New Side Quest and Ambush

Hendrix waited until the armored figure arrived again. Once they did, he collected edible plants and fungi to be self-sufficient. While ensuring he wasn't the one who came back with the least firewood and brought back about thirty pounds of wood.

After this, he ate his subpar meal, which included a small slab of unknown meat, a piece of bread, and some water. Along with some herbs and fungi, he gathered on the side. Once he finished eating, he began experimenting with making food recipes and wished to do everything he could independently and not rely on anyone.

'Hmm, what should I try to make now.' Hendrix thought as he began grinding some herbs into a paste on a flat rock. He used a small stone to press the herbs into it, pondering If he should leave and try to reach the citadel alone.

While Hendrix thought and pondered. The unlucky young man who didn't obtain food smelled the paste he made. And with hope, began to approach. He had short brown hair and blue eyes, and he wore a simple tunic.

"Hey, can I have some of what you're making?" The young man asked as he stared at Hendrix.

Hendrix turned around and looked up at the young man shrugging as he thought of something. Perhaps they could taste the recipes he could make. And indirectly, Hendrix could learn what tasted good and what didn't.

"Yes, you can, though I must warn you. I have no experience in cooking or preparing food. I only know what is edible, not what tastes great." Hendrix said as he continued to grind the herbs into a paste.

"Wait, you aren't a cook? Then where did you get these herbs? Wait, don't tell me you got these from the forest." The young man asked while backing away and narrowing his eyes. Thinking not eating for a day is better than a horrible death.

"I indeed have, though I'm curious why I shouldn't have?" Hendrix asked, slightly smiling as he thought about the young man's reasoning.

"Almost all plant life in the wilderness is not safe to eat! Anyone who tries dies a violent, slow death!" The young man shouted.

Hendrix paused his actions and pondered if he should show the young man to prove his point. He knew out of the seventy-five types of plants and fungi he ate, only three were edible. Eventually, he went through with it and ate the paste without hesitation using a wooden spoon, though it would taste bitter.

"Wait, why did you!" The young man said, horrified as he looked at Hendrix. Thinking Hendrix will violently die like the others who tried to eat plants from the wilderness.

"Let's make a bet. Um, may I know your name?" Hendrix asked as he peered at Franklin.

"I'm Franklin, and you are?" Franklin asked as he thought there wasn't much time for Hendrix left to live.

"I'm Hendrix. Now let's make a bet. I bet that I will survive this. Though If I lose, I will die, so I don't owe you anything if I lose this." Hendrix said with a neutral expression as he awaited Franklin's answer.

"Huh, you want to make a bet?" Franklin asked, feeling something was watching them but quickly shook this feeling away. He thought it didn't matter if he bet since, in his mind, there was no way he could lose it.

"Sure I would if you win. I will answer all the questions you have. Since, well, you seem like you have no information about the outside world." Franklin said as he thought Hendrix was an idiot for eating the food from the wilderness.

An hour passed, and Hendrix showed no symptoms of being poisoned or sick as Franklin had a look of shock on his face.

"How did you find edible food?" Franklin asked as he furrowed his brows.

"Trade secret of mine. Though I won't share my knowledge." Hendrix said as he felt there was no benefit to sharing it.

"Well, Yusriton Empire is almost out of food. So please share the secret." Franklin asked, as he knew how bad it was back there. His family was starving, as plants were dying and monsters migrated away.

[Tribulation Hidden Side Quest discovered.]

[Help save Yusriton Empire]

[Side Quest Description]

[Try twenty-five different edible plants or fungi and write a book with descriptions and facts. Give this to Franklin, and he can solve the food problem in Yusriton Empire.]

[Quest completion details]

1) Try twenty-five different edible plants or fungi. 3/25

2) Write a book about them and give it to Franklin.

[Accept or Decline]

[Y/N]

'I accept the side quest Guide.' Hendrix thought as he didn't see any penalties.

[Noted]

"Though if the information I learn from you is helpful enough, I'm willing to share it with you. Do you accept this offer?" Hendrix said while wanting to see if this could help him get more accurate info.

"Alright, what do you want to know, Hendrix?" Franklin asked as he raised a brow.

"Where are we headed, and why are we traveling out?" Hendrix asked as he wished to know. He wanted to see if it would line up with the Tribulation quest.

"We're heading to a village that has sent a call for help. Though I'm not sure about the details." Franklin said as he didn't have much information about that.

"How long have we been traveling?" Hendrix asked while he continued to eat the bitter paste he had made as he pushed the rest to Franklin.

"For a year and a half. I'm not sure why you don't know this already." Franklin said, frowning as his eyes narrowed. He picked up the wooden spoon and ate what was left of the paste while pinching his nose.

Hendrix's eyes widened in surprise as he wondered how the expedition could last that long. How important was this to the king or the equivalent in the Yusriton Empire?

"Were there any stops at other settlements on the way?" Hendrix asked very curiously.

"No, there was not. Though I miss my family." Franklin would say as he looked out into the distance for a bit.

"Is there magic? Is this how it is possible?" Hendrix asked as he wanted to see if it existed.

"Yes, magic is real, but only those who can absorb mana can use it. Sadly I have no sensitivity for it." Franklin replied as he wondered how little Hendrix knew of the world.

Hendrix organized his thoughts as he wondered if he could learn and use any skills in this Tribulation. 'Guide, is it possible to learn magic here in the Tribulation?' Hendrix thought as he pondered some more.

[No, it's not. You are not allowed to use any skills here. You are only allowed to have the capabilities of an average human.]

Hendrix sighed as he thought about his next course of action. However, his thoughts ceased when a loud sound interrupted them.

A large creature jumped out of the forest and lunged at Hendrix and Franklin. It looked eerily similar to a wolverine, though it had two long teeth on its upper and lower jaw. Each one is a foot long. While all its claws also had serrations on them.

Hendrix didn't freeze in fear as he barely dodged the creature's attack by ducking. Franklin's luck failed him, though, and when he tried to escape it, he got slashed on his right arm as it split open.

"Agh! Help me, please!" Franklin yelled as he gripped his arm and tried to escape the creature.

The fully armored soldiers heard the yell, and a few ran out to find out the source of the problem. One of them pulled out her greatsword and swung at the creature when she saw it.

The creature growled as it parried the soldier's greatsword with its claws. Its other claws began glowing a faint yellow hue as a yellowish air burst flew at the soldier.

She tried to dodge but couldn't in time as it cut off her arm. "Agh!" The soldier yelled as she saw her arm land a little away.

"No!" Some of the other soldiers yelled as they ran to help their comrade.