Chapter 5

Chapter 05 – Clearing a Quest

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 .

「…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 . 」

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?」

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 .