Adventurers Guild Adventurer's Guild - Receptionist Desk

Great Plain|#GD3|D-Ranked|Gather 5 Flower seeds [80 G | 1 x Butterfly Flower]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SD5|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Kobold Leader [120 G]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
=====================
"Welcome back..." *peeks at card* "Amanda-san!

Hikari will take a look!

... Uhum... Things seem mostly fine... Though Amanda-san didn't mention anything about the Kobold leaders... Hikari can still see the tails there...

So... Hikari will accept it, but the reward will be reduced alright? Please be more careful in the future Amanda-san.

The reward will be of 510G.

Keep up the good job!" ^^)/

((I know the leaders quest is an easy 2 in 1 way of getting bigger rewards and quest count, but at least say something that will show them as leaders...))

 

Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 10 Lizardmen [90 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
=======================================================

"These quests took far longer than they should have >~>"

Spoiler: Quest

Imperia Pov / Siren Pov

After a friendly passing merchant took me back to town, I went back to the tavern and found Imperia,

"Hey!" Slightly out of breath I resume, "Sorry I'm late I forgot to tell you I picked up some missions, I was so excited I left immediately, hehe. But I'm back and we are going to kill some things!"

I was practically jumping around her as I tugged at her arm to get her to follow me.
-----------

I stared blankly at my new partner who had apparently already forgotten about me once.

"Well, then..."

Tilting my head to the side I purse my lips before responding;

"Ya know, even if we are more attuned to the killing path you've gotta at least keep some semblance of your bearing"

It went without saying that this Seductress type companion of mine turned quite a few heads without even trying, much less when she proceeded to spout phrases like "I'm back and we're going to kill some things!"
---------------

"Hehe yeah, I know it's just I'm excited about our first mission together. I'm used to killing solo which isn't as fun. Anyways it's should be easy just some bandits lizards and, pfft, goblins"

I say as I drag Imperia out the door and to the nice merchant who said he would be going back out into the Great Plains again anyways so he could take me and my friend.
---------------

My brow furrowed as I thought back to my first mission in the plains. Goblin blood was quite the disgusting thing, and I'd rather not have to go through that again....

I made a mental note to myself to secure a set of cleaning tools for my blades. Alas before I could even mention in Siren had already dragged me towards a merchants carriage...*Sigh* It'd be fine to just wipe the blood off on the surrounding shrubbery right?

I give a quick bow to the Merchant providing transportation before hopping onto the carriage and making myself comfortable.

"So, you only took three missions? Hmmm, I believe we can take up to 6 though? I think 1 or 2 more would have been nice ~"
-------------------

"Actually since we're just starting I wanted to leave a few extra spaces just in case because cause I didn't want to go too overboard with the missions."

I say as I casually practice my sleight of hand to pull my throwing daggers out and stow them away getting quicker as I grow more adjusted to doing in on the rocky carriage.

"But anyways I have a great plan!", My voice bursting with excitement.

"We can kill 2 birds with 1 stone! I was reading up and it turns out lizards, in general, are super protective of their young and since their sense of smell is amazing, I was thinking we could steal an egg or 3 and plant it at the bandit camp. Then BAM! We kill whichever side is still alive. After that, it'll just be the goblins!"
------------------

I raise my eyebrow and give Siren an expecting stare; "Sooooo~? What's the great plan to steal the eggs of these overprotective lizards who also have a great sense of smell? Can you eliminate your scent, cause I sure can't."
------------------

"Well, that's the thing..."

With a side glance, I look at Imperia.

"How do you feel about getting dirty,"

I say as I pull out some freshly ground grass pulp.
------------------

.... I stare blankly at this girl as she suggests the heretical idea of rubbing this vegatatious filthy into my beautiful feathers. I shoot her an irritated glare, before sweeping my fingers through hair.

"So I assume you're offering yourself up for cleaning duty afterward?"
-----------------

"I was joking I'm the one who suggested it so of course, I'm going to be the one doing the stealing,"

I said fearfully as I watched her eyes flash with killing intent for a second.

"All we have to do is scout around for the camp and I'll have those lizards there in a heartbeat"

I flash a smile at Imperia, proud of my plan.
----------------

This is still quite the dubious plan, but looking at that smug expression on her face, I'm sure Siren's planned out almost everything. "Well, I hope you're confident in your running since you'll be sprinting across the plains all the way to the bandit hideout"
----------------

One quick grass pulp bath later and I'm sneaking through the grass, my past training is working well for me as my footsteps are hidden with the wind and the rustling grass. I peer down at the lizardmen nest a lazy watch is on the edge while the other sunbathe on the rocks. The grass bath earlier tints me green making it easy to blend into it's still living counterparts to the edge of the camp. I sit patiently, my breathing even until a moments lapse in watch as the guard catches sight of a bird taking flight. I also take flight a blur of motion as I flit through the clearing between the rough huts and the tall grass. I press again the wall blending into the shadow, just past the dried grass.

Nothing moves in alarm so I slip into the hut dagger drawn, it's empty except for a few unguarded eggs. I smirk at a plan gone right as I bag them. I look outside the coast is clear and I rush out ignoring the guards as I jump past them, all they must have seen was a flash of green as I passed them into the grass because nothing follows me.

That doesn't mean I'm stopping, I keep running full sprint even as a roar of pure anger seems to shake the world around me. It seems that quite a few eggs have hatched since the quest was put up cause that sounded like way more than 10, luckily running is what I'm good at and hopefully, Imperia is having better luck with our other quarries.
-----------------

"Siren sure is taking her time..."

It had been around 10 minutes since we had split up and while she had opted to pursue her borderline suicidal plan I was left with locating the bandit hideout. It wasn't much of a job considering the guild provided maps which highlighted the bandit's area of activity, and from there a simple search would be enough to locate our targets. The bandits of this session's slaughter *cough* subjugation were stationed within a small alcove formed by a group of natural rock formations. The hideout had been somewhat fortified but it was at a level that left little to be concerned about. Seated in my position, roughly 150m away from the hideout hidden behind the crest of a dirt mound, I observed quite a few different silhouettes loitering around the vicinity. I could somewhat distinguish between them via their armor/weapons and stature but could only verify 6 different bandits.

'I can't tell the exact number of bandits present since there could still be some hidden in the hideout, however, it's impossible for me to get closer without alerting them...'

"Seems... I'll have to wait on Siren to get here.."
-----------------
Dashing through the grass I happen upon a natural rock formation where I spot Imperia's very visible form looking down on something from a dirt mound, I don't hear any yelling so she must not have been spotted, luckily the bandits must be too stupid to do patrols. I give her a wide berth as I run to where she's looking. Where I spot a very shabby wall with two bored looking bandits, and another one in the corner taking a wiz, I smile sadistically as I pull out eggs one after another tossing 2 at the guards, 1 over the wall.

Still running full sprint I jump off the man who was taking care of business's back and grab a small ledge climbing up over the ledge and into freedom, not forgetting to drop an egg as the unlucky bandit looks up to see what just used his back as a springboard.
---------------
I stare blankly as Siren rushes into the hideout and starts lobbing lizard eggs at everything in sight.

'So much for communication ... Well, the plan was to let the lizards and bandits fight it out right? Then... I guess I'll just stay here...'

Within a few quick motions I've moved from hidden behind the crest of the mount to sitting cross-legged on top of it, my tail gentle sweeping the grass behind me.

"And now... we wait."
---------------
After running down the opposite side of the rock formation I circle around to where Imperia was, sneaking through the tall grass to lose any potential followers, but, they must have been too shocked to follow.

"I'm back, sorry they were right on my tail so I decided to just rush in there have they started fighting yet?" I said breathing heavily to catch my breath before walking over to join Imperia
---------------
Casting a cursory glance to the fatigued Siren, a bit surprised she managed to run all the way back here, with the lizardmen trailed her to boot, I casually responded

"Yes, they've started, and I think they'll be at it for quite a while~"
---------------

softly panting from exertion I straighten up,

"ok then so let's go take care of the weakest of our quarries, the goblins. Shouldn't be too hard with our skills and we just have to pop back here before they finish."

Looking around for a bit I point a little off the way I came past

"I saw a small camp that way not too far we should be able to go there finish up and get back before they even finish, maybe enjoy a good show"

I finished with a small laugh as I finally calm my breathing completely.
--------------

I continued to stare at the mess of Lizardmen and Bandits before absent-mindedly nodding in agreement with Siren's proposal. They might as well finish the quest up as quickly as possible and head back to town.

"Alright, lead the way"
-------------

it wasn't long before we happened upon the goblin village the bandits had set up nearby seemingly confident they wouldn't be attacked, of course with this ragtag group of weaklings it's probably true.

"Hey, Imperia I did the hard work last time so you can take care of these right? We can take care of whatever survivors, of the brawl back there, are left together I'm going to just rest my legs while you have fun"

I said as I sat down with a content sigh
-------------

"Ughh, Goblin blood stains you know?"

I complained but nevertheless stepped forwards, retrieving half a dozen daggers. Whipping my wrists, the 6 blades spun into the air, before being encased by a violet glow. For this particular battle, I'd elected for speed rather than efficiency, fully utilizing [Grand Puppeteer] to its utmost. Hooking my fingers in accordance with my ability, that is to say in the style of a Puppeteer, I sent the blades diving into the horde of Goblins. Control to such an extent was exhausting but made killing far easier. These were only goblins though, but they should still be enough to work up a sweat.
-------------

It was amazing watching the blades dance through the air with the slightest twitch of Imperia's fingers, the dance of the blades claiming another life with each beat of the silent rhythm, blood flew through the air painting the ground around the rapidly increasing pile of bodies.
-------------

.... It had taken several minutes but the last Goblin had finally breathed its last, suffocated by the blood blocking its severed windpipe. By this point by blades had been completely and utterly defiled by the foul smell of blood, thus, without hesitation, I ditched all six blades, allowing them to embed themselves in nearby trees. Having those disgusting things anywhere near my feathers was unthinkable, and it was about time I'd replaced them anyways. While intertwining a lock of hair around my fingers, I casually begin walking back to the bandit hideout, only stopping for a brief moment when passing by Siren,

"You owe me a new set of blades...."
-------------

I shrug casually

"sure no problem our pay from these missions should be enough for that and more no problem now hopefully it's the bandits left over they are way easier to kill,"

I say as I start following imperia happily.
-------------

Arriving at my previous perching spot, the small hill a ways away from the bandit hideout, I retrieve my bow and set an arrow in place. It was always best to be prepared, even before you'd confirmed the situation. Peering over the crest of the hill, I confirm the last of the Lizardmen being slain by the bandits. It was an entirely expected outcome, the bandits wouldn't have dared to set up base in the great plains if they couldn't even deal with the local monsters. The bandits gathered around, assessing their loses. They, the survivors, seemed to be quite celebrative of their victory. Sudden misfortune often appears amidst the most festive moments. It's a pity I'd have to deliver the bad news but it would all go to a noble cause (e.i my paycheck), and for myself what better way was there to deliver a message than by the flight of an arrow?
-------------

I casually walked up to Imperia, who has her bow drawn while looking over the hill and casually peer over with her. Phew ~ it's the bandits they are so much easier the lizardmen. I casually started walking down the hill pulling out my daggers, I couldn't leave all the fun to Imperia I thought with a malicious grin as I started to run at the first twang of the bow's string my urge to draw blood increasing as I jumped over the remaining defense blade slicing through the jugular of a bandit who had been catching his breath. This would be fun I thought as blood splattered over my dark red combat dress.
------------

It took but a few minutes to completely exterminate the bandits. Though because of Siren the situation down there was a bit....messier than it could've been, and as such, there was no way in hell I was going down there. Shaking my head slightly in a mix of mirth and annoyance, I take a seat on top the hill and await Siren's return. Now that we've completed all of our quest objectives we could head back to the guild and turn them in. I wonder if my daggers are done forging yet...
------------

After what felt like forever it was nice to finally finish all of our quests. I was a little disappointed I was going to have wash blood out of my dress again but it's fine I had fun. Imperia managed to find a carriage driving through the middle of nowhere somehow. It was like she knew it was coming! I fell asleep on the ride back so I didn't see much of what happened and I was still tired when we got off so Imperia took over the formal procedures while looking a little annoyed at me.

-----------

Taken with @Whatevername


@Carm

 

Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD1|D-Ranked|Slay 10 Lizardmen [90 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ahhh welcome back..."
Chrys looks up lazily from her book.
"Sorry, let me bookmark my spot, it'll only take a second..... or ten.... *yawwnn*"
Stretching whilst finding a piece of paper to make sure her spot wasn't lost, Chrys then went on to read the report.
"Hmmm, everything seems good. Okay, here's your uhhh 290 G, spread it evenly among yourselves or however you see fit."

 

@brasca123
1. Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
2. Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
3. Great Plain|#SD4|D-Ranked|Slay 1 Unicorn [100 G]
4. Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
5. Great Plain|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 5 Cyclops [150 G]
6. Great Plain|#GC1|C-Ranked|Gather Cyclops Eye [150G | 1 x Earth Orb]


«Hello Hikari ~»
[Greetings Hikari.]

Both of us gave our greeting respectfully while Ael was strangely silent when staring at me, please, be less obvious, if someone sees that, he will just think that my cute and fluffy pet actually holds a grudge to me... and I don't want that, since people will probably side with the lovely griffon and not me...
Huh... Something that never changed then ~

«Anyway, here is our report ~ Normally, there is everything... hmm...»

While I was talking Ael was just peeking at Hikari, I sighed and just pinched this little griffon... afterwards, I sighed and stared at Hikara with a kind smile, just... petting her head... just once, no more than one... I am not going to stop otherwise...
...
Brother... what's with that look ?

Spoiler: Quest's Report

Spoiler: Talk about "alternative" life

[Brother... why do you like teasing her ?]
It was his question right after we left the Adventurer Guild... well, let's just be honest, I don't have the right mood for lying right now... so I just asked him back a question.

«If she didn't die, how our lifes will have been ?»
My sorrowful voice probably startled him... he probably thought I wouldn't be thinking about the past that much considering the recent events, on the contrary, it made me ponder about it even more than usual...

[… troublesome but temporarily... we would have to leave the continent like now... but earlier with her, you wouldn't have become cursed... and as long we were together... we would have been... happy. Far more than now.]
My brother's voice was trembling, as I thought, he is thinking that it was his fault, that's alright, it isn't, and I never blamed you for this, in the first place, if I was more careful and less paranoid I could have seen the solution... we could have avoided those useless and meaningless slaughters... but he forgot one thing, no he didn't know.

«When I saw her... well you know... I tried to put the pieces together and... I noticed something... at that time... she was-»

- - -

After hearing one of the most significant reasons about why I needed to blame someone, why I needed to vent this anger, this frustration this hatred... he couldn't help but cry when thinking about it, the three of us were really close, I remember the time I killed and tortured one of the guard when they injuried one of them... they never dared to do anything then...
Though, wasn't Liya the same ? When someone tried to hurt us, he was always there, when they tried to hurt them, I was always there. But in the end, one of us died... a horrible death, her corpse was deformed, unrecognizable, ugly... and dismembered.

«...brother... if I killed him earlier... it wouldn't...»
Even if I shouldn't continue talking about that, I want to make him realize it wasn't his fault, that this life wasn't lost because of him... that he is... blamelesss, that he shouldn't despise himself.. that he shouldn't feel guilty...

[...you... are right... it's not my... but our....our fault...]
All these lifes lost, all these life we took, all these shrines I destroyed, all these destroyed fates, all these slaughters I provoked, all theses regrets that I don't have but you have, all theses foolish choices which most of them were on impulse...
Yet, we only care about our lifes, and one was lost.
The rest was unimportant.
At least for me, I didn't care about the others and surrounding, they were the persons I wouldn't dare to think dead... neverthless... it's happenned.

«Huh... we are really unlucky... no, this world is unlucky... look at us, each of us could have gotten... children...»
This is what I could have gotten a dozen of years ago if she didn't die, if I didn't decide to go crazy and to let out theses emotions, this stress, this frustration and today... nothing really changed... just the intensity is different.

[Ahah... though I would have been their godfather and not his uncle...]
Laughing bitterly, he responded to me with an ironic tone, well... he isn't wrong, if nothing happenned, true, I wouldn't be your master anymore, but we would have become more or less unseperable friend... unlike this scenarion, we are just a pair of brother who doesn't have anything except each other...

«...I would have teased these kids just like Hikari I think ?»
I wonder, somehow, after thinking about what future we could have got, I became more cheerful instead of desperate... I saw hope, but then I felt desesperate... so for now, all I have to do is to put a mask until this mask become real.

[Don't think so, you would have hugged them all day... you wouldn't dote them... even if they are trying to make sweet eyes, you would just become crazy about it and hug them because they will be too cute.]
I laughed, true I would have done that if our fate didn't get so messy and hard to cross, normally, when thinking about the past, just like when I saw Elpides Shrine not so long ago, I would have gone crazy... but I found a way to avoid this...
Just... think about it all the time and... get used to it... in the end, to make fade this madness, all I have to do is to suffer, to make me come back to reality by suffering endlessly... by being mentally disturbed by my past.

«...you are not wrong, considering how she was, they would have been way too cute for their own good, damn I wouldn't be doting them, but I would have been the overprotective father, one who will kill the one who only scare his child...»
Hmm... after saying that, I began rubbing my chin, thinking about whether I will really do that or not... I will probably try to kill them... but someone would have stopped me I think... huh.
Except if they don't notice me.

[Well... a bloodthirsty monster doesn't change this easily, isn't it ?]
His voice was seriously mocking me, but it felt easier to bear this weight after hearing it, sharing the pain with others... it looks like it can work...

- - -

Cinere might not have noticed it... but when I often looked at my hand while looking at it, and I knew what he was hiding... neverthless since both of us are cursed, he probably realized it too... even if we feel much better, the number who is supposed to ascend when hope is given and decreased when despair was given... was constantly...
...decreasing and increasing during our talk...

Spoiler: Living Corpse's talk

«Anyway, I have something to show you, or most likely... a favor to ask»
I almost forgot about it, the living corpses I made, can they be healed ? His eyes widen while I just took out the male corpse from the Item Box, then I began explaining what it was.

«Because I didn't want to remember about what happened at Delta Town, I just decided to overwork myself... since sleeping will only make dream and... as long as I can't control these I won't feel well anyway... anyway this one corpse is made from an Ice Skeleton, the Large Lizard's Scales, their organs and flesh... meaning, it should be have the strenght of one... thought since it was made as a humanoid, their movements will be less brutal and more nimple... but since in fact, I just put pieces together and try to make them imitate life by making blood flow... so can... you try to 'heal' them... I know that normally you can't heal what's dead... but since the blood is flowing, the heart is beating, the organs are functionning as long as I put mana in it... »
As always, I explain everything about why I need his help... of course, he will still ask about something...

[How is the skeleton sticked to the other part who were not even supposed to be his ? And why did you made such a thing ?]
Curious, he asked the two questions which one I will respond truthfully while the other I will be lying, right Nally ?

-Yup ! Because you are not going to say that you have a voice in your head... that's it ?-
Internally I nodded to her, this is something I said countless time, no wonder she knows that... oh well... then it's time to lie with an usual smile... no, an excited one, it will look like I gained a new passion once again... since during the years we passed together, I often started praticing a lot of things... and stopped midway a lot of times too.

«Well... I got this idea after learning Engraving and Enchanting that I used to stick the body together, the engraving was used to simply... put runes everywhere, of course, I need to understand them so I can activate them, and since I was the one who created them, it was easy... but repetive, I started by graving on the skeleton then sitcking the runes on the organs flesh and all... then, I graved on the scale, in fact... you see, sometimes, in tales, you can find lost ruins where there's wall full of runes... containing the secrets of... well probably something... simple, here the runes are the secrets of how I made the body 'alive', letting the blood flow, restarting the body's metabolism... and well... about why I started...? Since I know the human's body like I was its creator, why not use this knowledge and make money by selling these body to Necromancers ~ ?»

-Such a smooth and reasonable lie !-
Hearing Nally, I internally sneered... this lie was quite well made... and seriously talking, since he knows me, he will suppose that it won't last long... he nodded and approached the body and started healing after I activated the magic... blood represents life... so it should work...
Little by little... I felt like that some enchantments began to disappear... it means that it works... since in the first place, they were supposed to make the thing enchanted «stick» it means that the healing work and the piece are getting together... since why would it enchant something that already has the same effect ? To reinforce it ?
How stupid.

However, there was something I didn't expect, it was the gaze of Liya who was terrorized...

[...just... how many freaking runes and enchantments you put in it...? I only did one hand.. but I can't continue...]

Ooops... he thinks I am a freak, huh... look like it will be a good training for him, I mean one hand and he is already finished, it seems normal, imagine healing someone who litterally cut his arm, yes you have to construct the part that was cut... but now it's constructing the part that didn't even exist in the first place... it's like healing a harm who doesn't exist... in easier though.
Let's... just transfer mana then.

- - -

After... healing the living corpse, using it became far easier and it was stronger than a regular corpse, I mean, where does the Necromancer find the corpses anyway ? It's a real question, in a graveyard where most of the corpses are decayed and frail ?
But then... what if they found a corpse stronger than a regular living person, around a Large Lizard who have more or less the strenght of a D Rank Monster ? Alright... they can just take a Lizard Corpse... but just how hard will it be to move it... to understand how are they supposed to move and attack... contrary to a humanoid one who will use less mana since... the body won't decay as long as they put mana in the understandable runes.
Yes, Cinere put something additional in the runes, the body won't decay by activating Ice Magic and there's only 2 runes that they will be able to understand, <Activate 1> and <Activate 2>. Both need mana, one will trigger certains runes who will let the body seems 'alive' so healing will be possible, and of course... they don't need a digestive system, with the mana provided, the body will try to stay 'alive' for a certain period... depending on how much mana you put in it... anyway, the other rune will trigger as expected others rune... who like I said earlier activate Ice Magic, making the body won't decay.

Then wouldn't it mean that the Necromancer will have to put mana constantly into it ? One will be to use the strenght of the 'alive' body so to fight, while to keep the body... fresh...? They will have to put the mana into it...
First, they won't put mana constantly, they can just put more mana than needed so the body will last longer... simple the minimum needed mana will give them 1 hour of fight or 4-5 hours of 'sleep'... then if they give the double, it will do the same for the time, no mana is currently wasted. Often, people wastes their mana by useless process, contrary to the runes, the runes only do one thing with what is needed, in the first place, it was created for people who has trouble using magic because of their poor reserve but understand magic, it was made not to waste their pathetic reserve... huh... it makes think about Alby that...

Anyway there's no problem as long as you have an average amount of mana, of course the average was placed by Nally... it was far below the average I thought.

-Of course ! Your mana reserve is like a endless pool who just have trouble filling up since you are constantly using magic !-
Mmm... it seems quite reasonable...

[Brother... they... don't use that much magic...]

Evidently, I needed someone to test my theory... and it was Liya who has hmm... by using Nally's opinion a slightly above-average mana reserve... hmmm... and right now... it seemed like there was stars in his eyes... hey hey... is it really going to make money... though we need to find a fortunate necromancer first... anyway let's tempt him a little...

«This is why I also want to hunt Cyclops, their body are massive, though a shame they don't have something like 2 heart or we could have easily make more than just five new living corpse...»
At the end of my sentence, my voice seemed disappointed but, Liya just put his hand on my shoulders and said while thinking about money.

[Don't worry brother, you only have one right now ? But instead of lazing around, you could do that... I will manage the gold... and I promise you to never annoy you when you are doing nothing after you finish making the living corpse... if they sell of course... ]
Definitively, after listening to his words, I couldn't help but feels interested, while I will be training for Nally's body, I may be able to make money and even... be untroubled while I can just.. do nothing..
It's perfect.
Anyway, let's be honest about it... is it really sellable ? I mean... first it will be hard to preserve these states... and how many necromancers there is in Aeternus ? I don't think there is many... so I should... hmm... why not make Golems with these corpses ?
Yes, it will be quite a good training to make Nally's body, people won't need to put magic in them, it will be easier to sell and Liya will be less more bothering...

-It's all thank to me ~ !-
She seemd quite cheerful... huh... if she had a physical body, I may have pat her... oh wait... I almost forgot...

'If you say so, but to create this situation, you stabbed me countless time in my belly, and tried to eat me from the inside... yet you are still there, eating my soul as long as I permit it.'
Yes, I shouldn't forget that the first time we met she was a Clone of Nalmilka who tried to kill me and I decided to keep her in my head, soul or whatever it is on whim for no real reason... huh... it was quite a good choice actually....

-...you are... come on... it's already been some weeks... can't you forget about it ?-
Why should I respond ? I am just going to make her feel insecure then... since I have no reasonable motives to keep her, she won't insult me, in the first place, we don't even know each other, she was only a clone who was supposed to have no personality while I was the one who killed her... though she can be quite pleasing to be honest...
I sighed and decided to follow my brother after he said.

[Let's go... we should begin by the Orcs, it will be quite easy.]

Spoiler: Actual's Quests

Heading at toward the Orc's Campment with Ael flying over our heads, I felt quite happy... this time, let's dismantle seriously this campment and free the prisoners since we have the curse, it should be useful.
All I have to do is to stand in the middle... apparently since our curse is supposed to be shared, if he saves people, it will help me thought the percentage will be something like 60% for him and 40% for me... however about what Liya said, everytime I help something to feel hope... I won't give him anything... well I kinda need far more than me so it's normal to me.
While he need to help thousands of people, I need to help million of them.. even if he gave me 99% of his good actions, he will lift the curse first.

-Somehow it's depressing...-
'Yes it is Nally... can you imagine ? 78 Millions of people... is there even that much people around here ?'
-That's quite sadistic.-

Both of us began internally rambling about how sadistic and twisted Elpides was. Seriously talking, how could he get such an idea ? The worst of the worst will see a world of blood, organs and corpses cursing or trying to tempt them in death, are you sure he just doesn't want to see them go mad ?!

[Brother, what kind of strategy do you propose to save the prisoners ?] he asked with a curious gaze, he wondered how to properly save people... when he remembered what happenned in Verdant's Raid... to save them, I threatened them, it was quite... conflicting.

«Hmm... I thought about provoking them alone, while I am just going in the middle of the campment, meanwhile you are going to kill the Orc Leaders... Ael, help him, alright ?»
I gave him a sort of plan who was actually possible since well... it will hard for them to ever touch me, he seemed to hesitate... but in the end he accepted... it was one of the better plan, though he was perplexed about one thing...
I don't want him to be hurt, yet I let him go fight the Orc Leaders alone... isn't it conflicting ?
I just thought a bit about it in the tavern... if I am not there, if he isn't strong enough when I am not there... how will he survive ?

- - -

We heard a voice, coming from the center of the campment, it wasn't orcish language, but the common one, the one we are talking... however, we knew that it was another fool coming to his death...

«Orcs ! Could you free the persons you captured, it will be a shame if... I slaughter all of the pigs that you are ! Isn't it ?! Bunch of bastards ! People being captured are annoying for one thing ! Because someone might need to save them ! And since I am passing I will do this freaking job... it will be shameful not to try at least... tonight, we are eating pork !»

Hearing his voice, we thought... he was different from the others, it seemed like orcs were ants to him... somehow listening to an arrogant and haugthly voice seemed to make us more hopeful than hearing the usual heroic voice...

«Come on ! Are you scared ?! Or do you remember me ? The one who sneaked in and beheaded your leaders ? Come on ! What are you waiting for ?! I am waiting ! A...Slaughterer is waiting.»

His last words seemed to be chilling... even to us who couldn't see him... we were desesperate... someone with a great heart like the one who were imprisonned with us couldn't save these prisoners... so a demon ? Will a demon be able to save us ?
Even if it's mean to sell our body and soul... we will.

- - -

Sneaking into the camp while Cinere is making a mess, I entered into the biggest's tent where there's normally the Orc Leaders... it's somehow supposed to be where they are reuniting...

{Hm... 7 Living Being.}
Since he is small, it's easy for him to sneak in and be a scout, true I could just hide in the shadows and enter, but just in case, I should be careful and let someone who has less chance to be detected in this place... and if they notice him, they won't think he is obviously an enemy.

[7 Orc Leaders so... thank you, Ael, does this name bother you ?]
I asked just in case since his relation with my brother isn't reallt that good since... well... I don't really know actually...

{It's not like this great person has another choice, forced by this repulsing tyran to get this name.}
Hmm... but... if it wasn't Cinere who named him, will he like this name ? Oh well... I will just call him Ael for now, I am not going to chose another name for him, first, it will be rude then disturbing since he already got used to this name, isn't it ?
Entering the room, still invisible, I saw the 7 Orc Leaders talking fiercely around a cracked wooden table, well..; it looks like they really fight each other as he said... since they are all close to each other, it will be hard to sneak and kill them one by one... then let's just sneak kill two.

Using the recently bought Bo Staff, and I attacked and destroyed one's neck, without letting them the time to react, I approached another one by behind and broke his neck... drawing slightly their swords are what's there but invisible, I just approached directly one by walking in front him and killed him by sinking the staff in his throat...
It makes three of them died.

«GRRROOOOOOAAAAAAA !!» They screamed, finally noticing that an unknown entered, invisible and almost killed half of them this easily, it made them remember a certain rumour, it was one young pale man who hanged some of their previous leader's heads at his belt.
It made them furious just thinking about it.
They swung their sword near to him and it destroyed his camouflage, they saw him, it wasn't the same, a seemingly healthy young blond man with blue eyes, who holded a staff which was as tall as him.
After sidestepping I took the staff at the end and bumped the other side in a Orc Leader's throat, crushing his possibility of breathing... while I was doing this, the three left surrounded me without shame and tried to slash me, cooperating quite smoothly actually.
One aimed at my legs, one at my head, on at my belly, and the three of them slashed horizontally, normally speaking, it should be hard to avoid such an attack but... I just slightly jumped and walked on the sword who was supposed to behead me, descending the staff, I crushed the Orc's head, his crane was... smashed into countless and many pieces under his skin... meanwhile, the two others felt frightened by the casualty of these moves, everything was done quite peacefully.
Despite being outnumbered, I didn't panick and killed 5 of them... well let's finish everything.

[<Blindness>]
Like what this word means, the two left got blind, they panicked at their lost of sigh... and fastly lost their lifes.

{...why did he said that if needed this one will help...?}
It was Ael's question, true, they were too weak compared to me, the staff's lenght helped quite a bit, if it wasn't that long, I wouldn't have been able to kill them this easily... well, I would just have to blind more of them, that's all.

[Alright... let's free the prisoners then.]
I headed out of the tent after taking all the Orc's Leaders corpses except one since his brain was damaged, I don't think Cinere will be able to restore a brain after all.

- - -

Meanwhile, a corpse-like white-haired young man with a brown hightlight, rotten eyes, and a slender body was fighting in the Orc's campment, many orc approached him, around a dozen of them, only one was fighting with him... however they were dazed.
He is litterally playing with the orc, instead of trying to kill him, he is just throwing knifes at hsi feet, not even his thighs...

«C'me on ~ be more serious ~ are you really fighting ~ ?»
My mocking voice didn't change, seriously though, just...
«Come at me, all of you ! If you are too weak, just overload me ! You are only pigs ! Just freaking pigs ! Do you think you can hurt me with these puny moves ? Look at this foolish dancing instead of attacking me, seriously, does he think this as a game ? Can he be less pathetic, though ?»

Strangely, it's really happenned, this dozen orc really assaulted me at the same time, smiling, I just began avoided the few sword who were aimed at me... how hilarious, just a few provocation and they came... time to slit some throats...
After a few seconds... a dozen of orcs fell on the ground, all had a ice knife in their neck, after killing them and taking this dozen of corpses, he shouted once again.

«Come on ! You who observed me fighting ! Come come come ! I dare you to do that ! What are you waiting for ?! You are there, yet you are not going to fight me ! A dozen of you died yet you do nothing, how shameful !»

Meanwhile...

- - -

We saw a human entering in the tent and killing orcs, it was strange... he was familiar... anyway he was here, he wasn't the one provoking the orcs since we could hear them running all over and panicking... it was another one, he began talking with a warm smile.

[My brother is actually distracting the orcs to save all of you.]

Afterward, he began cutting the ropes restraining us and healing our wounds... we were... around thirty people there, and... he then said with a confident smile...

[In normally around 5 minutes, there will be a path free from orcs thank to Ael, a... friend of us.]

It was what he said, we should thank them when we will leave this place... I thought... that we couldn't ever leave... however... is it... really real ? What if they are actually... bandits raiding this place...?

- - -

A sole orc came, only one.
An overconfident one... but it's perfect... since soon they are going to leave... let's give those orcs some hope, isn't it ? Let's try to lift seriously this curse.

«Come.»
This time wasn't mocking, it probably looked like I was taking him seriously, from their eyes, this one may become their hero, and he will... I won't die anyway, as long as I use illusions...
Faking some suffering cries after making an illusion of getting stabbed... I just continued to do some dodges who looked like I was having trouble evading them.. huh... it's good that they have a simple mind, thank to that, I could kill this dozen of orcs without problems then 'struggle' with only one... well... well... let's just wait for a bit.

{Foolish one ! We can leave !}
Hearing this voice, I felt relieved, look like it's really worked... the prisoners were really out... neverthless, I didn't expect this, suddenly, arrows were launched at him and this cute griffon... damn it... those bastards prepared themselves, I didn't expect them to have archers... huh... well...
Teleporting, I put myself in front of Ael and took him while I got a pointless arrow in my left shoulder...

«...you should be more careful..»
Saying that, I began to run away from the campment while I noticed the -78MK was actually nearing to -77MK... though not that much... at least, the quota today is quite positive... made hope one hundreds... huh... there is this much orcs in the campment ? Since probably not of them saw me, there's probably more than a mere hundred.

{Did... you save me ?}
I just smiled and didn't respond, you idiot, how can I let my fluffy and cute pet (pillow) die ? Nah, cuteness can't die, cuteness needs to be protected... taking him in my arms, I just ran toward where Liya and me planned to rejoin...
After a few minutes, I saw thiry people waiting there with him... huh... there was that much prisoners ?

«Mister Cinere...?»
I heard a voice calling me... and it was a kid... I remember him, it was one of the twins... it was the twins who also got captured during Verdant's raid, so... they were captured once again ? How strange and pelicular.

«Oh, been a long time kids, so you got captured again ?»
My words seemed to have hurt them since their face twisted at these, I smiled wryly at this, though, I didn't expect them to... be flabbergasted... they looked at Ael... who was...huh ?
He was trying to remove the arrow from my shoulder, then after pulling it out, he looked at me and said with a resolute voice.

{Thank you, I will be sure to pay you back for this.}
This little bird was so cute, trying to act honorable and noble... unexpectly I uncounciously began hugging him... while Liya seemed to wait for me to talk... oh well whatever... it was so soft and fluffy, for once, he didn't complain, he just let me do it ~
Oh... so as long as he owes me one, he won't try to stop me play with him, to hug him and all that's go with... how... lovely... I am going to give you plenty of tenderness so ~ !

[Brother... can you stop...? Weren't we there to save them...? And not to see you hug Ael like the kid you aren't.]
Scolding me, his tone seemed to be desesperate, he was probably exasperated by my actions...

«Ah ! Sorry ~ He was just too sweet now ~ And since he doesn't complain for once I couldn't stop on my own ~ !»
As expected, my voice was quite cheerful... huh what do I feel like the number on my hand seem to go up...? How did I give them hope ? I don't understand... what with those looks ? What are they looking at me like that...
I just coughed and then sighed.. and began explaining what are we gonna do for today...

«Alright, brother, you will accompany them to Aeternus, you know, escort them, while I will hunt the Cyclops and then we will meet up by.. hmm... <Soul Link> That's it ~»
Using my magic, I just decided to go alone, Ael will stay with them... my brother just nodded to me seriously without any hesitation, since in the first place, I would have hunted the Cyclops alone, let's just do it now while he is escorting them ~
After meeting up... hmm... well, the Unicorn then the Bandits, it should be quite easy anyway.

«Good bye Mister Cinere !»
«We will tell our parents that you saved us again !»

They were... grateful...? At least they seemed to be... it's quite weird to see someone be like that to me... except Ael who had a real reason, but them, I just saved them because of the curse, nothing else... it felt... unsettling.
They... waved me off... oh what I am thinking, it's totally normal that they did that... guess I am feeling quite strange today.

- - -

A bit later, we... I was wandering in the Great Plains searching for Cyclops... where do you find them anyway..? Oh well... let's just run the faster I can...

-Hmm... you should go near the mountains... they are probably there-

Huh, really ? Thank for the info, it will be easier to kill them and plunder their corpse, maybe I will get money for it.

-I hope that you can make my body quickly ~ !-

I will have to train in golem's crafting before so you can create your own mana with a core when I will make your body isn't it ? Or maybe, you want something alike a temporary body instead of staying in my head ?

-Yes... but...-

Not yet, how am I going to explain that I will be keeping a cute emotional undead girl with me ? Loudly sneering, I just accelerated toward the moutain... while hearing Nally's complain.

-Cute ? You will be the one who decide how my appearance I am going to be, and I know that you wanted to tease me right now, do you take me for a fool now that I am actually cheerful ? Hmpf.-

How arrogant my dear... it looks like, I thought that cheerful people were often dumb, I am no exception after all... as long as it makes Liya smile, I can make the dumbest thing and it will cheer me up ~ And... I love cute and fluffy things also ~
So well... no, let's put it in a better way, cheerful people are distracted by their own happiness...
Anyway, I am now near the moutains, still in the great plains... and I saw Cyclops... how coincidental, well... four meters... and they are 6 or 7... it will be quite troublesome...
Slow movements and brustish... it's the kind of enemies I prefer... since they seem to be travelling, let's just teleport above them and cut their throat one by one and the fastest possible.

-When you say teleporting, don't you mean continuously teleporting since you can't teleport more than.. 1,5 meter if I remember correctly...-

I just need to teleport three times to get above them... that's alright... as long as I can do them fast it can be considered as an almost-instantaneous teleportation... no...?
Oh well, it isn't.
Anyway... owww... I got a good idea, since they aren't communicating, let's just trick all of their senses with Illusion Magic, even if I kill one and they turn back, they will still see their comrades walking behind them... they won't even hear them falling on the ground or screaming... as long as they don't try to touch the illusion, it should be alright.

«<Sound's Alteration> <Visual's Distorsion>»
Using magic, I tricked the seven of them with only the necessary magic while teleporting above one and... when I descended from above... I put Mishap, this long and thin dagger in his throat while freezing his mouth's interior, absolutely not letting him breath or scream...
Anyway... he is going to recede from the group by pursuing a illusion of mine... no in fact, he will just run in circles until he died from suffocation or blood loss... well well well... let's continue on the second... who didn't do anything special...
Doing the same thing, nothing has gone amok until the sixth one who turned back... and still didn't saw me... but he smelled blood... his comrade's blood... ah, I should have put it off... he prevented the second and they went back after seeing... their non-existent fellows.
Yes, I desactivate the illusion the moment they turned back, since they didn't from the start, the only suspicious thing will be 'why didn't they said us that they were leaving ? Why aren't they here ?'

-But of course...-

...they will never see them again... except in afterlife maybe.
A spike of ice suddenly appeared and slashed one cyclops by his right feet at his left shoulder, likely cut in two, how impressive.
The seventh turned back and... well, I will.. let him discover me.

«Hello friend ~ How was this fake world ~ ?»

He didn't understand what I said and just run, heavily wiggling his big wood's club... how useless and pointless... let's just... let him die.
Easily avoiding his strike on the ground by sidestepping I jumped and as usual... put my knife in his neck... this time, I just removed the Spiritual Fire from my body who was well... restraining my freezing body... and just caugh the neck of the Cyclop.. and it began freezing even my stuck dagger wasn't spared... I waited...
Waited for it to die, while it was struggling to live... trying to touch dumbly with his cab when I was on his back... little by little... it froze and I let it fall.
His neck was frozen.

-He is dead.-

I know but... I want to test something...
Lightly kicking his neck, it was... destroyed in millions of pieces of ices... my body can freeze living part so, how... bothering. Taking back the Spiritual Fire, I put it back in my body and sighed loudly enough to feel annoyed.

-Well at least you got 7 Cyclops's eyes ~ And... since one of the body got his organs severely severe, only 6 Corpses are usuable so you can train making 'Living Corpse'-

Though they aren't real living corpse, they are just... I don't know how to say it actually, it's quite hard to describe it... living corpses kept their a part of their memories and skills from their alive them... but them... are just made from... nothing actually, just piece of corpses... I wonder what kind of name will be fitting... hmm...
Let's just call them 'Living Corpses' for now, anyway... time to join Liya... where he is now...?
His soul is... somehow around... ahh... whatever let's just follow it, I just randomly wandered, I can't possibly know where I am precisely where.
Anyway...

- - -

Walking, we finally found Cinere who was whistling quite happily, look like it ended well... so.. . Ael seemed quite nervous for him, heh, look like since... Cinere didn't hesitate a second to save him, he became grateful and sees him in a new light.

{How did it goes ?}
«Quite well ~ I got all the corpses, so now I will get to work ~»
I said quite happily while thinking about all the progress and future living corpses I can make... it will be so interesting... maybe Nally will get a body sooner than planned.

{...you mean... in daylight...?}

Actually, he probably didn't want to see this... just like me, to be honest, I am not even sure if it will makes money I mean, is there some Necromancer who isn't asocial ? It's something unknown to me, is that possible for them to be social first ?
Maybe... they will just get curious about it, then buy it on a whim... and well.. they will just throw it afterwards... oh wait, where will we sell those corpses anyway ? We should find a place where we can stay... tsk...
Hey... will they allow us to sell living corpses at least...?
Quite a good question.

Anyway, before making a shop, I think... Cinere should know how to make a Golem, since there is probably not really a bunch of necromancers, so Golems will be more appealing than Living Corpses, one will be harder to do though... and we should use it only on... let's say C Rank Monsters... since we will need cores... so, afterwards, we should hunt Golems like crazy... damn, it's going to be hard... hmm... let's first seek golem's cores... then eventually we could make a stall where we would sell them... hmm... that's a good idea.
At least, to me it is... meanwhile, he can train his Necromancy.
Hmmm... right, now that I think about it, Cinere always has something that 'trigger' him to start something new, I wonder what was it, because the body were useless ? Why would he begin making living co-

No... that... can't be that... no, about what I remember, he said... he wouldn't try since her soul is gone, she wouldn't be able to come back then...
Oh... I scared myself... I should thinking about it or I will get... wrong ideas... yup... yes wrong ideas, definitively.

«Brother, I will start by... hmm... the Orc Leaders, just keep their head.»

He began 'working' on six eyes orcs, making six Ice Skeletons... he began by engraving... I... should be able to sleep before the bloody stuff begins...

- - -

{… you... can't you make the skeleton already with the runes on it ? Since you only...}
He asked a reasonable question, I can make a lot of things with Ice Magic, but the runes are a bit...

«Too difficult since it's even more precise than making a miniature of you in my palm, I need to do it at certain place, and it will take too much time.. but what I can do is...»

Taking one Well Patched Corpses, now more likely Living Humanoid Corpses (Large Lizard, D Rank), I put the mana in it and began controlling it... it's must easier since the holes are now non-existent... let's see if I can do... two things at the same... it was... a bit hard to control it...
At least, it can do the engraving at my place... then... if I try to do it at the same time at it, its movements became less precise and wrong... so I still can't huh...

Well, controlling a corpses without putting a soul in it, quite... unique.
It's not even a Golem or something similar... I have no affinity with the blood since I am not a vampire... I wonder who could help me... Nally.

-Huh...? Wait... really...? I... can...? I... won't be able to talk...? Whatever !-

I will also not be able to know what you are thinking, but let's do it... since you can eat soul... let's put the Cyclop Soul in the Large Lizard's Living Corpse... then go eat it, alright ?
It's quite weird saying it like this though... oh well whatever.

Sensing Nally's presence leaving me, I felt... well different, I was accustomed to her after all... then I looked at the drooling living corpse... it was wriggling..

[Kill it !]
«Wait.»

Puzzled, he looked at me and just sighed... it just looked quite menacing the drooling and trembling on the ground... that's just how it is, it's not like I can do anything about it. Ael seemed to be quite creeped out by the situation...
After a few minutes, the living corpse stood up and looked at me... I just asked in case, not showing the worriness I have since I actually don't want Nally to disappear, it was quite fun to play with this voice in my head.

«Do you understand me ?»

My voice seemed to be anxious.
It nodded, I sighed in relief and began graving the skeleton while Nally joined me in doing so... looking at me, Liya decided to peek and noticed that the living corpse seemed to be intelligent... since it was writing the runes as well as me... that's normal, she knew all I did from the start and she felt what I felt, she knows every word she needs to know since... well, she will have a body like this after all...

[Quite... impressive... did you got better in Necromancy..?]
His voice was sincere... he really think that I will train in Necromancy...?
When we were going to the library... he asked me if I was going to train in Necromancy with a joking tone, but... he was serious...?
It's kinda hurt my heart.

«Huh... not really, I just got a great and friendly soul~»

He looked at me then nodded, leaving me alone with Nally... huh... I would like to talk but... such a shame that she can't talk to me now... she can only see and move, I didn't make anything else to this body.
Anyway let's continue working... I created a few mores skeletons and 'told' her to grave them while I will be doing it to the Orc Leader's flesh... hmm... let's do it faster... those corpses will be weak anyway, at least to me, Orc are quite weak.


- - -

Night came then ended, to let place to the morning, I said while smiling widely, finishing unexpectly all the Orc Leader's Living Corpses...the first I did needed me to work around 6~12 hours but... in around 12 hours this time, I... no we made 6 Living Corpses, that's quite good ~ Though they are dark skinned, it's quite... unsighty.
Anyway...

-I came back ~!-

Ah, it's better this way since it was boring this way... it was quite strange to be alone in my head, with you it wasn't gloomy.

-...what...? W-Wait you are serious right now ?! Me being here... uhm... pleased you...?-

Her voice seemed to be trying to hide her somehow happiness by acting embarrassed... heh.
True to get here, you tried to kill me but you were quite entertaining, anyway, how was this first time in a flesh body despite not feeling anything ?

-Hm... your body is quite comfortable to be honest... except your emotions who may be quite annoying... though it was quite fun moving on my own despite the annoying feelings of touching the flesh... at least I didn't feel it...-

Hmm... I see, well... it was just as expected, anyway sicne we finished, now it's time to search for an Unicorn... huh... maybe I can make your second body with it... yes, let's do it with a... no, let's keep it, I will get its blood for your final body, it's good this way, no ?

-Wow... Fire Dragon's flesh... an unmelting ice skeleton... unicorn's blood... bark as hard as adamantium... I am going to be damn dangerous.-

Hearing her excited and admirative voice, I just internally felt joyous for her...
It's what I planned, meanwhile you will get plenty of body who will temporary as long as we don't gather the materials... for example, soon you will get a Bandit's corpse, and you will be able to like a true human....

-Ohhh... wait ?! So soon ?! Thank you ! I will get a body on my own !-

Though I will work on it properly... when Liya wouldn't be near just in case... since it will be weird to see his brother making a female corpse.. he will be quite freaked out, I am not a... Necrophil.

-Pfff... it will be quite fun... well, have a nice day, I will sleep for now ~ It was quite a tiring job ~ !-

Haha, have a nice nap... at tonight ~ !

-Tonight ~ !-


Oh wait... since she can eat my soul... can't I just pick up someone, weaken them and let her eat their soul... wouldn't she got a true alive body... no, she wouldn't be strong enough with this kind of body, let's make... a unethical body...

And I think that she will prefer something man-made.

- - -
{Cinere ! Let's go hunt Unicorn ! I smelt it one but Liya stopped me !}
Ael's voice was really cheerful yet... grumbling, he wanted to chase after the Unicorn, how devoted and kind-hearted of him !

«Huh... already... alright, then we shal go... but, I will get the blood, the horn and the head, alright ?»

... so Ael likes meat... Nally, oh wait you are asleep it's true, well, you worked hard and helped him I won't wake you up ~

[Brother, can I fight against it ?]

Thinking a bit about it, it might be dangerous for him... since thsi freaking Unicorn can teleport, he could just go behind Liya and.... calm down, Liya is far stronger than that... I sighed and nodded... though, if something unexpected happen...
Well, someone will suffer greatly.

- - -

Avoiding this attack by sidestepping, I looked it pass by me close enough to feel its breath... it was quite an ambush, maybe they didn't feel at ease with me ? Or Cinere created some Illusion...?
Who knows... anyway, it was dangerous.

[Huh...]

It's really teleported... how annoying... I will just need to be faster than that then.
Staring at this Unicorn, I will just wait for it to appear near to me...

Huh... it's said that only pure maidens can ride them... I wonder what is Ael's gender... maybe... no, let's not think about that, smiling slightly, I noticed it disappear and... its horn appeared near to my throat...
Fortunaly, I was prepared for a wicked attack like this, a thin pillar of dirt appeared from the ground and smashed into the Unicorn's chin... while it was stunned, I used the Bo Staff and crushed the horn... it receded quite fastly after that...
With his hateful eyes, this dirty animal gazed at me... how exhausting, can't you die faster ? At least, just come at me... since you don't have this horn anymore...

Oh... it turned back and began to run away ?

[No no no... don't expect me to let you flee.]

Ambushing me, tried to pierce my throat when I still didn't show any enmity, I was just defensive and yet... you run away...? Cinere, what did you do ? What kind of monster am I in those eyes ?
Whatever.
Starting to sprint while using Wind Magic, I fastly caugh it up and... jumping I just smashed the Staff in his neck... it died quite easily actually... hmm... Unicorn, I didn't think that they were...this... wicked, I mean... true they can teleport but have some mercy, it teleported at 10 centimeters from my throat... or at least be serious when you do it ! If you want to sneak attack... make it like Cinere... who likes to teleport at 1 centimeters from his target.

Hmm... no, actually, I prefer them when they aren't serious... it's almost impossible from defending yourself from my brother when you are his target...

«Well... Ael, you will need to wait that all the blood has been drained out... I will do the job then... Liya... no it's a bad idea, I will cook.»
Hearing his cheerful voice, I felt upset, my cooking is not that bad, I am just not talented enough, that's all... I can just follow the instructions, there is no need to think that I can't actually cook.

[Brother, that's quite rude of you.]
«...somehow, I always thought that you were allergic of kitchen...»

How rude... how can someone be allergic... to kitchen... wouldn't ie be awful ?
You wouldn't be able to eat everything that coming from cookers, imagine all those delicious plates who can't be eaten by you ?

«Oh sorry, I put it in the wrong way, kitchens are allergic to you.»

Hmm... it's... quite reasonable... since how many time I burned myself and the house when I was cooking... I never understood why...

- - -

It's obviously my fault that he burned the house each time he went into it... why would I wanted him to bother himself with cooking ? We have cooks, let them do their job while his was to protect me while... I was mostly the one doing it...
Anyway, each time I got hurt almost ot death, he saved me... so I guess we are supposed to be even, but... he probably saved me more time than how many time I protected him.

After drawing out the blood, cutting his head and skinning it... we began cutting it... and well, after I began cooking as expected while Ael seemed to... be cute as always... but even more than usual since he looked expectant, his eyes were shining... it was hard... neverthless... after finishing cooking...

«Oh ~~ ! Ael, you are so cute ~ !»

My voice was ectasic and high-pitched, he... I...
I jumped and began hugging him tightly to me, how could I resist to those eyes, to this fluffy fur, to his softness... awwwwww... if I could... I would be happy to die by his cuteness...

{Hmpf. You can if you let me eat at the same time.}

However... there is still something... that missing... I would like to correct him about it a little... but I can't punish him right now... No I need to, otherwise he will get too prideful.

«...alright, no meat then...»
{EH ?! I... can... I am sorry... can...}

Not even his pleading voice will touch me, it just makes him even more cuter... anyway, since he is pleading and his voice was sligthly trembling, I will give him my

«Yes, it's better this way ~ !»

I took it and put it on my legs while I gave him a Unicorn's leg... oh wait, isn't it too big for his little body ? Huh... oh well... I will see if he succeed eating it... unexpectly, he already forgot about my threat and lovely started eating, uncounciously, my finger bumped his little beak and he then looked dumbly at me...
I just smiled childishly and... rubbed his head wuth my hand, he is just too cute for his own good... people may try to kidnap him, I should make some runes maybe I can use them to... oh, the elemental ink, maybe I can try painting on him ? Oh wait that would mess up with his beautiful fur, I can't do that... a shame isn't it...?

After a while, looking at green and never-ending... I felt at ease with the full Ael on my head, yes, he ate far too much, we still have the Unicorn's high body to eat though.
He said that it will be a waste to not eat it despite being fresh, so he tried to devour more, but he didn't succeed and this is the result we got, a griffon who can't even fly after eating too much.
How shameful... anyway, we found many footsteps, they were unorganized and seemed to be quite hasty... they were even trace of persons being dragged on the ground.
Well, bandits what else ?
It's good that we can already find bandits, it will be quite easy to kill them unlike the Unicorn since humans probably doesn't have skills like Teleportation, it will be quite annoying otherwise.

Following the traces, we saw shades far in the plains, around... a dozen of them, I guess... 3 of these 10 are sort-of prisoners... hmmm... then let's just kill them fastly and nicely.

«Brother, I will go and kill them the fastest I can ~»
[Oh, alright.]

Dazing off, he saw me turning invisible and fastly catching up to those bandits, near to them I stayed invisible... and well, I guess that I can't trick them as easily as the Cyclops since human's senses are more complicated.
At least, I can makes ice knifes invisible.. hmm... yes, let's kill all of them quickly, I caugh one one, suffocated him and pierce his head by the back, well, silenced.
And.. how useful is the Item Box, since he died I could easily put his body in it, he was considered as an object... a fresh and warm human corpse as an object... wonder what the creator of this item box got in his head ?
Huh... I should research who is it...

Anyway... after killing this one, they didn't notice his death... so I moved on the next and did the same... ah right, some people always think that you should cut the throat... yes, to block his voice, how impressive... I can just freeze the interior of his mouth.
Since cutting throat can let them scream if you do one wrong move... and as long as I put my knife in his brain, it's good this way since... well without his brain, he can't really makes anything except dying quite easily since his nerves will be unanswerable.
Alright, let's see what's going on... they seem quite tense... hmm... let's kill sneakily another one.
I did the same and it's worked.
Though this time, they turned back and saw that three were missing, all of them were in my Item Box, Liya is proably away right now... observing since I am doing my usual job.

«Huh ? John ? Kael ? Raak ? Where are they... hey ! Bastards ! Where are you ?!»

Sinking my knife into his throat, throwing two ice knife, at a male and a female bandit, there was only one left but... seriously, I just threw a knife at the opposed of his position, then I teleported it behind him by saying a simple word.

«<Transportation>»

Instead of teleporting people or myself, it just teleports object, nothing impressive, let's go back to the main point, the knife appeared behind it and plunged into his neck, murdering him on the spot without even noticing what provoked his death.

«How foolish ~ Well, as a bandit, you deserved it ~»

One female and six male, quite an unique combination of bandits... anyway... among the three prisoners, there was one male and two female, huh, the guy was probably for miss bandit who just died quite easily while the two girls were for... six mans.. they must had it quite hard except some of these mans were into bara...
Thinking about it, I thought it should be interesting to study it and begins to examine those news means of torture... I nodded my head to myself and saw something worthless, the three prisoners were addicted to drugs.

«...as expected...»

How... irritating, why most people can't resist against these drugs ? They are always greedy, they just got more desire by taking them... so what's the problem ? True I am also taking drugs though I try to stop after Elpides's incident, I decided to stop definitively, so I still didn't consumed mana drugs, and well... I... strangely don't want to take them anymore... hmm... I probably use something else as an equivalent... what could it be ?
Oh well whatever.

Looking at these three people who began searching on the ground for any drugs, apathetically, I drew Mishap.

[Brother, you are going to kill them ?]
{Wait ? They are only victimes ! Why are you go-}

Both of their voices overlapped while I beheaded one and... pierced the two others with ice spike. I sighed slightly furious about why these bandits left me such an useless job... I put their corpses in my Item Box while Ael gazed at me with asthonished yet... terrorized eyes.

«Considering how addicted they were, they wouldn't have been able to live correctly, so I just ended their future.»
{But... we...}

Healing them ?
By erasing their memories probably, but how will we find their families then, those faces didn't look like it was their originals, someone probably messed up with their appearences so they wouldn't be recognizable.
It's pointless.
Useless.
Drugs are like this, as long as your will isn't strong enough you will become mindless because of them... or the other alternative is that you die from them... how different !

«That's pointless and useless, so let's just kill them. And... I don't want to get trouble because I find people who are addicted to drugs and won't ever be able to be sane again...»

Talking about that...
Am I considered as sane ?
Stable, at least for now... though probably not for long.
But sane ? I don't think so, at least, now I am maybe a bit less insane than before,.

I am not slaughtering towns, families or old people.
I am not doing some regional conquest.
I am not torturing people for fun and informations.

All of it, it's just the past... how troubling.

{...I...why ? And their families...? What if... they wanted to see them back ?}

His voice seemed sorrowful, it looks like I made this little griffon remember some bad memories... now that I think about it, how did the Dark Merchant got Ael ? Ael probably had some families since he seemed to be... a bit too concerned about those prisoners... huh..
Let's just reply as I always do.

«Well... they won't see them, and since their looks seem to be modificated, it will be useless to search them... anyway... the real point is...»

I sighed and just continued my sentence, with a voice who seemed to be reasonable to me.

«... what is the real deal with their deaths ? Why should we care about them ?»

Staring at his face, it looks like I offended him, what a shame.

- - -

While they were asleep, I sighed, disappointed in myself... I was examinating the three female corpses I got to make a body for Nally, then... I just felt... disturbed at this sight, something made me... feel awful.
Mentally speaking... I don't know which, something began disturbing me... maybe because... these body were... oh I see.

The state of the bodies aren't good, specially the two slaves... deformed and soaked in blood, mud and everything that goes with, scars, burns... et cetera.
I sighed and immersed myself in another illusion... how exhausting.

Sorry Nally, look like I will have trouble making your body without failing, so I won't try to do them right now.

This is what I thought when I began watching a four corpses, created from my memories, deformed, the limbs seemed to have been stuck a short time after being dismembered, the crimson was covering its body, the scar seemed fresh, the same for the flesh who seemed to be rotten even if it was only a few hours since her death...

«...let's just calm down a little...»

What I meant by calming down is focusing my mind on what triggered that madness, in fact, often when you are perturbed by something, pain make your mind clear... then I will just do the same by 'watching' memories, by 'living' them once again...

«Well at least, after they wake up, let's just... go back to Aeternus, it should be alright.»

The next day, I approached the two sleeping loafers, pushing them softly with my feet I just smiled when looking at this peacefulness... Liya opened hsi eyes and just looked quizzically at me, wondering why I disturbed his nice nap.

«Time to got, I waited all the night for you... and unexpectly I didn't have the mood to work ~ So I just walked and saw both of you sleeping so peacefully, I couldn't help but wanted to push you a little ~»
While my voice was cheerful, Liya only to be a bit down after he heard my words... it looks like it wasn't what he wanted to hear, well, he stood up and sighed while... I picked up Ael and began hugging him...

{R-Release me...}
It wasn't the first time he says this to me, however his voice was different than the prideful one who always wanted to show me his greatness... it was more like... a scared one...
A bit disappointed, I pat him the head and just let him fly while his emotions seemed to be conflicting, he seemed to be grateful... yet terrified of me...
Huh... Hmm... I saved him from an arrow and yesterday I killed the three lost case... Huh... so he is conflicted about those matters, I saved him yet he thinks I condemned others...

«Oh well, whatever then... let's just go back to Aeternus ~ !»

Internally, I sneered at myself, why should I care about it anyway ? It's not like, saving people will profit me in anything except the curse... so the others people... the dyings one, I can just finish their lifes that they will lose in a few hours... it's nothing...
...wrong, isn't it ?

Spoiler: Extra Stuff

• 10 Orc's Corpse
• 6 Cyclop Eyes (the 7th is for the quest)
• 1 Living Humanoid Corpse (Large Lizard, D Rank)
• 7 Living Humanoid Corpse (Orc Leader, D Rank)
• 6 Cyclop's Corpses
• 3 Women's Corpses
• 5 Man's Corpses
• Unicorn's Blood
• Unicorn's High Body (there is no leg in fact... it has been eaten.)
• Unicorn's Horn

Spoiler: Nally

Name : Nally
Title : One who Befriended her Killer
Race : Soul-Eater (Formerly Nalmika's Clone Dryad)
Gender : Probably Female
(depends mostly on the body she uses but since Cinere decided to make her a female body based on his tastes... she doesn't have any choice.)

Current Body : None (for now.)
Skills :
Soul Eating (Racial Skill)
Cinere's Skills -not all of them but most of them not at the same level though- (Well... she is kinda feeling every Cinere's sensations, either physical of magica... she obviously knows what he can do and how to do these ~ )

History : Originally a Clone of Nalmika, a Special Dryad who appeared during Verdant's Raid, Nally was named by Cinere after she tried to kill him by eating his soul... (Nalmika -> Nally).
She was kept alive for a simple reason : "Why not ?"
It might be stupid, but this is simply why she is still alive, at first, she was disgusted with the idea, neverthless she began to feel at ease and now... their relationship can be considered as quite strange, one is just a resident in his body, while the other is just a regular madman letting a supposedly "mindless" and soulless spirit living in his soul.

OOC : Well ~ I tried to put colors, it's only for Nally that I am not sure if it's enough noticeable... at first it seemed too... bright then too dark.. uhmm... *will edit later if it seems unreadable*
Anyway here goes 10K words ~
Thank you in advance ~

 

((Be careful with color codes, you put their shout in "white" instead of "no color", it's troublesome for people on light theme! >.<))

Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD4|D-Ranked|Slay 1 Unicorn [100 G]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
Great Plain|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 5 Cyclops [150 G]
Great Plain|#GC1|C-Ranked|Gather Cyclops Eye [150G | 1 x Earth Orb]
=========================
"Welcome back... Uhn... Eto... Shi... Shi... Sinere-san! And and and... Ri... Rira...? No, it wasn't..." *peeks at his card* "Riya-san!" >.<

"Hikari will take a look at the report!"

"The... Item Box?" *tilts head*

"Hikari doesn't know who made it... Ah! Hikari can ask though! Shadow! Does Shadow know who made the item box?


... Ah-ah! Right! The rewards! Everything was fine, so it's 800G and 1x Earth Orb.

Take care now!" ^^)/

((The colors all seemed good on the light theme, no worries!))

 

Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD4|D-Ranked|Slay 1 Unicorn [100 G]
Great Plain|#SD5|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Kobold Leader [120 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]

Spoiler: Report

I checked the map which I found in the item box given to me by the receptionist. According to the info that I gathered from the library, unicorns are considered disgusting creatures which makes me wonder why some myths that I have heard during travelling say that they are the purest creature in the world."They are not super rare creatures, some of them can always be found in the uncivilized parts of the great plains.",the library further said.Thus I decided to travel straight from frontier city to crumbling ruins killing any quest targets. Hopefully I will encounter an unicorn.

[About 10 km from frontier village]

*phewwww*(bowgun shooting sound), so I encountered some goblins, boars as well as a team of orcs with there leader. Good for me right? Except no.The problem is that I am getting charged at simultaneously by 10 goblins and 5 boar warriors and I only have what looks like crumbling piece of wall to hide behind. I am still using the cheap infinite ammo as I didn't have time to change the bullet type. I have killed 7 of the ten goblins with my bowgun as they were approaching towards me *phewwwww* make that seven. The orcs are around a kilometer away and I need to deal with the boars before they enter in the fray. *phewwwww* the first boar died.The boars have pretty tough hide and are tanking two shots before to die. *phewwww* another goblin. *phewwww* the boar took the bullet this time.Shit! I don't have time for reload. I placed my bowgun back in inventory and unsheathed my sword.
I ducked below the wall as one of the boars tried to charge straight through the wall. The wall held on but new cracks could be found on it. *swings* I slashed at the boar electrocuting him to death. I barely dodge an attack by another boar but the attack that the remaining goblin. Rare 3 equipment like my sword are great weapons but that does not change the fact that mobs are difficult to deal with. I plunge at another boar promptly dealing the killing blow.

[three minutes later]

Okay all the boars and goblins are dead. But now I have to deal with the leader and his entourage of 4 orcs.....Let me rest already. I loaded my bowgun with fire s. The rapid fire function allowed me to fire three bullets quickly in short bursts thrice before reloading. I fired all my bullets at the orcs in rapid succession killing two of them and injuring the leader. The group flinched for a second while I ran backwards reloading my lbg. In there anger they came after me and as such I kited them firing bullets at them. After several minutes they finally died with them not able to deal any real damage to me.

[five kilometers from the previous spot]

I have collected hide from all the monsters and decided to get away from the spot. I have been eating my rations while sitting next to this short tree I found in the grasslands. Now that I think about it, so many monsters just 10 km from the frontier village........somethings not right. From the looks of it , it can't be a coincidence as 10 goblin parties are rare, let alone the orcs and boars. I decided to move towards my destination after some time. As a hunter sleep is not really a necessity. I can easily remain awake for around 5 days without any significant problems.

[fifteen kilometers from the previous spot]

I am right now looking at what looks like an abandoned monster village. The place looks desolate but I fill an inkling of danger. I decide to skirt around the village.

[Next night, 60 kilometers from the previous spot]

Right now I am hiding in a tall bush, undetected. Well the issue is that by the looks of it, I am about to witness a full-blown battle between Orcs and kobolds. The orcs are led by what looks like two orc leaders and backed by boar warriors and hundreds of goblins. The kobolds are alone led by two kobold leaders. The kobolds are at a significant disadvantage here in terms of number but have advantage in the fact that they are standing in what seems to be ruins of the ancient civilization and as such only have to defend there position.

Some goblin scouts came quite dangerously close to me, probably surveying the area before the battle began but I managed to evade detection.

[30 minutes later]

The skirmish starts by boar warriors charging at the kobolds with two goblins clinging each of the boar. The orcs follow behind but the lack of mobility of orcs means that it looks like the boars just rushed forward. The kobolds also prepare to fight readying there crude spears.

[30 minutes in the fight]

The battle has proven to be almost one-sided for the kobolds. The only thing that has prevented them from getting wiped-out is the fact that they are using stalling tactics taking advantage of the ruins. It is just that something feels weird here ..... My gut is telling me that kobolds would win.

[15 minutes later]

Note to self - Gut feeling tends to be right. Listen to it.

The orcs got flanked by a large group of kobolds led by urr what looks like a kobold leader riding an unicorn. The surprise attack succeeded leading to massive deaths in the goblin ranks. Suddenly the disadvantage vanished and the momentum of the battle shifted. The kobolds in the ruins started a charge almost simultaneously with the flank as if waiting for that moment. Even with kobolds controlling the pace and the orc-boar-goblin hybrid army in chaos, the fight looked like a long drawn battle to me.

[3 hours later]

The battle had been bloody. Rivers of blood seem to flow in the grassland. The greenery of the grasslands was now covered with crimson soaked corpses. The leaders of both side were on the ground barely arrive. The kobolds had won the battle but the majority of the hundred or so remaining kobolds retreated deeper in the grassland as per the kobold hero's command. It looked like he felt the need to see to it that everyone who was alive made it before he succumbed to his injuries. Only some kobolds remained, searching for alive comrades and attending to the kobold hero and the unicorn who were fatally injured.
I quickly made my way towards the battlefield readying my bowgun loaded with fire shots. I killed the orc leaders that were about to bleed to death and took evidence of my kill. I than rushed towards the kobold hero, killing the kobold guards with rapid fire. I unsheathed my sword as I looked at the kobold leader. He murmured something in his language and a peaceful look appeared on his face just before my sword plunged into his heart sending him to eternal sleep. I took my evidence of the kills from all three kobold leaders and the unicorn's horn and hide after which I ran away from the battlefield in a daze.

[2 days later]

I successfully managed to reach the frontier village and took the portal to the guild.

@brasca123

Note - Obtained unicorn horn - 1 , unicorn pelt - 2 , boar hide - 4
Used 30 fire S and 1 whetstone

OOC : I tried. Please tell/review how my report was and what improvements are required.

 

Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
Great Plain|#SD4|D-Ranked|Slay 1 Unicorn [100 G]
Great Plain|#SD5|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Kobold Leader [120 G]
Great Plain|#SE2|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Goblins [50 G]
Great Plain|#SE3|E-Ranked|Slay 10 Orcs [100 G]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
=============================================
"Welcome back... Uhn..." *peeks at his card* "Zekuromaegisu...? Eto... Hi-Hikari will look at the report!" >.<

"Right... Uhn... Hikari is happy things worked out well, but... Ze... Zekuro-san killed only 4 orcs? Hikari can approve the rest of the quests, but will have to fail this one.

The reward will be of 490G, please take care now!" ^^)/

((Hmmmm... Well, be a bit careful with the monster numbers I guess, since you kinda seemed to forget about killing the rest of the orcs.

And also, about the wording on some parts... Like...

This makes it look like the kobolds are the winning group, not the orcs... So the kobolds needing the help of the Hero Kobold end up looking a bit conflicting... But well, from the rest of this paragraph, I could understand that the kobolds were the losing team, and just the bolded part was the strange one.

Hmmm... I guess that's it? The report was nice and I had fun reading it, just be sure to be careful in one thing or another! \(^^)/))

 

Leeanne walked in excitedly and up to hikari "Un~ Hikari-san~ I have these quests done
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]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]

Spoiler: Part 1

After leaving the receptionist's desk and requesting some quests Leeanne turned to Alby-san

"So, Does Alby-san think this will take a day, or should we take some camping supplies?"

After seeing Leeanne back, he answered.

"Hm... depends on how far we'll go. But as I already have a tent, we would only need food." He says while he checks the quests. "Orcs, huh?"

"Yep, you remember the rumor that was talked about yesterday? I'm hoping we might be able to run into something that might give us a clue."

"I see. Perhaps we're lucky." Alberon says, pattin her head.

Leeanne counterpatted his head "Let's go then~---Wait! Which direction? would it be better to go in the direction of the orcs?"

"Well, there are orcs spread in many places, but how about we check with the merchants to know what routes and roads are more oftenly attacked? This could lead us somewhere." Alberon suggested.

"That's a great idea~! Merchant...Merchant....Let's look for someone who may know!" She looked around, eventually spotting a distressed looking man with a damaged cart.

"Over there! Let's ask him!"

"Probably should." Alberon says as he heads to the merchant. "Excuse me, sir, but... is there something bothering you?"

"Well you see, my cargo was damaged, I was traveling to frontier-town, and it was all ruined by those darned orcs! I once had 2 partners and 5 guards with me, and now they are all dead! just to get me to safety! But when I fled, I took the cart that was damaged first! Now I have no money to request help from the adventurers guild" The merchant sighed and looked into the distance with a mournful look.

"That sounds like it, Anne..." He whispers to Leeanne. "We would like your help in something, then. It'll also help you to some extent"

"Un!" Leeanne replied quickly before listening to the merchant again.

"What can you two do?!" The Merchant sighed "I'll try at least, what can I do for you both?"

"We want to track down some of those orcs, you want revenge against the orcs. We'll help each other this way, don't you think?"

"Fine, I'll get some kind of grievance off my chest this way, what do you need help with?" The Merchant seemed to have strengthened his resolve as he gazed over the two young ones.

"We need to know where you were attacked. Or if you know any route or road where there were many attacks reported."

"A route huh...I don't remember the route name, but it's on the one that travels a bit roundabout to the frontier town, you see, we carry a few books that we buy and sell from town to town. But, in order to throw off any possible bandits we took a roundabout path as mentioned before." The merchant picked up one of his destroyed merchandise and a half-destroyed book appeared, with the title, 'An old Miner's findings' "It's a shame that I'll never find out what's in this book, and the author himself has died due to old age."

"Books, you say?" Alberon's eyebrow quirks as Fictus Liones makes some sparks fly from the satchel. "Unforgivable... Please, show us the way." He bowed his head to the merchant.

"Calm lad, don't want to make a scene here. I am also angered by the loss, but It was most likely a random attack." The merchant frowned for a second though "They were using strange techniques to attack the last time I was there, I'd Reckon that the leader was as strong as 2 or 3 orc leaders combined, and a few times smarter! Even If I was angered, I don't want to waste the both of your lives!" As the merchant sobered up from his grievances, he noticed the ages of the listening audience. "You young Fellows, even if there are stories of young adventurers becoming powerful and famous, not everyone can be like that! for every guild master, I bet there are multiple times as many who took the same risks and died!"

"We'll do it. Don't worry about it." He says, steeling his resolve. "There's no way I'd back off now."

"Fine, We'll go then." looking over at Alberon "Kid, What's your name? My name's Marco Polot, It's a pleasure to meet you both." He turned over to Leeanne "Tell me your name also, If you would like, It's not often that I encounter someone with such a peachy scent on them."

"My name is Alberon. Alberon Lionel. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm leeanne~ and this~ " She pointed behind her "Is Mister sniffles and follower 1"

"Oh, It's a pleasure to meet all four of you then. It brightens my day a little seeing youth adventure together." The merchant laughed heartily, but quickly returned to his slightly normal demeanor. "We'll have to leave now or tomorrow. If we leave now, I can look around for any other survivors or volunteers that want to help us on our journey. If we leave now, we can most likely catch up, but who knows of the danger with only a 3 man and" looking at his horse that had carried him there "One horse crew"

"I'm fine going now, but..." Alberon hesitated a bit before continuing. "Unfortunately, my priority in cases of danger will be keep Anne safe. Is that fine?"

Marco looked at the both of them warmly, "Of course, That's what I would expect. Who would give their life for a stranger they just met" He began getting his horse ready and boards the cart "If you have any other objectives during our trip, say them now, I'll gladly drive you to them in return for helping me!"

A bit confused by the reason behind his warm look, Alberon said.

"Hm... we had some other quests, so if we ever come across those creatures we'll need to stop to fight... is that fine?"

"Of course Of course, now then, climb aboard!" he motioned for all 4 of them, Leeanne, Alaberon, Mister Sniffles, and follower 1 to get on but the boars refused, walking behind the cart because the felt like it.

"Un" Leeanne started climbing onto the cart while mister sniffles and follower 1 took positions behind the cart, a closer look would reveal that only the hood and merchandise were damaged, but not the wheels, they seem to be protected by some extra Iron.

"What happened to him?" Alberon asked curious.

"I think he wants to.." "Oink!" "race the cart.."

Leeanne grinned at the antics, though she knew that the boars had stamina so "I think It'll be fine for a while, I don't think we'll be going too fast, or that mister sniffles and his follower will tire easily."

She got on the cart and reached a hand out to let Alberon climb on too "Alby-san~"

"Thanks, Anne." Taking Leeanne's hand, he seated beside her.

The cart started moving as the Marco steered the horse carriage, eventually an hour later, slimes and wandering rabbits could be seen in the far distance. "Marco-san~! Stop!" "One of your quests young lady? Alright I'll stop here for a break while you both do what you need to do." Leeanne pointd in the distance.

"Look Alby-san, Slimes over there and~ Rabbits over there~!" she pointed in one direction, but the two groups were separated a hundred meters, and the rabbits were more scattered than the slimes were. But it seemed the slimes were starting to gather, who knows what might happen if they gather for too long.

"We should probably deal with the slimes first." Alberon said as he took out his Thunder Mace. "We'll deal with the rabbits later."

"Alright"

Leeanne pulled out a bait peach and put minimal mana in it as to not accidentally make the slimes stronger and threw it near the slimes as she got off the cart. A few slimes, sensing the mana, started inching toward the bait.

Mister sniffles and follower one stayed since they were saving up the energy to kill and eat some rabbits they had smelled earlier.

"Thanks for baiting them, Anne!" Alberon said as he ran to the slimes with his mace in hand.

"You welcome~!" She looked around as he ran at the slimes "Be careful, there could be hidden enemies!" She took a firepeach and threw it at the 3 slimes gathering around the bait peach, causing them to gain the BURN status effect, slowing down their reaction time.

"Roger!" Alberon aimed for the weakened slimes, crushing their cores with the mace.

As more slimes gathered, he decided that it would be better to end this faster.

"Storm King Charge!" Chanting the spell, Alberon's legs became covered in small sparks and his speed increased a bit.

Leeanne clapped a bit as she saw him defeat the slimes, but she quickly started supporting him by weakening the furthest slimes from him.

Alberon started attacking the last slimes left when he noticed the rabbits trying to flee while they were busy.

"Anne, don't let them run away!" He yelled while he dealt with the slimes.

Mister sniffles and follower 1 dashed toward the rabbits, herding them like sheep into one area as Leeanne distracted them with tasty peaches as she threw them toward the center.

When one was going to escape, mister sniffles transformed 4 times larger and emitted flames as he charged at it and ate it whole, scaring the others into not leaving the encirclement.

"Nice work!" Alberon says finishing the last slime. "Now, what do we do with those rabbits?"

"We could...I'm not too sure, we can't have mister sniffles charge or the encirclement will break....build a trap in the direction with the least escape spots? Or we could try to attack them from afar? but first" Leeanne took out a miniature stamina and a miniature mana peach "Eat these"

"We should probably deal with them from afar."´ Alberon glances at the peaches. "Those are... why are you giving me them?"

"To be prepared of course~!"

"I see..." Alberon eats the peaches, enjoying the sweet taste and recovering his stamina and mana. "Do you have any offensive magic?" He questions Leeanne, as he didn't had many.

"I could.try..Explosive peaches~?"

She gathered energy into a peach, with only a seed appearing.

"If I infuse it with peach energy...I could make it go off a few seconds after I throw it.."

"That's a good idea, Anne!" Alberon praised her with a smiled. "Just be careful... Don't overdo yourself..."

"un~"

The peach seed was thrown after another surge of mana went into it, a few seconds later, the seed blew up and embedded itself into 3 rabbits and stunning the rest, The rabbits who were hurt fell down since vital arteries were severed.

"That's a... Uh... interesting spell." Alberon says as he watches the effects of the strange seed. "We should deal with them while they're stunned now."

The rabbits that were stunned around 7 or 8 and blocked a side, so mister sniffles and follower 1 blocked the two other sides. Now, there was only 1 side that the rabbits would choose to flee into in a panic, the side leeanne and Alberon were on.

"Alby-san~! Quick!"

"Ah! You won't get away!" Alberon yelled as he pointed his mace at them and activated the three gems in it. "Storm King Assault!" As he had poured just a bit of mana, the spell only shot a small lightning arc towards the rabbits.

While he threw lightning at the rabbits, Leeanne directed the rabbits with bait peaches in small batches into the direction of Alby-san's mace.

With the Storm King Assault still in effect, he started attacking the rabbits, making lightning arcs dance around him.

The rabbits were killed one by one, until the only living rabbits were the ones that were stunned from the start. Mister sniffles and Follower one charged in and ate a few, while killing the others to make sure they don't run away.

"Phew..." Alberon let out a sigh of relief when it all ended.

"Are you okay, Anne?" He asked as he walked back to Leeanne.

"I'm...Fine Alby-san~" She wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead. "It just took a bit out of me than expected, do we collect the slime cores and bunny corpses now~?"

Frowning, he said.

"Yes, we do... but..." Staring at her, he said firmly. "You stay here and rest."

"I..Fine." Leeanne looked hesitant but eventually let him do the scavenging. Mister sniffles and follower 1 started roasting their meal, spoiled with the cooked food at the tavern.

After finishing the scavenging, Alberon came back to the wagon. "I'm done." He said showing his Item Box, where he had stored the items.

"Un~! it's the right number of rabbits and slime parts to gather." Leeanne looked at the 'cart' and said "Why does that man call it a cart if it looks like a wagon?" "Cause missy, I thought it was a cart. Well then, all aboard the wagon since I see you have finished for now." Leeanne climbed onto the wagon, waiting for Alby.

"Okay, let's go ahead. Our goal is still the orcs." He said, seating in the oposite side to Leeanne.

"We'll head off now, what abo" before Marco finished, mister sniffles in his tiny form and follower one hopped aboard. "Lets head to a place where we can scout them out, I don't want to relive that experience of losing, and experience the feeling of a blade through my heart."

"Let's hope we can deal with the orcs." Alberon smiled weakly. "It think I'll rest for a bit while we're in the way." He lays down in his side of the wagon and closes his eyes to take a nap.

Leeanne smiled gently and placed alby's head on her lap as she took a nap too, leaning against the hastily rebuilt hood of the wagon.

After some time of travel, Alberon opened his eyes and found himself in Leeanne's lap. "Ah.... Hm.... Anne?" He tried to call for the sleeping girl.

"Hmm..?" looking down to her lap, Leeanne spotted alby-san "Good~" She looked at the sky, It seemed an hour or two has passed. "Good, Good, you both are awake. But be wary, I saw an old broken kobold trap just a few minutes ago." Leeanne nodded as she patted alby-san's head like that of a caring older sibling to a smaller one.

"You remind me my sister when we were younger." Alberon giggled. "Or my friend back in the Empire." He said while still laying on her lap.

Leeanne giggled back in return "That sounds good to know~ I never had a conversation to your sister other than hello I think~." She helped him up into a sitting position. "Let's be wary, Marco-san just told us to be~!" she looked around with focused eyes.

"She's a bit complicated to deal with..."

'Actually, they both were complicated to deal with...' He said as he stood up and perked his ears as for this kind of situations, relying on your ears was better than eyes.

Hearing some distant growls, Alberon asked Leeanne. "Can you hear that?"

"No..." after a few more moments "wait! I can!" The cart stopped "I'll stop here and park the wagon facing the way we came in case you guys need to get out of here quickly. I think they are the sounds of kobolds fighting for territory, I've seen a fight once from afar, If it's here...." Marco took out a map

"There should be a vanguard of friendly kobolds that run a caravan near here, so don't attack without discerning who they are first alright?"

Leeanne nodded at that, waking up mister sniffles and follower one, with all three getting off the wagon together "Alby-san, What do you think?"

"Let's go, Anne." Alberon didn't took out his mace just yet and got down of the wagon. "Remember, ask first, punch later."

Mister sniffles and follower 1 led the way, going on the animal path with the least amount of branches and anything that could make sound. after following them, Leanne spotted a smaller group of better equipped kobolds face off against a group 3x their size who looked like the typical bandits, with a bad hygiene and rusty weapons. "Alby-san" leeanne whispered to alby "what now?"

"The logic says that the larger group is the bandit's one, but..." He stared at the situation puzzled. "Who knows...?"

The larger group of kobolds started becoming more confident, and started wearing down the smaller group by sending waves of fodder at the well equipped kobolds until the leader got off his wagon and raised a sword with the guild's emblem on it. "Defend till the last, remember your family waiting back home if you flee. Arrow formation, Broadside!"

"Alby-san..." She looked nervously at the situation as the two kobold groups were clashing "Do you think the larger group has a good reason to be attacking a group more well-armed than them?"

"No. There's no doubt. They're bandits." Alberon said while already running to the kobolds. Pulling out his mace, he chanted. "Brothers, take arms! Storm King Armament!"

Javelins made of lightning started to form and fall in the large kobold group while he advanced with his mace in hands.

"Be careful~!" Leeanne looked on as Mister Sniffles in his transformed form and follower 1 also joined the melee on the side of the friendly kobolds who's leader just nodded in our direction in gratitude and continued fighting.

The large group of hostile kobolds seemed unrelenting but eventually, they fell back, leaving a small group of kobolds to cover their retreat.

"I thank you all for helping me, but it seems we are still in danger, Not a single retreat by these ones have been positive to us thus far."

The friendly Kobold leader sighed

"This is horrible, these attacks have become more recent lately, as If something is spurring them on." He was still holding his sword at the tree-line, ready to deflect any projectile that might be thrown at him.

"I wonder if those kobolds are so agitated due to influece of those rummors about the orcs..." Alberon mumbles to himself.

"Did you saw any other merchant in your way here?" He asked to the leader.

"I've seen a large caravan pass by with relatively no attacks on them....though it may be because the wild ones are not that dumb to attack a group in larger numbers. I think they will attack again before retreating, decide what you will, but I have a caravan to be in charge of." The friendly kobold leader started directing his men to heal and re-arm themselves.

"Excuse me~ I'm Leeanne, a healer and priest of Hikari-sama, would you like any help? of course, It's free."

The friendly kobold leader looked at Leeanne "Alright, do what you can." as he looked fiercely at the tree-line in the distance.

"Unfortunately I can't do much..." Alberon sighed. "But thanks for the information."

Leeanne went over and started treating a few wounds, while Mister sniffles and follower 1 ate some wild vegetation, not liking the taste of stinky kobold. "Alby-san, this one just needs to get his arm wrenched back into place, but I'm not sure I can do it...."

"Let me check it..." Alberon checked the arm of the kobold and frowned. Grabbing it with both his hands, he crudely adjusted the arm back in place. "Is this okay?"

The kobold endured with only a grunt escaping from his mouth "Un, It's alright." Leeanne proceeded to heal the arm, using less mana since the arm was already in the correct position. "Alby-san, do you think we should stay with this caravan? or try to go on our own?"

"Unfortunately, I think that going on our own will be too dangerous." He turns to the kobold leader. "If possible, I would like that you allowed us to accompany you."

The kobold leader had finished setting up the plans for defense and counter-attack so he turned and faced Alberon. "It would be no trouble, we are currently headed to frontier town to deliver our brethren there some products to sell." The wagons could be seen with extra protection on them, calling them battle wagons would be more accurate, since there was 2 warriors and 2 archers on each.

"Umm...Should I go back and inform marco-san?" leeanne looked back to where they came from, only hear a clash in the distance.

"We should probably..." Before finishing, he heard the distant clashing sound. "What was that sound?" Alberon perked his ears.

The sound abruptly ended and quiet reigned the plains once again "M-M....Marco-san! A-Alby-san, what do we do?!" She looked worriedly in the direction marco had said that he would be.

"Crap..." Cursing in a low tone, he turned to Mr. Sniffles and the Follower 1. "Follow up, we're rushing there!"

Picking Leeanne up, Alberon chanted as he started running there. "Storm King Charge!"

In the distance the cart could finally be seen, but there was no sign of Marco Polot and it seemed the merchandise leftover that he brought in hopes of repairing them at frontier town were also missing. Mister sniffles and follower 1 started sniffing around the wagon, looking for a scent that might clue them in where the person was taken or went.

Alberon put Leeanne on the ground and went to help checking if there was any clue.

There seems to be a few clues, 2 groups of footprints lead to two different directions, it seems that only one of them has the occasional blood droplet. Mister sniffles looked on at which one alby would choose to seem superior when he choose the right one.

"I think It's the one with the blood, I mean, Marco-san did not look like a fighter...." Leeanne offered her analysis.

"Then let's follow it... and hope is the right one."

"Alright, lets go" leeanne followed the trail, looking behind and around for any other clues while mister sniffles and follower one followed.

Looking around too, Alberon followed them. "I hope Marco is okay..."

"There! wait...get back!" leeanne stepped back in time as a rock flew past where her head had been, and a squadron of hostile kobolds appeared with swords drawn.One of them seems to have been holding a rabbit it had hunted or killed earlier, causing blood stains to seep out of the rabbit's corpse.

"It's a trap!" Alberon yelled.

"I-indeed~! It's a trap!" Leeanne looked confused at alby's saying out loud the current situation, so she just threw a fire peach into one of the kobolds mouthes as they were attacked by mister sniffles.

The battle was going well, for now, but there was a rustling sound behind alberon.

While Leeanne and the others were fighting, Alberon decided to watch their back.

Hearing rustling sounds, he raised his mace. "Show yourself, whoever you are!"

An arrogant looking orc came out with a sharp looking blade "No Pursuers. Kill" The orc pointed forward, and two kobolds with sharp tiny knives dove at alberon quickly, one to distract him, and the other one to try and go in for the kill.

Leeanne looked back in time though, and was able to throw a peach she had been sparing into one of the kobolds faces, but It only was able to distract 1 of them for a couple seconds as their blades came closer to alberon.

Mister sniffles already finished the fight on his end, but could not get back in time to help alberon.

"Storm King Armament." A pair of spears impale the kobolds before their blades could reach Alberon. Due to the difficulty of making that spell at pointblank range, Alberon had spent a little bit more than expected.

The strange looking orc clicked his tongue as a bell sound was heard an a kobold appeared at his side "We got the merchant quieted down." the orc laughed as he heard the news "I will be leaving now." He said as a smokey fog suddenly obscured his location.

Leeanne rushed over to alberon "are you alright?!"

Alberon's eyes were shining strangely.

"Yeah, I'm good." With a poker face, he drew something in the air with his finger. "Be revealed, foreign works." The rune he drew shone and a small marble formed in his hand. "Found you." He smiled strangely while he stared at the small marble in his hand.

-

The orc was busy planning with two other orcs when he noticed a strange feeling at the back of his mind, deciding the operations he had planned was already was too risky he gave a few more orders, the wild kobolds are to finish off the caravan while he takes the merchant marco to a place where they can securely interrogate him.

He ordered a group of 10 wild kobolds to guard the perimeter, just in case.

-

"Alby-san, you found him?!"

"Yeah, I did..." Taking out Fictus Liones from his satchel, he said to Leeanne. "Can you go back to the caravan? I'll deal with them."

"Just...be safe alright?" She hugged Alby as she went back to the caravan with follower 1, mister sniffles on the other hand was rearing to go and fight, with flames emitting from his skin in excitement.

After seeing Leeanne off, Alberon said to Mister Sniffles. "I hope you can keep up with the speed." He smiled as he casted a spell on both of them. "Storm King Charge." His and Mister Sniffles' legs were covered by some sparks as their speed increased.

Alberon started running in the direction he had detected the orcs with his book in hand as he started chanting as the book started covering him in more and more sparks of lightning. "The battle is not over yet. The storm still rages..."

They reached a bush, where in front of them there was cave with 5 kobolds in front, 1 of them had some strange looking instrument that looked like it could make noice. Mister sniffles looked at it with caution, and looked for anything they could do or use.

'I thought I would never use this, but still...' Alberon thought as they reached near the cave where the orcs were, finishing his chant. "Until the furthest end, surpass your limit. O Distant King, bear witness to this light. Storm King Majesty." A torrent of lightning covered him, and a small crown of lightning formed in his head. Alberon's expression distorted for a moment before he opened a thick smile. "Hahahaha! What are you waiting for, Sir Boar?" He laughed and talked loudly, as if he wanted the kobolds to hear, and in a voice that didn't sounded like Alberon at all.

As the kobolds noticed them, the one with the instrument prepared to use it.

"As if I'd let! Storm King Armament!" A lightning sword flew and broke the instrument.

"How imprudent of you! The only one who can announce the King's arrival is the King himself!"

Mister sniffles took that as a challenge, he forced himself to become 6x bigger than normal, possibly reaching a breakthrough in energy cultivation as he charged right through the kobolds at the entrance and charged right in. 2 of the kobolds were taken during the charge and the remaining three started fleeing.

-

"What's that sound?! Is it that adventurer? I thought he was weak. Go you two, I'll face him last and win." The two left quietly, being careful to remove any traces that they were there in the first place.

-

"Good job, Sir Boar!" Alberon laughed and waved him mace in the direction the three kobolds were fleeing, making lightning swords fall on them, ending their lives.

Sensing something strange, he dodged instinctively as a blade grazed his cheek. Still smiling, he turned his body and kicked the orc that went rolling in the ground. "Hahahaha~ So they prepared a welcoming party!" He said, jumping back and barely dodging another of the blades. "But aren't they too impolite? Hiding their presences before the King." Glaring at the orc in front of him, he said to Mister Sniffles. "Sir Boar, deal with the other one. I'll deal with this one."

"King? What King? all I see is a human serf!" The one facing Alberon laughed as he started pouring a tiny bit of energy into his blade "your limbs will be enjoyed as a delicacy." and attacked Alberon head on.

Mister sniffles stared at his opponent and quickly gained ground on him before he could withdraw his throwing knives and so, they started there game of tag, where the orc had to dodge and attempt to get mister sniffles to slow down, and mister sniffles was attempting to gore the orc.

-

Meanwhile, in the cave.....

"I won't tell you anything!" Marco coughed blood as the orc punched him again "Tell us, the location of the cultivation books, you know where they are." Marco was resisting, but he could only last so long as a man raised with the prospects of becoming a book merchant.

-

Alberon swatted the orc's blade aside using his mace before creating two lightning swords to fall at him. The orc jumped back and dodged both and soon enough came attacking Alberon, that simply kept swatting his attacks away and dodging while laughing.

"Good! You're quite nimble!"

As the orc made another charge, Alberon stomped the ground, making sparks fly crushed the ground beneath what resulted in the orc loosing his footing for a moment.

Not letting the change go, he swung his mace against the orc's side, breaking some bones.

"But your nimbleness won't save you!" Alberon started to press hard against the wounded orc.

The orc spat out blood and still attempted to fight back, when five kobolds rushed out of the cave and supported the orc that had just spit out blood "One of you, tell M52 To eat." one of the kobolds nodded, and ran back into the cave.

-

Again, in the cave, the torture contnued. "I'll...Never...Tell....It hurts!" His leg was being dissolved by a slime the orc had captured earlier. "I'll give you a quick, easy death if you just tell me where it is!" By the second, Mister Marco Polot is that much closer to spilling the beans.

-

Seeing some orcs exiting the cave with the kobolds, Alberon dryly laughed. They looked weaker than the two ones that attacked first, but their numbers were nothing to scoff off. "Now, now. Unfortunately, I have matters to attend so we'll have to end our conversation here. Storm King Armament." Like arrows, lightning javelins started pouring in the orc. Feeling that the mana he had left was a bit bellow half, Alberon didn't lost time with the weak orcs and rushed inside the cave, yelling back. "I leave the small fries to you, Sir Boar!"

Mister sniffles agreed, taking on the weakling orcs and kobolds that were like the minions in an obligatory boss battle.

-

At the Kobold caravan

"This..Is!?" "Indeed that would be little girl." Leeanne looked at the cart, full of rare metals to be processed in frontier town. "The stuff that makes chocolate~!" leeanne drooled but was met with the face of a smirking kobold "did you know, It's more tasty in it's raw form?" "Really?!" "Of course, of course, have a crushed bean." Leeanne accepted one with a thanks and chewed on it, her face going sour after a few seconds "It tastes funny~" The caravan Guffawed at the scene with leeanne going "ehehehehe~"

The scene was interrupted by the kobolds attacking again but this time, the attack was shorter.

-

At the entrance of the cave, mister sniffles had finished off the weaklings when the rustling sounds arrived, It was a 10-man messenger unit of goblins. But upon seeing Mister Sniffles, they were reluctant to charge but one of the goblins took the lead and charged.

-

"You have wasted enough of my time, spit it out or I will make you feel pain so painful, you will wish you had killed yourself!" "N-No please, I'll tell you, just spare me from this pain!" Looking at his minions and the weaker orcs rush out, the captain orc, the one that had been interrogating the merchant abruptly stopped and held up the half of the book "If you don't spit it out, I'll destory this one, I heard you beg for the remaining half back?" "No-No! you can't! I'll tell you now! The location is in the pass, guarded by the master's pet!" "That's good..." The Orc Captain slit the merchant's throat and poured the blood into something mixed with magical herbs "With this, I can finally take one of the positions of being one of the tribe's piller agents!"

He drank the concoction, and a few seconds later, his skin became denser, "hahahaha! Now I'm way stronger than any normal wild orc leader! It's a shame my silent co-captains were silenced so quickly."

Sensing someone coming in he opened a cage full of wild, very hungry hounds into the direction of the entrance.

-

"Out of my way, mongrels! Storm King Assault!" Seeing the hounds coming at his direction, Alberon brushed them aside, summoning arcs of lightning.

Arriving at the end of the cave, he found a strong looking orc and the dead Marco.

'Tsk... I was too late.' He thought while taking out an object from his satchel and analyzing his opponent. 'By the energy he exudes... Hm... about a bit below a Devoured Man. My odds of victory are... 30%? Perhaps 35 if we stretch a bit...' Crushing the object he had taken out, a small sized Mana Heart, the mana that was inside it rushed outside before it was sucked by Alberon as he caster Storm King Guard, Might and Charge without chanting. 'That increases my odds to 50/50. I shouldn't have wasted so much mana before.'

Fearlessly smiling, Alberon taunted the orc. "You're a fool for sending dogs to hunt a lion!"

"Hahahaha! A lion is just a larger cat! Tough but always ends up on my dinner plate!" He Guffawed as he prepared his attacks and defenses quickly "Your little tricks will be no match for me, and soon, the guild will just be a place burned down in history!" He quickly pulled out his war-axe "I'll serve you half-cooked to the goblin pets we've Acquired in recent times!" Of course, the war axe was dangerous, but it seemed the orc was more deadly at close-combat than with a weapon, but the orc wanted to see what the adventurer would do.

"Half-cooked? Oh? That's a good idea!" Opening a wide, fearless smile, he gripped his mace, concentrating more and more mana in it.

"Since Marco is dead, that's for my favor to some extent. I'd hate to have friendly fire." Sparks started crawling all over the room's floor and ceiling as Alberon yelled. "Storm King Assault!" Suddenly, the room was completely engulfed by thunders, having its main focus the orc holding the axe.

'I hope he's done with that... But let's not hope much...'

The orc suddenly grinned as he threw the thunder-charged axe at Alberon as a feint and used quicksteps to get up close enough to punch him.

"Hmph." A thunder struck down the axe as Alberon stored his mace to face the orc with his hands. Avoiding his punch, he grabbed the orcs hand and made an over shoulder throw.

The orc rolled in the ground and got up, rushing at Alberon again. The strength behind his punches were nothing to scoff at, so Alberon decided to not confront him directly more than needed.

Using his Storm King Armament, he threw weapons at the orc while he exchanged blows.

Growing more and more furious the orc shouted "Adventurers always use cowardly tactics, So I'll do the same!" He began stomping in areas as he fought with Albernon, so that the footing would be a bit off whenever Albernon went to that area.

The weapons did have an effect thought, he started bleeding little by little from the wounds he started accumulating.

"Who's the one using cowardly tactics?" Alberon laughed and stopped throwing the lightning weapons, and instead started to make lightning spears sprout from the ground beneath to attack him as he took out two more Mana Hearts from his Item Box. The battle was being more time and mana consuming than he expected, but he was unexpectedly enjoying it.

"This is fun, but I will end this now!" The lightning had dealt the orc a blow in which he was not sure he could last long if It stayed that way for too long so he took a drastic measure.

The orc stomped the ground harder than before, making all the cracks that he had been creating to burst, unable to resist the power behind the stomp, and causing many pieces of stone to fly in the air.

Alberon was thrown off balance by the orc's move and fell back. The orc, who wouldn't let this chance go, went full on the offensive to finish him off.

As Alberon's smile slightly turned in a frown, he decided to use his last resort. "Storm King Armament." From the pieces of stone flying in the air, many lightning spears sprouted, piercing the orc from many angles.

But as Alberon couldn't control it properly in such an uneven position such as the flying rocks, some of the spears scratched him in many points.

Wounded and tired, he fell in the ground, staring at the finally dead orc.

"Finally over..." He muttered before fainting from exhaustion.

Spoiler: Part 2

"Victory!" "Victory! "Victory!" "Yay~!"

After a prolonged battle, they were able to beat off that attacking kobolds, where leeanne suggested they were to follow and ambush them from behind from multiple sides, resulting in the celebration now. "Hmm? Follower 1? what?" Follower 1 led leeanne to mister sniffles, confident in bragging about his kill count.

-

Meanwhile, Mister sniffles had killed all of the minions at the entrance of the cave and entered, eating a few hounds along the way he finally arrived at the scene of the battle and promptly began tasting the orc captain, but decided not to eat the orc captain since he did not win the fight against the orc captain, opting to wait for Alberon to wake up, then feast on the orc captain's guts wih him.

Waking up, Alberon found himself in a cave. His body hurt quite a bit and he had a intense headache, probably from overusing magic.

Raising from the ground, he found Mister Sniffles and the corpse of a dead orc.

"Huh?" Approaching the dead orc, he could feel that he was really strong, because even being dead, the energy he let out was quite impressive.

Taking out a knife from his Item Box, Alberon started trying to open his chest to take out the monster's heart. The skin of the orc was as resistant as steel, so he had to use a bit of Creation Magic to be able to cut it.

After storing the heart, he glanced at Mister Sniffles, who seemed eager to eat the orc and nodded with a weak smile.

Mister sniffles oinked in appreciation and began to eat the corpse, a few moments later oinking could be heard in the distance followed by leeanne going "Alby? Alby-san? where are you? (Q.Q)"

"Anne, I'm here..." He said without much energy. Looking at himself, Alberon noticed he had several bruises and wounds, and was covered in blood, both his and the orc's.

"Ah... it seems I'll be scolded by her..." He whispered to himself.

Leeanne saw the blood, making her face go white in fright for a second for alby's safety. She quickly rushed to his side "Heal!" she muttered as she took out a healing peach and crushed it into a pulp, spreading it on his wounds, then bandaging them. "Alby-san! are you alright?!" She continued healing and healing, crushing her extra healing peaches into pulp and spreading it around and putting some into his mouth before he could reply.

Munching the peaches in his mouth, he answered. "C-calm down a bit! I'm fine!" Grabbing her shoulders lightly, Alberon stopped her and sighed a bit. "You know, if you show that much desperation, how you want your patient to feel?"

"B-But...." She sighed as she slowed down and took out some cloth to bandage the wounds "Its...I......." She hesitated a bit, She's never seen someone close to her that beatup besides her grampa, but her gramps had already proven his resilience many times over during her childhood. But someone like alberon who looks.... She hugged him. "I'm sorry..."

"You don't need to apologise..." Alberon said patting her head. "See? I'm fine, I guess..."

"Well...now what?" She looked around at the destruction caused, thought she noticed something "Grab everything, let's get out of here quickly before the cave collapses soon." she took a few important looking scrolls and hoisted Alberon up.

"You recover quite fast." Alberon smiled and grabbed the orc's war axe and stored it before rushing out with the others.

After they got out and the cave collapsed, the scene of mostly eaten corpses filled up their view, though leeanne did not seem to mind and responded to alberon "Mouuuu~! It's just~! I'm still worried you know~!" She squeezed his cheeks and pouted.

"Hahaha... sorry. I'll try to be more careful next time." Alberon said having his cheeks squeezed. "Thanks for worrying." He patted her head. "But the worried Anne was quite cute, so perhaps... Alberon joked.

"Thanks..." Taking the compliment at face value for a second before realizing "Alby-san is cute too~!" is what she retorted, she had blushed slightly but otherwise smiled happily and counter-patting his head while pouting.

"Very well... we should probably go back. I'm a bit tired so I want to go back to Aeternus as soon as possible." Alberon said tiredly. "But first we should talk with that caravan of kobolds to tell them to take care.... who knows if there are other groups of orcs like this one."

"Alright, let's head back. Alby-san, do you need any help?" She took an arm, readily supporting it.

"Do you have something for headaches?" He asked while he held his head with a hand.

"I...Hmmm....." She produced a small stamina peach and took a bottle of purified moonlight water out of her inventory "How about these, they could help a little I think." She offered them both to Alby.

Eating the peach, he felt his headache lessen a bit. "Thanks, Anne."

"And the water? I think It might help a bit alby-san~" Leeanne put the bottle in his hands, "A fresh drink of water always helps!"

"Thanks..." He drank the water as they neared the caravan.

"Ahahaha! I see you both are ok--I mean all four of you are all okay! Well, I you'd like to travel with our caravan to Frontier Town, It's alright if you do." Pondering a bit he added "If you don't want to, one of my men saw an abandoned horse next to an abandoned broken down cart, I can get them to bring it to you."

Being tired, Leeanne leaned onto Alby-san "Alby-san, Which? I think It's better to have a scout bring a horse to go home quicker...and I don't believe mister sniffles would appreciate us using him as a mount for so long..."

"I think so too. Moreover, we can't let Marco's horse by himself when... that happened..." He turned to the kobold with an apologetic expression. "Could you please bring the horse here?"

"Alright, We've set up camp here for now, processing the inventory and all that, feel free to stay for dinner if your inclined." The kobold leader barked orders and a unit of 2 kobold scouts went into the direction of the horse that they saw.

"As much as I want to go right back to Aeternus, I'm too tired to actually go..." Alberon glanced at Leeanne. "What do you think, Anne?"

"Let's stay for the night, We're tired, and I think we could trust them." She looked around as the caravan prepared to feast with a festive atmosphere.

"Well, I hope they have any spare tent." Alberon said while checking his Item Box, confirming that there was one tent there. Although it could fit two persons in it... "You can use my tent, I'll try to talk with them during the feast to see if they can lend me one." Alberon decided to leave it to Leeanne.

"Wait~! we could fit in one tent, I don't mind if it's with alby-san, it'll be like a sleepover~!" She seemed excitedly tired, excited, but tired. "And mister sniffles and follower one can sleep at the entrance~!"

"Then it's settled..." Alberon said and smiled tiredly as he walked to where the kobolds started having their feast.

Leeanne went and started setting up the tent first, while mister sniffles and follower 1 seemed energetic as always for food. "Care for some roasted rabbit? The chef had put some herbs on it and it tastes amazing." The kobold captain said as he walked over to Alberon.

"Thanks. Can I take some for my companions? I think we're a bit too tired, so we'll eat and sleep." Alberon asked the kobold. "Sorry for all the inconvenience and thanks for having us."

"It's alright, You and that girl helped me a lot today already. Cook! bring 4 of the rabbits and some water over!" a few seconds later a kobold gave Alberon the food and water. "We'll be leaving 2 hours after sun-rise, be prepared."

"Thanks again." Alberon took the food and water before bowing and going back to the tent, that Leeanne had finished setting. "Time to eat, Anne. Be sure to thank that leader tomorrow for all his kindness."

"Alright~!" She begun biting on the rabbit, or rather, nibbling on it since she normally ate that way. "It's tasty Alby-ssan~! try it~!" she had already sat down and beckoned Alberon to do the same. Mister sniffles and follower 1 already laid in the tent belly up, indicating that they were full, and of course, mister sniffles was in his normal small form.

Alberon started eating a bit of the rabbit meat and muttered. "I never ate rabbit before, but it's quite good..."

Finishing his meal, he yawned and looked at the tent. "I think is about time to sleep."

"Un~"
She had already placed some cloth on the ground, then laid down and closed her eyes gently, carefree and trusting in Alberon.

"Good night, Anne..." Alberon said while he laid facing up in the tent right beside Leeanne.

During the night, Leeanne rolled over and hugged Alberon Accidentally, using him as a body pillow.

When the morning came and Alberon woke up, he found himself being used as a pillow by Leeanne and panicked. Still, as to not wake her up abruptly he used his free arm to poke her cheek.

"Anne... wake up, it's already time."

"mmm~ 2 more minutes Otou-san~" she continued hugging him as she dreamed of hugging the softest animals.

'Otou-san? Hm... if I remember correctly... Father, was it?' Raising slowly as he adjusted her with care, Alberon sat in the ground while patting Leeanne's head. "Wake up, Anne. Fa- I mean, Otou-san won't make breakfast for late girls." He said giggling.

"No~!" She sat up and looked around alarmed "Leeanne is a good girl----?" She looked around confused until she saw alberon giggling "Mou~! Alby-san~!"

"Sorry. I didn't wanted to disturb your sleep, but couldn't help." Alberon said smiling. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yep~! Did Alby-san sleep well~?" She put on a stern face that her mother usually puts on, though unknown to herself made her look funny.

"What's with the funny face?" Alberon giggled. "Yeah, I slept well."

"It's~ Stern~!" She grinned confidently "I've nailed my momma's look I think!" She looked around and noticed mister sniffles and follower 1 heading out "Looks like they are serving breakfast right now." She looked back at Alberon "I'll follow your lead~ Old man~" She giggled as she said the last few words and waited.

"You don't need to try to copy your mother's face, little miss. Your normal face is cuter." He ruffled her hair as he got up and exited the tent. "Now let's eat something, young lady."

"Sure~"

She looked around, seeing the kobolds feasting again.

"They sure are lively." He muttered walking to the feast.

"Good morning, just grab some food and leave when your ready!" The kobold captain waved at them cheerily and then went back to talking with his co-captains.

"I'll have..this then" leeanne picked rabbit stew and roasted rabbit and went to a relatively empty area and sat down to eat "Alby-san~ don't over-eat or you'll get a stomachache~!"

"Don't worry, I'mnot that much hungry..." He said taking just a bit of meat. "We'll need to thank them later for the food. And pick up Marco's horse to leave..." Alberon said lifelessly.

At the mention of Marco, leeanne remembered about seeing a co--"T-That...was Marco..?"

She paled, biting her lip.

Alberon lowered his head with a saddened face. "I was too late... I couldn't do anything as always..."

"T-That's....We.....Let's go back to Aeternus..." She sighed, finishing her meal though, since It was always important to finish any food, wastage is a sin. She looked at him and patted his head "It's not your fault....." She looked at the amount of food alberon ate. "Eat up...You need the energy and we can't have that.."

Leeanne had....matured since the raid on aeternus, the constant death already gave her a taste of what to expect nect, but she promised in her mind, to help prevent it in the future even more.

"Thanks, Anne..." He said, still with his head down.

She sighed grabbed a wooden slab and put meat kebabs on it.

"Do I need to feed you?"

She grinned and took one of the kebabs

"ahhhh~"

"You don't ne-" Alberon raised his head, with a strange gleam in his eyes for a moment. But when he saw Leeanne trying to feed him with a mischievous face, his expression got a bit better. "Shouldn't you be the one being fed, young lady? I'll accept anyway. Aah."

Leeanne put the kebab in his mouth, making sure to get it all in. "You were saying~?" She grinned as he finished it. "See~ You needed it~"

"I need some rest after this." Having finished the meal, he got up. "I want to thank the leader kobold now. Will you come, or want to stay?"

"I'll go along with you Alby-san"

"Then, let's go." Walking the where the kobold leader was, Alberon greeted him and bowed. "Thanks for having us, and for the food." Raising his head, he extended his hand to the kobold. "I hope we can meet again, but in a better situation. Good luck in your travel."

"And me to you for the help, The horse is already near your tent, farewells." He smiled back "And you miss, If you need a job, just contact us." "Alright" "So I take it you two are going to report this strange incident to the guild? I'd be grateful if you did."

"We will report. Thanks for retrieving the horse." Alberon said, bowing once more.

"Don't mind It, It's to help a friend in need, now then, I hope to see you both in the future." He started ordering the camp to clean up, he was not stupid enough to feast for too long in the plains, he did not want to deal with disgusting tasting goblins if he had the choice to.

"Alby-san, lets go." she went back to the tent and started packing it up.

"Let's go." Going back to the tent, Alberon found the young black horse that once belonged to Marco tied near the tent. He went near the horse and tried to pat him. The horse was a bit wary at first, but accepted it while he looked around, perhaps searching for his missing owner. "I'm sorry... Marco is not here anymore..." As if he had understood the situation, the horse neighed bleakly.

"Alby-san~ I'm done." Leeanne walked over to alberon and looked at the horse "So, what do we do with him~?"

"Well, since we don't have a wagon for him to pull, we should mount him." Alberon looked at the horse a bit concerned. As he never had mounted a horse before, he was a bit concerned. "At least they've put a saddle on it."

"As long as your relaxed alby-san~ I'll get on first~." she approached the horse within it's sight slowly, and the the horse one of her peaches, then while It was eating the peach, she gently pet the horse's mane. "Wow~ I never thought any of granpa's tales would come to use...." she then attempted to get on the horse when "Alby-san~! can you push me up a bit~!" not noticing the only ways to push her up was to push either an awkward or strange spot.

"Okay, let me..." Alberon tried to push her carefully as to not touch any awkward spot too much. "Here you go." After having Leeanne mounted, he climbed up the horse and sat in front of her, with his hands in the reins.

"Does your grampa tales taught how to ride this thing?"

"U-ummm~ not really...He didin't think I'd really use a horse with the 'fancy teleportation technology' Aeternus uses...I think...I have to do this if your riding in front~!" she hugged him from behind, "It's like you have a back cushion ne~"

"O-okay, then..." He swallowed dryly and made a small prayer before urging the horse. "I hope he knows the way back. Don't let go, Anne, else you might fall." Alberon said, blushing a bit.

"Un~!" The held on tighter to not fall off "Mister sniffles~! Follower 1~! we're heading off~!"

The horse ran off. Although Alberon didn't knew if he was going to Frontier's direction or not, as soon as he sighted the village distantly, his worries were dispelled. "We're almost at home."

"Hmm~? Oh~ I've never been to frontier village~!" Her eyes shined as the crowds heading in and out of frontier town were on the horizon

"Is that so?" Alberon asked curious. "Anne, where are you from?"

"Ummm...." She thought hard "I'll have to ask mama~, I forgot the name of the place I came from~ oh, do you know how long Aeternus has been flying~?"

"I'd say about one year, from what I remember. Maybe less, maybe more."

"So about a year on Aeternus~ and the rest in a village that had no name~ mama and papa raught me a lot of things but the village eventually disbanded due to people getting bored of having to travel to the city to sell and buy all the time~ I forgot the name though but it seems that the -san prefix is something people in the village said a lot~"

"That's pretty common for the Great Plains. Well, I had to learn how to speak with people here, but I'm still not used to either the costumes or the language... In times like these, I kind of miss the Empire." Entering Frontier Village, the horse took both of them to the Teleportation Gate. Alberon got down of the horse and started helping Leeanne to go dismount. "You can go ahead and hand the report. I still need to find a place for the horse."

"Thanks---woah~!" The horse neighed at mister sniffles as he was boasting of his speed in front of the horse, causing leeanne to fall onto alberon.

"Anne!" He caught her, cushioning her fall as they went to the ground together.

Leeanne was lying ontop of Alberon, when she noticed the situation "Alby-san~! are you alright? I'm sorry.." She checked his head since she was sure they may have bumped heads falling down, so she closely inspected his face and head.

"A-Anne, you're a bit too close." Alberon blushed, having her face so near his.

"Look~! your face is a bit red~! I know, What my mom does~" She put her forehead on his when "Oh~!" She lifted her head and sat next to him "it doesin't seem warm enough for a fever..Eat healthily while I go report okay~? and where do you want to meet back at~?"

Sighing, he sat up and said. "Good grief... Well, let's meet at the Tavern. I'll be waiting for you there after dealing with the horse matter."

"Un~!" She hugged him and walked happily to the teleportation gate "see you~" she waved as she teleported away with mister sniffles and follower 1.

Partner @The Everdistant Utopia

Receptionist @brasca123

 

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]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
Great Plain|#SD3|D-Ranked|Slay 3 Orc Leaders [150 G]
=====================
"Welcome back Lea-chan!" ^^)/

"Ah, the party quest with... Eto... Hi-Hikari will look at it!" >.<

"Orc attacks are growing quite a bit... Hikari feels troubled... But Hikari doesn't know what to do with it either... I-in any case, Hikari is happy both Lea-chan and... A-A-Arube-san got back well!" Why can't Hikari say his name properly!? >.<

"The reward will be of 470G. Please split between the both of you!

Take care now!" ^^)/

@The Everdistant Utopia @leegood

((Just a quick note on something that irked me a bit...

Orc Leader a bit below a Devoured Man...? Uhn... You do know that the Devoured Man is an A-rank mob, while stuff like... A Lesser Kraken is B-rank... Right?

It felt a bit weird for his power to be that big, since Alby doesn't quite look near the necessary strength to fight that off... Just my view on it at least, it gave a weird feeling to me.

The report was really nice btw! I just felt I should point that out! >.<))

 

The meatbun appeared on the receptionist's head again.

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]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]

Spoiler: The meatbun's Report

[Starting calories 5500] [Starting mass - 2 average meatbuns or 2 MBs]
This meatbun used the momentum of the receptionist's throw to leave the tavern, using his powers of flight to catch a ride on the back of a wagon leaving Aeternus to the Great plains. The journey lasted for only...this meatbun does not care for time. Eventually, this meat bun arrived where It wanted to and hopped off the cart when the wagon stopped.

[-40 calories = 4460 calories]
A few moments later, This meatbun was absorbing the grass [+1.3 mass= 3.3 MB], peacefully, minding this meatbun's business when it found a bunch of wondering rabbits eating towards the patch of grass it was absorbing. Indignant, this meatbun started spreading poison powder in the grass around it and left. [-1 mass = 2.3 MB]

Then it 'left' toward another area.

WhileThis meatbun 'left', a large group of 26 bunnies came and ate the grass, but when they tasted the spice and a few minutes later after they ate it, they started running around, bumping into groups of slimes and getting eaten by them.The slimes, in turn, had never encountered this kind of spicy poison before.

When the spice entered the slime's nervous system, the slimes started emitting a warm meatbun smell, luring 10 goblins to the slimes. though before the goblins could attempt to eat the slimes, 5 boar warriors charged out and challenged them to the meal. Actually, the boar warriors just happened to be in the neighborhood when they smelled the delicious smell and thought the goblins were the ones emitting the smell.

And so, the boars and the goblins started clashing with each other, no clear winner when suddenly a shower of arrows from a kobold raiding party killed them all except for the remaining half of the slimes, which was 10 total.. happy with their victory, they started collecting the food left behind in the form of the corpses and the five strange smelling slime corpses to see if they could use the slime corpses in their arrows,.

the wild kobold chieftain had an idea Why not use this to destroy the rival orc raiding party? and so, placed 4 of the remaining living slimes in the center of a large opening, then killed the remaining 1 and recoated the tip of their very crude arrows with the fire poison slime again, they were able to do this because they noticed that when one of the slimes was eating a rabbit, it started becoming red and emitted the smell they had smelt earlier.

They waited in ambush as 10 goblins and 10 orcs marched out, with the goblins as the sacrifices in case there was an ambush. The clash started after a nervous kobold pierced a goblin that had gotten too close in the head with one of his poisoned arrows, and the rest of the arrows were let loose, with the chieftain directing the archers to shoot at the beefier orcs and the orcs trying to charge the kobolds. What the participants in the above did not realize, was the dust a few of them were accidentally stepping in was spicy poison powder, absorbing it through their skin as they moved around the pre-meditated battlefield and weakening them a bit and they tried to move their feet faster than normal.

The kobolds had a terrain advantage over the orcs, who had to travel uphill into the arrows of the poisoned arrows to get to the archers! But this power imbalance was not to be for long, one of the orcs ordered all of the remaining 5 goblins to charge forward as they charged behind breaking the kobold's battle plans and clashing against the kobold's infantry head on which ended up in the kobolds losing.

Sensing defeat, the chieftain abandoned the hunting party while they were clashing with the orcs and goblins, not noticing the tiny meatbun that had been observing this, all along, allll along, alllllll along while sniping with his material laser at orcs, goblins, and kobolds who were not paying attention to their surroundings, as a few around them suddenly fell before their opponent finished swinging their weapon.

half an hour later, 2 kobolds cheered in victory, only for 1 to go down. The remaining kobold looked around frantically but did not see anything except a bright light in it's right eye as it too, fell down.

[current calories 280] [current mass - 0.98 MB]

A bird, seeing the delicious looking meatbun, swooped down and flew back to it's little nest in Aeternus, but it got a puff of normal spicy powder in it's face as the meatbun was over Aeternus. using levitation, the meatbun was able to slow down, and flew into the tavern with the momentum of gravity, landing on the receptionist's head.
[Remaining calories 275] [Remaining mass 0.90 MB]

@brasca123

 

"Here is my report...." I pass my report as I have something bothering me. "If it is not bothered, may I ask what quantity will be called out as over mining..?"

Gallant Mine|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Snow Goblin [80G]
Gallant Mine|#GE1|E-Ranked|Mine 5 Ice Crystal [80G | 1 x Refined Ice Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#GE2|E-Ranked|Mine 5 Wind Crystal [80G | 1 x Refined Wind Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#GD1|D-Ranked|Mine 12 Mithril Ore [60G | 1 x Mithril Ingot]
Gallant Mine|#GD4|D-Ranked|Mine 25 Iron Ore [60G | 4 x Iron Ingot]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]

Spoiler: Quest Report

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

"It was fun testing some stuff. I need to put myself inside a plasma barrier to make sure the after-effects of the testing won't damage the room. Though I was covered with a lot of dust and soot. My mind is full of ideas and before I know it I run out of materials. With this, I might be able to upgrade Ezero." I smiled excitedly then pondered realizing something.

"I also really need a lab but seeing how much gold it is to buy some area on the Aeternus City is high. Need to earn a lot a gold. I really need to do my best in getting money and resources." I looked at Ezero's core with determination. For now, I should start this quest I have taken that I been forgotten for quite awhile. Well, the guild doesn't have any time limit for the quest. But best to do it now and not later.

But I was having fun with the tavern, meeting different people. In result, I didn't notice the time already and I need my routine updates.

I meet with Amanda who I just become a friend with. A gun user who is named Elias. He even asks to help with testing the bullets I'm planning on. Guildmaster Shadow also gave me some valuable information about renting a lab. There was also this little girl name Leeanne who gave me a peach. It was delicious but it was strange how she hugged me. Wonder why..?

I woke up from my capsule after some updates and charging. As I looked around, I saw the wisp hidden behind Ezero core. I smiled slightly as I slowly approached it. "Good Morning~"

The wisp quickly ran away as it saw me. But it seems to always take a peek when given a chance. While I was working before, it would fervently observe what I'm doing and ran when I looked at him. I weakly smiled as I waved my hand. "I'm leaving now, please guard Ezero while I'm gone."

I smiled towards the wisp as I gathered the equipment I'm gonna use. I planned to use some prototypes arrows to the beings I'm going to emilinate. The broadhead which has a small detailed etch on it contained the powdered form of the fire crystals. Upon contact with the target, the crystals will react to the force and give the results that would verify my hypothesis. For now, I only had the idea how to use fire crystals. Problem is the earth crystals that the properties I could exploit are its hardness. So I made a blunt arrowhead using the earth crystals etch on it.

Let's begin the test and move to the destination. The location is the Gallant Mine, as I look at the map. I noticed it was just quite near to the Frontier Village. Therefore, I only need to enter the portal from the Aeternus Floating City that connected to the Frontier Village. Then, I can walk my way to the Gallant Mine. Hopefully passing by a group of bandits on the way. As I completed evaluating my plans for the trip, I start going on my next journey entering the portal towards the Frontier.

As I exited the portal, I looked at the Frontier observing the place. The village was lively as people walked around. I could see a variety of different races. Seeing few Kobolds reminds me of the kind Kobolds who helped me when I arrived here. I smiled thinking how they probably go hunting again today.

As I reached the exit of the village in the east. I could see the snowy mountains in the distance which would likely be the North Mountains. I activated my scope as I observed the place. While working to the destination I saw a small road. This seems to me tracks made by the miners leading to Gallant Mine. I followed the road till I arrived at the destination.



| Location: Gallant Mine
| Objective: Mine 5 crystals each of ice and wind, 12 Mithril ore and 25 Iron ore. Slay 5 Snow Goblin

From the records, I read in the Aeternus Library. The Gallant Mine has different climates which made it possible for the different crystals to exist. Though, it was interesting for me on how this even crystal where produce in this world. That would be difficult to study but still interesting. If I properly theorize and understand how the crystals produced naturally. Maybe I can mass produce them synthetically or perhaps just found a way to make all the elemental crystals in a specific area. But crystals are just similar to ores so that would be a difficult subject.

Returning to the topic of how the Gallant mine is constructed. There is a lot of cave connected which might cause people to get lost. But with my navigational system, I could easily map the surrounding.

Going deeper into the mine, I noticed several miners mining. I noticed several veins as my system analyzed the ore. It easily identified it as an iron ore. They can be smelted properly on blast furnace to create a steel. The steel will be helpful in making weaponry and bullets. Speaking of bullets, I also need to make gunpowder. And also a place where I can use a furnace to make steel.

"Troubling---" I merely sighed with the difficulties I'm facing. If this was my old world, I could use the satellite or computer database. I could look for an abandon factory or smithing place. Technically, there is no longer living being in my former world so everything is abandoned. As I move forward in this world. It seems I keep facing one problem from one another.

"Father said there is always a way and a solution is just around the corner." I faintly smiled. I looked at the vein as I started mining 25 iron ores. Not only that I mine 10 more raw iron ore for crafting. Finishing the work, I continued my way to the next destination.

I activate my thermal vision to track the coldest location. As I walked following the mini-map on my HUD. My ears perked up at it heard a howling wind. As I follow the location of the sound. I could feel a breezy wind inside a closed cavern which was peculiar. As I went inside I saw crystals with light green. I tested it's mana as I wore my Exoframe where the mana sensor vision is installed.

I sensed mana within the crystals. They have a high probability of being wind crystals due to their color. I started to mine about 5 of them. And additional 5 more for testing. Over-mining is not allowed but I hope 5 is not that much. When I took only one raw fire crystal, it was not enough that I have no choice to use the 1 fire refined crystal. Though I was able to test the differences between of the raw and refined. It was still wasteful to use refined for testing. But I was able to theorize how to refine raw crystals. Problem is, I have insufficient materials for testing. But if I gather too much then that would be bad for the environment. It would be nice if I will be able to make synthetic crystals. But I need proper equipment and lab for it.

I continued to the coldest place ignoring the changes of the weather. The temperature drops drastically but being automata. I just needed to decrease my sensitivity and I will not feel anything. Finally reaching the coldest location, I noticed light blue crystals. As I touch them, I could feel the coldness similar to an ice. It suddenly breaks apart into dust as I held them. They are really fragile as described. I carefully mine 10 of the raw ice crystals.

The last of the mission was to mine the Mithril Ore. It is said to have best magic conductibility. But I don't have any mana to use. So I would have a high probability of having difficulty searching for this. I can only use its properties as a clue. Since it was described as resembling silver but stronger and lighter steel. I just need to compare it to the database in my system. Maybe it would work by trial and error. I decided to take a gamble and search for veins that seem to have silver ore appearance. When I found the vein, I mined a piece as I let my system analyzed it. I felt its weight and strength as I lightly clenched the ore. My system immediately calculated and compared it to the database of steel.

"The probability that this would be the Mithril Ore is around to 63.84% by just using the ore description in the library." Taking account the properties of the ore in it. I also increased the mana sensitivity of my sensor system. I held on an iron ore and the silverish ore. With this, I compared the mana it released. I sensed mana on the other ore increasing the probability of 89.68%. Since the chances are higher, I started to mine 15 of this ore which is likely the Mithril Ore.

After I completed the mining quest, next will be the slaying quest. The creatures I'm going to eliminate is the Snow Goblins. They are different from regular goblins that I killed before. They have light blue skin and high affinity for ice. It is recommended to kill them with fire rather than ice. Though I don't understand how to kill a person with ice. Maybe a freezing equipment or weaponry, that will release a very condensed low temperature which is absolute zero. A gun opposite to a flamethrower which instead releases absolute zero---

"Focus on objective," I shook my head as I was getting distracted. I walked to the mines to search for tracks. With my sensors, I easily found the tracks and followed it. It led me to a narrow path which I slowly entered. I stopped my movement as I heard voices. I magnified my vision to the place and saw several snow goblins talking. It seems like the tracks have taken me to its nest. The numbers are around 23 snow goblins. It seems like there are children and olds in the nest. They have small fragments of animal fur which seems to be their blankets and clothes. The weapons they have are crude sticks with stones attached to it. Some have bows and others are holding a simple wooden club. They don't have any bonfires even it is cold. So they might have already adapted to this temperature and already used to it.

I only need to eliminate 5 of them. So better to wait for the best opportunity. I stayed at my current location increasing all my sensors and made sure my location is secured. The night arrived as the goblins fall asleep. It would be nice to have a silent gun suppressor to kill them while they sleep. But I'm afraid it would have great after-effects since there are also children in the place. I waited as I observed them silently, being automata allowed me to stay awake as long as I still have energy in my supply.

Morning arrived, as 7 adult snow goblins walk out. They seem to be going to hunt for food. I silently followed in the back while waiting for a chance to strike. As they were already far from the nest, I grabbed the compound bow and arrows in my item box.

I stared at the 8 broadhead arrows etch with fire crystals on it. Every arrow has a different amount of powdered fire crystals on it. I'm still finding the right amount of the crystals. Another one 6 blunt arrows which I will use to stun the other goblins.

The fire crystals which were taken into the powdered form or grain dust was etched on the arrow. This grain dust form of fire crystals was condensed in its full potential through series of trials of errors. Which in the end depleted my resources even though I use a small grain of it for every test. This taken in percentage form in comparison to the total weight of the arrowhead. The test will use four different percentage approximately 23% 15% 4% 0.5% respectively.

I first pulled the arrow with 23 percentage and aimed it at the group. As I released the arrow, it swiftly flew towards the group of snow goblins.

BOOOOOM!!!!!!

It immediately exploded, just an inch to the foremost goblins of the group. The explosion pushed them while a smoke was created. I speculated that it is due to the wind pressure. The friction from the wind-activated the fire crystals' explosive attribute immediately. Which cause it to explode before it impacted.

A large smoke was created but it only burns some of the goblins. It killed two goblins which were nearest to it from what my thermal sensor showed me. The goblins grew alerted as the smoke dissipated. They started chattering weird noises as they communicate to each other readying their weapon.

Taking account that the low temperature will affect the intensity of explosion. I immediately released the arrow with 15 percentage. It flew but miss the target even though I use lock on of my system. Luckily it hits the snow goblin behind him.

BOOM!

It then exploded upon contact burning the face of the goblin which killed it. It seems like that due to being ignited midway in the air. The velocity increases making the traveling speed different from what I calculated.

I pulled the 4% arrow and released it towards the snow goblins. The snow goblins released a war cry as they ran to my destination. The arrow hit the goblin in-front and immediately covered it with flames. It screamed and squirmed around while it slowly dies from pain. The speed was fast and accurate. But the problem was the firepower. It would highly likely to become stronger when mixed with gunpowder.

Not moving to my position since they are still far. I swiftly released the last arrow with 0.5%. It flew at a normal speed and hit the snow goblin forehead. Sadly, it didn't explode or ignite. The percentage was too low that it only created a small spark.

The two snow goblins hesitated seeing most of them already died. I pulled the earth crystals blunt arrows. As I prepared to take aim, they quickly retreated and ran away.

"Mission completed," I released my stance and placed the bow and arrows back to my item box. I looked to the surrounding to check the results of the test. I saw five dead corpse of snow goblins: Two are killed with 23% arrow with the strongest among the rest which only killed on each. Seeing the effects made me speculated that the fire crystals which were condensed and turned into powdered are quite similar to a gunpowder. But if it would be combined with gunpowder, the explosive power might increase.

"As expected--" I kneeled and look towards the location of the arrows. The arrows are burned and those with higher percentage are turned into ashes. The only thing left was the 0.5% arrow which was embedded in the head of the goblin. I pulled the arrow and felt the weak heat on the tip.

I stare at the arrow I'm holding with blood on it. Killing the snow goblins was to make sure to control its population. Some might end up harming the lives of the miners. Still, they have a family but since I don't know much of this world. I should just focus on the task at hand.

The thing good about bow and arrow was that the arrows are retrievable and can be recycled as long as the shaft is not broken. Problem is with fire crystals they were explosive. Which will results arrowhead will melt or either the shaft will easily turn into a crisp since it is only made of wood. Since this will make it consumable, best to use a gun for this method. A gun will have easier control over the trajectory and faster reloading. Probably making a bullet or slug with the crystal part. First, I need to make the gun using the ingot that I would receive after the quest is submitted.

"I should start the last quest," I deactivated my Exoframe as I started walking to the exit. Since all task is done, I only need to finish the last one.


| Location: Great Plain
| Objective: Slay 5 Bandits

I walked outside the Gallant Mine as I head to the Frontier. I remembered the rumors about the Orcs who are attacking the people using the road towards the frontier. This Orcs might be considered as Bandits since they pillaged the caravans that they ambushed. It seems like they are searching for certain objects. From the info, I have gathered earlier in the Frontier town. The attacks frequently occur in the East on the Frontier. Which the road they likely used is the Gallant pass which connects the Frontier to the Orc Lands. I traversed down to the Gallant Mine to the Gallant Pass as I used this knowledge. I followed the road where the merchant pass by and head to the Frontier.

Bandits are said to be similar robbers in my database. So they are beings that attacked and pillaged the innocents. I only see records to them in my former world. The Orcs I read on the library explained that they act similar to bandits. I could hypothesize that the Orcs attacking the roads in the Frontier were more likely to be a Bandit since they kill and steal those who pass by. Therefore, If I'm lucky enough then I can encounter this so-called Bandits and eliminate them.

Finally seeing the Great Plains in the distance. I activated my sensors to alert me if anything happens. As I leisurely walked forward, I heard a loud scream. I magnified my vision and look to the direction of the Frontier. Just ahead is a caravan being attacked by a group of Orcs. They are quite different from humans even though I've looked a far.

BAAM!! BAAM!! BAAM!!

I quickly ran as every step propelled me forward as the force applied to my feet were concentrated. I left behind a strong gust of winds and cracks on the ground.

Just in the distance, I saw the Orcs which as a different color than the humans and are much taller. They have a large build similar to the body type of Endomorph. They also wearing crude armor but their weapons are large and threatening. That would only to a normal being but fear doesn't equate to my system.

For now, I'd planned to test my raw strength with these Bandits. Without the use of the Exoframe and weapons. I just needed to make sure to avoid my face getting damaged. Since my skin is protected by the Kevlar bodysuit. The only problem is my face which needed to protected by a helmet. Though I Exoframe for it, It seemed like I won't need it.

I'm more interested in the limit of my physical strength to the creature of this world. I was always careful when touching my father since I almost accidentally broke his ribs before when I hugged him. The only times I never hesitated to use my strength was when dealing with machines. The bandit Orc will be a good test for it.

SWOOOSSHHH!!!

I quickly readied my fist as I just a meters from the nearest Bandit. Just as my position was right coordinates according to the calculations. I swiftly propelled forward sending a strong gust wind around me. I quickly punched the bandit chest area before they could even notice me. Due to the excessive impact, he flew quite a distance. Just before he disappeared on my vision, I heard the sound of breaking bones. From the part I have hit, the ribs would be fractured and his organs crushed to paste.

The bandits shouted in alert as they suddenly saw me. They look to their died comrade that lay lifeless far away. His chest seems to appear to cave-in due to the impact. They looked at me with seething anger as they started to surround me.

I merely looked around to analyze the situation. There are about 13 Bandit Orcs left. All our readying their weapon while a larger Orc which seemed to be the leader of the bandit group also observed me. On my back are the merchants shivering from fear. But slowly the light of hope regained as they look at me.

"Who are you, woman!? For a little girl to have that strength. Perhaps are you part of that annoying guild." The Bandit leader spat in my direction as if to mock me. "You should have stayed quiet and let us took the spoils of this pathetic weaklings. But now you have to pay for killing our comrade and blocking our path."

CHANG! CHANG! CHANG!

The other bandits slammed their weapons in agreement. The merchants behind me started to shiver in fear. It would likely possible that they would not expect a lone girl to be able to fight them. The bandits start to laugh at me while some are drooling as they look at my body.

A large bandit moved in my direction as he moves closer. He snorted as he looked down at me. His hand started to try to reach my shoulder.

BAAM!

Before he knows it, his head was flown above. His neck breaks from the sudden impact as a foam escaped his mouth. I already sent a powerful kick before he could even touch me.

Without any sound, I swiftly jumped towards another bandit. He quickly responded by swinging his sword in my direction. I merely dodged an inch of it before I grabbed his arm. I swiftly break the bones as I hit it with my elbow. The bandit screamed in pain. As he fell in his knees looking at his broken arm. I went to his back and broke his head.

"Two more left--" I coldly countdown the mission objective as I looked emotionlessly to them. The Bandit released a loud shout as they all rushed to me.

Since I only need to kill 5 bandits. I just need to kill 2 more and make the Bandit Leader order a retreat to his comrade. Every time I was attacked, I was able to easily dodge due to my sensors and counter in every possibility. I made sure to break their bones to render them from attacking.

"AAHHHH!!" I suddenly heard a scream as I look at its location. A bandit was holding a young male merchant.

"Don't move or I'll kill him!" The bandit ordered at me. The other bandits also smiled in response seeing a chance. I stood still silently as one bandit grab my shoulder.

My eyes lit up as I calculated every possible route. I already knew that they might use a human shield. But it doesn't matter to me, saving the lives of others was not my mission.

Without hesitation, I swing my right leg behind hitting the bandits area below his belt. This made him screamed in pain with a loud voice scaring the others. I calmly returned the position of my right leg back to the ground like nothing happened.

"Kill him--" I coldly spoke as I stood silently. The bandits and even the merchants were shocked from my response. "My mission was to kill bandits not to save people. Their lives are not my responsibility."

The young male merchant cried as he heard my cold response. The Bandit holding him clicked his tongue as he thrown him away. With that action, I immediately propelled to him as swing my legs over his head. I quickly hit his head on the side dragging it which made him flew quite a distance. He rolled around a couple of times before stopping, his neck twisted killing on spot.

"One more---" I continued to count as I stood up. The merchants were behind me as the bandits were in front.

The Leader of bandit brows crossed as he expression turned ugly. Finally, he seemed to notice that he have no chance of winning against me.

"Retreat, they don't have the books we need anyway!" He angrily shouted as he moved in the direction to the east away from the Frontier. The surviving orcs grunted as they carried their wounded allies.

"I still need one more---" I grabbed a stone planning to eliminate the last one. When I notice the number corpses of the bandits left were five. Seems like the bandits I kick in his weakest spot died from the pain.

"Five corpses confirmed, time to head back." I patted the blood of my fist. I concluded that not using a weapon should be used as last resort. Since it would leave behind dirty blood on my suit. It would give a high probability of making others uncomfortable due to the appearance.

"Thanks for saving us," one of the merchants bravely moved towards me. The others, especially the young male merchant feared me due to the words I have spoken earlier.

"Sorry to scare you all," I bowed my upper body. "You didn't have to say your gratitude since I'm just doing my mission. It is just a mere coincidence that I was in the right place at the right time."

"Ah yes..." The merchant weakly smiled at my cold response. "But still thank you for helping us. Where are you going now..?"

"Now my mission is finished. I'm planning to head back to the Frontier and go to the portal." I faintly smiled as I nodded to them preparing to leave. "I would highly advice you guys, to hire mercenaries to escort you. There is a high probability that next time... The attacks will still continue."

"Then we would gladly do what you advise." The merchant shivered and the others also showed some fear on their face. Most likely from the idea what would happen appeared to their minds. His voice stuttered as he gathered all his courage. "Then would you please at least escort us to the Frontier. The distance is still far, I fear that we could be attacked again."

"That has a high probability of happening." I looked towards them as I nodded. "Then I would gladly accept that mission."

The merchants smiled in relief and in the end, I traveled with them. I could sense some eyes looking at us but they didn't move. It seemed they noticed that I stayed in the caravan.

"Right, if I might not be rude miss what you said before." The merchant gulped, "was that a taunt to make the bandit release our friend..?"

I moved my gaze back to him as I heard his question and just gave a faint smile.

Spoiler: Note:

- 10 raw Iron ores
- 5 raw Ice crystals
- 5 raw Wind crystals
- 4 raw Mithril Ores​

@shad12ow

 

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]
Great Plain|#SE4|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Boar Warriors. [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE5|E-Ranked|Slay 15 Kobolds [70 G]
Great Plain|#SE6|E-Ranked|Slay 20 Wandering Rabbits [50 G]
=====================
*twitch twitch*
*pokes the nearby cleaning lady*

"Ma-Manami-chan... I-is there something on Hikari's head...?"

"... Yes."

"Please tell Hikari it's not dirty..."

"It's a meatbun..."

"...
...
...

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!" *throws it out* "Not again! Hikari just washed her hair yesterday!!!

Why does it always appear on Hikari's head..." T.T

*pats her shoulder* "There there... You have a report to appraise, don't you?"

"Hikari... Has...?" *blink blink* "Oh, right... Hikari has... Thanks Manami-chan..."

"No worries" *smiles* *goes back to cleaning*

"Let Hikari see... This was... This was definitely the weirdest report Hikari ever saw... It seems to be fine though, so...

Eto... The reward will be of 390G, alright?

Take care..." Please don't appear on Hikari's head again please don't appear on Hikari's head again...

 

Gallant Mine|#SE1|E-Ranked|Slay 5 Snow Goblin [80G]
Gallant Mine|#GE1|E-Ranked|Mine 5 Ice Crystal [80G | 1 x Refined Ice Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#GE2|E-Ranked|Mine 5 Wind Crystal [80G | 1 x Refined Wind Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#GD1|D-Ranked|Mine 12 Mithril Ore [60G | 1 x Mithril Ingot]
Gallant Mine|#GD4|D-Ranked|Mine 25 Iron Ore [60G | 4 x Iron Ingot]
Great Plain|#SD7|D-Ranked|Slay 5 Bandits [150 G]
====================================================================
"Hmm? Ah, Aime, eh? Good to see you again~!" said Shadow to him accompanied by his usual smile. "The report, eh? Let me see it."
After that, he read the whole report in a rather short time. Finished with that, he put down the report and then pulled out a small bag and put it in front of her.
"Well done, as usual. Here's your reward, 510 Gold, and also the permit to take the reward item. As for you question....hmm...overmining is if you mine about double than we ask you. Or maybe even mining them in a dangerous way. Like using explosives, for example. Not that I don't allow that. But most just don't have the right amount when using it. So you risked the whole mine caving in. Anyway, just use your common sense. Besides, not like we're going to increase the reward with more collected. Hahaha~! Take care now, Aime~!" Shadow waved his hand at her. "Oh, right, I'll get back to you about that lab for rent. Let's just say that I have to....prepare the property first. Hahaha~!"
OOC: Gah! Sorry for the late reply!

 

#RA 7 – B Rank – Balthazzar Quest [0 G | Ranked Up to A Rank]

Spoiler: ”Rank Up Q BOYZ”

“So all I have to do is go be some deity’s slave for a couple days and I become A rank? Just like that?” Not seeming to understand my confusion concerning the situation, Shadow stared at me with a blank expression.


“I believe so, that is what they requested after all.”


A smile replaced my confused features and I couldn’t help but marvel at the simplicity of this quest. I’ve been a slave for millennia, this would be a walk in the park. “Alright.” I said as I grabbed my coat that was draping off the chair. “See you in 5 days.” With that, I tipped my hat in his direction and teleported to the designated location.


Sipping from his coffee with a rather relaxed face, Shadow was about to leave the meeting room before a realisation struck him.


“Oh, I forgot to tell him not to kill them.” His trust in Balthazar seemed to be fairly strong though, considering there wasn’t an ounce of worry on his face. “Well, he should be fine.” Picking up his coffee, Shadow dropped the coffee mug nearly instantaneously and it shattered across the wooden floor spilling the black coffee out onto the wooden floor.


“Maybe I should contact him.” The first sign of emotion appeared on Shadow’s face as hesitation swept over his features. “Yeah, I’ll tell him”

______________


All this time waiting and all I have to do is be a slave for 5 days. It’s a little frustrating but I guess it could be worse. Naturally I could have been sent to do an extermination mission but that would have been easy as well. The only thing that confuses me are my ‘captors’. It’s the pantheon of gods presiding over this world. The hell do I have to sucker up to these assholes?


They were created to support the world and the people so if they don’t, they lose power. I didn’t really see a connection between everything but eh, whatever. Maybe it's got something to do with some complicated interlinking pantheon bullshit. The big boys got wind of my achievement and wanted compensation and they left it to the local pantheon of the accused. Something like that anyway.


Though considering the punishment is only 5 days, it really isn’t much of a punishment then is it? Seemed like they could’ve just left it alone but if they did, I wouldn’t have gotten a rank-up quest. After this brief moment of coming to a conclusion on the matter, the teleportation spell abruptly ended and I was where I should be, in some field in another dimension.


After reaching a certain point in mental capabilities, I realised that teleportation wasn’t instantaneous. Nothing could be instantaneous, but it was extremely quick. So naturally, after reaching a certain level of comprehension, you can mentally elongate the amount of time spent in the space rift to strategize or increase your comprehension of space by immersing yourself in the rift.


Naturally it is dangerous but with a little concentration and a strong body, I’ll be fine. Looking at the green expanse of field coating the area, there really wasn’t much that I saw. The so called pantheon that was supposed to be here wasn’t present but they should be here soon. In their absence, I noted the differences between the dimensions. The gravity here was 10x as strong which burdened me slightly, but after a couple minutes I should be acclimated to it. Other than that though, everything was basically the same.


It was a little different than the roaming fortress that was heaven but I wasn’t necessarily complaining about the lack of mind controlled slaves attacking me. Ahh, spacial distortion, a sign of somebody that was looking into the true powers of spacial magic. Though if they’re weak to the point of causing spatial distortions than only whelps who know nothing about the magic may find it impressive.


As I locked on to the point of teleportation, a shimmering light imploded upon itself and there appeared what I believed to be the pantheon of gods representatives I suppose. Three of them, two guys on the left and middle respectively, and a woman on the right. Half heartedly saluting them in an act of peace, I stood and pretended like the incompetent barrier created by space magic they made to isolate the sound of their voices actually worked. I snorted, amateurs, always so cocky.


“This is the one sent to us?” A man standing at the far left started off the talking and just for some added context, you know those pompous douches who you can tell think the world revolves around them? I’m gonna stop there.


A woman with an exuding aura of calm spoke. “Yes, I too disbelieve. He doesn’t seem to be as powerful as the reports suggested.”


The man in the middle then spoke and too be fair, he seemed alright. “Don’t misjudge him. I don’t know what kind of bullshit was pulled but that adventurer’s guild of theirs contains monsters on an omniversal level. He is one of them, or is soon to become one, however you please to look at it.” A look of respect overtook his features.


“I haven’t met him but the guildmaster has to be one hell of a guy to round up all of them with his miniscule level of power. There’s only one other corporation who can just barely match their level of power and the ruler himself is the most powerful.” (*COUGH* Insert S rank quest here please)


They seemed like they were going to continue talking for a long time so I just interrupted them. “Excuse me? Can you stop debating and get on with the contract already, only got 5 days left after all.”


The guy in the middle cracked a grin while the douche seemed shocked albeit the woman only nodded her head. “Y-You? How can you hear us?”


“Your barrier is pitiful, let's get on with the contract please.” After noticing the douche barely regain some semblance of bearing, the man in the middle threw over a soul contract that was far too long for what it contained. I managed to broil it down to a couple main things though.


One, follow what we say and no troubles shall befall the adventurer’s guild. Two, I’m not allowed to kill anyone and three, well, there wasn’t one. Two points somehow stretched out over multiple pages, it was overdoing it a little. Signing the document, I handed it back to the man and mentally played with the idea of snapping the string between the paper and my soul but I figured I probably shouldn’t do it.


If they have someone who had the same attainments in soul magic as space magic, they might be able to sense there being no contract at all. Nevertheless, if it came down to it, breaking the contract and killing them all wouldn’t be a problem but I have to get that A rank.


“Alright, now that that’s done let's get back to your lair and we can start the jobs.” I think you might be able to sense my eagerness to finish this. Though naturally, my pure intentions were taken advantage of. The man in the middle took half a second to laugh and ‘correct’ my thinking.

“Balthazar, for the next 5 days you are our glorified bitch. There is no way we would let you into the pantheon even with a soul contract.”


At his words, I smirked. Sudden pretentiousness always managed to annoy me. “So? What’s my first order of business?”


At this, it was the woman who spoke up. “You will be our-” She paused and thought about her next words carefully. “...bounty hunter for the next few days. Your first assignment is a god who goes by the name Stylus. Here’s his information,” she handed me a packet containing his last known whereabouts and other things like that. “you have until the end of the day to report back here with his head, or we will go to war with the adventurer’s guild.”


As if to hasten my ‘fears’ she added, “With the combined power of the pantheons that exist in closest few dimensions.” If I wasn’t mistaken, she too sounded just a tad smug.


Despite my annoyance, I nodded my head at her and clarified the situation. “So, I’m your executioner and it seems like I have a target per day that I must deliver upon, or I get to exterminate multiple pantheons in a week. Very tough situation you have me in, hands tied behind my back and all you know?”


Apparently not privy to the slight threat I had laid out, the woman’s facial expression changed for a split second before she replied back with a seemingly angry flare. “You? Exterminate the combined might of our pan-”


A single snap broke her voice and as I held my hand in that position, the woman clasped her throat and started gasping, or she’s trying to at least. All the air in her lungs was replaced with well, a placeholder of sorts. At my interference, the two man seemed to flare up as well and were about to shout at but I glared at them and shushed them with my hand. “Shut up.”


After that, they no longer tried to speak out for their dying comrade. Making my way towards her, I slowly watched as she grew increasingly panicked and tried to back up but a look of mine froze her in place. “Do you want to breathe?” I asked, fully intending to deliver if certain conditions are fulfilled.


After a couple seconds of waiting without a response I glared at her and asked again. “Well?” Nodding her head, I mimicked the action and looked towards her comrades before chuckling. “Then get on your knees and grovel, bitch.” As far as threats go, I don't generally mind when they are thrown my way. Not like they’re powerful enough to deliver on them in the first place.


However, I’ve taken the guild up as my home, and you don’t threaten someone’s family. I was not regretful as she barely stood, nearly fainting because her body couldn’t handle it. If she wanted to leave, she had to give up her pride and beg. Shadow didn’t forbid me from killing, just said he’d rather I didn’t.


“You can’t kill her! You signed a soul contract!” The leader clearly pointed out a very important part of this and I looked at him before pointing to the contract he blusteringly showed me. Within a split second, the contract burst into flames and turned into nothing but ash. Giving him my most innocent face as he reddened from anger, I pointed at the falling pieces of ash and spoke a simple sentence. “Oh? You mean that contract?”


A disturbance from the right grabbed my attention and I saw the woman banging her head on the floor while groveling. Seemed like she prized her life after all. I quickly grabbed her chin and watched as the light in her eyes quickly began to fade out. Raising my hand, I lightly backhanded her and she started to cough and gasp in the air that she so desperately craved as a red mark appeared on her cheek.


“I’ll be your executioner for the next 5 days, but don’t get cocky with me assholes. I was told that I couldn’t kill you unless necessary, and I deem some things necessary very quickly.”


Well, threats weren’t always my thing. I preferred actions but it seemed to get the point across fairly well. “I’ll see you tonight.”


Leaving a future appointment behind, I teleported away towards some place where this ‘Stylus’ last appeared. The surroundings were, if anything, flamboyant. The foliage was glowing but I didn’t necessarily take note of what here was recognisable. Emulating a form of tracking magic, I began to look for some clues about my target. Filtering my senses specifically towards what some would call the ‘divine’, I quickly followed a trail that was set out through the forest.


If there is one sure fire way to track someone down at a god level of power, searching for divine essence is the quickest way. They can’t erase it and it only disappears after a couple days, but until then, I have free reign. As I followed the trail, I finally came to a spot which abruptly stopped but some of the ‘essence’ managed to coat a spacial distortion that I could ride to where I believe were his current whereabouts.


Interlacing my fingers with the spacial distortion, I managed to trace the destination of choice before ripping open the portal once more and entering through it. It was a pretty common affair. On the other side was some sort of town that I had to navigate my way through. I could tell it wasn’t deserted, yet there wasn’t a single soul around.


It only made me hesitate slightly however as I continued to track the essence into a house, in which was unsurprisingly Stylus. Drinking from a cup and holding a crystal ball filled with souls in the other. He noticed me but it seemed like he was expecting me anyway. Though I believe he thought it was an executioner more than me specifically, granted I was the executioner he was waiting for.


“May I sit?” I asked calmly, unperturbed to the souls inside the orb. They were past the point of saving already and the method of containment kept them from both ascending and or descending.


He looked at me with trace amounts of surprise before he gestured to the chair across from him. “So, you were to be hunted down for messing with mortal souls?” The second question of the visit and unlike the first one, he did not answer.


“No, I doubt it. Deities don’t have a general care for mortals in the first place so why are you my target Stylus? Break a rule or two?” Nothing. “Get on someone’s bad side?” A slight smile tugged at his lips as I spoke that. Good, we were getting somewhere. “So, who did you tick off?”


He looked over curiously before sighing and he finally spoke. “I’m a small time deity, I didn’t have much purpose for existing in the first place but it was my nature itself which kept me powerful.” A slight bitterness could be seen in his eyes as he continued to speak.


“However, the goddess of purity on the other hand was a well kept goddess hidden away from the world, maintaining purity throughout the land and all.” Aside the bitterness was a trace of self deprecation.


“I had the chance to meet her and thus I did, she was a legend after all. Though I fell a little too hard, and so did she.” At this, his eyes turned red and I could tell there wasn’t a lie that was told. “They couldn’t believe it, a war god in a warless world and a goddess of purity tainted by love. What a pair.”


He turned silent for a little bit before mustering up some semblance of calm. “Needless to say, the purity in the world was being drained and the higher ups weren’t happy about it. We were separated, I was cast out and now I’m being hunted for ‘deranging’ the world.” He turned silent once again after finishing his story and I almost felt a little sorry for him.


Though I didn’t. However, as things go, I too was cast out from a pantheon although I wasn’t a god myself and I suppose that struck a little bit of familiarity within me. Unfortunately for him however, I was on a mission. I nodded at him and eyeballed the ball of souls. “How would you like to die war god?”


He chuckled and stood up, I could see that the worries in his eyes had disappeared as he realised what was happening fairly quickly. I watched him take a couple steps towards a corner of the house before he reached his hand and pulled a small bag from the wall. Reaching inside the bag, he grabbed what looked to be a bracelet as he took it out.


Putting it on and tightening it around his wrist, he settled down quietly and eyed me without any trace of menace. “Naturally, to die in battle is the best way.”


Chuckling, I looked at him with a grin on my face. “What a coincidence, it’s rare to find someone with so many similarities.”


I could see the divine energy coat itself around the bracelet and a set of armor sprouted from his wrist. Dark red and menacing, it covered every centimeter of his body leaving no gaps and it lacked any semblance of flamboyance. Rald would probably like a suit like this. After a second of the armor forming, a large axe appeared in his hands as he held it faced towards me.


“Any regrets?” I asked.


“Only that I couldn’t kill that son of a bitch already.” Speaking his thoughts, i assumed he meant the leader of his pantheon and I laughed wildly. Deciding to fight the battle barehanded as opposed to using my saber, I got into a stance and capped out my power so it was similar to his.


“Let’s see what you're made of!”

____________


Taking the five severed heads out of my storage, I handed them to the collector. I kept them all until today just to see if they would follow up on their promises to attack, and lo’ and behold, they did not. Unfortunately though, the strongest of my adversaries was indeed Stylus, the fallen war god. He was skillful, if not powerful, but he couldn’t quite match up.


The rest though were fairly easy to track down save for the fourth one who knew some tracking magic as well and managed to shake me off his trail for a little bit, although not for long as his head was too collected by the man in front of me. I kept one thing from each kill except from Stylus. I took the bracelet and the soul ball.


The rest of them didn’t have any useful weapons or armor but they did have other random items that I figured might have a use in the future. My thoughts were interrupted however, when the collector finished examining the trophies and he looked to me. “The contract period is up and you’re free to go.”


I nodded as I had already expected such a thing but his next words amused me slightly. “Unfortunately, one of our resident goddesses is now filled with fear towards you and I doubt we will be able to hire you in the future due to her protests.”


I understood that somewhat, I doubt she had ever felt such humiliation before, if we were talking about the same goddess. “Then I’ll be on my way.” The man nodded at me as I tipped my imaginary hat towards him and teleported towards the guild in a very ‘matter of fact’ manner. “Oh Shady?! I’m going to need that rank up!”

pretty short but whatevs. only 3k or so words long

 

forgot to tag its been so long @shad12ow ^^

 

@brasca123

1. North Mountain|#GD1|D-Ranked|Gather 3 Yeti Skins [120G | 1 x Yeti Fur]
2. Gallant Mine|#GD2|D-Ranked|Mine 3 Fire Crystals [100G | 1 x Refined Fire Crystal]
3. Gallant Mine|#GD3|D-Ranked|Mine 3 Earth Crystals [100G | 1 x Refined Earth Crystal]
4. Gallant Mine|#GE2|E-Ranked|Mine 5 Wind Crystal [80G | 1 x Refined Wind Crystal]
5. Gallant Mine|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 3 Ice Golems [150 G]
6. Ash Plains |#GD2|C-Ranked|Fish 5 Lava fish [180 G | 1 x Lave Fish Core]


A new person entered, having a certain asleep griffon in her arms, she seemed to be around 15/16 years old, her skin was pale, not as much as Cinere, she had grey chestnut shoulder-length hair, blue eyes and a slender body, what was maybe a bit disturbing was that she had runes all over her skin, even on her face, at least, it wasn't messily made, it gave her a sort-of mysterious appearance... despite having a childish smile.
"Hello~ my name is ~ Nally ~" She presented herself as she looked at this petite goddess named Hikara while Cinere only sighed and began to talk with a soft smile.
"Thank you for your hard work, here is our report, I hope there is nothing wrong with it." while he was saying this, he seemed to be quite happy yet not really, but well, he can't always be happy with everything after all.
"Have a good day Hikari." Liya said as he restrained his tiredness to appear, he thought that during this batch of quests, he didn't do anything significient and somehow felt... upset at himself... he sighed and left, wanting to rest.

Spoiler: Report

Spoiler: Haunted(?) Weapon & Nally's Body

Sorry Nally, can you make others Living Corpse by yourself, I need to do something about my body, or mostly my mana, I feel like it's...
-Slower... I know, even it's just a bit less outrageous, it's noticeable, I will go.-

Alright, go make Orc's Living Corpses, can you do that please ?
Even if I ask her, I already know that the response will be yes since well she is grateful to me, I mean, she will be dead without me after all... and our relation is quite friendly so it should be alright I think. Of course, she probably wants to train a little before making her own body after all.

-Alright I will... but... nah, I will just go even if I feel like you are thinking something suspicious... anyway, good luck for... uhm... whatever you are planning to do.-

Then she left to the bathroom since I already put many corpses in it... hmm... maybe I should get a private place, I mean, I can't continue to do that in the Adventurer's Hostel, anyway, let's get to the main point.
Since magically talking, Liya often says that I am outrageous, this may be why despite that I feel like my mana's regeneration was halved, I can still fight like I had no problem... but... also, Illusion Magic, I am constantly using it to counter Elpide's curse, actually, more time pass, more I need mana, it looks like it's being... reinforced.
However, it's probably isn't Elpide, why ? Because Mishap my dagger can capture soul, however... I never did it willingly, and probably most of the souls in it... aren't «mine», they were probably slaugthered by my father.
Which means... that the number of souls in it is probably in hundred of thousands... maybe millions.

- - -

Cinere was calling them while cleaning his dagger for the first time since he owns it, this dagger is with him since more than a dozen of years, he slaughtered many people with it, and before him, there was his father, neverthless, this dagger is something he wouldn't dare to give up on, it was too close... then suddenly he talked.
He was calling them, those souls which are filled with only sorrow and hatred.

«Souls, can you hear me ? If yes, respond right now otherwise I will be forced to eradicate some of you.» he talked with a casual tone, while rubbing Mishap with an apathetic face, if someone else was in this room, they will just see someone talking to the void peacefully.
Yet, it wasn't.

«Sir, can you please don't kill anyone down here ?» it was an aged voice who talked, it was coming from the dagger, it wasn't a person that Cinere assassinated, neverthless, what should he care about that, all he has to ask is one thing.

«Are you the one reinforcing the Curse or are you using Illusion Magic to make me suffer ? Also are you sucking my mana ?» his voice was cold this time, yet calm, it was to be expected, their reactions are logic, if they discover a way to hinder someone who was as bloodthirsty and tainted by blood as Cinere, they will isn't it ? After all, they don't even have a life to protect, only worthless and useless souls.

«First of all, stop, all of you... and can you stop blocking my perception, I can't even know how many you are, I will first confirm who I killed, who I didn't, then I will see what to do instead of blindlessly making a bloodbath.» It wasn't a question, but an order, they couldn't do anything, even if they have nothing, they don't want to disappear because they don't even know if their families are still alive, if they are dead or not.
All they could do is to dissipate the barrier.

«Sir, there is 2 Millions of Souls, 100 000 comes from the persons you killed, 500 000 comes from your father, and the rest is coming from the others owners of this dagger... aside from those 2 Millions, there is also monster's souls who are asleep»
His words were calm and relaxed, it has a hint of disdain and hatred, the content of his words was asthonishing, this dagger slained that much people ? His father represents 25% of those while him represents only... no, only isn't the right word... anyway 5% are from him.
At least now, if he wanted to giva an approximation about how many people he «directly» provoked their death, he will say one hundred thousand, still, it makes quite a lot... he plunged his hometown into chaos, his birthplace into a butchery... well, he is just another fiend.

«I see... hmm... first, all of you, I noticed that it was quite messy, first I will reunite the families... it may be quite strange, but a family has similr souls, so I will first help you to see your family.» These words didn't threw them into despair, on the contrary, most of them knew one thing, their acquaintenance aren't alive now, most of them are dead.
On the contrary, they felt hope to finally see someone they knew during their life, unexpectly, on Cinere hand, -78MK became -76,7 MK... in just a... few dozens of secondes... he made more than 1 M of people hope, yes they weren't alive, but they still can feel hope... this fact made Cinere imagines something which can be considered as good yet demonic idea.
What if he kill hundreds of people and they don't even notice him ? They wouldn't even have the time to feel despair, and then he will make them feel hope... however, he wouldn't do that, it's just too risky.

He decided to make those souls hopes many times, hope can disappear with time, it doesn't mean that despair will come, all he has to do then... is to make them hope once again.
If he can do that more than thirty times, he will be free.

Anyway... he will have to test something, he closed his eyes and concentrated on the souls, all he has to do is to imagine them as numbers, the one who has similar souls will have a similar string of number, and normally... if Cinere isn't wrong, when the numbers are similar, when they were alive, they shared blood, that they were family.
To him, those souls are only one thing, numbers that he can see in the dark when his eyes are closed, and all he has to do is to assemble those numbers... and well, it's going to be hard, since he needs to verify 2 millions strings of differents numbers..

«...it's going to be annoying and repetitive...» he grumbled to himself while he felt the suspicious glares of some souls... well, it was to be expected after all, only monsters wielded this dagger, then are they trustworthy ? No, there must be something else that they are in their mind, something that benefit them...
…
So what ? In the end, they can't do anything.


After a few hours, Cinere stopped and heard most of the souls cheering... 10% of them weren't because they were alone but the rest celebrated their reunion with their families.
«Mommy ! Daddy !» ; «Sis !» ; «My baby !»... well that wasn't really original to Cinere, it's not like he heard those kind of sentences a lot of times... right now, it's just cries of happinnes contrary to the time where they were screamed at him the name of the people he killed...
It's better to hear those kind anyway.
Also, it's better not to forget, that the number on his hand, decreased once again, from -76,7 to -75,4... hey, more than 2 M... it's quite impressive... in some hours, he succeed getting rid 3 % of his curse in just a few hours... luck is definitively with him.
Despite that actually, he made those souls hope that's true, however... he litterally made some of them hope more than just one time... so he can make people hope many times to succeed... it's really... foolish. Anyway... what can he do to make them hope even more then, free them little by little of course, what else can he do ? And during this time, he can use them with the Living Corpses.

That's a great idea.

«Ey, whacha g'ing to do w'th us ?»
This voice interrupted his thoughts and was being too familiar with him, his way of talking had no sign of respect or hatred, he just asked what he had on his mind, Cinere didn't hated that, but he didn't liked either.
He sighed and said to the soul without hesitation what he thought.

«Well, I thought about freeing all of you, of course, you don't think it will be easy right ?» his voice wasn't the same, normally when people had hostiles thoughts to him, he would kill them directly without hesitation to avoid trouble in the future, but not this time since he became somehow softer and also that he needs them.

«Since you always have been spying on me, I guess you know that I am creating corpses, so this is what I thought, first all the ones who are alone, you will enter... at how many you want per body, and I will free you after one of my task is finished, meaning, at least a dozen of you will leave per day when I have nothing to do.» he fastly explained while he stretched his arms, cracked his neck and yawned... somehow, the souls reducing his mana, even though they weren't doing much, it made him tired, or maybe it's another of the curse's side effect ?
He didn't know and didn't want to, after all, it was unimportant.

"I see... well, w'have to acc'pt 'fter all we want to leave." none of the souls seemed to be against this idea, if they can be free, why should they refuse ? Even if it will be slow, they will, most of them... are here since years, some dozens of years, why should they be hurried then ?
A few years won't hurt that much.

- - -

Nally came back while having three living corpses with her, they were made from Orc's Corpses, so they are weak, only E rank, but it's still better than nothing.
She put them on the ground, while I began to pick up randomly some souls into these corpses, they began to move...

«...Nally, we will make your body after you put something into their heads... the three of you, don't worry, all she will do is to put you directly about how to make a living corpse...» this is possible thank to Nally's spirit ? She can eat souls, but she can interract with them, share thoughts with them... and also send informations, otherwise how could she have learn most of Cinere's skill so easily ? She just picked up every informations possible in his mind like a hungry beast who wants to become stronger by stealing and copying manner of hunting.
Even if physically talking, she didn't move, she still put everything they need in their head... no, actually, she has put it in the brain of the corpse, so even if another souls come, they will already have it...

«...did you already knew there was souls in my dagger...?» she shook her head, or maybe she did it uncounciously ? Oh well whatever... he had left 7 Orc's Corpses and all the Cyclop's Corpses except one... of course, he also took the Earth Orb, recently he learnt that it could be used just like a Golem's Core so he thought it was perfect to test it now.
A shame they didn't get a Fire Orb...

Entering in the bathroom, Cinere froze the room and put on the ground everything need, just in case he took 2 Female's Corpse... because he wanted her to at least look human, at least her skin...

«Alright, human's corpse just for the look, the Earth Orb for the magical attribute, and the Cyclop's muscles and every organs for raw strength... well, you will make the runes on the ice skeleton, same for the flesh, just let a place for the heart... I think I will make the Earth Orb work as your heart... I am just... wondering how to do it.» Holding her own hands, she really seemed to be eager to do it, she seemed to listen to every words that Cinere says carefully and attentively, she definitively wants her body to be well-made, who wouldn't...?
Someone who wants to stay dead maybe ? It will be quite weird.

- - -


Can he... change the form of the Earth Orb and make it work like a... heart ? Yes but it will... degrade the Orb.
Otherwise, he doesn't think that trying to fuse it with the heart will help... right, is it possible to make the blood flow without a heart ? This is something he wondered...
It should be possible, you don't obviously to have something bumping to make the blood flow, as long as it flows, it's alright... though... now is the question, how to do it ? First, there need to be two sort-of paths, like a heart in fact, but... then, how to stimulate the blood to accelerate instead of slowing down because there's no beating...?
…
It was just too complicated for him so he decided to find a way to make the Earth Orb beat instead... even if it will lower her ability to produce mana on her own, probably since he will have to make it smaller, he also need to remove a bit of the amount in the Orb's... he sighed and decided to do that., the amount of mana she will produce will be awfully low, a unusable quantity... to Cinere at least.
...let's just change the Orb then put some runes, just a bit more than usual, the runes will be the same he put on a heart, the additional one will be to make the mana flow in Nally's body, so it will be easier for her to use this meaningless amount.
Using Cinere's opinion of course.


After a while, the orb was made, and just like a heart, he needed to place it at the bust of the corpse as always, but the thing that was important.

«Get out, otherwise it won't be a surprise.» he looked coldly at Nally... who didn't want to leave, after all, Cinere is going to make how she will look in the future, who wouldn't want to know in this kind of unique situation ?
Reluctuantly, she left, while Cinere froze the door, he didn't want her to enter, so it was time to make her body, he already had an idea from the start, it should be quite easy... though his options are quite limited, he has 3 Women's Corpses... also he decided to get rid of all the human's corpses after finishing Nally's body because they are far too frail, he only needed them to make Nally's appearance... right, they had equipments on them... there was, 11 Throwing Knfies, 4 Iron Swords and 3 Leather Armors, nothing surprising...
Anyway, it's time to make her body.

- - -

A few hours later, he finished, appearance is definitively troublesome, he wasted too much time on it, anyway... he just called her back and closed his eyes so she won't be able to see her body.

-How is it ?! Let me see...- her cheerful voice was unfortunaly interrupted by Cinere's order.
«Enter in the body.» he didn't even let her the time to read his thoughts so she won't even be able to see how her body will be even before using it... oh well, she won't be disappointed, at least, that's what Cinere was thinking at this moment when staring at his masterpiece... he thinks that her body is a masterpiece... it looks like manifacturing body began to please him somehow.

This Living Corpse twithced and began to shake violently on the ground, until... it stops and stands up, it talked and asked with a childish and excited voice...
«Is there a mirror near ~ ?!!»

Obviously, she was happy because she could orally talk for the first time since at least one month, somehow... feeling cold with her body wasn't really that disgusting, this ice just felt somehow cool to her, maybe because of her ice skeleton, she somehow has some kind of cold resistance ?
Actually, it may be quite logical.

«...Of course not, why would there be mirrors ?» the tone of Cinere's voice wasn't as usual and Nally felt weird when she couldn't know what he is thinking... is he lying ? Is he teasing her ?
She didn't know, this time, she couldn't know anything about what this pale and good-looking...? Oh wait, he wasn't actually... maybe ? If he could get rid of this kind of mocking grin, this skin as white as a corpse, also this burn on his face... maybe... oh wait no, impossible.

«Hmpf, you little scoundrel, there will be no such thing as mirrors for you during... not that much of time actually...» he suddenly locked Nally's new body in an ice coffin, for one and unique reason, one word : Bara.
He knows very well what she was thinking and imaginating when they were studying Forum's Favorite BL, he won't forget it...

«You bastard !!!» furiously, she screamed while she didn't find this cold refreshing anymore...

And he left her alone... until...

Spoiler: Quests

The next day, Liya, Ael, Cinere and a weird girl were meeting outside Aeternus, around the north-east... Liya and Ael looked... at this young girl probably under 18 years old... oddly familiar to Liya and creepy to Ael because of a certain aspect of her look.
«...never thought it will be embarrassing to get stared by those two...» she suddenly backed off and got behind Cinere's back... however, she quickly released him to sent him a death glare... remembering that she was locked in an freezing ice coffin during more than 1 night... one night in the ice, one night to feel this deadly chill running through her veins, bones and flesh...

«...hello ~ my name is Nally ~ uhm... you actually already saw me, do you remember the living corpse that... uhm... helped Cinere during his work ~ ?» awkwardly with a hesitant voice, she talked while forcing a smile...
Remembering the living corpse, both the animal and the brother felt shocked, so she was a living corpse who seemed... to hold grudge against her own creator... she has the appearance of a girl around 15/16 years old...

«First, Liya, you can still go to the brothels, she doesn't have 'private parts' because I didn't want to make them, and I actually put her in an ice coffin before letting her out to save up my mana.» of course, he lied, he wasn't going to say that because of him, she imagined him and his brother doing... immoral things...
How disgusting, he couldn't help but shiver everytime he thought about that.

«I am glad... wait, you put her in a...» Liya put his hand on his front head and sighed, he was scared that his brother become depraved... it will be really worrying if he...
«Cruel ! How can you put a child in a ice coffin ?!» while Ael seemed to be shocked by what Cinere did, unlike Liya, he didn't though about what he could physically and internally do to her, at least, not in this way... such an innocent fellow.

«Oh... my... you are so kind ~! Thank you...» Nally couldn't help but huggles this fluffy griffon who sincerely worried for her, Ael flushed from embarrassment, he didn't expect that such a little action will make her react like this... just what did this fiend did ?
Meanwhile, Liya sighed and just looked at her appearance... he was actually feeling quite impressed with Cinere who succeed in creating a living corpse so... human.
Even though her skin was still as pale as a corpse, her body seemed quite alive actually, her facial muscles on her face were movable unlike the others living corpses, she could taste food, smell scent, feels the pain unlike others living corpse.
Her overall appearance can be considered as outstanding and abnormal, like Cinere, her skin is far too pale... though not as much as Cinere which make here seem less 'dead' than him despite being a Living Corpse, her gray chestnut and shoulder-length hair, tied and put it on only one of her shoulder, her eyes were cerulean, her lips were delicate, her skin was looking quite smooth, her figure was slim, her mounds were neither big nor small, just average, she was wearing a black leather armor...
But there was something that was wasting her appearance even if it made her look quite mystic, it was the runes that were engraved on her skin, it was visible, and since her skin was fulled on runes... at least, there was one good thing, the runes were organized and weren't roughly put on the skin like on the regular living corpse.
It was made nicely, like tattoes, the runes were made in spirals so it doesn't look too bad.

«Anyway, let's just go make our quests, just present yourself to each other while we are walking.» Cinere just began to walk toward Gallant Mine, without any hesitation, while Liya only sighed and presented himself...
«My name is... Liya, Cinere's brother...»
«...uhm... actually it's quite awkward, since I always was there a bit after... Verdant's raid... ? Was it ? I already know... who both of you are... haha... Ael the cute and rightful griffon and Liya the way too lax brother...? How to say it...? You have troubles refuting Cinere...» she didn't seem to be at ease when talking, after all, she likely already knew them quite a lot, not as much as Cinere, but enough to be considered as friends despite the fact that they never talked or met.

«Oh... I see...» Liya sighed and shrugged, he wouldn't ask more to her, he thought that she died and his brother picked up... and well, asking her where does she come from will be rude specially when she seems to know very well how both of their way of thinkign work.
And well Ael... likely also didn't tell them where does he came from, who knows where the Dark Merchant picked up this griffon ? They didn't know and well it will be rude to ask.

«I will protect you from Cinere !» neverthless, Ael is just a baby griffon who is quite naive and still innocent unlike mostly everyone in this party, despite being hugged, he tried to act though, seeing this, Cinere only sighed and was somehow relieved that everything went well, except for him but he didn't care.

- - -

Unexpectly, because the four of them have great stamina and speed... or mosty wind magic, in only one day, they reached the Gallant Mine, Ael and Nally complained many times but as always Cinere ignored them and accelerated even more despite feeling exhausted... well, he just didn't have more stamina, all he had to do was to mutate his blood more than it's already is, his blood slowly becoming grey, giving a greater strength to his body which was below-average.
Anyway, since they arrived as 23 Living Corpses appeared... without including Nally who was already here, while he was doing Nally's body carefully, three living corpses were manufacturing others corpses... and then it was 6 doing the job... it's actually unexpectly useful.
Because, they won't even need to mine themselves.

«...Cinere, there is souls... in all of them...?» Cinere only nodded, somehow proud of himself, because it was definitively a great idea to make this deal, otherwise he wouldn't be able to slack off or to give away his work. And at the same time, he is 'increasing' his 'number' to lift the curse, all he has to do is to fight against the monsters while his 'servants' are mining what he needs... he will just protect them.
...does he even need to protect them...? Currently those living corpse were made from monsters, true... but their rank... 5 are rank C, 8 are D Rank and 10 are Rank E, so seriously thinking, does he need to protect them ? Oh well, it's not an excuse to slack off... he will get even more of them... later, he just realized how much his mana was outrageous, he has put 1/20 of his mana in all of those corpses, and they will be able to move for 24h without interruption.
Yes, some Necromancers can do much more than two dozens of corpse however, between 100 unknown average corpses and Cinere's Living Corpses, sincerely talking, the living corpses have reaction alike an alive person, unlike corpses who are weaker from when they were alive... considering the fact that Cinere removed all the part he considered as useless, they are even stronger than when they were alive.
Also, the amount of mana he iused is actually astronomous, with this amount... he likely used around 20 average mage's mana reserves... yes someone who has an average quantity of mana will be able to use a Living Corpse made by Cinere for 24 hours if they empty their reserve.
Well, as always, he is outrageous, the worse thing is that his mana has been slower and somehow his reserve was smaller, his body became weaker, well... his reserve actually halved, he didn't even knew that... he wondered about why it changed and... well, he guessed.
Neverthless he didn't care, let's just go back to the main point, they entered the mine... around 25 'people' entered in it... Cinere said as he began scanning the zone with his mana, trying to detect where are the monsters in it...

«Well, what can I say, go mine Wind Crystals, Earth Crystals and Fire Crystal afterward I will free all of you... the one who are possessing a C Rank and D Rank, protect the E Rank, I only have 1 Pickaxe, so the other 9 E Rank will protect the one mining, even using their body as meat shield just in case.» his voice wasn't just merciless, it was deadly even though they were already dead, not a lot of people will throw away their body to protect someone...
«Meanwhile, us will hunt Ice Golems who will be surrounding all of you.» it may seems clement from him, because it meant they will be dealing with most of the monsters that surroung them, like bodyguards, hearing that, the Living Corpses felt relieved. At least they have the guarantee of not having their body ripped even though... they aren't their in the first place, but being able to move with a body after years should be pleasing... well, they are going to leave soon anyway.

And well... Ael stayed outside, he doesn't like not having a sky above him.
- - -

Wandering into the Gallant Mines, Cinere, Nally and Liya actually found 2 Ice Golems who were already together... however, Cinere began to talk as he left them behind because he seemed to be... eager to fight.

«Leave me those two, I want to test something.» his body became even colder and the produced toxins became even more concentrated under the effects of his mutation becoming darker, not staying any longer simply gray... and well, actually, none of them will actually be good at fighting a golem made of magic.
For a simple reason, none of them were first good at Fire Magic and well, ice is hard to break and... it's troublesome to search for the core specially when they don't want to break it and only plunder it, how hard will it be then ?
If they don't destroy the core, the golem will keep reconstructing himself until his mana become empty, even though it will replenish fastly, this is also why it's best for Cinere to go since his mana reserve is outrageously enormous, and the same is for his mana regeneration.

- - -

Approaching the two ice golem as he became colder, he felt at ease, staring at those spikes shot toward his bust, he still felt great as he avoided by sidestepping, passing near to those.
Slowly walking, he just avoided each spikes by sidestepping as the Ice Golems kept their distances, can golems have conciousness ? Cinere didn't know but he didn't care as he still had dozens of feets to walk quietly before touching the Ice Golems who were throwing ice spikes uselessly until one of them decided to charge and step on this pathetic elf who didn't even retaliate and only avoided like a coward.

Once again, not even feeling threatened by its feet closing on him, trying to make him fuse with the ground, as earlier and always, he only sidestepped and avoided it, he had his arms behind his back.
An arm came from his side, he only lowered his body and passed under it, then it was once again trying to stomp it, he just moved close to its base as the ground began to freeze just like his body which was already supposed to be frozen yet he wasn't.
Using Ice Magic, he tried to absord the Ice Golem's leg who almost stomped on him, half of the leg disappeared, then the Ice Golem almost fell and needed time to form again a leg which will be more and more smaller and weaker as he reform it continuously under Cinere's absorbing... normally he shouldn't be able to absord that much coldness but his body seemed to have a biological resistance about it, no wonder he could absord this much.
Anyway, he is going to do that until his body really becomes frozen, maybe it will help him mutating his body with a more efficient way, though it probably won't work as he wants since this power has always been... bothering.
Slightly jumping to avoid ice's spikes coming from the frozen ground, seeing a incoming blade coming to slice my body, I needed to twist my body to avoid it... some seconds later, I felt it coming close to my body... he could have bled if his body wasn't this frozen, if his blood didn't became this slow and half-solid, right now.

«...unexpectly, it feels comfortable.» Cinere could feels his cells who were supposed to be dead because of him being frozen still reacting, still 'alive', and specially... they were still producing toxins despite his blood not flowing, wouldn't it be dangerous if they become concentrated if coerced to be in one place because they can't melt this 'ice'...
Cinere didn't care and just continued to avoid the Ice Golem's attacks, a slice at his upper body, he will just pass under it easely, a punch trying to make him merge with the ice covering the ground, as always, he avoided by sidestepping while hardly smiling, his facial muscles somehow became harder to move, though somehow, except for his face, all of his muscles were still as nimble as always.
Until a few minutes, an Ice Golem fell, not having enough Mana to form himself once again, after getting absorbed again and again and again by Cinere who slowly became as cold as the Ice Golem, his body freezing everything it touches.

«One down, nine left.» He muttered under his breath, he was planning to get a dozen Ice Golem's Core, so he was planning to plunder 10 Golem's Core... normally, it isn't easy to get them because they often form back their lost limbs thank to this core neverthless it meant their weak point is the same core that Cinere wants to get without destroying or breaking it.

«What's the matter ? Did you get the cold shower ?» Sneering, he approached the emotionless moving piece of ice who tried to kill him many many many times... but it never worked since he never was hit, he couldn't even bleed right now.
Ice spikes began to surround him, one aimed at his shoulder, he just turned on myself and avoided it as one tried to backstab, he just flip backwards without even looking at it, when he was in the air, four tried to pierce him, one at his stomach, one at his back, and the two others at each of his sides. Ironically, the layer of ice covering his body protected him... since it became easier to use ice this way, because all he has to do.. is to manipulate this layer of ice that will come back if he removes it anyway.
It was... unexpectly an easy fight, just longer than the others because Ice is their main resistance, without taking account of their high resilience to physical attacks, it's already quite troublesome because Cinere is better at killing creatures with flesh, anyway the second Ice Golem also couldn't help but get his core stolen and... well disappear.

«...hhmm... my body will be even colder... I will have to find a solution...» Cinere whispered to himself as he stocked 2 Golem's Core, he looked around and didn't find Liya or Nally, seeing that, he sighed with a happy expression, it meant that they trusted him.
While he was fighting, the Living Corpses mined around 6 Wind Crystals, 2 Earth Crystal and 1 Fire Crystal, it was far from being the end.

- - -
«Huh ~ Liya, you are sure you want me to fight alone ~?» Nally asked him with a curious gaze, tilting her head, he still didn't explain why he wanted her to kill alone an Ice Golem... well, at least, there is only one.
«I want to see how you fight.» Plainly replied Liya as he just stared at her with a friendly smile, he probably thought that she won't have any problems during fighting, after all, she must be outrageous.
«Alright ~ Though I will only go physically against it~ since in magic, I am better in Earth and Water/Ice Magic~» without any hesitation, she began running toward the nearby Ice Golem, and the first thing she did before letting it the opportunity to retaliate, she punched its belly and it began cracking.
Neverthless, she needed to back away because of the ice spike coming from above, she slipped between its legs and elbowed one of them, cracking the ice once again... reducing slowly its size... her way of fighting is actually quite fit because her physical strength is enough.
«...physically stronger than me... I will need to hit 1,5 times to make this kind of damage... with a punch.» Liya muttered as he looked at the Ice Golem who seemed to be quite unlucky in this situation, after all, he fell against an enemy who has the strenght of a Cyclops despite being so litte to its eyes.
As expected, the golem was emotionless and just continued to attack until his body was too small and frail to support Nally's punches... it was somehow pathetic, Nally just needed to avoid a few times, true, she got injuried, her right hand was almost cut but sincerely talking, as a Living Corpses, is it a severe wound ?
A third one was killed and its Golem Core was unexpectly undamaged, perhaps Nally aimed at place which wouldn't affect the core, anyway, it was a fortunate event. Actually, Liya and Nally are fighting in the same way, so it will be faster to get more Golem Cores.

- - -

After one or two hours, Cinere, Nally and Liya met back and presented their harvests. Cinere had around 3 Golem's Core, while Nally and Liya had 9 Golem's Cores... Meaning, they killed 12 Ice Golem, neverthless, they noticed that Cinere's body seemed to be able to frost even more than earlier, it looks like he became even 'colder'
Right, afterwards, they also found the Living Corpses, they had mined 30 Wind Crystals, 12 Earth Crystal and 9 Fire Crystals in total, it means that there is 42 extra crystals that they will keep afterwards, it's good this way.

«Well, it's time to free all of you.» Cinere said as the souls within the living corpses disappeared and were replaced by new one, he continued to talk as they felt startled by the feeling of moving a corporeal body.
«Just read the memories of those corpses. » then, he began walking out toward the exit under the strange gazes of Liya and Nally who didn't know how to react, they still didn't know of the deal that Cinere had with those souls.

- - -
Without letting him the time to react, Cinere entwined his arms around Ael using Fire Magic because he seriously didn't want to freeze, this griffon was startled by Cinere's sudden voice and strangely warm entwine.
«...don't say anything... I want to enjoy this moment, if that's continue... I won't be able to even warm my body.» his voice said everything, it just meant that perhaps in the future, he won't be able to hug him without freezing or making Ael cold.
This young griffon didn't say anything and just let him do that... even if during the last quests, he was quite disgusted and terrified from his actions, he couldn't ignore the fact that Cinere was good to him, he was kind, he even bought what he calls a charm, it was named «Pet Omamori», to protect a pet... even though he doesn't like being called a «pet», he is supposed to be a prideful and honorable griffon, neverthless, what counted for him was that he wanted something for his safety so, how can he ignores this fact ?
«...hmpf, I allow you to do that.» Ael somehow thought that Cinere is quite... sensitive but also the contrary sometimes, for example, when he killed those innocents persons during the lasts quests... Ael didn't know how to describe him, neverthless, since he is a bit bad, then all he has to do is trying to remove that bad side of him, no ?

- - -

-74,9 M.
Unexpectly, the number increased once again, he didn't watch it but he couldn't help but feel surprised when he saw that this decreasing this quickly, neverthless, for now, to me, it was meaningless, as long as it isn't above -10M, he wouldn't care a second about it.
Anyway, right now, they still didn't ger any sleep yet they already began walking in the North Moutains, slowly walking into the snow, Cinere and Liya felt like it was home, cold, silent and lifeless.
There was no animals, at least, they didn't saw one while sinking more and more in the snow, Cinere felt happy contrary to the two others, cold, it wasn't enough to affect him, and well, for an unknown reason, he always loved snow even if we can easily stain it, he liked this snow... after walking for a while, a living corpse seemed to make noise...
«Uuu !»
«Hm ? What is it ?» Cinere approached him and saw that he has found a skeleton who had clothes, examinating the skeleton, he thought it has been a long time since he died from hunger, but something was bothering him, the clothes... aren't cold, they are even in a good state, he searched through them and found nothing... and unfortunaly, when he touched them, they suddenly froze... he didn't understand why.
«Since one of them found something that could be useful, I will free all of you.»
Afterwards, he freed the souls inside the living corpses to put new once again, he just said as he began to examine the clothes, he continued to talk, once again ignoring the living corpse's surprises.
«All of you, separate in two groups and search... 3 Yetis minimum then bring them here.» he only asked this and they obeyed, backing away from his as his three friends seemed to be curious about why he did that.
«...brother...?»
«This cloth wasn't cold until I touched it.» Analyzing this coat, he touched every part of it, until, he rip it and... sees runes in the clothe's interior, he realized that in fact, this was only runes... neverthless why were they activated until now ? Was it activated by itself...? Oh well, he didn't care much about that... neverthless, it gave him an idea, why not put runes on his clothes too ? At least, not everything on his body will be frozen.
Though, he will have to find good catalysts related to coldness or heat... how stupid is he ? Didn't he just hunted a dozen of Ice Golems which were filled with magic, they obviously had a great compatibility with magic and runes, you use runes to make a Golem after all.
Then he wondered, why didn't he think about that earlier, a bit after realizing this, he threw away this clothe and continued to walk, toward the Ash Plain, neverthless, he was walking casually, for the living corpses that will come with the Yeti's corpses, and I will have to take its skin...

- - -

And he wasn't wrong, they came back with four yeti's corpses, I will get the 3 yeti's skins from them to complete the quest... like always, each time they complete a task, he free the souls and let them go to the afterlife... this time, he didn't put any souls in the living corpses, after walking for a while, forgetting how many times passed, they were at the frontier between the north mountain and the ash plain, all they needed to do was to take a step however instead...

«I am hungry !» Ael complained as he sat on the ground... Naly just did the same and sat next to him... she couldn't be possibly hungry, neverthless she probably wanted to eat something, to taste something.
Cinere only sighed and took the Unicorn's upper body that he still had from the last quests...
«...only ¼ of it, alright ?» they nodded without any shame and hesitation, Liya only watched silently as he felt perplexed at seeing Cinere cooking for those two who were just like child, at least, he will eat something somehow «normal».
After fastly cooking it, they began to eat it together, Ael was on Nally's thighs as he tried to eat with his beck, pulling the meat and trying to swallow it like a fanatic, as Nally was on the verge of tears while she only smelt the meat... and Liya was watching this scene with a sceptic gaze...
«...Cinere... you...» he couldn't finish his word, no actually, he didn't know what to say, he just felt like this situation was weird, Cinere only gave him a glance which seemed to be... only... happy, nothing else than this simple feeling... yet desesperate which obviously meant that Elpide's curse was activating right now.
This frozen young man just sighed as he felt conflicted about his own feelings, this was sincerely bothering, he stood up and took hazard clothes from his item box and said as he made the Spiritual Fire enter into him.
«Just go sleep, I will just try sewing a clothe that won't froze.» Ael fastly fell asleep after his words while Liya couldn't sleep and Nally didn't need to, Cinere picked up a dark shirt, he didn't want to add an useless rune who will make in fact that for example a white shirt won't dirty, for the first time since a while he removed his owns gloves to put runes on his future new shirt... he used more and more fabric of differents clothes and if needed the leather of some of useless armors as catalysts to increase the solidity of his shirt, he did the same for a pant, shoes and gloves.
Afterwards, well the most important was obviously the cold resistance... so what's better than Ice Golem's Core as catalyst ? Actually, he hesitated but... he wanted to have this resilience no matter what even if he wanted to have coat with so he doesn't completely waste the golem's core... no actually, it was a complete waste but he didn't care, so he will make runes by using a golem's core as a catalyst to have clothes who doesn't freeze on him.
It's definitively useless yet he will still do it.

- - -

After a while, Cinere finished and fell asleep with his clothes in his arms, Liya seeing him like this only sighed and covered him with a thin blanket, it should be better than nothing... neverthless he felt startled, sensing a lecherous gaze falling upon him...
Nally was watching both of them as she imagined some weird and unethical scenarios about incest and bara, it's really... there is no word to describe this as she licked her lips, staring at Cinere and Nally...

«Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu~» her laugh couldn't be heard by Liya who felt something unwholesome around him, he couldn't help but be on guard... since night has always been a confident to wicked persons who can be creeping anywhere near...
Really near.

- - -

As he woke up, Cinere felt the urge to hit someone, because he felt shivers, he looked suspiciously at Nally who only tilted her head with a curious and childish gaze... well... he did expect this kind of reaction from her, after all... they almost never had any secrets from each other, of course, they have some, but after sharing thoughts, it became hard to hide those secrets, neverthless, both of them somehow succeed by just not thinking about it.
Quite simple but hard to do yet they succeed.

Anyway, it became somehow awkward and strange between the both of them, they couldn't know what the other was deeply thinking after all, but well.
Cinere just removed his clothes openly without any shame, he stretched his arms, cracked his neck as he heard weird noise coming from two people.

«C-Cinere ! W-W-W-W-What a-a-a-a-a-ar-are you doing ?!! O-Oh...» Nally stared at Cinere's body then... at Liya, can't she have a clean mind sometimes...?
«Get yourself dressed ! You pervert !» it was Ael who furiously shouted that as he began to create gusted winds at him, Cinere only sighed as he became invisible, he didn't understand why they were reacting this way... what even made made them react this way ?
Even though he made himself invisible... they could see the frozen clothes he was wearing suddenly becoming visible and falling onto the ground... and the clothes he made last night slowly disappearing...
It was obvious, he didn't even tried to hide what he was doing properly !

«Out of my sight !» Ael tried to scold this shameless scum who can't even act a man with morals and common sense in front of the poor damsel he tortured, how twisted can he be ?
«Oh m-my...» meanwhile, Nally's breathing became panicked as her eyes watched Liya then Cinere's probably naked body under this illusion magic, again and again... her imagination beginning to be awfully wicked, and terribly worrying.
«Mm... comfortable...» Cinere muttered as he became visible, the shirt he was wearing seemed to be stuck at his skin, really tight yet solid, his sleeves were reaching his elbow, his pant seemed to be quite close to his skin, and his gloves seemed... to be the same actually, nothing really changed.
Everything he was wearing was actullay black, constrasting with his pale skin, his white hair with brown highlights and his red-brown eyes, he muttered under his breath, feeling a bit deranged by his own outfit.
«...I definitively need a coat...» Cinere didn't like the clothes he was wearing... however, he just sighed and just stretched his body as he heard his brother's voice scowling him.
«Brother, didn't you have a book called 'Guide on the Common Sense' that you read ?»

«It was nonsense.» severely said Cinere as he sneered, common sense ? How useless it is, that will just drag him down... or maybe just make him less foolish... whatever it is, he already entered in the Ash Plains with Liya ignoring Ael's furious voice and... Nally's moans...?
Seriously, he didn't want to know why she was doing that, it will just send him shivers down to his spine and if his brother learn that she is actually a fanatic of bara, he will probably understand why she was repetively looking at him and Cinere with such a longing gaze... since she thought about how she...

- - -

Walking quietly and somehow disturbed by the heat, Liya, Ael and Nally felt quite bad under this weather as... unexpectly despite the high difference of climat and possible thermal shock, he was feeling even more at ease, probably because he wasn't cold enough to freeze what was under his feet or what he touched, his internal and external climat somehow found a balance... keeping his temperature between those 2 distincts temperatures.

«Ael~ Can you stop being on my head please~? Me too I would like to be carried~» Nally said on a playful tone something totally nonsensical.
«You are a living corpse, your stamina is supposed to be boundless.» Cinere said as he even accelerated without mercy with everyone near to him... Liya only sighed , he didn't care since he had much more physical stamina... Nally actually doesn't feel tiredness even if she can feel pain... and Ael is on Nally's shoulder.
Cinere would easily be the first to exhaust himself, neverthless he will the one who will last the longest because no matter what he will never admit that he is weaker than anyone except the persons that can't be beaten no matter what.
After some hours, they arrived at Red Sea Of Fire, everyone was sweating profusely except Cinere who hid these, while he was also the only one who had cramps after running for hours... he will never admit it, without hesitation when looking at the lake of lava... he began to wonder... he didn't think about taking a fishing rod... wait, how could he has gotten a fishing rod who can resist to lava anyway ?

Sighing, he began to control his cells, to mutate them, to change his genetics... at least, this was something he didn't know, in his mind he was just making them react in a different way than usual, so he was just ignorant about his own skill, that's all.
It's the same thing for mage, some of them wield magics yet they don't understand it, they don't understand that it's just something that's everywhere, in most of the living creatures in this world, that it's actually just natural.
That everyone can start using magic if they knew how to, most of them won't go far but some will, well, that's just how it is after all.

Making his body colder and colder, he soaked his feet in the lava... and felt... a bit hot, not that much... this time, he began using Ice Magic and it's looked like he will be able to... despite his body becoming somehow weaker andd weaker.
It looked like the poison wouldn't become more dangerous, but now his body will become even frailer... exhausting, isn't it ?

«This... freak.» Liya couldn't help but whisper when he saw his brother entering the lave after... actually removing his clothes.... so of course, the two others didn't watch but were dazed when they saw someone swimming in the lava, why ?
Because he wanted to catch some Lava Fish with his hand, swimming in the lava... isn't it quite foolish ? Well...

- - -

Everytime he tried to catch one, it slipped from his hands, slightly enraged by this fact, he unconciously began to use even more mana in usual... somehow, he could feel that he was feeling less hot.
After few dozens of minutes, he finally caugh one... neverthless, this fact didn't pleased him... he decided to put ½ of his mana reserve in Ice Magic within just a moment.... and he succed creating ice in lava.
…
…
Outrageous.
..
And it wasn't a small one... one who was probably around a hundred of meters... and it wasn't melting, yet... at least, inside this huge iceberg soaking in lava, there was obviously more than a dozen of Lava Fish...
…
He just picked 5 Lava Fish and came back to the shore with a terrible face...
...he seemed to be a bit... mad.
Just a bit.

«Let's. Go. Back. To. Aeternus.» his voice was «slighly» angered by unknown circumstances, but when looking at the iceberg who will probably melt after a few dozens of minutes, they couldn't help but wonder what made him furious at this point...

Spoiler: Extra Stuff

¤ 10 Living Humanoid Corpse (Orc, E Rank)
¤ 5 Living Humanoid Corpse (Cyclop, C Rank)
¤ 3 Yeti's Corpses
¤ 25 Wind Crystals
¤ 9 Earth Crystals
¤ 6 Fire Crystals
¤ 9 Ice Golem's Core
¤ 11 Throwing Knifes
¤ 4 Iron Swords
¤ 3 Leather Armors
¤ Unfreezable Outfit (Gloves, Shirt and Pant)

Spoiler: Nally's Body

Her body is made from Cyclop's muscles and organs except the heart who is actually an Earth Orb who was modified by Cinere who graved onto it a bit messily.
Despite those 2 elements which are from doubtful origins, she looks quite human.

OOC : It's normally make around 9000 words~
I have currently no specific comment to make about this report... yup, nothing.
(except maybe I didn't know what to do with the Yeti and Lava Fish so I just... I think I messed up, oh well~)
Sorry I put it in the wrong thread earlier ! >.<

 

North Mountain|#GD1|D-Ranked|Gather 3 Yeti Skins [120G | 1 x Yeti Fur]
Gallant Mine|#GD2|D-Ranked|Mine 3 Fire Crystals [100G | 1 x Refined Fire Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#GD3|D-Ranked|Mine 3 Earth Crystals [100G | 1 x Refined Earth Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#GE2|E-Ranked|Mine 5 Wind Crystal [80G | 1 x Refined Wind Crystal]
Gallant Mine|#SC1|C-Ranked|Slay 3 Ice Golems [150 G]
Ash Plains |#GD2|C-Ranked|Fish 5 Lava fish [180 G | 1 x Lava Fish Core]
=========================
"Welcome back!

Na... ari-san...? Is Na-Na-Narri-san a friend of... Of Si-Si-Sinere-san...? Hi-Hikari is glad to meet Nari-san then!" *bows*

"Ah! Riya-san! Hikari is glad to see Riya-san well too! Just like Sinere-san!" ^^)/

"Hikari will take a look at the report! Please wait a bit!"

... *reading time*

"Eto... Hikari does think the job was mostly well done, but... 30 Wind Crystals...?

Bad! Bad Sinere-san! No overmining! Hikari will discount the whole gold reward of this one!

It's okay to go over the requested amount, but this is way too much! Please don't do this again Sinere-san!" >.<

"The final reward will be of 650G and the listed items.

Take care now!"

((Ah, just some minor notes!

I saw at least 1 wrongly colored text, i think it was on the first spoiler. Something Cinere said, but was with Nally's color. Be careful! >.<

Hmmm... There also seemed to be more typos than your norm this time... Rest properly! It's no good to write too tiredly!! >.<

The part with the yeti and the lava fish were nice though, no worries! \(^^)/

Hmmmmm... If anything, I got a bit curious with the fact you didn't put the change on their stats at the end of the report, since you usually did that, you gave up on doing it? Asking just out of curiosity though! It just surprised me a bit to not see it!



Oh, and if I wasn't clear, you still get the Refined Wind Crystal! ^^)/))

 

"Well... I am not disappointed since I wasn't the one that mined~" Cinere said as he yawned and took all the rewards under Liya's inquisitive gaze, beginning to whistle.
"Your orders were too vague so they took too much." his brother, exhausted, made him noticed that he shouldn't be too carefree...ignoring his words, Cinere was just smiling childishly as Nally began to talk with a perplexed face.
"Hmm... Nari...? Yes ~ That's also a good name~" she thought about Cinere stupidly named her, Nalmika to Nally, she sighed pitifully as she bowed and smiled gently, unexpectly asking a question.
"It's also nice to meet you ~ Hikari...san...? Or just Hikari ~ ?"
Liya only sighed and decided to go rest his head and wonders about what he was doing during those quests... was he even useful...? Maybe it will be better next time.

OOC : Oh ~ I see ~ Thank you~

Hm... uhm... *whistles*

Actually, I just thought I didn't write enough for the Yeti and Lava Fish, so well that was it...

The stats ! *gasps*
I knew I forgot something ! *facepalm*
Hmm... *is going to do that*
Also, not everything is in stats because there was some that became confusing ~

Spoiler: Progress(?)

Spoiler: Cinere

Active Skills :
¤ Water/Ice [Expert --] ==> [Expert -}
¤ Mutation [Intermediate ++] ==> [Advanced --]
¤ Necromancy/Soul Magic [Intermediate +] ==> [Intermediate ++]

Passive Skills :
¤ All-Status Resistance [Advanced --] ==> [Advanced +]

Crafting Skills :
¤ Golem's Crafting [Beginner --] ==> [Beginner ++]
¤ Enchanting [Intermediate -] ==> [Intermediate +]
¤ Sewing [Intermediate +] ==> [Intermediate ++]

Attributes :

• ¤ Strength (13/100) ==> (14/100)
• ¤ Constitution (42/100) ==> (51/100)
• ¤ Defense (23/100) ==> (25/100)
• ¤ Speed (55/100) ==> (57/100)
• ¤ Fate (1/10) ==> (2/10)

Spoiler: Liya

Active Skills :
¤ Illusion Magic [Beginner --] ==> [Beginner -]

Passive Skills :
¤ Magic Perception : [Advanced --] ==> [Advanced -]

Fighting Skills :
¤ Riposting [Advanced +] ==> [Advanced ++]

Attributes :

• ¤ Spirit (38/100) ==> (39/100)
• ¤ Willpower (37/100) ==> (38/100)
• ¤ Sanity (5/10) ==> (4/10)
• ¤ Fate (3/10) ==> (5/10)

Spoiler: Nally (had no written skills)

Active Skills :

• ¤ Water/Ice [Intermediate ++}
• ¤ Fire [Beginner-]
• ¤ Wind [Beginner ++]
• ¤ Earth [Intermediate +]
• ¤ Light [Beginner +]
• ¤ Darkness [Beginner ++]

• ¤ Necromancy/Soul Magic [Expert +] (she is soulless mind possessing a body after all.)
• ¤ Illusion Magic [Beginner ++]

Passive Skills :
¤ Soul Eating (Innate) [Beginner ++]
¤ Soul Sharing (Innate) [Advanced +]
¤ Soul Control (Innate) [Intermediate --]

¤ Enhanced Five Sens [Advanced -]
¤ Mind Resistance [Intermediate ++]
All-Status Resistance [Master ++]

• ¤ Magical Perception [Advanced --]
• ¤ Magic Control [Beginner -]
• ¤ Magic Resistance [Beginner ++]

¤ Eidetic Memory


Fighting Skills :
¤ Avoiding [Intermediate +]
¤ Guarding [Beginner -]
¤ Riposting [Intermediate ++]

¤ Combat Melee Mastery [Advanced --]

¤ Dagger Mastery [Beginner ++]
¤ Steath Mastery [Advanced ++]
¤ Throwing Knife Mastery [Beginner ++]
¤ Archery [Intermediate -]

Craftings Skills :
¤ Mana Engraving [Intermediate --]
¤ Golem's Crafting [Intermediate --]
¤ Enchanting [Intermediate --]

¤ Sewing [Beginner +]

¤ Dissection [Advanced ++]
Attributes :

¤ Physical Attributes will only depends on her body, no progress are possible. (Cyclop's Physical Attributes)

• ¤ Mind (33/100)
• ¤ Spirit (15/100)
• ¤ Willpower ( 29/100)
• ¤ Sanity (8/10)
• ¤ Fate (9/10)

That's it~

edit : *is still trying colors for Nally*
It's normal if sometimes there isn't the same purple~

 

#RA 7 – B Rank – Balthazzar Quest [0 G | Ranked Up to A Rank]
=================================================
"You're back? Good to see you then. Let me see the report, Balthy."
After looking at the report, Shadow couldn't help but let out a sudden chuckle.
"Goodness me, those gods are rather easy to predict. Hahaha! Well, Balthy, old pal. You've done quite magnificently. This way, they will at least think a few times before trying something with our guild. Good work, old pal. Good work, I say. And thus, as of now, you are promoted to A rank. Well, not that you'll need it anyway. I would say the usual 'we expect good work from you in the future' and all. But knowing you, I might as just ask you to not get yourself into any trouble. That's more than I could hoped for."
He then paused for a while and take a sip from his glass.
"Ah, for that other promotion. Yeah...I'll think about it. You can go now. Take care of yourself, Balthy. And, remember, don't make any trouble, you hear me?"
OOC: Well, that's quite a good story. Well done, Balthy. I don't have any complaint. it's a bit short compared to the usual, But then again, I rather read that straightforward story than some convoluted story. Anyway, congratulation. And see you soon.

 

OOC: lol, it was gonna be play by play day by day 16k word story but I forgot my charger and it died after I finished the conversation between the first target and my char. Got home and just decided to finish it so it wouldn't go too far over the time limit