Meanwhile, Nen and Algeni were making their way toward the village gates. The streets were beginning to fill with adventurers, merchants, and travelers, all starting their daily routines. The lively chatter of the crowd blended with the rumble of wagon wheels and the distant calls of vendors. However, just before they passed through the massive wooden gate that marked the village’s exit, Algeni stopped Nen with a confused yet slightly uncomfortable expression.
“You’re definitely strong, but… was it really necessary to drag me all the way across the village like that?” Algeni asked as he straightened his clothes.
Nen scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed grin.
“I got a little carried away. I just really enjoy going on missions.”
“Really?” Algeni asked curiously. “I thought most people were afraid of them… you know, because of the whole dying part.”
Nen nodded slowly.
“Well, yeah. There are plenty of adventurers who are afraid of missions like these. But there are also people like me who enjoy completing them and getting stronger every time.”
“I see,” Algeni replied as they continued walking.
At that moment, Rose finally caught up to them. Breathing a little heavily from running, she shot Nen an irritated glare.
“Idiot! How many times have I told you not to run off like that while dragging someone with you? Seriously, you make it look like you’re kidnapping people.”
Algeni raised an eyebrow.
“So… this isn’t the first time he’s done that?”
Rose sighed in resignation.
“The guild master usually sends us to help rookie adventurers… and Nen does exactly the same thing every single time.”
Algeni slowly turned to look at Nen.
“So when you said you get excited about missions… you were actually serious?”
Nen placed both hands behind his head, smiling sheepishly.
“Well… maybe I get a little carried away sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” Rose repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
Nen laughed nervously.
“Well… maybe a lot. But let’s forget about that. We should focus on the mission.”
Rose nodded.
“Now that’s something I agree with. Come on, rookie. Follow us. We need to head into the forest and find those wolves.”
Algeni frowned slightly.
“Hey, you know I actually have a name.”
Rose kept walking without giving it much thought.
“Come on. I’m not about to argue over that.”
Nen chuckled quietly as the two continued down the road.
Algeni let out a resigned sigh before following after them.
They left the village behind and followed the dirt road leading into the forest. Gradually, the sounds of the village faded away, replaced by birdsong, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, and the soft crunch of branches beneath their boots.
Algeni carefully observed his surroundings.
“This is the same forest I came through… but I didn’t see a single wolf when I first arrived.”
As they ventured deeper beneath the towering trees, Rose noticed the serious expression on Algeni’s face.
“You don’t have to walk around looking so tense,” she said with a reassuring smile. “Even if the mission is dangerous, you’ve got two Rank C adventurers with you.”
Algeni kept scanning the forest without lowering his guard.
“I understand that, but letting my guard down would still be a mistake. Anything could jump out of those bushes… or even drop down from the trees.”
Nen nodded, understanding his reasoning.
“I get what you’re saying, rookie. But generally, you don’t have much to worry about. Rose has an active skill that detects nearby monsters. That includes wolves.”
“I see… that does make me feel a little better,” Algeni replied calmly.
Despite his words, his eyes continued to search every corner of the forest with unwavering caution.
The three of them continued deeper among the trees until Rose suddenly stopped.
“Stop!”
The others froze immediately.
“I sense something nearby… over there.”
She raised her hand and pointed north, where a cluster of thick bushes concealed part of the forest.
Nen grinned eagerly.
“Perfect. Algeni, let me show you what a Rank C adventurer can do.”
Without waiting for a response, he cautiously approached the bushes.
“Is that really safe?” Algeni asked with some concern.
Rose let out a quiet sigh.
“No… not really. But he always does whatever he wants.”
After saying that, she followed him toward the bushes.
Algeni watched the two of them for a few moments.
“They’re Rank C adventurers… they should know what they’re doing… or at least… I hope they do.”
He pushed through the bushes behind them.
The moment he stepped through, he found Nen battling three enormous gray wolves while Rose supported him from the rear.
“Where did three come from?” Rose asked in surprise. “I only sensed one.”
“They showed up after that one howled,” Nen replied as he blocked a vicious bite with his sword.
“So that means it’s the alpha?”
“I don’t think so. It just called for help when it saw me.”
Rose nodded.
“Alright… let’s finish this.”
Standing safely behind them, Algeni decided to inspect Rose using his HUD ability.
The system displayed her information.
Rose
Level: 11
Strength: 16
Defense: 26
Speed: 28
Mana: 1000
“Her stats are actually pretty good,” Algeni thought as he continued watching the battle unfold.
At that very moment, one of the wolves lunged fiercely at Nen, its jaws wide open. With a clean, precise slash, Nen cut it down before it could reach him. The beast collapsed to the forest floor without ever landing a bite.
However, a second wolf seized the opportunity and sprang at him, forcing Nen to step back. He drove a powerful kick into its chest, sending it tumbling away, then immediately rushed in to finish it off.
Unfortunately, he let his guard down.
The third wolf took advantage of the opening and leaped straight for his throat.
“Fireball!” Rose shouted.
A blazing sphere of fire streaked through the air, leaving a shimmering trail of heat behind it before crashing directly into the wolf. The explosion engulfed the beast in flames, killing it instantly and saving Nen by the narrowest of margins.
“Hey, idiot! It almost bit you! Don’t lower your guard!” Rose yelled, glaring at him.
Nen smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Sorry… I got a little overconfident. But I knew you’d have my back.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” Rose replied, crossing her arms. “But you know perfectly well that I need time to recite a spell. If I hadn’t started casting before that thing jumped at you, you’d already have a nasty wound.”
“Y-Yeah… sorry,” Nen said again, raising both hands in surrender.
Standing a short distance behind them, Algeni quietly observed the entire fight.
“That guy has excellent swordsmanship. He’s fast and incredibly precise… but he lowers his guard far too soon. He’s obviously very confident in his abilities. On the other hand, that girl has remarkably versatile magic. Not only can she cast offensive spells, but she also seems capable of using enhancement magic. Her only real weakness is the time she needs to chant certain spells. Together… they perfectly cover each other’s weaknesses.”
After finishing his analysis, Algeni blinked several times.
“Since when did I become an expert at judging people?”
Nen turned around and noticed that Algeni had been watching the entire battle.
“So? Do you still doubt our abilities?”
“I never doubted you,” Algeni replied calmly. “I only said that walking around with your guard down is dangerous.”
Nen laughed.
“To me, that’s practically the same thing.”
Deciding to change the subject, Algeni asked,
“Leaving that aside… how many wolves do we need to complete the mission?”
Nen began counting on his fingers.
“Well… we’ve got three so far. We still need seven more to reach the required ten.”
“And how do we prove we completed the mission?” Algeni asked. “Do we have to carry all the bodies back?”
Nen shook his head.
“It would certainly help, but it isn’t necessary. We only need to bring back one special claw from each wolf.”
As he spoke, Rose had already crouched beside the corpses and was carefully removing the claws with a small hunting knife. Her movements were practiced and efficient.
Algeni watched the process with curiosity.
“So… if you kill one wolf, what’s stopping someone from pulling out all of its claws and claiming they killed several?”
Nen let out a quiet laugh.
“You ask some pretty suspicious questions.”
Then he continued his explanation.
“It might look like all the claws are the same, but they aren’t. Every wolf has one special claw that possesses unique attributes. That’s the one we use as proof.”
“Unique attributes?” Algeni asked, intrigued. “How does that work?”
Nen scratched the back of his head.
“I’m not the best at explaining this stuff, but I’ll try. Some creatures have a special part of their body that contains unique properties. For wolves, that’s their claws. They’re the reason wolves are able to evolve.”
Algeni nodded thoughtfully before asking another question.
“I see… but why the claw instead of another body part? And what happens if a wolf loses that claw but survives? How would it evolve then?”
Nen opened his mouth to answer.
Before he could say a word, however, Rose raised a hand, stopping him.
“We can save those kinds of questions for another time.”
Her expression suddenly became serious as she slowly scanned the surrounding forest.
“I think the smell of blood has attracted some unwanted guests.”
A cold breeze drifted through the trees, carrying with it an unsettling silence as the atmosphere around them grew noticeably heavier.
One after another, pairs of glowing eyes appeared among the dense undergrowth. More and more wolves slowly emerged from the shadows, silently surrounding the three adventurers. The peaceful atmosphere of the forest vanished within seconds, replaced by an oppressive silence that heralded the beginning of another battle.
The air grew heavy in an instant. The birds’ songs abruptly ceased, replaced by low growls echoing through the trees and the unsettling crack of branches beneath unseen paws. Every instinct warned them that danger was closing in.
Nen immediately raised his sword and assumed a fighting stance.
“Rose, how many do you think there are?”
Rose moved closer to Algeni and Nen, carefully scanning the forest while her detection skill searched for the hidden presences concealed within the thick vegetation.
“At least seven.”
Rather than showing concern, Nen grinned excitedly and tightened his grip on his sword.
“Perfect. That should be enough to finish the mission. Rookie, are you ready?”
Algeni slowly drew his iron sword. The polished blade caught the rays of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy as he settled into a defensive stance.
“Of course.”
Without warning, one of the wolves burst out of the bushes with its fangs bared. Algeni reacted instantly, sidestepping the attack with a swift movement before delivering a clean, precise slash that cut through the creature’s neck, killing it before it even touched the ground again.
Meanwhile, Nen was engaged in combat with two wolves at once while shielding Rose, who stood several meters behind him, calmly reciting the incantation for a Fireball spell.
Nen appeared to have everything under control.
Then a third wolf emerged from the undergrowth and sprang toward his back, aiming to sink its teeth into him.
Before it could reach him, a sword pierced straight through the beast.
Algeni appeared behind Nen and, without taking his eyes off the remaining enemies, said, Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
“I’ll cover your back and protect Rose, so don’t worry about surprise attacks.”
Nen smiled confidently.
“Thanks.”
With a swift swing of his blade, he finished off one of the wolves in front of him and left the other badly wounded.
Algeni surveyed the battlefield before speaking.
“So that leaves four. Two for me and two for you, right?”
Nen’s grin widened.
“You got it!”
Without wasting another second, Nen charged toward the injured wolf, while Algeni remained perfectly still, silently watching the two wolves standing before him.
He waited patiently.
Eventually, one of the wolves lost its patience and lunged first.
It was exactly what he had been waiting for.
With a single downward slash, Algeni cut the beast down before it could even brush against him.
The last remaining wolf immediately changed targets and charged toward Rose.
But she had already finished her incantation.
“Fireball!”
The blazing sphere shot through the air, leaving a fiery trail behind it before crashing directly into the wolf. The beast was instantly engulfed in flames and collapsed lifelessly onto the forest floor.
When Algeni turned to look at Nen, he found that Nen had already defeated his final opponent as well.
Nen let out a small laugh as he sheathed his sword.
“That was exciting.”
With obvious enthusiasm, he gave Algeni a friendly pat on the back.
“You did well for your very first mission.”
Algeni answered with a faint smile.
“Thanks.”
Rose had already walked over to the wolves’ corpses. Crossing her arms, she spoke with mild exasperation.
“You two can celebrate later. Come help me remove the wolves’ claws.”
Nen walked over to her.
“I’m coming. Hey, Rookie, have Rose teach you how to tell the difference between normal claws and special ones.”
Algeni sheathed his sword and approached Rose.
“So… how do you tell normal claws apart from the special ones?”
Rose motioned for him to come closer.
“Come here.”
She crouched beside one of the wolves’ bodies and lifted one of its paws.
“Look. Out of these five claws, can you tell which one is different?”
Algeni studied them carefully for several long seconds, searching for even the smallest detail that might distinguish one from the others.
Eventually, he shook his head.
“No… I can’t.”
Rose smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry. I couldn’t tell the first time either.”
She tapped one of the claws with her finger.
“This one.”
Then she looked back at Algeni.
“How do I know? It’s a little complicated, but I’ll explain it as clearly as I can. So listen carefully.”
Algeni gave her his full attention.
Rose began explaining in a calm, patient voice while the gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead.
“Normal claws and special claws don’t look very different. However, once you learn how to distinguish them, you’ll never confuse them again.
Normal claws are slightly darker than special ones, but that’s not the easiest way to tell them apart.
What’s truly important… is their aura.
Special claws possess their own aura, regardless of what kind of evolution the wolf is destined to undergo.
What do I mean by that?
When a wolf accumulates enough mana within its body, part of that energy gathers inside one of its claws. Once the amount reaches a certain limit, the mana completely surrounds the wolf, forming a cocoon-like shell that keeps it motionless for hours—or even days—depending on the evolution it is about to experience.
That’s why special claws give off an aura that ordinary claws simply don’t have.
It may sound simple, but sensing that aura requires training.
Did you understand?”
Algeni remained deep in thought for nearly a full minute, carefully replaying Rose’s explanation in his mind.
Finally, he looked up and replied,
“I think so… Can I give it a try?”
Rose handed him one of the wolf’s paws without hesitation.
“Of course.”
Algeni stared intently at the five claws. He tried again and again to sense the aura Rose had described, but no matter how hard he focused, he couldn’t perceive anything.
After watching him struggle for several attempts, Rose spoke in a calm, reassuring voice.
“Hey, don’t force yourself so much. It’s normal not to get it on your first try. You need to relax.”
Algeni took a deep breath and followed her advice.
He loosened his shoulders and let the tension leave his body.
Then he looked at the claw once more.
For several seconds…
Nothing happened.
Then…
A faint glow slowly began to shimmer around one of the claws.
Algeni’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I did it! I can see a little bit of the aura!”
Rose’s eyes flew open in disbelief.
“Seriously? You’re not messing with me, are you?”
Algeni immediately shook his head.
“Why would I lie? I really can see it.”
Still skeptical, Rose picked up another paw from a different wolf and held it in front of him.
“Let’s see if that’s true. Tell me which one is the special claw.”
Algeni focused once again.
He carefully examined each of the five claws.
After a few silent moments, he pointed to the smallest one.
“That one.”
Rose froze.
He was right.
“…Seriously?” she murmured in astonishment. “How did you do that? It took me an entire week to learn.”
Algeni answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I just relaxed.”
Rose frowned.
“It can’t be that simple.”
“I promise,” Algeni insisted. “That’s all I did.”
Rose let out a long sigh.
“It took me over a week to learn how to see the aura of objects, and you managed it in just a few minutes. How is that even possible? Are you really not some kind of prodigy?”
Algeni shook his head once more.
“I’m not a prodigy. I just concentrated, and eventually I could see it. Maybe you’re just a good teacher.”
Rose let out a short, ironic laugh.
“I wish that were true.”
For a brief moment, Algeni remained silent, unsure how to respond.
Before he could think of anything to say, Rose spoke again.
“That’s enough. You don’t have to try to make me feel better. I’m not upset.”
“I’m sorry,” Algeni replied sincerely. “That wasn’t my intention.”
Rose waved the apology away.
“Enough apologizing. We still have work to do. Let’s collect the claws and head back. I have something to take care of after this.”
Algeni simply nodded and got to work.
He walked over to another wolf. Just as he reached for its special claw, his HUD activated on its own.
A translucent window appeared before his eyes.
HUD Skill Updated
“The HUD skill has improved thanks to your new understanding. You can now perceive auras much more easily while using the HUD.”
Algeni smiled faintly.
“Well… that’s useful, I guess.”
With the System’s assistance, identifying the special claws became much easier. Before long, he had successfully located and removed the remaining ones.
After some time, the three adventurers had gathered every claw they needed for the mission.
Nen wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm and laughed.
“Whew… I’ve been sweating like crazy. Working under the sun isn’t easy.”
Algeni looked at him curiously.
“That’s strange. It doesn’t really bother me.”
Nen raised an eyebrow.
“Strange? You’re wearing that hood. You should be drenched in sweat.”
Algeni shrugged.
“I don’t know. Maybe I just adapt well to the heat.”
Nen grinned.
“Lucky you.”
Rose placed the special claws inside a leather pouch and tied it shut.
“If we’re finished, we should head back.”
Nen nodded.
“Let’s turn in the mission. I’ve got something to do afterward.”
Algeni quietly followed along without saying anything.
Rose stepped forward and took the lead.
“Alright, let’s go. Nen, you walk in front in case something shows up.”
Nen burst into laughter.
“Sure… use me as bait.”
“Idiot. If I wanted to use you as bait, I’d tie you to a tree.”
Algeni let out a quiet, amused sigh.
“I’ll walk in front if it’ll keep us out of trouble.”
Nen raised both hands with a grin.
“I was only joking. I’ll take the lead. Let’s go.”
Still wearing his carefree smile, he started walking toward the town.
Rose simply shook her head and muttered under her breath,
“That idiot…”
Even so, she followed after him.
Algeni walked behind the two of them as the forest gradually regained its peaceful rhythm. The wind once again rustled the leaves high above, and the birds slowly resumed their songs, as though nature itself had decided that the danger had finally passed.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, the towering walls of the town finally came into view. Without slowing their pace, the three of them passed through the massive wooden gates and continued toward the Adventurers’ Guild to report the mission they had just completed.
The midday sun bathed the cobblestone streets in warm golden light as the three adventurers made their way back through town. The atmosphere was far more relaxed than it had been during the battle. Merchants called out to passing customers, children laughed as they ran through the streets, and the lively chatter of the townsfolk accompanied them on their walk to the guild.
Nen stretched both arms over his head with a satisfied grin and remarked,
“That was a good warm-up. I’m going to grab something to eat, then I’ll head out for a few more missions.”
Rose let out a quiet sigh as she walked beside him and replied,
“Do whatever you want. Just don’t get yourself into trouble.”
Nen simply smiled, as though those words had become part of their everyday routine.
The two continued chatting during the short walk that remained, discussing future missions and exchanging casual remarks, while Algeni walked a few steps behind them.
Inside his mind, he thought,
“Well… they forgot about me again, but it doesn’t really matter. I want to see what the system update added.”
Without drawing anyone’s attention, he discreetly opened the system interface.
The moment the translucent window appeared before his eyes, the tiny virtual assistant floated into view and asked enthusiastically,
“Do you need something?”
Keeping his voice low so no one else could hear him, Algeni replied,
“Show me every new feature from the latest system update.”
The little assistant spread its tiny arms excitedly.
“Well, for our first new feature, we have—”
Before it could continue, Rose’s voice interrupted the explanation.
“Hey, rookie, we’re here.”
The assistant immediately made a disappointed face.
“Seriously? Right when I was about to…”
Algeni answered mentally as he closed the interface,
“We’ll do this another time.”
The assistant lowered its head with a defeated expression and muttered,
“Alright…”
The three of them pushed open the large doors of the Adventurers’ Guild.
The enormous hall was just as lively as ever. Adventurers constantly came and went, turning in completed requests while others studied the mission board or rested around the sturdy wooden tables. The constant murmur of conversations echoed throughout the building, filling the guild with energy.
They headed straight for the reception counter.
Diana looked up and blinked in surprise when she saw them return so quickly.
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting you back this early.”
Rose rested one hand on the counter and answered,
“Neither was I, honestly. It turned out to be easier than I expected. The wolves came straight to us.”
Diana smiled with relief.
“I’m glad to hear that. I hope none of you were injured.”
Nen nodded calmly.
“We all made it back just fine.”
Diana gave an approving nod.
“I’m happy everyone had a good experience. Now then, back to business. May I see the wolf claws, please?”
Rose pulled out the leather pouch and handed it over.
“There should be ten in there.”
Diana opened the bag and carefully counted each claw one by one.
After a few moments, she looked back up.
“Yes, they’re all here. Please give me a moment while I get your reward.”
The receptionist disappeared briefly behind the counter.
While they waited, Algeni asked curiously,
“So… how are we splitting the mission reward?”
Rose shook her head.
“There’s no need. You can keep all of it. I only came because Lili asked me to.”
Nen nodded with an easygoing smile.
“And I only came to help a new adventurer, so I don’t need any reward.”
Algeni looked at both of them in surprise.
“Really? You honestly don’t want a share of it?”
Rose answered calmly,
“No. We’ll be fine, rookie. We’re C-Rank adventurers.”
Algeni let out a small sigh.
“I appreciate it… but could you stop calling me ‘rookie’? It’s getting a little annoying.”
Rose folded her arms and smiled teasingly.
“No. Once you reach C-Rank, I’ll stop calling you rookie.”
Nen laughed.
“I’ll do the same. Once you’re C-Rank, I’ll start calling you by your name.”
Algeni looked at both of them with a resigned expression.
“Are you two really going to do that? Wouldn’t it be easier to just call me by my name now?”
Rose answered without hesitation.
“No.”
Algeni sighed once more.
“…Fine. Have it your way.”
Just then, Diana returned carrying a small leather pouch that jingled softly with the sound of coins inside.
She placed it on the counter.
“Here you are. One hundred coins for completing the request.”
Algeni carefully picked up the pouch.
“Thank you.”
Diana smiled warmly.
“You’re welcome.”
As he stored the money away, Algeni couldn’t help but wonder,
“What should I do now?”
Rose, having overheard him, answered before preparing to leave.
“Well, if you want to move up from F-Rank to E-Rank, you’ll need to complete several more missions. That’s probably where you should start.”
Then, speaking in a gentler tone, she added,
“But you should also get some rest. Walking through the forest and fighting those wolves must have worn you out. Go eat at a nearby inn first, then you can take on more missions later today… or tomorrow.”
Algeni gave a respectful nod.
“Thank you for the advice, Miss Rose.”
Rose gently shook her head.
“Please, don’t be so formal. I’m just helping a young adventurer, so just call me Rose.”
A faint smile appeared on Algeni’s face.
“Then… thank you very much for all your help, Rose.”
She began walking away, raising one hand in a casual farewell as the bustling sounds of the guild echoed around her.
“You’re welcome. If you ever need more information, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Algeni gave a polite nod.
“Alright. Have a wonderful day.”
Rose smiled one last time before disappearing into the constant flow of adventurers moving through the guild hall.
Algeni turned his head, intending to thank Nen as well.
However…
He was gone.
He glanced around the guild with a puzzled expression, scanning the crowd.
“Where did he go?”
Diana let out a soft laugh from behind the counter.
“He went to get something to eat while you were talking with Rose.”
Algeni blinked in surprise.
“Really? I wanted to thank him.”
Diana smiled kindly.
“I’ll thank him for you the next time I see him.”
A grateful smile crossed Algeni’s face.
“Thank you, Miss Diana.”
She laughed softly.
“You’re very welcome.”
With the mission officially completed and nothing else requiring his attention for the moment, Algeni decided to leave the Adventurers’ Guild.
As he pushed open the massive wooden doors, the warm aroma of freshly cooked food drifting from nearby restaurants and market stalls immediately filled the air.
At that exact moment…
His stomach growled loudly.
Algeni placed a hand over his stomach and muttered tiredly,
“I’m starving… I haven’t eaten anything for an entire day. I’ve got a hundred coins… let’s see what I can find.”
He began wandering through the lively streets without any particular destination, taking in the colorful shops, the bustling merchants, and the countless townspeople who filled every corner of the marketplace with life.
The cheerful sounds of bartering, laughter, and clattering wagon wheels blended together beneath the bright afternoon sky, making the town feel warmer and more welcoming than ever.
Suddenly, Amanda came to mind—the kind woman who had welcomed him when he first arrived at the inn.
Maybe they serve food there too, he thought.
Changing direction, he headed toward the inn.
As he walked, he couldn’t help thinking once more,
“I’m really hungry… I can’t believe I actually went an entire day without eating.”
As if to emphasize his complaint, his stomach growled even louder.
Algeni let out a small, resigned smile and quickened his pace.
A few minutes later, the familiar facade of the inn came into view. Warm light spilled from its windows, and the inviting aroma of a freshly prepared meal drifted through the doorway, welcoming weary travelers inside.
For Algeni, it marked not only the promise of his first proper meal in this new world, but also the beginning of a well-earned rest after successfully completing his very first mission as an adventurer.