21, Fiery Shard A Burning Battle of Wills

So it unleashes fire when the metal shard glows? Is it drawing power from it? What kind of evolution is that!?

But… if I can pull that shard out, maybe I can deal heavy damage and rob it of its fire power.

"——–!!"

The centipede charged at me again, engulfed in flames, and the metal shard on its head shone bright red.

"When it's wrapped in fire, I can't attack!"

I leaped sideways to evade, but it crashed into a tree, scattering flames and slowing its movements.

"Is this my chance?"

With the help of Phoebe's speed-up magic, I leaped onto the centipede's body and reached out with my right hand toward the large piece of metal embedded in it. A searing pain shot through my hand as my HP began to steadily drop—was the metal itself so hot it was inflicting damage?

"Don't underestimate me!!"

"Slip Guard!"

The pain of the burns was all too real, but I was accustomed to it! I forced myself to jerk the metal free, while Phoebe supported me with a spell that reduced ongoing damage. Yet the centipede wouldn't just sit idly by; it began to thrash in response.

"Archie!"

I plunged my left hand—still gripping Archie—into the centipede to steady myself and avoid being thrown off by its wild movements. With my right hand burning, this had to be a quick fight!

"This isn't yours… I'm taking it!"

Defeating the centipede wasn't a requirement for completing the second quest; all I needed to do was pull out the metal and escape!

"Gaaaah!?"

Just as I felt the metal begin to loosen, the centipede crashed into a tree. The impact sent me careening into it as well.

"Lena!?"

"Ugh… this is bad, Archie got knocked away!"

I tumbled to the ground but quickly regained my footing, downing a healing potion to recover my dangerously low HP. I felt barely alive—was my resilience somehow triggered?

As I thought that, I looked at the centipede and saw Archie impaled in its head. It was as if two massive horns had sprouted from the centipede, fused with the metal shards.

"What!? Has Archie been absorbed too!?"

"No, not yet! Phoebe! Envision the earth's energy strongly binding to Archie, and that earth pinning the centipede to the ground!"

"Got it!"

Avoiding the centipede's charge, I focused on channeling the earth's power into Archie. Please, activate the resonance effect! Even if it can't pin the creature down completely, encasing Archie in earth should harm the insides of the centipede where it's impaled!

Suddenly, Archie shimmered with a brown glow. Then, with a loud thud, soil burst forth from what seemed to be the centipede's jaw, stabbing deep into the ground and immobilizing it! Has the resonance effect responded to our vision?

"Incredible... Is this Archie's power!?"

"Yes! Nice job, Archie!"

This was the perfect opportunity to pull out the metal shard! Shaking off my discomfort, I jumped onto the centipede's head, grasping the metal piece with my right hand while gripping Archie's handle tightly with my left.

"Huh? Am I sensing power from the metal shard?"

"Power-up! Now, Lena!"

The metal piece isn't hot, but is it being somehow drained of power? No, forget that; I need to pull it out!

"Unnnnngghhh!!!"

With all my strength, I yank on the metal, feeling an unusual resistance, but slowly, it starts to come free from the centipede.

With a sickening crunch, the metal piece is finally pulled out!

"Archie, you pull out too! If possible, keep the centipede pinned to the ground!"

With that hope in mind, Archie pulls free and dismounts from the centipede.

But our prayers go unanswered; the moment Archie is freed, the earth that had been holding the centipede in place crumbles, granting it freedom.

"It's still alive! The centipede!"

"Ugh, even with a hole in its head, it keeps moving! This is why I hate bugs!"

I see the centipede spewing a red effect from its gaping wound, but now that I have the metal piece in my right hand, I shift my focus to escaping the maze-like forest.

"Speed up! Regenerate!"

With Phoebe's supportive magic, I dash through the trees.

The centipede is right on my tail.

"Ugh, it's persistent!"

Could its inability to spit fire or wrap itself in flames be because the metal piece was pulled out? Damn it, the trees are blocking my path! Is that why I can't escape the maze?

At this rate, we're going to get caught!

"Lena! Bring the metal piece you pulled out close to me!"

"Got it!"

As Lena brings the metal shard to her chest pocket, Phoebe, who was tucked inside, touches the fragment.

"Connect it to the key and Lena's Archie. Power supply… Lena! Drive the Archie and the metal shard into the ground where the centipede is!"

"Okay, I will!"

She stops fleeing and turns to face the centipede. Its head has a gaping hole, oozing a red effect as it charges forward, resembling a zombie.

"Please, let this work!"

"Here we go! Full magical release!"

Following Phoebe's command, she thrusts the metal shard and Archie into the ground.

Boom!!!

The ground erupts beneath the centipede, a torrent of lava-like flames bursting forth to engulf it… wait, does the centipede have fire resistance? Or was it the metal shard giving it that power?

I pray that this will end it, and as the flames die down, I see the centipede enveloped in the red effect as it vanishes.

"Did we defeat it? Phoebe, you saved us…"

"...Um… somehow… it worked… thank goodness…"

"Phoebe!?"

Phoebe looks drained, her hands appear burned as if she's suffered serious injuries!

"Wait, I'll use a healing potion right away!"

I retrieve a potion and carefully help Phoebe drink it, but her hand burns remain. Why is this happening? How can she be this hurt just from touching the metal shard?

At first, I sustained damage while extracting metal shards from the centipede, but after the extraction, I wasn't hurt... Why?

"Could it be that only higher-grade healing potions or skills would work?" I had been using cheap healing potions due to my low maximum HP, but did that come back to haunt me? Damn it! For now, I need to escape! I wonder if the leader or Ashton has better healing items or skills!?

Suppressing my anxiety, I managed to find my way out of the Maze Forest.

**Second Quest**

The conditions for failure were at 15%, and success was at 100%.

Outside the Maze Forest, the quest notification signaled the end… Was the 15% fail rate due to Phoebe being exhausted or my own right hand being a mess from burns?

**Reflecting Quest Results**

- Obtained 20 threads from flowers.

- Obtained 1 elixir.

- Acquired Recipe: Key to the Fairy Gate.

- Lena has earned the title of One Who Knows a Part of the Fairy Gate.

**Title: One Who Knows a Part of the Fairy Gate**

A title awarded to those who have learned a small fragment of the power used by the fairy's gate. Increases intellect and grants access to special recipes. Deepening knowledge may unlock special powers.

"An elixir...? Should I use it on Phoebe?"

Recognizing it as a precious and powerful healing item, I wasted no time in giving it to Phoebe. Instantly, the burns on her hands vanished completely.

"Wait... am I healed?"

"Phoebe! Are you okay? What happened to you?"

Relief washed over me as Phoebe regained consciousness, but I needed to know what had transpired.

"I used the key to the fire-element fairy gate and Archie's power to attack the giant centipede... But the key was damaged, and my abilities don't align well with fire, so I lost control... and took massive damage."

"Is this the key to the fairy gate?"

I examined the metal piece I had pulled from the centipede; it certainly didn't look like a key, likely because it was broken.

"Yes, I thought this would let me get there... but it's broken, so it won't work."

"Get there? Are you talking about Phoebe's homeland?"

At that, Phoebe's expression shifted from surprise to embarrassment. She nodded slowly.

"Yes, but the key is broken, and my homeland must be...

"...attacked by monsters? Just like the fairy tale we saw at the earth spirit ruins?"

Phoebe nodded again.

A fairy adventurer and a blacksmith... my favorite fairy tale. After reading it, Phoebe had seemed off, so I had suspected something. It looks like I was right.

"Yes, my situation mirrors the tale of my homeland being besieged by grotesque monsters, which was shocking to read... but unlike the fairy tale, my homeland is probably already destroyed..."

"Do you want to go back to your hometown?"

I obtained the recipe for the key to the Fairy Gate as a reward for the Second Quest. While talking with Phoebe, I glanced at the recipe and noticed it listed a broken Fairy Gate key among the materials. This means that if we have the other components, we can repair it. However, I should respect Phoebe's decision on whether we should fix it.

"The key is broken, and I don't know how to repair it. If I were to return and find my hometown destroyed, it wouldn't feel like home anymore. Plus, if we encounter the monsters that ruined it, I wouldn't want Lena to get hurt…"

She seems quite downcast, keeping her face hidden, making it hard to read her emotions. But she hasn't outright said she doesn't want to return. Her earlier comment about thinking we could get back suggests she might have a desire to go home after all.

Regardless, if we have a recipe for the repair, we should definitely fix the key; otherwise, it wouldn't have been included as a reward. But I think that's all for today. After battling that giant centipede, I'm mentally exhausted. I'll report to the leader about gathering threads tomorrow and head back to Lily's cozy home to rest.

At least I'm glad I received flower threads as a reward; I really don't want to tackle that maze forest again…

Ugh, I'm so done! Trying to cut down 1,000 slimes without any recovery items is just brutal… I can't clear it no matter how many times I try.

**30 Anonymous**

Is there really a quest to cut down 1,000 slimes? That sounds like it would take forever.

**33 Anonymous**

At first, they're weak, but they gradually get stronger. Eventually, instead of the cute, chibi slimes from Japan, you end up facing foreign ones that are seriously tough and immune to physical attacks. If you get caught by one, you're done for.

**37 Anonymous**

Physical immunity? That's intense! Some of those slimes probably have toxic abilities too, so the difficulty must be insane. The rewards must be incredible though.

**39 Anonymous**

The rewards for those numbered quests can be all over the place. I've heard stories of someone who fought a dragon solo and ended up with just a single flower as a reward. But apparently, the person who received it said they were happy with it… I wonder what kind of quest that was?

**44 Anonymous**

Sure, you'll hear complaints about the difficulty of numbered quests, but it's rare to see people grumbling about the rewards. To the one trying to slay 1,000 slimes, just keep going!

**50 Anonymous**

Those who complain about the rewards from numbered quests usually made a bad decision or choice, right? They got blinded by quick cash and couldn't protect the NPC they wanted to save, ending up with nothing but money.

**53 Anonymous**

If you were blinded by quick cash, that's your own fault… Just remember, easy money is a trap in any game.

57: What amazing rewards are there in Number Quest?

60: I heard that some people boast about getting gear that allows for super acceleration and pseudo-teleportation.

68: Oh, I got a divine item that lets me fly in the sky for three minutes a day at no cost! Even if it's just for three minutes, being able to fly freely is the best! Well, I did end up getting swarmed by snakes in Number Quest and now I hate them…