Chapter 5

After the exam, the same secretary who escorted me to the arena handed me a bronze-colored adventurer's card. Classes E to B were given copper cards, then, in class A, the card was changed to silver and to gold in class AA. There was a white card for class S.

Going to the board with tasks, I could take one quest for my class or lower. These tasks included various tasks, from guarding, to buying specific goods. I could also go to the Beast Glades and hunt Mana Beasts or explore the dungeons. But it seemed too dangerous for me to be a C-class adventurer, so I decided not to tempt fate and find myself an easy task for the first time.

After a few minutes of viewing the ad, I came across a task to collect medicinal herbs.

"Hmm, just collect herbs, great! Although they pay little, but I have enough to eat and spend the night in a hotel"

Taking the sheet with the task, I went to the free counter.

- Good afternoon, I would like to take on this task - I held out the sheet, looking at the fair-haired girl.

- Good, you need Mr. Archibald's shop, it is located north of here - she pointed to the right side with her hand.

- Thanks for the help.

- I was glad to help. Good luck on your first mission!

You accepted the quest to collect herbs

Reward: 15 copper coins; System reward[?]: None.

"Oh, so the tasks I have taken will be displayed in the system, conveniently. Only I can't understand where experience is indicated here, because in theory I should have been given it as a reward for successful completion ... "I thought, clicking on the question mark next to the system award.

After reading the explanation, I found out that the additional 15 coins do not shine for me. The system will only give out rewards when I complete more interesting and difficult quests.

Leaving the guild, I looked around, starting to walk along the road to the north. After several minutes of unhurried step, I found myself in front of a stone shop.

Having opened the door and entered, I began to look around with interest a clean medium-sized room, the shelves of which were filled with various kinds of potions and herbs. Looking towards the counter, I saw an elderly man looking at me with curiosity.

- Hello, - I approached him, holding out a sheet with the task - Did you leave an application for the task of collecting herbs?

Taking the sheet and reading it, grandfather nodded as he looked at my adventurer's token.

"Aren't you too young to be an adventurer?"

- I'm forty. – with an imperturbable face I answered the first thing that came to mind.

Surprise flickered in his eyes, and then he laughed.

- I'm sorry I didn't understand right away, Mr. Aaron, - I could tell from his voice that they didn't believe me - Your task is to collect herbs from the list. They should grow in the northern forest - my grandfather handed me a list.

- Should I expect to meet monsters or other dangerous creatures?

- No, the maximum you can meet is an ordinary bear.

After discussing a few more details, and having received a recommendation to return at sunset, without wasting time, I ran towards the north portal. After passing through a kind of inspection, I entered the portal, and with a slight disorientation, I found myself near the northern forest.

- Well, well, I need: Asphodel, Ginger, Castor and Wormwood, twenty pieces each - I muttered, looking at the list, which depicted the herbs themselves.

And then I had to find all these herbs, which was a rather difficult task. Ginger was the easiest to find, sagebrush was no problem either, but castor beans and asphodel were quite hard to see due to the fact that they mostly grew between the roots of the tree. As a result, closer to sunset, I was able to collect everything I needed and, having received an award, settled in the cheapest hotel.

With a long sigh, I lay down on the bed wearily.

And so my adventure began...

***

I didn't have time to remember how a whole month had passed. During this time, I continued to perform simple tasks, although with my low stamina they seemed to me very difficult. But even fatigue did not greatly interfere with my training. Every day I improved the spells already learned, and also tried to improve my physical performance.

Of course, sometimes I was too lazy to train, but I quickly suppressed it, setting myself the goal - to get to the animal glades. I was not stupid, and I knew perfectly well that now I would not have enough strength if I met someone more dangerous than an ordinary beast, so training was necessary for me.

After a month of training, I was satisfied with my progress, and breaking through to the dark red stage gave me even more confidence in my abilities. So when I entered the guild, the first thing I did was look for a group that I could join.

After asking at the counter, I learned that a certain group of "Black Dogs" needed a spellcaster. After a few more clarifications, a fair-haired girl whose name was Beatrice pointed to a table at which sat a tall, fair-haired youth with an athletic build and a sword attached to his belt.

After thanking the girl at the counter, I went straight to the young man.

- Hello, - the swordsman turned around, looking inquiringly - Beatrice sent me to you. I'm Aaron, a C-class spellcaster adventurer.

"Oh, so you are that little adventurer!" he exclaimed amiably, "My name is Zak, I am an A-class adventurer and the leader of the Black Dogs, nice to meet you." So you want to join us?

- Yes.

"Great, we've been looking for a caster for a long time to support us in battle, I think you can handle this role." Let me introduce you to the rest of the group.

On the way to the hotel where the group was staying, Zach began to talk about himself and sometimes asked about me. He gave the impression of a kind of friendly and cheerful blockhead, in the best sense of the word.

Entering the room, I had a view of three people who were sitting on the floor, playing cards.

- Hey people! I found us a spell caster for the group! – actively gesturing said the leader, starting to introduce me to everyone.

Zach, I learned, was a fire elemental amplifier. Alan, a fair-haired and thin guy, was an archer with the element of wind. Jeanne, a medium height black-haired girl with a good figure, was an amplifier with the element of wind, and used a rapier. The last was Henry, a middle-aged youth with black hair and a rather large build, he was a water-elemental amplifier and used daggers.

Everyone greeted me quite kindly, except for Henry, who looked haughtily at me.

- Since we all met! Time for the dungeon!