Chapter 4 : A Tamer's Dilemma

Karma awoke the next morning in the Adventurer's Guild, his body stiff from sleeping in the sitting area. The monster rabbit, curled up next to him, nudged his arm with its small horn, trying to get his attention. He yawned and stretched, wondering if today would bring some good fortune. His quest to find a place to stay with his monster companion had been unsuccessful so far, and he hoped to find a solution soon.

Karma glanced over at Maria, the Guild receptionist, who was already busy preparing for the day. He approached her, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Morning, Maria. Thanks for letting me crash here last night."

She looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Karma. No problem at all. How's your little friend doing?"

Karma glanced down at the rabbit, who was hopping around his feet, looking as harmless as ever. "He's fine. I just don't understand why the inns won't let him stay. It's not like he's a threat to anyone."

Maria sighed and leaned on the counter. "It's not really the rabbit, Karma. It's just the rules. Most inns have strict no-monster policies to keep their other customers feeling safe. Even a harmless one like yours makes people nervous."

"I get that, but isn't there some way around it? I've heard of other tamers keeping monsters in inns before," Karma said, frustration seeping into his voice.

Maria tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, there are a few tamers who've figured out how to make their monsters less... well, noticeable. Have you checked out the **Intermediate Tamer's Guide**? There might be a skill or spell in there that could help."

Karma's eyes widened with realization. Of course! There had to be more advanced techniques or skills that could assist with this problem. He had only studied the beginner's guide, but there were surely higher-level skills available for tamers.

"You're right! I need that book," Karma said, his energy returning. "But... I don't have much money left. I barely made enough from the last quest to cover my stay at an inn."

Maria gave him a sympathetic look. "You could always take on a few more quests. I know things are tight, but with some extra coin, you could buy the guide or even get someone to help you learn a new skill. And who knows? You might even rank up soon."

Karma sighed, his mind racing through his options. He couldn't afford to stay at inns, and sleeping in the Guild wasn't a long-term solution. If he wanted to progress as a tamer, he needed to learn more advanced techniques. His rabbit companion couldn't continue to be a hindrance in towns.

"Alright," Karma said, his resolve strengthening. "I'll take on a quest, gather the money I need, and then buy the Intermediate Guide."

Maria smiled warmly at him. "That's the spirit! We've got a few new quests on the board today. Maybe something will catch your eye."

Karma headed over to the quest board, scanning through the various notices. His eyes landed on one in particular:

**Quest: Wildflower Rescue**

- Rank: C

- Objective: Retrieve 15 rare Moonlit Wildflowers from the Silverleaf Forest

- Reward: 120 copper coins

- Time limit: 3 days

The reward was decent, and the task seemed straightforward enough. Silverleaf Forest wasn't too far from the town, and the flowers, while rare, were said to bloom in shaded areas near streams. His rabbit companion's enhanced hearing might come in handy, allowing them to avoid potential threats like bandits or wild monsters.

"This one looks promising," Karma muttered to himself as he tore the quest sheet from the board. He returned to Maria, handing her the notice.

"Ah, a good choice," she said, processing his request. "Just be careful in Silverleaf Forest. There are some B-rank monsters lurking around, especially after dark."

Karma gave her a confident grin. "I'll be fine. I've got my rabbit to help me out."

Maria laughed. "Alright, just don't take unnecessary risks, Karma."

With the quest accepted, Karma set out for the forest. His rabbit hopped along beside him, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. The thrill of adventure always got his blood pumping, but this time, there was more at stake. He needed the coins from this quest to take the next step in his journey as a tamer.

---

**Hours later, deep in Silverleaf Forest**

Karma crouched low, his hand lightly resting on the rabbit's back as they moved quietly through the underbrush. The air was cool, and beams of light filtered through the dense canopy overhead. He had already found a small patch of Moonlit Wildflowers near a stream, but he needed more to complete the quest. His rabbit's ears twitched, and Karma stilled himself, listening carefully.

A faint rustling came from a nearby thicket. His heart raced as he carefully peered through the leaves. What he saw made his blood run cold.

A large **Emerald Fang Wolf**, its fur shimmering like emeralds in the dim light, prowled through the bushes. It was easily a B-rank monster, and far beyond what Karma was prepared to handle. His mind raced as he realized the danger he was in.

"Why didn't I hear it sooner?" Karma whispered to himself. "I'm borrowing the rabbit's hearing. It should have picked up on this earlier."

The rabbit shifted nervously, sensing the danger as well. Karma bit his lip. Fighting wasn't an option, but maybe there was a way to avoid the wolf. His rabbit could jump high, and Karma remembered seeing a large tree with thick branches just a little further back.

"Okay, buddy," Karma whispered. "We're going to back up slowly, and when I give the signal, you jump as high as you can, alright?"

"Ppik!" The rabbit responded, seeming to understand.

Karma took a slow step back, keeping his eyes on the wolf. The creature's ears perked up, and its eyes scanned the area, but it hadn't spotted them yet. He took another step, his heart pounding in his chest. Just a little further…

The wolf's head suddenly snapped in their direction, its eyes locking onto them.

"Now!" Karma shouted.

The rabbit leapt into the air, its powerful legs launching it onto a low-hanging branch. Karma sprinted after it, his hands grasping the tree trunk as he pulled himself up just in time. The wolf snarled, lunging at them, but its claws scraped against the bark, unable to reach them.

They were safe for the moment, but Karma's heart was still racing. He sat on the branch, catching his breath as the rabbit nuzzled against him.

"Good job, little buddy," Karma panted. "That was close."

The wolf paced below them for several minutes before finally losing interest and slinking away into the forest. Karma waited until he was sure it was gone before climbing down from the tree.

"We're definitely going to need that Intermediate Guide," Karma muttered, feeling a sense of urgency. The world was dangerous, and he was still too weak to face these threats head-on.

With the wolf gone, he gathered the rest of the Moonlit Wildflowers and quickly made his way back to town, eager to collect his reward and take the next step in his journey.

---

Back at the Adventurer's Guild, Maria greeted him with a smile. "Looks like you made it back in one piece!"

Karma handed her the flowers, feeling a sense of pride. "Yeah, it wasn't easy, but we pulled through."

After receiving his reward of 120 copper coins, Karma knew exactly what he needed to do next.

"Maria, do you have the **Intermediate Tamer's Guide** for sale?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.

She smiled and nodded. "We do, but it's going to cost you 200 copper coins."

Karma sighed, but he wasn't deterred. "I'll take on more quests if I have to. One way or another, I'm going to get stronger."