I woke up when the sun was rising and feeling more full of energy than before… I stretched out my body while thinking about the next skill I would get. I was planning to ask Lain about that, but since I was broke, I decided to avoid that and ask him something else.
Now that I didn’t have to worry about food or water, I could venture further from the town, considering a bit more risk. The downside was that it would be hard to find a place to sleep or camp through the night. Although I was getting stronger, I was still getting tired fast enough… probably because I was using all the energy and putting my body to work like never before.
“Hey, it looks like you obtained the quest. Congratulations. I am seriously impressed. I don’t think that many people obtained jobs already, even in the other towns.”
“Do you have that kind of information?”
“It is hard to get that much precise information so far, but it will improve eventually.”
It made me wonder if our progress would affect his work… I couldn’t imagine how he could get any information while staying in the town during the whole day.
“I see… anyway, do you have any idea of monsters that leave ingredients behind when they are killed?”
“Close by? The giant armadillos have a chance of leaving meat behind. They also leave a part of their carapace.”
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You used 20 Origin Coins.
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Only one option… It looked like I would have to venture far in order to check all the other areas. First of all, I needed to check if it was worth the hassle of fighting the giant armadillos. Since it was meat, I would just need a few extra ingredients to make several portions of stew.
The area where the giant armadillos lived appeared in my map… it was in the south. The opposite area where I usually worked. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a good thing or not… I really needed to broaden my horizons, though.
“All right, thanks.”
I turned around and then headed to the Rogues’ guild, hoping that I would find some missions in the area. The type that would grant more expand coins based on the loot seemed like a good option for me, but I couldn’t be picky.
“You don’t look like it, but you are quite hard working, huh?”
I wondered why Alessa always had to say something like that… was she trying to get on my nerves with those kinds of remarks? In any case, I just stayed silent for a while. I had a bit of pride in my thick skin.
“Do you have any job related to the area where the giant armadillos can be found?”
“No. Fighting that kind of enemy is annoying for Rogues. You aren’t very smart if you picked that kind of option for whatever reason. That being said, I have a job in an area beyond that area. We received information that things are a bit chaotic in the town south of here. I want you to go there and collect information about what is happening there.”
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You received a quest: Social Quest - Go to the town in the south and collect intel about the odd situation there.
Rewards: 1500 Origin Coin and 1500 EXP.
Time Limit: One week
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I couldn’t hide my surprise. It was the kind of quest that required skill and discretion, forcing me to keep a low profile while investigating another town. The timing caught me off guard. I had barely settled into my current situation, after all.
The quest’s details were vague, but it was clear this wasn’t just a simple errand. It demanded observation, tact, and possibly a level of skill I wasn’t even sure I possessed. It made me pause and reflect. Despite Alessa’s harsh demeanor, her sharp words and no-nonsense attitude, could she have seen something in me? Some kind of potential I wasn’t even aware of yet? Whatever the reason, I couldn’t ignore it.
“We have a branch there, but we are at odds with them, so information in that place is hard to come by.”This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“I see… hence the rewards. I accept the quest.”
I would prefer more hunting quests, this kind of social quest seemed dangerous, after all. Still, I was curious about the situation in other towns similar to this one and there was a small chance that I could find one of my friends and family there, so it was a risk that I was willing to take.
“All right then, don’t take too long to return with the news.”
I nodded and then left the guild. When I did that, I wondered if the other guys around weren’t willing to accept the quest or if they weren’t strong enough… There was also a chance that I was being used since I was disposable and just a newbie for them that could be replaced.
‘It looks like things are going to become a lot more interesting all of a sudden. It makes me wonder if we will have the chance to fight other people…’
This guy was really messed up… one week ago, I was living a normal life and now he wanted to risk fighting others, without laws on, we would have to fend for ourselves and that means also taking chances of killing and being killed by other humans. I didn’t take such a drastic turn so soon.
‘You worry too much. What is the point of worrying about killing some assholes? I am not saying that we should go around and slit some throats, but it is bad to kill those who try to kill us first?’
‘I didn’t say anything.’
‘Your silence and frown speak volumes.’
It was annoying when this guy made too much sense… Still, as much as I hated to assume that, he had a point. I had to consider that and be ready for it. On Earth, laws existed as abstract principles designed to maintain order, justice, and harmony. However, these laws were not tangible entities, they weren’t something you could see, touch, or interact even.
What was tangible, however, were the consequences of breaking these laws. The enforcement of laws relied on the mechanisms of punishment, such as fines, imprisonment, or other penalties, which only came into play if someone was caught committing a crime. This nature of enforcement meant that laws themselves didn’t necessarily provide a constant, reassuring sense of security to individuals. Instead, they operated more like an invisible framework, creating the potential for order but leaving much of that sense of security up to interpretation and circumstance.
For many, this created a fragile sense of safety. People were aware that laws existed to stop harm, but the actual security they felt depended on the tangible presence of safeguards or the absence of immediate threats, rather than on the laws themselves.
That was even more true in this land… the people in the towns had their own rules, but they didn’t apply those outside and they didn’t care about us that much either. With all that in mind, I had to prepare to defend myself by any means necessary.
I crossed the plain lands and only killed the dire rats with my throwing knives while I was lost in thought. If I had to prepare for those kinds of dangerous scenarios, I would have to invest more in my gear.
Before long, I was able to see the area beyond the plain lands… beyond some hills. I could see the scenario drastically changing. The place was called Arid Shellands… it wasn’t surprising given the monsters, but it truly made me feel like we were inside a game.
The area was a vast expanse of dry, rocky terrain marked by sparse vegetation. The ground was cracked and uneven, with patches of dry grass and thorny shrubs struggling to grow amidst the harsh terrain. Large, rounded boulders came out of the ground, providing some shade and shelter.
The armadillos had dug some burrows into the terrain, forming a network of tunnels and mounds. Their burrows created scattered rises in the landscape, some of which were reinforced with clawed dirt and lined with discarded scales, showing creatures’ immense size and power.
“Where are you heading?”
All of a sudden, I heard that question. When I turned around, I saw that woman that I had seen talking with the clerk of the weapons shop. I didn’t know her name, but I could tell that she was a teacher. The kids that were with her before were now bullying some of the dire rats close by. Did I invest in some bullies or scary children?
“... Do I have any reason to tell you?”
“Not really… although you acted like a fool that time, it looks like you can act seriously.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
I turned around and then studied the terrain. I was probably a bit on edge thanks to the possibility of fighting other humans. Usually, I wouldn’t be so harsh with others for no reason.
“I will repay the money that you lent us the other day. I hate owing others anything.”
“You go, girl. Show everyone that boss babe energy. Be a good example to those kids with that.”
The woman looked at me for a moment and I could tell that she was really annoyed… I hit a nerve, but I didn’t have time for that. Even if my acting previously had been a mess, I had to do it now.
‘As always, you are terrible at dealing with the ladies. Turn around and let me handle this.’
‘Fuck off.’
I just wanted to keep my distance from people like her since she had too much responsibility, thanks to those kids. I didn’t want that burden… I couldn’t help but feel bad about it since I could have thought of a better solution to this mess. In the end, I could only use the excuse that she wouldn’t have any more need to thank me and she would use the money to keep those kids safe. I didn’t need any thanks. I only helped them for my own peace of mind.
‘All right, it seems that you have psyched yourself enough to handle the monsters. Now you just have to learn how to turn that ON and OFF and not annoy everyone else around.’
‘As if you are one to talk.’
‘I only made dudes mad, not the ladies.’
I let out a sigh and then just moved to fight the monsters… Before long, the giant armadillos soon left their holes and then began to roll toward me.