𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑𝟐
“Hehe, I never thought you’d be the one to suggest doing a quest together first.”
Raz readily accepted my proposal to do a quest together. Thanks to that, I could hear her voice, seemingly in a good mood, as we headed towards the Quest Guild.
But did I not suggest doing a quest together first?
“Ah, what kind of quest should we do? D-rank would be good, right?”
“Huh?”
D-rank?
I’m capable of doing B-rank quests alone now, what’s with D-rank?
To begin with, the reason I’m doing a quest with Raz is because it’s been a while since we’ve met, and also to make some money in the process. So, if possible, it would be better to do a higher difficulty quest. Of course, B-rank might be difficult since the starting cost alone is 100 gold, but I believed we could definitely handle a C-rank.
If there aren’t any, we’ll have to do a D-rank quest.
“No, let’s do a C-rank quest.”
“C-rank? I lost my bow before because I died during a C-rank quest……”
It seems she lost the first bow I made for her during a C-rank quest. But I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t do a C-rank quest just because of that.
“You have a better bow now, don’t you?”
“But that doesn’t mean there’s no chance of dying. And relying on others is also ridiculous. Anyway, I mainly do D-rank quests because there’s less chance of dying.”
‘Could it be that other players do the same?’
It was just a guess, but I thought Raz could easily clear a C-rank quest if she joined a decent party. Conversely, it would be dangerous if she met a strange party.
Thinking about it that way, it seemed like Raz was intentionally doing D-rank quests to prevent any potential deaths.
“You don’t have to worry about that when you’re doing quests with me.”
“Well, that’s true. You can clear it alone, right?”
“I can manage. Ah, but pay the starting cost for me.”
“Starting cost? Okay.”
Talking like that, we arrived at the Quest Guild and approached the NPC at the reception desk.
“Please show us the C-rank quests.”
“Yes, here you go.”
Looking at the paper I received, there were a total of three quests written on it. Among them, only one was a combat quest. The others were a gathering quest and a quest to track down someone who had stolen an item and run away.
“Tracking wouldn’t be bad, would it?”
“I don’t have any skills related to tracking.”
“Then we’ll have to take the combat quest.”
Gathering or tracking didn’t suit me. Raz seemed to know that as well, so she decided on the combat quest, and I immediately read the message window that appeared in front of me.
[You have received the C-rank quest, ‘Hunt the Troll that Appeared in the Forest Near the Village’.]
“Quest confirmed.”
[Hunt the Troll that Appeared in the Forest Near the Village] (C-rank)
Details: All the residents of a small village located southwest of the Harpe Empire are trembling in fear. This is because a troll has appeared in the nearby forest. As a result, the villagers are too afraid to even think about going outside and are staying indoors.
Eliminate the troll and reassure the villagers.
*Automatically moves to the nearby forest.
Reward: Fame (200), Gold (12 gold)
Recommended Party Size: 3 people
‘It’s been a while since I’ve had such a simple quest.’
Just go to the forest and kill the troll. However, simple quests like this have a high probability of having a stronger than expected boss, but I thought it was just a C-rank quest, so I didn’t worry too much and decided to start the quest.
“Start quest.”
[Moving to the quest location.]
Whoosh!━
The quest location was, as described, a certain forest.
The troll is somewhere in this forest, right?
Looking around, it seemed like it would take more time to find it than to kill it. While I was thinking that, I saw Raz appearing next to me.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
Since Raz already knows my skills, there’s no reason to be cautious in a mere C-rank quest. Nevertheless, Raz carefully observed the surroundings before taking a step. It seems she’s developed a habit of checking her surroundings after dying during a C-rank quest before.
Anyway, after confirming that there was nothing nearby, Raz slowly released her guard and started asking what she had been curious about.
“By the way, why did you kill the Kraken? I heard the Iot Kingdom is in an uproar because you killed it.”
“The Great Voyage Guild asked me for help.”
“The Great Voyage Guild? They wouldn’t have just asked for help…… What did you get?”
“Get? I just helped them.”
Actually, I could have received 2 million won, but I didn’t end up taking it, so it wasn’t wrong to say I just helped them.
“Just? You helped them for free even though it was a subjugation request?”
“But I got rare boxes.”
“Ah, right. You got three rare boxes, didn’t you?”
At the mention of rare boxes, Raz looked at me with envious eyes, but she didn’t say anything else. Considering the value of rare items, it was natural for her to be envious.
“What will happen to the Iot Kingdom now?”
“Well, they’ll figure something out. To begin with, I’m not part of the Iot Kingdom, so there’s no reason for me to worry about it.”
At my words, Raz, who was also part of the Harpe Empire, nodded her head, seemingly wanting to move on to a different topic.
“Hey, Rudin……”
“……Wait.”
I interrupted Raz who was about to say something and turned my head to the left. I thought I heard something? As soon as I turned my head, I saw a large rock flying towards me with tremendous force.
“Crazy.”
Kaboom!━
[Overwhelming defense! You take no damage!]
“Wh, what?”
Ignoring Raz’s surprised reaction, I lowered my shield, which I had raised to block the rock, and my gaze fixed on one figure.
Growl……
‘I didn’t expect it to ambush me like this.’
Anyway, it seemed like we found the troll. Green skin and a body at least 2 meters tall. But maybe because I was fighting the Kraken until yesterday? It didn’t feel that big. If I attacked forcefully, my weapon would even reach its head.
“It’s a troll!”
“Covering fire, please.”
“O, okay!”
Honestly, I didn’t even need covering fire. Since I didn’t take any damage from the rock it just threw, the result was obvious. It was almost a courtesy. Anyway, after discovering the troll, I immediately ran towards it.
“Kuoooh!”
“Slow.”
The troll stretched out its empty hand towards me. However, once we entered combat, my agility was applied, making it feel considerably slow. I easily dodged to the side, avoiding the troll’s outstretched hand, and thrust the Roar of the Thunder Dragon into its side.
Crackle!━
[Hit Damage! 3,284.]
‘Its strength is also low.’
Looking at the damage, it was clearly doubled. This meant that not only its agility but also its strength was lower than mine. There was no way I could lose to such an opponent, but I dealt with it calmly, and in the meantime, Raz’s covering fire continued.
“Concentrated Fire!”
Thud!━
‘Oh, penetration damage?’
It was a sight that made me feel rewarded for making her the bow. The problem was that the troll’s gaze was turning towards Raz due to the penetration damage.
“Kuooohh!”
“Where do you think you’re going? Provoking Shout!”
Boom!━
Furthermore, its intelligence seemed to be lower than mine as its gaze, which was directed at Raz, fixed back on me. The troll once again stretched its arm towards me, trying to grab me somehow, but I quickly stepped back and struck its outstretched arm.
Crackle!━
[Hit Damage! 3,302]
And as I continued to attack the slow troll whenever it showed an opening, I could see its expression becoming more and more distorted.
“Kuooohhh!!”
[You have heard the Troll’s Roar.]
[You completely resist due to the related stat ‘Fighting Spirit’.]
“What are you doing?”
“Kuoo?”
“Dynamics.”
Kaboom!━
[Skill Damage! 1,453.]
As soon as I restricted its movement with Dynamics, I swung the Roar of the Thunder Dragon. The troll tried to counterattack in its own way, but it didn’t reach me, and after allowing a few attacks, the troll finally collapsed slowly with a frustrated expression, as if it had run out of health.
“Kuoo, uh……”
Thud━
[Ding!~ The level of A-rank skill ‘Earth’s Dynamics’ has increased.]
[Strength stat increases by 10.]
‘Oh, it was worth using the skill.’
The messages didn’t end there and a few more popped up.
[Boss Monster ‘Forest Troll’ has been defeated!]
[Acquired 30,000 combat experience!]
[Ding!~ You have acquired 1 gold 25 silver.]
[Ding!~ Party member Raz has acquired ‘Forest Troll’s Leather Belt’.]
‘Huh? What?’
Why didn’t I get anything?
If it was an item dropped by this kind of monster, it would definitely be magic-grade, but even if I sold it, I could still earn some income. However, I thought that nagging wouldn’t make an item appear if there wasn’t one, so I sighed and looked at Raz, and she was also looking at me with a curious gaze.
“Rudin, when did you get so strong?”
“Strong?”
“Yes, you seem much stronger than when you were fighting the Succubus?”
Of course, I got stronger because my weapon and armor were rare-grade or higher and enhanced to +10. Also, I hadn’t collected the Azure Guardian Set when I fought the Succubus. Compared to then, my strength and agility had increased tremendously, so it wasn’t unreasonable for Raz to think I had suddenly become stronger.
“Because I got new items.”
“Items? But you only got new armor, right?”
“……Even just getting new armor makes you stronger.”
Actually, most armor doesn’t increase attack power itself, so what I said was contradictory. However, armor also has stats that increase, and if you enhance it to +10, you can see a bigger effect than you might think.
Of course, I couldn’t tell her that directly.
[You have completed the quest.]
[Would you like to return to your previous location?]
“Let’s go back for now.”
“Huh? Ah, okay.”
I opened my item window, put away the Roar of the Thunder Dragon, took out the sword the Emperor gave me, and returned to the Quest Guild. Raz seemed happy to have finished the quest easily, and soon, both of us received our quest rewards.
[You have acquired 12 gold as a quest completion reward.]
[The effect of the related item ‘Sword Bestowed by the Harpe Emperor’ is activated.]
[Fame has increased by 300.]
‘Let’s see…… then I’ve collected 13 gold?’
Now that I had some money, I thought I could quickly deal with the rare boxes and continue the crafting I had been putting off. I had a lot to do, but I had to do it eventually, so it would be better to finish it as soon as possible.
“Rudin, what are you going to do now?”
Raz, who had returned after completing the quest, asked.
“Me? I’ll probably go to the Guild Castle.”
“That’s a shame. I wanted to play more since we’re together……”
“What about dungeons?”
“Dungeons? Don’t even mention it. The Emperor Guild has already found all the ones around here, right? So, I have to look for them in other villages, but other guilds are also looking for them there, so it’s difficult.”
It seemed that there was inevitably a difference between guilds searching and individuals searching. Nevertheless, Raz found three dungeons alone, so in a way, it was quite impressive.
“Anyway, you’re going back to the Guild Castle, right?”
“Since the quest is over. Contact me if you have any trouble.”
“Y, yes. But Rudin.”
Just as I was about to go to the Guild Castle, Raz hurriedly called me back. Looking at her, she seemed hesitant? I didn’t rush her and waited patiently.
“Do you…… have a girlfriend?”
‘Girlfriend?’
I was momentarily flustered by the unexpected question, but I soon answered honestly.
“Well, I don’t think so.”
“What’s with that vague answer?”
Raz frowned and expressed her dissatisfaction with my uncertain answer. But the reason I gave such an answer was because my relationship with Yua wasn’t clear yet.
We’re not dating, but it’s similar to dating…… right?
I wasn’t sure either.
“But why do you ask?”
“Well, because I want to snatch you up.”
“……”
For a moment, I thought I shouldn’t have asked.
“Just kidding. Anyway, I’ll be going.”
Raz seemed to have guessed something from my reaction and said it was a joke. And after leaving a message saying good luck, she left the Quest Guild. I had various thoughts while watching her, but I shook my head and tried to move to the Guild Castle.
[Aizen of the Emperor Guild has invited you to the guild chat.]
[Would you like to accept?]
“Huh?”
What? Is today the day for the guild quest?
Thinking about the guild quest, I just wanted to flatly refuse this message. However, remembering the money I received from Aizen, I had no choice but to accept.
“Is today the day for the guild quest?”
━No. Someone who wants to see you has come.
“Crazy.”
They were looking for me in the Iot Kingdom, and now they’re looking for me here too? I didn’t know why they were looking for me, but I didn’t want to go because it was too bothersome.
“Tell them to go back.”
━They said they can’t go back until they see you.
“Or tell them I quit the game.”
━……Yes, I understand.
Even Aizen seemed surprised by my indirect refusal, as he immediately ended the guild chat. As soon as the chat ended, I took out a Return Scroll and moved to my room in the Guild Castle where I wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone.
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