"We should get onto our tasks quickly," he changed the subject. "With gold coins, there's no problem at all."
"That's quite right," William agreed, "With them, our Wesley can, like his father, spend a pile of money, purchase a noble title to put behind his name! I hear in the northern Desert Kingdom—Takara, to be a knight only requires..."
"Quiet!" A somewhat cross and embarrassed Knight Wesley fired back. "I should have never brought you along when I left home!"
"That's because, without me, you'd be useless."
What a pointless argument. As Gary quietly stepped away from the pair, he focused on searching for tasks. Everyone in the Adventure Squad was relatively friendly, which especially mattered to Gary the Goblin, but there were few upon whom they could really rely.
The adventurer's association in Muya City put up thousands of tasks every day. These tasks were plastered on a series of boards for the adventurers to choose from.
The huge cross-shaped dome of the association was engraved with countless magic runes. The runes flashed brightly and dimly, appearing without order yet seeming to follow a certain pattern.
When you stand by those windows carved with hollow patterns and look outward through the bright glass, you don't see the clean, wide streets of Muya City, but a soft light. The Adventurer Association resides in a folded semi-plane. Though from the outside it seems like an ordinary small pub, the moment you step inside, you'll find its grandeur and majesty, laden with an air of mystery.
The adventurers bustled among the various task boards. Using his small body, Gary weaved between them, his eyes sweeping over one sheepskin task parchment after another.
"Find 12 ghost mushrooms that have released spores under the full moon..." This wouldn't work. These things only existed in graveyards where the undead frequented, growing on the breath of their deaths. But their squad, from Knight Wesley to Gary himself, all had a phobia for 'ghosts'.
Each time he thought about those creatures still in this world after death, their ethereal or harsh wails, and the soul fire flickering inside their skulls, Gary would shiver uncontrollably.
A normal skeleton once stood in their task's obligatory path, scaring them all from advancing, including the strapping figure in their team who even dares to wrestle iron bear. Eventually, thanks to their old cart-pulling horse who lightly crushed the "fearsome" little skeleton with its front hoof, problem got resolved...
"Kill 5 giant snails in Kanda Swamp..." Gary found a task that seemed appealing. Their squad should be able to complete it, giant snails are not easy to deal with, but they aren't too dangerous. The real danger of this task isn't the five giant snails, but the rotten wasteland filled with poisonous gas and toxins that is Kanda Swamp.
The task's reward was a rich one, and the danger was also clear. Gary hesitated as he pinched his pointy nose. Just as he was about to call others over for a discussion, a sturdy, large hand snatched the task parchment right in front of Gary.
Gary looked up following the hand and saw its owner, a minotaur with iron nails studded all over its horns.
The minotaur chortled at Gary, "I'm taking this task, little fellow."
"It's all yours!" Gary gestured politely, without showing any dissatisfaction. "May you earn more gold coins than there are goblins!"
"I like what you said, little one." The Minotaur seemed to enjoy Gary's flattery. "If you ever run into trouble, you can use my name." With that, the Minotaur took the parchment and went to the mission registrants in the hall.
At least you should tell me your name, Gary shrugged, murmuring in his heart. He knew that was just a polite formality and didn't take it seriously.
After the small interruption, he continued searching for a suitable task.
"Master Mage Albert seeks five test subjects for the development of a new alchemical potion..." As Gary began reading, he quickly skipped this task. The life within the tower once again floated up in his mind, causing his heart to uncontrollably flutter.
The master of that tower, also a mage, made Gary admire and fear him from the bottom of his heart. He did not dare to recall the variety of experiments that had happened to him, as well as those enlightening spells used to change him from an 'it' into a 'he'...
The enlightenment spell was not a gift or an honor. Gary was just one of the lucky few out of hundreds of experimental subjects. Most of the other 'voluntary' dog-headed men, gnolls and his uncountable goblin companions who went through the experiment with him became fools who knew nothing and were fed to the nameless beast within the tower.
Although Gary had never seen that beast, he was very sure that it was a true ferocious beast, not like the farmer's dog chasing his big brother...
He cycled through different tasks, which required both patience and profound knowledge. Although Gary was a goblin, thanks to his unforgettable life in the tower, he was the most "knowledgeable" one in the Helpful Hand Adventure Squad.