Laszlo painted the picture of [Dragonkin] as a race of Dragonoid life often found in hidden enclaves. Seldom encountered in the outside world, their partiality toward isolationism and tribal living was distinct. A cunning predator that fed on anything weak enough for reliable hunting; stray humans included. Unlike their namesake, [Dragonkin] worked together for benefits in tight-knit communities.

The more Quintin heard about them, the more eager he became. "There's one more thing I'm confused about. Wouldn't this whole situation be over by now if only you guys sought help from the start?"

Laszlo shook his head in sad humor. "That story would be funny if it weren't so sad. In short, we tried to negotiate with PanQuil. However, they refused to send aid citing a crisis as the reasoning. Needless to say, the negotiations fell through and I threatened banditry as my last resort. The higher-ups called my bluff and labeled us ahead of time, thus here we are—[Bandits]."

"Ah, so desperate times call for desperate measures after all." Quintin turned his gaze away as the all too familiar prompt pulled his attention from the conversation.

[Quests]:

[Along Came Some Bandits]: [√]

You've heard the story of Laszlo the trapper.

He has seen the power you wield, entrusting

the rescue of his imprisoned comrades to you.

[Rewards]:

—100,000 Exp.

—100 gold coins

—[Quest Chain]

[Quest Chain]:

[Along Came Some Bandits]: [√]

[Under a Serpent Canopy]:

-Rank: Rare

-Zone: Nagelroot Hills

-Action: Elimination

1. Defeat the five [Dragonkin] controllers.

—oEliminate: all collared monsters and beasts.

2. Optional: rescue Laszlo's comrades.

—oCount: 0/15

3. ????

Rewards: EXP. & [????] item

Laszlo waited for him to finish being distracted. Quintin picked up where they left off, "You've been fighting these collared beasts for a while now; you must have a read on their numbers, right?"

The man got serious as he tilted his head slightly in thought. "Aye. Four of the controllers have twenty-five beasts under 'em and take up positions North, South, East, and West from our basecamp. The fifth, most powerful one has a group of - what we estimate as - fifty to a hundred underlings. That golden-scaled bastard lazes about there, at our camp. I dare not think how my comrades are being treated, even as we speak!"

Quintin empathized with the trapper. How much their lives must weigh on the man's shoulders, yet being unable to answer up at the final hour. In a similar vein, he too might find himself at a loss to match these expectations. Regardless, he did his best work alone. No room in that for nary a distraction or stray thought. He could live with personal failure and leave the work of guardianship to more capable hands.

[Quest Experience]

[+Various Beasts Lv. 5-18]x10 defeated.

—106,520exp. granted. [Class Level Up +3]!

+15[AP] gained. Free AP: 0=>15

[Nameless Grappler] Lv. 25=>28 [Stats]: [AP]: 0

Str: 65=>71

Vit: 92=>98

Dex: 73=>76(MS All: 3%)

[Resources]:

HP: 561/561

SP: 800/951(1,051)

PP: 460/500

The amount of [EXP.] needed to gain those [Levels] took him by surprise with how sour it tasted. Had this been before, there would be no question about rising seven, possibly eight times from such a bountiful sum. This new reality meant harder fights and an ever-narrowing slice of the proverbial pie. However, The bizarre manner of point accumulation didn't seem too bothered by his newfound worries either way.

Quintin stood up, looking off into the never-ending forest of Nagelroot Hills. When he first learned of it, up in Drake Tail Valley, he never could have imagined the forest biome in the distance. To call it a network of hills felt clumsy and inaccurate, that was, until the full name took effect. The former part mattered a lot more than the latter to describe the rise and fall in elevation.

He sighed lightly, turning back to his conversation partner. "I've gotten about as much information as I'm going to. Sit tight and wait for my return; and don't go around robbing anyone, alright?"

Laszlo groaned in pain, acting a little too wounded to actually be so hurt. "And here I thought we'd moved past that! Aye. Aye, we'll stay put and pray for your swift return. Are you sure you don't need a guide?"

"Yeah, my situation is... delicate. Besides, I do my best magic when it's just me. Thanks for the information, I'll try my best to get your friends out," Quintin spoke with conviction.

He was sent off by those he had healed as he made his way out. The forest took up more and more of his vision with each passing step. The thick roots denoted a beginning to the hungry wilds, bent like bramble cursive through the densely packed floor.

A single breath would take him across the boundary. His sense of scale distorted like a foot soldier standing across from the enemy line. Birds and other wildlife sang a languid song of invitation, yet not one could be found as greeter via eyesight.

Vissitri disturbed the momentary pause for preparation. [Si-Si. You seem very interested in those white roots. What if I told you they had a history that spans hundreds of thousands of years, and that they're not really roots at all.]

"I don't even know where to begin if that's the case. What else could it be if not a vast root system?" Quintin felt a headache coming on.

The emerald imp popped out of invisibility on his shoulder. [Well, there's some on top of your head, and you're growing a decent one on your face. Those you see here, and all others alike, are hairs. Beard hairs...]

"You're going to have to unpack that, or are you saying this is somebody's face?" The new perspective was jarring. One moment he was about to walk into a forest, the next he would have to walk on eggshells and whisper apologies under his breath.

[Si-Si-Si. Just the beard with no face. All you see before you is His domain, he doesn't usually interfere with what happens inside. He prefers to partake in the fresh spoils, after all, nothing would live here if he went around wantonly killing everything that entered.]

"Enough with the riddles, Vissitri. Just what the hell is it?" he said in aggravation.

[He not it is a Beard Elemental. His name is Niagelus the Irregular.]