Just as Lia said, in just under two hours we arrived at the trade city Siriliam. When I asked about, Lia mentioned that it is one of the larger cities on one of the two main trade routes the run through the continent. This has made the city rather rich, making it one of the more important cities within the Alliance. While not as large at the Capital, Siriliam has a more robust layout, having a better sewage system and well maintained roads.
As the carriage strolls through the city, I find it to be similar to the Capital as many different shops line the street and various different people walk along the road, although there seem to be more beastmen over the other races. But as usual, Dragonoids and Giants seem to be scarce.
After a few more minutes of riding around, Milla has the Drakes park the carriage a the Guild's stable. The Guild branch here, like nearly all the others, looks identical to each other. Wood furnishing, boards over on to the side with the quest listings, and a couple of receptionist waiting around the counter in the back.
With Milla leading the charge, we take a look at the quest board. I find a few things that look simple and can probably just knockout and mug some people to complete. But as I reach out to take the quest paper, I see the nasty look Milla is giving me and swiftly withdraw my hand.
"We are going to accept a quest as a party for once. This way I can keep an eye on you and make sure you do this the legitimate way. Let's see... this one looks fine, a simple extermination request. About a half an hour walk from the city a group of Hel Rabbits have settled down recently and the job is to eliminate them before they have a chance to multiply and cause trouble."
"Hel Rabbits?"
As the three of us take the quest paper and head to the counter, Lia explains that they are a large omnivorous rabbit monster that breeds quickly and often destroys crop fields and eats nearby livestock, Simply put they're just a bunch of pests. As individuals, the rabbits don't pose too much of a threat as a standard D rank Adventurer can put one down, but apparently they are dangerous when there is a large group, enough to warrant the extermination quest being listed for C rank Adventurers.
Arriving at the counter, Milla places the quest paper down saying, "The three of us will be taking this Hel Rabbit extermination quest as a party."
"Certainly, please show me your Guild Cards."
As we place our Guild Cards on the counter, the receptionist's face darkens and quickly stands from her seat and bows. "I'm terribly sorry for not recognising you sooner. Welcome to the Siriliam Branch of the Adventurer Guild, Khatun Milla."
Hearing the voice of the receptionist, almost everyone one looks our way and whispers fill the room. Words of respect and admiration quietly fill the hall, although I think I also heard some whispers of discontent. I suppose there isn't anyone who will be like by everyone.
"You've verified us and our ranks, so can we go now?" Milla says with a hint of displeasure.
Seemingly unaware of the underlying tone in Milla's voice the receptionist continued, "of course, and while we are grateful for you undertaking this quest, isn't this one far below your standard?"
Taking our Guild Cards back we turn to leave as Milla says, "It's just to meet the quota."
Leaving the guild we decide that since the location of the rabbits is only half an hour walk, we will just leave the carriage at the stable and go by foot. Of course with our movement speed, the travel time will probably be lower.
While en route, we passed by a couple of fields and saw that they had been devastated and some farms were bloodied with a few bones remaining from their livestock. These rabbits are really vicious, at least I have the decency to eat everything. But these rabbits don't even bother to eat the bones, such a waste. After only fifteen minutes, half the estimated time for most people, we arrive to see a field of red and white. Nothing but white fur that has been dyed red from the blood of their prey.
What the hell are these! How can this thing be called a rabbit! They are as large as a cow, and have six small sharp horns coming out from the top of their head, six more in a line on their back and three more on each of its sides. Since when did rabbits have horns, and eighteen of them a that! And don't even get me started and the massive fangs they have protruding from their mouth. Moreover, why are there so many of them, wasn't this quest just recently posted?
"Hey, Milla, when was this quest posted?"
"Yesterday."
"And how many were initially spotted?"
"If I remember correctly, that paper said around twenty or so."
"Then why after one day are there several hundreds of these things."
Chiming into the conversation, Lia say, "Didn't I already explain this, Hel Rabbits breed quickly."
"No, no, no, no! This is way too fast! This doesn't make any sense! How can twenty rabbits go to several hundred in the span of a day!"
"That's just the way they are, now quit complaining and starting killing. That's what you do best, isn't it? Just because there is a lot of them, doesn't mean we can't handle this."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it."
Undoing my shapeshift, I get ready for some rabbit hunting. I wonder if I cook them with my Fire Breath, will they taste as good as normal rabbits?