Chapter 149 Side Quest

❮ 'Learning the ropes! - 2' – Wander around in the forest and hunt the following monsters: 0/10 Goblins; 20/20 Angry wolves; 5/15 Poison-bite spiders; 3/5 Yellow slimes. ❯

And that was the quest they couldn't fully accomplish last time. They thought they'd won. They didn't. Hopefully, we would get it done with. I mean, I could always get it done on my own, but I wanted to respect my boys' wishes.

This didn't change that. Against the horde of goblins, last time, they believed they'd won, still. And going with that, that's what kept us going forward right now. Going forward to the deeper ends of this wild, highly-concentrated-on-mana forest.

The Party sure was hesitant. It didn't show on the outside, however. They kept it well hidden within themselves. Their hesitation was justified. If they feared for their lives, they just weren't stupid. Still, I was with them, so that was that.

Just as per the plan, we proceeded deeper into the forests.

At some point within the forest, around the area we'd usually stop at and hunt, the leader stopped his feet and turned back. There, he addressed his team. This was only about the usual words of encouragement he'd usually give them.

"Blah blah blah, we've progressed well enough, blah blah blah…" and so on. "And remember, if the situation turns sour, we have to live. Progress can always be made later!"

End of the discourse. Speaking with words was great; speaking with swords even greater.

We proceeded on. Time went by. The forest sure was deep and dark. We had room to go, really. And cutting ourselves some bushy paths here and there, we dived deeper into the forest.

And that was weird now. Yeah, weird. You know, in this forest, that deep into it, usually, we saw monsters, already. Very weird, yup. Why weren't the monsters showing up, hmm?

There was a reason for that.

And we proceeded still on, without deviating paths. Just as per the plan, the leader had explained, the deeper we get, the better the hunt shall be.

Weren't my boys growing super-thick on confidence, now. And when the leader spoke again, every party member naively and discreetly pumped their fists in victory.

The man had just commented about how he and his friends still hadn't bumped into any monsters so far. Fact was, they were getting strong. They already had, actually. It was quite a lot of strength they got. But this growing stronger didn't stop.

And from their perspective, that was correct. For the past three days or so–they'd been really tough and firm. Any kind of foe that came their way was to be slain. Simply put, they were strong.

And results were results: the spineless monsters feared the proudly stomping monster-hunters.

"Yeah… I know I say that a lot," Leader concluded. "But really, we got this, team."

And the conclusion he'd reached was too well-welcomed by his crew.

The forest we trod in was funny enough. Sure, there were branches. 'Cause there were trees, hm. Lots and lots of them. So lots and lots of branches. And bushes, too. Again, lots of them.

But the way that's described only seems to make it tedious and complicated. The forest wasn't that. No. Even with all the branches, trees, bushes, and every other kind of plant, navigation was possible here.

Scattered across the many ominously dark-green colors of the woods were many surprisingly handy natural paths. The task of navigating through all these oceans of bushes and plants actually was very much so possible as well as easy.

Still though. Fighting here? Not so possible, I reckon.

Well, there were those handy paths, but there also were many remarkably clear and clean areas. And so that was funny. Hearing from it, it wouldn't seem to add up. But seeing it for real was convincing enough.

Those bits of wild forestland would make fighting and moving around easy. In a sense, it was even as if they were promoting and enjoying the fights. As if they looked for it.

Those bits of land were many. They were part of the forest.

Right now, we came out on a clear area. It was little but satisfying enough. And while it didn't quite promote fighting around that much, it still did its best to make it possible.

Yeah, it did that. The excited damage dealer was the first to step in. The way he did enter the not-so-walled natural room was as if he allowed himself into it using some kind of invisible door, making himself slip in just right.

This was fun. The Party followed him. And I after them.

The spirit of fighting was indeed promoted down this lonely corner of the forest.

Boing!

Would you then look at this funny-funky-jelly-looking creature.

Boing, boing, boing!

The damage dealer brushed aside the branches that stood in his way. With a hand, they all were arranged out of the way. So leaving an opening behind himself, he entered the small round.

We were still in the wild woods. Trying to beat it, the forest.

So far, we'd encountered no prey whatsoever. So the Party really was strong, then, hmm? Yup, if any monster wouldn't come facing them off after the long walk we'd undertaken throughout the woods, already; it only meant one thing.

When intelligent types of monsters avoid you, it means you're stronger than them.

So factually, even though that may have been biased (spoiler alter: it was), the adventurers were strong.

But finally, monsters. How refreshing was that. There were slimes. Yellow slimes out here. Bouncing off within that natural ring, jiggling their bodies like this and like that.

Boing, boing, boing!

The damage dealer called the slimes group Jiggly Tits Battalion and laughed at them, saying he regretted he had to slay them. There were a demi-dozen of the jelly-like creatures.

Boing, boing, boing, boing, boing!

And going about bouncing around, in a seemingly disorganized way, they all trod across their land together as a group.

They were sharp. And they started to bounce his way. As soon as I got there, I outdid the damage dealer and got even closer to them. Stars sparkled in my eyes. I got nearer to them, and really–

Boing, boing, boing!

I wanted to touch them.

"Step– Step back, Emerald!"

Not even a moment passed when I was pulled backward. The collar of my shirt tightened on my throat. I groaned a little, frowning. And bam, there I got behind my girl.