It had been a while since I last visited the Strange Plains, ever since the incident with the Poison Salamander. I had taken on a request from the tool shop to gather materials, but this plain was much larger than I had anticipated. As I ventured deeper, I began to worry that I might get lost and never find my way back. Even with a Danger Level of 6, the vastness of this place was overwhelming.
Here, the Fluflu Flowers bloomed, known to be the only source for a vital ingredient in healing potions. The shopkeeper had mentioned that he relied on Adventurers like us to gather them since they only grew in this area. I had picked a few, but the quantity was far less than I had hoped.
Suddenly, a notification appeared before me.
【A Man-Eating Flower has appeared! HP 44】
To make matters worse, unwanted flowers were popping up. Why would a creature that craves human flesh bloom in such a place? Just then, Roel was incinerating a ghostly-looking flower.
【Roel swung her Fire Rod!
She dealt 233 damage to the Man-Eating Flower! The Man-Eating Flower has been defeated! HP 0/44】
“Roel, that was amazing…”
I had heard from Kouzo at the weapon shop yesterday that the Fire Rod only had the effect of a low-level spell. So even against monsters weak to fire, we couldn’t be too complacent. Yet, Roel showed no mercy as she burned the flower to ashes.
“It’s because fire is its weakness.”
Still, could she really burn it to the point where not even ashes remained? She had mentioned that her magic power influenced her spells, so it must be that Roel had a high level of magical energy. Perhaps it was the first time she could truly shine, as she hummed a cheerful tune while working. It was quite the sight to see a girl sing while slaying monsters. But then again, I couldn’t really judge her.
“Look, there are plenty of flowers blooming over there. Let’s gather some from that area.”
“Yeah, but let’s be careful of the monsters!”
Despite her words, Roel gripped her Fire Rod tightly, eagerly awaiting the arrival of any monsters. Seeing this surprisingly aggressive side of her made me decide not to tease her too much.
“Alright, I think this should be enough. Even if we combine what we have, it’s quite a decent amount.”
“I can’t carry any more, and with this much, Cynthia at the tool shop will surely be satisfied.”
“Ah, what’s that?”
In the distance, I spotted a tiger-like monster battling three Adventurers. Those Adventurers were the Three Sisters. I had never seen a tiger like that before coming here, so it was likely a Floor Monster. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be a foe they could easily handle.
【A Plains Runner has appeared! HP 565】
“Take this!”
【Ai’s attack! The Plains Runner dodged skillfully!】
The large tiger avoided Ai’s wide swing of her axe, but it seized the opportunity as Ai struggled with the weight of her weapon. The tiger lunged at Ai, aiming to crush her with its fangs.
【Mai unleashed a Double Shot!
The Plains Runner dodged skillfully!】
Mai shot an arrow at the Plains Runner, but it merely grazed the tiger’s face, landing with a dull thud on the ground behind it. The Plains Runner switched its target to the one who had just shot the arrow.
“What should we do?! How are we supposed to win against this thing?!”
Ignoring Mai’s frantic cries, the massive tiger charged at her with a speed she couldn’t possibly react to. Just as it was about to devour her whole, the tiger’s body was suddenly cleaved in two. Blood sprayed from the severed edges as the tiger fell to the ground in two pieces.
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Ripper!
She dealt 224028 damage to the Plains Runner!
The Plains Runner has been defeated! HP 0/565】
“I’m glad I made it in time.”
I was relieved that my attack had hit the tiger monster from a distance. Mai collapsed to the ground, her strength drained.
“Rua-san! I can’t believe you were here…”
Ai rushed over, visibly relieved but panting heavily. The youngest sister, Mi, seemed to have been so frightened that she had wet herself and was now sitting on the ground.
“That monster was a Floor Monster, right?”
“Yes, if you hadn’t been here, I don’t know what would have happened…”
“You’re too strong… What on earth are you, Rua-san?”
Mai stared in shock at the split corpse of the tiger.
“You three are here on a request too?”
“Yes, the tool shop wanted some flowers.”
“Oh, so you took on the same request as us. How did it go?”
“Well, we gathered a decent amount… Wait, Rua-san, did you gather that much? You’re amazing…”
From what I could see, they hadn’t collected much at all. Perhaps it was due to the earlier monster, but it seemed they had struggled more than I had expected.
///
After delivering our findings and settling our accounts at the Guild, we were invited to the Three Sisters’ home as a thank you for our help. It was a brick single-story house that blended seamlessly into the town of Queemil. For three people living together, it felt surprisingly spacious.
“We can’t offer much, but…”
What they presented was a dessert drizzled with Popol Fruit juice over pancakes, soaking in sweetness and a hint of spice. It was far more delicious than I had anticipated. Roel seemed eager to ask for seconds but was managing to hold back.
“Rua-san, how are you so strong? You don’t seem like a C-rank Adventurer at all.”
“I wonder why?”
Would it be appropriate to explain that I had trained in the Abyss Cave? Truppo had believed me easily, but I wondered how these girls would react.
“I was hoping I had inherited my mother’s talent for archery, but it seems I don’t at all.”
“I thought I had inherited my father’s skill with the axe… but it was far too heavy for a girl to wield.”
The two of them seemed almost shy as they spoke, their expressions softening. The youngest sister, having finished dealing with her accident, approached us timidly.
“…Thank you.”
After bowing, she hid behind the chairs where her sisters sat. I couldn’t help but think it was reckless for such a young child to be an Adventurer. Were these older sisters really okay with putting her through such terrifying experiences? But then again, I had begun exploring the Abyss Cave at an even younger age. Back then…
What was it like back then? Why couldn’t I remember the details clearly?
“It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!”
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry I can only repay you with this small gesture for saving our lives.”
“I didn’t help you with that in mind, so you don’t need to worry about it. But hey, why did you three become Adventurers…?”
“Whoa!”
A sudden shout echoed from outside. In that instant, I could see the expressions of the three sisters freeze.
“I haven’t received this month’s quota yet, you know?”
“Big sister…”
Mai looked to Ai for help, but Ai remained calm. Or at least, she appeared to be. After a moment of thought, Ai quietly went to open the door. Outside stood an elderly man with a white, brush-like beard and several armed men. Beside the bearded man stood a stoic-looking man with a thin sword sheathed at his waist. The blade was so thin and bent that I worried it might break. I was intrigued by the unusual shape of the sword, but this was not the time to be distracted.
“Oh my, if you’re here, you should come out quickly. I’ve come to collect this month’s quota.”
“…Yes.”
“Oh ho, how impressive… but, oh dear. It seems you’re short.”
“We will definitely pay the remainder.”
“You said quota, didn’t you? I understand that life is tough for you. However, there are promises to keep.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Your parents left this debt behind when they passed. You must take it more seriously… Well, if you don’t have it, there’s nothing to be done.”
The elderly man stroked his beard repeatedly, his gaze crawling over the three sisters.
“Then, I suppose you’ll have to pay with your bodies.”
“N-No, anything but that!”
“If you don’t want to, your little sister will do just fine, you know?”
“Please! We’ll find a way to pay! Just this once, I beg you!”
“Hmph, how many times have you said ‘just this once’?”
Ai desperately bowed her head. Her two younger sisters silently watched the unfolding situation.
“Despite my appearance, I take business seriously. Deadlines are deadlines; if you don’t keep them, you lose trust. Isn’t that only natural? This applies to everyday life as well.”
“Yes, you’re right…”
“Well, I’m not a monster. This time, I’ll wait five days. Until then, farewell.”
The bearded man left with his unsavory companions, leaving a heavy silence in the air.
“Are we really going to be okay in five days?”
“We’ll manage somehow.”
“Those people were from the Gametz Trading Company, right? Could it be that you three…?”
Roel asked, glancing at Ai with concern. What was the Gametz Trading Company?
“Yes, we’ve been in debt to them since our parents were alive. It’s not just that… They set a reasonable quota each month, which has been a relief.”
Ai hurriedly tried to reassure us, though she had just failed to meet that very quota.
“Is that why you three became Adventurers?”
“Yes, with our parents gone, we decided to work together to survive. But things haven’t gone as smoothly as we hoped.”
“I thought about looking for a regular job, but there aren’t many places hiring. So, I decided to take the plunge and become an Adventurer.”
These people also have no parents. I understand the struggle of living alone as a child. The lack of something to rely on or believe in is harsher than I could have imagined.
“But that tiger monster was reckless. It was probably a Floor Monster… When I saw it, I panicked too.”
“Yes, I thought if I could get stronger quickly and take on high-reward quests, it would help. I apologize for the trouble.”
“When I checked my level today, it was at three, and I thought I might be able to manage.”
With a Danger Level of six, there’s no way three is enough. At this rate, these people could really lose their lives someday. I couldn’t forgive that bearded man who had pushed them to this point.
“How much money do you owe?”
“About two million gold…”
“Two million!”
I felt like I might faint as I supported Roel, who looked ready to collapse. Two million is something we couldn’t even pay off. But even if it was borrowed money, that was just too much.
“If we pay back the money, they won’t complain, right?”
“Yes, there’s a monthly quota, and as long as we meet that, we can pay it off…”
“Roel, that’s just too sad.”
“You’re right… I wish there was something we could do to help. Oh! How about we form a party together? Right, Lua-chan? That sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“Y-yes?”
“I’ll support you as much as I can. Can you let us help?”
“B-but…”
I see. It’s simple, but I hadn’t realized it. If we support these inexperienced kids, they’ll gain skill and confidence. Plus, we can help them pay off their debt with the rewards—killing two birds with one stone.
“Alright, we’ll do what we can.”
“Sis, it’s okay to lean on us, you know? Honestly, we can’t manage on our own going forward.”
“…Yes, then can I ask for your help?”
“We can do it!”
For some reason, I felt nervous and gave a strange response. With five of us, what kind of quests should we tackle?
Monster Compendium
Plains Runner
HP: 565
A large tiger monster with white fur and black patterns. It can catch its prey at a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour. Its jaw strength can instantly crush a human body. If you encounter one, your only options are to use your food as bait or trip your companions to escape.