Excessive movement exposed his body to danger.
The risk of serious injury was traded for the hope of a comeback.
This was supposed to be Jack's breakneck confidence shot!
"Shield Reverse!"
The moment the fireball made contact with the shield.
Something seemed to flicker in heaven and earth.
The blazing fireball changed trajectory even more as Jack swung his shield out completely.
It actually turned around and whistled towards Flan!
The Fireball spell itself does not have the ability to track or lock enemies.
But when Jack used his shield-throwing skills, everything became different again.
The fireball's trailing flame trailed a half-arc trajectory that eventually exploded beside Flan!
Dust and smoke rose, and the horse fell to the ground in a neigh.
The brief depletion of mental energy prevented Flan from holding up her magic shield in time.
The power of the fireball spell was newly proven to her, the caster.
Fires burned on the charred coat.
The severely injured body jerked and spasmed involuntarily.
A moan of pain escaped Flan's mouth, and the life-giving light in her eyes was slowly dissipating.
"Go on; it's up to you how much you can ask."
Jack said to Ian.
The excellent shield that had been with him for less than a morning was now covered in scorched black and cracks.
It's obviously not far from being a total write-off.
Noble-born Ian, who had mastered horsemanship quite well, had stabilized his horse by now.
At that, he nodded and led Catherine towards the dying assassin.
Jack, meanwhile, picked up the worn-out figure with its mouth sewn shut.
As soon as he picked it up, a sensation of a needle tip against his skin emanated from Jack's palm.
Even with gloves, you can't isolate the feeling.
Jack knew that it was the scent of a curse.
"The battle just now actually didn't damage this broken doll as a cursed prop. Aren't you guys a little too lucky?"
Squeezing the doll's body hard, a puff of blue smoke dispersed from it.
However, the effect is far less effective than before, both in terms of concentration and range.
If you want to use this level of soot to put your target under the curse of silence.
Then, Jack would have to dislike the mannequin in someone's face for it to be effective.
"It seems like the power of the curse has to build up again after each use of this prop."
Throwing the Silent Mannequin into the bag, Jack was still very much in favor of this prop.
Cursed props themselves were not rare, and cursed items that could be used over and over again were even rarer.
With the power of the curse built up.
This doll is literally a spellcaster's nemesis.
"I also wonder how long it lasts; well, I'll have a chance to test it on Catherine."
By this time, Ian and Catherine had walked back.
The assassin's injuries were so severe that Ian asked almost nothing.
But he retrieved a badge belonging to the Lazar family from Flan, which added a little more gloom to his face.
The drama of family infighting and blood relatives fighting each other doesn't concern Jack.
All he cared about was the kind of generous price he could finally offer Ian, who he had saved several times.
Ian really didn't let Jack down, either.
He looked at Jack's hand, the excellent quality shield that was on the verge of being destroyed, with some alarm:
"Could that move ... just now be the legendary, only by raising both 'Shield Block' and 'Shield Specialization' to an extremely proficient level, there is an extremely small probability of mastering the Upanishad level skill - Shield Reverse?!"
Even though the words were asked, Ian actually had his own answer in mind.
"Elder, may I study under you? My father is Count Valentine Lazare if you need more money ..."
This time, he would rather end his career as an adventurer early.
And introduce the older man in front of him to his father.
Jack just shook his head.
Ian was a little disappointed but more determined to learn from Jack.
Such a strong and powerful person who was indifferent to fame and fortune.
Simply the best interpretation of a worldly man!
Of course, Ian didn't know the reason Jack had turned him down.
Simply because it was felt that an Earl's family was too limited to afford his child's milk money.
After all, it was in the parenting manual that a certain dragon princess left for Jack.
The outer skin of a flaming kobold, which is intact and retains maximum activity, is also just one of the most basic ingredients.
By the time Ian, who was acting as a makeshift coachman, had managed to drive the battered coach into Byron Town.
The time had come to about one o'clock in the afternoon.
Look at the charred, blackened, disfigured compartments all over.
The people at the carriage rental house even wondered if the car had accidentally driven into the battlefield.
Ian used the forces of the Lazar family stationed in Byron Town.
Burdensome compensation and all sorts of hassles are handled by their own people.
...
Located in the heart of Byron Township in a classy restaurant.
Jack devoured his third carbonara steak.
Then, have a sip of the rich, creamy mushroom soup.
Finally, it was a satisfied burp.
In his hand, he also had a bulging bag of money, which was his payment for the mission.
The head of the Flame Goblin, Ian, had sent to the Adventurer's Guild.
The bounty earned totaled seven hundred silver coins.
At Ian's suggestion, the three hundred silver coins were divided among Jack, who had contributed the most.
Catherine and Ian themselves split the rest of the bounty equally.
In addition to the bounty, Jack's quest completion rate, adventurer credibility, and magical beast-hunting degree were all stats that had improved a bit.
Wait until these hidden benefits accumulate to a point.
Jack's pickable quests will become more numerous.
Some of the more difficult adventure quests will gradually be opened up to Jack as well.
"Next up is repairing the shield and waiting for that payoff from Ian."
Jack couldn't help but look at Ian, who was talking to someone, at the thought.
Hesitant to go up and remind each other about the payoff.
It seemed to sense Jack's gaze.
Ian asked a member of the Lazar family, who was stationed in the town of Byron, for a small money pouch and sauntered over to Jack.
"Elder O'Shield, thank you again for your help; it's a small token of my appreciation."
Jack took the small, somewhat dried-out pouch of money.
Unwrapping it, twenty-five lovely gold coins lay quietly inside.
A smile appeared on Jack's face.
Twenty-five gold coins are equivalent to two thousand five hundred silver coins.
Two thousand silver coins were agreed upon, and five hundred more when the payment was made.
Ian's a nice chap to deal with!
Seeing Jack smile made the smile on Ian's face a little wider.
He said, "The clan needs my cooperation in investigating the assassination. After this period of busyness passes, I will formally feast senior and properly show my gratitude."
And Jack exchanged addresses in the town of Byron.
Ian and the Lazar family left the restaurant straight away.
The ringleader of the assassination has not yet been caught, and these people have their work cut out for them.
Beside her, Catherine wrung her hands on the corners of her coat, her eyes tracing Ian's departing back.
Yui said, "So was meeting Ian, so was adventuring together, and so was the fact that I was obviously here first ..."
Ahem.
Coughing twice, Jack put both the small gold pouch and the large silver pouch close to his body and held out his palm to Catherine.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
Catherine was a little confused.
"A universal potion." Jack reminded.
Catherine's bright eyes widened abruptly.
"No way, no way? There's not really someone who's going to ask for their money back for even a sip of potion, is there?"
"It's expensive." Jack was a little bemused.
What is the quality of one's own potion? Can't the drinker have some idea in his heart?
Slapping down a heavy twenty silver coins, Catherine walked away angrily.
"Good, the money for repairing the shield is there. The next step is to go to the trading plaza and see if there's anything the kids can eat. By the way, I also have to acquire some defense field skill scrolls and prepare to be promoted to intermediate-level adventurer. After all, the intelligence of some dangerous areas is something that only intermediate-level adventurers are qualified to acquire."
Count the current savings.
Jack realized with a toothache that if he did come across an ingredient, his own children could eat it.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to put all my money on the line again!