After taking a shower, I took my time to relax and unwind while bathing in the comforting spring water. With time slowly passing by, more people started to appear one by one and I eventually left to start my day.
As for my goal today, I plan on fighting more monsters and beasts so that my funds would be competent enough when I eventually head off on my journey.
I've decided on what to do from now on. First, i'll find someone who can remove this seal inside of me. If i'm lucky, they might know where it's linked or what kind of people could do this kind of seal. With that, I might be able to find hints on her whereabouts.
When I walked outside of the inn, the glaring sun immediately awakened my inner demon.
Ah..
Too hot..
I need a shade..
As I lament on my misfortune, I head to the adventurer's association and look at the quest board. Here, there are different requests that people post where adventurers such as myself can do. Some of them could be to guard an individual to a city, guard them while they look for materials in the forest, or some that just simply asks you to find or defeat something.
There are plenty of weird requests but what truly made me speechless was how advanced the board was. Unlike what I was expecting, the requests aren't placed on the board. Instead, there are multiple thin stone tablets that are about the size of a person stationed everywhere. In front of the tablet, there is a circular pad that you stand on and it will immediately know who you are. In there, multiple different requests are projected on the tablet. You can swipe to look at different requests and you only simply have to place your palm on it for five seconds in order to accept the quest.
…
Isn't this far too advanced?
Well no use questioning it now. I accept a request for finding forty goblin fangs. Apparently, a goblin will have four fangs so I would only have to defeat ten goblins to complete it. The reward for it is 5 gold. Quite generous if I do say so myself. Well, I still don't know what the economic situation is for this world but i'll assume that 5 gold is plenty.
After accepting the quest, I head out to leave the city.
"Oh Haruto! Oy!"
By the city gate, Leon could be found waving at me while wearing a friendly smile.
"Yo"
"Where you off to?"
Leon greeted me casually while leaving all of the work to the other guard.
"To the forest"
"Don't get killed ya hear?"
"Got it"
We greeted each other and conversed for awhile before I waved and headed off.
(*)
While walking through the forest, plenty of adventurers could be found fighting monsters and the likes. Most of them were only at level 15 but they could defend against goblins and the like.
Weird..
I've seen so many adventurers but none of them have their inner fire awakened nor do they have their arcana veins either.
I never knew this but it seems like just increasing your cana will make you stronger as well but without inner flames, they're quite defenseless.
Well, not like it's my problem.
As I walked around, I come across a cave that is littered with goblins. They were incredibly short with wrinkly green skins. They had short pointed ears as well as sharp teeth. They didn't have any hair but their skull was shaped weirdly. On their body, they could be seen wearing some sort of brown cloth and on their hand, they are equipped with a dagger that looked closer to a short sword in their hands.
I walked casually to them as I pull out the sword I acquired yesterday. The sword itself was in terrible condition but it's more than enough.
"Aeeeeeee"
One of the goblin noticed me and proceeded to screech loudly. The other goblins noticed me as well and screeched in unison.
One, two, three. There are three goblins in front of me. I can feel the cana essence behind me as well as inside the cave so there are plenty hiding in the shadows.
As I stand in the centre of the forest, two of the goblins charged directly at me. They weaved left and right crossing paths while the other one stayed behind.
"Aeeeeee"
Whoosh
One of the goblin jumped up in the air and aimed the dagger in its hand towards my neck. The dagger made a slicing noise as it goes past my neck. As I move my body slightly, I gripped my sword with both of my hands as I weave my body. Using the motion of my sway, I return a downward slash towards its neck.
Gush
Blood started to pour as the decapitated goblin corpse hits the ground.
"Aeeeee"
The other goblin appeared below me and leaped upwards heading towards my stomach.
Bang!
Before it could gut me, I coat my leg with inner flames and release a sweeping kick. The goblin flew a couple meters before landing on a nearby tree. The goblin twitched for a second before it's lifeless body stayed motionless.
After I sent it flying, I tried to catch my breath but suddenly two goblins appeared behind me in a swift fashion and two more goblins appeared above me. Another goblin could be found charging directly in front of me.
Shit..
I coat my entire body with inner flames.
Boom!
The ground erupted as I stomp on the ground. Countless leaves shook and danced with the wind.
I sliced the unbalanced goblin behind me and stabbed the neck of another goblin beside it. I let go of the sword and release a sweeping kick to the two airborne goblins.
Bang!
Both goblins flew away and died almost instantly.
I dashed to the last remaining goblin and smashed it to the ground. I grabbed it's neck and threw it to the ground once more.
Haaaa…
I remove the inner flames and sigh of relief.
That was dangerous.. I didn't expect all of them would appear at once.
I rested for a bit before I went to pick up the magic crystals as well as the goblin fangs.
After retrieving everything including the fangs, it looks like i'm still missing twelve more.
I scanned the area to look for more cana fluctuations in order to be done with the request as soon as possible.
…
There!
I head to where it was. From what I felt, it was directly behind the cave. I've already checked inside of the cave and it wasn't very large. Since the cave was empty, the only other explanation was that the goblins were behind the cave.
When I understood this, I sprinted towards it.
Ahh.. I just want to go back and take another bath. Being covered in blood isn't very comfortable after all ahaha.
Bang!
When I arrived behind the cave, someone could already be seen fighting against the goblins.
In front of the three goblins, a woman covered in blood could be found. Her long, wild, silver hair flutters in the air aggressively as blood slowly drips from her face. Her slender body was hurt everywhere and her clothing is terribly tattered.
She swings her sword forcefully that the wind trembled slightly.
Whoosh
The sword only reached the air as the goblins jumped away from the danger.
"Aeeee"
The goblins sent a flurry of attacks one by one.
"Ahh!"
I walk towards her and ready the sword in my hand but she stopped me before I could come close enough.
"Stay away!"
…
"You'll die"
"If I die then so be it!"
She focused all of her strength in one attack and managed to catch two of the goblins off guard.
Bang!
Two goblin corpses hit the ground simultaneously.
"I did it!"
"Aeeeeeee!"
"Shi-"
The last remaining goblin appeared beside her and was inches away from piercing her stomach.
Bang!
I coat my leg with inner flames and dash as fast as I can.
In an instant, I appeared before the goblin and split it in half with a swift slash of my sword.
"Wha-"
Gush!
Blood started spraying everywhere before the corpse could hit the ground. She stared at me without looking away. Her fierce glare was like that of an ocean trembling with a raging storm. It's magnificently blue yet fierce at the same time.
After silence filled the surrounding, she finally spoke.
"...I won't thank you"
Haaa..
What's wrong with this girl..
"I didn't do it for gratitude"
I didn't pay anymore attention to her as I remove the fangs from the goblin.
Ten, eleven, twelve.
Im done!
After retrieving the fangs, I threw the magic crystals to her.
She only stared at me throughout the whole time I was retrieving the fangs while not uttering a single word.
What a weird girl..
"You, you're not scared of me?"
"Scared of you? Why?"
…
I just noticed this but something is slightly odd about her. I didn't notice it because of the fight but now that the enemies have been defeated and i've gotten a clear look of her, yup. Something is definitely not right.
Two fluffy silver ears could be seen above her head.
Frrrr Frrrr
Behind her, a long and fluffy silver tail could be seen wagging left and right happily.
…
Huh?!
"What the heck.."
"You're really not scared?"
She asked me meekly.
"...I want to touch it"
"Eh?"
"I want to touch it!"
"..."
I want to touch it.