As Marcus trudged through the Whispering Woods, trying to make sense of his new, rather unrequested gift, he quickly realized that the *Insight of the Forest* was both a blessing and a curse.
The trees, it turned out, had a lot to say.
"That storm last month knocked a few of my branches off," one oak grumbled, its leaves rustling in frustration. "Still haven't grown them back."
"You think that's bad?" another tree chimed in. "I've had squirrels nesting in my branches for weeks. *Weeks!* Do you know how annoying it is to have acorns shoved into your bark?"
"Ugh, tell me about it," a tall pine sighed. "Last year, woodpeckers practically made a condo out of me."
Marcus massaged his temples. "Why do I need to hear this? How does this help me fight a Dark Lord?"
*Ding!*
**Insight of the Forest is not for combat! It's for… gaining knowledge! Trees have ancient wisdom, you know.**
"Oh yeah?" Marcus glanced at a nearby tree that was currently complaining about the weather. "What kind of ancient wisdom? How to keep squirrels from stealing your pine cones?"
The System didn't reply, but the trees around him continued their chatter, offering up a wealth of useless information. Marcus sighed and pushed forward, hoping to reach the town before his sanity completely dissolved.
After what felt like an eternity, Marcus finally stumbled out of the woods and found himself on a dirt path that led to a small, bustling town nestled between the hills. A wooden sign at the entrance read **"Welcome to Glimmershade."**
"Well, at least I'm finally here," Marcus muttered, feeling a small wave of relief. He started walking toward the town gate when—
*Ding!*
**New Quest Unlocked: Visit the Adventurer's Guild and Register as a Hero!**
Marcus groaned. "Of course. More quests."
As he made his way into town, Marcus couldn't help but notice the odd stares he was getting from the locals. It probably had something to do with his mismatched gear: a rusty sword, muddy overalls, and shiny boots that still looked wildly out of place.
"Is he a farmer or a soldier?" a man whispered to his companion as Marcus passed by.
"Maybe both?" the other replied.
Ignoring the murmurs, Marcus finally spotted the **Adventurer's Guild**, a large, sturdy building at the town square. It was decorated with banners and had a large wooden sign that depicted a sword and shield crossed over each other.
Marcus walked in, greeted by the smell of old leather, dust, and the faint scent of stew. The main hall was filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes—some clad in armor, others in robes, a few sporting impressive scars and battle-worn weapons.
*Ding!*
**Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild! Register here to officially become a Hero and receive quests tailored to your skill level.**
Marcus walked up to the front desk, where a bored-looking receptionist with a quill and a massive stack of parchment sat. She barely looked up as Marcus approached.
"Name?" she asked, her voice monotone.
"Marcus. Marcus Griddle."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down. "Uh-huh. And what's your class?"
Marcus blinked. "Class? I… don't think I have one."
The receptionist sighed. "Everyone has a class. Are you a warrior, mage, rogue, bard—?"
"I'm… a farmer," Marcus said, trying to keep a straight face.
The receptionist stared at him, quill frozen in mid-air. "A… farmer?"
"Yeah. You know, crops, chickens, the occasional squirrel fight."
She blinked slowly, as if waiting for him to admit it was a joke. When he didn't, she let out a long sigh. "Right. Well, you're the first farmer I've had to register, so congratulations, I guess. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild."
Marcus winced. "Thanks?"
She handed him a small, shiny metal badge with the guild's emblem on it. "Here's your official Hero badge. Wear it while you're in town so people know you're an adventurer."
*Ding!*
**New Item Acquired: Hero Badge! You are now a registered Hero of Glimmershade.**
Marcus pocketed the badge, feeling more awkward than ever. "So… what now?"
"You can take quests from the quest board over there," the receptionist replied, pointing to a large wooden board on the wall. "Though, judging by your… uh, current level, I'd recommend starting with something easy. Maybe pest control?"
Marcus sighed. "Pest control sounds just about right."
He walked over to the quest board, where various notices were pinned. There were quests for slaying beasts, rescuing lost pets, escorting merchants, and—of course—getting rid of vermin. One particular quest caught his eye:
**Quest: Exterminate the Giant Turnip-Eating Beetles**
- **Reward**: 50 coins and 1 bag of turnip seeds
- **Location**: Old Man Wilbur's farm
Marcus stared at the notice for a long moment. "Giant turnip-eating beetles? Really? Why is everything out to destroy my crops?"
He sighed, reluctantly pulling the notice from the board. "Guess this is my life now."
*Ding!*
**New Quest Accepted: Exterminate the Giant Turnip-Eating Beetles!**
Marcus left the guild, determined to finish this ridiculous quest quickly so he could find some time to rest. As he walked through the town, following the directions to Old Man Wilbur's farm, he noticed that the townsfolk were still watching him with curiosity.
"Is that the new Hero?" someone whispered.
"He doesn't look like much."
"Maybe he's one of those underdog types. You know, starts out weak but then gets super powerful later?"
Marcus rolled his eyes. "If only they knew…"
Before long, he arrived at Old Man Wilbur's farm, which was a ramshackle collection of buildings that looked as if they'd been patched up with more hope than wood. Wilbur himself was sitting on his porch, chewing on a piece of straw and looking generally displeased with life.
"You the hero they sent to deal with my beetle problem?" Wilbur asked, squinting at Marcus.
Marcus hesitated. "Uh, yeah. I guess I am."
Wilbur sighed. "Well, good luck. Them beetles are the size of dogs. Ain't nothing normal about 'em."
Marcus's eyes widened. "Did you say the size of dogs?"
Wilbur nodded grimly. "Big dogs. Mean ones. With wings."
Marcus stared at him in disbelief. "Wings?"
"Yep. They fly. You'll know 'em when you see 'em. My turnips certainly did."
Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose. "This just keeps getting better."
With a deep breath, he unsheathed his sword and made his way toward the field, mentally preparing himself for what was likely to be another ridiculous encounter. As he approached the crops, he could hear a strange buzzing sound.
Then he saw them—giant, beetle-like creatures, buzzing around Wilbur's turnip patch, munching on the crops with terrifying efficiency. They were easily the size of large dogs, their hard exoskeletons shining in the sunlight, and their wings flapping with an eerie hum.
Marcus tightened his grip on his sword. "Here we go…"