Chapter 6: Escort Request and Undead Subjugation 01
Soushi Okuno
E-Rank
Adventurer Level: 12
Weapon Skills
– Mace: Level 16
– Longsword: Level 8
– Dagger: Level 4
– Unarmed Combat: Level 9
Armor Skills
– Buckler: Level 13
Physical Abilities
– Stamina: Level 15
– Strength: Level 18
– Speed: Level 14
– Explosive Power: Level 14
– Reflexes: Level 12
– Body Control: Level 3 (new)
Sensory Abilities
– Vision: Level 11
– Hearing: Level 9
– Smell: Level 6
– Touch: Level 6
– Dynamic Vision: Level 13
– Presence Detection: Level 11
Mental Abilities
– Composure: Level 9
– Thought Acceleration: Level 5
– Excitement: Level 2
Special Abilities
– Regeneration: Level 3
– Stability: Level 5
– Herculean Strength: Level 5
– Steel Body: Level 4
– Honshin: Level 3
– Heavy Impact: Level 3 (new)
– Grasp: Level 1 (new)
– Poison Resistance: Level 2
– Hallucination Resistance: Level 2
– Paralysis Resistance: Level 1 (new)
Unique Abilities
– Bad Luck: Level 10
Freinir
E-Rank
Adventurer Level: 8
Weapon Skills
– Staff: Level 4
– Spear: Level 3
– Unarmed Combat: Level 2
Armor Skills
– Buckler: Level 2
Physical Abilities
– Stamina: Level 5
– Strength: Level 4
– Speed: Level 6
– Explosive Power: Level 4
– Reflexes: Level 4
– Body Control: Level 1 (new)
Sensory Abilities
– Vision: Level 6
– Hearing: Level 5
– Smell: Level 3
– Touch: Level 4
– Dynamic Vision: Level 4
– Presence Detection: Level 5
Mental Abilities
– Bravery: Level 4
– Mental Concentration: Level 4
Special Abilities
– Holy Attribute Magic: Level 5
– Divine Attribute Magic: Level 3
– Life Attribute Magic: Level 1 (new)
– Consumption Reduction: Level 2
– Charge: Level 1
– Poison Resistance: Level 1 (new)
Unique Abilities
– Saint’s Eye: Level 2
Larni
E-Rank
Adventurer Level: 9
Weapon Skills
– Longsword: Level 10
– Dagger: Level 3
– Unarmed Combat: Level 5
Armor Skills
– Buckler: Level 3
Physical Abilities
– Stamina: Level 7
– Strength: Level 8
– Speed: Level 11
– Explosive Power: Level 10
– Reflexes: Level 10
– Body Control: Level 4
Sensory Abilities
– Vision: Level 5
– Hearing: Level 8
– Smell: Level 11
– Touch: Level 5
– Dynamic Vision: Level 5
– Presence Detection: Level 10
Mental Abilities
– Bravery: Level 4
– Thought Acceleration: Level 1
Special Abilities
– Enchantment Magic: Level 3
– Swift Run: Level 3
– Steel Body: Level 3
– Herculean Strength: Level 1 (new)
– Vital Strike: Level 1 (new)
– Paralysis Resistance: Level 1
– Cold Resistance: Level 1
Unique Abilities
– God of Plague: Level 3
Note: Skills are estimated.
“Soushi, shouldn’t you aim for D-Rank soon?”
As I was processing the items we had collected at the guild in the evening, Mariane, the guild receptionist, made this suggestion.
Having gained two new skills each, we had been delving into an E-Class Dungeon for three days, focusing on getting accustomed to our new abilities and earning some gold.
It seemed that during this time, my promotion points had accumulated quite a bit. Having Larni with us increased the number of monsters we encountered, which likely contributed to this.
“What else do I need to do to rank up?”
“You need to complete one subjugation request and one escort request. As for the subjugation request… I recommend taking the escort request instead.”
The way she glossed over the subjugation request hinted that a “Great Subjugation Request” would be coming soon. The fact that I was being considered for such information indicated that I had gained some trust. Perhaps that was why she suggested the escort request.
“Are there any requests we can take?”
“Yes, there’s a request from the Apothecary Guild for escorting a material gatherer and assisting with the collection. It’s urgent, so activities will start early tomorrow morning.”
“What does assisting with the collection entail?”
“It means that if any monsters are encountered, we are also expected to subjugate them to gather their materials.”
“I see. And what kind of monsters are we talking about?”
“The E-Rank monster known as the ‘Unicorn Rabbit.’ Its horn is a key ingredient for potions, but they don’t drop it in the dungeon.”
The “Unicorn Rabbit” is a large rabbit-like monster with a horn. It attempts to stab with its horn, and a single hit in the wrong spot could be fatal, which is why it is classified as E-Rank despite being a rabbit.
“I understand… I’m inclined to accept, but what do you both think?”
When I asked Freinir and Larni, they responded, “As you wish, Soushi,” and “If it’s the ‘Unicorn Rabbit,’ my nose can track it well, so I think it’s a good idea.”
“I’ll accept the request.”
I replied to Mariane, agreeing to take on my first escort mission.
The next morning, we arrived at the designated building, where a long-eared woman, presumably the client, was waiting.
She was an elf, a race famous in games and stories, but this was only the second elf I had seen since “Anatoria the Crimson.” While they aren’t particularly rare, they typically reside in elven villages and don’t venture out often.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, though her actual age was hard to determine due to their long lifespans. With her platinum blonde hair braided behind her, she was the epitome of elven beauty.
“Nice to meet you, I am Soushi from the Adventurers’ Guild. This is Freinir and Larni. You must be the apothecary, Hofena?”
As I recalled my previous life’s sales pitch while greeting her, the elven woman smiled brightly.
“Nice to meet you, I am Hofena, the apothecary. Thank you for accepting this urgent request.”
“We accepted it because the conditions were favorable for us as well. Please don’t worry about it.”
I realized that such humble words might not be appropriate in this world, but Hofena narrowed her eyes and said, “Thank you,” so I felt it was acceptable.
“Time is of the essence, so I would like to explain the details of the request while we walk. Is that alright?”
“That’s perfectly fine. Let’s get started.”
We followed Hofena as we left the town of Euron, heading toward our initial destination, the “Horned Rabbit Forest.”
As the name suggests, the “Horned Rabbit Forest” is where the “Unicorn Rabbit” appears.
However, the chances of encountering them are low, making it difficult to rely on hunting them for a living. The forest is also known for its abundance of medicinal herbs, so it’s not uncommon for gatherers to hire adventurers for protection while they venture in.
Hofena walked through the forest with practiced ease. I thought one of us should walk ahead as her escort, but she said, “I can sense the presence of monsters, so I’ll leave that to you when the time comes.”
After walking for about two hours without incident, we suddenly emerged into a clearing. It was a glade where pale green grass basked in the sunlight, stretching as far as the eye could see.
“We will start gathering herbs here. Please remain vigilant around us.”
With that, the three of us surrounded Hofena, keeping watch. However, since entering the forest, there had been no sign of monsters. It was unlikely that monsters would flee from humans, so they probably weren’t around.
Glancing over, I saw Hofena skillfully gathering herbs. This kind of task seemed to have its own nuances that would be hard for a novice to assist with.
“Is this your first time seeing Holt Grass? It’s a key ingredient for the potions adventurers use.”
Noticing my gaze, Hofena smiled at me.
“This is my first time watching herb gathering. Don’t you cultivate herbs?”
“I’ve heard that some do in the royal capital and certain territories, but it seems they haven’t had much success.”
“Is it a difficult plant to cultivate?”
“One theory suggests it must be grown in soil infused with magical energy. Such soil tends to attract monsters as well.”
“I see…”
As I nodded in understanding, I noticed Larni looking at me with a meaningful expression. She subtly gestured with her chin toward Freinir, prompting me to look over at her. Freinir wore a sad expression.
Why is that…? I wondered, but perhaps she was feeling uneasy about my conversation with Hofena. She might see me as a father figure.
As I hesitated to speak up, Larni began to sniff the air.
“I smell the Unicorn Rabbit. It seems to be upwind.”
“Is that true? Hofena, what should we do?”
When I asked, Hofena stood up and shouldered her bag.
“The horn of the Unicorn Rabbit is our top priority, so let’s head that way.”
With Larni leading the way, we stepped back into the forest once more.