Chapter 4

"Here's your shrooms," I said, handing the herbalist ten of those blasted things.

"Oh... thanks... but," She drawled, scratching her hair, covered by a ragged bandana.

"But... what?"

"Heh... You see... Someone from the guild already did this for me."

"... What? I thought-"

"I was about to, but then I heard someone had finally accepted it. I was going to tell you before you left, but... you already did."

"... Let me put it this way... You either take this mushrooms, or I am going to pelt you with them. Then, when I run out, I am going TO DRAW THIS SWORD AND CLEAVE YOU IN T-"

"I'll take them. Don't worry. I just... can't pay y-"

"CLEAVE YOU IN TWO."

"Please! I can offer you other services. The apothecary always needs someone to restock it. I can gladly give you contracts later on. Just... give me time. I thank you. Truly. I know this must be hard for you, after all that you went through, but-"

"The guild always comes first," We both recited, dropping the rest of the shrooms on the counter, I wheeled and left, waving, shoulder stinging with each flop of the wrist. "Alright. Sounds good. You got yourself a gatherer, but only if you PAY next time."

"Yes, miss. Sorry, and thank you."

The door rang shut behind, wind chimes batting at my beret as I went down the stairs. Each step made my knee scream, bloodied fingers clinging to the wooden banister. "After all I went through" she had no idea what I went through. Those freakin' pillbug; at least my stomach settled, but I know there's a huge bruise there. Had to be. The Jaggi armor may have soaked up most of it, but getting hit by three at once? I should have went with my hammer, but how did I know it was their bloody mating season?

… Can't say it was hard, though. These behemoth of the blade cleared three in one swing –when their bellies were exposed. My arms may feel like noodles, but there's no doubt that things could have really been worse if I didn't take the Chieftain's Great Sword. If only I didn't hit the end of the line with it. Smithy says I need zinogre parts to continue it, but that requires a guild permit to hunt. That requires being a part of the guild.

That requires me being an actual hunter and not a freakin' bootlicker.

At least I saved some funds from the time I ran Great Jaggi's, and its parts sold well on the market. I still had about 15 of everything possible, and once in a while a Jaggi or Jaggia would brave getting close to the city. Poor, poor Bellem; I may have spared it, but Val Habar seems to have a strict policy on which monster mounts were allowed in. Specifically, nothing that can eat a gargwa or popo or aptonoth.

He went to good use. Came a cool beret, after all. I straightened the little devil, and looked around... when did I get to the smithy? Correction: when did I get to the guildmarm? She was humming away, drawing some type of... bug on a contract. She looked up and gasped, collapsing, giggling.

"Oh, I didn't see you there," She said, taking my hand. "Looking for doodle?"

"Uh-"

"Of course you were. Sadly, he is still off on an expedition for the Caravaneer."

"Didn't he leave last week?"

"Hai. A day after your hunting, in fact. Your armor looks great, by the way."

"Thanks. It's been serving me well."

"I bet. You are just as busy as doodle, huh. He told me he couldn't find you for over three weeks."

"That's right."

"So you must have all sorts of cool hunting stories, amazing tales of fighting monsters."

"Maybe."

She scoffed and plopped back on her box, patting the contract.

"Don't maybe me. I need the know-how. After all, how else will I draw this danged contracts. You see this?" She held up the paper, a green... blot staring back. "You know what that is?"

"... No?"

"Neither do I, but that's the best I can do from what the person told me. It's supposed to be a Seltas, a giant, green, horned bug. It's been getting in the way of trade routes recently, and I was trying to get it ready for when doodle gets back."

"Why didn't the person go to the guild? Surely, they have more know-how- er, no offense."

"None taken, and it's a local thing. They don't want to disturb the guild with minor issues- of, excuse you. That was a nasty cough. Do you need a lemon drop? Got them from an argosy captain a while back, and they do wonders."

"No. No, I'm good, but, if it's causing an issue now, wouldn't have been wiser to take to the guild for it to be taken care of now? It could destroy that person's livelihood, if not kill a few people."

"You have a point... Say, want to do me a favor? Girl-to-girl?"

"You want me to run it?"

"And if you could give me a clearer image. Like, flap your arms or bring me eyes or something, you'd be doing me a huge favor. I know doodle will probably get more requests like this down the line."

"You got yourself a deal. In fact, if you need any like this, I'll gladly do them."

"You will? Oh, thankies," She stamped the contract, rolled it, and handed it over... before reaching into her frog pouch and pulling out another paper. "Here's the mission, and a little something on me. It's a voucher for the local cook. Go get a good meal. Have fun."

"I will. Thank you!"

Seriously, thank you. This means actual experience, actual income... and actual food. The voucher only covered the low-market range of the street cook's merchandise, but it tasted a lot better than the shoe leather I've been eating, and the drink served alongside washed away any haunt of the sewer swill I "salvaged." The wagon was ready to go by the last bone, still gnawing on it as marched through the city gates, taking me back to those good old days at the Ancient Steppes.

Supply chest had the usual: map, first aid, rations... and mini whetstones? Did I not see these last time? Wait, where were the paintballs? Oh. There's a note at the bottom, underneath the belts of ammo.

I tried getting everything I could, but, because it's not an official quest, I couldn't sanction everything. Use what you can, and bring back a pretty picture. xoxo

Love,

Guildmarm

… Well, here's to hoping this monster isn't too hard to track. After all, how hard is it to find a large bug...

…

…

…

WHERE THE HELL IS IT?

I bit into another ration, feet dangling off the cliff, another looming in this valley. The sun was right overhead, boring down on my beret, on my shoulders, sticky, heavy with sweat. I must have ran these ruins four times over, and I haven't even seen a hint of a giant bug. Not even Bnahabra or Altaroth. Plenty of Jaggis, though. Good thing, too; was running low on Monster Bone S's and Bird Wyvern Fangs.

Maybe I should have brought Cully. After all, bugs can sniff each other out, right? Pheremones and getting jiggy with it... "Getting jiggy with it-" Yeah, I've been out in the sun too long. I should have brought a Cooldrink or something. There's usually a breeze billowing through this area –perks of being in a bowl.

Ah... There's one... and it was buzzing.

I looked behind in time to see a green blur blaze by, making me teeter on that cliff. I held onto my hat as I looked ahead again, seeing a large... green... horned bug clean its sickle hands, those compound eyes twitching, watching my every movement, its iridescent wings shining rainbow light on the ground around, rubbing against its dark shell-

You know, it's probably best to simply bring its body back to guildmarm.

I hopped to my feet, and it screeched, rocketing towards my chest. I rolled to the side, watching its flight... and its cliffhanging conclusion. Its horn was buried into the side of the mountain, and it struggled, whimpered, growled at it. Its eyes focused on me again as I unsheathed my blade.

"Just hold still," I said, throwing down the sword. "I'll get you ou-"

The sword crashed into the stone, the Seltas buzzing around and landing right beside it, cocking its head from it to me. It licked its right sickle again, reared back, and screeched in my face, blowing dust in my face as it zipped back. It flew in a circle and took off, heading down the cliffs, towards the steps of the Ancient Steppes.

… At least I know where it is. Chase it down, smack it down, then KEEP IT DOWN. I found it in the plains outside of the steps, munching on a kelbi, mandibles smacking away on the horns... Perfect... Just... keep turned that w-

It turned around...

The sword stuck from its horn, split in two. I cocked its head, spat tuffs of kelbi pelt on me, and shrieked in my face again, flYING OFF OH SH... I crashed down on the hanging gardens, Area 3 of the map because FIRE THE CARTOGRAPHER, and my sword landed in the nest above my head, the Seltas flying towards the canyon and old bridge.

I retrieved my blade and slung it over my shoulder, preparing to chase aft-

And my bruises rejoiced as another was added to my gut.

The Seltas chattered in my ear, it sickles scratching at my Jaggi top as it propelled me back, scraping its stinger across before stopping... but I kept going, falling out of the canopy and onto the ruined stone below. Feral felynes yowled as I skid passed, smashing against the wall.

Vines snapped, and the Seltas loomed, its stinger undulating in the air. I tried to stand, but my stomach wasn't ready yet, relishing in being hugged by my legs. One of the felynes growled and leaped at me, but was knocked away by the Seltas, grabbing me with its legs. It licked its sickles, and brought them down.

Blocked by a melynx.

It meowed and leaped at the Seltas's face, giving its brothers time to load me onto the cart, carry me back to base, and plopped me onto the ground. I rolled over, stomach still aching, and rolled up my top. The fair skin was purple and green and splotched with reds and blues. There was a nasty cut right above the hips, closing fast with the first aid med. The skin cleared a bit, slowly, but at least the nausea was gone...

From my stomach, anyways... How was I supposed to fight that? If I had a flash bomb, maybe, but what if it could still fly even then? If I can simply jam up those wings... Wait a minute... Didn't I see some spider web back in the hanging gardens- but it may still be there...

Harvest quick.

…

…

…

"Oh, hey, doodle's friend. Back so so- is THAT a Seltas?" The Guildmarm exclaimed, squealing and jumping to her feet, hopping as she inspected the bug in my 'net.' "How on earth did you do th-"

"Don't ask," I boomed, cutting the web off the blade, tying it shut around the heavy green bugger. "There. This enough of a picture?"

"Oh, yes. Yes. Thank you, Doodle friend- can I call you Ophelia?"

"Of course. We're friends."

"We are? Oh, we are! Goodie! Anyways, ready for your next mission?"

"Next... mission?"

"Oh. It's nothing big. Just a Konchu. If you can bring one back like this, that'd be great. Oh, and of course when I'm done with the Seltas you can have it for... whatever."

"Kon... chu?"

"Yeah. I was told they were large, round, armored bugs, but I need a clearer picture. Please?"

"... Yeah... Sure... When's 'doodle' getting back?"

"Oh, not for another week or so. The Caravaneer is having him check two areas while he finds a merchant and cook. For now, here's your contract. Bye! Have Fun!"

… Heh... Heheh... I miss Faires.