VI - Gamble Worth Taking

The quest boards stretched across the back wall of the Summoner's Guild, glowing with dozens of available challenges. Each one was labeled by rank, from E all the way up to SSS. The higher the rank, the more dangerous—and rewarding—the quest.

Azea's eyes skimmed over the Rank E section, where most of the quests were clustered.

"Retrieve stolen goods."

"Clear out a goblin nest."

"Escort a merchant caravan."

All of them seemed straightforward, but none of them looked exciting. He felt his hand tighten on his staff. This wasn't what he envisioned when he got transported to a gacha world.

"Ugh, all of these sound like babysitting jobs," Lyra said, leaning against the wall. "We didn't survive a Hydra just to kill a couple of goblins."

"Goblins or not, we need to start somewhere," Amon said. "These quests are ranked this low for a reason—they're meant to ease beginners in."

Kael yawned, leaning casually on his staff. "I don't care what we do, as long as I don't get stuck carrying someone's luggage. What's the plan, boss?"

Azea hesitated. His heart told him to aim higher, but his head reminded him that he was still a newbie. One mistake, and his entire team could end up dead.

Before he could decide, a Summoner behind him laughed.

"Hey, check out the newbie staring at the board like it's a final exam!"

Azea turned to see a group of older Summoners lounging nearby. The one who spoke, a tall guy with spiky blue hair, smirked and crossed his arms. His summons stood behind him—a hulking wolf-like beast and a female warrior clad in gleaming armor.

"You don't even have a rank yet," the guy continued. "You really think you can handle a quest on your own?"

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Great. A loudmouth. Just what we needed."

Azea frowned but kept his voice steady. "I just finished the tutorial. Everyone starts somewhere, right?"

"Sure," the Summoner said, laughing. "But most of us don't look like we're about to wet ourselves on our first day."

Kael smirked, leaning toward Azea. "Want me to roast this guy? Just say the word."

"No," Azea muttered. He stepped forward, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety in his stomach. "Look, I don't want trouble. I'll take my quest and be on my way."

The guy snorted. "Fine. But if you're so confident, why not skip the kiddie quests? There's a Rank D challenge posted this morning. Think you can handle it?"

Azea blinked. "A Rank D? That's above my level."

"Exactly," the guy said, grinning. "But hey, if you're too scared—"

"Hold on," Lyra interrupted. "What's the challenge?"

The Summoner shrugged. "Some bandits are holed up in the Whispering Forest. The Guild wants them cleared out. Pretty standard stuff, but tougher than goblins."

Azea's heart raced. A Rank D quest? It was risky, especially for someone who hadn't even completed a single mission yet. But if he pulled it off, it would prove to everyone—including himself—that he wasn't just some clueless rookie.

He glanced at his team. Lyra was grinning like she already wanted to fight. Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. Amon, as usual, looked serious but didn't protest.

"You're really thinking about it?" Kael said, amused. "Bold move, boss."

Lyra leaned closer. "We took down a Hydra. What's a few bandits compared to that?"

Amon spoke calmly. "It's a gamble. But if we go in prepared, we might succeed."

Azea clenched his fists. The safe option was to stick to the Rank E quests, build his experience, and slowly climb the ranks. But something about the idea of playing it safe didn't sit right with him.

"Fine," he said finally. "We'll take the Rank D quest."

The spiky-haired Summoner blinked in surprise before laughing again. "You're serious? Alright, newbie. Let's see if you survive."

Azea ignored him and turned back to the board. The Whispering Forest quest was listed under Rank D, glowing faintly. He tapped it, and a notification appeared.

---

[Quest Accepted: Whispering Forest Cleanup.]

[Objective: Eliminate the bandit group (Leader: Borak, Level 8).]

[Recommended Level: 5-7.]

[Rewards: 800 Gold, EXP +600, Rare Summoning Crystal x1.]

---

Lyra whistled. "A Rare Summoning Crystal? Not bad."

Kael smirked. "Worth the risk, I'd say."

Amon adjusted his sword. "We'll need to plan carefully. Bandits may not seem dangerous, but they fight dirty."

"Yeah," Azea said, feeling the weight of the decision settling on him. "Let's stock up before we head out. No point rushing into this unprepared."

---

The group spent the next hour visiting the marketplace. Azea used some of the gold he'd earned from the Hydra fight to buy basic supplies—healing potions, antidotes, and a new dagger for Lyra.

Kael picked up a scroll of reinforcement, which could temporarily boost their defenses. Amon refused any upgrades, insisting that his current gear was more than enough.

By the time they left the city and reached the edge of the Whispering Forest, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the dense trees.

Azea stopped at the forest entrance, gripping his staff tightly. "Alright. Here's the plan."

He turned to his team, forcing himself to sound confident.

"Lyra, scout ahead and find out how many bandits we're dealing with. Kael, stay back and prepare to drop some crowd control spells if they're grouped up. Amon, you're on me. We'll draw their attention once we know where they are."

Lyra grinned. "Got it, boss. Be back in a flash."

She disappeared into the shadows, moving silently through the trees.

Kael leaned against a nearby rock, spinning his staff. "You're getting the hang of this commanding thing. Don't screw it up."

Azea exhaled slowly, feeling the pressure building in his chest. This was a big gamble, but he couldn't back out now.

A moment later, Lyra returned, her expression sharp.

"Seven bandits total," she said. "Four by the campfire, two on patrol, and the leader inside a tent. They're armed, but nothing fancy."

Azea nodded. "Alright. We'll hit the ones by the campfire first. Kael, drop a lightning field to scatter them. Amon and I will rush in. Lyra, take out the patrol before they realize what's happening. Once we've cleared the camp, we'll deal with the leader."

"Sounds fun," Lyra said, flipping her dagger.

Kael shrugged. "Simple enough."

Amon gave a single nod. "Understood."

Azea took a deep breath. This was it—his first real challenge as a Summoner.

"Let's move."