Chapter 54: The First Year at the Academy - A Strange Day
It is the morning of the third day after registering as an adventurer.
The lecture period will start the day after tomorrow at the beginning of the week. The day after day of adventurer work has come to an end today.
Rebecca was watching my ability and spirit. She gradually raised the level of difficulty.
On the first day, we collected Sorghum, a material for healing potions; on the second day, we collected Rasulp grass roots and stems for painkiller potions; and on the third day, we collected Soglio berries, a material for alchemical solutions. On the third day, we're collecting Soglio berries, a material for an alchemical solution. I went into the forest regardless.
I have collected Ceylon grass many times, and I can identify it without identification. I thought I would have a hard time finding Rasulp grass because it was my first time, but I found it when I'm using "Appraisal" randomly. It looks somewhat like Higanbana (Cluster Amaryllis) and is close to the time for it to bloom.
Since I finished early in the morning, I spent the remaining time going to the northwest forest where Danil had shown me the "Flood Ball" and practiced intermediate magic. However, I made no progress.
When I was not feeling good, I cut out early and practiced manipulation operatives. I have already learned it in the lecture, so I think I have a bit of a grasp on it.
I entered the forest in the northwest and headed for the place I wanted to visit.
Yesterday, I found a Soglio tree while strolling through the forest.
"Oh, there it is."
Fingertip-sized red berries were swaying in bells at the tips of its slender branches.
Soglio trees bear fruit in all seasons except midwinter, but it's at its peak from late summer to autumn. If I miss its season, the berries are too small or I can't get the necessary quantity. This seems to be not a problem with this one.
Forty Soglio berries cost one silver coin and two large copper coins.
As I expected, the rewards for F-rank are small. I am a solo adventurer, so it is still good, but for a party of four, each person would have to pay three large copper coins, and they'll lose their money. Therefore, low-rank adventurers would take on other gathering requests at the same time, or aim for materials or proof of the defeat of monsters. Otherwise, they could not even replenish their supplies.
After securing the necessary number of supplies, we headed for our usual river, looking for prey that could be used as food.
When I arrived at the river, I handled the two birds I had shot on the way.
After I finished that, I looked at the stream and thought about today's practice.
I had seen the "Flood Ball" so it was easy for me to visualize it. My magics are "Earth Magic 6", and "Wind Magic 5". "Water Magic 4", "Fire Magic 4", and "Non-attribute Magic 4". It might be better to try other attributes instead of sticking to "Flood Ball" too much.
If I'm going to be safe, I should go with the higher-ranked Earth or Wind – but when it comes to ranged magic, the "Fire Ball" is the way to go, right?
Well, let's try various things.
Then, for a while, I devote myself to practicing.
But it didn't trigger as I wanted it. I couldn't even see it.
Without getting any result, my MP was reduced to half, and the practice was over.
Sitting on the edge of the river, I sipped General tea from the water bag.
Tasting the moderate bitterness of the tea, I ruminated on today's practice.
Is there something fundamentally wrong with me that I can't make progress after all this time?
Or is it simply too difficult to learn intermediate-level magic by myself?
Buying a magic book would be a quick way to do it, but it's expensive anyway. It is not an amount of money that someone who claims to earn a living can afford.
Let's continue to learn magic by myself for a while. Even if I can't learn it, My practice will not be in vain.
I put away my water bag and take down my bow from my shoulder.
As I watch for the arrow and wait, the bushes above the river sway, and an odd-looking creature appears.
"You guys again? You're everywhere."
Four goblins appeared.
My first battle at Selene is with these goblins, right? Was it the same as the first battle after my reincarnation? There were more of them than humans.
The goblins were a little apprehensive, but as soon as they saw that I was alone, they twisted their mouths and slipped out of the bushes.
Let's end with some bow practice.
I shoot through the right eye of the lead goblin with a quick shot.
The goblins are getting angrier than confused by my sudden first strike, and the three remaining ones let out a screeching sound and pounced on me.
Before they can even get close, an arrow pierces the eyebrow of another one.
Ah, it missed. I aimed for its eye. Did I ruin the arrow?
The two are already right in front of me, and in a few steps, they will be in my attack range.
I still have an arrow in my quiver, but I activate my "High-Speed Movement".
I switched from my bow to my Rhino Sword and slashed their necks, then stared at the other side of the river.
What is it this time?
"Hey, I'm surprised!"
A large man with a skinhead appeared from behind a grove of trees. And a man with a face full of scars.
Away from the city, Selene is no different from the rest of us.
Well, I think I can do a little, and maybe there will be a prize. That would be great.
He held up his sword but immediately lowered his hand.
The next to appear was a light warrior with a plain face and a small woman with a short wand.
Adventurer? What are you going to do about my living expenses?
The skinhead looked me up and down as I smoked out my inner frustration.
Then, suddenly, he exclaimed in admiration.
"So this is the guy! I've never seen you before, halfling!"
"I missed that one. Is that an adventurer's ironclad story?"
I remember when Markant told me that. I was reluctant to do the mock battle. But if I had refused, my relationship with them would have been severed. Life is a strange thing.
I was immersed in such memories when I suddenly realized that the skinheads were turning their wondering faces toward me.
This reaction .......
"Maybe you're not serious. Because I'm not."
"Yeah, what?"
"I'm human, no matter how you look at it. You've never seen a halfling before. So, what can I do for you?"
"No, I just came to check on you because you were making a lot of noise. ......"
The skinhead takes one look at the goblin and then looks around.
You heard the practice. Is that why the goblins showed up? I'd better pay a little more attention.
"Looks like I disturbed you."
With that, the skinhead turns back into the forest.
It seems he mistook it for the remains of a battle. It was just a practice, so there was no reason to correct him.
The wounded man and the light warrior followed him, and for some reason, only the woman with the short staff looked around at the goblins and the surroundings.
Then, I think she glanced at me and silently followed her companions.
I don't want to be known ......, right?
With a hint of apprehension at the distant presence, I sheathed my sword.
Selene is surrounded by a vast forest stretching from north to west, and part of it is connected to other territories via mountains and other routes. Because magicians rule Selene, they don't clear the forests. The forest is a treasure trove of materials.
While securing materials for potions in such a treasure trove, we proceeded eastward along the forest road.
I found no magic stone from the goblin, and I only cut the right ear for subjugation proof. Some towns would reward me. Even if it didn't have value, I needed it to increase my rank.
After passing horse-drawn wagons several times and seeing a smattering of adventurers on the road, I exit the forest.
The town of Selene stretched out ahead of me on a gentle slope.
The sun was still high in the sky. I would be able to return before the crowds arrive.
When I return my gaze, I stop dead in my tracks.
Today is a day when we often run into each other.
It was Elphimis who turned her surprised face toward me.
"What are you doing?"
"We're both doing the same thing. What are you doing?"
Elphimia was dressed in easy-to-move cloth armor and had a short wand at her waist. And she's wearing all kinds of magical gear.
"I'm going to practice my magic–what, you are too?"
"I will refrain from responding."
It's nice, isn't it, being an intermediate magic user? But it's a magic book anyway, right? She's a daughter of a court magician, so she can buy all the grimoires and magic books she wants. But I don't have any money, so I'm trying my best to learn on my own while I'm trying to find food for my family.
"Well, that's fine. Well then."
It was at that moment.
An angry voice echoes through the hall.
"What the hell, halfling! You're the new guy!"
Zerett soars back to his feet.
The light warrior clung to it, "You don't have to try, leader!" and struggled desperately to hold him back.
Zeret turned an admonishing eye on the light warrior.
"You know, you have to listen to what people have to say. Rebecca just asked you to do that. Have you forgotten that already?"
"Listen to me too, don't forget!"
"Again, I don't understand. Do your best. Look, I've been asked to test a newcomer."
"That's why! That's..."
"Stop it."
Ismira interrupts the slightly heady exchange.
"Stop it. There's no chance, you're out."
"Really! What the hell, he seemed like a fun guy."
Zerett drops his shoulders.
Ismira left it at that and stood in front of the exhausted-looking light warrior.
"You'd better learn to be nice. Keep your explanations brief. You can't have a complicated story for this one."
"That's what's complicated about ......, right, I get it."
I don't know what it is, but if I get involved, I'm going to get into trouble.
Let's get the hell out of here.
I was about to reach for the handle again when Zerett jumped up in my face.
‘Well, let's eat dinner!"
I duck the burly hand that has been extended to me.
"I can't read the flow of this. What is it, then?"
"You're new guy, let's eat!"
"I don't understand. Someone translate for me."
"The leader says, as a senior, I'll give you advice, so I'm asking if we can have dinner."
"You're oversimplifying, don't you think? ......"
As I was getting frustrated, I was suddenly hit from both sides with a powerful force.
I found myself surrounded by Zeret and the scarred man.
"Come on, let's eat!"
"Let's eat!"
They held me down with ridiculous force and dragged me to the cafeteria.
"Hey, wait! Do something about these guys!"
"I can't. I've been calling them too many times and my head is full. I'm just trying to figure out what to eat."
"How stupid can you be!"
Resistance was futile, and they were seated as they were.
How did this happen?
If I run as fast as I can, I can shake him off, but the trouble is that this guy is an adventurer of higher rank, and he has no malicious intent at all.
No, wait. Regardless of the flow, he's buying me food, right? ......
I can save money for one meal?
I can ask them to buy me a drink here and sneak off. In less than ten minutes, they'll forget why I'm there.
I ask the waiter who comes to take my order for a simple meal.
Zerett and the scarred man order drinks and meat with much merriment.
When the drinks and food are soon delivered, Zerett raises his ale.
"Welcome and cheers to our new guy!"
The chanting overlaps and I lightly bail back.
New guy, huh? Must be new.
Whatever the case, I'm going to get sick if I stay too long. I'm going to eat quickly and leave.
Just as I was about to reach for my meal, I heard
"By the way..."
Zerrett turned his sharp gaze on me.
"Who are you?"
"That fast! Have you forgotten already?
"No, I'm asking your name."
The light warrior quickly followed up.
No, I'm tired of being here.
"Come on already, you're an idiot."
"Who's the idiot!?"
"I see."
I frown at the furrowed wrinkles between my brows and straighten my residence.
"I'm Tenko. I'm new here, just registered three days ago."
"Oh, nice to meet you, Tenko! I'm Zerett, leader of the "Everlasting Crop"."
"Well, the farmers are going to be very happy to see you."
I glanced around at everyone and saw that the light warrior was blushing.
Good or bad, it's not a name that those two over there come to mind. Ismira is not going to talk about it, so he's the one who suggested it. A former farmer, perhaps.
"I'm Barden, my brother's little brother!"
"I'm a Corpas. I'm a light warrior, in case you're wondering. We are D rank.
Scarred man, also calling himself a light warrior.
And the wizard woman, Ismira, opened her mouth, looking disinterested.
"I said my name earlier. Also, I'm a soloist."
"You're not in a team?"
"No, I'm not. I have a connection, and sometimes we work together."
"That's enough, Ismira. Let's do it together, "Everlasting Crop"."
"I absolutely hate it, such an embarrassing name! Besides, I'm sorry I ended my life as an adventurer because of these troubles!"
Zerett breaks into a face at the absurd exchange.
"Ha-ha-ha, they're a lively bunch, aren't they?"
"Well. And you're a big shot. You go with them there."
"Do you understand, rookie! Brother is amazing!"
"You guys, stop it. Stop it, you guys, you're embarrassing me."
Zerett's skinhead turns bright red and he smiles shyly.
By the way, Zerett, who is more of an idiot than a brain, had an intelligence of 4. The average goblin's average is also 4, so if I could talk to them, this is the kind of world I'd be living in. Oh, it gives me chills.
And his idiot brother, Valden, had intelligence of 5, which was slightly higher than Zeret's.
As they introduced themselves, commented on the request, and engaged in trivial chit-chat, I noticed that Zerett's talking to an impulse and Barden was talking to a houseplant. Corpas was drunk, so he quietly said goodbye to the decent Ismira.
The sun had completely set as we left the Adventurers' Guild.
On the dark cobblestones, I sigh quietly.
"It was kind of a strange day."
