As our carriage drove through the forest, I turned to Harold.

"So... What was it you wanted to talk about?" I timidly queried.

"Right, I wanted to continue where we left off yesterday. Since I didn't think such a situation would arise so quickly, I didn't mention this prior. But now that it has, it's best that you learn the responsibilities of an adventurer sooner rather than later...

You see, the Adventurers Guild does their best to sort through all their requests, but their ability to do so is far from perfect, and there will always be loopholes that people will try to exploit. For example, you might accept an investigation request, and when you arrive on the scene, they will beg you to kill the monster instead, or they would subtly try to expand the criteria of the investigation request, greatly increasing the danger level. They may even casually ask you to use your abilities on something that may seem completely minor or inconsequential at first glance, but it can later on result in devastating consequences.

In most of these cases, they do this in an attempt to save money, but it can also be due to more nefarious reasons as well... regardless in both cases you should remain vigilant.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that those who do this all have ill intentions in mind, some may even do it without thinking... That isn't what I'm trying to say... Where I am trying to get at is that when you take on any request, be it commissioned by the guild or not, you should always plan ahead and leave behind a wide safety margin. Because when things go wrong, and I guarantee they will, you have a lot of leeway to work with. Not planning ahead and being swept up by their current situation is exactly how many new adventurers end up losing their lives.

You should fully understand your limits and only take on a request after you have evaluated the entire situation, then proceed in the way which minimizes the risk to both yourself and your party members. Because I will remind you, the choices you make not only affects you, but your party as a whole!

And lastly, no matter how minor it is, make sure the other side is able to pay properly for any action they request, because any action taken outside of the Adventurers Guild is your own responsibility... Is that understood?" Harold confirmed.

"So that's why you wanted Mayo?! Don't listen to that stingy old man Mayo!" came a voice from the front.

"Shut up Ariel!" Harold called out, then turned to me "Is that understood?" He then repeated.

"I understand..." I responded.

"No, Mayo! If there is anything that should be done, you should do it! Don't worry about anything, if something goes wrong, I will guarantee to take care of it! And don't be blinded by money like that money grubber!" Ariel protested.

"Ariel, would you fucking shut it?! Whose fault is it that we have money problems to begin with?!" Harold quipped.

"I-It's not my fault! Plus its better than leaving behind those in need!" Ariel objected.

"It most definitely is your fault! Anyways, we are not having this conversation again! Pay attention to the road!" Harold declared.

"It isn't... and uhm, don't listen to him Mayo..." Ariel trailed off... leading to a long silence...

Since the conversation seemed to have finished, I took out some [Wool Fabric] and began working on my first items, specifically the socks. As my [Tailoring] skill was higher level than my [Threadweaving], it was somewhat easier to work with... and before I knew it, I two good pairs of socks were made!

Wool Long Sock of Intelligence

An average sock made out of wool fit for children

+1 INT +1 DEF

Durability: 10/10

Quality 5.2013/10.0000

Wool Long Sock of Wisdom

An average sock made out of wool fit for children

+1 WIS +1 DEF

Durability: 10/10

Quality 5.8735/10.0000

I think they came out pretty decent.... but... hmmm... it seems that items made of Cloth tend to give stats like INT and WIS instead of combat stats ha?... I guess that helps a bit with crafting, but it doesn't really do me much good otherwise until I at very least get an actual attack magic... Well something is still better than nothing...

After I put on the socks, I then pondered on what I should make next.... Oh right! How about making a mantle to replace my old one since that wretched hero ended up destroying mine? And now that I think about it... I should definitely ask for reimbursements for destroying it when we get back to town! Otherwise, that hero might get the impression that my stuff are somehow free to destroy whenever she pleases!

So anyways... back to business... there are some downsides to using wool to make the mantle, particularly the stats would be far lower than my previous one. On top of that, I estimate it would use about 6 fabrics to make, which is quite a lot... If I look at it from a class quest efficiency standpoint, it's a pretty poor decision to make... but, if I look at it from an overall perspective, it makes quite a bit of sense. The reason for that is because even the socks I just made would are going to be quickly replaced once I get around to making Cotton. If anything, I'm already regretting taking off my high quality Silk socks for these despite the stat boost... But in the case of the mantle, the stats don't matter too much since it isn't that convenient as far as my combat style goes... Its primary purpose is mostly things like dealing with the rain, and hiding my identity, it also helps a bit with [Blend Stealth].

That said, I'm still giving it my all to make sure it comes out just right...

Wool Mantle of Intelligence

An above average mantle made out of wool fit for children

+1 INT +1 DEF

Durability: 15/15

Quality 6.1123/10.0000

And what do you know? I broke through the quality score of 6! It doesn't do me much good stat wise but at least it's a bit more durable... Well anyways, since that is done, I only have one [Wool Fabric] left... But before I figure out what to do with it, there is something I need to find out first...

"Where are we heading to next?" I asked Harold.

It wouldn't be funny if I make all the fabrics into stuff, and then end up with nothing to do for hours... or worse... days!

"Our primary destination is the Capital, but we do have a few stops along the way" Harold replied.

"No... I mean, like when are we going to stop by a town with an Adventurers Guild? or at the very least a place where I can get some more Yarn?" I inquired.

"Ah that... well our plan for today is to stop by Garton Village, though I'm not exactly sure if they have any yarn you can buy or not... That said, tomorrow we will stop by a larger town called Mephis which should have what you're looking for" Harold answered.

So I guess that means I have to make due with what I have and slow down the pace a bit ha?

As I was contemplating these things, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.

"What's the matter?" Harold asked and walked towards the front.

"I sense the presence of a Demon Beast" Ariel informed.

"How far away is it?" Harold inquired.

"I'd say about 5 kilometers to the north-eastern forest" Ariel answered.

"Alright then, go make it fast" Harold consented.

"Sure, but I'm taking Mayo with me to show her my Unique Skill~!" Ariel enthusiastically replied.

"As I said, we don't have time for this!" Harold rejected.

"Well then, make time! I'm not moving one inch unless Mayo comes with me!" Ariel insisted.

They stood there glaring at each other for a good minute until...

"... *sigh* Fine, Tina your coming as well so get ready" Harold finally relented.

"Okay, give me a second" Tina replied and started to pack away some stuff.

"Since unfastening the wolves will be a pain, Ariel you will carry Tina while I will carry Mayo, let's make this quick" Harold announced.

"Shiro!" I corrected with a sharp glare!

"But I want to carry Mayo!" Ariel loudly protested.

"Since there is no way in hell I'm carrying Tina, either you carry Tina or you're going by yourself!" Harold declared.

"That's so mean..." Tina jokingly pouted.

"We don't need Tina then!" Ariel defiantly objected.

"Oh yes we do! Who is going to clean up after your mess? Are you going to do it?" Harold reprimanded.

Ariel took one last wishful glance at me as though hoping for some sort of support...

"Hmph!" I snorted, showing my rejection.

"..."

Seemingly giving up, she knelt down and let Tina climb on her back...

"Just wait till you see how awesome my Unique Skill is..." Ariel mumbled.

Following in Tina's footsteps, I also got on Harold's back and we sprinted into the forest at an astonishing speed...

You have acquired a new skill [NA][Sprint] Level 1

Your skill [NA][Sprint] has become Level 2

Nice! Having more skills to run away with always helps! That said... I wonder... if there is such a thing as Human Riding skill? hehe... After pondering such silly nonsense, another thought came into my mind...

"By the way... I was wondering... What's a Demon Beast? Is it somehow different from a monster?" I curiously asked Harold.

"In all honesty, Demon Beasts are not that much different from monsters overall. Simply put, they are monsters or animals that have been corrupted by miasma... If I were to say how they differ from other monsters, the biggest one would be that while regular monsters are generally hostile towards the enlightened races, they don't exactly seek them out under normal circumstances... In comparison, Demon Beasts destroy everything in their path, be it people or even other monsters. They just ravage and destroy. This is why the guild guidelines require any adventurer who comes across a Demon Beast to subjugate them as quickly as possible. That is of course assuming it is within their capabilities" Harold explained.

Hmm... I never heard anything about this when I joined the guild... Then again maybe they only require it once you reach a certain rank?

"Are these Demon Beasts strong?" I queried.

"That's kind of hard to say.... The strength of a Demon Beast can vary significantly depending on which animal or monster got corrupted" Harold vaguely answered.

"Then how strong is the most common Demon Beast?" I inquired.

"The most common Demon Beast is considered a Rank B monster, and unfortunately it is also one of the most annoying ones as they can even take down a City Wall. It would generally require a Rank B adventurer to take it down, but if you are willing to suffer some casualties, a group of Rank C adventurers can also kill it with little difficulty" Harold replied.

"T-That strong?!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Well... it isn't like the most common Demon Beast is the weakest one. Some Demon Beasts even a Rank D can kill, but when you factor in safety margins, it is more suitable for Rank C adventurers or above" Harold explained.

So effectively... even the weakest Demon Beast is stronger than me...

"Then how often do these Demon Beasts appear?" I asked out of concern.

"That depends... usually most Demon Beasts are killed before they get fully corrupted and turned into a Demon Beast, but around these parts, adventurers and soldiers are pretty lax so they tend to show up more often than say around the capital" Harold informed.

"I see... so how exactly does a monster or animal get corrupted in the first place?" I queried.

"Hmm... I'm not sure I can accurately answer that since it isn't exactly my forte, but from what I know, Demon Beasts usually form when they get in contact with something with lots of condensed miasma. To give an example, eating a corpse that has been lying around for an extended period of time or anything else that may have absorbed an abundance of miasma. If the host fails to resist the miasma, the miasma will consume them over time turning them into a Demon Beast. Once that happens, there are two fates for a Demon Beast, either it will absorb the darkness attribute or it will explode. And if that happens, then even more Demon Beasts will be formed as the corruption spreads. The only way to truly end the corruption is by killing the Demon Beast, only then will the miasma fizzle into the atmosphere" Harold explained.

"We are getting close!" Ariel suddenly called out and slowed down the pace.

"Alright then, you should be able to walk from here" Harold stated as he knelt down to let me off.

After getting off his back, I activated [Presence Sense] just in case and also locked onto the target... Oh right, I should probably use [Smell Sense] to commit their scent to my memory just in case... if these Demon Beasts are as strong as Rank B monster, I'd definitely want to stay as far away from them as I can...

Activating the skill I...

"What's wrong?" Harold asked as he saw me suddenly stop midway with my eyes wide open...

"N-No-th-ing..." I nervously replied and resumed walking while trying to hold my body from trembling...

Maybe I'm just imagining things... I mean it's possible that all Demon Beasts have similar scents... plus my [Smell Sense] was only at level 3 back then... so I could just be mistaken I wishfully thought...

"There it is!" Ariel interrupted and pointed out with her finger.

Feeling more and more nervous, I activated the [Acting] skill for some support and pressed on... I can't afford to give up just like that, especially if I can get my hands on some awesome skills! I mean hero skills are supposed to be overpowered right?

I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT!...

I repeated to myself over and over like a charm as I pushed myself to walk forward... but the more I moved, the more my body trembled viciously... every step I took felt as heavy as though my feet were made of stone... when I barely made it to where Ariel was, I saw the existence that still plagued my nightmares to this very day...

"H-Hell B-Boar..." I muttered as dread filled up my very being...

I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT! I'M NOT BAIT!...

My body froze up completely and refused to listen to me at all as an overwhelming fear overtook me... and despite not being able to even take single step, my body shivered in the face of absolute terror!

"Are you really alright?" Harold asked again, seeing there was something obviously wrong with me...

This time I couldn't even answer back as even my voice refused to come out... all I could think of was that IF THAT THING NOTICES ME, IT WILL TEAR ME TO SHREADS! Just like it did to the other bait... and then... I will be abandoned and left for dead... No! No! I'M NOT BAIT! NOT ANYMORE! But.... *tremble*

But then out of nowhere, I heard a voice...

"Now watch Mayo, this is my awesome Unique Skill, [Thousand-Blade-Aberth]!" Ariel enthusiastically yelled out.

Right... Ariel is a Hero and a Rank A adventurer! Compared to her, the [Hell Boar] should be a joke... Despite Ariel being my worst enemy, just a tinge of hope filled my heart...

As Ariel lifted her hand, her [Item Box] opened in midair and all the swords that I made came out... but unlike my expectations, they did not just drop down to the ground due to gravity... no... they were floating... and as though they were on strings, they began circling around her like they were dancing in the air...

Wait a second... Swords coming out of nowhere, and then obeying your every command... Isn't that freaking Gate of freaking Babylon!?!?!

"Cool..." I inadvertently muttered in excitement!

"I know right! Isn't it awesome?"Ariel proudly declared.

I didn't even have the concentration to retort her or even respond to her for that matter as the awesome display of swords kept me mesmerized... All I could think of was... I WANT THAT SKILL!

“SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” came a loud noise, bringing me back to the harsh reality in front of me!

Right... There was no way the [Hell Boar] wouldn't notice such a large display of swords being shown... and as before, smoke began to come out of its body as it prepared to charge...

Your skill [RA][Meteor Rush] has become Level 2

*gulp*

"Ariel, what are you doing?! Hurry up and get this over with!" Harold nagged with annoyed tone.

"Ye, ye... let me see... I think five swords should be enough? Hmm... what's this?" Ariel pondered as though she noticed something strange.

"Ariel!" Harold shouted, bringing Ariel back out of her thoughts.

"Okay, okay! Sheesh..." Ariel complained.

With that declaration, all the swords suddenly shifted and took on an attack position... then five swords quickly flew out and impaled the [Hell Boar]!

“SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” the [Hell Boar] screamed due to the pain...

But unfortunately... it simply wasn't enough... With the [Meteor Rush] coming anytime now... my body again began to tremble viciously due to overwhelming fear...

"Ariel..." I pleaded with tears in my eyes... begging her to make the scary thing go away....

Though as I turned around to look at her... no... the mad woman in front of me... her face was smiling as though she had lost all of her sanity...

* BOOM *

"Hiii!?!??!" I screamed out in fright after hearing the loud explosion in the background...

Collapsing on the floor, I huddled in a circle shivering in terror of my upcoming doom... I didn't know what to do... all I could think of was DEATH! I AM GOING TO DIE!

But for some strange reason... death did not come...

"Squeee...." came a pitiful cry...

Ha? Activating my [Presence Sense], I noticed the [Hell Boar] was still rooted to his original spot... Mustering up all my remaining courage, I slowly got up while still trembling and looked into the distance... and there... I saw the [Hell Boar]... with half it's body completely blown into pieces... And all around it was covered in burning flames as it swallowed up the nearby foliage...

When some of the smoke cleared up... I could make out a single sword stabbed into the [Hell Boar]... Feeling a tinge of curiosity, I activated [Hawk Eyes] and took a closer look...

And there I saw it... my beloved Jennifer! Like a holy angel that slaughters all my nightmares! Purr~

... Wait a second... something looks weird... I activated [All-Observing-Eyes] and took an even closer look... and what I could make out were some strange red lines all across Jennifer...

"Hmm... odd... then how about this..." Ariel muttered in the background.

...

* BOOM *

...

Out of nowhere, the red lines began to glow and a raging flames spilled out annihilating the [Hell Boar] completely...

But despite the hot burning flames... all I could feel was a shivering cold... as a large void replaced that which was once my heart... with it, the world seemed to have lost all color as an endless despair assaulted my very being... It felt as though I had just lost something I could never ever hope to replace... Even the joy of the level up that came along with it seemed completely non-existent... all I felt was a bottomless misery envelope me...

My mind tried its best to catch up on the events that had just transpired... but no matter how hard I tried, all my mind kept doing was drawing blanks... there was only one thing I could think of...

J-J-Je-

"Oooh! That one exploded really well... can you make more of those Mayo?" Ariel announced in delight.

"J-JENNIFER!!!!!!!!!!!" I yelled out in utter despair!

Endless tears began to flow out as I tried to rush where Jennifer once stood... but my legs simply would not listen... having nothing to stop the momentum, my knees gave out and I collapsed on the floor... I tried to push myself forward using my arms while clawing the ground... but to no avail as all strength completely left me...

"J-Jennifer... Jennifer... Jennifer..." I wailed in overwhelming agony, hoping the reality in front of me was nothing but a lie... a cruel joke... I'll wake up and all this will be gone... this grief... this despair... this emptiness... hehe... this is all a dream right?

But contrary to my foolish desires, I could not wake up from this nightmare...

In this cruel reality in front of me, I could not feel my heart at all... there was only a void... a void that once used to be my heart and soul...

"What's wrong Mayo?" Ariel asked, as she came over and grabbed me by the shoulders.

"J-JENNIFER... S-SHE... SHE EXPLODED! WAH!" I cried out loud, not able to hold back the overwhelming pain of my loss...

"*sigh* This is why I told you, there is no smith who is ever going to like such a skill..." Harold sighed.

"What do you mean? She said it was cool, didn't you hear?" Ariel protested as I continued to cry in the background.

"Let me handle this" Tina confidently declared.

"Be my guest..." Harold relented as he saw no hope of making Ariel understand.

"Ariel... Imagine Mayo..." Tina suggested.

"Uhm... Okay..." Ariel nodded while taking a confused glance at me.

"Now then... imagine Mayo exploding!" Tina proclaimed while lifting both hands into the air, causing Ariel's sharp eyes to go as wide as the moon!

"*gasp* MAYO! DON'T EXPLODE!" Ariel screamed as she hugged me with all her bone crushing strength!

* Crack *

Faced with such brutal force while at same time feeling an unparalleled amount of agony and shock... my consciousness could no longer hold onto this world...

* collapse *

***************** For Reader Reference Only (Shiro did not get this skill) *****************

[Thousand-Blade-Aberth]

1. Passive – You are able to control up to 1000 flying swords

2. Active – As long as the sword is owned by you, you can detonate the sword at your will

3. Sub-skill – You are able to now use [Fire Magic] Level 5

4. Sub-skill – You are able to now use [Air Magic] Level 5

5. Sub-skill – You are able to now use [Explosion Magic] Level 3

6. Sub-skill – You are able to now use [Flying Sword] Level 5

7. Passive – You are not able to get any stats from weapons that are non-swords

8. Passive - After using a sword for a certain amount of time, the sword will detonate by itself