Chapter 18: Setting Off Again

"It's a trip to the outskirts of the Demon Shadow Forest to gather a plant called the Calming Bellflower."

Kaelin pulled a neatly folded commission slip from her waist pouch and carefully smoothed it out over the greasy tabletop.

Her fair face was full of earnestness as she explained, "Each Calming Bellflower can be exchanged for a reward of 4 Silver Lions. The commission's cap is set at 50 stalks."

Raine's gaze swept over the clear Guild seal and the reward figures, and his heart couldn't help but stir. If they could successfully find 50 stalks, wouldn't the reward be 200 Silver Lions—which equated to 2 Gold Coins? Even if split evenly with Kaelin, he could still get 1 Gold Coin!

After all, those dockworkers, tanned dark by the scorching sun, had to carry cargo crates in the sea breeze all day and work continuously for over three months just to earn 1 Gold Coin. However, with so many porters around, work at the docks wasn't guaranteed every day. If daily expenses were factored in, one might toil away and save up for an entire year without ever seeing a single gleam of that brilliant gold.

In his memories, whenever his stingy miller father handed over a small bag of Gold Coins to the Lord's tax collector each year, the pained expression on his face as he death-gripped the pouch was a hundred times more agonizing than when his mother discovered his hidden stash of money.

Everyone loved Gold Coins. Even the Kings who commanded the Human Race would have their crowned visages stamped onto the Gold Coins. They did this in the hope that when their subjects rubbed that golden luster, they would dedicate their love for wealth alongside their devotion to their King.

But Raine quickly calmed down. Although the reward wasn't low, the prerequisite was that they could actually gather a sufficient quantity. Right now, he was much more concerned with the specific details of the mission.

"What kind of environment does the Calming Bellflower usually grow in? And where is the exact location?" His voice remained flat as his gaze shifted from the commission slip to Kaelin's face.

"It's roughly in this area. They can be found right in the grass."

Kaelin, who had come prepared, took out an old, yellowed parchment map and rolled it out. The map was drawn extremely roughly, only featuring the general outline of the Demon Shadow Forest and the markings of a few major streams. This wasn't surprising. The Demon Shadow Forest itself was like a silent behemoth; its terrain was never set in stone. A torrential downpour could cause streams to change course, and a beast herd's migration could forge new paths. And the lush vegetation only needed a season or two to completely erase the old traces, including corpses and everything else left behind—which happened to be the favorites of certain Magic Plants. This meant there would never be a detailed map of the forest.

Of course, Raine's Exploration Chapter was the exception. He found that the map in his mind updated in real time. For example, a new house had recently begun construction not far from the inn. Even though only the foundation had been laid, a clear outline was displayed in real time on his map.

He reined in his wandering thoughts and looked at the location Kaelin was pointing at, furrowing his brows slightly. The spot she indicated was much further out than where they had encountered each other last time. Although it was still a long way from their core landmark, Burial Creek, it was already quite close to the site of the bloody night from his memories.

Soon, Raine's furrowed brows relaxed. Things were different now. The enhancements to his Agility and Power, his Level 2 Eagle Vision and Basic Archery, as well as the Longbow across his back, all added to his confidence. Moreover, he also possessed Stealth Step. Even if he were to encounter a similar danger again, he had the means to maneuver and wouldn't be reduced to fleeing in despair.

At the end of the day, this was just a gathering mission, but it was never wrong to be cautious. Those arrogant fools who misjudged their own strength had long since become fertilizer for the forest.

Seeing Raine silent in thought, Kaelin leaned forward slightly and said, "I know this place is a bit deep in. If you agree, we can head to the Guild first thing tomorrow morning and officially add your name to the commission slip to form a temporary party."

She paused, upping the stakes. "Furthermore, if we run into any other Demons along the way, or if we stumble across any extra loot, you get first pick of the spoils."

Towards the end, she lowered her voice. "Having two people looking out for each other is always much safer than fighting alone in the woods, isn't it?"

It did seem to be the case. Raine thought so, but he didn't immediately respond to her. Currently, his melee combat abilities were relatively limited, whereas Kaelin's were quite impressive. A Swordsman capable of soloing five Goblins could only be found among the seasoned Bottom-level Adventurers who had been roughing it for years.

A temporary party contract also served as a form of guarantee; it was at least far more reliable than an unbound stranger. Moreover, he desperately needed to record more Demon information to activate the next stage of rewards for his Hunting Chapter. Teaming up with Kaelin would undoubtedly increase his chances of killing more Demons.

Raine glanced down at himself. Compared to the beginning, although he had made great progress, the total value of all the belongings on him probably wouldn't even exceed one Gold Coin. He simply wasn't worth the trouble of an elaborate setup. What she needed was his pathfinding skills and a certain degree of long-range support.

With this in mind, he looked up to meet Kaelin's slightly expectant, apprehensive gaze. "I accept your invitation."

"Then it's a deal!" A gleam of relief flashed across Kaelin's eyes. However, she quickly realized that she had revealed her emotions a bit too obviously and smiled in awkward embarrassment. "Sorry. I don't really have any friends around here, so I'm just happy to have a companion, even a temporary one."

She stood up, once again reverting to the capable Female Swordsman. "We'll meet at the inn's entrance tomorrow morning. We'll go update the commission first, then head out immediately."

"Understood." Raine just nodded slightly and said nothing more.

...

The next morning, while the damp morning mist still lingered in the streets and alleys, the two of them were already standing before the stone steps of the Adventurer's Guild.

The receptionist was the Lady, and the paperwork was handled swiftly. Raine's name was officially added to the commission slip. Leaving the Guild, they headed straight for the adjacent market, which was just beginning to bustle with activity, and began their final resupply before the adventure.

Kaelin carefully checked the stitching on her Water Bag, while Raine stuffed newly bought hard cheese and black bread into his satchel. Just like last time, he spent almost all his remaining money on supplies. In truth, after acquiring his Longbow, he hadn't had much left to begin with. As for his highly anticipated feast, that would have to be delayed yet again.

They deliberately avoided heavy camping gear. However, as they passed a herbalist's stall, Kaelin stopped and silently purchased a small packet of hemostatic salve and bandages. Both of them understood clearly: they absolutely could not spend the night in the forest. The forest at night was far too dangerous.

Resupplying went quickly. By the time the morning mist dissipated, the two had already left Mottled Town and were marching toward the Demon Shadow Forest.