An hour later, Algeni finally returned to the village. The trip had taken longer than expected because he had gotten lost while trying to find his way back through the winding forest trails. After several wrong turns, however, he eventually found the correct path. As he pushed open the heavy doors of the Adventurers’ Guild, the lively bustle inside greeted him immediately. Adventurers chatted among themselves, some turning in completed quests while others prepared to head out, filling the hall with the constant rhythm of movement, laughter, and clinking equipment.
Looking toward the reception desk, he spotted Rachel. Unlike her usual cheerful self, she looked unusually downcast. Her gaze was lowered, and concern was written across her face.
Algeni approached and asked,
“Everything alright?”
Rachel looked up.
The moment she recognized him, her eyes widened in shock.
“You’re alive!”
Algeni raised an eyebrow, answering casually,
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Rachel lowered her gaze slightly before replying in a guilty voice,
“Well… most F-Rank adventurers end up dying on missions like that, fighting so many monsters or wild beasts.”
Algeni immediately understood why she had been so worried.
“I see… so that’s why you didn’t have much faith that I’d come back.”
Rachel slowly nodded.
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
Algeni shook his head dismissively.
“Nah, don’t worry about it. It doesn’t bother me.”
His words seemed to put her at ease. Little by little, Rachel’s usual energy returned, and her cheerful smile lit up her face once again.
“So… were you able to complete the mission?”
Algeni reached into his inventory bag and handed her the wolf claws.
Rachel quickly accepted them and almost ran toward the area where the guild stored quest rewards.
Only moments later, she hurried back carrying a small pouch filled with coins.
But just before reaching the counter…
She tripped over her own feet.
“Ow!”
The pouch flew from her hands, and dozens of coins scattered across the wooden floor with a loud metallic clatter.
Algeni couldn’t help thinking,
“This girl isn’t just incredibly energetic… she’s also pretty clumsy.”
The system assistant commented matter-of-factly,
“Pretty?”
Rachel hurriedly knelt down to gather the coins.
Once she had collected every last one, she stood up and bowed her head awkwardly.
“I’m sorry. I really need to be more careful.”
Watching her, Algeni couldn’t help comparing her to Yeremi, who had also been rather clumsy when they first met.
Smiling reassuringly, he said,
“Don’t worry about it. Are you alright? That looked like it hurt.”
Rachel looked at him in surprise before smiling gratefully.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for worrying about me.”
She handed him the pouch of coins before asking kindly,
“Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Algeni answered without hesitation.
“Yeah. Let me see some more quests.”
Rachel blinked in surprise.
“Huh? More quests? But you just came back from one… You should get some rest.”
Algeni shook his head confidently.
“I’m fine. I’ve still got plenty of energy left, so show me what else is available.”
Rachel smiled helplessly as she pulled several quest scrolls from beneath the counter.
“Well… if that’s what you want.”
The available quests were almost identical to the previous ones.
Algeni studied them for several seconds before finally choosing the medicinal herb gathering quest.
It seemed far more peaceful, and he was curious to see what those herbs actually looked like.
Rachel reviewed the scroll before saying,
“I see… a nice, quiet mission. Oh! Before I forget, the medicinal herbs you’re looking for grow north of the forest.”
“North… Got it. Thanks.”
Just as Algeni was about to leave, Rachel called out to him again.
“Oh, one more thing… You should be careful. There’s a creature in that area that’s classified as C-Rank. If you run into it head-on, it could be extremely dangerous. I strongly recommend avoiding it at all costs.”
Algeni nodded seriously.
“A dangerous C-Rank creature… Avoid it no matter what. Understood.”
With those words, he left the guild and headed toward the forest.
About ten minutes later, the sounds of the village had completely disappeared, replaced by birdsong and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. The forest path was peaceful, with hardly any signs of monsters nearby.
Algeni walked with both hands resting behind his head, clearly bored. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Assistant, you know… it’s kind of boring walking around without doing anything. Want to play ‘I Spy’?”
The assistant tilted his head slightly.
“‘I Spy’? How do you play that?”
As they continued walking beneath the towering trees, Algeni explained,
“Well, here’s how it works. You pick an object and describe it without saying what it is. You give clues about its color, shape, and things like that.”
The assistant nodded slowly.
“I believe I understand.”
Algeni smiled.
“Well then, let’s see if you really do.”
He scanned the area until he found something suitable.
“I spy… something that’s round.”
The assistant answered almost instantly.
“A fruit?”
“No.”
The assistant glanced toward the sky.
“A cloud?”
“No. Another clue… it’s gray.”
The assistant thought for another few seconds.
“A rock?”
Algeni smiled with satisfaction.
“Yep, you got it. Your turn.”
The assistant remained silent for a moment before replying,
“Let’s see… I’ll try… I spy something that’s brown and green.”
Algeni laughed quietly.
“You’re giving way too much information. And it shouldn’t be something as obvious as a tree.”
The assistant looked slightly embarrassed.
“I see… Let me try again.”
After another pause, he spoke.
“I spy something that’s gray.”
Algeni looked around.
“A rock?”
The assistant shook his head.
Algeni frowned.
“What else is gray?”
The assistant answered calmly,
“A clue… it has claws… and it’s running toward the user very quickly.”
Algeni immediately looked up.
Right in front of him, a wolf burst from the bushes and lunged straight at him with its jaws wide open.
“Seriously? A wolf?” he exclaimed.
In one swift motion, he unsheathed his sword and blocked the beast’s bite before driving a powerful kick into its side, sending it tumbling several meters across the ground.
As the wolf struggled back to its feet, the assistant enthusiastically began clapping.
“You guessed it! Congratulations!”
Algeni finished the wolf with a single clean slash.
The beast collapsed lifelessly onto the grass, and silence gradually returned to the forest.
He sheathed his sword and resumed walking along the trail, wearing a thoroughly unamused expression.
“Seriously… did you honestly think that was the right moment to start clapping?” he asked flatly.
The assistant remained silent for several seconds, seemingly processing everything that had just happened, before quietly continuing alongside him as they ventured deeper into the forest.
After some time weaving through the dense undergrowth, Algeni arrived at a wide clearing filled with an incredible variety of wild herbs and flowers. The air was rich with the scent of fresh plants, while a gentle breeze caused the leaves to sway beneath the warm afternoon sunlight.
Looking around, he commented,
“Alright… there are all kinds of herbs here. They should be somewhere around this area.”
He pulled out the quest description and carefully read it.
Viresca Medicinal Herb
Leaves: Thick and vibrant green.
Roots: Partially exposed above the ground.
Algeni patiently began searching the clearing, brushing aside leaves and inspecting one plant after another.
Several minutes passed.
He still hadn’t found a single one.
Frowning in frustration, he muttered,
“My luck is absolute garbage… There are plants everywhere, and I still haven’t found a single one.” The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Without realizing it, he activated the HUD while examining the vegetation.
Immediately, information about a nearby plant appeared before his eyes.
Sunflower Bloom
Statistics
Type: Plant
Description: A flower that stores so much sunlight that it can temporarily ignite a sword with radiant energy.
Algeni raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Wow… that’s incredibly convenient. It might actually come in handy someday.”
Without thinking twice, he stored the Sunflower Bloom inside his system inventory before continuing his search through the clearing.
After several more minutes of careful searching…
He finally found a Viresca Medicinal Herb.
The forest had grown quieter, with only the rustling leaves and distant birdsong breaking the silence. A faint breeze brushed against Algeni’s face as he carefully pulled the herb from the ground, making sure not to damage its thick roots.
A small smile of satisfaction crossed his face.
“Finally…”
Even so, no matter how long he searched, he couldn’t find another one.
With a resigned sigh, he decided to venture deeper into the forest.
As they walked beneath the towering trees, the system assistant broke the silence.
“Do you want to play ‘I Spy’ again?”
Algeni let out a dry, amused chuckle before replying.
“So another wolf can attack me again? No, thanks.”
The assistant answered in a slightly disappointed tone.
“I’m bored.”
Algeni sighed deeply, brushing aside a low branch as they continued walking.
“And you think I’m having fun? I’m bored too.”
The two continued chatting while making their way through the forest. Thanks to the HUD, Algeni was able to locate the remaining medicinal herbs without much trouble. One after another, glowing information windows identified the correct plants, making the search far easier than before.
Once he had gathered the required amount to complete the mission, he turned around and started heading back toward the village.
However…
As he took a step forward, his boot landed on a thick tree root protruding slightly from the ground.
A sharp crack echoed through the forest.
“…Huh?”
The ground suddenly trembled.
Before Algeni could react, the earth exploded in front of him, sending dirt, shattered roots, and chunks of stone flying into the air. A dense cloud of dust swallowed the clearing as something burst upward from beneath the ground.
At that exact moment, a green projectile shot straight toward him.
Algeni instantly drew his sword.
He swung, intending to slice it apart.
But just before his blade could make contact—
Boom!
The projectile exploded in midair.
A thick cloud of green spores erupted outward, instantly engulfing the entire area.
Algeni immediately leaped backward, escaping the poisonous mist while coughing lightly.
“What the hell was that?”
He quickly tried to regain his stance.
However…
His entire body suddenly began to feel unbearably heavy.
His legs trembled.
His eyelids felt as though he hadn’t slept in days.
With great effort, he raised his head toward the creature that had emerged from beneath the earth and activated the HUD.
Sprout – Launcher Type
Level: 18
Statistics
Strength: 15
Defense: 55
Speed: 54
Mana: 12
Special Characteristic:
Spore Launcher: Fires spores capable of causing drowsiness, poison, or paralysis.
The system assistant spoke immediately after analyzing the information.
“The user has been afflicted with the Sleep status effect. Your body will become increasingly tired, making it difficult to remain standing or even hold your sword.”
Algeni gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath as he stared at the creature.
The Sprout looked remarkably similar to a Peashooter from Plants vs. Zombies, though far more sinister. Its body was a deep, dark green, with long, twisted roots hanging beneath it like grotesque legs. Tiny glowing spores constantly drifted around its body, dancing through the air like poisonous fireflies, while its enormous hollow mouth remained fixed directly on Algeni, ready to fire another deadly shot. The surrounding forest suddenly felt far more oppressive, and the silence that followed made the creature’s slow, unsettling movements all the more disturbing.