A crashing sound rang out as Keith stomped his feet on the head of the last of the griffons.
"That's 29. Should we look more for another?"
It was already afternoon when we finished up with our hunt. Taking in the time to get out of the forest, the earliest we could reach anywhere would be by night.
I shook my head from side to side as Keith looked over at me, his hands like that of an artisan dexterously cutting apart the monster and digging for its stone.
"We should get a move on instead. We'll not be exchanging them all at once anyway."
Exchanging a single Griffon magic stone as a one-person team wouldn't be all that surprising considering Keith, but exchanging so many at once would be the most effective way of getting Keith's name to the Marquis' ears.
Once Keith got the final magic stone, he tossed it over in the bag on his back and the two of us started moving out of the forest.
We had come in a considerably deep distance here to hunt the griffons. On our way back, the goblin crematorium we had set up. It stank. After walking for hours straight, the thick growth of trees started to dwindle and we reached closer to the edge of the forest.
Tied to a tree not that far away were two horses. The makeshift pail of water in front of them was almost empty.
Keith went up to the white horse and straddled the bag of magic stones to its saddle. The white horse was actually supposed to have been my personal horse, but I refrained from using it after Keith mentioned our hair color matched.
I wasn't one to judge another by looks, since I couldn't, but I was sure that at least should look hot and cool at all moments. The to-be strongest in the world is also strong in the looks department.
"Alright, Black and Blanche have been good kids here." Keith gently stroked the head of the two horses and they lowered their heads in turn.
Black's name was uncool, so I wasn't going to mention its name to anyone. I pulled at its reins and Black lowered his head further, making it easier for me to climb on even with my short height.
With a flick of the reins, the two horses neighed and set off again. Like the wind itself, we breezed past the woods.
Amidst the clip-clops of the horse's feet like drops of rain, I felt like messing with Keith again.
"Hey, Keith."
"Yeah?"
"How are you so ugly?"
***
Our horses dashed past the villages, and the mansion under the Hall estate, and reached the edge of the closest town to our place.
We left our houses outside the town walls with the guards after paying a small fee and went strolling through the town.
The view of the night with the faint red of the setting sun seemed enchanting. The reddish hue spread all over the stone roads and sidewalks, illuminating the path ahead with a pretty shade like none other. A gentle breeze refreshingly pushed up the hair and the moods of the people returning home from a long day of work and the youth setting off for a long time of parties, carrying along with it the sounds of the hawkers and the scents of their wares.
The two of us strutted to the central district of the town and stopped in front of the wide building housing the branch of the adventurer's guild. Keith led the way and pushed the door open.
At once, the sight of the adventurer's guild filled my gaze.
People young and old in armor covering their bodies and weapons adorning their hands.
Dozens gathered near the tables and showcased their spoils for the day, while the rest had already placed out maps and were preparing for the next. Some young ones gathered at the restaurant and smacked their drinks at each other while others played messy games of resilience and love. A bunch were gathered at the quest board while another bunch pestered the young receptionist for a date, only to be pushed away by the ones here for business
It was a sight that I hadn't seen before. So many people, so many strong people going out and chasing after quests and enemies that threatened the world. The excitement they held as they told the people the stories of their bravery, The tales of mystique, and the news of something new.
For the first time in the last four years, I realized something that I hadn't noticed before.
When my eyes fell on the group of people wearing the robes of dozens of different occupations listening in on the story of one young warrior and his mage companion, the realization truly dawned on me.
This world wasn't like my own. It was unexplored, unadulterated. The world, unlike Earth, was one full of mystery, where one living on this spot could not know the events of the next due to the lacking communication and exploration.
How enchanting.
I wondered how it would feel to see things one had never seen before, learn things one had never learned before, and feel things one had never felt before.
The opportunity to experience all of it. It was in my hand.
For a first and fleeting moment in my life.
The ever-present, minuscule tinge of reminiscence for the earth... Left my mind.
While I was lost in thought, a hand suddenly plopped itself on my head. I narrowed my eyes and turned to my side to hear Keith grinning.
"Quite the fun place, an adventurer guild eh?"
"Sure is."
Keith ruffled my hair and grinned even wider. "Let's have you register sometime in the future."
Before I could nod, the bastard pushed my head up and down with his hands.
"Tsk. Just go and exchange the stone for cash. Do it at a good price."
"Yes, yes, leave it to me. We'll have more than enough to gamble the night away!"
"Rat!" I pushed Keith's hand off of my head and snapped. "We have to buy a lot of things for the villagers."
"Right right. Hm? Why are you grabbing my clothes though?"
"There are too many people here, you'll get lost."
"Haha, sure. I'll get lost."
Keith didn't push my hand away and we went up to the reception. The day was far from over.
.
.
.
"And right then... I saw the ghost bandits."
"God! How can you pull such a joke as an adventurer!? Even kids know there are no ghost bandits!"
"It's not a joke! The ghost bandits exist! I saw them near Ediab forest!"