Chapter 36 First Quest

Author's note:

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Enjoy the chapter~

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Chapter 36

First Quest

I came to the grasslands south of the town. While exiting the town, the guard asked me to show the ID and did a brief check on my luggage.

The guard was not from the 3rd platoon as that whole platoon was sent for monster stampede subjugation.

For today I had already prepared water and food for the quest, from the orphanage.

I am wearing the repaired leather jacket over my thick tunic and pants.

As for weapons, I am carrying a sword and a shield. I also have my potions in my item box.

I moved towards the grasslands away from the road that lead to a nearby village.

There were too many people on the road but the grassland only had a few adventurers.

I was walking while keeping eye on surroundings. The grass was till my knees.

I was afraid of snakes and such so I was moving while swinging my sword to cut the grass and then making my way. I think I should buy a sickle.

There is also a forest in this direction as well but its quite far from the town unlike the Ghalia forest.

Tina san told me that this was relatively safe forest for newcomers but only the shallow part. So I think if I am not able to find the herbs here, I will move there.

After searching in the grassland for some time, I decided to move to the forest.

I entered the outskirts of the forest. Inside, the plant growth increased a lot so there were many herbs growing as well.

With some luck I was able to find a spot near a big tree where Cucuma herbs were growing. I started harvesting them.

My item box works by physically putting the things in it so I had to harvest the herb myself unlike how its sometimes depicted in novels where just by thinking the thing goes into your inventory.

After I collected 20 cucuma herbs in different spots, I decided to stop and do goblin hunting.

I had already come quite deep into the forest without realizing. But even here, there were not many monsters present. I had yet to see a goblin yet.

Since I am using my concealment I don't think they are running away.

At loss, I decided to return to grasslands and sat near a relatively clear area which had many big rocks, to have an early lunch.

Its about 12 in the noon I think. I ate my lunch and drank some water. Food was same as morning.

Some bread and stew. I also collected some mangoes from the forest so I ate those too. Rest I kept for the children in the orphanage.

I decided to return to the town and turn in my herbs. My plan is to go to shallow parts of Ghalia forest for goblin hunting.

Even though its dangerous, I think I can manage with my conceal skill.

I returned to the guild and submitted my herbs. The material appraisal and collection counter was located at the side of the guild building.

Different sections were made in the area for herbs and monster material. At the back of the counters was a dissection area and a huge storage room was also built.

The people responsible for material deposit counters were all muscular men.

It's the opposite of the fluffy atmosphere inside the guild.

I lined up before one such counter for herbs. After submitting my guild ID and the herbs, I was given a small wooden strip with a token number.

I was told to wait for the appraisal to be finished and to sit in the waiting area.

After five minutes a guild employee called my token number and I was told to go to a separate counter, where I gave my token and in return was given 4 silver coins, exactly as the price of 20 copper per herb for 20 herbs total.

20 herbs needed to complete the quest so I was given a completion stamp on a wooden square plate that had my ID no and quest no.10 which I then submitted to Tina san.

No reward was given for the completion separately, but my guild points increased, which would help me to increase my rank.

Taking the money I left the guild and went in the direction of the Ghalia forest.

On the way I bought some toasted bread to eat in evening. At the north gate, I was asked to show my ID and was given a warning to not to enter the Ghalia forest.

But I only nodded after listening. I think I would be able to manage somehow.

Here, I was again moving towards the same dangerous forest where I almost died.

But I am calm. I entered the forest and immediately I could see that there were a lot more monsters and herbs here.

After collecting some fruits and herbs that seemed useful according to scan, I stumbled upon some rabbits.

But these were actually horn rabbits, the famous monsters in novels. I sneaked near one of them using bushes as cover.

I took out bow and arrow from my item box and tried to use it. It is not my first time using it. Actually I did practice firing it in the grasslands.

I then aimed at the horn rabbit and fired the arrow. It would be difficult to miss it from this distance but I only managed to strike its leg.

But that was enough to slow it down. The rest of the rabbits in the group ran away.

I took my knife out and chased the wounded rabbit. After catching upto it, I stabbed it in the stomach. It squealed loudly and died.

I stored the rabbit as it is in my item box without draining because my item box also slows down time so it will not deteriorate immediately.

I continued my hunt and killed 5 more rabbits in same manner. I was still in the shallow parts of the forest, so I did not see any large monsters yet.

But then I heard a loud roar of a monster. It sounded like a bear. I decided to move away towards the exit, but that noise started chasing me.

I ran and decided to climb a small tree and hide in the leaves.

What came after some time while making angry grunts was a bear of about 2 meter long and 1 meter high. I scanned it.

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Name ........................ N/A

Species ........................Rock Bear

Age.......................... 25 years

Gender ...................... Male

Level ........................ 30

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HP ........................ 140(180)

MP ........................ 10(50)

STA ........................ 90(190)

STR........................ 150(200)

Phy-DEF ..................120(160)

M-DEF ...................... 30(30)

AGI .........................30(50)

DEX ........................20(20)

INT ........................ 40(40)

LUCK ......................10(10)

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It was a rock bear monster. Its brown and quite ferocious. Its level is 30 but its max stats are similar to mine.

Seems like bear monster also has only 4-6 times stats of its level.

Also it seems wounded and its stats have been reduced. It has a wound on its stomach and is also limping a little while running.

Maybe it was fighting something and decided to come hear after smelling me and thinking of replenishing its energy by eating me.

It has yet to find me but its smelling the ground quite hard.

Although my conceal skill hides me and my smell, but the ground or the surroundings which I touch, remain intact with my smell. So it knows that I was here.

I can maybe kill it if I give it a harsh blow but I don't think my arrows would penetrate its thick fur.

As I was thinking so, the bear started sniffing the tree I climbed. It then looked up and immediately saw me. It then roared ferociously and tried to shake the tree with its claws.

Fortunately the tree was thick enough to not shake too much. But this cannot continue forever.

Now that I have been found out there was no other way than to attack it. Maybe coming here was not a good idea. But I thought my luck would save me.

I then took out my bow and arrow and fired it towards the bear. The arrow made its impact on the head of the bear and stuck there. But the penetration was not enough.

The bear roared and rubbed its head against the tree to remove the arrow.

The only way is to either aim for its eyes or its injured side of stomach.

I aimed at the wound but the bear dodged and arrow stuck the ground. It seems wary of me now.

I then decided to throw some mangoes on the ground. The stupid bear went near it and after sniffing. It then started to eat them.

I aimed at its wound and started firing arrows one after another.

Two arrows lunged deep in its already opened wound. The bear stopped eating and growled.

It was quite angry now and it charged at the tree I was on with full force. If the bear banged at the tree with all its strength, it was possible that I may fall or the tree itself may be uprooted.

Preparing myself, I took out sword and shield and just as the bear was about to make contact with the tree I Jumped from above straight down towards the bear.

And as soon as the bear made contact with the tree with a bang, my sword lunged directly downwards near the wound. I was able to penetrate it quite deeply.

The shock of the fall was slowed down by the penetration in bear and I fell on the ground with shield as my cover.

The bear was in pain and shock from its collision with the tree as well as my attack.

Not understanding what was going on, it became berserk and started attacking left and right. The sword was still stuck deep in its stomach.

I took some distance and activated my conceal again.

I then again took out bow and arrow and decided to fire at him.

But it proved to be quite difficult to aim at a berserk bear. Moreover it somehow started running towards me. Rethinking my plan again, I decided to climb another tree.

The bear chased me and started banging the tree I climbed again and again in rage. Seems like if I am seen directly, my conceal is of no use then.

I attacked it with arrows few more times and after few shots it fell on the ground making its last low roar.

I scanned it and only 10 HP was remaining and after some time that too reduced to zero.

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Author's note:

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