Chapter 8: The Rescue Quest
2 mysterious adventurers came to seek help from Nao: Syilfie, the necromancer, and Rion, her beastman apprentice. Meanwhile, Anna had officially become a certified adventurer. Now, what decision will Nao make?
Nao: It all depends on the payment
you'll offer, Lady Syilfie.
Rion: Huh? You dare speak to my
mentor like that! I'll...
Syilfie: Stop, Rion! He's right; we
can't simply ask for help without
offering something in return.
Anna: Father, why don't you just
accept their request directly? It
would be good for me to show
my skills to you, right?
Nao: I can't take requests from people
without them formally submitting
their quests to the guild.
Anna: Why is that?
Nao: If I undertake illegal quests on
behalf of the guild and accumulate
three violations, my adventurer's
license will be revoked, and I'll
be banished.
Anna: Well then, why doesn't Lady
Syilfie post her quest on the quest
board, and we can take it from
there?
Syilfie: I wanted to post it on the
quest board, but we currently
don't have enough money to
pay adventurers a fair reward.
Anna: In that case, how about you post
the quest now with a different
payment offer?
Syilfie: Does the guild even accept
different payment terms?
As they continued to discuss, Airis approached their table and inquired about their conversation. Syilfie explained all the issues she was facing to Airis. After Syilfie's five-minute account, Airis began to grasp her problem.
Airis: I understand now; this seems
like an easy problem. You can post
the quest on the board with a
minimal reward for now, and you
can pay the rest later.
Nao: So, they can borrow from the guild
to fulfill their quest?
Airis: In simpler terms, yes. Sometimes,
even villagers do that, but luckily,
they always manage to pay it off.
Nao: (No wonder most quest rewards
here aren't that substantial, and
that's why not many adventurers
come to this village.)
Syilfie: So, dear Hunter, please help us
save our friend!
Nao: Alright, I'll take your quest. I have
some free time anyway.
Anna: "Anna immediately gets excited."
Yeah! I can't wait to embark on my
first adventure. Let's do this,
father!
Nao: Oh right! Does the quest you're
giving have a rank restriction?
Syilfie: We won't impose any rank
restrictions, so your daughter can
join this quest.
Nao: Okay, let's take your quest to save
your friend, then.
Syilfie: Oh, thank you very much, Lord
Hunter.
Nao: Just call me Nao, Syilfie.
Syilfie: Very well, Nao. Let's go now.
Nao: I'll prepare the necessary
equipment first. Anna, please help
me.
Anna: Ready, father! I'll assist with
everything.
Finally, Syilfie handed over the quest paper she had created to Airis, who stamped it with the guild's logo for adventurers to take. They all began to prepare the items they would need for their journey by horse-drawn carriage. Then, the four of them set off on their quest to rescue Syilfie's friend, who had been captured by bandits.
Nao: So, Syilfie, where are we
headed? Do you know their
location?
Syilfie: Of course. "Syilfie pulled out a
small map from her bag and
opened it." She's here in Elana
City. There's a sewage disposal
cave used in case of monster
attacks, among other things.
Anna: Wow! You got all this
information, Miss Syilfie?
Syilfie: I used my necromancer magic to
create reanimated rats for
reconnaissance on those bandits.
Anna: Miss Syilfie can animate
deceased creatures as tools? So,
have you ever revived a dead
person?
Syilfie: Unfortunately, I can't do that. My
magic only works on animals. To
resurrect a person, it would take
years of mastering the craft. Plus,
if they were revived, they'd be
soulless, just animated corpses
for necromancers to use.
Anna: I understand. "Anna puts on a sad
face."
Syilfie: Nao, may I divert a bit from our
mission? I'd like to know more
about both of you. I want to get
to know you better.
Nao: Of course, but our stories might be
boring, is that alright?
Syilfie: It's fine. What do you say, Rion?
Rion: If the teacher wishes, I don't
mind. I'm also curious about both
of you.
Nao: Alright then. I'll tell you
everything.
Finally, Nao recounted his journey from his family to the destruction of Charcol Village, becoming an adventurer, meeting comrades, and up to the present. After Nao, Anna also began to tell her story, from her family to escaping bandits, being rescued by Nao, and up to now. When they finished telling their stories, they arrived in Elana City.
Syilfie: Finally, we've reached Elana City,
the home of the mermaid race.
Anna: The mermaid race? That means
we'll encounter many of their
kind here.
Nao: Elana City, my first time here.
This place is truly astonishing.
Syilfie: Let's find an inn to rest for now.
Tomorrow, we'll begin our
expedition to find her.
Nao: Before that,
may I ask, who is
this friend you mentioned? What's
the connection between her and
you, Syilfie?
Syilfie: Her name is Misbel, a mermaid
from Elana City. She's widely
known and a dear childhood
friend. We both grew up in the
same orphanage, so we're as
close as siblings.
Nao: I see. So, why would she be
kidnapped by bandits if she's
important? Doesn't she have
guards to protect her?
Syilfie: I'm not sure about that because
Rion and I haven't been in this
city before. I know she went
missing because a priest from
this city sent me a letter asking
me to find her.
Nao: So, you came here to locate them
through your magic and then
headed to Spira Village to meet
me. Doesn't your magic have
more power than my physical
abilities?
Syilfie: I can't do that because my magic
requires a long incantation, and I
can't rely on Rion to protect me
constantly; I'm afraid something
might happen to him. That's why
I needed you. I heard a Bard sing
a song about you, Nao.
Nao: A Bard?
Anna: Wow! Father, you're really
famous to have a song sung about
you! "Anna smiles broadly at Nao."
Rion: And the person we're looking for
doesn't match my expectations.
I'm not sure you're as strong as
the Bard's tale suggests.
Anna: "Anna gets very angry." Hey! Don't
talk about him like that; my father
is strong. He even defeated the
Crazy Bear with a single thrust.
So, don't insult him, you lowly
creature.
Rion: What did you say! Lowly
creature! I'll...
Syilfie: That's enough, Rion! We're here
on a mission; let's not ruin our
relationship just this once.
Rion: But, Mother! She...
Syilfie: Enough, Rion! Don't stress me
out further.
Nao: "Nao is suddenly surprised." Wait,
Mother? Syilfie, you...
Syilfie: Uh, yes, I'm like you, Nao. Rion is
my adopted child. I've taken care
of him since he was at the
orphanage, and he became my
child.
Nao: I see, I understand now. So, what
time will we begin the expedition?
Syilfie: Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock,
we'll start from the gate towards
the sewage disposal cave.
Nao: Very well, let's find an inn for
some rest.
After their discussion, they began to look for an inn to rest in Elana City. Starting tomorrow, they would embark on a mission to rescue Syilfie's friend named Misbel. Meanwhile, in the sewage disposal cave, a group of bandits gathered, led by their boss.
Boss: So, is our plan ready, boss?
Bandit: Don't worry, boss, our plan will
be executed smoothly. With this,
we'll become rich overnight, and
we'll also make that woman our
slave. It's all because of my
magic; I can control her like a
puppet, but...
All bandits raise their glasses to celebrate their plan. Behind them, there's a mermaid woman with green hair, standing silently. She is Misbel, who is under the boss's control.
TO BE CONTINUED...