would have been far behind, right Kynn ?"

Kynn looked back to Nally while Grinning joyfully
" Totally~ more importantly, how are you even capable of listening while in Sub Sonic speed? "

"Huh~? He can guess what I am saying~? And I can guess what he is saying...?"Nally looked behind and saw Cinere running quite slowly at least compared to Kynn's speed.
"I mean~ before getting this body~ we kinda shared thoughts~ so we know each other like any other~ even if he doesn't hear me, he will... somehow understand me...?" Nally tilted her head while trying to understand how their relationship work.

" Huh... Ah! Look! Smoke and a red mountain in the distance! "
Kynn noticed the surroundings getting hot even flying above the sky as she saw the spitting volcano

"Oh~ Already~!" Nally said as she watched behind her and saw someone far away, still running, who else than Cinere.
"Let's accelerate~!" She shouted she didn't notice the air becoming hotter.

" Roger that~! "
Kynn said as another layer of Magic Circle Appeared above the magic Circle from before and accelerated thrice and faster from the last time.
" Ugh- "
Though moments later Kynn landed on the base of the flaming mountain and crouched on all fours while groaning, holding her stomach.

"Ah ?! Kynn ?! Are you alright ?!" Nally immediately tried to support Kynn who was crouching and groaning on the hot ground, she put her arm around her neck and said with a regretful tone.
"Sorry... if I didn't say to accelerate, you wouldn't be like this..." As she talked, she tried to help Kynn standing up.

" I'm not hurt but- Ugh- my stomach can't handle fast speed of two [Accel] "
Still crouching, Kynn somehow vomited rainbow-colored liquid from her mouth

"Uwa~ you could have refused !!" Nally felt worried for her but then... she looked at the rainbow colored liquid... and felt quite perplexed...
"Ohh~ why is your... is rainbow colo- Oh wait, that's not important ?! We need a healer !" So, she thought about Cinere, she remembered that he knew how to heal but he didn't like to heal, it was quite weird... why did he learn Light/Healing Magic if he didn't like healing...?

" ignore the rainbow-colored liquid please, eating raspberry, blueberry, kiwi, banana, orange, strawberry and papaya for lunch does that but don't touch it. My bodily fluids are Highly Corrosive "
Precising everything she ate recently, Kynn said as she points towards the puddle which started to melt the surroundings

"Corrosive...?" Nally didn't understand the word but when she saw the puddle melting, she somehow understood... and tried to guess why all freaks have supposedly "unique" blood ? Kynn's blood is corrosive, while Cinere's blood is freezing and poisonous...
"...uwaa... look like we will need to wait... I don't know how to heal... and I have nothing on me..." ...despite going faster than Cinere, to heal Kynn's stomach, they will need him or... simply wait until it pass.
Deeply, Nally thought it would be better if Cinere was too slow, she didn't want to see his mocking smile.

" you just have to think about something rude, didn't you? "
Wiping her mouth, Kynn stood up and stretched her body, trying to ignore the stomachache
" Also I'm getting a bit better... Where's Cinere now by the way? "

"W-What do you mean~ ?! I totally wasn't thinking about something rude..."
Nally looked way as she felt slightly... guilty, she got it right.
"Uhh... let's s-" Nally looked and saw Cinere... just a few meters ahead for her.
"...I just arrived... indeed, you are far more faster than me..." He seemed to be slightly disappointed in himself as he sighed pitifully, ignoring his own exhaustion.

" Ugh-.... Never going to try Tri-Spells for some time but I'm fine... "
Kynn took a chocolate bar from her item box and started nibbling in it. Only moments later, the chocolate melted from extreme heat
" Ahh!!! My chocolate!! "

"...reminder to myself, never take chocolate except frozen one to North Volcano" Cinere muttered as he patted Kynn without hesitation.
"Well~ uhm~ then shall we take a rest or just go hunt right now~?" Nally asked as she watched Kynn with her melting chocolate... how sad.

" *sniffle* let's go and get this over with... "
Kynn said sorrowfully and stood up. She was thinking of over killing todays quest targets.

"Alright..." Cinere just yawned as he began to concentrate and search for Fire Spirit, somehow detecting some mana's fluctuations around ironically the north, probably around...
"There is probably some around the Volcano's entrance~ let's just go then~"

" Un... " Looking around and concentrating on her eyes, Kynn noticed two dense Mana cluster. Looking closer, she saw two Fire Spirits laughing around while floating
" Ah!! Is it you two!! Grit your teeth!! {Flowers of Ice, Bloom in my command}! [Glacier]! " Invoking her spell towards the Spirits who gracefully evade the attack and retreats towards the volcano entrance
" Wait Damn it!! "

"You are not going~!" Cinere lifted his hand and created a dozen of ice spike of two meters, throwing them toward the Volcano's entrance, successfully harming one before it enters smoothly into it.
"Ahh~ you almost~ go it... welp, let's go~!" Nally leaped and ran toward the Volcano's entrance as Cinere followed.

Retrieving her Glaive from the item bag, Kynn imbued it with Ice magic, following the two inside the volcano


The volcano's entrance was indeed hot... and the fire spirits were still in, somehow, they had the terrain's advantage, Cinere only sighed because he saw three fire spirits... and not two.
Well, it only...
"...makes more to kill." A layer of frost began to appear on Cinere's body, slower than usual because obviously, they were in a volcano, and... the ground began to froze under his feet, well, as planned, he created two dozens of ice spikes and have thrown them at only one, not letting him the ability to flee...
"One down, two left."

" wasteful! {Flowers of Ice, Dwell in my Blade and Dance} [ENCHANT] "
And Kynn threw her Glaive towards one of the Fire Spirits, Killing it and Embedding it in the volcanic wall behind it
" HA! "

"I have too much mana to use anyway !" Cinere shouted as he teleported five or six times in a row to get behind a fire spirit and cut in two the last one with a usual ice sword who will melt soon.
"Well~ look like I couldn't do anything~ I don't have a ridiculous amount of mana, after all, ~" Nally said jokingly as she was sat on the ground.

" there is still one nally... you could get that one "
Kynn said easely as she sat on Nally's Shoulder

"Huuh there is still one ~?" Nally watched around her and saw that indeed there was still one who was retreating, she didn't notice it.
"...but...whatever ~ I can still try." She thought that spirit were unaffected by physical attacks... but, she remembered that using an ice sword made from magic so why not...
"Hehehehe~" she just covered her fists with Rock by using Earth Magic, while having somehow a pleased smile, she jumped, cracking the rock under her feet, and punched the Fire Spirit, making it sink into the wall... who almost fell, crumbled...
"Huhu~"

“Riding you feels like riding a raging bull... its fun! "
Kynn laughed as she sat again on Nally, feeling quite amused by her unexpected violence.

"Huhu~ Raging bull~? Isn't an-" she couldn't even finish her sentence that a rude and "despicable" person interrupted her.
"...Unstoppable monster fits better ?" Cinere only smiled and searched for a last one Fire Spirit, they killed four but they needed to hunt 5... then he looked at the lava which was inside the volcano... and noticed that there was a Fire Spirit in it.
"...which one of you can plunge into the lava without getting hurt...?"


Kynn looked at Nally and shrugged as she didn’t know what to do.
" Me? "


"Huuuh... then I will just go I guess..." Cinere sighed sorrowfully as... he turned invisible and undressed himself, putting his cloth into the item box, he didn't want to go under the lava... it's bothering to constantly use Ice Magic.
"Later~" Nally said as she watched him going under the lava... then she looked at Kynn and said as she cracked her knuckles.
"Now let's search Fire Golem~! They are less troublesome than Fire Spirit~!" It looks like she doesn't want to wait motionlessly.


" Hmm.... lets! "
Said Kynn and sat on Nally once again
"I can ride you right? "


"Of course~ you let me fly so why would I refuse~?" Even if it seems awkward. After letting her sit, she began running fastly and well, dangerously jump above the puddle of lava... and search for Fire Golems.

" there's a cluster of mana over there around the corner Nally~! Must be them~ "
Kynn points the forked road around 2 meters in front of them

"Alright~" arriving at the forked road, she peeked around and saw in the wall, a sort of moving rock.
"Here he is !"

" I'll be on your back so let loose Nally~ "
Kynn said as she pushed Nally towards the golem, knowing that her abnormal and inhuman strength may be quite convenient.


"Huh ~ ? Alright~" Being slightly pushed, Nally decided to sprint, not letting the golem to get out from the wall, she punched into its belly, making cracks as she shouts.
"Ah~ let's avoid damaging the fire golem's cores, I want one for me~"

Strangely, in a puddle of lava, a melting iceberg appeared at the surface... and in it was trapped a fire spirit who seemed to become weaker and weaker…

" hehehe~ nice work Nally~ how many do we need again? "
Kynn then punched through the head of the golem, making more cracks to it, making easier to destroy.


"If I remember correctly, it's either 3 or 5~ I don't remember~" Nally elbowed the belly of the golem, as she ripped its core.
"Hot ~!!" She almost dropped it.

" still a lot huh... "
Kynn then started looking around, looking for something to hunt until she noticed something a bit far from their position.
" there's some near here! near the lava pool back! "

Meanwhile on the edge of the Lava pool near Cinere, two Golems Rose from the ground and appeared towards the Swimming Cinere
_____________________________________________
Grumbling in his mind...
'Annoying...' Swimming, Cinere was still searching the fire spirit in the lava as he was cooling his body with Ice Magic, it was too fast for him... let's not wait that he becomes furious and try to "freeze" the volcano.

A bit later, Cinere found the last fire spirit who couldn't run away anymore, still in the lave, he wondered how to kill while he was being burnt.


Cinere decided to try freezing the lave with half of what he had… unlike what he expected, it seemed like he trapped the fire spirit quite easily despite wasting uselessly mana…

Look like chasing a fire spirit was far too troublesome for him.

After killing the fire spirit by compressing the melting ice on it, Cinere began swimming toward the surface.
_____________________________________________

"That's perfect ~!" Putting Kynn on her back, Nally began running toward the lava pool.

Cinere exited the pool and saw... two fire golems just beside him...
"Could you wait that I dress ? I will feel less awkward while dismantling you alive."
It looks like he couldn't... naked, he avoided the golem's fists as he created ice spikes.

" Woohoo~ "
Moments later they arrived and saw, a naked Trap elf dancing around and playing with fire golems… Kynn couldn’t help but try to ignore, or maybe even forget what she saw.
" ....... want to eat some cake instead Nally? "


"Woooaa... well, cake or...? It's hard to choose~" Nally seemed to hesitate but then she decided that...
"Sweets are more important for now~!" She turned her eyes away from a fighting and lewd trap.

"Die !" An ice spike of a dozen of meters struck a fire golem who seemed to be cooling down, becoming inactive.
"...exhausting..." Cinere needed to avoid another punch, he rolled his eyes and teleported above it.


" i got Strawberry Shortcake, Apple pie, Blueberry pie, Four Seasons and Chocolate Cake~ "
Kynn, one by one retrieved the said sweets from her Item Box who seemed to be very, maybe a bit too tasty… and appealing…
" Sis Blanc Made these~ "


"Oh~ it seems so tasty~ ! Can I get one !" Nally seemed eager to eat as she licked her lips.

"It smells good..." Cinere muttered as he froze the second golem... however he still had to finish it off... unoriginally creating a ice spike, he 'turned off' the golem core by cooling it.


" Come~ eat eat~ lets eat~ lets leave the naked trap for a while~ "
Kynn said as she stuffed her mouth with delicious cakes

"Yay ~" Nally began eating the cakes, enjoying the sweet taste.

"Finally finished..." After deactivating their cores, Cinere picked them up and went toward the two gluttons.
"Ah right, I should." He also began dressing, it was quite uncomfortable.

" nom~ so how many did we get? nom~ " said Kynn as she was eating blissfully her sweets.

With her mouth being full, Nally began to talk.
"3 Gbfolem~and..."
"5 fire spirits, just what was needed in the quests~ so we finished~" Cinere said as he picked up one of the cakes while he was fully dressed.

" Cinere! Come sit~ "
Kynn tapped the ground next to her and Nally and continued to talk, quoting a certain and recent even which she tried to ignore.
" Lets Eat~ somehow there was a naked Elven Trap Fighting near here "

"..." Cinere was speechless, still a smile quickly appeared on his face as he sat next to Kynn and began eating.
"I see~ somehow I didn't see him or her~" Cinere shrugged as Nally burst out laughing when staring at Cinere.
"Bfffwahahahahahahah !!"

Kynn was too much shocked to remember the face... I mean, Kynn has seen many of those. Those were still on the side of shocking.
" Really? Too bad... Anyways~ what's next on the menu? "

"Well, I have Unicorn's meat~ I am going to cook then~" Cinere said as he retrieved it from his Item Box and began cooking as Nally seemed happy.
"Yay~ wait... you still have some ?!" He only nodded.

" Unicorn's meat? What does it taste like? Rainbow? " Kynn tilted her head as she asked, she probably never ate Unicorn during her whole life… normally you use it for alchemy or practices alike.

"Even better~! More like~ how to say that~ ? Steak mixed with soft spices ~?"Said Nally as she stared at the soon-to-be cooked meat...
"Here it goes." Cinere gave simple plates to both of them, cooked with the minimum needed, fire.

" Hoo~ aren't we already inside a volcano? Why do we need fire for that? " It was quite a reasonable question.

"Because I don't want to cook it with lava...?" Said Cinere tilting his head, even if it's hot here, it shouldn't be enough to cook the meat without using fire...?


" hmm... Weird... I could feel my feet cooking even now... "
Kynn said as she was still barefooted since Back from Aeternus, did she forget to bring shoes ?

"I never noticed, you could have taken shoes." Cinere thought that he could cook the meat by rolling it on the ground...
"Wa ?! Are your feet alright ?!" ...while Nally screamed, catching Kynn's shoulders.

" Hmm? Ah yeah... I'm used to it so I wouldn't mind it... Plus~ "
Kynn shows the sole of her feet which quickly Regenerates and Reconstructs

"Muuh... I don't care~ it's still no good~" Nally took Kynn and put her on her legs as she began eating despite the lack of space...


" ooohhh~ soft~ "
Said Kynn who was enjoying the feeling of being sad on someone.

"And you are too~" said Nally as she hugged her, thinking that her wings were thr softest.
"...that's way too cute..." Cinere muttered with an awkward smile as he looked away, trying to change the subject, he continued to talk.

"Anyway... let's just go since we finished..." Cinere cracked his neck as he stood up, then Nally yawned and looked at Kynn with a lazy look...
"Could... you carry me...?"

Kynn circled around her and hugged her from behind.
" Yep~ "
Kynn then started flapping her wings, which lifted them from the ground, this time, she probably won’t tri-spell herself.

"Let's take our time~ yaaahooooo~!" Nevertheless, there will still be someone a bit behind...
"...I will just walk, that's alright this way." Cinere muttered as he played with a Fire Golem Core.

" Okay Then~ "
Said Kynn as she kept floating peacefully above Cinere who was…

"Well... they are quite far away..." Cinere looked and saw both of them 1/2 miles further...
"I feel forgotten... oh well whatever..."

And they decided to go back to Aeternus

With @Kysil

 

North Volcano|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 3 Fire Golems [180 G]
North Volcano|#SC3|C-Ranked|Slay 5 Fire Spirit [190 G]
=========================================================
"Welcome back... Uhn... Eto... Hikari doesn't remember your name...

Uhn... Ah! The report!

Let Hikari see...

Seems like Si-Sinere-san got a bit... Weird...? Uhn... Hikari doesn't know what to say, but... Please don't push Kynn-chan too hard, alright?

The reward will be of 370G for you to divide as you see fit! Take care now!" ^^)/

@Kysil @Naraku

 

"late.....lost ...but.....quest....done....." Detara says as he approach receptionist desk.

[SOLO]
#Sandy Desert|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 25 Desert Jackal [50 G]
#Sandy Desert|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 25 Desert Fox [50 G]
@AliceShiki

".......report ....." After he gives quest report to receptionist he goes back to his usual spot to take a nap.

Spoiler: Report

As soon as he accept the permission Detara walk out the guild and goes straight to the desert. After walking for several hours he find himself at the entrance of the desert. Before begin his hunting Detara checks his beloved longbow he get from his mother and confirms arrows amount.

*nod* Everything is okay.

After that he continue walks through the desert as he activate his skill Detect Life. Several minutes later he find his first targets, a pack of Desert Jackal, total 5 individuals.

Suddenly aura surrounding him changed into more ferocious one. His facial expression grow sharper as if his usual listless face is a lie. Without hesitation he pulling his bowstring and aim for further, leader looking individual.

"Breezewings Style, 3rd Form : Snipe!"

Surrounding wind gather at the arrow as if guiding it to the target. Without making so much noises the arrow struck into leader looking jackal straight in the temple of its head.

Their leader death leads to the pack's confusion. Expecting this moment, Detara run closer to more suitable distance and release another skill.

"Breezewings Style, 1st Form : Rapid Shot!"

Different from previous skill, this skill imbue wind element into his arm to make him draw arrow more quickly. Rapid shot is basic skill of Breezewings Archery Style, even so this skill made it user to shot arrows in quick succession. But...

"Cih.. its too shallow"

Damage dealt is too low. With neither penetration power of Piercing Shot nor Accuracy of Snipe, Rapid shot dealt smallest amount of damage to enemy. But, few arrow struck into two jackals leg and slowing them down greatly.

Sensing enemy attacks, another two jackals charging at Detara and aiming for his neck. But Detara reacting much more quickly and release another arrow reaping one jackal life and avoiding the other attack at a hair breath. Momentum of it charging made it difficult to do another move making it another easy target for Detara arrow.

With another two of their pack mate die, the two injured jackal made their escape. But predator never let their prey escape. Detara do another shoots at injured jackals and end the battle.

After secured the subjugation proof Detara continuing his hunt. Unlike his first battle, his hunt is a smooth sailing. Afterward he just encountering Fox Deserts that fall easy to his Snipe Skill.

"25 Foxes and 5 Jackals ... its weird, why can i never met another pack of jackal?"

After 2 hours venturing in the vast Desert, Detara can't find another pack of jackal. Its weird knowing Jackals are common monsters in Sandy Desert, at least that what written in book.

"Its as if a higher variant show and lead a huge pack."

After 1 more hour of strolling, as if Detara has raised a flag, he met a huge pack of 20 more Desert Jackal with enormous Desert Jackal variant, Desert Jackal Chief. But something wrong with this individual, it has a shiny yellow gem at it forehead.

Aaah-ooooooooooooooh!

The Jackal Chief suddenly howling and a wave of power coming strike Detara, reaping his strength.

"Jackal don't suppose to howling like a wolf!" he retort at the Jakcal howling.

But something not right with this howling. it is reaping his strength immediately after hearing it.

[Desert Jackal Chief uses Desert Howling, you have been inflicted with fear status and your resistance toward earth element is reduced.]

"Shit!"

Worse case possible meeting with individual that capable of using magic. Detara himself cannot uses magic nor he have a way to dispelling status effect. Slowly his leg tremble at the sight of Desert Jackal Chief. But Detara cannot let himself scared at this situation and letting his guard down.

He strike his arrow at subordinate Jackal trying to reduce their number as much as possible. With a quick succession of Rapid Shot, Detara success reducing their number to half. But he is getting injured here and there from their attacks.

To make it worse, Desert Jackal Chief been shooting Sand Ball magic at him. With his condition, Detara cannot let himself getting another hit.

I have to do something. thought Detara.

The only way out is to learning magic. He remember his mother saying.

"You have to sense mana to use magic."

"Mana is in the air and the surrounding. People also have mana inside their body"

"Magic is when someone using their mana to influence surrounding mana to bend natural phenomenon"

"You know, your father Archery is using mana to uses wind in its skills. But the skill itself is not magic"

is what his mother said.

So he already know how to using mana. But he cant sensing it, or rather hard to sense it. But now, with Desert Jackal Chief using magic every then and now, he feel a stream of power with every magic unleashed.

So this is mana. What left is to used it!

"Aria is used to help us guiding mana" said his mother back then.

"O wind bend to my will and blow away my enemy, Gust Wind!"

[You have learn Wind Magic]
[You have used level 2 Wind Magic ability Gust Wind without having Wind Magic skill. You have learn Wind Magic [Lv.2]]
[You have used level 2 Wind Magic ability Gust Wind without having Wind Magic skill. You have learn Wind Element Mastery [Lv.2]]

A surge of power comes from surrounding and gather at my hand immediately blow all the sand around and kill remaining jackals.

"Now it between you and me, you stupidly big dogs!"

Then a fierce battle begins. Detara fires arrows and magics in sequence. so too with Desert Jackal Chief who keeps fighting by shooting his magic. The fight lasts so long that it drains both stamina.

This can not be continued. I have to do something.

What about the abilities my father showed me back then.

Derata remember the sight of his father's figure who danced to avoid the sword attack from his colleagues in a practice match.

If i am not wrong , it should be like this.

"Breezewings Style 6th Form : Wind Dance"

With an instant the wind gathered around his feet and made himself very fast. With his new gained speed, Detara takes sufficient distance to avoid the physical attacks of his enemy and unleashed his most powerful skill.

"Breezewings Style 2nd Form : Piercing Shot!"

The released arrow is travels at high speed with rotation that adds to its penetration power. The exhausted Jackal could not avoid the fast arrow and fall prey to its mighty power.

After the fight ended, all the fatigue came to attack his body. Detara falling down sat looking at the Jackal Chief's corpse, not believing in his victory. After a short break, Detara takes subjugation proof from surrounding jackal corpses and takes strange gem at Jackal Chief's forehead.

He went to return to the city but unexpectedly he got lost on the way home. After circling until sunset, Detara decided to camp.

.....

But his bad luck does not end there. For 2 full days he got lost in the desert without knowing where to go. Now he regretted his past that always avoided the survival lesson from his mentor.

.....

2 days later, her food and water supplies have been exhausted. now he is attacked by hunger and thirst. The next day his body was no longer able to survive and finally he fell unconscious.

.....

When his consciousness returned he smelled something nice. His instinct made him exert his last energy to go to the source.

There he found a camp with the a grilled meat above a bonfire. Without thinking further he attacked the grilled meat greedily.

"Who are you? What are you doing with my grilled meat?" someone yelled

".... hungry ... this ... meat ... for me"

"No! Oi, stop eating!"

.....

After fighting over food and losing, finally Detara who his legs and hand bound, lamented the grilled meat that back to its owner.

The owner of the grilled meat was a girl with an armor and a sword at her waist. The girl also interrogating the criminal who want to steal her food.

But after listening to the story the girl eventually divide her meat to eat with Detara.

"My name is Alicia, and i am a swordsman."

Detara continued to eat his food regardless of the girl who introduced herself.

"Oi! Listen to me! And stop eating!"

Detara finally responded to the girl, Alicia, and introduced himself.

"Detara ... adventurer"

"..."

"..."

"Thats all?!" shouted alicia

"... noisy"

"... sigh .. but what kind of adventurer getting lost in desert, you are sucks"

"..."

"Anyway, after you eat we'll go back to town."

"..."

"Listen to me and stop eating for a moment!"

And then they go back to the Town.

Spoiler: Note

Loot:
- Strange Yellow Gem
- Desert Jackal Chief Fangs

 

@AliceShiki

• Delta Town|#GD1|D-Ranked|Gather 10 Lumber [100 G | 3 x Wooden Plank]
• Delta Town|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 10 Water Spiders [100 G]
• Delta Town|#SD2|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Flesh Leeches [130 G]
• Delta Town|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Sea snakes [120 G]
• Delta Town|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 3 Man-Eating Sharks [230 G]
• Delta Town|#SC2|C-Ranked|Slay 12 Feral Mermaids[240 G]

As he entered in the Guild, Cinere immediately went toward the receptionist's desk and said with a cheerful smile as he saw Hikari.
"Hello Hikari, we came back, here is the report~" handing the report, Cinere just waited with an unchanging smile which seemed to be natural.

Spoiler: Quest Report

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Cinere entered in the Tavern and searched for Jin while he was being accompanied by Nally and Ael who as half sleeping on his head, then he found Jin under the table and asked with a rare cheerful tone.
"Are you ready~ ?"
"Hello my name is Nally~" Nally said as she saw him...
"Mmmm..." ... while Ael didn't seem to be able to talk for now.

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"Sup! I'm totally ready I also brought the two who are coming with me~" Jin slowly went outside the table as he grinned widely. Two small figures also appeared from underneath the table.

"Nice to meet you mister Cinere, though we already meet at the tavern once. Once again my name is Fluff, let's get along well." A grey bunny girl bowed down as she smiled faintly as she looked to Cinere and his companion. In her arms is a tortoise squirming around. "This is little tortoise is Eins... please pardon him. He's quite energetic for a tortoise."

"AH! Hello, my name is Sanie and a Kobold Druid-- and follower of master Vodka!! I'll do my best not to bring any trouble!" A young Kobold with green dress spoke as she was showing a nervous expression. Suddenly a green little dragon leaped from her bag and went to Jin's head. It started to chew on Jin's hair. "Oh no! Zinnia! Please behave yourself."

"Nice to meet you, Nally~ Well, I think we are ready..?" Jin weakly smiled as he ignored Zinnia still biting his head and Sanie trying to pull the little dragon away.

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"Mmmmmm... aaaaaaahhhhhh..." the little griffon on Cinere's head who is around 3/4 a wolf's size yawned, Ael looked around and saw a lot of people he didn't know, he just flapped his wings and began flying around.

"Nice to see you again Fluff. Pleased to meet you Sanie, we probably won't get into any troubles, probably... but well, we will manage~" Cinere said as he patted Nally's head who quickly removed his hand and began wandering around...

"Then~ we should go~ ... uhm... ahah~ Cine~re where is the teleporter~" ...until she asked, coming back beside him with a slightly reluctant gaze... Cinere wasn't responding until she began to be insistent. "Come on~ ! Don't stay silent~ !" she began shaking his arm, obviously a bit furious at his silence.

"Tche, you don't even know that, how awful is your memory~ Just follow us~" Cinere booped her nose with a silly smile as Ael came back and put himself on Cinere's shoulder, muttering with an exhausted tone. "My name... is Ael... A proud and rightful griffon..."

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"Ah-- okay then! This little dragon is Zinnia given by master Vodka to me!" Sanie faintly smiled as her tail wags. Zinnia finally let go of Jin as she let herself be hug by Sanie.

"We shall follow and do our best to assist. This tortoise beside me is Eins" Fluff nodded as she tried to choose the best musical instruments. Eins continue squirmed around trying to escape Fluff's hold.

"Let's just have some fun~ It's amazing how a griffon can talk. The two are---" Jin stared at the two pet. The tortoise only squirmed trying to escape. Zinnia only stared at him drooling, "Kyu! Kyu! Kyu!" "Grruuuu...."

"Oh well, nevermind... Please lead the way." Jin signed as he followed Cinere.

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"Nobody can be as great at this griffon !" Ael declared as he heard the supposedly compliment of Jin, because of Cinere's continuous and endless pats, he felt exhausted but now, after being 'praised', he felt great once again.

​

"Heh, at least, both of them are quite cute~" said Cinere as he looked at the two pets they had, then he touched Ael who was quite heavy and will bother him if he needs to fight actually... but well he will make him fly when needed.

"Is that it...?" Nally muttered a bit perplexed as she saw the teleporter, she doesn't remember going into one, no matter how many times she thinks about it... she shrugged and just followed Ael and Cinere who casually entered into it.

"I guess~ it's safe ~ ? Oh well~" Crossing the blue teleporter, she felt quite creeped out by the feeling of being suddenly moved against her own will... but well, there is nothing to do about it.

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"I wonder what's so cute to this tortoise..." Fluff sighed trying her best not to let the Eins run away as she entered the teleporter.

"Wait for me!" Sanie weakly rushed as Zinnia coiled on her shoulder seemingly sleepy.

Jin made sure that his followers already went inside before he lastly entered. "It has been long since I quest~ "

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Seeing a crowd of people, feeling familiar with the feeling of being teleported, Cinere watched his surroundings and wondered what to do first... going directly to see Elpide, or... just make the quests first.

"Ci~ne~re~ let's start by the quests~" feeling like he was too indecisive, Nally interrupted his thoughts and declared this, without really asking for his agreement since she directly began to walk toward the beach.

"The sun is nice! And the wind too !" While Ael seemed to be quite happy with the view, the sun being bright, the wind being fresh, the people were smiling, Cinere being for once reasonable... oh wait, isn't it an insult that?

"Well, troubles for the end..." instead of directly going to the beach, Cinere waited a bit behind for Jin and his followers to say to them that they should start by going to the beach to complete the quests.

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"Oh pretty! I've never been to the sea!" Sanie smiled as she looked at the ocean. Dazzled by the color of the water and difference the smell of the wind.

"Hmm... what should I play for music..?"

"What should we do first? Should we do the easy quest first or dive into the ocean?" Jin smiled as he stretched his body. Hearing those words made Fluff shivered, after all, she didn't like water much.

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"Let's start by the easier... hmm... the Flesh Leeches then the Water Spiders, for the Flesh, I c-" said Cinere after yawning, since it seemed to be the fastest way to finish this quest, he could...

"Let's not listen ~ to this madman who wants to use his poisonous blood to kill all the leeches~ !" Nally shamelessly interrupted him, for... a good reason, she didn't want to let him sacrifice his blood just to finish the quest faster.

"Well... uhm... Jin, we will just go make the easiest ones first." Cinere only shrugged and ignored Nally's tactless insult, Ael flapped his wings once again and began to fly into the sky around 10 meters above the ground to search the leeches.

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"If you talking about the easier one. As I check the quest list would the gathering the lumber easier? Though I'll only assist and do look out." Jin tilted his head as he touched his chin.

"I'll also search for the leeches--" Sanie stuttered as she held her Treant Staff and sensing the surrounding. Zinnia only yawns as she continued sleeping. While Eins finally escaped Fluff's hold due to her being shocked still. The Tortoise excitedly burrowed itself into the sand.

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"Hmmmmmm... well... alright let's do it like this, Nally gather the lumbers with them," said Cinere as he raised around a dozen of living corpse, only E Rank, but it should be enough to gather all that needed.

"Huuuh... you should modify them so they can talk one day~ I will go anyway~" Nally decided to go to the other way to gather the lumbers with all of the living corpses following her, still the same with dark green skin and souls from Cinere's dagger.

"I found leeches ! 3-4 leeches !" A voice coming from the sky said it was Ael who noticed around near to the sea.

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"Well then guess Fluff will gather the lumber while Sanie will help with the leeches." Jin nodded as he started to nudge Fluff awake who dazedly followed Nally. The tortoise Eins noticing it quickly followed as it ran quickly hitting Fluff legs making her trip.

"I also found some leeches about 2 of them. They are just on those rocks near the water." Sanie pointed her staff to the location. Zinnia quickly leaped as she crawled to the staff making Sanie do her best, not the drop the Staff.

"Kyuu!!" Zinnia quickly flew in the direction leaving them.

"Zinnia, wait! Don't go ahead alone--" Sanie nervously looked at Jin not knowing what to do.

"Ah forgot that these two are quite reckless-- Well, this seems easy so I'll just make sure that my followers will not over hunt." Jin could only facepalm as he then weakly smiled and look to Cinere. " What are you gonna plan Cinere? Will Ael kill the leeches or you will do that poison blood?"

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"Hmm... Nally will be annoying if I cut myself so... well, guess I will just do that with Ael~" Cinere said after yawning, creating uselessly three dozen of ice swords falling toward the 3/4 leeches that Ael found.

"Hey ! Could you let me act a bit at least ?!" It was Ael's furious voice, he complained at Cinere who as always just did thing lazily and not exactly as he said.
So Ael decided to go recklessly just like the kid he is toward Zinnia and Sannie, seeing this, Cinere only commented lazily while picking some leeche's corpses lazily.

"Well, that was quite easy... even Orcs are har... oh wait, that's because I always fight head-on with them..."

Meanwhile, searching for woods, Nally began to talk to the living corpses, staring at them with a serious look despite having a childish voice.
"Alright, all of you! Begin searching for lumber ! I am doing the same..." Necromancy mixed with Rune Magic is definitively great this way... the corpses aren't dumb or sluggish, they actually somehow look that they are alive with their unexpectedly fluent movements and you don't need to search for objects yourself... well, she will still search for them, at least to be somehow "responsible" or not "disrespectful" at least.

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"Geez, Zinnia you're wet..." Sanie sighed as she looked at the little dragon chewing the two leeches. She has nothing else to do besides using vines to grabbed hold of the little dragon away from the water and drying her.

"That would be a total of 6 leeches then. Seeing Zinnia already eating two." Jin noted as he created a fire magic to dry Zinnia scales who was shaking drops of water everywhere.

"Eins please look to where you are going!" Fluff looked at the tortoise who merely continue passing him. She quickly chased after the tortoise finally arriving at the Forest. Eins' eyes shine at quickly slam on the tree. It continued slamming its head as if picking a fight.

"Alright, then I should also find some lumber." Fluff looked around to see Nally commanding corpses. She inwardly thought, Am I even needed here? I guess I should play a song."

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Hearing Fluff playing some musics, Nally immediately stopped "working" and stared at her with a relaxed smile as she listened to her song... while letting the others living corpses gathering quietly the lumbers... oh wait, they can't talk, obviously they are quiet... but some of them were slower, they didn't seem to work diligently...
While the others were even more energetic than earlier, hearing the song probably motivated them as Nally was dazed by her song.

"Hmmm~ mmmm~ mmm~" Nally simply hummed as the living corpses came back little by little... in the end, five brought one lumber each while five other brought two lumbers each, making in total, 15 lumbers, that should be alright.

Coming by walking peacefully, Cinere saw that and only sighed as he listened to Fluff's song, waiting her to finish.

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"Oh you guys are quick~ That was great work, Nally~ Well with those numbers, guess getting lumbers is easier. Hmm... I should also take some quest to teach the others how to command large group~" Jin happily listened to Fluff as he observed the Corpses attentively. Though he can't work with Necromancy because he has zero dark attribute. This type of magic is still interesting and quite useful in many aspects.

"Is it fine to let Eins keep hitting that tree..?" Sanie tugged on Jin's arm as she pointed with Eins. Zinnia stared excitedly at the tortoise who keep on slamming to the tree.

"Well, it not like that little turtle will make the tree fall~" Jin shrugged his shoulder.

"Kyuuu!!!" "Gruuuuu!!!" Suddenly Zinnia growled loudly and flew towards the tree. Eins growled as he used his Washu Howl. The two troublemakers charged at the same time as they hit the tree. A cracking sound was heard as the tree's roots started to detached from the ground. It falls to the ground with a loud thud. The two stood on the trunk jumping happily.

"What just happened!?" Fluff jumped from shocked making her abruptly stopped the music.

"Umm... master Vodka...?"

"Well, should we do next now Cinere?"Jin smiled weakly as he was trying his best to have a poker face.

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"Fluff~ your song was great~ !" Nally couldn't help but praise her with a sincere and kind smile while hugging her.

"... wait a bit..." Cinere approached the trunk, cut it into many pieces and put everything in his item box... who knows? It may be useful.

"Huuh~ I wonder where is the tree~ I don't see it anymore~" said Nally as she acted like a fool, searching for something non-existent... she was doing it on purpose.

Meanwhile, Cinere approached the living corpses and freed the souls that were trapped inside and put these living corpses as the runes who were glowing on their body gradually disappeared...in his item box once again... he also muttered, thinking seriously about it...
"...I should make golems from them... it will be easier to control them... less mana cost... and maybe sellable..." but he felt that he should become a Rank C before the so-called "Christmas" come... so it's for later, right, and mana codes are annoying to understand after all.

"Well... considering what kind of quests, there is left... we can only dive into the sea since about what I know, most of these monsters doesn't leave water..." Cinere only acted as if the tree who fell never existed and replied to Jin with a simple smile.

"I don't want to go into the water !" Ael said with a serious and determined look, he is a prideful, great, rightful and impressive griffon who should explore the sky! Why should he care about the water!
...just kidding, he just hates water.

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"Ummm--- Ehhh--" Fluff blush as she was hugged. "Thanks for the praise and I'm honored."

"Oh we're are going swimming I guess~" Jin smiled seemingly ignoring the what happened as he whistled and looked away.

'Is it alright..?' Sanie picked up Zinnia who was happily sitting on top of Eins who was looking at Ael attentively "I wonder if I can do my best to water...?"

"Eehh!? Water!? Can I please pass-- I mean music cannot travel well on the water. Plus, it is best to have to look out on the surface right..?" Fluff nervously spoke as she feared going near to the sea.

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"Hm... I think I don't think I like salted water... despite the fact I never went to the beach... and well... can't we just freeze the surface and walk...?" Cinere just doesn't like salt actually, if it was sugar, he wouldn't even hesitate about plunging into it, in the end, it's just about his tastes...

"Do you have enough mana for this at least ~ ?" asked Nally with a sly smile, she knew that he definitively had enough.

"Do you think I need mana ?" Cinere just deactivated the runes from his outfit, and his body became as it was before, enough cold to freeze someone to death, the grass under his feet "naturally" froze.

"Ooops~" he quickly deactivated it as he thought he shouldn't freeze everything around him.

"Don't be cold! How can I rest on you afterwards ?!" Ael furiously shouted at him, at the start, he didn't want to approach Cinere but with time, he began to appreciate him and his unconditional and illogical care.

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"Hmm..? A Sugared Water, that would be like a fantasy world or something--" Jin observed what happened as he tilted his head. He thought about asking about Cinere's body condition but that would be rude. Besides hearing about his curse would probably ruin the mood. Perhaps? He then stared at Sanie and Fluff. "I wonder what should we do? I and Zinnia could fly but making an ice a foothold would be a great idea."

"I don't want to get wet!" Fluff argued with her ears stood in an alert.

"I know how to swim in the Askian Village." Sanie shyly smiled as she hugged Zinnia who was excited.

"Well, Eins can float on the water. So Fluff can stand on top of him...?" Jin looked at Fluff who stared worriedly to Eins. The tortoise only kept hitting on Jin's legs with its head.

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"Let's just make ice as our foothold~ as long as there is nothing as hot as lava, it won't melt~" said Cinere on an usual cheerful tone, since he didn't know what Jin thought, he couldn't help but doesn't think about why he can partly control willingly his organism.

"Well... I agree... but I... oh wait... huhuhuhu~" at first Nally was reluctant because she wanted to plunge into the water but then she thought about something that can be fun.

"As long as the water doesn't touch me, I agree !" As a griffon why wouldn't he agree ? Flying seemed great but he wasn't big enough to transport people.

"Well, do everyone agrees ~ ?" Asked Cinere as he deeply wanted to forget Nally's creepy smile.

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"Whut..?" Jin confusedly tilted his head as he wondered why Nally smiled. He then focused as he used Stolz form creating ice wings and antlers as he hovered in the air. He then looked towards Cinere as he gave a thumbs up, "I'm okay with it~"

"That reassuring to hear!" Fluff sighed with relief while walked towards her and waited.

"I'm alright with it..." Sanie nodded and stroke Zinnie neck.

Jin looked at the two pets seemingly having thought of something "It would be fun if Zinnie and Eins grow bigger then we could use them as a mount. Well, as long as Zinnia doesn't become as big as that one--"

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"Sure~"
As Cinere approached the water, it began to freeze just a bit before he put his feet on it... the surface seemed to be quite frail.

"Huh, look like in the end, I really need to use magic~" He thought that only with his body he could freeze enough of the water below him so his comrades can walk on it. But no, he was wrong, so he began using Water/Ice Magic, freezing all the water around 4 meters around him instead of 1. At least, it won't reduce that much of his mana.

"It seems to be enough for all of us~" Nally jumped and fall against the ice on purpose...
"And it seems to be enough resilient~"

"Mm." Ael weakly laughed in his mind since he was flying unlike them who were forced to freeze the water to complete the quests.

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"Nisu~ That's quite amazing, now we only need to some scouting to track the monster." Jin continued flying as he made sure that Sanie and Fluff are able to use the path Cinere made.

"Thank goodness, I don't have to touch the water..." Fluff sighed with relief once again as she looked at Eins who was interestedly looking at the ice. Suddenly it growled and started to slam its head into the reflection. "Geez! Stop Eins stop trying to break stuff!"

"What are we going to hunt..?" Sanie titled her head as she looks interestedly to the water. Zinnia merely yawned as she rested on Sanie shoulder.

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Since they were still near to the shore, water spiders were quite easy to find.
"Eighteen feet below us at our right at ten feet, there are 5 Water Spiders. In front of us at six feet, there are 3 Water Spiders. The rest is for later~" said Cinere after sensing the surroundings with his mana.

"Well~ I can't use magic at a fluent level so I can't help... except if..." Nally suddenly jumped toward and plunged into the water, to kill those 3 Water Spiders herself.

"Let's just go towards the five Water Spiders, Nally can handle them." Cinere said after yawning as he began "walking" toward them.

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"Five huh, how can we divide that?" Jin looked at Sanie and Fluff who are both support so attacking are not their expertise.

"I would probably able to kill one if I can communicate with the fish..." Sanie worriedly held her staff if she can do it.

"Kyuu~" Zinnia rubbed her cheeks to Sanie to cheer her up.

"You can do it Sanie, don't lose confidence. Though fishes are different from animals. They are still part of nature~" Jin smiled as he hovered close to Sanie and patted her.

"I will play a support song to help you Sanie." Fluff started to play a melody. Sanie immediately grew more confident as she placed her staff near the water. Large fishes started to gather around and look at her.

"It's nice weather today~" Jin smiled as he to the sky. "Cinere would Nally be fine alone to the water..?"

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Cinere yawned and watched Nally who punched into the sand and even made the water tremble.
"...I think she would be alright~ I am the one who made her body after all~" ...is that even a real justification...?
Listening to another song, he felt relaxed.

Seeing Sanie concentrate, Cinere decided to kill three on five with ice swords to let him train somehow... of course, 9 swords were created for each of them, successful as expected. The three died pierced by three ice sword which suddenly entered into the water without being noticed.

While Nally crushed one water spider with her fist and kicked this other quite easily despite being slowed down by the water.

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"Well, glad to hear that.." Jin nodded as he watches over the surroundings.

"I ask for your aid to devour two water spiders--" Sanie started commanding the large fishes as it swam and search for the Water Spiders. It quickly devoured the two Water Spiders like a group of carp fighting over it.

"Excellent work Sanie~" Jin smiled and patted Sanie.

"Kyuu!!"

"Alright~" Jin smiled and patted Zinnia as he looked to Cinere. "The ocean is quite vast so many dangerous sea monsters would be hiding. So it would be good to be careful..."

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At this moment, an acute shriek could be heard and five water spider appeared in front of Nally, there were also six snakes, it looks like entering the water attracted.
Obviously, she wanted to swim to the surface but when she exited a spider and a snake leaped above the sea to attack her.

"Bastards." It was Cinere's word when he saw the two monsters attempting to harm Nally, this was a poor choice of life.
Without any such thing as hesitation, Cinere teleported behind Nally and used a simple spell which was a vague of frost. The two monsters simply froze and fell at his feet.

"Be more wary next time..." Cinere sighed as he patted Nally's head with an unexpected kind smile.

"...Are you alright ?!" Ael immediately approached Nally as he felt worried for her despite knowing that even if she loses her body, she will be able to live and go to another body.

"Ael~ I am sorry~ and... Cinere, thank you~" She just hugged the worried griffon as the monsters in the water continued to approach.

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"Gruuuu!!!" Eins growled as he moved forward he created a barrier that blocked the 6 sea snakes. They hit the invisible wall and fall back to the ocean.

"Kyuuu~" Zinnia quickly flew away from Sanie's shoulder as she went towards the sea snakes.

"Wait! Zinnia---" Sanie tried to catch up to her worriedly. But Zinnia flew too fast and she quickly bites one of the snakes as she started tearing it apart and eating. Sanie quickly looked worriedly to Jin. "Zinnia don't eat that..? Master Vodka won't it be dangerous since the snake might poisonous?"

"As expected from a dragon, don't worry Sanie~ Since Zinnia is a poisonous plant type dragon. She would be able to handle that poison." Jin explained while patting Sanie to reassure her.

"Well, Eins did a good part."

"The barrier would be helpful for Fluff, good for you~"

"As long as Eins stop being reckless then I would be truly relieved. Ah---" Fluff's eyes went wide open seeing Eins took out the barrier and dived into the sea to chase after the sea snakes making her facepalmed.

"Pfft--- look at that tortoise float to the sea~" Jin giggled but stopped as Fluff looked at him weirdly. He coughed weakly before looking at Cinere. "Oh well, Cinere I think it would be easy for you to kill those fleeing sea snakes right? Seems like they got scared by the little dragon."

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"Well, yeah it's kind of easy to me~" said Cinere as he created some dozens of ice sword and threw them toward those fleeing sea snakes, and well, what else than killing all of them successfully? A freak as always.

"Spiders !" Nally furiously screamed as she thought about what happened earlier because of them, she was forced to be saved by Cinere, she punched and kicked at them, sincerely furious.
Each of her hits were deadly to these spiders who began to run away from a madwoman who was chasing them... she already killed half of them by roughly going head-on.
Meaning, on the original five, there was two left.

"Ahah! You won't get away !" Strangely, Ael was also enraged, probably because they tried to hurt Nally, it's true that both of them have actually quite a good relationship, one of the two water spiders was caught and killed in his claw as the other was destroyed after this griffon plunged and dived his own beak inside it, successfully killing it.

"...ah... hey, aren't we all madmans in this party...?" muttered Cinere under his breath as he saw his comrades easily killing the enemies... but the way they did it was quite... brutish and rough, not to say barbaric.

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"No, I believe I'm quite normal." Fluff weakly raised her hand. Seeing this made Jin laughed and Sanie confusedly stares at the two. Fluff only sighed and stay quite. 'Why do I feel like my lifespan is diminishing with this group..? Master Vodka's coworkers are also quite something just like him.'

"I can't refute with what you said Cinere. Since I was a child I always wondered if I was different from others. I was quite the eccentric kid~" Jin weakly smiled as he flew high ground to make sure Eins don't move away. "Ah that's right it should be 10 water spiders, right? Did we already completed that count..?"

Suddenly the sea waves grow stronger, Eins who was busy catching up with the remaining 5 sea snakes followed by Zinnia. Jin's eyes grew sharper as he senses something.

"Master Vodka! I'm sensing something coming and it is big!" Sanie worriedly looked at Jin as she tried not to slip into the water due to the waves from the ice foothold she was standing at.

"It's coming..." Jin looked intently afar where Eins and Zinnia are. One large fin is visible to the sea moving towards there directions. A small grin appeared on Jin's face, after all, its been quite long since he fought something.

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"Huuh, eccentric ? I never had the time or the envy to think about that, to be honest but I guess I was also an eccentric... but also a madman ~" said Cinere as he stared at the shadow in the water approaching them, its fin wasn't that big, it was slightly above average from Cinere's eyes... thinking about something that may be funny, he weakly laughed.

"Huh...? Why are you laughing ?" Ael asked just when he was flying near to Cinere, he felt slightly terrified, he is rarely laughing, so what might happen is probably something quite sinister...

"Just watch~" not feeling Ael's fear, Cinere created an ice wall in the water in front of the charging shade... it sank itself in the wall... and couldn't pass through.

"Pfffahahsh~ it bumped into the wall like an airhead~ !" Nally couldn't help but laugh at this scene, this stupid fish charged into a wall and is now confused because it was wondering why he met an obstacle...

"Ah... it was just a shark..." sighed Ael as he felt relieved, for once, Cinere laughed for something quite "logical"... though he didn't know that it was actually one of their targets.

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"What a letdown ---" Jin could only sigh as he floated above while his head hanging down.

"Gruu...." Eins stood still confusedly as an ice wall blocking his path as he stared at it intensely at the Shark. Zinnia, on the other hand, was busy playing with the sea snakes.

"Sharks are still dangerous, you know!"

"Well, if it was me before who was magic crippled. Guess dealing with them in the water would be challenging." Jin yawn as he saw the shark trying to take a bite on Eins who just staring at it. Jin then looked towards Zinnia and the sea snakes. "Sanie please ask Zinnia to throw the snakes in our direction. So we can finish them."

"Alright!" Sanie moved her hand as she gathered energy to telepathy convey a command with Zinnia.

"Kyuuu!!!" Zinnia shouted happily as she flew above. She then swiftly flew below as she dived into the water. Creating a large splash making the sea snakes flew to the sky into their directions.

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After having a little laugh, Cinere stretched his arms with a satisfied smile and leaped over the ice wall, joining the dazed shark and froze the surface above the shark, literally looking down at him.

"Come please~" said Cinere as he saw the shark preparing itself to charge at the ice under his feet... and it did, it charged into it. Only the peak of its nose passed through.
"Pffff..." restraining himself to laugh, Cinere killed it by using the ice under his feet who moved and altered its own form to pierce the shark from all sides.
"One down~ two left~" he said this as he stopped two fins coming over Nally who was sat quietly and peacefully on the wall.

"Ahhh! They are there !" Nally shouted she pointed not at the two fins but... at six women who also had fins... but they were humanoid contrary to the one that Cinere spotted...

"...Huh...? Mermaids...?" Ael muttered as he saw those things far away, they probably had far enough time to even prepare an assault instead of just defending themselves.

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"Seems like they are starting to gather in our direction. Most likely due to how we seem floating in the water." Jin looked interestedly to the Mermaids only his eyes to turned wide openrf as he quickly looked away while coughing.

"What about the 5 sea snakes!?" Fluff shouted in alert as the sea snakes landed on the ice foothold they are standing.

"Umm? Master Vodka, Sir Cinere and Nally are on the ice wall already."

"Seems like they are going to deal with the Mermaids but what we should we do the snakes?" Jin just looked from above as he confusedly stared. He only knew how to use instinctual battle instincts and basic magic abilities. "I don't really understand how to mentor someone who knows better magic than me~ Hmmm... What to do?"

"Master Vodka!?" Fluff shouted as she looked at the sea snakes crawling towards her. Zinnia flew and faced the sea snakes as she started eating it.

"Ah! Don't eat too much Zinnia you're going to get a tummy ache!" Sanie worriedly called upon Zinnia who was busy enjoying her meal.

"Would it be alright for me to kill all the snakes though? Well, the quest board have no rules against it. But I haven't kill anything yet and haven't even given any good advice---" Jin confusedly tilted his head feeling useless as he doesn't know what to do.

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Cinere yawned and... didn't really want to fight... but at the same time, he heard Jin talking and complaining about what he should do, nevertheless, he wanted to correct him.
"Jin~ to be honest, I only know three spells in Water/Ice Magic, they are <Water Alteration>, <Water Creation> and <Water Manipulation>, I only know basic magic abilities because I wanted to control it how I wanted to~" said Cinere, he is not fundamentally great at magic, he just chose the hardest way to train himself, that's all.
This may be why he isn't making any meaningful progress on Dimensional Magic.

"...Cinere I am going to attack the sharks." Ael said as he charged toward them, without any teamwork... he was also followed by Nally who didn't seem to want to kill "women", leaving the dirty job to Cinere who was unaffected by them.
Drawing out Mishap, he invoked all of his living corpses, meaning, around 5 Rank C, 8 Rank D and 10 Rank E, it's going to be an easy slaughter... meanwhile on the other side, where Nally and Ael went, there are 4 Feral Mermaids who appeared, which made both of them back away.

"...I don't want to... but I must," muttered Ael who changed mind and killed a Feral Mermaid as he decided to join Cinere afterward, while Nally somehow did the same because it would have looked ugly if she only ran away... she killed one by making exploding its head by punching it, then run to join Cinere....

"What the...." seeing his comrades coming back with two Feral Mermaids and two Man-Eating Shark, Cinere only sighed as he cutthroated a Feral Mermaid by himself, and two others died by being "harrassed" by many fists and punches from more than twenty living corpses who took all the damage who were mostly meaningless because the C Ranks took everything...
How bothering.

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"I see, now that I think of it you have been using basic ice magic but you seem proficient with it. Also, the living corpses are pretty useful since you literally have your own army to do your fight. Which would be unfamiliar to me even though I'm used to giving commands. You seem smart so giving tips on tactics would not advisable since I'm also not good at it." Jin tilted his head as he kept thinking. He finally noticed that the Mermaids and Sharks are already getting killed by a lot of living corpse from Cinere. He then stared at where the snakes only to see Zinnia happily burped.

"Kyuu~" Zinnia happily wags her tail as she slowly closed her eyes as she felt sleepy.

"Geez... Zinnia don't go eating anything. Why do you always tend to do this..?" Sanie could only sigh as she grabbed hold of the drowsy dragon and carried it in her arms.

"Gruuu....." Eins grumbles as he walked back beside Fluff. The tortoise might have felt suffocated from the place being crowded especially when his having a hard time moving on water. "Gruuuu....."

"Thank goodness, it was done. And Eins is back and seems a bit tired from floating in the water." Fluff fell on her knees in relief finally seeing it done.

"Oh... it seems like I have nothing else to do..?" Jin could only sigh since he didn't do anything all. Well, at least he got to see Zinnia's and Eins' abilities. They are quite strong and useful in protecting Fluff and Sanie who are support type. But for some reason, he felt an empty feeling as a Senpai that hasn't shown anything at all. He silently stared at the sunset as he thought while flying with a poker face. "It is a beautiful sunset isn't it~"

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"Well... the living corpses were quite time consuming to make, I needed to separate then put runes on the bones, organs, flesh, and skins so it can imitate a living being~ so the corpses won't decay... and, from other people, it might be a bit too mana consuming, but well since I am outrageous and have a boundless amount of mana, it's alright~" while talking cheerfully with Jin, he noticed that his living corpses killed all the Feral Mermaids left on his side... after a sorrowful sigh, Cinere created around a hundred of ice swords and didn't even aim as he threw them behind his two irritating comrades who were pursued by 2 Man-Eating Sharks and Two Feral Mermaids, he quicklt checked and saw four monster's corpses floating...

How exhausting is it to take care of two damned and picky child... thinking this way made Cinere's twisted as words suddenly became violent.
"You bunch of freakings little-abandoned puppies ! Couldn't you attack by yourself ?! I mean, it wasn't that difficult ! You didn't want to hit a mermaid ? Awww..." Cinere sighed, shouting for once made him feel great.

"I am sorry..." Both of them apologized, after all, they left almost all the job to Cinere because Feral Mermaids appeared...

"Alright, I have an idea, normally we completed every quests except that 2 Feral Mermaids are missing, then one for each of you, and you will kill them when we cornered them and they became helpless." It wasn't a question but an order, he thought he should be less flexible otherwise they are going to rely on him a bit too much, and well they said they were going to do the job yet they didn't, even if the situation was different from expected, they still should do what they needed. At his order, they bitterly nodded... it was a cruel order, no matter what kind of creatures you are killing, especially murdering them when they are helpless and desperate feel disgusting.

After "scolding" them, no even when he was shouting, he was staring at Elpide's temple who wasn't visible from here, somehow he felt something weird, he looked at his palm and saw that his number 49MK was glowing, it looks like he was noticed and it made him furious to think that Elpide somehow "called" him.
Quickly putting back his glove, Cinere turned towards Jin and made a forced a smile.

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Hearing Cinere shout suddenly made Jin startled since he didn't see him ever mad. Sanie was a bit scared as she hugged Zinnia tightly.

"And I thought it was master Vodka who is going to get angry during the party quest." Fluff said in a low voice as she looked confusedly towards Jin who still shocked.

"Calm down Cinere, don't take it hard on them. Ael is still a young griffon plus Nally is a woman. Some people might not like doing something. If they said they would do it they might hesitate and unable too--" Jin worriedly looked to the Cinere and the others as he tried his best to lighten the mood. "Anyway, what's wrong? Anything I could help?"

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"No, that's alright... I just feel madder than usual. Probably because of something specific around Delta Town." Replied Cinere as he cracked his neck with a face twisted by conflicted emotions, he sighed and stared at Elpide's temple for a while before retracting his eyes, look like that just by being near his temple, the curse is reinforcing itself.
Secretly, he also thought that...
"...is being young or a woman an excuse...?" He couldn't help but mutter then sigh, he was trained to death since he is very young after all... and is being a woman change anything...? Oh well, he never understood people's heart after all.

"Well whatever, I am sorry for shouting." Cinere just looked away as Ael rubbed his head against his shoulder, whispering.
"I am sorry..." his tone seemed to be guilty, hearing this, Cinere rolled his eyes and bitterly laughed at himself, he patted his head and felt once again this conflicted feelings... how bothering, while Nally simply nodded at him with a meaningful smile, she already knew.

"Though ~ Jin~ in the first place ~ I am supposed to be genderless~ Cinere then made this body~ I am living corpse too~ I am quite well made isn't it ~ ?" Nally couldn't but change the subject and try to make laugh everyone by saying this...
Though to Cinere, she was just going to shock them by saying this...

"I will just kill them myself then..." Cinere said to himself as he stared at the water, wondering if there were at least 2 Feral Mermaids in the surroundings.

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"Something in Delta Town? A despicable enemy?" Jin looked at the direction of the Delta Town.

"Wait, master Vodka, if I'm not wrong, didn't you train Sanie and the other at a young age?"

"We ask for it since we wanted to become stronger for our people. Besides we are almost at adult age. Kobold grows old fast." Sanie looked at Fluff with determination.

"Well, I don't force them to do it. If they don't want to do it. then I leave them alone. I'm not keen on forcing other people. Or maybe I don't really bother much. Maybe because I was able to fight already at young age and independent. I tend to do everything by myself but growing older made me realize not everything is done alone. So teamwork and communication are essential when finishing a common goal." Jin smiled weakly even though he looked like a kid. He was actually already on his 20's so he been through a lot. Sadly, his appearance would probably only made his words less trustworthy. "I guess, understanding your companion would be a good idea Cinere. Though it might be quite difficult."

"I see, well your current appearance is quite misleading." With Fluff's word, Jin could pout while mumbling about growing taller sooner. "And also Nally is genderless...? It seems like her personality is a woman though?"

"Umm...? Master Vodka should I look for the mermaids?"

"Ah, that's right! Cinere I will deal with the two mermaids don't worry~" Jin gave a thumbs up as he flew above the sky. His eyes grow bluer as he heightened his sense so he could sense all lifeforms on the surrounding. His wings grow larger at a fast rate as they spread creating a shadow on the sea. He then suddenly waved his wings to the sea as the sharp feathers fall at a fast rate diving on the depths of the sea.

"I'm done~" Jin smiled as the land to the ice foothold beside the others. Slowly blood appeared on the water surface followed by 2 dead bodies of feral mermaids emerges as they were covered by sharp feathers like a porcupine which slowly melted. Their souls gathered around Jin as he happily started munching on it. "So what should we do next..?

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"Oh, Jin... well I always had trouble understanding people except for my brother or... someone not there anymore." Cinere sighed as he thought about something depressing.

"Ah, thank you Jin." Seeing the two last feral mermaids, Cinere thanked him as he tried to relax himself but...

"Guhuhuhuhuhuhuhu~" Nally unexpected's laugh completely won't let him as the ice under everyone's feet broke by her punch, making everyone fall into the water... except some of them.

"I have no regrets ~ tee ~ hee~" a mischievous kid, it was Nally, her who waited for the opportunity to make Cinere fall into her prank since even before they began chasing at the monsters on the see... she was patiently waiting...

"Pffhhhahfahahahh ! Oh my, it was so funny !" While Ael also laughed after seeing this, he was flying after all, how could he fall in this dirty water? Hmpf.

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"No problem~ Hmm... Now that I think about it would be nice to have a name for the skill I used." Jin was thinking deeply about naming the skills he frequently used. So he fell into the water when the ice foothold broke. He immediately went back above but was already drenched. He doesn't know how to react and only try to look if the others are safe. "Whut..?"

"Gyaaa!?" Fluff shrieked as she falls in water as she didn't know to swim. She almost drowned luckily, Eins quickly carry her body above ground. "Ah, I just swallowed the water-- and now I'm wet-- Ughh.... "

"I'm alright!" Sanie swiftly swim while making sure the sleeping Zinnia is not wet as she instinctively places on her head.

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"Oops... it was too much..." Nally said as she found out that ice was slowly forming around, locking her in an ice coffin, she gave up any thoughts of resisting as her smile fell apart.

"...salty... it isn't tasty... I even almost couldn't leave..." since his body is freezing, when he fell into the water, he froze everything around him, locking himself into ice, underwater...

Meanwhile, Ael picked up Zinnia so Sannie could swim more easily.
"I will carry her !" Said Ael as Zinnia found herself on his back.

Standing upon the water now ice, Cinere approached Fluff and decided to help her standing up.
"Are you alright ?" Cinere felt that he was partly at fault since the 'ice coffin's target was him.

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"Kyuu~" Zinnia happily snuggled on Ael back since it was full of feathers. She was very satisfied with the softness.

"Thank you Ael!" Sanie happily waved her hand.

"Ah... Mister Cinere thanks for the help. Yup, I'm alright just wet--" Fluff pulled her bunny ears trying to dry them as they fall heavily on her head. "No worries, besides if Presia was here. She would likely drag me at the water. Speaking of Presia, should I have accepted her offer for that bathing suit. Though that would be embarrassing--" *sigh*

"I'm wearing it underneath my dress..." Sanei shyly smiled as she swam next to them.

"Well, should we return to the Delta Town. You have something to be done there right..?" Jin tilted his head as he flew above next to them and carry Sanie on his shoulder.

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"Mhmm~" Ael was humming quite happily as he flapped his wings in the sky, carrying Zinnia, somehow, he wanted to make some somersaults... but well, he decided not to since there was someone on his back

"...that's sticky... ah, you are welcome Fluff, just call me Cinere~" he lightly patted her head after sigh but when he saw in what state his attire was... As he looked at his slender body, he felt uncomfortable, maybe he should have chosen clothes who weren't that tight... it doesn't look like he is a man anymore... straightening his hair, his smile deformed as he heard Jin's question.

"Yeah, I have 'someone' to see, something to ask but I don't if I should go or not... but I guess I will." Cinere hesitated because he thought if bt just being near to the temple, he will get mad, so wouldn't that be worst if he meets him?

"Mpghhh....!" Nally wanted to talk or to scream, it was already impressive that she can be loud enough to be even be heard despite being locked into ice.

"Ah, I bet I can't enter in Delta Town if I am transporting an ice coffin..." Cinere rubbed his front head in exhaustion as he freed Nally who was suffocating during some minutes... she just coughed continuously as she looked down... strangely she was still smiling when she saw in what state was Cinere.. let's not talk about what she is thinking.

"Let's just go~" shouted Ael as he circled cheerfully and quite energetic around them... look like another one is happy because of a certain event.
After a sigh, Cinere began to walk toward Elpide's temple, thinking that the situation may become troublesome.

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"If you prefer it, mister--- *cough cough* I mean Cinere" Fluff smiles as she bowed lightly. She then tried to wring out the water from her hair and ears.

"Grruuuu," Eins nod his head on Fluff as he kept glancing at the land. It seems like his pretty much bored with water.

"Well, we should go already and maybe change clothes in the Delta Town." Jin squint seeing Cinere appearance and thought how elves really are hard to differentiate with women. Strangely puberty didn't hit them hard but those are traits of elves. He wondered why did elves have those type of hereditary trait. He looked downwards while following silently thinking the purpose of that trait.

"Is Zinnia not heavy..?" Sanie worriedly looked to Ael. The little dragon was just enjoying herself on the soft feather showing a satisfied face.

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After a long sigh, the water on Cinere body became frozen, and it became easier to get rid of it, water will be impregnated in the clothes while the ice will only cover it, and after all, his clothes are supposedly unfreezable so except for his hair, his body was only covered with a layer of frost.

"It's alright~! He is lighter than Cinere and Nally~" Ael replied while still flying around the party with a cheerful tone, seeing this, Nally felt a bit jealous if only she could get wings and fly... it made her sigh and pout a bit for nothing.
Meanwhile, Cinere just became silent as they approached Elpide's temple who was now visible, he was neither secluded or in a crowded place, except in Delta Town, about what he knows, there shouldn't be that much Temple in the Main Continent, not more than 3.

His temple was quite simple actually, the only thing that may differentiate it from other buildings, was the cleanness of it and the bright color... a very bright blue temple with white edges, he stared at the people entering and exiting, all kind of people, no matter which races it was, the priest's faces didn't change, greeting them peacefully as always. More he approached, more he felt his palm burning, he sighed and just froze his hand as he gazed without moving at it for some minutes until he begins finally to talk.

"Let's... just go." he took a deep breath as he patted Nally's head and begins approaching the temple's entrance.
"Yup~ if you need my help to knock you out, just tell me~" it was kinda foolish to say that, when she will think that she needs to knock him out, she will.

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"I'm happy to hear that~" Sanie skip happily as Jin already put her down to the land. She was using her staff to use a nature made to dry her clothes which were made of leaves fiber.

"A temple huh? It would be nice if they hired a bard for their hymns. But you need to become a follower of the faith to do that." Fluff was wearing a cloak to cover herself. For a reason, she glanced at Jin. Since she is going to follow Jin to watch his adventurers for an inspiration. Also being worried about her close friend Presia who wanted to follow Jin. It might not be bad to follow the same faith with him.

"A temple huh? I heard there's a temple of Hikari in the Aeternus CIty. But it would best to observe the other temple for references. A temple in the Askian Village would be good since it has a wide area." Jin mumbles as he glanced around checking every corner and designs. He kinda ignored how the priest looked at him weirdly due to his antlers and wings. Luckily the ice was covered by holy aura, so he only seemed like a spirit being rather than a demon. Jin then heard what Nally said and confusedly looked at Cinere. "Why would you need to be knocked out?"

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"Huh, well, I just don't know how I will feel when I meet the guy... god I mean... who cursed me for the first time, now that I think about it, we only "communicated" through "intermediates"" Cinere's voice seemed to be quite sarcastic and mocking, he was sincerely despising this god probably benevolent that he never met before, to him, this "Elpide" is just another enemy to eradicate, however well, he always avoided him because he was too weak compared to him, and he is still "weak" from his point of view, then he came to ask something, not to plead him to dispell the curse but to confirm something.

"Let's just say that depending on how the curse react~ he may just go berserk~ or not~" added Nally as she continued to walk beside her 'creator', since she shared thoughts with him, she knew how the curse work as much as the cursed despite not being one... even if she avoided being affected by what she "saw", meanwhile, Ael put himself on Cinere's shoulder, holding to Zinnia with his beak, then he tried to put her on his own head.

"Ah I am tired~," said Ael as he rested on Cinere with a silly smile, deep down his heart, he was slightly worried, he just knew that apparently, Cinere did a lot of things he shouldn't have... and well, what is the feeling of this god to Cinere ? Will he be offended by being visited by one of the cursed ? But when thinking about how Liya asked to "share" the curse, he thought that it shouldn't be really serious, it will probably end quite well.

Entering in the temple, the priest silently made some signs, to make the party follow him, during this, they heard voices, it was from the frequent believers who often came here, they just repeated what they heard not a long time ago.

"...is it...?" one muttered under his breath
"Probably, he... or she...?" one seemed perplexed
"Whatever he or she is, it just fits the description, I wonder what it did... about what I remember..." one just didn't care, he didn't know anything about what happened.
"...all the cursed died, no one survived and seemed to be sane..." and a last one muttered as he thought that this person seemed to be quite calm.

The temple's interior was unexpected like a hostel, each room were made for prayers, this was because the God Of Hopes regarded privacy as important, he probably thought that some people couldn't pray in public.
That was quite considerate from him, he sent divine messages a bit everywhere just to say to build private rooms instead of a sole common one for dozens of people.
Despite being a god, he tried to stay "close" to his believers.

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"Oh berserk, well why does that sound familiar---" Jin tilt his head feeling something familiar to it.

"Isn't it because you are also kinda like that when angry?"

"That would be the influence of the devils. Hearing their voices will deter your conscience." Jin could only sigh and promised he would control himself better next time.

"Umm... if you re having hard time Mister Cinere. I can carry Sanie..." Sanie shyly spoke as she worriedly looked at Zinnia. Cinere's head would be cold but Zinnia continued sleeping. She just coiled herself to the head with her tail. Jin and Fluff couldn't help but giggled since it seems a headdress additionally how Zinnia has pink flower sticking out on her tails and wings.

"Pfft--" Jin was distracted to hear the whispers as he kept following Cinere. Only Fluff was listening attentively as if gathering information.

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Cinere yawned because he always carried Ael, he never felt any differences in weight since this griffon grew quite a lot...

"Just take her if you want to..." then he noticed them giggling, he didn't understand why and he didn't try to, he wasn't really in the mood to laugh.

"Ahaha~ it looks cute on you~ if you didn't have this burn, you will make a beautiful bribe~" said Nally as she saw Cinere and removed Zinnia to give her back to Sanie after a soft giggling, this elf didn't understand why they laughed when they saw Zinnia on his head but currently he just looked at the door they were lead, he bit his lips and opened it silently as the priest suddenly disappeared like a ghost, despite this disturbing fact he still entered and gazed at the person who made him "suffer".

A middle-aged bald man with not that lot of wrinkles, he seemed to be quite tired, his clothes were seemingly normal, just like a merchant, nevertheless the aura he gave wasn't mortal, it wasn't haughty or heavy, this was just impossible it not to notice it, just like a fire in a moonless night.

Because of this, Ael suddenly stood up and put himself on the ground as he was astonished when seeing this man because he was a god, his looks were normal but his own existence wasn't. This griffon just gulped.

"I was waiting, how may I call you? This nickname or simply the name you chose yourself, Cinere ?" Asked Elpide with tone who contained gentleness, Cinere shrugged as his breath became rougher and rougher just to become almost non-existent some seconds after those words.

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Sanie who was holding Zinnia stood still in fluster and quickly kneel. Fluff only respectfully kneeled due to the person being a god. Eins was a tortoise so he just hides on his shell trying to erase his presence on the surrounding.

"Hmm..?" Jin could only confusedly tilt his head looking at the others. Since he was used to meeting the Devil of Pride and hanging out with a Shamal. Not only that but being a follower of Hikari. His still didn't know the etiquette of a follower of a god to another god. 'Oh a god perhaps? Though what would we do? Cinere didn't tell us anything. Will guess we are a chaperone? So just stand still on the corner like a bodyguard. Glad I'm covered with holy aura.'

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Unlike everyone, Cinere didn't show any signs of respect while Elpide continued to talk, not minding Cinere's stillness and deadly glare.

"No need to kneel, it's just a pain in the ass to be formal... anyway, time to present myself, my name is Elpide, God Of Hopes, I have only two shrines in this continent, so it's normal if you don't know me," said Elpide with the same gentle tone as he stared at Cinere, waiting for him to talk.

"So, how may I call you ? Swine ? Cunt ? Scum ? Son of a gun ? Bastard ? Ah, just call me how you want to. Not like I care about a despicable god I want to cut into pieces just because of his irritating curse." Cinere seemed somehow aggressive as he talked to Elpide, he didn't seem to notice how Nally and Ael began to fear for his safety, for his life, they didn't expect Cinere to be this... stupid.

"Alright Fiendish Conqueror, call me just El, let's just get to the main point, you didn't come here to talk about the curse like your brother right? You wouldn't have such a terrible control of yourself otherwise." Calmly said Elpide as he seemed to relax himself by sitting on the hair, crossing his legs and smiling meaningfully, though this same smile seemed to provoke and enrage Cinere.

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Sanie quickly stood up and hide behind Jin. She never felt good with gods after what happened to their village. While Fluff just silently nods as she stood up not speaking a word. Just silently observing Cinere and the god Elpide interaction.

"Well, this is quite an interaction. And Fiendish Conquerer sounds kinda cool. I only got a weird name due to my helm when I was a mercenary." Jin who couldn't read the atmosphere just look at the two interestedly.

"Master Vodka, he's a god show some courtesy." Fluff whispers as she tried to nudge Jin.

"Okay~" Jin took out the Martyrs stone on placed it to his head. At least prevention if he would hear anything unpleasant for him. It would be a bad idea to create chaos on another God which might bring trouble to Hikari.

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"I have only questions and nothing else." Quickly said Cinere as the ice began to spread more and more around him.

"My schedule is qui-" Elpide was going to respond but he didn't expect to be interrupted so rudely.

"I don't care, do you remember why I began rampaging ?" As he asked this, he just fell deeper and deeper in his regrets of what happened.

"No, I don't, all I know is that you shamelessly blamed me." This god replied honestly and curtly, he was currently lying, he knew but it was just absurd to him, at least the link about what happened was really thin.

"Why and how I stopped." Hearing this, the god of hopes sighed as he talked in Cinere's stead, being completely honest, he thought that this fact was too "important" to be hidden forever.

"I deceived you, this person who proclaimed herself as your mother-in-law if the fate hasn't been this unkind was an Angel, I sent her to stop you from slaughtering people." Deeply, he thought that at least he didn't kill the children.
Confirming what he wanted to know, he sighed and drew our his dagger as he asked in a mad and frank tone, without any such things as hesitation.

"Can you get down and let me vent my frustration ?" Even if Nally thought that she should knock him out soon, she found him... still sane and aware of what he was doing, she just joined Jin and the others while profoundly thinking about this situation.
Ael seemed reluctant and only stayed near Cinere despite the ices, he wished to stay close to him, just in case.

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"Need some help there Cinere?" Jin raised his hand as he smiled.

"Master Vodka! Are you trying to bring trouble to your Goddess!?"

"Well... fighting a god might seem fun? Plus, we got Raz who is a god slayer as a follower. Though that was before he became Hikari's follower. Hmmm~ troubling but tempting. Should I use Shamal as a scapegoat?" Jin seriously thought about it.

"Shouldn't you stop this fight!?" Fluff angrily shook Jin who was giving a childish grin.

"Should I give assist..?" Sanie innocently looked at the God.

"Oi! Not you too Sanie!"

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"No~ ! Don't do that~ it's a very bad idea~ and well, Cinere ! I don't know everything but I can guess that most of it is your fault~!" shouted Nally still on a joking tone who had a hint of seriousness into it, actually, she was worried and panicked, she didn't expect Jin to offer help to suicide himself...

The worst for Cinere was that he couldn't refute her, he gazed at his 'creation' and sighed, not even bothering to reply. He stared at Jin and just shook his head... what if he bring him trouble ?

"Pff, I never thought that you could get 'friend', look like the curse made its job quite well." Finally, he could say that his curse doesn't have 0% of success at purifying a monster.

"You want me to puke ? How is this curse working well ? Do this god even know how stupid and clumsy he was when making this curse ? It just makes the person go mad then either kill everyone or kill themselves ? I am an exception because it was already what I was doing since a long time." He couldn't help but hate this god, even more, Elpide was stunned by his comment since he never thought that his curse had those kinds of effects, he just wanted the killer to reap what they sow, more they spread despair more the counterattack by the curse will be terrible.

"I don't even know if what I am seeing is real, if I didn't use Illusion Magic on myself, all I eat will taste like human meat... and don't tell me that eating a beating heart is 'great'...even if it's completely fake and an illusion, it still feel disgusting... to make the person reflect on what they have done. You... I don't have any words" he couldn't help but share his experience as a cursed, and well, one day, it needed to leave his mouth.

"...ah..." Elpide didn't think that the effects of his curse could be this terrible, no wonder nobody ever survived from it... nevertheless, how should he make up for this...? He looked at Cinere and sighed as he said while feeling quite regretful.

"...maybe I should check twice at my creations... I apologize, I didn't expect the effects of the curse to be this... repulsing, I just wanted it to be equal to the amount of sins, but..." hearing this, Cinere didn't know how to react, it was something he could never think, the curse could end just like this...?

"How many people died because of me ?" Depending on the answer, the punishment he has gotten could be comprehensible.

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"Alright then..." Sanie sighed in relief since it seems quite scary. She held tightly to Jin's sleeves cuff while keeping high alert.

"Eehh...? Bad...? Why..? Jin gloomily frowned as he heard Nally response and agreed defeatedly when Cinere shook his head. But upon hearing the god comment made him excitedly smile as his eyes sparkled not minding the strange atmosphere. "Ah... friends..? Aren't we like acquaintance though? Or perhaps we are already friends? Hey, Cinere are we friends~?"

"Master Vodka! Stay silent they are having a serious discussion!"

"Tche..." Jin pouted as he looked away. Though he was interested in the curse given to Cinere. After all, he did curse Goel but it was only for him not to die until he saves the lives equivalent to what he has taken. And some pain after-effects if he thought of doing any evil deeds without proper justification. Though hearing about the curse the god give made him cringe with disgust. Was not that going overboard? Luckily, he got the Martyrs stone which calms his mental state or else he will be consumed by rage and went rampage.

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"More than 1 million of people, I can't think of a lower number, 10% of them were done directly." Replied Elpide after hearing his question, it was quite a shocking number, that made him sigh in anguish when thinking about it, all of these precious lifes were lost, while Cinere weakly nodded, he already thought that he exceeded the million a long time ago, though he still wasn't feeling any such things as regret, to him, it was just a number equivalent to his misfortune.

"Uhm... I guess...? I don't really know how it works, I never had one...? I mean, Nally and Ael are more like... family.... yeah that's it, we are friends." said Cinere as he seemed to be quite awkward, he didn't know how to respond to this kind of questions, to his the family was almost an unknown thing, and friends were non-existent. Because of this, Ael couldn't help but rub his head against Cinere who was calmed down by this ball of fluffiness while Nally only smiled, it was good that Cinere saw things this way, at least to her.

"Well, Cinere, I have an idea, I will first grandly weaken the curse and grant you a favor if you want to, then I will propose something to you, for it I will dispell the curse, it will be convenient for both of us." Listening attentively to him, Cinere just waited for him to continue, how could he not agree? Getting rid of the curse was something he couldn't imagine, he couldn't imagine how happy Liya would be, first he will finally be able to relax and see "the real world" instead of this constant illusion who is present since many years.

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"Nisu! If I could help anything! Then please don't hesitate to ask!" Jin was grinning widely as he raised his hands excitedly wanting to do something for his friend.

"I would also help if I can--" Sanie took a peek as she continued hiding behind Jin. On the other hand, Zinnia just continued sleeping while Eins was silently watching while hiding his shell.

"Calm down, master Vodka. It good you have a new friend. But they are having an important discussion." Fluff tried her best to calm down Jin. She wondered why who is supposed to be an adult is acting like a girl. Well, he looked a kid but still. Nevermind, even though the first time they meet. Jin was still childish and reckless even as an adult. She just hoped Jin didn't bring any troubled to Cinere. He could only tiredly nod to Cinere asking for a pardon for her master actions. "Sorry about this Cinere."

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"Hm ? That's alright ~" Cinere with a slight yet still forced smile as he looked at Fluff and Jin, both of them were quite relaxing actually, despite being in this kind of situation, they still were somehow agitated.

"Alright then... for what I want you to do, you will need to go back to your homeland." He preferred to prevent him just in case, it will be understandable if he simply bluntly refused, who would want to go back where he is simply hated by everyone ?

"Perfect, I already planned to go back during a certain time after all, to recover my personal stock of chocolate and something else." Everytime he thought about chocolate, Elpide had his face being twisted, he couldn't understand why he is still eating it despite all it caused, the chocolate made there mostly originated from his father who always put drugs in it to him, since Cinere got rid of him and partly of his addiction, he should stop, yet he won't, he didn't understand.

"So, did I avoid a calamity ? If someone saw you and called troups..." Elpide thought that it was a stupid question because he...
"He wouldn't have the time to call them."... it made him sigh, at least now, he isn't killing everything around him, only those who oppose him, it's somehow a progress.

"There they still think that you are alive and..." suddenly except to Cinere, his voice became blurry even Ael who was next to him tilted his head, he couldn't understand anything... nevertheless he was grateful to Cinere when he could understand two words "bless Ael", Elpide said that he will grant him a favor and here it is, he gave a benediction to Ael, it was from Cinere's demand.

"So... we finished now ? Just like this." Despite most of it ending, Cinere didn't know what to do, he still wanted to cut him into pieces but... it was somehow different, he just felt frustrated at how this god could solve it in seconds... then couldn't he...? Elpide didn't reply and only nodded with a simple smile, he needed to get back to work now.

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"Oh..? We are already done..?" Jin mellowed down after hearing Cinere's words. With that, Fluff finally sighed with relief.

"Master Vodka, did I and Zinnia do great..?" Sanie worriedly asked as she tugged Jin's clothes.

"Yup! You did great and Zinnia too! Eins kinda helped a bit I guess~" Jin laughs as he patted Sanie head which made her blush happily.

"Master Vodka! At least control your words. You might end up the situation worse." Fluff pleaded to Jin, she was worried if Jin's childish remarks would bring more trouble later.

"Don't worry~ I only get excited too much. I can control myself you know~" Jin laughs as he patted Fluff shoulder. Fluff could only glare at Jin. He only coughed and looked at Cinere while smiling whiling giving thumbs-up. "Well if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask~ I'll eliminate anyone who will threaten you~"

"Master Vodka!" Fluff angrily pinched Jin's cheek who was laughing happily.

"Ahahaha~ I was joking~ it was a joke~" Jin only let Fluff do what she doing. He then remembered something as he looked at Cinere while grinning. "Since we are done on the quest, let's head back to the Guild. While at it---"

Jin held on Cinere's shoulder as his grin become wider, "Why don't you become Hikari's follower? Hikari is much kinder than that god you where talking too~"

"Master Vodka!? Are you serious...?" Fluff tried to pull Jin who was nodding as confirmation. Sanie lightly giggled to the two.

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"Hm, I am not fit to be a follower I think~ I will think about it later~ and thank for your proposition, but I think I can already do it myself~ I am used to it after all." though he said that Cinere had in his mind that he couldn't follow a god, at least...not yet.
He threw a last glance at Elpide before leaving, he looked around him and noticed that everything seemed to be a bit more bright, literally, and Jin's looks seemed to be slightly different, the curse was really weakened, he looked at his seax and decided to free half of all the souls without any warnings because he wanted to get rid of this dagger the quickest way possible, but he couldn't yet.

"Mm... thank you !" Said Ael as he rubbed his hand against Cinere, he felt lighter than usual, probably because of the blessing who still has unknown effect, considering the effects of the curse, it may be as 'effective' of it in a different way.

"You are welcome," Cinere replied as he pat his head and watched warmly at Nally who didn't seem to have any wishes to scream or insult at him for once.

"So, you are going to stop seeing theses~ that's great~ but could you bring me to your homeland~ I am curious~" walking over him and smiling cheerfully as always, she asked as Cinere shrugged, he thought that he should go alone without anybody, it was for himself after all, and well, to do that alone will be easier.

"Let's just go back to the guild for now~"

with @JinVodka ~


OOC: 12K words, congratulations ourselves~!
That was really fun lol~
Well~ now I am (normally) Rank C~! Yay~
Now, it's time to write some SS~ tee~ hee~

 

#Sandy Desert|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 25 Desert Jackal [50 G]
#Sandy Desert|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 25 Desert Fox [50 G]
======================
"Welcome back uhn..." *peeks at his card* "Detara-san!

Hikari will take a look at the report, alright?"

*read read read*

"Eto... Detara-san... Hikari can't accept this... There is nothing about the Desert Foxes in this report... Just saying that they were killed by the snipe skill doesn't work...

Hikari is sorry, but Hikari will have to fail this quest, Detara-san will only get the reward from the jackals one.

The reward will be of 50G, please be more careful in the future, alright?"

((You need to at least say something about how you fought them or something... You didn't even mention a single encounter or something...

If your first fight was against the Foxes instead of the Jackals, I would have considered it... Work a bit harder, okay? >.<))

 

Delta Town|#GD1|D-Ranked|Gather 10 Lumber [100 G | 3 x Wooden Plank]
Delta Town|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 10 Water Spiders [100 G]
Delta Town|#SD2|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Flesh Leeches [130 G]
Delta Town|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Sea snakes [120 G]
Delta Town|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 3 Man-Eating Sharks [230 G]
Delta Town|#SC2|C-Ranked|Slay 12 Feral Mermaids[240 G]
=======================
"Welcome back uhn... Eto... Hikari doesn't know the name of most of you!" >.<

"Le-let Hikari see... Hi-Hikari is happy things went alright!

Eto... I-it's okay Jin-san! Jin-san will definitely find a moment to tutor people on future quests!

Ah and... Hikari hopes Si-Cinere-san has no trouble when going back to his hometown.

The reward will be of 920G to be split among... Uhn... Everyone!" >.<

"Take care now!" ^^)/

 

orz

With dejected face, Detara receives the reward and goes straigth to the quest board.

OOC : I do not know if I have to tell every fight with monsters in the quest. thank you for the lesson, ^_^.

 

"Good Day Guildmaster, I would like to hand over this quest report." I smiled as the wisp hid behind my back.

Desert Village|#ED1|D Ranked|Guard Supply Route [150 G]
Ant Nest|#GD1|D-Ranked|Bring 3 Ant Corpses [110 G | 1 x Arachne Silk]
Desert Mine|#GD2|D-Ranked|Mine 3 Fire Crystals [100G | 1 x Refined Fire Crystal]
Desert Mine|#GC1|C-Ranked|Mine 12 Orichalcum Ore [200G | 1 x Orichalcum Ingot]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
North Volcano|#GC1|C-Ranked|Mine 5 Condensed Fire Crystals [150G | 3 x Radiant Fire Crystal]

Spoiler: Quest Report

| Location: Aeternus Floating City [Tavern]
| Objective: Preparation for the Quests

I opened the hologram that shown the map of this world. I copied it from the library so I can easily access anywhere. This would sync to the mini-map in my system, which allowed me to know my specific location and transverse to the world. I'm started to finalize the routes and planned together with the quest.

I took a long time to start the quest since I decided to install the [Optical Expansion and Locking System] to my artificial eyes. Since wearing the Exoframe every time was eye-catching. It would be best if it was attached to my own body. It took a long time to adjust and familiarizing with it.

It was due to the unfamiliar mana that I currently sense. Especially how the system parameter around me have become more sensitive. This made me grow alert to anyone coming within 10 meters radius. It caused me to identify an unknown object or being suddenly appeared near my parameter as a threat. I toned down and created the right program codes which took a lot of time.

Since I'm going to guard the supply route as my mission. I decided to inform the merchant association about it so I could escort them during the time they will transfer supplies.

The supply route I'm guarding is the route used for caravans to deliver minerals mined from the Desert Mine towards the Desert Village. The Sand Desert is a wide area and there are many dangers. From bandits to powerful monsters. So extra precaution is needed and an adventurer volunteering for the job is more welcome.

I already laid all my plan on how I will do the quest in order. I gathered my stuff with the newly made ice and wind arrows.

"I'm going now..." I weakly smiled at Ezero and the wisp. I don't know why but I felt an empty feeling since I didn't hear Ezero's sound for a while now. The wisp was still scared of me and I can't find a chance to talk to the other adventurers on the tavern. I wondered what is this feeling, my face showed a lonely expression.

Sweeeeee~
I heard a peculiar voice and looked up seeing the wisp looking at me. It was glowing erratically and moving around me.

"Are trying to cheer me up..?" I faintly smiled as I tried to touch it but was unable to. I could only felt a slight gentle warmth. Soon the wisp's color changed into blue as it seemed to look into my eyes. Did it perhaps match my eye color to lighten my mood? A giggle escaped my lips from that hypothesis as I patted the wisp.

Sweeeeeee!
It moved around me a sign of joy and glowed brightly.

"From my memory files, I haven't name you yet. I'm very sorry took me a long time to think of one. Now, I could give you a name." I searched my database for a fitting name for the wisp. I gently smiled and touched the wisp as the warmth spread on my fingertips. "I'll name you Skia as you have no physical form and similar to a phantom."

Sweeeeee~
Skia glowed erratically as it kept encircling me. Finally opening up to me, it seemed like Skia wanted to follow for the quest. That thought itself made me feel weird as a faint smile escaped.

"Let's go~" I called upon Skia at it follow closely to me. I looked to Ezero one last time and smiled, "see you later Ezero."

While Skia is following me, I observed that it was quite scared of the surrounding. It kept hiding on my side or inside my body as it kept avoiding any people that we passed. Though, it would be best to help Skia increase its courage. I don't how to do it since I still haven't discovered if we could communicate properly with one another. I finally arrived at the portal and went towards the Desert Village.


| Location: Desert Village
| Objective: Guard Supply Route

This is my first time arriving at Desert Village as I enthusiastically observed the surrounding. The area was filled with sand and the houses were made from stones. There are a lot of commerce and the village was bustling just like Delta Town. But it has a bigger area and higher population. I have seen a lot of Desert in my own world but it is quite different to this lively place. The Village was close to a lake so they have no problem with water sources even though they are in the desert. This is the reason why they are also called Oasis Village.

Currently, I'm in a location with merchants near the Desert Village exit. They prepared their caravans and tended to their camels for the long travel.

"Please to meet you, I'm called Aime and an adventurer from the Aeternus Adventurer Guild. This will o' wisp here is my companion Skia. I'm here to help guard the supply route on your transportation." I lightly bowed as I called to the merchants. Most of them have a pot belly, tan skin and around 30's with beards showing their experience. I then noticed a chatter and looked at the side of the caravan.

I noticed several robust men wearing a medieval armor and weaponry. They stared at me curiously as if to inspect every inch of my body. It would be probable that they were curious about my clothes. I faintly smiled at them before looking back to the merchant.

"My name is Mulich and I'm the representative today. We also hired some mercenaries since there are rumours of bandits. Though it was only in the neighboring village. It would be best to be careful." Mulich reached his hand for a shake. The village he was talking about would highly be the Frontier Village experiencing the Orcs attacks. Even though they are a far is not that bad to be cautious.

"Please to meet you Sir Mulich, I'll do my utmost best to do my mission." I nodded and shook his hand. Mulich smiled happily and patted my shoulder. He then moved back to the caravans to complete the preparations.

Several minutes passed and the caravans started to move. The mercenaries looked at me and tried to start a conversation. But since my response was quite dull and straight to the point. They gave up and decided to leave me alone.

We are currently traversing the Main Supply Route towards Desert Mine. I looked around as the caravan checking each place as I heighten my sensors to check the place. We traveled quite a distance while keeping a lookout. Most of the low-level monsters that my sensor detected are not a threat or not minding us. Some monsters did attack but with the effort of the mercenaries and mine, we are able to scare them away.

When we passed a canyon, I sensed multiple men looking at us in the distance. But they were only quietly observing. I decided to eliminate them if their movements become suspicious as we passed the canyon.


| Location: Sand Desert Near Ant Nest
| Objective: 3 Ant Corpses and Guard Supply Route

We continued our travel without any problems till night came. The merchants decided to camp out and rest. We ate while listening to the mercenaries' stories.

I checked my mini-map and noticed that we are closed to the Ant Nest. This was my chance to get 3 ant corpses. I waited patiently until the merchants fell asleep. I avoided the mercenaries keeping watch on the night. Since they refused me to take a shift in keeping watch the location, I would use the opportunity to sneak out.

Skia only looked interestedly at what I'm doing but only glowed erratically if anything moved. But the light might reveal my location. So, I have asked Skia to lessen the light which in return turned Skia almost invisible.

As my location is currently at 10 km to the ant nest. I planned to stay close to the caravan. Rather than going to hunt the ants in the Nest. I while hunt those who are gathering found away from it. This would allow me to still watch over the caravan.

I heighten my sensors and checked every life signature that my mini-map shows. I noticed several red dots and checked it if they where the ants I'm hunting.

As I finally found the ants, I was not able to penetrate their shell with my arrows. A high caliber gun would help lessen damage to the corpse but sadly I have no ammunition left. Without choice, I activated my Exoframe and grappled the ant. I twisted their necks until it broke. I continued my search for more ants doing the same method. Until I completed three ant corpses and an additional one for research in my item box.

I went back to the camp and acted like nothing happened as I waited for the morning to arrive.


| Location: Desert Mine
| Objective: Mine 3 Fire Crystals, Mine 12 Orichalcum Ore

We finally arrived at our destination. The merchants talked to the miners about the transaction. After the discussion was finished the merchants then asked the mercenaries to start carrying the crates to the caravans.

I assisted the transportation of ores and stones to the caravan. The mercenaries were worried at first seeing I tried to carry a large number of crates. But seeing me carrying it with ease, they could only stand still silly. I decided to ignore it and continued my task.

After we done, they decided to rest and gather info with the miners. This would be the best time to mine the materials in the quest.

"Sir Mulich, I would like to go the mines while you rest," I asked permission to the merchant's representative as I state my objective.

"Are you alright with it? Won't you not able to rest with that..?" Mulich worriedly asked.

"Don't worry, I still have more energy and it would not that difficult to mine. I definitely come at the time before you guys leave." I seriously spoke as I made sure that I will be finished at the departing time.

"I'll allow it then, it seemed you are pretty strong at a young age. As expected to an adventurer. Take your time, we still have a lot of time since we have no problems during the travel." Mulich smiled as he patted my shoulder.

"Thank you very much." I bowed to show my gratitude as I hurriedly went inside the mine.

Since I already know mine the fire crystals. I was able to locate them easily as I grown familiar with the mana sensor. I mined 6 fire crystals, taking the 3 to make ammunition.

Next was the Orichalcum which was considered as the hardest metal. Having a golden color and emitted magic but weaker the Mithril allow me to easily locate it. I mined about 12 Orichalcum ores and adding 3 ores.

I thought about how it would be nice to use it as an upgrade to Ezero's armor. Since his body was cracked from Nalmika's attack. Strengthening it from the materials in this world would be the best idea. Though, I still need to find a new power source for him due to the fact that nuclear reactor might not be available to this world.

Sweeeee~
Skia suddenly when to my cheeks as it tried to get my attention. It might have gone worried due to my long silence.

"I'm just thinking about my future plans." I smiled and patted Skia before looking at the time. I still have some few minute left before the caravans started to move. I quickly dashed forward to the exit.


| Location: Towards Desert Village
| Objective: Guard Supply Route

We started to travel back to the Desert Village as the caravans were full of different ores, crystals, and stones on each cart.

I noticed some weird noises in the sky and looked up to see a large flying lizard which likely is the Wyvern. The mercenaries reassured that the Wyvern won't attack this area due to repellant to have been using.

As we are halfway towards our travel passing a grand canyon. My senses alerted me as I noticed red dot in the mini-map. I increased the scope of my sights as I looked to the direction. I saw several numbers of armed men. The multiple men I saw earlier was together with those men.

I analyzed everything arriving at conclusions that they might be robbers after the crates. But I still need some confirmation. The caravans still have the mercenaries so leaving for a while would not be harmful. If I wore the Exoframe then I would have no problem coming back sooner.

"I'll be back," I informed to the merchants as I quickly activated my booster propelling me to the canyon before the men reach the edge of the cliff. The mercenaries were shocked and worriedly called to me but I ignored their voices.

Swooosssshhhhh

I strong gust of wind was made I rotate around to safely land on top. My location was just in front the unknown men.I stood up straight as I look at them with vigilance. "I would like to ask why are you on the supply route?"

They stared at me warily as their eyes grow hostile. I could sense the tension in the atmosphere. They readied their sword as they started to surround me. Upon closer looked, the swords were curved most likely a scimitar.

"I assumed you are here to robbed the caravan..? I would like for you to as--" Before I could continue, they immediately brandish their weapon on me. My defense system immediately blocked the attacked as my body automatically dodged and blocked. Since they have attacked me, my system already recognized them as hostile. Their symbol in my mini-map glowed bright red as a sign of threat.

"Since you attacked first them," I took my stance as I equipped my Ezoframe. I have unlocked some abilities of my Ezoframe since I reached rank D. I charged my fist with 50 million volts enough to disable their movements. "This is self-defense."

I quickly went to intercept an incoming attack and stunned the enemy. They relentlessly continued there attacked. But I could see the puzzlement in their eyes even they didn't talk. My system could easily predict their movements from the slight movement of there body. With this, I could easily counter-attack and stunned them.

One of the men noticed that they couldn't win against me. So he raised his hand to signal the others. They started to run down the cliff as they slide down. While leaving some men to block my path.

"Hostile enemy moving towards the caravan." I noticed them as my mini-map alerted me even I'm busy attacking the remaining men. I quickly increased the energy output of the Exoframe to catch up.

"[Electric Field]," my Exoframe released a strong electricity around me as it electrocuted anyone over 5 meters rendering their movements. "[Booster]" I quickly activated my boosters as I rushed to follow the remaining men.

The mercenaries noticed the incoming men and didn't hesitate to ready their weapons. Some took their bows and aimed it at the men. Some dodged the arrows, some blocked it with their swords while others got hit by it.

SWOOOSSHHHH!!

I quickly slid onto the cliff as my system calculated the safest and fastest route to the enemy. I took my compound bow and blunt arrowhead mixed with earth crystal's powder.

"[Lock On]," my sights automatically locked on to their legs calculating where it moved next. Swiftly, I released the arrow to disable their movement by breaking their legs. The arrow's speed was a bit slower even though it had 4% concentration of the Earth Crystal. The reason might because how the earth crystal added weight in it.

But it still hit the ankle making the target rolled downwards. In conclusion, the higher percentage the earth crystals had, the heavier it becomes. I continued to release more blunt arrowheads to the other men while taking out the weight factor. I didn't forget to pick up the arrows as they were still intact. I leaped in-front the remaining man and punch him in the gut, stunning him.

"All hostile neutralized," I spoke at my mini-map shown all red turned to grey. A symbol that all are rendered unable to fight.

"What just happened..?" Mulich immediately came forward as he asked me.

"I will explain it---" I opened my mouth and started talking everything that happened not fully revealing my abilities. Since they might not fully understand some of my words.

"Thank goodness, you noticed them quickly." Mulich sighed a relief as he patted me. He said that he would have some casualties if I didn't intercept them swiftly. The number of men was a lot, so casualties are highly possible.

The mercenaries quickly checked who were still alive and tied them up. I went back to the cliff to tie all the men there. When I looked at their necked, I noticed a wound on the throat. Probably the reason why they didn't speak. I was curious where they come from, but the mission is a top priority.

I took all of them to my shoulder and went down back to the caravan. The mercenaries helped me place all the captured enemies and guard them.

We continued our travels as we safely blocked the ambush. Though there were Black Rhinos passing the Supply Route. We just waited for them to pass as they didn't show any threat. While at it, I noticed some manure so I took some of it against the perplexed expression of the others. The manure can be used to create saltpeter which is an important ingredient for gunpowder.

We finally arrived at the Desert Village completing the Guard Supply Route mission. I spoke my goodbye before I depart to the Frontier Village through the Portal.


| Location: Great Plain
| Objective: Slay 3 Orc Leaders

I observed the Frontier Village not noticing any tension. Even though the path of the east was attacked by Orcs. Sadly, I didn't embed a tracking device to the Orc Leader that I meet from the previous quest. But it would be useless due to fact that this world has no satellite system. I will try to create a satellite once I got a lab so I can use my other abilities.

I continued my search around the Great Plains especially to the place where the frequent attacks are. I spend several hours until night and the next morning arrived. I decided to stay on top of a tree and charged my solar energy system. As I charged up, I kept my sensor in high settings to easily sense my surroundings. I kept looking around as I zoomed my sights to searched in the distance.

It was until the next night arrived, that I finally found my target. I heard several movements as my ears perked up. I quickly and silently transversed between the branches as I moved closer to the source.

Several numbers of Orcs are on guard as two bigger Orcs are talking. The two Orcs seemed like an Orc leader with their better equipment among the rest. They seemed to be exchanging information. I silently listened to their conversation as they were planning to meet to the other Orc leader and head back to their base.

Sweeee....?

Skia was curious at what I'm doing as I took the compound bow in my item box. I smiled as I noticed that Skia's light is not that bright understanding the situation well. I picked the arrow with wind crystals each with a different percentage.

I seriously looked towards one of the Orc leaders and aimed my bow. I need to only kill the Orc leaders swiftly. They can be difficult to deal with since they have a lot of Orcs in command. And it is not my mission to kill the normal Orcs.

Swiiissssssssssssshhh

The 15% wind arrows flew at a faster speed in comparison to the fire arrowhead. A strong gust was produced as it made impact on the Orc's head creating a hole as it passed through it.

"Ambushed!" The other Orc leader shouted as he looked for the source of the attacked. The other Orcs quickly go to the formation as they blocked my sights.

I quickly leaped high above them to be able to see the Orc Leader in the center of the encirclement. Using the arrow with the highest percentage about 25%. I released it directly below causing a strong howling sound of wind.

SWOOOOOSSHHHHHH!!!!!!
BAAMMM!!

The arrow made a hole in the Orc leaders' head killing him. The wind created by the arrow pushed the other Orcs away disoriented.

"What happened here...!?" A strong voice sounded from the east around 5 meters of my destination.

I quickly identified the voice and noticed that it is the Orc Leader of the bandit group I eliminated. "Target spotted"

"You are!!" The Orc leader shouted as he readied his greatsword.

I swiftly released another arrow wh he blocked on reflex. The percentage of it is quite low so the changed in speed is not that different.

"Damn this pest, to appear--" Before he could continue to talk, I have already propelled forward which surprised him.

"[Maximum Electricity]" I charged up the strongest output in my Exoframe. The voltage stayed the same but the amount of electricity is around 10 A. It would be enough to give severe burns and eliminate the target.

"You..!" The Orc leader tried to block it with his greatsword. Upon contact, it slowly broke apart as it created a strong light. The caused would be intense heat and force of the electricity with the addition of the great impact from my Exoframe.

My fist quickly hit the Orc leader's abdomen which made him push in a far distance. I swiftly followed and stepped on his body just to make sure his eliminated. Upon closer expectation, his upper body is burned beyond recognization. Little sparks of electricity still emitted from his body as it turned to charcoal. I noticed that his heart was no longer beating with my sensors.

"Target confirmed dead, three Orc leader's eliminated. Mission Completed--" I spoke as lightly walked and looked at the Orc under the leaders that I killed.

"Ruunnnn!!" The Orcs scrambled as they quickly ran away to the East. Even though they have greater numbers without a leader, they couldn't know what to do. Additionally, how I quickly assassinated the Orc leaders made a great impact on their morale.

"Last mission," I silently stared at the North as my mini-map shown the North Volcano. Still wearing my Exoframe, I activated my booster to increase my speed. Not wasting my time, I quickly traveled to the objective while Skia was trying to catch up to me.


| Location: North Volcano
| Objective: Mine 5 Condensed Fire Crystals

It took me an hour to arrived at my destination at maximum speed. In a short distance, I could see the North Volcano and slowly decreased my speed. My heels slide for a while before I completely stopped.

Sweeeeee!!
Skia passed by me as it enters the stone. It then appeared again as it erratically glowed and rotated around me. Perhaps, it was arguing about how I didn't slow done a bit.

"I'm sorry," I giggled as I patted Skia even though I would not likely to slow down next time. I also thought about adding the wind crystals to my boots to increase the speed, due to the results of the previous battle.

Swee! Swee!
Skia glows in-front me talking my attention. I giggled how Skia seemed like a child. Now that it is no longer afraid of me, it wanted my attention. Now that I think of it, I wondered what Skia gender is. Ezero was considered as a male child by his creator even though Ezero is non-living.

Swee! Swee! Swee!

"Sorry, I was distracted. I will focus on the objective now, so we can go home." I smiled as I looked onward to towards the North Volcano looking for an entrance. Besides the main objective: Condensed Fire Crystals. My objective is to get Sulfur in this area. Sulfur is a yellowish substance that has bad odor usually found in Volcano and hot springs. Locating them would be easy since they are already in my database.

While I looked at my mini-map, I saw a water source from Verdant Forest going towards the Volcano. I swiftly went to the place to observe any possible hot springs.

From there, I finally found hot spring with yellowish dust attached to the rocks. My system analyzed it as Sulfur and thus I gathered a gallon of it. After that, I noticed a cave which would likely be entrance towards the volcano. Once enough sulfur was gathered, I went inside.

The heat was intense and scalding. I wore the Exoframe to protect my skin that is made from special material. Since I haven't started research on replicating it in this world. It would dangerous to take any damage to the dermis. Though it would be fine for me since I'm mechanic. My appearance would probably scare or make other uncomfortable if I took any damage. Including the fact, that my father would not like that idea at all.

I opened my thermal and mana sensor as I searched for the Condensed Fire Crystal. The heat they produced would likely more intense than a regular Fire Crystals and more volatile. The cause might due to the environment filled with magma in comparison with the one in the Desert.

After I searched about an hour, I located several Condensed Fire Crystals. As I took precaution in mining 5 of it, I also added 3 more for testing. I raised the crystal above me and checked it's mana surges popping out from the sensor. I would be an excellent material for the equipment that I will try to make.

Sweeeee!
Skia looked at the crystal and rotated around it. My senses finally return to me with Skia movements.

"We're finally done, let's go home." I smiled as I patted Skia. I started to slowly walk towards the Aeternus City excited about the new stuff that I would research.

Spoiler: Note

- 1 ant corpse
- 3 raw Fire Crystals
- 3 Orichalcum Ore
- 1 barrel of Rhino manure
- 1 gallon of sulfur
- 3 Condensed Fire Crystal

@shad12ow

 

@A.I.M.E-02847
Desert Village|#ED1|D Ranked|Guard Supply Route [150 G]
Ant Nest|#GD1|D-Ranked|Bring 3 Ant Corpses [110 G | 1 x Arachne Silk]
Desert Mine|#GD2|D-Ranked|Mine 3 Fire Crystals [100G | 1 x Refined Fire Crystal]
Desert Mine|#GC1|C-Ranked|Mine 12 Orichalcum Ore [200G | 1 x Orichalcum Ingot]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
North Volcano|#GC1|C-Ranked|Mine 5 Condensed Fire Crystals [150G | 3 x Radiant Fire Crystal]
=========================================================================
"Ah, Aime. So good to see ya~! Let me see the report."
After Shadow took the report, he then spent a few minutes reading the report carefully. The sound of him putting down the report on the counter indicated that he finished reading her report.
"Well, well. I must say, I'm quite please seeing you have done such good job. No overmining, perfect subjugation without any collateral damage. I guess what worried me is that the bandit you've taken care of were....how do I say? Been taken care off by another party. Let's just say I'm concerned with that. Apart from that, I have no complaint."
The sound of metallic clink resounded as Shadow put a small satchel on the counter in front of her.
"Here is your reward, 860 G. Not a coin less. And this," said Shadow as he handed her a small paper," is your permit to redeem your reward item with the quartermaster. Take care now~"

 

@shad12ow

• Treacherous Port|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
• Great Plain|#GE1|E-Ranked|Gather 10 Moonlight Flower & 10 Healing Plants [50G | 1 x Rejuvenation Potion]
• Great Plain|#GE2|E-Ranked|Gather 3 Moonlight Water [50G | 1 x Bottled Purified Moonlight Water]
• Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
• Great Plain|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 10 Lizardmen [90 G]
• Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]

"Excuse me Sir Shadow, I have came back."

I said as I handed my report and began to wait for him for his response.

Spoiler: Report.

__________
1st Night​

Leaving the Adventurer Guild, I entered into the Great Plain and immediately began to search for rabbits who were actually a bit everywhere.

“Can’t they be reunited instead of separated ?”

I said while I felt that what I said was stupid, right, I am stupid after all, why would it be easy after all ?
Time consuming, this is what those rabbits are, instead of searching them, I guess I should search for trash who are quite united like Bandits or Lizardmen, it’s better than chasing at Wandering Rabbits who will be on the way after all.

After a dozen of minutes, I was looking at the two rabbit’s corpses I had as I watched the 12 Lizardmen in front of me, that was bothering, they were too many, but I want to do it quickly so I guess I must do it on this group, all of them were going to a specific direction, they were longing the river.
Following them, I killed the first one by cutting its throat after covering its mouth, then, I did the same on the second who didn’t notice, a shame that the third one turned back, I beheaded him and jumped in the river as I avoided the spear’s thrusts.
They couldn’t follow me as I hid myself deep in the water… I just noticed that at the bottom of the river, there were Moonlight Flowers, it’s obvious, am I not plunging into Moonlight Water ?
Realizing this, I just took out five empty bottles and let the water naturally filling them up, just like this, I got 5 Bottles of Moonlight Water, at the same time, I picked up the moonlight flowers who were at the bottom, there was far too much of them, so I randomly picked up around 15 Moonlight Flowers.

Let’s just resume for now.
I still need to kill :

• 18 Wandering Rabbits
• 7 Lizardmen
• 5 Bandits.

I still need to gather.

• 10 Healing Plants

Hm, I see, then let’s just peek at the surface, approaching the surface of the river, I noticed that the night has fallen, it’s true that I left the floating city at quite a late time, it’s perfect.
The 9 Lizards seemed to be quite wary, but it was night and at night, I am sure to kill them all in one go.

A dozen of minutes later, I was out of the river, completely dried and sneaking to the lizards as I killed a Wandering Rabbit who was passing them, only 17 left.
Noticing that they were still wary, I still approached and beheaded another one, then a second one...like earlier the third one noticed me, but this time, instead of merely decapitating it, I pierced his belly and… used Fire Magic into the alive lizard, as more and more flames begins to get out from its wounds, the others lizardmen ? They felt terrified by this show, of their friend..n exploding because of fire, at the same time, the <Explosion> and <White Fire> that I used blinded and scare them to death.

Because of this, they became confused, the six of them, it gave me enough time to behead two of them and stab a third one before they realize in what kind of situation they are.

Before they could begin to run, my hand, this blade dismembered one of the arm of a Lizardmen, it will die from blood loss.
While they began to run, once again, I behead one… and my last enemy ?
Running was useless, so foolishly, he tried to counter attack but I was prepared and one of my throwing knife entered in his eyes then its brain, successfully killing it.

12 Lizardmen were killed, mission is successful.
After finishing this, I noted everything that happened on a carnet so I won’t forget what I have done… not a lot of things are left…
Anyway, at the edge of the river there was six wandering rabbits, it makes more food.
Those rabbits were eating healing plants at the shore if the river, I was lucky there was still three left… of course I killed all the rabbits…

Let’s just resume for now.
I still need to kill :

• 11 Wandering Rabbits
• 5 Bandits.

I still need to gather.

• 7 Healing Plants

Hm, I see.
It’s still night, I will eat later then, let’s search for Bandits, right, I remember seeing a map, am I not going toward a town called Frontier Village ? Probably, maybe it will be easier to find bandits around it. Because they must aim at the merchants leaving the town…
Hm, it’s been a long time since I stopped at Frontier Village I think, about what I remember, there is nothing interesting there except a certain facility to get my targets, so to gain AC, I always wondered why my “colleagues” thought that it was a great idea to install this “shop”, this currency.... Whatever.


After one hour, I finally could see Frontier Village, during this time, I killed 6 Wandering Rabbits, they were on the way, and also since I followed the river to get there, I picked up around a dozen of healing plants, I probably have a few in extra.
Meaning, around the Great Plains, there is only 5 Wandering Rabbits and 5 Bandits to kill, how fitting, both of them are pathetic.
As expected, at the exit town, around a “backdoor”, in another word, a normally deserted road, there was a carriage, another foolish merchant who thought that the bandits wandering here were probably just a “rumor”.

Yet it wasn’t since they were followed by seven smartass who will die soon anyway or try to run away in vain.

Sneaking bandits who are already sneaky, I like that, I will be able to get both of the gains, merchant who will be killed by the bandits, and the stuff the bandits had before dying, maybe it will be sellable.
Just like this, I am seeing 7 Bandits raiding a carriage, the two bodyguards reacted quickly and countered as their master, the merchant was only frightened by this “unexpected” attack, he saw his bodyguards dying as one of the bandits died just like a meatshied.

Still, I waited that they begin to plunder to attack, seeing two keeping an eye of the surroundings, I threw two throwing knives which sunk into their throat, at the same time, while the light in their eyes disappeared, I jumped on the carriage.

“What happened ?!”
“They died !!”

Be quiet.
As I descended, I pierced one of their head with my sword as I used <Fire Breath> with my other hand, burning one to death, there is only 2 left, like the lizardmen, they decided to run away in vain, all I had to do is to throw two knives and…
They died, both of then with a knife in their neck.

“Everything in the Great Plains has been done except for the rabbits.” now I had to go back home or search them, but before that…
Let's see what they got in their pocket… a Black Hooded Cloak ? Perfect, I will just wear it now.
Each of then had a Sword and Two Daggers, I will just use then as Throwing Knifes, then what was in the carriage ?
Checking the chests and merchandise, I found two batch of potions, so 8 still unknown potions, I don't know how to appraise potions. There was also a bunch of useless Gold Coins, so I just leave them here for the cleaners, a worthless Iron Armor, let's still take it, this Item Box is really useful you don't need “slaves” to transport everything you need or just what you want, what should I..m

{Grr…}

It was coming from another chest, probably a wild beast enough valuable to prepare this many chains to keep it locked in this “cage”.
I should… leave it here or burn it just in case, who knows, maybe its materials are maybe quite valuable to my “boss”, and maybe he will give me something useful to kill my target.

“Let's just burn it.”

I will just use <Fire Breath> on it… as the flames submerged the chest, I immediately stopped as I noticed that…

“Useful.”

...the chest and chains were both made of Anti-Magic Iron, I don't know which one it is, but about what I know, those not-so-useless anymore rumors unexpectedly helped me since no matter what it is, an Anti-Magic Object is always useful, and it means that the beast in the chest is actually a magical beast.

“I should forget about killing it, after being dead this magic which could help will simply disappear… I should enslave it.”
{Scum !!}
“A shame, it isn't mindless, it will be harder to enslave it...”

What should I do ? Threaten it ? Tempt it ?
It can be both harder or easier, it only depends on its personality and considering the number of chains, it will obviously be hard, maybe I should buy a <Slave Seal Scroll> ? Let’s just do that, unfortunately, I can’t put it into the Item Box since it’s alive, well, it’s an “Item Box” after alive.
I will have to hold it, I hope it’s worth it and not valuable otherwise I will have to find it a value, I don’t want to waste my time.

{Free me !!}
“Stay silent or I throw you somewhere where nobody will ever find you.”

It seems like my threat works, after all, if nobody find this little beast, it will never leave this cage, so obviously, it will obey me this way.
Anyway, as I was thinking about going back to my stash… I saw three rabbits wandering, perfect, it will make three less to kill on five, how uninteresting.
Well, I will note it later in my carnet.
At least, this little beast stayed silent now, it will be annoying to hold it… maybe I can throw it on enemies, it will at least make them surprised, seeing their friend being killed by a heavy chest.

Oh well whatever, then I should go through Gallant Pass, as long as I stay hidden it should be alright, I won’t be attacked… it will be annoying to…
Right, I almost forgot, didn’t the carriage had horses ?

That’s perfect then… it will harder to go undiscovered, but at least, I will be fast and that is the most important right now, anyway, slowly getting on the horse, I put the chest on the same, it wasn’t that heavy actually… I am sincerely surprised.
Considering the appearance of the chest I thought it will be heavy, but it isn’t, it’s good then, I thought that I should maybe pick a second horse but it looks I won’t need to.

Anyway… let's say that I am finished for now… let's cross Gallant Pass once again… I hope this horse will be able to last some days.
Unlike the last one.

Riding on the horse, I didn't really know how many hours it has been, but now we finally reached the end of Gallant Pass as the sun unfortunately rose.
At this moment the horse fell from exhaustion… should I kill it and stock more food…? Hmm, let's just save it and kill it later, at least it will serve its purpose until the end.
Since it was tired, why not recover energy for me too ? I lead the horse to a familiar cave, usually used by “one if my colleague”, nobody except him were supposed to know that, but since I needed a place to rest, I just said everything to his responsible and his hideout has been given to him after his unavoidable death. Trying to escape will only lead to death, this is the sole truth I know.

Anyway, this hideout is comfortable actually, there is at least 10 escape routes, and also quite handy, at the frontier of the Orc Land and Gallant Mountains if I am right, I should have taken the map instead of only throwing a glance at it.
Thank to this, if I want to, I can go mostly anywhere in those mountains without meeting any enemies.

There is also crops there, the amount of energy it gives is great, I don't really know what is it… potatoes, tomatoes and… basil if I am right, but it's foolish to grow tomatoes there if I am not wrong, it will make them die… or the amount of calories it normally has will be greatly reduced, why didn't he put under the sun instead of a smooth ceiling ?
Right, there is also a room where they forbid me to enter because… I searched in my notebook and noticed that they didn't give a reason, it's not the first time.

About what I know, the heat is coming from there, at least that what I wrote.

Whatever, let's just feed the horse and take care of those ailments, it will be a shame to waste such a good spot.
Making a campfire, I cooked two of the rabbits I killed recently, right, how many rabbits I still need to kill ? I looked into my notebook and saw that there was 5 left to kill, normally there shouldn't be more than that… or less, did I eliminate more than that ? I don't remember, I will just kill five then, I don't have a choice, I need to.
Of course, I also fed the horse earlier and now it's sleeping, anyway, after eating I will just go to sleep, I shouldn't forget to activate the traps and camouflages.

__________
2nd Night​

I slept and now the night was falling, the horse dreadfully looked at me, it didn't want to run while it was dark but it will. It didn’t have any choice.
A later, I was riding the horse in direction of the Treacherous Port, toward my “home”, I have to pass between the Sacred Land and the River if I want to keep this horse longer… huh, it won’t last until Treacherous Port though, anyway. As I kept reading, I looked at the Orc who were patrolling in the darkness like fireflies, with their useless torch who will soon be extinguished.

“<Fire Absorption>”

As I was feeling the fire burning those vessels, this flesh, those eyes, this non-existent heart, this… emptiness, I didn’t care, all I need to do is to go back home to hunt 5 Bandits, that’s it. It’s better this way.
All I had to do was to ignore this meaningless and useless pain, as my body was heating, the horse ran faster and faster, feeling scared of the shouting orcs, what am I thinking about ? I shouldn’t care about that.
Let’s just forget about that, as always.

After a unknown amount of hours, I was now lying on the ground next to the exhausted horse, after a sigh, I cutthroat it and stock it in the Item Box, it’s conveniently, I won’t leave any traces thank to this.
I should note this.

Notes about items :

• I should buy a bow
• I should change my sword and pick one who is sharper and more resilient.
• I should buy the basics of Herbalism
• Item Box : Useful to remove corpses

Look like I already have a lot of things to do, that’s perfect I will just do everything when I got there, anyway, let’s just see where I am currently… I am near the river and I can see the Orc’s Capital, I should hurry to get away from here while still advancing toward the Treacherous Port.
Ah, the sun is rising, what a pity.

I will just run all day, it should be quite easy to cross the frontier during the day, as long as I don’t any disarray, it should be easy, as it always has been.
This was tiring, yet it wasn’t.

Everything was the same, bleak, bleak and bleak, so I ran quickly, to get away, quickly, I just wanted to sleep, quickly, I just wanted to ignore everything, quickly, I wanted to be blind, quickly, I wanted to become deaf, quickly.
Nevertheless, all of these wild and random thoughts are useless, since in the end, I have nothing to do, except “trying” freedom.
As I was running silently, meaninglessly, pointlessly, uselessly, and worthlessly, I noticed that I just crossed the frontier between the Orcs Land and Unknown Lands, staring at the chest that I almost forgotten, I began to talk.

“Monster, are you still alive ?”
{I am not a monster !!}
“I see, you can just shut up then, otherwise you will die alone, staving.”

I threatened it once again because I felt that it will try to escape by its own mean if I stay too lenient or passive, so I will threaten it, many times if needed.
Then I will enslave it.

Anyway, considering where I am, I should go to the North, passes just in front of the Statue and get around the Land Lost In Time, then go to the Treacherous Port to finish my quest and take a little break, yes, a break. I need it.
I hope there will be nothing to trouble me during the travels… unfortunately, it looks like the sun is not going to fall son, this a shame, if only the sun didn’t exist, everything will be much simpler, well, this is never easy after all.

_________
3th Night​

The sun finally disappeared, currently I was near to the Statue which is outside the Land Lost In Time, at the shore of the river, it looks like I won’t stop running right now, there is nothing else to do after all, why would I do something else ?
I need to get there.

Obviously, during the travel, I surely won’t meet anything troubling.

And I didn’t, the night was already disappearing for letting place to this gloomy sun, how exhausting, anyway, the day was beginning to come back once again, and right now, I could see the Treacherous Port.
Walking calmly, I just looked at the surrounding, feeling somehow at ease, those dirty streets, those corpses getting eaten by crows, those people fighting wildly for a bit of food, those orphans getting beaten up, it was “home”.
Some gazed at me, smiled viciously but immediately retracted their eyes as my sight passed them, as usual, they only recognized me after seeing my face. Well, I am living here since a while and, it might be for two reason, first I have a weapon and I am one of the only “subordinates” to leave the Port, so I became known for only this. Or it was because I was always “merciless” to everyone, no matter who they were, I already killed some of my temporary “bosses” or “team captains” because they weren’t respecting the rules ?

Whatever, for now, let’s just relax.
As I was heading toward my stash, I heard a voice accompanied by an usual arrow who as always burnt before even approaching me, this harasser as always.

“Heeeeeyaaaa traitor ! H’re you t’day ? Didja alr’ady give up o’your mission ?”

His voice seems as stupid as ever, despite being so childish, everyone calls him “Emotional Beheader” because of one thing, he likes beheading people while their feelings are at their apex, recently, he seems to have taken a “liking” of me, so he is trying to “complete” his personal “objective” by approaching him, which is simply fulfilling his fetish.

“What are you here for ?”
“Huhu, y’know b’ss is c’lling for ya since y’came back.”

And his way to form words was still as bothering as ever, could he talk properly so I can understand for once ? Whatever… look like I have to go to see boss instead of taking a break, how exhausting.
Walking calmly as always, when the crowd saw me, they just dispersed, trying to avoid my gaze, it’s better this way, at least, the path is now clear, I passed into some streets near to the center of the port, entering by the backdoor, ascending the stairs, still with the chest with me, this creature didn’t seem to be active for now.
That’s good, it will be troublesome if my boss becomes interested in it. As I thought about that, I finally entered in his office and saw him, his face hidden under this mask shaped just like a dark moon, his body was the same as always, imposing and his aura tyrannical.
Suddenly feeling his grasp on my neck, the only thing I did was holding tighter to the chest containing the living tool, his cold gaze penetrated him yet I felt nothing.

Even if I couldn't see it, I know that he is smiling.

“Perfect, you still are taking your life lightly.”

As I heard his voice, my hands only grasped the chest and put it away as I felt his arm going through my body, my blood began to drop as his voice echoed in my brain and ears.

“Hm, you weren't acting, so you still think that your life is worthless, perfect.”

In the end, he released me and gave me two potions, to me, he made a favor to me, why ?
First, he was only doing that me, because contrary to the others, I lack the will to live, and he thinks that the day I want to live will be the day I will backstab him.
Then what is the use to those potions ? One is to heal my current injuries, while the other can be considered as an excuse, nevertheless, I will only bandage my belly as I put the those two potions in the Item Box, he quickly looked at it and only snorted as my question was speedly posed.

“What are you today ?”
“Well, a simple and humble Highwayman Lieutenant.”

This is what he said, about what I know, he became a Lieutenant not a long time ago but among them or at least he is planning to, or soon to be, even if he was one, most people wouldn't know because he likes to be one, he is the one with the more intelligence here, well, it’s obvious since in the first place, this identity was simply a facade, he wanted to control everything by himself, but he won’t yet, because the chances of success are only 4%.
Why I know that ? Because he wants me to lead this future conquest, however, from my eyes, it’s only one thing “troublesome”, I bowed, took the boss and decided not to go home but to the underground as my body was weaker because of the wound.
Anyway, I needed to do what I needed to do.

Suddenly someone supported me and helped me going down, it was this old man.

“Hehe, kiddo what do you want this time ?”

It was his old and grumpy voice who was saying this, I sighed and just looked at the list I did earlier.

“Medium bow, basics of herbalism, a sharper sword and a Slave Seal Scroll.”

He seemed to be slightly surprised at my demand, but then he immediately did what he needed to do, he gave me everything and changed a number in who was already in front of a number.

44 : 123 AC

AC was the currency used for us, assassins, to exchange for objects, tools or distractions, the Slave Seal Scroll was the most expensive for one reason, if one assassin control another, wouldn’t the AC he got double ? This is why he was almost impossible to get but since I always bought the strict minimum, I had enough.
Likely, I won’t ever use AC again in the future, except for miscellaneous objects, as I was holding my belly, I felt exhausted as my steps became unsteady. The old man only looked at me, then did nothing.
Even if he was friendly, we weren’t close at all, oh well whatever, I left the building and decided to go “home”, crossing quietly the streets, avoiding every crowded place, I finally entered into my home by a window with lockpicking and deactivating the traps which were made by myself of course.

It seems like nobody entered while I was away, that’s perfect, I looked around and saw all of my clothes dropped on the ground, the broken bottles of rhum, the damaged swords I didn’t want to leave alone, the corpses of some randoms enemies I left because I didn’t have the motivation to move it alone and… well, it makes people more reluctant to cause trouble since I am keeping them, so it’s a rock two birds.
At least, I have my boots, how many potions have I save up ? A dozen.. if I am not wrong.
Anyway.

“Soon, you will get out this chest but you will have to give me a favor.”
{R-Really ?!}
“Why would I say that otherwise?”

To enslave you of course, that is my demand, a demand you won't be able to refuse, I went to the kitchen and pushed every half-empty plates on the ground to put the chest on it.
Making slightly tremble the table, I sighed and somehow felt glad since boss didn't seem to be interested about this creature and it was really good for me, I didn't want to lose it uselessly since I would have wasted a lot of time on it.

Pulling the chains, I took the <Seal Magic Scroll> and prepared myself to use it as those irons began to fall and dissociate from the chest and free this magic beast.
The chest opening, the first thing I did was to use the scroll when I just saw something moving in it which was the case, using it when I touched its forehead, a seal was formed when I used it.
A dark moon who is hardly visible on those black scales…
Did I just win to the loto ?

I am lucky, it looks like Dragon Scales but in a bit weaker, it unfortunately has no wings so it isn't one, maybe a Basilisk who isn't mindless ?
Great, I wonder what kind of monster it is, its red and savage eyes stared me nevertheless it suddenly fell on the ground in pain.

“Think about harming me and it will hurt, unoriginal isn't it ?”
{M-Monster !!}
“Perfect it seems to work, so what are your powers ?”
{Why would I…! AHHH !!}

It really works, I feel glad, I wasn't sure about how to use the scroll, I never had the occasion to buy one after all.

{Grr… petrification… fire breat-}
“I see that's just perfect.”

I interrupted it and just took a bottle of beer, beginning to drink, it began to look around this shabby place, as expected it was disgusted by my place.
As I drunk drink a second bottle, I heard people shouting at my death, probably searching death.

“B*ch ! We know that you are here ! C’mere, this time you will die !”

Bothering… the reptile seemed to be wary of those voices, it looks like it won't trust anybody, that's just perfect.

“Guess… I need to clean sometimes…”

Taking a whisky bottle, I went half-naked outside and hit the first person of the six I saw, launching a fire spell, three of them began to burn because of the alcohol that dropped on them. Despite my voice becoming furious, my face didn't change.

“Damn irritating, I just wanted to rest today…”

Oh, thinking about it, it makes 3 Bandits killed right ? That's just perfect, two left then.

“What the…?!”

Using the broken bottle, I pierced the throat of the startled one while with my other hand I killed the three already burning with even more flames…
Meanwhile, I saw one of them becoming slowly stone… the last one ran away, well it still makes 5 of them dead.

“Huh, time to sleep.”

Before that I cooked one rabbit for the Basilisk , I should give it a name one day, no ?
Whatever, it are quickly without a word to say, what would you say to your kidnapper who literally have your life in its hand and just murdered in public four people in a blink of an eye ?
I don't know and it probably doesn't either.

Whatever, taking a bottle of whisky I began to drink to get simply drunk, it will be easier to sleep this way to be honest.
Ahhh… it's been awhile since I drank like this, good, great, I feel better now…
Just like this I fell asleep…

_________
4th Night​

Opening my eyes, I noticed that night came back and the Basilisk was sleeping peacefully, I looked around me and decided to take two bottles of whisky with me, and everything I bought yesterday.
That should be alright, nevertheless I still need to kill five rabbits in the great plain, I went outside and just breathed of this damned air a bit more, after calming my mind, I entered back in my house and said on a cold tone as I began to dress myself.

“Wake up, we are going.”
{Ugh…! Alright…}

It couldn't refuse as I just put it on my shoulder, leaving quietly as always my hometown, it probably felt awkward on me but I don't care.

Just like this, we will reach the Great Plains without any world.

________
6th Night​

Ah, Great Plains finally.
That's perfect… I sighed as I left the Gallant Pass, I still needed to kill 5 rabbits, how exhausting… I wonder how this Basilisk got captured though..? Oh well, whatever, it's none of my business after all, I will name it later, anyway… ah, rabbits, 7 of them, that's perfect for me at least but not for them.
I approached all of them, and just…
“<Fire Breath> <Explosion>”
… and burnt them to death, their hides immediately disappeared and their flesh charred until it becomes black.

{..ah…}
“Done, now we can go back.”

Not letting this Basilisk talk, I decided to go back to the Adventurer Guild, to confirm my quests and report.

Spoiler: Notes about Items obtained.

• Bottle (2L) of Whisky *2
• Medium Ebony Arc
• Ebony Arrow *44
• Long Curved Orichalcum Sword

Spoiler: Note about People

• Shadow, Guildmaster but also Receptionist, seems friendly, I don't know much more than that. (Met when taking quests.)
  
• Hikari, Receptionist, seems a bit foolish and childish, I don't know much more than that. (Met when registering.)
• Young Blond Kid, Unknown, seems friendly...? He just said something once then I never saw him again. (Met the first time I entered in the Tavern.)
  
• Tene, Adventurer probably, seems to be a worrywart, I don't know much more than that. (Met in the Tavern)

Spoiler: Basilisk

Received it from @Naraku and @Haxagen in OOC in the Tavern.

(((I hope it's not too bad.)))

 

@Unreachable Hope
Treacherous Port|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
Great Plain|#GE1|E-Ranked|Gather 10 Moonlight Flower & 10 Healing Plants [50G | 1 x Rejuvenation Potion]
Great Plain|#GE2|E-Ranked|Gather 3 Moonlight Water [50G | 1 x Bottled Purified Moonlight Water]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
Great Plain|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 10 Lizardmen [90 G]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
===========================================================================
"Ah, Ms. Shijūshi, is it? Finished with your quest, I see. And the report too. Let me see...."
A few minutes passed as the Guildmaster read the report. The only sound that came from him was the usual tap from his gloved fingers on the counter.
"Hmm...well done, well done, I must say. Congratulation for completing your first mission, Ms. Shijūshi. The bandits were dealt nicely. The lizardmen too. The flower and plants are.....decent. The rabbit...somehow you're struggling with the rabbits? How...curious. Well, they're quite fast, so it's understandable. Okay, it seems everything is in order. Good, good. Very good."
Shadow then pulled out a small satchel and then put it on the counter in front of her.
"This is your reward, 540 G. And you also need this," said Shadow as he put a small paper next to the satchel. "Take it to the quartermaster nearby to claim your reward item. Take care now~"

OOC: Nice story. I like it. Not too complicated, but still entertaining. Apart from the a bit of typo and also grammar mistake, you're all good, my friend~

 

"Excuse me, Hikari-san? I'm here to report in the completed solo quests, it's not as easy as it seemed... "

Desert Village|#GE1|E-Ranked|Harvest 5 Baskets of Ice Cabbage [80 G | 1 x Ice Cabbage]
Desert Village|#GE2|E-Ranked|Harvest 5 Baskets of Desert Cereal [50 G | 1 x Bundle of Barley, Millet, and Wheat]

Spoiler: Quest Report

'Shuri The Adventurer' is what his childhood friend back home had called Shuri before he left for the floating city of Aeternus, to join the servant's guild that is.


Though it has become a reality as he is in fact an adventurer now, feeling nervous and afraid for dear life makes him want to stay in the free lodging provided by the guild, but he couldn't stay like that forever.


Shuri could just resign himself from being a member, but he figured he'd have to look for another way to get money since the previous 'Servant's Guild' doesn't seem to exist, though it might took a few days to get someone to hire a stranger like him, which in turn would mean he had to pay for it, as Shuri thought about this he looked at his bag of gold and sighs in disappointment.


Thus he decided to at least take some of the quests posted on the board, as he is a normal person who had no experience in fighting monsters, or so he thought, he decided not to take in any monster slaying quests, fortunately the guild also prepares such kind of quests.


"Actually even average adult male villagers should be able to defend themselves somehow were they to be attacked by E-Ranked monsters, I mean just because they're civilians doesn't mean they can't fight back, so I should be able to defend myself too"


So he tried to convince himself after accepting two gathering quest pinned on the quest board.


Once more Shuri looked at the two quest papers in his hand before heading towards the teleport gates, which enables travel to three different places, one of them, the dessert village, is his current destination.


"Hmm hmm I see, as farming is mostly their way to get food, the village sometimes need helping hand for harvests... and the guild is often in need of more supplies from the surface, so some of that harvest would be going to the guild"


Shuri mumbles to himself as he pass by many people glancing at his butler clothing and wondering why did Shuri carry along a broomstick on the way.


Without realizing it he arrived at the teleport gates, one of the guards standing ready gave him a salute.


"Hello sir, are you perhaps heading outside of the city?"


"Eh? O-oh yes, I'd like to go to the dessert village for a quest"


The guard seemed surprised by Shuri's answer, he stared weirdly at shuri's attire from head to toe looking slightly confused.


"Quest eh? You're an adventurer then? I thought you're a noble's servant from somewhere..."


"Ahhahha... somehow I found myself becoming one..."


"Well there's many adventurers with even more weirder clothes than you, so don't mind it, and go ahead, the gate's always ready for use"


"Yes, thank you guard-san, I'm Shuri, pleased to meet you"


"Just doing my job, oh the name's Luke by the way, good luck on your quest!"


Shuri bowed at the the guard named Luke before dissapearing inside the gate, he make sure to note the guard's name just in case they meet again.


___________________________________________
A Day in Desert Village

When he arrived at the village, the sudden change in temperature makes Shuri quickly found himself covered in sweat and his knees is slightly shaking, it's not unusual, as that is still his second time using the teleport gates, suddenly appearing on a different place would make anyone surprised.


"I'm shaking from excitement... being an adventurer means one has to travel to many different places... and the sweat is because the heat"


Making excuses to nobody in particular he stepped out of the gate and head off inside the village, Shuri figured he might as well look around the village while asking about his client.


Though it is true the desert's heat is strong, the only help is the fact that the village is built near an oasis which made it possible to make farm in the first place.


The structures in the village greatly differs than the structures in Aeternus, some is made from dried mud while some is big tents, the amount of trees is quite many if compared to the outside of the town.


Looking around as he walked in the village Shuri notices that the villagers mostly wear light-colored long robes and wrapped their heads with clothes, almost completely concealing themselves.


"Isn't it hot wearing such bulky looking clothes... ?"


While speaking what's on his mind out, he had arrived to the village's most crowded area, the marketplace, with many villagers either haggling or trading and going on with their daily needs.


“It’s not bulky at all you know?”


Suddenly a voice resounded in his ears, he thought some of the villagers or perhaps the merchants heard what he said so he looked around him, but he didn’t found a single person facing him nor looked like they were talking to him.


“Where are you looking? I’m down here~”


“Hmm? Oh...”


He found the culprit when he looked down on his right, quite easily if only he wasn’t so much taller than the opponent.


“You are… a talking fruits basket?!”


“NOPE!! *kicks*”


What Shuri thought as a talking fruits basket is actually just a little girl carrying a fruits basket more than half of the her own size, from Shuri’s point of view it does looked like the basket had grown limbs and become a living creature.


“Oww, I apologize, I didn’t realize you’re behind the basket...”


“Hmph, just look, one day I’ll be the tallest girl in this village! That’s not just a dream I tell you!”


“… I must have misheard it, you must be saying you’ll be the pretti-...”


‘No! The tallest girl!“


“Right, you have quite a… unique future goal, a-anyway, what were you saying before?”


(I can already guess how her friends teased her… I know that feeling kid!)


“About the clothes we wore! They’re not as bulky as what you think they are”


“Why is that?”


“See, it may looked like we’re wrapping ourselves in layers of clothes, but it’s actually kinda loose and baggy, because it’s cool and these robes helps keep the sands out~”


“Hmm, then what about the wrapping on your head?”


“Same deal~ your head will get itchy if sands get in your hairs!”


“Hooh no wonder you didn’t look all that sweaty from this heat...”


“Smart isn’t it~? Aren’t you hot in that weird costume?”


“Costume you said… this is a standard outfit for a butler!”


“Butt leer?”


“No, b-u-t-l-e-r, butler! A servant”


(How old is she?!)


“Are you a slave then, mister?”


“No, I’m an… adventurer, yes, that’s what I am, I’m here for a quest”


“Ooh! A butt leering adventurer~!!!”


(She’s a genius!)


“Shhh! Please don’t shout it out loud… in public at that...”


While looking around nervously for any weird stares, Shuri cleared his throat before continuing where he left off.


“I’m Shuri, an adventurer-ish servant, I’m looking for mister Hilman’s residence, since he is the requester for the quests I took”


“Eeeh… ”


“Why do you look disappointed there? No matter, do you know where his house is? I never been here so I might get lost...”


“But you’re already is!”


“Huh?”


“Hilman’s my uncle! You’re looking for my home and it’s on the opposite way, I’ll show you the way mister! I’m afraid you’ll get lost again if I didn’t do so~”


“... ??? Thank you, I guess, you’re quite a kind and dependable girl huh?”


“I was heading there anyway, to deliver this basket, oh my name’s Jeslin, nice to meet you mister!”


The girl who introduced herself as Jeslin leads Shuri to her home, but the basket looked heavy so Shuri asked Jeslin to let him carry it on the way, obviously Jeslin refused at first, but Shuri’s pestering eventually made Jeslin gave up and she let Shuri carry it.


Even if her clothes is covering it, if one take look at her face, Jeslin’s skin is slightly tanned from the sunlight, but not as tanned as the other villagers, although he can’t guess Jeslin’s age, the girl is quite short when he compared it to other girls they passed by.


Chatting away as the two talked about the village they soon find themselves standing in front of a house slightly bigger than the ones surrounding it, Shuri immediately guessed this must be Hilman’s residence.


“This is it, the our house is next to this storage”


“What?! You mean this big building isn’t your house?!”


“No~ this is the village’s storage building, where we store foods and many other things in”


“... I guess you had a point, then why you stopped here? To put this basket away?”


“Yep~ after that you need a guide right? I’ll tag along with you Shuri-san”


“Hmm, I might need it actually, but I’m penniless… I was even planning on asking charity to your uncle, see if he could let me stay for the night if the job take some time...”


“Eee… you’re an adventurer but didn’t have any money at all?”


“Well, everyone had to start out somewhere, anyway Jeslin, does your uncle never told you not to go with some stranger? They could be bad peoples you know?”


“Hm? Are you bad people, Shuri-san?”


“Uhm… no, but I might be trying to kidnap you, don’t you think like that?”


“*gasp*... runaway marriage?! Kyaa~”


“Hahaha right, as if you’re old enough for that, I know you’re joking”


“Boo, Shuri-san’s not funny!”


“Yeah yeah”


“But it’s okay, I know most of the peoples here, and sometimes adventurers like Shuri-san came by too, so it’s quite safe, but pickpockets are still around...”


Jeslin said, somehow sounding a bit reluctant to say it, Shuri decides not to pry and just keep silent.


As their conversation ended short, Shuri headed inside the storage building which is packed with all sorts of things from foods to books, then they go to the house Jeslin pointed and knocked on the door twice, not long after the door is opened and a middle aged man appeared to greet them.


“Good day, I’m Shuri, an adventurer, I’m looking for someone named Hilman, are you perhaps the client I'm looking for??”


“Oh yes, welcome to the desert village, I am Hilman who requested the adventurer’s guild for help... hmm? Jeslin? Did you escort him all the way here?”


“Yup! He seems lost~ so I’m tagging along!”


“Ahha ha… I have no excuses, this is my first time coming here...”


“Hahaha! Well do not mind it too much young man! It all comes with experience, now come inside and let’s talk more regarding your job, shall we?”


Being inside the house made from sun dried mud feels odd to Shuri, but unexpectedly the inside is much cooler than the outside, and the walls seemed quite sturdy too.


Shuri thought it might be hard to clean such a place where sand could blend with the floor and walls, though he would like to try cleaning the place anyway, the chief then leads him to the living room, when the chief told him to take a seat Jeslin heads off somewhere else.


Not long Jeslin returned then placed drinks and some snacks on the table just enough for three peoples, after taking her own seat, without hesitation she started eating snacks while the chief sipped his drink before beginning the conversation, Shuri also took a sip while putting the quest papers on the table before hearing the chief.


“Now then, what I’m requesting is very simple, you just help us harvest the crops that is ready to be harvested, then as per the contract you’ll be bringing five basket worth of crops back to the guild”


“And that’s the crops written on the quest, ice cabbages and dessert cereals?”


“Exactly, though don’t be confused by the name, they aren’t different than normal plants, the ice cabbages in particular is covered by thin layer of ice to prevent it from drying out in the sun, while there’s an assortment of barleys, wheats, and millets that’s just about time to be harvested, not too different isn’t it?”


“Not at all, but I’ve never farmed before, is it alright?”


“Don’t worry, we’re simply harvesting them, also...”


Hilman stopped talking and then looked at Jeslin eating on her last snack, noticing the stare she then looked back at her uncle.


“Hm? What is it uncle?”


“You’ll be tagging along as he do his job right? Then could I ask you to assist in teaching him?”


“Hoo.. so Jeslin have experience in farming?”


“Hmm~ well if just how to harvest them then maybe I can show you”


“Then please teach me properly, Jeslin”


“From me as well Jeslin, of course you will be rewarded for the help”


“Yay! Then fine! I’ll do it!”


“Good, now as that matter is settled should we get on with harvest? Perhaps you’d like to rest for a bit?”


“Yes, I’m ready”


With the conversation quickly settled the three of them headed straight to the farmland near the oasis, the oasis itself is well maintained as the water looks clear enough, and seeing as there’s no one who just hoard the water all to themselves mean the water usage is quite regulated, it is their main source of survival after all.


After several minutes of walking they arrived at a place different than the marketplace or the area around the Jeslin’s residence, though it is just a farm, the obviously out of place view of greenish farm on the normally barren desert makes this place felt different than the rest of the village.


Quite many variety of crops are grown here, though Shuri’s objective is the ice cabbages and desert cereals, although it couldn’t be called big, it’s quite a small farm, yet even this small farm is considerably a heavy work if done alone.


“Here it is, our little farm, currently the ones working on it is myself and Jeslin, but sometimes I asked the others to help out once in awhile”


Hilman looked over his farm, more accurately at the crops ready to be harvested, his face clearly shows that he’s proud of his hard work.


“... Uhm, is that really cabbages?”


Shuri asked while eyeing some of the rows of ice cabbages, the thin layer of ice covering the outer side makes the cabbages glisten with freshness, but the size is considerably bigger than normal cabbages Shuri saw at marketplace, actually he saw the same thing back there but dismissed it as something like an eye-catching display.


“Yes, it would seem like the cabbages grown in here is much bigger than the other places, those scholars? I think that’s what you’d call them? Said that the weather here is mostly the sun shining upon us for a long time during the days has an effect on the crop’s growth”


“Hmm is it true? I didn’t know at all...”


“Nor do I young man, I merely plant them, not study about them...”


While the two is brooding about difficult problems Jeslin has gone off and returned with a few stacks of empty baskets.


“Here~ you’ll be needing this baskets to carry them”


“Another basket huh… okay then what?”


“Hmm… young man, let’s start with the ice cabbages, when they’re ripe the thin layer of ice would melt and the cabbage might split if let alone, so it’s better to pick them earlier”


“It’s alright if I just pick them off like that?”


“No no, Shuri-san we have to cut the stalk below it, here use this knife~”


“Okay, let’s start then... ”


Shuri slightly lift the almost perfectly round part of the cabbage and reveals the stalk before cutting it, he took only the ball-like cool cabbage then put it inside the basket.

“Even if it’s thin, the ice kinda makes it hard to cut it...”


But Shuri kept moving his hand to the next cabbage near it, he looked at the other two and saw they’re quite used to this as they already took two while he’s struggling with one.


“Ah Shuri-san~ if the ice still hasn’t started to melt then the cabbage still need time before it could be harvested, be careful!”


“Right!”


“Also~ make sure to remove any pests and leaves that looked bad”


“Okay, understood”


Slowly Shuri tried to harvest another one, slightly lifting the cabbage head, then cutting the stalk, checking for any small insects and removing damaged leaves before putting it inside the basket.


After a few hours passed Shuri had harvested several rows of cabbages, with only some still left on the ground, the way he had to crouch every time to harvest them somehow makes his back aches, not to mention the blazing heat, he has drinked more than usual amount of water.


“... The weather here is mostly the sun shining upon us during the days… now I get why the scholars said that… I think I should’ve done this during the afternoon or evenings… ”


“Shuri-san, are you okay~? Tired already?”


“Ah? No just that I was thinking it might be better to do this when the sun is slightly lower”


“Ahaha sure it is, but that’s also when it get kinda dangerous you know?”


“Huh? Why is that?”


“Well at night it’s very cold here, so most villager prefers to stay inside their houses to keep warm, so when evenings come the streets would get kind of empty, the farm area will be even emptier and sometimes monsters would come to steal or eat some of the plants”


“Monsters? Like what?”


“Ettoo… Large rats and insects? Then there are those sly foxes… also it’s pretty rare but there’s also packs of jackals and rhinos, they’re still dangerous even if only one or two… ”


“Aah… yeah, that could be a big problem… ”


A problem mostly for Shuri, he’s not sure whether he could take on any of them were they to appear, but he stopped his train of thought to prevent it from affecting his current job.


“Well I guess we got a good haul, 12 baskets of ice cabbages, there’s still more left so I think it would be around one or two more baskets, but not now”


“Considering the size I guess 12 basket is easy to reach, should we continue to the other one? There’s still the cereals left”


“Oh yes of course, but first, let’s take some breather and some shade from the sun, also we need to store some of these in the village’s storage house”


“Uncle~! We’re also out of baskets!”


“And that too, so shall we go, young man?”


“Ahahha yes, I’ll help carry it on the way”


Hilman then goes to get a simple carriage, as they may need to keep returning if they carry it one by one, after they load the baskets on the carriage they headed back to the storage building once again.


Shuri make sure to separate five basket for the guild and then the three of them head toward a tavern to rest, also to have lunch, the tavern they’re headed to is run by Hilman’s friend, it’s located close to the marketplace and the teleport gate.


Afterwards Hilman also forced Shuri to have some beer with him, although Shuri had no reason to refuse since he’s the one paying for everything, Shuri still thought it’s not good to start drinking in broad daylight like that.


“Hmm… village’s speciality ale is it? Quite delicious… ”


“It is right? As the name stated, it’s made straight out of the barley and wheat we harvested here”


Meanwhile Jeslin is drinking a cold milk with a pouty face after having been denied to order the same drinks her uncle and Shuri is having.


“Jeslin are you still mad?”


“I’m not mad!”


“Hahaha leave her be, butler boy! This isn’t what little brats could take afterall”


The master of the tavern said, after having his share of laugh by teasing Jeslin, although he’s right, Shuri still not sure whether it’s alright to tease her that much.


“But still, butler boy, it’s your fourth cup, and it’s not the small cup we’re talking about here, I’m surprised you doesn’t seem to be affected much”


“Ooh right, I’m quite curious too young man, I thought since you’re a butler you may drink a lot of better stuffs, but then again you’re an adventurer right?”


“Hmm… I think being a butler doesn’t necessarily mean one could drink alcohols, but I guess I rarely get drunk, also sickness too”


“Hoo? That’s one heck of a constitution you had there butler boy, but I guess I’m more or less the same, I rarely caught sickness myself… ”


“Hey hey~ master, your wife told me that idiots don’t get sick easily, especially a certain somebody or whatever”


“Wha?! That woman, is she saying I’m an idiot?”


“Ah! She also told me to say -’I didn’t say names do I? But I’m glad you had self-awareness’- if master ever ask that”


“Bah! How could she know I was going to say that!?”


“Hahahaha!!! Couldn’t win from your wife, old pal?”


“Ha! As if I could!”


Their lunch ended with the tavern master boiling up in embarrassment from admitting defeat himself, they returned to the storage building once more to grab extra basket and back to the farm.


Their drinking has taken up much time as the sun has lowered quite considerably, it’s practically nearing evening, and Hilman’s kinda drunk as he’s swaying a little every time he walked.


“Uhm… I guess your uncle should rest, I don’t think he can do it properly like that”


“Uh huh, uncle you probably should just stay under that tree’s shade, you looked like you’re about to vomit”


“Uhh... I guess… sorry you two *burp*, I’ll do just that… ”


“No worry, just rest easy Hilman-san, we’ll finish up the rest”


“Then I’m counting on you both… ”


Hilman then walked to a nearby tree when he arrived both Shuri and Jeslin could hear him vomiting immediately, both of them ignores it and focused their eyes on the rows of wheats, barleys, and millets.


“We-well~ let’s continue, Shuri-san”


“Alright, this one should be easier right? They’re not any different than normal ones after all”


“Yes~ we simply pluck it off then take the grain!”


“... I’m sure there’s more to it, but I guess it’s not wrong either, but compared to the cabbages, there’s quite a lot… ”


Well~ we usually eat them, so I guess that’s why? But it shouldn’t took long if we do it in batches~”


“Right, let’s do it then… ”


Shuri head towards a nearby row of wheat, he grabbed a handful of wheat before cutting it near the bottom part, but stopped to think about how to quickly get the seed out of them.


“Shuri-san~! Slam them inside the basket! Yahoo~”


Brimming with energy, Jeslin immediately slammed the wheat in her hand in the basket, but Shuri felt like there has to be something for this.


“Hey Jeslin, is there no tool or something that help us remove the grains?”


“Eh? Hmm… let’s see… eeh... ”


(Does she just forget or there may be nothing at all?)


“Ah! We’re supposed to just cut the wheat, threshing would be done the next day by the housewifes!”


“... What? How exactly they’re going to do it then?”


“Ettoo… we’ll have everyone beat them on the floor and have some of the animals step on them, they said it took a lot of time if only some people worked on it, that’s why”

“I see, so slamming it on the floor still continues anyhow… ”


“But using knives to cut them also takes too much time, so… ”


Then she abruptly head to the nearby tool shed, not long she returned with a scythe, far taller than she is.


“I didn’t know you kept such dangerous weapon in there… ”


“Hmm~?”


“No, nothing… ”


(Well it is a proper farming tool in the first place, but it looked dangerous anyway)


“Uuh are you saying I should use this?”


“*nod nod* I can’t use it and Uncle is passed out over there, so Shuri-san is the only one who can, I’ll use this knife instead”


“Seriously… ? How do you use it?”


“Eee~ I think you should point the blade to your left, then hold the bottom grip with your left, and hold the middle grip over here with your right”


Although Shuri has seen it several times on his travel to Aerternus, doing it first hand is different than just watching, he pointed the blade to his left then hold the bottom grip which looked like a ‘T’ shape with his left hand, and the middle grip with his right like what Jeslin told him to.


“Like this? Honestly I feel like an idiot… ”


“Aah~ yup! Like that, you looked just like uncle! Then just swing it I think~?”


“Ahahhaa… you know, we should’ve asked someone to help out too, but I guess your uncle already goes out of his way to hire an adventurer for this… ”


Jeslin merely let out a dry laugh, not saying anything, Shuri on the other hand prepares himself by pulling the scythe to his right, he aim at the bottom of the wheat straw, and swing the scythe strongly.


“Wuuaaaah!!! Shu-Shuri-san! That’s dangerous!!!”


“......... Eh? So-sorry!”


Yet he found the scythe to be buried in the ground not far to where Jeslin’s feet used to be before she jumped out of the way, it looked so easy when he saw the farmers on the way to Aeternus use it, but it seems like he underestimated it.


“A little bit higher might do the job, I focused to much on cutting the bottom part after all”


Meanwhile Jeslin tries to get up with trembling legs and instead, she started to take some distance to safely cut the nearby rows of barley with the knife.


Once again, Shuri took aim, but a little higher than before, and swings the scythe with about the same amount of power.


“Oh!! I did it, alright next!”


“Hee~? Shuri-san learns fast… usually it’ll took awhile for anyone to properly use the scythe”


“I still got a long way, it could be just coincidence”


“Aha~ that could be so!”


Fortunately it’s not a coincidence, the more he used it, the faster he could cut the wheat, after a long while all the wheat has been cut and Shuri is moving to the next batch after placing the wheat in one place.


“Hoo? It seems like the work is going smoothly”


Hilman approached them, the tone of his voice sounds much better than before.


“Hilman-san? Are you alright to be moving around?”


“Yes, after throwing it all out, and having some rest my head feels much better, now I can help out too, though it would seem unnecessary, is it young man?”


“Perhaps so, but we still need help as there’s still a lot of places to cover… ”


“That’s true, then let me teach you some tricks to make it faster, after cutting one batch simply gather them and put them to your left, that way you don’t have to pick up every single straws that get separated later on”


“Understood!”


Like that, Shuri’s job goes considerably faster since he only need to re-collect the bundles of millets and put them in one place.


Hilman also grabbed another scythe and start working on his own, when the sun set and the farm gets really dark, they finished it, fortunately the farm isn’t so big, otherwise it would take a lot more time.


After bringing the baskets of many straws of cereals to the storage, the head back to Hilman’s house and had a simple dinner, made by Shuri, as he wished to get their opinion on his skills, both Jeslin and Hilman are in favor that dinner was great, it sure does help Shuri’s confidence to raise.


“A scythe… it’s a tool, but also a weapon if used wrongly… same as the knife… ”


Shuri thought inside the guest room provided by Hilman, it has been a few hours since he sat on the bed, he thought about the scythe once again.


Then he looked at his broomstick, it’s made with the branch of a thousand years old tree, so the magic it contain is quite strong, yet, it is useless in Shuri’s hands as he doesn’t know how to use magic, as a weapon it is just a broomstick, the magic it have doesn’t mean the broom is unbreakable.


“As an adventurer, I need to have some sort of weapon… ”


Not long he heard someone knocking on the door.


“Young man? Are you still awake?”


Seems like it’s Hilman, somehow he sounds kind of worried, when Shuri opened the door Hilman’s worried face appears.


“What’s the matter?”


“It’s Jeslin, she said she lost her pendant and went to look for it, but she hasn’t come back for hours… ”


“Pendant? At this hour?”


“Yes, I already told her to do it tomorrow, but she doesn’t listen”


“Wait calm down, first is this pendant really important for her?”


“Yes… it’s her mother- my sister’s memento, she passed away from sickness”


“... Alright, then did she said about where she want to look for it?


“She said it’s still there when we had lunch at the tavern, so perhaps she’s looking at the farm”


“Farm… could it be… alright, Hilman-san, please inform the village’s watchmen or guards or whoever available to help with the search, I’ll go ahead to the farm, also, stay calm okay?”


“R-right, then please find her if you could”


“I’ll try, now we must hurry”


The two of them immediately head towards the farm, unlike the streets in the village, the area around the farm is very dark, if not for the dim moonlight the entire area would be pitch black, although there should be someone watching over the streets, the farm area however didn’t seem to be the same.


Shuri remembered when Jeslin jumped out of the way to avoid his swing, he thought that at that time the pendant might come loose and fell, if that’s so then it’s his fault in the first place, such is what Shuri thought as he arrived at Hilman’s farm.


“Jeslin! Where are you please respond! Jeslin!!!”


Only silence responded to him, Shuri kept running while shouting for Jeslin to answer his call, he repeated shouting until his throat feels sore, but then he heard a faint voice, Shuri quickly stopped to listen to the voice.


“... LP!!.... AN!!”


Again he heard it, there’s no mistaking that it’s Jeslin’s voice, it’s coming from a big tree in the center of the farm area.


“HELLP!!! SHURI-SAAAN!!!”


When he arrived, he saw Jeslin high up on one of the tree’s branch, hugging the tree for dear life, and a single Rhino, a Desert Rhino, constantly ramming tree, the shock from the impact make Jeslin almost lost her grip several times, more over it’s easy to guess the branch she’s sitting on would soon broke.


(But… it’s a Rhino! C-Ranked monster! I couldn’t take on that!!!)


It’s the first time Shuri saw it up close, the sheer size of the Rhino is enough to make Shuri felt fear, he wanted to run, it’s still possible since the Rhino’s still focusing on Jeslin, but he couldn’t leave her like that.


“SHURI-SAAN!!!”


(Keh… !!! I knew it, I should’ve just resigned while I had the chance… !)


Shuri took out the holy broomstick, his hand trembles slightly, then he begin piling up plans on his head.


(No need to defeat it, I just need to make way for Jeslin, first I need to draw it’s attention away from her)


“HEY BIG COW!!!”


He throws some rocks at the Rhino, but it didn’t even bother checking it, like it barely even feel the rocks thrown at it.


“Darn! Then… !”


He approached the Rhino from behind and lift his broomstick high above his head, and bring it down with all strength he could muster.


*crack*


“Khh!!!”


The broomstick broke in half, of course, it’s just a normal broom after all, but it does have an effect, as the Rhino finally turned around to face Shuri.


*Rhino growling*


The lone Rhino seemed mad, Shuri himself felt even more afraid now that the Rhino clearly changed it’s target to him.


“... Uhm… I think we could talk this out first, or not… Jeslin! After this hurry up and get down then head towards the village!”


*Rhino roaring*


“*gulp*... N-nice horn by the way… very ridged… very… dangerous looking… ”


After saying such non-sense Shuri immediately start running, now that his broomstick has broken, he really is just a normal guy, if by throwing rocks and hitting it with wooden stick doesn’t work then he didn’t thought his bare-fist would do any good.


*Rhino roaring*

The Rhino follows after him, after a short run it quickly changes to a full head on charge aiming straight at Shuri’s back and closing in very fast.


“Woah?! Too fast!!! Tch!”


Clicking his tongue in frustration Shuri tried to dodge by rolling to the left side, hoping he’d get lucky and the Rhino passed him.


*heavy impact*


“Ugghhh!!!”


But he’s too slow, the Rhino’s charge still managed to connect and send him flying before bouncing on the ground a few times and slammed right at the stone wall of a tool shed.


“*coughs* Ack! it hurts!! Aaaaahh!!!”


Pain spread all over his body, like being crushed again and again, but the Rhino isn’t finished yet, it circled around after ramming Shuri and speed up again to a full charge.


“Ugh! Give me a break! No, I think I break some bones there… ”


Mustering whatever strength he had despite the pain, this time Shuri managed to roll to the side, more like falling to the side is closer than rolling.


*crash*


The Rhino rammed straight into the tool shed, Shuri hoped the tools inside gave it some kind damage.


*Rhino screaming*


Shuri is right, although the tools inside is mostly broken it managed to hurt the Rhino, albeit just minor wounds.


“Geh, it’s not enough… huh? That’s… ”


A scythe, similar to the one he used before but with a slightly longer blade, it’s one of the surviving tools in the shed, also a hoe and a small sickle, he could use the hoe, but the iron part is blunt and the reach is short, same as the sickle, it’s too short.


Shuri had hoped there’s a hidden legendary sword inside the shed, but of course something like that wouldn’t be put in a mere tool shed where everyone could check the inside of it in daily basis, so the choice left is the scythe.


“It all depends on how it’s used… well… come… on!!!”


Slowly he made his way to the scythe, the Rhino perhaps feeling that Shuri couldn’t dodge anymore it taps one of it’s front legs on the ground before making another charge at him.


“Khh! Got it!!!”


Shuri then stood, his legs clearly shaking both from pain and fear, but he’s not going to defeat it with one swing like the heroes in legends.


“That’s kind of hard to do... the hero is all beaten up, barely able to move yet the enemy didn’t have a single scratch, the enemy launches one final swing at hero, and so does the hero, then the enemy somehow got fatal damage while the hero only got a light cut… how come only the last attack counts?”


*Rhino’s charging*


“I will evade, at the very least I can do that… I’m a butler, cleaning things is what I’m good at… ”


*Rhino’s getting close*


Shuri recalled what he did before, this time he pulled the the scythe even more behind him, he took aim just above the nose area, and took a deep breath, then suddenly he felt a strong burst of energy not of his own.


“... OORRAAAAHHH!!!!”


He quickly make a side step to the left and swing the scythe with all his might.


*crack*


Once again his weapon broke in half, but not without cutting the Rhino’s horn along.


*Rhino’s scream*


“Agh… can’t take it anymore… *thud*”


Unable to endure the pain any longer, Shuri fell to the ground like a doll with it’s strings cut, his consciousness slowly drifting away, but then he heard voice, no shouting, lots of people shouting, he tried to look at where those shouting is coming and saw Jeslin and Hilman with many other holding up torches and pitchforks, it seems like he’s still lucky.


“Ha…I’m saved, I guess? Wait, are they trying to go on a witch hunt or something?”


Then his vision goes black.


When Shuri wakes up, he found Jeslin looking over him with a worried face.


(Hmm… that’s not an unknown ceiling… )


“Ah?! You’re awake! Shuri-san~!!!”


The look of relieved instantly replaces her worried look as she hugged Shuri.


“Oof! Oh? It doesn’t hurt at all?... Uhm Jeslin?”


“Ha?! I-I’m sorry!!!”


“No it’s alright… more importantly, I’m glad you’re okay… did you found your pendant?”


“Eh? Un… thanks to you, and I found it, hehe~”


“That’s good then, it might be a real downer if the pendant isn’t found… sorry, it’s my fault you lost it in the first place”


“Huh? What are you talking about Shuri-san?”


“I mean, that time you jumped away but fell to avoid my swing right? That could be… ”


“Aah… well maybe, but it’s true you risked your life to save me in the end, so… ”


“Even?”


“Uh huh… it’s an accident, but it may not be the cause you know~?”


“Well I think it is though, but anyway… how long I’ve been here?”


“About a week by now~? Uncle brought over a healer and they’ve been casting healing and regenerative spell to you! Then Shuri-san’s wound started to heal very fast! I knew it, magic is so cool~!”


“Hmm a week huh… to be going that far… what about your uncle?”


“Oh he should be returning soon~ he’s just finishing up selling the crops we harvested before!”


“Eh? Ah… my quest… ”


“Don’t worry~! I made sure to leave five basket for each quest!”


“Ooh, that’s a relief”


As soon as he said that Shuri tried to get off the bed.


“Eh?! Wait Shuri-san!”


“It’s alright, I feel nothing wrong with my body, and a week of not moving makes my body kind of stiff”


“Really? But don’t push yourself too hard okay~?”


“Yeah, don’t worry, and thanks for nursing me for a week”


“Hehhe~! It’s nothing at all!”


Not long Shuri tried to go out of the house, but Hilman had just opened the door.


“I’m hom- oh? Shuri-kun, you’ve woken up it seems, but is it alright for you to move around like that?”


“Yes, I’m much better already, thanks to you and Jeslin”


“Then I guess it’s fine, are you perhaps heading somewhere?”


“Oh yeah, I want to pick up whatever’s left from my holy broom”


“Ah~ that? Jeslin already picked it up, wait a minute”


Hilman head towards a cupboard, he took a bag out of it and returned while placing the bag on the table.


“A week ago the Rhino we encountered has ran away, fortunately enough, and both me and Jeslin picked up it’s horn and what remains of your broomstick and stuff them in this bag, we’d like to fix the broom, but seems like it’s not just a normal broom so we didn’t dare to do it, but please, take this as our thanks”


“Alright I guess, I’ll accept it gladly, the broom might still has some uses afterall”


(Isn’t the broom is in half now? The bag looked like it had more than just my broom in it… )


“... Now you’re leaving right, Shuri-san?”


“Well, not forever you know? I’m a butler adventurer, plus, this is only my first quest after all”


“Hehe~ now that you mention it, butt leering adventurer~!”


“How rude, it’s b-u-t-l-e-r, butler! Anyway, I may seem a bit hasty, but really, I want to finish this quest all the more now...”


“Well then I guess we shouldn’t keep you here, see you again then Shuri-kun!”


“Aah… but can I got some help on carrying those baskets back to Aeternus? Also, Jeslin, next time could you tell me more about yourself? Of course I could just ask Hilman-san over here, but I want to hear it from you first… can I?”


“Yes, of course~!”


Afterwards the three of them headed to Aeternus with the baskets of harvest in tow, Jeslin and Hilman then say their short goodbyes knowing well they’ll meet again soon.


While pulling the carriage towards the guild Shuri looked inside the bag that was given to him, the contents are Shuri’s holy broom, two halves of it, the Desert Rhino’s horn, some bottles of ale, 50 G, and a scythe, unlike the previous one he used this one is simple but it’s completely made out of metal.


“As thanks huh… they even put a scythe in this bag, no wonder it looked so strange… wait, why a scythe? Why not a sword while they’re at it??? It’s much easier to fight using a sword… oh well… ”


Shuri grins before opening the guild’s door.

Spoiler: Note

Acquired:
5 x Baskets of Ice Cabbages
5 x Baskets of Cereal
2 x Magical Wooden sticks
Desert Rhino’s Horn
5 x Bottles of Ale
Iron Scythe
50 G
Skill: Awakening (Stage I)

Lost:
Holy Broom

@AliceShiki

((Hastily made, so I'm sure there's bound to be mistakes in it, feel free to point out the weird parts.
The previous poetry contest had me realizing I'm not good at making flows, but how about this one?

Last, I know I shouldn't be chatting here, but I got very confused when typing @brasca123 didn't work.
It's late but congrats on the new name~ ))

 

Desert Village|#GE1|E-Ranked|Harvest 5 Baskets of Ice Cabbage [80 G | 1 x Ice Cabbage]
Desert Village|#GE2|E-Ranked|Harvest 5 Baskets of Desert Cereal [50 G | 1 x Bundle of Barley, Millet, and Wheat]
========================
*looks around aimlessly for a while*
*suddenly looks startled*

"W-w-welcome back!" >.<
"Uhn..." *peeks at his card* "S-Shuri-san, right? Let Hikari see...

Uhum, things seem to be alright, so, here is the reward, 130G, 1 Ice Cabbage and 1 x Bundle of Barley, Millet, and Wheat.

And..." *looks dazed* "Ah... What was Hikari doing again?" *looks at the paper* "Is this a quest report? Should Hikari appraise-" *looks at her own hand* "Oh, Hikari is already giving the reward... Then did Hikari appraise it already...?" *tilts head*

"Eto... It should be okay... Uhn... Take care..." *peeks at his card* "Shuri-san!" ^^)/

((It was a pretty good read! Good job!

Just be more careful with typos and the like I guess? There were some parts with random extra words on then as well... I don't have much to comment on tbh, but I enjoyed it! Just don't make poor Shuri too much of a lolicon~


Ah, and thanks!))

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]

Spoiler: Story

After i accept the request, i went out of the adventure guild and head into the great plains in the morning. I'm very excited as i can use my skill to complete the quest that i have accepted. For a start, i check up my equipment first in case i forgot any of my equipment. After i check that i have my trusty black katana and black gun( which in fact look like a revolver), i decided to hunt the slime around the plains before i decided to hunt goblin and orcs as it much easier to find slimes around the plain neat the city.

Around 5 minutes of walk around the plain, i found my first slime. I decided to kill it as it really easy with my skill as long you are be careful and hit them at it nucleus when it jump at you. After killing it, i take it's nuclues as a proof that i hunt it. After my first slime, i search around for more slime to kill it and by the time i've reach 20 of them, its already past afternoon. As i see the sun i estimate that around 5 hours before the sunset.

I've decided to go to the orc camp to find goblins along the way and orcs from its surrounding but before the i need to cross the river first. Half an hour later, i found a bridge which is able to help me to cross the river and decided to rest a little bit by eating cookie from my item box and drink some milk(which i mix some blood to add taste and energy as im half vampire) . After some rest, i continue my journey and found a three goblin holding club wandering around the plain from afar with my hawk eyes. When i saw them, I decided to kill them by approaching at one of the goblin back using stealth then i swing my katana at it.

*slash*

My katana slice the goblin neck with no resistance as it head fall down killing it making the others goblin suprise. Before they recover i run to another one of them and slash to its neck killing another one. By the time the last one has recover, it rush at me and try to hit me with its club. It look slow as it swing its club at me, so i dodge it with a minimal movement and then slice at its neck .

*thud*

A sound was heard as it's body hit the ground. After that, i cut off their ears to bring back as a proof. There are no use to goblin corpse so i leave it as it is. I continue search around for more goblin and find another three goblin. Using the same strategy, i kill them and cut off their ears and search for more. After i kill the tenth goblin, the sun has already going down. Usually most people will decided to set up a camp to rest, but as i am a half demon/half vampire, i have more stamina and energy than ordinary people and with my night vision, i can see as as clear as daylight. Of course i have to be more careful as monster at night usually more aggressive.

As i still have a lot of energy i continue to hunt the last of the request which is the orc. To find them i have to go near the orc camp but not too close as closer i get to, the more orc i will find. As i walk while being on guard ad at the same time using my sense, i found an orc with a big sword from afar with my hawk eyes. I decided to use the same strategy as i used at the goblin to the orc. But first, i wrap my katana with mana to enhance it with mana manipulation because the muscle of the orc are thick. It's a bit hard because it is my first try but it probably ok. But As i crept closer to the orc while paying attention so that i head into the opposite direction of the wind to make sure no smell is carried over to the orc. When the orc is in range, i jump and slice to its neck with the katana as the orc are more than 2 m.

*slice*

I feel some resistance probably because of its muscle are thick and my mana blade are not perfect but nevertheless, im able to behead the orc because my body are stronger than normal people. After i kill it, I slice off it's ears as a proof and skin them obtaining orc skin and meat keeping it in my item box then head on to find another orc. As i continue to kill more orc i try improve my mana blade. After my sixth one, I found a group of four of orc. With my current abilities i can kill them with easily if i use my gun and superhuman strength. As i wrap my blade with mana, a smooth looking colour wrapping the blade as i continue to practice it when i hunt the orc. As i crept closer to them, i suddenly made a suprise attack at one of them using my superhuman strength.

*thud*

A sound was heard as the body of an orc hit the ground. At the same time, i draw my gun and shoot a couple of bullet at the closest to me.

*BANG*x3

The bullet hit orc body and fall down as it scream in pain.

*Tch*

I clicked as i marvel at an orc strong vitality, although it will die from the blood loss because i hit it's heart. By the time when the other orc has recover, the closest on rush at me and swing at me with it's big sword. I dodge it easily and try to slice at its body as the orc try dodge backward but because it is slow by a half of step leaving a huge gash on it. As it scream in pain, i went behind it and stab it's heart and shot my gun to the last orc at it's leg as it try cover it's vital part with his huge thick arm which is nearing me. I pull out my sword and head to last orc by running to it. The orc try hit me but with it's movement, i easily dodge it and cut it leg tendon to bring it ti it's knees. After that i behead it. After the fight, i proceed to cut off their ears and skin them. After the hunt, i feel tired so i decided to settle down so i went back for a bit to get a little bit fat from orc camp and set up a camp. I had dinner with orc soup and as i need only a drop of blood each day to survive i'm no worried since i had it from the milk which i put some monster blood. After dinner i took a nap while keeping my guard up.

At the early dawn, I woke up and feeling refreshed and head back to the city. I reached the city just before afternoon and head to the guild. I head inside and greet the receptionist and submit my report to the receptionist.

"Yo, Hikari. I finish my quest Its take more time than i though but it is pretty easy wahahahah.

I said.

Note item get orc meat x9, orc leatherx10
Proof:slime nucleus x20, goblin ear x10, orc ear x10

(Its' my first time writing a story so im sorry if it is not perfect or have some error but anyways thanks)

@AliceShiki

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
==========================================
"Welcome back uhn..." *peeks at his card* "Bu-Bu-Bu... Bura-san...? Eto...

Hi-Hikari will look at the report, wait a bit!" >.<

*reads through it*

"Seems like things were pretty neat! Bura-san did a good job!

Hikari is happy everything went well! The reward will be of 200G!

Take care now!" ^^)/

((The story was nice! It's nice seeing that your character fights smartly even if he knows he has the advantage on strength and power, it gives a pretty good feeling! \(^^)/

I hope you had fun writing it!))

 

Metnius wobbles over to the reception desk with his eyes spinning and his skin a weird shade of green.

"Grreeeetingz, Hikariiii~ Did you knooow~? Some plants in the Great Plain shouldn't be eaten at allllll~ Anywayyy, I did the quest~"

He looks up at the empty ceiling. "Ohhhh~ When did the fairies get here~~?"

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#GE1|E-Ranked|Gather 10 Moonlight Flower & 10 Healing Plants [50G | 1 x Rejuvenation Potion]

Spoiler: Report

Day One:

Metnius Rodeus was, for the first time in his life, experiencing an existential crisis. He wondered if he was what some people would call “an idiot”.

He was currently squatting down among the plants of the Great Plain. He had been there for three hours already.

"Moonlight flower….healing plants…that’s definitely what the request said but…"

He glared at the plants until his left eye began to twitch.

"W-Which ones are they?"

He had assumed that it would be easy to identify the ones he needed but there were too many different kinds of plants. Proudly, he had dashed out of the guild without asking the important questions and was now too embarrassed to go back empty handed.

"No...Think about it…They sent you out to find plants without telling you anything….This is obviously testing my survival skills! Kukuku…how clever!"

He nodded at his own misunderstanding but then remembered he still had no idea which plant he needed.

"….Should I just take ten of everything?"

Finally giving up, he began to fill the item box with ten of each kind of plant he could find in the Great Plain.

Three of them ended up giving him a nasty rash.

Day Two:

"I….am the darkness." Metnius murmured to himself as he lay in the bushes.

Ahead of him, a group of slimes jiggled under the sun.

"I cannot be seen. I cannot be detected! I am the abyss itself!"

Drawing his scimitar in his left hand and readying a ball of darkness with his right, he gulped then jumped out at his prey.

"Rejoice, pitiful slimes! Today is the day this great me will reap your lives and-"

He was interrupted when a slime resting on a tree branch above him dropped down and fell into the back of his cloak. Feeling the cold, slimy sensation over his back, he did what any normal person would do.

" #@%%$%#Y#@!?!? "

Letting out an incoherent scream of terror, he dropped to the ground and rolled around in the grass in a desperate attempt to get the slime out of his clothes.

When he finally got rid of it and stopped shivering, another slime took the opportunity to attack. It leapt up and swallowed his head into its body. Metnius flailed around, trying to breathe until he had an idea.

He flopped down onto the floor again and played dead.

The slime shuddered around his head for a bit then slowly slipped off of him just when Metnius was about to lose consciousness. He immediately got up started to run.

"H-Ha!" he wheezed as he looked back at the slime and its brethren. "This is the difference between an adventurer and a monster! Behold my brain power!"

He tripped splendidly.

His foot got caught on a raised root and tumbled through the bushes and shrubs. By the time he stopped rolling, he was covered in cuts and bruises.

"….It might be that I’m an idiot…." he murmured into the ground.

He soon heard the familiar squishing noises of slimes wobbling along after him and he realised he was surrounded. He stood up on shaky legs.

Is this the end? Is this how my legend concludes?

At that point, something snapped in him. "Not like this….not without tasting the Tavern snacks one more time!"

He took out one of each plant he collected for the request and swallowed them whole. One of them, he prayed, had to be the healing plant. Soon enough, he felt some of his wounds healing and a bit of his stamina returning.

Trembling slightly, he equipped his scimitar and covered his free hand in shadows.

"Ku…kuku…kukuku….You’ve made me resort to eating wild plants again, have you? I see, I see. You wish to humiliate me, don’t you? I understand. I completely understand. You want a war, don’t you?!"

Metnius roared a battle cry and began to rapidly fired balls of shadow from his right hand while slashing at any nearby slimes with is scimitar.

"Today it rains slimes! I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the world!!"

The sun was dying the sky a shade of red when Metnius finally ended his rampage and exhausted his magic supply.

"Twenty….slimes…..done!" he groaned.

During the fight, some of the plants he ate were making him hallucinate lightly but waved it off as a vision from the gods.

Day Three:

Metnius spent the day harvesting more plants to replace the ones he ate and fighting off the worst side effects of some of the poisonous ones.

"Ha…haha…Gathering quests are scary…" he murmured with a single, manly tear running down his cheek. "Ten Moonlight Flower, ten Healing Plants….done!"

Spoiler: Notes

Inventory:
20 x Slime cores.
10 x Healing Plants.
10 x Moonlight Flowers.
50 x Assorted plants and weeds.
Skills:
Poison Resistance: Level 1 [NEW]

@AliceShiki

 

Great Plain|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Slimes [50 G]
Great Plain|#GE1|E-Ranked|Gather 10 Moonlight Flower & 10 Healing Plants [50G | 1 x Rejuvenation Potion]
==========================
"Welcome back..." *peeks at card* "Meto... Metoniusu... Metto-san!

Hikari will take a look at the report!

Although... Hikari can't see any fairies? Is Metto-san able to see invible beings? Hikari would like to do that..." *pouts a bit* "Ah! The report! Hikari will look at it!" >.<

*reads it*

"Metto-san... Please don't go taking all plants on the plains, okay? Ask for some information on the guild in advance...

Hikari will reduce Metto-san's reward because of that! Please be more careful next time!

Hikari is glad Metto-san came back in one piece though... Slimes seem scary!" >.<

"The reward will be of 80G and 1 Rejuvenation Potion.

Take care now!" ^^)/