Chapter 5
Chapter 05 – Clearing a Quest
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Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
Clearing a Quest
Hikaru studied the bulletin board . Papers imbued with special magic were posted on it — numerous requests sent to the guild . Incidentally, “requests” were also called “quests”; which term was used depended on the type of job .
Plant Hunter
Gather Glimmering Poisonous Plants … . Beginners allowed . Bring as many glimmering poisonous plants as possible .
Reward: Standard Reward 200 Gilans
「This’ll do . 」
Quests that require fighting would be difficult for me right now . My priority at the moment is to get used to this world . A safe delivery quest fits the bill just fine .
He took the request form and moved his guild card close to it . The piece of paper gleamed before vanishing into thin air .
「Incredible . It doesn’t matter if scientific technology hasn’t developed in this world . With advanced magical technology, nature can be preserved . Plus it’s user friendly . 」
Hikaru entered the reference room . On the walls were samples of medicinal plants and ores that frequently showed up in quests . A map of the nearby vicinity with marks on where to gather materials was in the center of the room .
「…Smells like mold in here . 」
It seemed as though people didn’t enter the room often . I guess there are no diligent adventurers around . Hikaru learned everything he needed to know about the glimmering poisonous plants .
He took one of the many bags used for delivery quests that were piled in a corner of the guild . All right, time to go…
Working behind the counter, Jill saw Hikaru’s name pop up automatically on the “Request Taker” field .
「Hmm . 」
She surveyed the guild but didn’t see him . More accurately, she couldn’t because he was using Stealth .
「So that cheeky brat took this quest…」
Jill grinned broadly . Hikaru had no idea that the request for glimmering poisonous plants mostly involved bringing the items one already had in their possession . The reason for that was Green Wolves – vicious monsters – lived in the area where the plants grew . On top of that, they formed packs so even veteran adventurers found it difficult to get rid of them . Going there personally to gather the plants was simply not worth the risk and effort .
「Maybe this will scare him enough to make him give up being an adventurer . 」
Green Wolves attack humans but don’t eat them . As such, there weren’t a lot of fatalities . It was just the right test to baptize beginner adventurers .
Just as Hikaru was about to leave the guild, he remembered something .
「Oh, right . Those adventurers could be waiting for me . 」
He double-checked if his Stealth was on . This is a good opportunity . It was the chance to find out just how effective his Skill was .
Walking slowly so his footsteps didn’t make a sound, Hikaru left the guild .
「…… . 」
The main street . Right beside the guild’s exit stood two of the adventurers from before .
「Man, that brat’s not coming out…」
「Maybe some other guys taught him a lesson already . 」
「Sounds likely . 」
They roared with crude laughter . Hikaru was close – about three meters away – but they didn’t notice him at all .
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「…I got myself an incredible Skill, I think . 」
Hikaru strolled on ahead . In the end, the adventurers failed to realize he was there .
「Skill Trees in games usually don’t have this much effect… Perhaps this Skill is different . 」
Maybe you gain its maximum effect by maxing it out . In that case, Skills under Stealth have incredible potential . No, even those under Vitality and Magical Power should be plenty awesome .
「Nothing I can do about the 1 point per year system though…」
Hikaru headed outside the down . He was starving, yet he had no choice but to complete the request to earn money . Walls surrounded the town to prevent monsters and burglars from getting in .
Houses stood outside the walls though its residents were always at risk . They didn’t have to pay for the land so penniless farmers lived outside and did agriculture . A guard stood at the gate, asking for IDs from people who went in and out of town . Hikaru presented his guild card and the guard let him through with a nod .
「An adventurer apprentice? Don’t do anything rash . As long as you’re alive, things will all work out . 」
「I won’t . 」Hikaru said, bowing his head .
It felt like the first time in this world someone said kind words to him . The guard’s eyes widened in surprise, not expecting such sincerity from a young man .
「Be sure to be back by sundown . 」the guard said with a gentle smile .
After a bit of walking on the road, Hikaru turned to a forest on the left .
「Hmm… Jill mentioned that the guild card will boost my abilities . 」
It was possible to change your class anytime apparently . It’s best to have my abilities boosted while I’m outside town .
「If I can only get one Skill point per year, I have to make the best use of these classes . 」
Hikaru specialized in Stealth . 【Stealth God: Darkness Wanderer】[2] would be perfect here .
「Let’s go with this!」
And with a click, his job class changed .
「Hmm…」
It felt like his body was getting thinner like air . He could see his hands and feet clearly, though .
If someone nearby saw Hikaru, they would’ve lost sight of him as soon as he used his guild card unless they paid strict attention .
Hikaru activated his Life and Mana Obfuscation and Imperceptibility as well . With that, every living thing in the vicinity couldn’t sense him anymore . The birds and insects that stopped crying in the presence of a human, started singing once more .
「Amazing . 」
It felt like he was invisible . Hikaru sauntered into the woods . Being raised in Tokyo, he was unfamiliar with forests . He couldn’t go camping so he simply watched outdoor camping videos on video-sharing sites .
Trees and bushes green and thriving, sunlight filtering through the leaves, the sweet sound of birds chirping… He couldn’t believe he had set foot in a forest . And unlike the ones in Japan, this one had barely been touched by humans .
Elated, Hikaru strolled onward, but then he caught a glimpse of a wolf in the distance, its color green . That must be a Green Wolf . It looked like it donned grass and moss rather than being “green” .
「It’s huge… but it doesn’t seem to have noticed me . 」
Its body was about three meters long . Hikaru continued on, sneakily, so he didn’t draw the monster’s attention .
Roland had barely any knowledge about monsters . As such, it was understandable that Hikaru would misunderstand . The Green Wolf can detect something within a 200-meter radius and Hikaru was inside it . In fact, it had sensed Hikaru for a while until he arrived just outside the forest . The monster made it all the way here and was now confused as Hikaru’s presence suddenly vanished .
「I should find out more about monsters too . 」
There should be information somewhere about a vicious monster that close to town .
「Oh, there’s the plant . 」
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Hikaru sauntered through the woods, searching for glimmering poisonous plants in a leisurely manner . They were shaped like lilies, their flowers of four different colors . Finding them at night was easy as they would glow, but staying till dark in the forest was terrifying .
「I need the buds and the petals . 」
One by one, he plucked off the parts he needed with his nails, making sure to leave the roots . That way, they would grow again .
「Thank you, outdoor videos, for being useful in another world!」
Evening . The Adventurers Guild .
Jill sat behind the counter, irritated . Her shift was supposed to be from morning until noon, but she had to work overtime until dusk as her colleague couldn’t come . She was in a sour mood . But that wasn’t all .
She expected the boy who left in the morning to be on a stretcher after getting bit by a Green Wolf . And yet, she didn’t receive any news like that at all . The adventurers’ guild reception desk was a place where all sorts of information passed through . There was no way any info about the boy would slip by her .
Maybe he didn’t go to collect poisonous plants . It sounds the most plausible reason . In the first place, a Green Wolf wouldn’t miss a beginner adventurer . Definitely not one going solo . So he failed the request . All male adventurers are like that .
「……」
Jill had a secret . One of her older ancestors was a mythical fox spirit . Having inherited a bit of the blood, she could sense others’ ulterior motives . Endowed with good looks, men full of ulterior motives swarmed her . At the young age of eighteen, she was already looking ahead in the long term . She had concluded that men were there to be used .
So what Jill looked for in men was their status . Status meant their wealth, social standing, and their strength . Since men were only after her for her looks, then she in turn would only look at their status .
「He can’t be dead, can he?」
She raised her head . His death would weigh heavy on her conscience . Too heavy . Not only that, she’d feel responsible . A receptionist failed to provide adequate information resulting in an adventurer’s death . If that happens…
「………」
Concern sprang up within her heart . A Green Wolf wouldn’t go as far as kill humans . But what if there were other monsters? Or perhaps bandits?
「Oh, no… What if he’s dead? Would it be my fault? For real? That sounds really bad . 」
「Excuse me—」
「Should I send someone to investigate? But what would I tell him?」
「Hey, are you listening?」
The usual flock of men weren’t around this time . They were well aware that Jill was in her foulest mood . As such, the boy walked up all the way to her .
「What?」
He’s here . The boy from this morning, right in front of me .
Wait, he’s here? Jill’s head was in turmoil . I see . He’s safe, so that means…
「I bet you ignored the request and just wandered around! You have the nerve to show your face around here!」
Jill’s voice rang throughout the guild . Hearing her, the other adventurers started whispering to each other .
「Ignored a request?」「Who’s the brat?」「Oh, Jill’s pissed . 」
「What are you saying?」
「Being an adventurer is not a game! People like you ruin the reputation of the Adventurers Guild!」
「I get it . It’s not a game . So start checking already . 」
「Check what? I know you picked a request—」
Jill went silent, her gaze going to Hikaru’s feet . A filled bag lay on the floor, glimmering poisonous plants sticking out of it .
「……What?」
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She couldn’t believe her eyes . Collect poisonous plants… the request the boy took .
「You went to collect those?」
「Of course . 」
「What about the Green Wolf?」
「There was one . Actually you should’ve told me about the danger . 」
「Th-There was one?! You should’ve been attacked—」
She swallowed the rest of what she was about to say . Not giving him a warning despite having the knowledge of the risks would be a blunder on the guild’s part .
So instead, Jill formed the words in her head . So the Green Wolf was close enough for Hikaru to see, but it didn’t approach him . The monster should’ve lunged at a human long before they could get that close . He was probably just lucky .
「Are these all glimmering poisonous plants?」
Hikaru nodded, placing the bag on the counter . Jill’s eyes widened once more . With the bag full, she thought he pulled the plants root and all . But she was wrong . He only plucked the petals and buds .
「How deep did you go… No, were you in the forest the whole day?」
「Please check them quick . I’m dying from hunger . 」
「Oh, I’m sorry . 」
Jill’s head was still in a state of chaos . But she was certain . Fear of the Green Wolf gripping him and starving, Hikaru searched the forest for glimmering poisonous plants . She felt sorry for him .
She couldn’t be farther from the truth, though . Hikaru gathered the plants without a care in the world . He even took an afternoon nap .
「I’ll assess the items right away . 」
Jill finished the assessment in a hurry .
「I’m done computing . The basic reward for the delivery of glimmering poisonous plants is 200 gilans . 」
Gilan was this kingdom’s currency .
「Phew… I can fill my stomach for a while . 」
Seeing Hikaru feeling relieved, Jill realized something . He said he was starving . He must be penniless . For food carts, the cheaper meals cost 20 gilans while the expensive ones cost 40 gilans . Hikaru could have ten cheap meals .
She finally saw Hikaru as someone of his age . Jill’s mood turned pleasant . It was all just her misunderstanding things, though .
「The 200 gilans is for the basic reward . 」
「So I get more for the plants?」
「Correct . Come on, stop guessing things right . You’re no fun . 」
Hikaru shrugged . He’s a cheeky brat, all right, she thought .
「Here’s the result of the assessment . The amount of plants you gathered totalled 19 bundles . It’s 1,000 gilans per bundle for a total of 19,000 gilans . And as an incentive for gathering this many – well, I’m basically just rounding things up – you get a total of 20,000 gilans, basic reward included . 」
「…I-I see . 」
「Why are you getting flustered?」
「I’m not flustered . 」
He ended up replying the same way he did when he got the guild card .
「With this many, I think there won’t be requests for glimmering poisonous plants anytime soon . But if there’s one, we’ll be counting on you . I hope to see great things, Mr . Hope . 」
「…You’re giving me too much credit . 」
Hikaru’s expression quickly turned sour as he took the money .
「Oh, right . I actually have a few questions . 」
「Shoot . 」
Hikaru threw questions at Jill while she answered them .
For convenience, Hikaru asked for gold, silver, and copper coins . He shoved the bag with the reward money deep inside his clothes . Spare change lined up his pockets .
「20,000 gilans…」
Hehehe… He felt his cheeks loosen . Hikaru actually liked working to earn money . When he was in Japan, he made an account to participate in online stock trading . It felt like he was fighting in the grown-up world . His parents, though, were worried about their son who never made friends and stayed locked up in his room .
「Anyway, why’d she get friendly all of a sudden? I’m sure I’m nothing but an annoying brat in her eyes . 」
Hikaru did not understand how the receptionist felt; guilt seized her heart, thinking she might’ve killed a young boy indirectly .
「Mr . Hope, huh…」
Hikaru’s parents “hoped” for Hikaru to have a bright future, but it didn’t work out for his life was cut short . He wasn’t sure how to react to someone calling him “Mr . Hope . ”
The sun was going down . Most food carts closed at sundown; in fact, most of them were already closed .
「This is bad . 」
If food carts were not available, he’d have to eat at a bar or a restaurant . That would be bad for him as he would have to stay longer . He’d be in trouble if someone recognized his clothes .
「Are you still open?」
「Hmm? We’re closing . 」
The other shops were already completely closed . This was the only one still open .
「Every other shop is closed by now . You should’ve come sooner . 」
「I… Is that so…」
No other choice then . I’ll just sleep while enduring the hunger even though I have money…
His stomach grumbled .
「Oops . 」
「Oh? Fuhahahaha! That was one sad stomach growl! Fine, fine . You can have this for 10 gilans if you want . 」
The shop owner held out a leftover yakisoba wrapped in a huge leaf that looked like bamboo grass .
「Can I really have it?」
「Next time, come eat when we’re open . Later . 」
A treasure . The greatest treasure ever! Hikaru strolled forward, still-warm yakisoba in his hand . Unable to control himself any longer, he entered a back alley . After checking to see no one was watching, he sat down behind a barrel and opened the leaf . His stomach growled from the aroma of the spices that rose from the food . He relentlessly dug in .
「…So good . 」
Hunger is the best appetizer . It was so scrumptious, his tongue went numb . Meat juices and fat danced wildly inside his mouth .
「It’s so good, Roland…」Hikaru told his body’s owner, who now only exists within his memories .