"Here's the payment for those toad meat, Mr. Satou." Luna said as she handed me a bag of coins.
I stopped by the Guild to cash in the meat from the slain Giant Toads as we needed money. The goddess meanwhile, went straight to the bath.
I wanted to go there, but the bathhouse is just a few steps away from the guild. So I decided to head here first.
"35 000 eris for a single Giant Toad. That's 70 000 eris total. Enough to last for a week or so."
I pocketed the bag and exited the Guild. People still move away when I walk. Which is okay with me as I was used to it. But hearing parts of the gossips from the other adventurers made me want to shut their mouth permanently.
"...a-are you sure he's..."
"...shhh! What would..."
"I bet... ...he already..."
"...poor girl... ...being with him? No way!"
I fastened my pace to exit the Guildhall quicker. On the way, I kicked a garbage bin, spilling its content to the ground. Not that I cared much.
"Sigh, Kazuma. Stay calm. Stay calm." I repeated a few more times. Normally, when I got angry, I start punching my punching bag back home. But since I don't have one near me, all I can do is try to calm done.
"That's, right. Stay focused—" I felt someone tapping me from behind.
I quickly turned around with my hand on the hilt of my short sword. I glared at the girl in front of me.
"Whoa, chill there buddy! I am not doing anything! Hahaha." With a nervous laugh, she held her hands up.
She has short silver hair and purple eyes and was wearing light clothes befitting a rogue or a thief. She has a familiar face, no, she looks like someone. The only difference is she has a scar. No scratch that, I definitely know her.
"What are you doing here, Miss Eris?" I asked, changing her current expression into shock and disbelief.
"You saw through it that easily huh. Normally, it would take much longer for my disguise to be blown away. Props to ya. Also, call me Chris while I look like this." Miss Eris—or rather, Chris—answered casually with a thumbs up. I nodded in reply.
"Well, I don't expect such behavior from you, Miss Chris. But what do you want? I want to take a bath now." I replied flatly.
I really wanted to go to the bathhouse now, since I smell awful.
"Well, you can take a bath now. Just meet me up in the tavern at the Guildhall. Also, just Chris is fine." She answered and ran towards the Adventurers' Guild.
Finally, I can take a bath now.
[OOO]
After scrubbing my body for some time, and making sure the smell is no more. I entered the Guild.
The Guildhall is rowdy as usual, with adventurers all around the place doing different tasks.
After scanning the area, I saw the silver-haired thief or rogue sitting at one of the stools at the bar. She's currently talking with a group of adventurers.
I walked towards them.
"So how about it, Chris? Care to join?" The tall adventurer in heavy armor asked.
"That sounds fun. But I'm currently here to meet with someone. So maybe next time Taylor?" Miss Chris replied.
As the guy named Taylor is about to speak, I cut in.
"Well, there you are Miss Chris. What is it that you asked me personally? Is it a new mission? Who's the target." I said, on which Miss Chris spits her beer that she's currently drinking.
"Ah Kazuma! Please don't sneak like that again! Also, wording!" A flustered Miss Chris said as she tried to smack me. Too bad I made sure to stand far enough.
That is payback for earlier.
I noticed that Taylor shifted from his position. He's currently eyeing me cautiously.
"U-um, Chris. Is this the guy that you're talking about?"
"Hm? Ah yes. I was waiting for him. I'll talk to you later."
"Ah sure. Be careful and take care of yourself."
Before Taylor walked away, he eyed me one last time. I ignored him and sat beside Miss Chris.
"So what is it about, Miss Chris?" I started. I want this to be over as soon as possible.
"Just Chris is fine. By the way, where is Aqua-senpai?"
I jabbed a finger to the notice board, where you can find a blue-haired individual writing a recruitment notice. It seems like she can actually do some work and not just slack around.
"I see. Well, how's the first day with her?"
"I didn't know I became a baby sitter. Are you sure she's like you? All I see is a girl that doesn't know anything beyond her comfort home."
I replied as I remembered the shenanigans last night. I facepalmed at the number of times I woke up just to make sure she didn't make a scene. It is also a lesson to never give her alcohol.
"So that's how you see her. Well, she may be childish, but I assured you she knows reality. She's a goddess after all."
I see. So she has seen both good and bad. At least it assured me in some ways.
"Well, let's get to the reason why you called me here."
"Hahaha, oh come on. Can't we just chill for a bit?"
As she said that, I pointedly stared at her with my arms crossed.
"Nevermind. One of the reasons is to check at both of you. The other reason is to teach you some useful skills."
Skills huh. I guess it's time to actually learn some.
I pulled out my Adventurers' Card from my pocket. Here it shows that I earned 7 levels and is now level 8.
Normally, I would celebrate since I leveled very fast. But I was disappointed when I saw my stats. My stats rose by 21 points, practically doubling my stats from level 1. And my skill, Hero's Prized Property is now ranked C and Boosted Growth being B.
Such speed can only be thanks to Boosted Growth, a valuable skill in the long term.
"What kind of skills will you teach me?"
"I can teach you some basic sword and dagger weapon arts for now and the other much more complex skills like Detect Enemy later on. Since you need some combat skills right?"
Weapon arts are basically the equivalent of magic spells for warriors and other martial fighters. Weapon arts range from normal techniques to complex techniques that are very magical in nature.
Such as Saber of Light for example. It is the warrior's variant of the spell Light of Saber with similar effects of cutting through obstacles with sheer force. I don't know who is the one that named it, but they should call it something else.
Swords and daggers weapon arts huh. Hmmm. I think I'll also take some weapon arts for the bow as well for coverage.
"Yeah. The fight against those Giant Toads is a close call. When can we start?"
"How about now? But we need to find an open area first."
"That wouldn't be a problem."
[OOO]
"I know you wanted to learn it but... Are you sure this is a good idea?" Miss Chris said as she looked around the forest surrounding us.
Miss Chris and I are currently in the forest near where I fought the Giant Toads. I have chosen this area since I want to learn one of the complex skills Miss Chris mentioned.
"Yes. Now show me." I eagerly said, which Miss Chris just sighed in exasperation.
"Well, at least you're eager. First, I'll teach you about Slash. It's a basic weapon art that can be used on any bladed weapon. You only need to cover the blade in mana and swing it like this!"
The white dagger Miss Chris is holding glowed in platinum light. She then swung it horizontally, the motion launched the glowing platinum mana from the dagger outward. Sending a crescent-shaped slash flying.
"I see. I should have thought that in my fight earlier."
I took out my short sword and did the same. But instead of my mana covering the blade, it seeps right through. Veins of emerald green mana run through the blade of my short sword.
"Nevermind. I can't do it. Is there other weapon art I can learn?"
"Hmmmn. This is interesting. It seems like anything your mana touches becomes a Divine Relic." Miss Chris said as she examined my short sword.
"If this is the case, then I'm afraid you can't use the majority of the weapon arts. Same with the majority of spells."
Now that I think, I can run the risks of empowering my opponent as well. But the good thing is, I have the option to revert it back. Not with the cost of precious time being wasted.
"I think I'll just teach you some skills instead."
"Please do."
With that, I spent the rest of the day learning it.
[OOO]
Standing in front of the Guild, I turned around and slightly bowed my head to Miss Chris.
"Thank you, Miss Chris. I hope I'll see you soon."
I learned 3 very useful skills: Detect Enemy, Detect Trap, and Detect Treasure. Skills that give map awareness are very valuable as they prevent you from getting ambushed, killed by a trap, and know the location of valuable items.
Such skills are very needed considering my goal of defeating the Demon King.
"Same! Take care okay! And don't do anything funny!" She said as she waved goodbye.
I walked inside the Guild, without much effort, I see the goddess sulking in the corner.
"So there's no one that showed up?"
"Yes. Urgh! I can't believe it! Why doesn't anyone want to form a party with an incredible person like myself! Like—"
As usual, I ignored her and read the notice she wrote.
""Greetings fellow adventurers! The beautiful Archpriest of the Axis Church, Lady Aqua, is recruiting members for her party! We only accept adventurers with advanced classes!' Yup. No wonder no one showed up."
I ripped the recruitment notice from the notice board and placed it where it rightfully belonged. To the trash can.
Seriously, having an advance class as a requirement is already high. But no sane individual wants to associate with the Axis Cult considering their reputation.
I took a pen and paper from the nearby table and started writing a much more believable recruitment notice. But I doubt anyone will show up considering I wrote this.
"Well, what's the plan now Kazuma?" The goddess asked as I sat down next to her.
"First, we take dinner. Then tomorrow, we returned back to the shop and buy some equipment. Then head out to finish the quest you took."
"Can I order beer—"
"No."
"Hey!"
I ignored her as I looked at the available menu.
Afterwards, we ate the meal and called it a day.
[OOO]
"Powered! Blessings! There, that should do it!" The goddess yelled after she cast two buffs to me.
I took out the bow I purchased and some arrows and poured mana into it. Emerald green veins snaked the wooden frame of the bow, turning its string emerald green as well, the shaft of the arrow and arrowhead is also in the same situation.
I'm still currently wearing my clothes from Japan. But on top of it is a chest plate I brought yesterday, with some newly brought chainmail underneath the chest plate for protection, a pair of leather boots, and a cheap black cloak. I now slightly look the adventurer part, but it isn't important at the moment.
I nocked the arrows and aimed at the head of a Giant Toad. Normally, you need serious skills to shoot what you wanted. But all I need is a basic knowledge of how to use a bow and some luck. Some dumb luck that I will hit the eye of the Giant Toad.
"Croak, croak"
As the toad finished jumping, I released the bow string. The arrow cut through flew the air like a bullet. It sped through the vast open field and made contact with the toad.
The arrow pierced through the head easily, but is now stuck halfway due to it running out of mana. But it already fulfilled its purpose. With a loud thud, the Giant Toad fell to the ground.
"Now only two left and the quest is now complete."
I took another arrow and hunted down the next toads. Which didn't take too long as it only needed a single arrow to kill one.
Now with the quest complete, the goddess and I headed back to the city to report back at the Guild.
"You can kill one very easily, why didn't you do it from the start! I wouldn't have suffered that much if that's the case!" The goddess complained, I stopped and turned to look at her.
"Do we have enough money at that time to buy a bow and arrow?" I asked.
The goddess averted her gaze before she answered. "Um, no. We don't."
"Then that's your answer." I said as I turned around and started walking.
"Well, duh it's my answer because I answered it."
She didn't get it, didn't she. I sighed at how dumb this goddess is.
"Look, the— Oi!?"
I just turned around a bit and she is now making trouble.
She is currently facing a tall mascular man. On the ground is countless metal ingots and scraps littering from the fallen crate near a petite girl with black hair and crimson eyes. Her cheek has a red print of a hand and on her neck is a collar.
"Sir! You can't do that to her! That's just abuse!"
"The fuck ya yappin' at lass! This idiot here can't do shit right."
"But that doesn't mean you should slap her!"
"This idiot is a slave! She doesn't have any rights to begin with!"
I see now.
Well, I guess I need to stop this now before it gets out of hand.