Chapter 6: Into the Verdant Hollow

The afternoon sun cast long shadows as nagomi made his way beyond the western gate. A dirt path stretched before him, winding through rolling fields of golden grass before disappearing into the dense greenery of the Verdant Hollow. The distant chirping of birds and the occasional rustle in the bushes added to the immersive tranquility of the scene.

"So, this is my first official quest…" he thought, gripping the strap of his satchel. "Gathering mushrooms may not be the most exciting start, but I guess every great adventure has to begin somewhere."

As he ventured deeper, towering trees with emerald leaves formed a natural canopy overhead, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor. Sunlight flickered through the gaps, illuminating patches of vibrant flora. The air smelled of damp earth and fresh greenery, a stark contrast to the bustling city he had left behind.

nagomi’s eyes darted around, scanning his surroundings for any sign of the Moonlit Mushrooms. According to the quest details, these mushrooms emitted a faint glow at dusk and were often found near the bases of old trees or within shaded groves.

After a few minutes of searching, he finally spotted something—several small, bluish-white fungi growing at the foot of a massive oak. He crouched down, inspecting them closely.

"This must be it." He carefully plucked a few, placing them into his satchel.

As he continued his collection, a soft rustling caught his attention. His body tensed. He turned his head toward the sound, his mind racing through possibilities. A monster? A small animal? Another adventurer?

The bushes parted, and out hopped a small, gelatinous creature with a semi-transparent, greenish body. It jiggled slightly as it moved forward, its featureless form pulsating gently in the dimming light.

nagomi blinked. "A slime…?"

His mind instantly recalled countless RPGs he had played. Slimes were usually the weakest of monsters, serving as training dummies for beginners. However, this was real life, and underestimating anything in this world would be a mistake.

The slime wobbled slightly before propelling itself toward him. Nagoya instinctively sidestepped, avoiding the slow-moving creature.

"Alright, so they’re not fast. But… how do I fight back?"

He had no weapon, no magic—only his fists and his wits. Clenching his hand into a fist, he decided to test something. With a swift motion, he swung at the slime. His knuckles met its gelatinous body with a wet, squishy impact, but his hand sank into it rather than dealing any real damage.

"Okay, punching a slime? Not my brightest idea."

The creature retaliated, launching itself toward his face. He barely managed to duck in time.

Glancing around, he spotted a sturdy branch on the ground. Snatching it up, he held it like an improvised club.

"Let’s see how you like this!" he muttered, swinging the branch at the slime. This time, the impact caused the creature to ripple violently before bursting into a puddle of harmless goo.

Nagoya exhaled, gripping the branch tightly. "Well… that was messier than I expected."

A faint shimmer caught his eye where the slime had dissolved. Among the remains, a small, translucent core glowed faintly. Curious, he picked it up, feeling a slight warmth in his fingers.

"A monster core? I should probably take this back to the guild. It might be worth something." He slipped it into his satchel and resumed gathering mushrooms, now more alert than before.

By the time he finished, the sun had almost set, and the forest was bathed in a soft, golden glow. With his satchel full, he decided it was best to return to the city before nightfall.

As he made his way back, he couldn’t help but smirk. "Not bad for my first day. Maybe this world really does have some surprises in store for me."