Chapter 5: Icky, Sticky, Swamp!

There were several reasons I hated the swamp: the mud, the smell of the mud, the sound it made when you walked through it, and how difficult it was to clean out of clothes.

“You know, once we get those horses, there’s going to be a lot more fighting,” Talos said, swinging at invisible enemies. “I can’t wait for that. These early quests have been pretty tame. I feel like I could be doing more.”

“You’re doing great, pal! Just keep leading the way,” Alva said, holding onto the back of Talos’ armor for guidance as he cautiously walked through the mud, trying to avoid the bugs and keep his hair from getting dirty.

He seemed to hate swamps as much as I did.

“I know what you mean,” I said to Talos. “I haven’t really needed to use my healing magic yet, but I guess that’s a good thing. Let’s remember these peaceful times and enjoy them. I’m sure we’ll look back on them with nostalgia.”

I didn’t realize it then, but that was one of the most profound things I’d ever said.

Velara, the Support Oracle.

I guess I should probably explain what the witch asked of us here. She wanted frog tongues.

You’re probably thinking, “That doesn’t sound too hard,” right?

Wrong.

Here’s the thing: frogs are fast. Like, really fast. And they’re terrified of literally everything. The slightest movement sends them leaping like it’s the apocalypse. So trying to catch them by surprise? Nearly impossible.

Let’s say Uri does manage to sneak up on one. That’s only half the battle. The other half is getting its mouth open. We’re not poachers, so hurting the poor things is off the table. And without harming them (or worse), there’s really no good way to force their mouths open.

The only time they open up is when they’re catching flies.

Now, let’s imagine Alva somehow times his arrow perfectly for the split second a frog sticks out its tongue. Even then, shooting through the tongue not only injures the frog, but also ruins the goods. So yeah, that idea was out the window.

But don’t worry. I came up with a clever plan. You’ll see later in the chapter.

Before any of that though, our first step was actually finding some, which could take some time. In the meantime, I figure I might as well describe how everyone in the party looks since I’m in the back for now, and have a good view of them. Sorry I don’t have a webtoon yet, but for now, you’ll just have to use your imagination.

Talos led the party, standing tall at a solid 6’5”. He had short brown hair and a broad, stocky frame. He wore rugged steel armor—well-worn from countless training sessions and spars, but never too poorly maintained, thanks to yours truly. In his right hand was his steel sword that matched the condition of his armor, marked by use but reliable. In his other hand, he carried a round wooden shield. Our tried-and-true warrior, indeed.

Then there was Alva. He stood a little shorter at 5'10", with a lean but toned frame. He wore an orange sleeveless tunic that really showed off his arms. His skin was pale, and his shiny green hair—something I’ll admit I was occasionally jealous of—was typical of half-elves like him. His ears weren’t as pointed as those of full-blooded elves, his face not quite as chiseled, and his eyes didn’t glow the same way theirs did—though he did have striking blue ones. I got the sense he was maybe a little self-conscious about his mixed heritage, but he hid it well. And, of course, he carried his trusty wooden bow.

Next was Uri. Just a couple inches taller than me at 5'6", he wore a black hooded cloak lined with hidden daggers, and was completely bald. Classic rogue attire.

And then there was me. As you can see from the cover art, I wear a purple robe with gold patterns, a big matching purple hat, and long ginger hair.

And that’s the lovable Talos Party.

“Aghh, I’m stuck!” Talos said, as if on cue.

He had stepped into some mog. And since Alva was right behind him, he was stuck too.

“Help!” Alva called out, struggling violently.

“Calm down! We’ll get you out!” I warned, knowing that struggling would only make it worse. Uri and I were the weaker two, so pulling them out on our own wasn’t going to cut it. We needed an outside solution.

I scanned the area, trying to think. Then I spotted it. A tree was rooted higher up on the slope, its trunk arching out over the pit where Talos and Alva were stuck.

“Uri, climb out onto that tree! Let’s see if we can bend it lower!” I yelled.

He jumped onto the tree and climbed toward the end. The trunk groaned beneath him, dipping a little more—but still not low enough.

“Grab me!” I called.

I backed up a few steps, then sprinted toward the edge and jumped, casting a quick burst of air magic mid-air. Uri caught my wrists just in time.

The added weight pulled the tree down the final few inches — and just like that, Talos and Alva were able to reach it.

They grabbed hold and hauled themselves out of the pit, clinging to the branch like it was a lifeline.

Once they were free, Uri and I carefully climbed back up to the ledge and let the tree spring back, unbroken.

“Good work, team!” Talos said, wiping off his gear.

“What would I do without you guys,” Alva added, pulling us all into a hug.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Now that we’ve defeated the mog, we should be more careful where we step,” Talos said, snapping us back to focus. “Those frogs have to be around here somewhere.”

We continued forward, staying cautious around the darker-colored mud, until we finally spotted a group of frogs. They seemed to be out hunting for flies.

“Finally. Now we can get out of here,” Alva said, impatience creeping into his voice.

“Not quite,” I said. “This is where the real fun begins. And remember—the witch asked for frog tongues, not the frogs themselves.”

“So we can’t get too close, and we can’t shoot their tongues… what do we do?” Talos asked.

“We use honey,” I said, confidently.

Honey wasn’t just sweet like tree sap—it was sticky, a trait sap didn’t share. Frogs love flies. And what do flies love?

Honey.

I conjured a sizable jar of honey.

“We’re going to bait them over here. Talos, your sword is a butter knife today. You’ll be spreading honey on the trees around us. Flies will be lured in and get stuck one by one,” I said.

“If that’s not enough to draw the frogs in, Alva, you’ll herd them by firing arrows behind them to guide them this way. Once the frogs see the trapped flies, they’ll go for them—sticking their tongues out. When they do, their tongues will get stuck in the honey for a few seconds. That’s your window, Uri. Slice at the base of the tongue—where they can’t feel it. It won’t hurt them, and it’ll grow back.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the plan was set in motion. After the trees were coated with honey, we ducked behind some nearby foliage and waited.

Sure enough, the flies started to arrive, drawn in one by one until they stuck to the honey-coated bark. When the frogs still didn’t show, Alva followed the plan—firing arrows just behind them to herd them closer. Slowly but surely, the frogs began to approach.

Uri readied his dagger.

One by one, the frogs flicked out their tongues toward the trapped flies—just as we’d hoped. Uri moved fast, severing each tongue with precision. The witch had only asked for five... but we gathered seven.

By the time we made it back to the witch’s hut, the sun was already setting. It was late afternoon. We handed over the frog tongues, and she looked genuinely pleased. Our reward was seven silver coin.

Just as we were turning to leave, she gave us a long once-over, then fixed her gaze on me.

“You seem like the competent one here… are these boys holding you back? I can… take care of them for you…”

It was a strange offer. I sat there for a moment, considering it.

Maybe it was time to change the title to:

“No One (Except the Witch) Notices the Support Healer, But I’m the One Holding the Party Together!”

“VELARA!” they all yelled at once, snapping me out of it.

“I was just kidding!”

...At least, I think I was.

I looked at the witch and said, “No thank you. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to complete your requests. We’re a team. Not just a team—a party. The Talos Party.”

Now before you say that was corny, you have to admit, that’s a pretty wholesome way to end the chapter, right?