The journey to Mirfield Village took quite a while. Although the hoverboard I used could travel quickly, I had to walk.
It wasn't because of a problem with the hoverboard. It was my fault. Sometimes, I stopped and walked to relax. I met many people along the way. They always seemed to look at me with suspicion or fear.
I don't blame them. It's because I dress like a weirdo. I wear a hooded cloak that covers my head with helmet. And imagine, inside the hood, there's a green glow from my eyes.
Forget about that.
Because the journey took quite a while, I arrived at Mirfield Village around 2 PM.
The village I visited was small but quite prosperous. Fields of wheat and crops stretched as far as the eye could see. There were also farms with cows, sheep, and other livestock. The houses here were in stark contrast to the cityscape of Sciendufer. The buildings resembled those in Berkington, with a medieval ambiance.
As I walked, I encountered many villagers who looked happy and peaceful. They only looked unhappy when they saw me. Of course, my attire influenced that.
I headed straight to the village chief's house. The request I took from the guild was made by the village chief. The request was to find a medicinal herb that grows deep in the forest.
This herb would be used for the husband of his daughter, who was suffering from Mana Frost Fever. This condition is usually caused by consuming something that disrupts the mana core, causing an extreme drop in temperature. Or it could be from prolonged exposure to ice-type magic. I didn't know the cause, but the herb mentioned in the request, a high-level fire-type magical herb, would alleviate the cold.
'I'm sure the herb is called Pyrothistle,' I thought.
This request might be related to the Aegis Sentinel ring but also might not be. The Aegis Sentinel ring is a kind of side quest discovered accidentally when players meet the village chief's daughter, Erlin, or the village chief himself, Olwen.
This side quest can be triggered when players meet Olwen while he is at the guild updating his request, or when players encounter Erlin near Mirfield.
I took the initiative, so it can be said I started the 'Zephyr side quest' early. As for the storyline when I took this side quest? I'm not too worried. After all, I'm sure the story has gone astray. And this side quest isn't mandatory. The Aegis Sentinel item isn't too useful for Zephyr either.
I arrived at the village chief's house. I knocked on the door, and it opened shortly after. I was greeted by a woman in simple village clothes with long brown hair. She was only chest-high to me. Her face was pretty, a common kind of beauty in the community. Not like Ishma, who is on a higher level.
'She must be the village chief's daughter? Erlin? She looks young, maybe Yolina's age or a year or two older,' I thought.
"How can I..."
The village chief's daughter paused for a moment after seeing my face, I think?
Then she continued, "...help you?"
As she continued her question, her face looked worried and fearful.
Ignoring the fear on her face, I immediately took out the mission leaflet I brought from the adventurers' guild.
"I'm here for the request," I said with a distorted voice.
Perhaps hearing my voice, the village chief's daughter stepped back two paces.
"O-Oh...my father's request. Forgive me, sir. I was a bit startled by..." the village chief's daughter said.
So it's true this woman is the village chief's daughter, Erlin.
"My name is Erlin Greye. I am the village chief's daughter. Please come in. My father is out at the moment." This time the village chief's daughter, Erlin, welcomed me.
'I know that.' I thought.
Erlin now smiled, although she tried to hide her fear.
Following Erlin's invitation, I entered the village chief's house. Inside, there was nothing special. I entered the living room where there was a large fireplace. The cold stone floor was partially covered by a thick fur rug. There was also a wooden sofa with cushions made of animal skin.
"Please sit, sir. I'll call my father," Erlin said, pointing to a chair.
I sat on the wooden sofa, waiting for Erlin to call her father. I looked around while sitting.
"This is a nice place to retire," I mumbled.
After a while, the village chief Olwen came in through the back door, it seemed. He came from the kitchen. The village chief looked out of breath. He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his 40s with a not-too-thick beard and mustache.
Wearing a light brown shirt with a towel around his neck, a straw hat, and leather gloves, I guessed he had just been from the farm or garden.
When he saw me, I saw a hint of relief on his face. Then he looked back, not walking straight to me.
"Erlin. Make a cold drink for our guest," he said to Erlin, whom I didn't know had entered the house.
After that, Olwen approached me. I stood up. At that moment, he slightly bowed instead of shaking my hand.
"I heard you took my request at the guild, sir. I am very grateful that you are willing to take on my burdensome request," Olwen said, bowing.
This sight made my Arrogant Aristocrat trait start to activate. Of course, I held it back. I was getting used to it.
Still standing, I sat down without waiting for Olwen.
"So you already know that your request is unreasonable?" I asked with a cold, indifferent tone. Yeah, this was part of my act.
I did plan to make Darius Gallean's character like this. For Edward, there hasn't been a situation where I need to be like this. Maybe I'll have to be like this when dealing with arrogant nobles. That seems necessary. It's also necessary to add the Arrogant Aristocrat trait.
I had done things like this for years as Dark Saber. There were times I relaxed, had fun with a free spirit, joked, and chatted happily.
But there were also times I had to be firm and cold. So acting like this couldn't really be called acting. It was part of my job back then.
Olwen, hearing my indifferent question with a distorted voice, gasped a little. He fell silent.
"I...I know. I know 2 Ard gold is a small amount. I will give anything if you can get the Pyrothistle. Please, sir," Olwen said, bowing again.
The Arrogant Aristocrat trait that I held back with arkium started to rebel again. A troublesome trait, yet useful. But for now, my trait was being troublesome. So I held it back again. That was easy.
I was silent for a moment. Two Ard gold was a small amount for a noble. But for common folk like these, who live off farming, ranching, or hunting, it must be a lot.
I guess in any world, there's always social and economic disparity.
Having no other choice, Olwen placed his request at the guild with a low price because of this. Well, I wasn't after money with this request.
"The payment as stated in the request is sufficient. Now, sit down, village chief. I want to know your condition," I said.
He raised his head briefly, then tears flowed. He then bowed again.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Yes, three times, as many as the thanks he said. At that moment, Erlin, carrying a tray with two cold drinks, saw us.
Noticing this, I glanced back, and her face looked worried. Erlin quickly placed the tray on the floor and ran towards Olwen, then followed his bowing position.
"Please, sir! I will give anything to make my husband healthy again!...E-Even if it means-"
With a trembling and fearful voice in the last sentence, I understood what she was about to say. I had read many clichés in many stories, especially in adult stories, where young women cornered would pay anything for their loved ones.
I didn't know if my prediction was wrong, but I immediately cut her sentence off.
"Stop!" I said firmly.
"-my life..."
Even though I interrupted, the last two words still came out of her mouth. The faces of father and daughter lifted.
'Oh... I guess I was wrong. Good! You are a woman who maintains her loyalty,' I thought, giving a mental thumbs up.
I didn't know what she meant by her life. It could mean many things. Completely handing over her life to me or being willing to die for her husband. Well, at least Erlin didn't immediately say she'd pay with her body.
'Ahem.' I cleared my throat internally.
"Erlin. There's no need to go that far. I have accepted your request. Now, sit down, and let's talk," I said calmly.
They both rose with relieved smiles. Olwen sat in the chair in front of me, while Erlin picked up the cold drinks she had placed on the floor. I was quite impressed Erlin hadn't spilled anything when she quickly placed the tray earlier.
"First, I am Darius Gallean," I said, showing my new guild card.
Olwen, seeing my card, was a bit surprised. Well, I am an F-ranked adventurer taking on a difficult mission. He must have doubts about whether I can complete it.
"Rest assured, I am stronger than the rank stated," I said calmly, putting my card away.
Olwen shook his head.
"Having someone take my request already makes me grateful," Olwen said while sitting down.
"Ah, and I am Olwen Greye," Olwen continued.
'I already knew that,' I thought to myself.
"Then let's talk," I said flatly.
Olwen and Erlin sat together and began to explain the condition of Erlin's husband, Otto.
Otto was an E-ranked adventurer who was about to be promoted to D-rank. Unfortunately, during a mission where Otto was a porter for a higher-ranked adventurer party, he was attacked by a B-ranked ghost type monster, a Froid Phantom.
Fortunately, Otto managed to return home safely and was paid decently. However, a week later, his body became cold, making physical activities difficult. As a result, he took a break from adventuring and helped with hunting in the village.
Everything was fine for two weeks until Otto's body became colder and movement became more difficult. Olwen had brought in healers, but Otto's condition had become too severe to be cured, only temporarily alleviated.
For three months, Otto's condition did not improve but worsened. Olwen was running out of money to bring in healers and buy herbs and medicine. Then he heard rumors from adventurers passing through Mirfield about a fire-type magical herb deep in the forest near the dungeon.
And that's how Olwen posted his request at the adventurers' guild. But something seemed off.
"Didn't the healer tell you from the start that your son-in-law had Mana Frost Fever and needed a high-level fire-type magical herb for treatment?" I asked.
Olwen shook his head and smiled sadly, "The healer did mention it. However, he only said it when Otto's condition had already become severe and stated that Otto needed a higher-level fire-type magical herb."
I sighed inwardly. Erlin, sitting next to Olwen, also began to shed tears.
I paused for a moment. After looking at them both from behind my helmet, I said, "Either that healer lacked the ability or he was deliberately deceiving you."
"I was the one lacking knowledge and failed to ask the right questions. So...I am also at fault here," Olwen smiled helplessly.
Olwen bowed his head again, and Erlin followed suit.
Then Olwen said, "Please forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, sir. I do not know why you accepted this unreasonable request. But, I am deeply grateful if you truly intend to fulfill it."