Chapter 16

There's two commissions for 15 Thorn flower pods and another for a boar.

Since I already have most of those items on hand, I'll just take all three commissions to try and speed things up a bit.

"Hello Glendel."

"Good morning, Ether. What can I do for you today."

"I'd like to take these three, please." I hand her the commissions. "By the way do you know where else I can find Thorn flowers besides the west side of town? I want to explore a bit."

"Hmm... Thorn flowers..." she puts her fingers to her chin, "That forest also extends to the southwest of town, why don't you try there if you haven't already."

"Southwest... no, I don't think I've been there yet. I'll try there today then, thank you Glendel."

"It was nothing. Good luck on your adventure."

And so, I set out the west gate and turn south this time in hopes of finding something new. But to no avail… it's just the same forest scenery here too.

What was I even expecting?

Now that I think about it. It's not like this is a game with hidden loot randomly spawning everywhere. It's just a normal forest.

To my knowledge anyway.

That aside, I was easily able to find enough Thorn flower pods for the commissions and even some extra.

Since this didn't take any time at all, I decided to take a relaxing stroll in the forest and see what else I can find.

And find I do.

About 20 minutes into my stroll I see two white dots and three yellow dot in close proximity to each other on the mini map. That's probably two adventurers fighting against some monsters.

It's none of my business, but I want to see what's going on. Especially how they fight.

Up until now, I've only seen Alice fight with a sword and shield and a maniac running in with a spear and no armor.

Surely not everybody fights like them right?

I remember Glendel telling me that she's an archer and that Silvia is a mage.

If possible, I'd like to see what the magic in this world looks like.

With those thoughts in my head. I stealth and jump from tree to tree, using the leaves for cover as I approach the dots.

As I arrive to the scene, the first thing I see is Silvia firing a ball of fire at a large brown boar that's charging at her.

My wish was granted quicker than I thought.

Another boar is dead on the ground and her party member is locked, shield to tusk with another boar, significantly bigger than the other two.

Her fire strikes the boar and it squeals before falling to the ground, but it's momentum still carries it forward towards her. She dives to her right avoiding the boar, as it crashes to the tree behind her.

But at this time, her companion falters, giving the large boar some leverage.

It tosses him aside with its tusks and starts charging towards Silvia, and while she's distracted dodging the other boar, it rams into her and tosses her into the air.

She falls back down with a thud. Her companion is still scrambling to get up and the boar is already starting to turn back to finish the job.

Knowing I have to intervene, I quickly notch an arrow and let it fly straight at the boar.

The arrow hits it right in the head, mid charge, making tumble to the side, only slightly missing Silvia with its momentum.

I wait for a moment to see if the boar gets back up. But it didn't. So I give the area a quick scan to see if there were any other dangers nearby.

After confirming our safety, I get off the tree and quickly make my way to them.

"Are you guys ok?"

"Yeah, thanks for the help." Her companion says as he tries to administer first-aid.

Silvia is still conscious, but it's obvious that she's in great pain. That hit might have broken some bones.

Thinking of a way to help her, I reach into my bag and pull out a 'Wolf berry' from my inventory.

It looks like a white berry about the size of a strawberry, but in the shape of a wolf paw with tiny claws at the end.

It's rather cute actually. I feel bad that it has to be eaten.

In the game, they're a consumable item that restores 1000Hp and 100Mp when consumed, and it still has the same description here.

Her currently Hp 52/158 and falling, and she has 45/55Mp.

The berry should get her back to full, but I don't know if this will work in the same way as it did in the game.

It should… right? I don't really have any reason to doubt it.

Ahhh man... I really hope this works, I'd probably never be able to forgive myself if something bad happens.

"Here, I have something that might help." I hold the 'Wolf berry' up to her mouth, "Eat this."

She takes a bite, and even while still in pain, she manages to make the 'hmmm... not bad' face. It made me chuckle a little.

When she finishes the berry, her Hp and Mp both jump back to full.

Looks like it works exactly like it did in the game. And she even looks a bit… brighter? I can't really put my fingers on it. But it doesn't seem to be a bad effect. What a relief.

Now that everything is calm again, and I take a look at them. Silvia isn't wearing her usual receptionist uniform.

Of course she wouldn't be in a place like this.

Instead she's wearing a hooded robe that looks to be made of leaves and tree bark. It covers her all the way down to her ankles.

Underneath the robe she's wearing a plane white shirt and short... shorts? held up by a belt with various brown pouches on it.

In her hand, she's holding a wooden staff that branches out at the top with a few leaves growing on said branches.

Her companion is a human kin, dog person with brown eyes, short brown hair and ears like that of a German Shepard. He's wearing a grayish full plate metal armor that doesn't reflect the light shining onto him through the tree canopy.

He also has a metal shield on his left arm. Much bigger than the one Alice carries.

As he stands up he picks up his sword form off the ground and put it to his chest. "Thank you, adventurer, for helping us. That fight could have ended very poorly if you hadn't intervened."

"No problem. I'm glad you're both safe now." He puts his hand back down and smile at my words.

As he does so, the wrinkles on his face becomes prominent due to the light, showing his old age. He has to be at least in his late 30s and through the light I can see that he's level 17, the highest I've seen so far from everyone here.

He has 289/468Hp and and 8/10Mp, that and his equipment leads me to believe that he is a tank, which would be the perfect teammate for a mage like Silvia.

Silvia, "Yes, really. Thank you for saving us. You've even given me an extremely valuable item. Not only were all my injuries healed, I can also feel that all my magic has been restored. I'm very grateful. If there is anyway I can repay you for this, let me know."

Valuable, huh. Back in the game, Wolf berries weren't that hard to get if you were a high enough level, most players even farmed a ton of them to use instead of healing potions, because they also restore Mp. Myself included.

But I guess stuff like that are hard to obtain in this world.

The highest level I've seen so far in this world is her companion, and he's only level 17. You'd need to be at least level 170 in the game in order to efficiently farm Wolf berries.

But even if your not level 170 or over, you could still just buy them from other people. A lot of people farm it, so it's not that expensive.

"No, it's ok. You don't owe me anything. I'm glad, that I was able to help you out."

"Well, in either case, we are still very grateful for your help. My name is Malakai, pleased to make your acquaintance." He offers his hand. "And I'm sure you've already met this fair lady."

"Yes I have. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well." I shake his hand.

After we got acquainted with each other, they started to dismantle the boars.

I offered to help, but they said it was ok, and asked me to survey around the area instead.

There wasn't anything around. They probably just wanted to keep me from the dirty work since I helped them.

After I make a quick round around the area, I went back to check on their progress.

Now that I'm getting a better look at the boars, the big one is a Sword tusk and it's only level 11. The information is there even after it's dead.

The other two are just called Cursed boars and they're both only level 7. These two on the other hand are level 13 and 17, but they were having trouble with these boars.

Hmmm... I guess the power scaling in this world is also different than in the game.

Back in the game, unless it's a boss or mini boss, you could easily take down any monsters your own level by yourself. Provided you have good enough equipment that is.

But even without good equipment, it shouldn't have been this hard.

As I was busy exploring my mind palace for information from the ancient times. Silvia stood up and carried something to me. "Ether."

"Hmm... oh yes, what is it?"

"Here, you should take these." She hands me the tusks of the large boar. "As thanks for helping us. You deserve this much at least."

"Oh, thank you, but I really don't need it."

"No, I insist. Not only because you saved us, but also because I'm a receptionist at the guild.

With your skill with the bow, I think you could put these to great use. Although they can't keep an edge very well, they are very strong and flexible. If you take these to a skilled blacksmith, they'd be able to make some amazing arrow shafts for you, or maybe even a new bow."

"Arrow shifts? Why arrow shafts?"

"Yes, arrows made from these tusks are lighter than normal arrows, so they can travel further and faster."

Malakai, "Ahhh, yes. I can testify to that. Despite there light weight, they are quite dangerous."

He knocks on his breastplate, hard.

It sounds pretty solid.

"My armor was once pierced by such an arrow, and it flew at me from such a distance that I couldn't even catch sight of my assailant. A frightening weapon indeed."

After he said that, I pull out my sad, basic arrow that I made with my Fabrication skill and just stare at them. There simple wooden shaft and stone tip. Everything about it screams 'normal'.

It was cheap ammunition. Only took me some plant, animal and metal components to make. But it lacks that Feel, you know.

It feels… basic. No fantasy elements to it at all. And being an adventurer you're suppose to have those kinds of fantasy related weapons, right?

Like holy swords or holy arrows or something. Something that would help you fight against the monsters.

I don't really want to take it since this is their commission. But if she's already offering, then I have no choice but to take it right? Yeah, it can't be helped.

"... Are you sure you want to give those to me?"

They both share a glance and chuckle a bit, "Yes, of course. I'd be happy if you could make good use of them. You killed it, so they don't belong to us anyway."

With that, I take the tusks and they continue to dismantle the other two boars.

Since those boars didn't have much on them, they finished quickly. Then I noticed Silvia putting a large amount of boar pelt in to a small sling bag on her side. The amount of pelt she put in looks to be at least 6 times bigger than the bag at least.

"Wait. How did you do that. What is that bag?"

"Hu hu. Surprised? You haven't seen one before have you? This is a storage bag. It's a magic bag that can store a large volume of items, without adding to its weight. Amazing right?"

Wha..! What a fantasy item! This is it! This is what I'm talking about!

"Yes, that's a very convenient item…" my eyes are fixed, "Where can I get one?"

"Hu hu, I knew you would ask that. You can find them in the Scholars guild. But they are quite expensive, the bigger their capacity, the more expensive they are."

"Scholars guild? I thought there were only two guilds. The merchants and adventurers guild."

"The Scholars guild is a guild that researches magic and creates magic items. Most of the mages you will meet during your travels will have probably been, at one point in their life, an apprentice in the Scholars guild, myself included. It's where we learn our magic." She flashes some fire between her fingers.

"The building for the Scholars guild is often separate from the Adventurers and Merchants guild because they need to do volatile, often destructive and dangerous experiments. I remember those times experimenting with my master fondly, hehe. However, the Scholars guild building for our town hasn't been constructed yet."

This single line, devastated me. Shattered, crushed, absolutely demolished. Such a staple fantasy item, right in front of my eyes, yet I could not have it.

The leathery feel of the bag. The silver crest. The abundance of magic flowing from the bag.

It seems so close, yet my hands are unable to reach it.

"That being said, I could get you a Storage bag if you'd like."

"Really! Thank you, I'd like that." With that, my thoughts came back to me and I quickly pull myself back together.

"But I can't just get it from the Merchants guild?" I ask to try and maintain my composure.

"I'm afraid not. You would need an understanding of magic in order to properly identify magic items and trade them, which most people who aren't mages don't have. So you won't find a lot of people trading magic items made in the Scholars guild."

"I see. Then I'll be counting on you for the Storage bag then, Silvia."

"Of course. Let's talk about the bag you want when we get back to the guild."

"Ok. I'll see you both back at the guild then. I still have to finish up my own commissions."

Malakai, "Yes, we will see you back at the guild. Thank you again Either. Good luck on your commissions and stay safe."

Then we parted ways.

I told them I need to complete my commissions, but I already have everything I need. I just didn't want them to see me pulling an entire boar out of thin air.

Wait, I got so excited about the bag that I forgot I had this inventory! Haha.

Well, the more the merrier I guess. My inventory does have a limited amount of slots, so a bit more storage couldn't hurt. And I could also use the bag as a cover for my inventory. So it's all good.

I look up at the sun.

Not directly tho. That would be stupid.

It's still pretty high in the sky.

Well, guess I'll explore this place a bit more then, maybe I'll find something else. Maybe some Kojo birds. I'd like to at least see what they look like.

They tasted pretty good…

…

I've been walking for a while now. So far, nothing really that interesting, I found some more Thorn flowers, but that's about it.

Until.. I hear a rustle in the bushes.

I turn to look, and immediately, my Assassin skills kick in. I can feel that it's not an animal, nor is it a monster, I can feel something more… sentient. Like a person.

"Who's there."

???, "Eeepp!!"

*Rustle rustle*.