54 Black Licorice

The sun pointed at the eastern side of the sky, as its glorious might hover over the horizon.

Inside the training area, a piercing wind blew with ripping sounds that could disturb one's hearing.

*𝑆𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ*

Kiro caught the wooden shafted that darted toward him. "Hmm... I still can't reproduce the way the old man shot me with this heavy wooden shaft." He said while grabbing the edge of the shaft as he deflected the upcoming two.

What Kiro was trying to replicate was the training of Kyros; however, he still couldn't manage to repeat the same velocity and power that his master did in the wilderness.

After that, Kiro aimed at the empty air using his basic wooden longbow, as he released the string of his bow.

The arrow flew up above the sky with headlong speed, but when the arrow was about to lose its momentum, it abruptly changed its velocity as it hurtled downward to him.

Staring at the arrow, Kiro summoned his iron dagger as he waited for the arrow to come.

With his current strength, the arrow flew 60 meters above the ground. Although this time, the power of the arrow intensified several times than before.

A dominant gust of wind swirled toward his direction, gripping the handle of his dagger, Kiro parried on the upcoming arrow with his brute strength.

*𝐶𝑙𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑛𝑔~*

Sharp metallic sounds reverberated inside the practice area, startling the few numbers of adventurers who came early to train.

"Huuh~." Kiro stabilized his breathing after he successfully deflected his attack. He's been doing the same routine for about an hour now.

While he was busy readjusting his breath, a woman's voice suddenly reached his ears.

"I thought I would be the first one who came here on archery's ground, but I guess you are a bit earlier than me, Kiro." The woman said with an amiable tone.

Hearing her familiar voice, Kiro glanced at the woman behind his back. "Yup, It's been a few days since I did my training, I don't want to be out of shape, Alyva." Putting away his dagger inside the spatial tool, Kiro continued.

"So, why are you here this early? It's not your usual routine to come here at the training ground at this time of the day." Hearing his words, Alyva thought for a moment as she responded.

"To train, of course." She said. "See, I have my bow ready." Showing off her basic crude bow, Alyva said playfully. However, when she saw no reaction to Kiro. Alyva dropped her act as she stated why she came here this early.

"Haah... Alright, you win, you don't have to show me that look." Stepping closer to him, Alyva darted her eyesight to Kiro with a serious expression.

Noticing her odd behavior, Kiro patiently waited for what she was about to say.

"Thank you." Lowering her head at the shoulder level, Alyva added. "Thank you for not bearing hatred to us, and for forgiving Aldin."

After she said that Alyva raised her head and met Kiro's eyes without shrinking back.

Kiro, who was startled from her sudden behavior, came back from his senses after seeing her sincere look.

Clearing out his throat, Kiro coughed lightly to destroy the awkward atmosphere around them. "... Ahem, as I've said to Aldin, it's not his fault or any of you for abandoning me." Matching her gaze, Kiro continued.

"It was my choice to enter deep inside the forest at that time, and what you guys did is right." He said. "If any of you followed suit after Alina, the outcome may not be a pleasant one for us..."

Thinking up until this point, Kiro stopped his track. If another person came to find him at that time, he couldn't guarantee the safety of the second person. He was only lucky enough to survive due to his master being there inside the forest.

Staring at Alyva, Kiro continued. "Anyway, what is done, is done. Aren't both me and Alina still alive, isn't it?" Trying to hide his real thoughts, Kiro answered nonchalantly.

He could not help to picture a scenario, what would happen if another person came to search for him. One person was already taking all the toll for him by that time, adding another person would be a lethal burden for him.

With that thought in mind, Kiro repeatedly told inside him, he shouldn't make the same mistake and should mind the big picture of his action. If not, he may not be as lucky as the last time.

Knowing that it truly doesn't bother him, Alyva dropped the topic here, as she stretched her bowstring and aimed at the nearby human figure target.

Glancing at Kiro, she said. "Mm, even so, I wanted to say my thanks, because of your kind words. Aldin can now pick up himself."

Kiro could only nod after hearing this much. "Aldin is lucky for having you," Kiro muttered absentmindedly, but those words didn't slip through Alyva's ears.

She was momentarily in perplexed when she heard Kiro's words. If you look closer. A tint of redness was forming from her cheeks. Ignoring his remark, Alyva continued to shoot the target using her bow.

With that, the two proceeded to their training, and only returned to their lounge before lunch.

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Inside the Adventurer's Guild.

In the middle of a huge signboard, a man was there, standing with deep thought.

He was staring blankly at the piece of parchment pinned on the enormous commission board.

.

*𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭*

Difficulty: D+

Requirement: D-ranker and above.

Quest: Herbal gathering.

- Rare plant of Black Licorice.

Note: Upon completion, depending on how many stalks the commissioner gets, 30% of its portion would be given as a bonus reward.

𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬: 𝟏𝟓 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬.

.

"Hmm, what do you think Sinon?" Glancing at the man behind him, the man said.

"... If I could get a hand of Black Licorice, the odds of success for creating my new mana potion would slightly increase, also, depending on the amount that we can get. It would boost our party two steps forward, leader." Sinon said, as his eyes flashed with interest while staring at the small parchment.

"Mm, I know how important a mana potion to our party, especially for Theeste. Sometimes our income wasn't enough to supply her a good quality of mana potion..." Shaking his head, Gellis continued. "Haah... Thinking about how expensive a magic potion, it's makes my heartache."

Looking at Sinon, Gellis added. "If you're not around, I don't know if we could maintain our current grinding. Even if the location where that plant grew is two towns far from here, it's worth the investment if we're thinking about our party's future adventure..." Putting his hands on his chin, Gellis muttered the last sentence's inaudible tone.

Catching up on his voice, Sinon nodded in agreement. "Yup, if we can secure a good amount, our monthly expenses would drastically decrease."

With his urge, the last wall of hesitation of Gellis crumbled. "Okay then, let's head back to the Inn and discuss it with the others."

Staring at the parchment for a while longer, the two eventually left the place.

Meanwhile, inside the pub, Gellis and Sinon were entirely unaware that someone was watching their every move.