NOVEL NEXT Chapter 81: Leisurely questing
Liam looked at the bodies on the floor. Seven items were dropped by the unlucky guild members.
Except for a fine black wolf pelt, which could be used as a gift to NPCs, there was nothing outstanding among the items. With their low levels they couldn't enter Liam's eyes anymore.
Liam carelessly put them away as he continued his way. Soon, the scenery changed as the young man arrived at a peaceful beach.
The golden sand was incredibly soft. A faint breeze carried the ocean air towards one's nose, refreshing the mind.
Small red crabs scurried about, scavenging for food.
When Liam appeared, a group of three crabs immediately focused their eyes on him. A few moments they laid dead on the ground, not able to trouble the player at all.
Strolling along the beach, Liam almost appeared to be on vacation as he soon arrived at a wooden hut.
The building looked perfectly aligned with nature. Crabs played around it, not even disturbed by Liam's arrival. A few seagulls perched on the greyish roof.
A long pier stretched from the wooden hut out into the ocean, waves brandishing against its wooden support pillars. Fishes swam happily around the man-made structure despite the middle-aged man sitting at the end with his fishing pole held into the water.
Liam approached carefully. His steps were soft, preventing the wooden floor from creaking.
He came to a stop behind the fisherman, watching him calmly.
The man wore a black coat and a broad brown hat. A stubbly beard grazed his face. Adding his dirty grey trousers and unmoving body he appeared as if he had been sitting in the same spot for a few days already.
Perceiving Liam's arrival, the man waited a few seconds before speaking in a hoarse voice:
"Adventurer. What could you seek from me?"
The man behaved mysterious and taciturn. His voice sounded full of wisdom.
"Sir Gabe, I found a few messages which should've been addressed to you."
"Let me see!"
Gabe spoke with a sigh as his transcendent mind was suddenly forced to deal with worldly matters.
Liam secretly scoffed as he took out three bottles containing messages in them, handing them over towards Gabe.
A trace of emotions flashed in Gabe's eyes. The man obviously expected something specific as he unfurled the first note.
The scene fell silent for a bit while Gabe went through all three notes.
Suddenly a crisp sound rang out. One of the bottles shattered beneath Gabe's shoe. Glass splintered, falling into the water below.
"This %*%&! For years you don't hear anything form him and in his first message he boasts so much you could think he became a god or something!
Peaceful life on a lonely island? Fishing sea monsters?! I will show you sea monsters!"
Gabe gritted his teeth, jumping up from the crate he had been sitting on. His eyes were spewing fire.
Due to the quick movements the man's hat fell from his head, revealing his black hair with graceful grey streaks.
The brown hat glided through the air, about to fall into the water. But with a flick of his wrist, Gabe's fishing line snapped upwards, skillfully delivering the hat back on his head and returning to the water.
Gabe put his fishing pole to the side, turned around and stormed into his hut.
But a moment later he walked out again, black lines on his face.
"F+ck! This idiot didn't even specify his current location! How am I supposed to find him? I want to…"
Nothing was left of Gabe's transcendental mindset. He was walking around stomping his feet angrily like a little kid.
However, Liam could see the hint of delight hidden in his eyes.
"You! Adventurer! Help me locate Sentrav! I will reward you!"
"What do you need me to do?"
"Find an old friend of mine. He's a priest called Alotrs. Guards a small shrine in Duabalis City. He has a way to track people."
Liam couldn't refrain from giving a small jab:
"Why don't you do it yourself?"
"Me? As if I would waste any effort on that idiot! Isn't this exactly what he wants? To disturb my peaceful life? No chance!"
"Alright. Then I will do it."
"Good. Come back when you know where Sentrav hides!"
Liam turned around while taking a look at the changed quest.
[
Step 1: Locate Gabe and bring him the letter from his old friend Sentrav.
Step 2: Talk to Alotrs at Ternavolae's shrine in Duabalis City.]
Fortunately, Liam didn't have to ask around for the shrine's location. He went straight back towards Prento.
Meanwhile he noticed his party members slowly coming online. They chatted animatedly until Liam interrupted, telling anyone to be careful from now on.
Liam's friends were infuriated when they heard that someone tried to ambush him. They discussed taking revenge on Fat Tiger, but Silver Blade argued that the guild leader might even be happy if they did so.
If they wanted to destroy Fat Tiger's efforts it would be more useful to level up and leave all the others in the dust.
The party was convinced, focusing on quests and leveling.
At the same time Liam arranged to meet Silver Blade in Duabalis City.
They gathered before the gate leading towards the nephilim's homes, where Silver Blade handed over the money earned from selling Fiery Tacaria.
Silver Blade's workers have already sold more than 700 stalks at ten silver per piece.
Even Liam found it amazing as the young woman handed him a full 60 gold coins.
This was an unimaginable amount of wealth this early into the game. And they still stood to earn some more until the first parties would manage to clear the dungeon.
The duo talked for a bit as Silver Blade was in a great mood. She even hinted at the outcome of the family meeting the day before.
Liam was surprised to hear that a tournament would be held so soon.
It was obvious that Silver Blade hoped for the party to take part. After the first success she was ready to officially hire the others more often to collect achievements.
But the young woman also felt the pressure of needing to stay ahead. Soon, she bade goodbye to Liam, leaving for leveling.
Liam didn't notice the smile on his face as he walked along the streets. Soon, he left the city's core area, arriving at a hilly district towards the south.
A few buildings were scattered here, most of them baring a religious character.
The original nephilim needed to keep a good relationship with the gods. If for some reason the contract with the gods would be broken as well, it would spell disaster for their race.
Thus, almost all religions were allowed to freely erect religious sides in this district.
Liam walked among the peaceful roads, spotting the occasional inhabitant who walked between various temples with a pious face.
Soon, he reached his target, climbing up a low hill. This place stood out among the others as it was filled with fertile fields and all kinds of lush food trees.
People were even working here, producing food for the city.
Arriving at the top Liam spotted a small temple, more like a chapel.
Inside it stood an inconspicuous statue of some stalks of wheat, symbolizing the goddess of fertility Ternavolae. A few fruits and vegetables were placed around it as sacrifice.
Outside the chapel a surprisingly young-looking man in green priest robe could be found tending to a tree sapling.
He looked up with a benevolent smile as soon as Liam arrived.
"Adventurer! Great to see you! I have heard how you thwarted that loathsome devil's plans.
Come, let me bless you in the name of mother Ternavolae."
Liam naturally didn't decline. Blessings were small boons which could be found everywhere in Crunaboul.
The blessing given by Alotrs was rather easy to receive, given to everyone who cleared Reylar's Curse.
"Thank you, priest."
Seeing Liam fold his hands before him, Alotrs didn't delay. The priest opened his arms wide, sending a prayer to his goddess.
A small dot of green-colored magic seemingly descended from heaven, landing on Liam's head.
[Received Ternavolae's blessing
Effect: With a chance of 5% you will find extra materials when gathering plants.]
Although this blessing wasn't game changing, having it was better than not having it. Maybe there would be a need to gather a large number of herbs in the future.
"Thank you, priest. And thank mother Ternavolae."
"Her benevolence is boundless."
Alotrs nodded kindly, just about to turn around and tend to the sapling, when Liam spoke up:
"Priest, I am here for a second matter."
"Oh? What could it be? Are you here to join the believe of Ternavolae?"
"Ehm, no. Sorry.
Gabe sent me here to ask for your help in locating someone."
Alotrs stopped in his movements, looking in the distance in reminiscence.
"Old Gabe sent you? What a surprise. I haven't heard from him in ages. How is he doing?"