With wooden rod in her hand, Lyrica approaches the river with light footsteps.
[You Have Received A Quest!]
Quest: Lunch in the Riverside!
Catch and cook a Tilapia and eat it.
Tilapia(s) Caught: 0 / 1
Reward:
- 5,000 EXP
Right then, her headphones notify her of a quest.
Lyrica knows that quests are provided by her magic system or ability. As such, it has the same logic as the first quest she received.
"It's doable."
However, being doable doesn't mean it's a guarantee that she will complete the quest one way or another.
Even if a quest says catching a Tilapia is possible, it still needs the right timing, patience, and luck. Just like how defeating a mob of slimes required her to formulate the right method into creating a chain reaction, Lyrica need not rely only on the doability of the quests, but on herself as well.
'Looking at it, I can tell I only have one chance. If I fail, there won't be another, that's for sure.' Lyrica thought to herself. 'If I can only strike once, then I must aim for the one being targeted by the Kingfisher.'
Lyrica stood right beside the channeling waters. Surprisingly, the predators and prey weren't distracted by her presence, they continue to fight regardless of their surroundings. At that point, only her charcoal eyes are moving in different directions.
The girl waited patiently, disregarding her blazer gradually getting soaked with river water thanks to the school of Tilapia splashing around.
'Not yet... Not yet... Not yet... There!'
It took a while, but after patiently enduring the cold water being sprayed on her, an opportunity presents itself in front of Lyrica.
She immediately locked her gaze on that one Tilapia that breached the water surface. At that moment, a Kingfisher can be seen flying straight to the one Lyrica's eyeballing. It's the same Kingfisher that got humiliated by its prey.
'Which means this Tilapia is the one that shattered the Kingfisher's pride.'
She tightened her grasp with the wooden rod, as soon as the Kingfisher spews its flame breath. Lyrica stabs the Tilapia before it could even create a water ball. Right then, the Kingfisher's flames ran through the helpless fish, turning it into instant meal for Lyrica.
'All right!'
Lyrica pulled back as soon as she got what she wanted. She retreated to a safe distance before averting her gaze towards the Kingfishers.
She prepared herself for the possibility of confronting the Kingfisher, but the predator doesn't seem to be interested in snatching the meal it cooked from Lyrica, at all.
Lyrica let out a sigh of relief.
"That was a job well done, Lyrica!" Said the voice to the girl.
The patience to look for the perfect opportunity to move. The timing in which the Kingfisher's flames engulfed the Tilapia right after the rod's sharp end goes through its body. And lastly, the luck that allowed Lyrica to avoid confronting the angered predator.
It all worked out pretty well for Lyrica.
"Thanks to the Kingfisher, I won't have to go through the trouble of making fire myself."
She sat down on the grass comfortably and reaches for the Tilapia's tail in an attempt to pull the fish out of the stick.
"Ow...!"
"Careful, it's a freshly roasted Tilapia!"
"I thought I'd be able to handle the heat, considering my strength and durability have increased."
Lyrica looks around to see if there's anything she can use as a plate to put the Tilapia over. Unfortunately though, there's nothing to be found but grass and leaves hanging on top of the trees.
"Climbing a 90-meter tree for a bunch of leaves is troublesome... Oh well, this stick will do."
Lyrica breaks the long rod in half, only keeping the short one with the roasted Tilapia on it.
She blows air to it with her mouth, trying to reduce the heat. "Now then, it's time to eat."
Lyrica takes a big bite from the Tilapia. She then worked the food in her mouth earnestly, savoring the taste of her meal thoroughly.
"It's so hot but it was well cooked inside out," Lyrica remarked after swallowing the meat down her throat. "A Kingfisher's flame breath must have been so incredibly hot that it turns a Tilapia in an instant lunch."
The girl takes a couple more bites on each side of the fish.
"You gotta give it to the Tilapias, as well." The voice followed. "They may only be seen as mere prey or food, but they can also stand on the same ground as their predators."
"Yeah. Who would have thought they could shoot water balls like that? The Kingfisher definitely did not expect it."
Right then, Lyrica took her time munching on her lunch from head to tail. At the same time, she watched the Kingfishers as they managed to catch their food.
Moments later, Lyrica finished her lunch. Nothing was left, except for a whole fishbone. She threw the stick away, as well as the head part of the Tilapia.
Right then, her headphones started speaking.
[You Have Completed The Quest!]
Lunch in the Riverside: Catch and cook a Tilapia and eat it.
Tilapia(s) Caught: 1 / 1
[You Have Received The Following Reward!]
- 5,000 EXP!
"Now I feel more energized."
Lyrica remarked at the same time as her magic system's level increased to Lv. 12. Her max MP increased and so is her decibel limit. On top of that, she also received another 3 Stat Points, totaling into 9 Statistic Points.
> Acquired EXP: 4,977
> Required EXP: 11,600
Soon after checking her EXP, Lyrica went and kneeled near the running water.
"This is safe to drink, yeah?" Lyrica asked.
The voice inside her head answered with a resounding yes. After that, Lyrica scooped freshwater using both hands. She leaned her face down and proceeded to drink everything. A gasp escaped out of her lips shortly after.
"Not bad, but the Aqua Slime's water taste much better."
Lyrica stood back up, following her comment.
"I made you guys wait for quite a long while, huh?" Lyrica spoke out of the blue. "You all know that I know you're there, so stop acting like an idiot cowering behind the trees and show yourselves already!"
As her words of insult echoed all around the area, a sharp object came flying straight to Lyrica. She dodged it with a quick sidestep.
"It looks like a spear made out of thin wood and sharpened stone." Said the voice after a quick inspection of the object.
"I doubt it'll be enough to kill me, but I'm glad dodged anyway."
Shraahh!!
Gaiachk!!
[Goblin - Lv. 10]
A tiny, frail figure. Crooked, yellowish teeth, and devilish yellow eyes.
"Damn... They look really ugly and disgusting, just like in a game."
One after another, the Goblins revealed themselves before Lyrica. Some came from behind the tree trunks, the others watch the girl on top of the branches.
"Oh, their numbers multiplied."
The Goblin which the voice saw running back not long ago, has returned and brought sixteen other Goblins.
Right now, there are twenty-four tiny green monsters present in Lyrica's sights.
"So, who's going to attack first? You or me?"
From behind her back, Lyrica is holding the fishbone between her fingers.
Right then, another short spear was thrown at Lyrica. She once again avoided the attack. Following her graceful turnaround, Lyrica hurled the fishbone towards the Goblin that shot the spear.
The green monster was hit in the head, a clean headshot.
"That's how you throw things at someone, idiot."
With one of them being killed, the Goblins came to realize that keeping their distance from the girl will not work to their advantage.
Sharachk!!
The Goblins bellowed, signaling the time to charge. The ones on top make their way down the ground, the others rushes forward.
[You Have Received A Quest!]
A quest popped up out of the blue. She immediately gave it a quick read.
Quest: One Versus Many!
Kill all the Goblins without receiving damage twice.
Damage(s) Received: 0 / 2
Goblins Killed: 1 / 25
Rewards:
- 14,500 EXP
- Stat Points: 5
"A Quest, huh? What timing." Lyrica's expression became serious. "Well, EXP farming wouldn't be fun otherwise."