Sael ended up giving Dego his cut of the materials from the first day of hunting. After Dego took his advice on flirting for a discount meaning he should walk in, lean down to get eye level with Beth then messing her hair before saying "Who knew such a cutie shorty was an Arrived Armorer! How about you make me some armor and give me the Handsome Hero discount." He felt he owed it to the poor kid.
After all, things went poorly for the young warrior after that. Still, Beth did eventually agree to make his armor. She even gave Sael his upgraded armor… After making him apologize repeatedly for his part in the whole mess. He was still unsure how she figured out his part in setting Dego up. He repeatedly stated his innocence in the entire thing…. Once he'd stopped laughing enough to speak that was.
Sael was surprised when Dego's only response was "Good one man! I'll get you back though!" Perhaps it was how excited he was about Beth agreeing to make the armor and Sael giving him his share of hides so she could start right away. The Antger armor consisted of the same green lizard leather as the Antger. It lacked scales like a snake or dragon so instead reminded him of something like an iguana. Or maybe it was just the coloring that made him always think of them. While green wasn't his favorite color with all the blades accenting the arms, legs, and even shoulders it looked rather impressive. The upgrade with the pristine hides didn't really change much beyond adding some thicker leather plates in places and allowing the bracers to include full gloves. He was probably the most excited about the gloves, he found his hands got constantly nicked or bruised while fighting.
With the crafting time and simply hanging out to learn as much as he could from Dego they only got in one more day of hunting. Between what killing blows he snagged and the quest completion experience he managed to level up to level three. Leaving his experience at:
[Experience: 38/400]
Once again the threshold for leveling doubled. From what Dego told him this would continue until he went through his first class change. At that point, it would reset though starting from two hundred and effectively doubling the amount of experience needed to level even then.
He also learned about the adventurer's guild where he could get assigned quests or receive training. Paying a fee to be provided the trigger for skills including advanced ones. Apparently once a beginner skill hits max an intermediate version would unlock and eventually an advanced version. Supposedly there were master tiers beyond that but it sounded like that was more rumor than truth. Dego couldn't understand how Sael had been receiving quests. Other than the original class quest all of his had been acquired through the guild. But they both figured there had to be some other way since the guild only worked out of the major cities.
Although his stats and skills hadn't really improved in the few days questing with Dego. He had gotten another level as well as a ton of information about the world. The two spearmen had even agreed to meet up in Amalor for the Adventurer's Ball. Where they both were looking forward to making some gainful bets.
"Now remember. Don't let yourself get carried away and go past level five. And make sure you don't let anyone else find out how high your agility is! Man, this is going to be great. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see how badass you are! Damn, I'm still jealous of how op agility can be. But whatever. It will be worth it seeing those smug bastards at the guild's faces when I rake in all that gold."
And just like that the town of Little Well became a quiet little village once again. Sael almost missed Dego but he found he really enjoyed the peace and quiet better. It wasn't that he disliked Dego it was just he was so energetic and it made his inner introvert less inner. He did miss getting experience though. As soon as Dego left he stopped getting kill experience and it seemed he had more or less capped out his stat gains on Antger. His skills were brought to a crawl as well. He'd been so desperate that more than once he'd wished for another Conri to ambush him.
"I actually miss that idiot. Loud or not at least things were a bit more interesting." Sael mumbled to himself sitting in the tavern eating the same stew as he did every day. It just didn't seem to taste as good as it once did.
"Well, I don't really miss him. He was annoying. I already have to put up with your shenanigans. The last thing I need is a hormonal kid trying to flirt with me constantly." Beth plopped down across from him with her own food.
"Oh, and you're so old and mature, right? Aren't you like twenty two… to an old foge like me you two are both kids." he propped his face up against his fist still feeling more than a little depressed at the lack of progress in his leveling.
Beth rolled her eyes "Oh right old man winter! You've got to have one foot in the grave! Better trade that spear for a walking stick. After all, you're gonna turn, what twenty seven in a few weeks."
Sitting up straight he cocked an eyebrow "Oh? How did you know when my birthday was? I don't remember ever mentioning it to you."
She pointedly ignored him as she started eating her own bowl of stew. "Ahh Gregory knows, now I remember he has a lot of information on us from when we arrived. Sooooo why ya digging into my personal information?" She just scowled at her food refusing to answer. He was going to tease her more when she tossed him a small pouch.
"That is your cut from what I managed to sell to those merchants. After I took my fee out for all the work I've done for you recently. I don't work for free." Opening the pouch he found a number of copper and bronze coins.
Staring at the coins he was reminded of Dego's stories of raiding dungeons as well as the fancy spear he had. Letting out a long sigh he thought to himself 'Man I want my own treasure. Gold, jewels, and magic items! What kind of adventurer would be happy with just a little bit of change. This might as well have been from selling vendor trash.'
Beth glared at him "Don't act like that. I could have kept it all and not shared it. It wasn't like I got that great of a deal anyways. Most of what I had to sell was the basic leather stuff. And I needed the stuff to expand my workbench, restock the basic materials I'd been using up, and well lots of things. If you don't like it why don't you go out and find a treasure chest or something? Hmph!"
She actually felt bad as she had intended to give him more but she'd overspent restocking before she knew it. With a mental sigh, she kicked herself for taking out her frustration on her friend. 'Ugh, I do this every time. No wonder we haven't gotten closer yet…' She had just worked up the courage to apologize, making herself look him in the eyes and instead of seeing him angry or upset at all. He looked…. Happy?
"Thank you Beth! I could kiss you!" He hopped up as the small bag of coins disappeared into his inventory and turned to head out of the tavern leaving her confused.
"Stop saying that!!" she yelled out grumbling as she shifted her head to make sure her hair covered her burning ears. 'Bastard keeps catching me off guard.'
Sael didn't even hear her. He was too busy reading the message that had appeared.
[Quest Received: Claim the stolen treasure from the goblins of Red Rock Plateau.]
Like his previous quests, there was little information but at least it gave him a destination. And he knew an old coot who was bound to have the information he needed. "I wonder what kind of treasure it is. Probably nothing too amazing if goblins stole it. They're practically on the same level as boars in most games so definitely shouldn't be an issue. But I'll take anything… at this point. Plus quests mean experience! Even if I am not supposed to go past level five for Dego's plan I still have two levels to go. Mmm, I hope this Red Rock Plateau isn't too far away."
*********
Gregory was able to provide him a general direction to the Red Rock Plateau region. It would take him a few days on foot to get there but from what the old coot told him he shouldn't run into any issues. The traveling would be pretty easy going and straight north from the village of Little Well. Since the sun rose in the north and set in the south on this world he would just walk into the sun during the morning and keep it at his back in the evening. Being an actual Plateau finding it wouldn't be hard. As for the details of where the goblins lived the old man told him simply that they liked caves. Something that was less than useful.
He left the very next morning as soon as the sun came up. Only taking time to leave a note for Beth telling her he'd gone to get a present for her upcoming birthday and making sure he left her the date. During the two days, he traveled the thought of her face when she got it left him grinning. Particularly the last part where he made sure to let her know if he couldn't find anything good he'd just have to give her a big kiss since she always seemed so flustered when he mentioned kissing her.
He had just such a grin on his face at that moment before mentally sighing 'Gotta be careful or I'll get myself in trouble again. Teasing her could be bad if she started taking it seriously. I never can tell how girls will take it. It would be awkward if she took it as me crushing on her. Not that I dislike her… I mean she's ok... Ugh focus.'
Turning his attention back to the three goblins a good thirty feet ahead of him he pushed the distracting thoughts away. The small group of goblins were sitting around a campfire. He was pretty sure at least that they were goblins. They were short around three and a half feet tall wearing only loin cloths. Their skin was a deep green mottled with red spots. Big floppy and pointed ears along with bald heads made them look just like what he would expect goblins to look like. Except they were jacked to the extreme. So heavily muscled they reminded him of little hulks.
'What is up with these roided out goblins? Aren't goblins supposed to be weak cowardly creatures? These things look like they could bench press a truck. Well, at least they only have two legs. I was half expecting four or more.'
While debating on how to handle the three muscle bound monsters they made the decision for him. Standing up the three grunted out what he figured to be goblin to one another, kicked dirt over their fire before splitting up. One of them was heading towards him on a path through the trees and brush that would have it passing within a few yards of his hiding spot. If he was quick he should be able to kill it in a single thrust. Even if he wasn't, they were only armed with what looked like logs whittled down to resemble crude clubs.
His target wasn't in much of a hurry. Strolling forward swinging its club in front of it pushing back brush and snapping smaller trees. It definitely didn't care about making noise and mostly just looked like a bored kid breaking things for no reason. It slowly drew closer to his hiding spot, then even with him, and finally passing on beyond him. Never even seeming to pay its surroundings any attention. 'Well, at least they are as dumb as what I expected from a goblin. This should make things easier.'
Once its back was to him he rushed out from his hiding spot. Covering the distance in a few heart beats. Any noise he made was drowned out by the racket the goblin-hulk was making as it smashed its way through the forest. Launching a rapid thrust, his spear ripping the air as it sped to the target, he ambushed the goblin. His blow struck the goblin right in the back between his shoulder blades but instead of piercing all the way through the creature as he expected. It felt like trying to stab a very solid tree. The tip went in deep enough to cause a steady flow of the deep blue almost purple blood but it was far from the fatal blow he had anticipated.
With a shocked cry that came out far deeper than the high pitched goblin voice he had expected the diminutive brute spun around swinging his club. Bringing his spear up in a cross guard with both hands gripped well away from where he expected the blow to land, he blocked it. Only to be knocked back several paces and his balance thrown off. Eyes filled with cruel hunger the goblin threw himself at him while slamming the club down on the shaft of the spear with one hand. The blow carried enough weight to make Sael's hands tingle threatening to go numb as the goblins' other hand reached out to lock around Sael's throat.
Their arms were disproportionately long like an apes and their hands just as oddly large compared to the rest of them. In a grapple, Sael found his spear useless and was forced to let it go. He managed to lock the club swinging arm between one of his and the side of his body but the hand around his throat had a vice like grip. Over him the creature muttered out something in the grunting language as spittle fell on Sael's face. Its eyes were bright with excitement as it cackled. Gripping the goblin's wrist he couldn't seem to push it away and as his eyes started to feel like they were popping out of his skull. Struggling for breath he brought his arm up. Slamming his forearm against the inside of the goblins arm, the sharp blade decoration of his bracers cut into his enemies arm. The wound wasn't very deep, just enough to bring a bit more of the dark blood and for the monster's grip to slack long enough for him to take a short gasping breath.
As the monster tightened his grip once again on his throat he gave up on cutting into its arm and thrust his hand up against it's hideous green face. Trying to push it back was like trying to move a huge boulder. He could see the muscles in its neck tensing in response and remained unyielding. As the goblin spouted a few more words he couldn't understand though whose meaning he was pretty sure were mocking, he gritted his teeth and jammed his thumb into eye. As the goblin's grip quickly loosened, he tightening his own grip on its skull using his thumb as an anchor. He then brought it's face forward slamming his forehead into its rather large nose.
Rolling over so he now pinned down the dazed monster he let go of its head and jammed his whole armored fist into its mouth as it opened wider, crying out. Using his knee to pin down the club wielding arm he ignored the powerful blows from its other free arm. As he twisted his fist deeper into the creature's throat he started raining blows down on the side of its head with his now free arm. His armored fist slammed into the same spot on its round head until the green flesh turned a sickly yellow color and swelled up. With a few more blows, bone began to give way as he continued striking the same spot as fast as he could. It wasn't long before part of the goblin's skull caved in. In what seemed like a seizure its body flailed around wildly before going limp. He pulled his fist out of the pool of blood it's mouth had become and rolled over to sit next to the corpse.
"Holy hell. Are goblins supposed to be that tough?" he could feel the adrenaline leaving his body and had to forcefully keep himself from shaking. "I was not expecting that. It is a good thing it didn't call for help at the start." He remembered the cruel look in it's eyes and had a feeling it hadn't sounded the alarm simply because it wanted all the fun for itself.
Checking his messages he was both excited and disappointed to see he'd received experience.
Goblin Hellion slain! 5 experience gained.
"Well I got experience but it was just a freaking measly five again. What gives. Shouldn't these be worth more than an Antger. At least I got another unarmed skill up. Yay for level five. Halfway there."
Standing up he retrieved his spear. Luckily he hadn't taken much actual damage. "Let's at least take out this pack."
*********
Curled up in the back corner of the cell was a diminutive figure. Their once beautiful sundress was filthy and torn making them look even more ragged. As the heavy footsteps that they were all too familiar with approached they pulled their knees up to their chest trying to make themselves as small as possible.
"How are you enjoying your time in the dungeon? Have you decided to take my offer? As my subordinate or my bride, I care not. Only that your power gets added to mine." Grawmaw'nagul the ninth demon lord's general ran one of his claws down the ancient rusty bars of the dungeon as he eyed his captive. When all he received was a glare from her brilliant emerald eyes showing her spirits still weren't broken he just laughed enjoying her defiance. So far he was simply starving the girl in solitude. He could have gotten results faster with torture or other methods but this one was his favorite. It was slow and insidious giving the victim nothing but time to consider their situation and suffer the agonizing pain of starvation. He longed to see the slow creep of despair slip into her gaze. The gaunt defeated look would suit the summer fairy much better he thought than her current defiant one did.
Reaching into his pouch he pulled out a ripe apple taking a huge bite out of it. He loved the flash of hunger and desperation that crossed her face. Though her glare was back almost instantly they both heard the loud grumble of her stomach. Grinning he turned to leave making sure to drop the half eaten apple just out of her reach. "Soon princess you will be mine."