Ability unlocking quest (part 1)

"...the creature with weird arms shows up four times a week and… eats the poo-poo rocks…"

"The poo-poo rocks…?!"

The Kobold finished its explanation shyly while pointing to the side away from the center of the quarry, making a statement that caused even the completely silent until that point maid to call out in bewilderment.

"Adi, Kobolds eat rocks. What comes in must come out unless it's something like pure mana crystals."

"No, I know that! I'm shocked that there is a monster who eats it!"

Melinda tilted her head to the side and pointed out, making the embarrassed maid call out and explain her reaction.

"That's also not entirely true. Our little friend here just thought that the Bismuth-feathered Roc was eating their droppings. What was actually happening was the monster coating its feathers in the protective layer of… processed stones and metals that Kobolds could not digest. Like Bismuth. Hence its name."

"...I… don't know whether that's better or worse…"

Zane went ahead and quelled the maid's curiosity, satiating her hunger for knowledge but disturbing her moral compass in the process.

"Does that mean that I could get poisoned if it hit me?"

Ace, who apparently came to peace with the information Melinda and Zane shared with him, asked with a slightly troubled expression.

"Exactly. Are you good with the detoxifying spell or do you need to get back to town to get some antidotes?"

The gold-haired girl nodded casually, curiously glancing over at the maid, who appeared all fidgety or even giddy for some reason…

"That depends on the potency of the poison. You cannot be too cautious with the status effects.. unless you can get Lazurii's help, of course~."

Ace chuckled, trying to keep the mood on the lighter side.

"Sure. Unfortunately, you don't have time for any of those options. Look over there."

"You don't mean…?"

Zane scoffed coldly before smirking and pointing his thin, pale finger toward one of the peaks surrounding the quarry, causing Ace to tense up and gulp down his saliva…

"KA-BWA-KHAAAAA!"

The cry of an approaching gigantic bird of prey large enough to easily carry an elephant in its ridiculously massive talons.

The creature had a peculiar shine to its plumage - metallic but also rainbowy with an unusual geometric pattern…

"You cannot be serious…! We have to get away from here! Kobolds! You all should hide, too!"

The green-haired young man called out in disbelief before turning back to the group, taking charge and announcing an evacuation order.

"...?"

"Yes, you should take cover. There will be a big fight, and you might get hurt, so wait until it's over."

"We'll hide and wait!"

The Kobolds didn't budge at Ace's call, but they sure did immediately listen when Melinda gently encouraged them.

"We can't stay here like that! Let's follow them!"

"Hmph!"

As the scaly humanoids trotted away before the rapidly approaching monster could swoop down, the green-haired monarch tried to rush the three humans but got scoffed at by the white-haired young man.

"Your Highness, it's a perfect opportunity to complete your quest. Why would you want to retreat?"

Even Melinda tilted her head and asked in confusion despite keeping up the proper honorifics.

"Because we literally just talked about how unprepared I am! Also, we can't be sure this is the one with demonic energy!"

Ace called out in disbelief over the nonchalance in the face of imminent danger, glancing over his shoulder only to end up fully turning around as it became clear that it was too late for escape.

"Oh, it is. Look. It has the crown of teeth and all."

"KAA-BWAAAAAA!"

Melinda pointed out casually as the Demon-crowned Bismuth-feathered Roc clearly took them as its target and released its shrilling voice, swooping down while reaching out and spreading its enormous talons.

"Adi, we have some detoxification and healing scrolls, right? Help out his majesty."

The gold-haired girl rolled her eyes before motioning at the maid with her chin and nodding at her.

"AT ONCE!"

"WHOA?!"

The girl in a maid's uniform seemed to be waiting for that command as the next moment she was already holding the shocked green-haired young man in a bridal carry, calling out while moving him out of the harm's way.

*WHOOOOSH*

"..."

"..."

With Ace out of the way, the Bismuth-feathered Roc clenched its talons on thin air and passed by the unperturbed Melinda and Zane, causing fountains of sparks to erupt as it flapped its wings against the ground to push itself back into the sky.

"Don't you think it's funny how its favorite food is green birds, so it automatically locks in on everything that's green?"

"The devs who put that in to make the unlocking quest more dramatic would surely appreciate that comment."

The pair chuckled to each other as they observed the monstrous bird circle around while locked in on the green-haired monarch.

"M-Miss! Watch out. It looks like it's about to use a skill!"

"...!"

"BWAA-KWAAA-KWAAAAAA!"

Meanwhile, Ace in the maid's arms called out, tapping the girl's shoulder and making her aware of the beast spreading its wings in an overbearingly animated manner before releasing an ear-piercing screech.

As it pushed its wings forward, dozens of metal-covered feathers separated from its body and rained down at the runaways!

"HMPH!"

Leaving the ground riddled with holes without even a single one reaching its target as the maid kicked off the ground a fraction of a second earlier and launched them both high into the sky, going above the Roc.

"Miss! Drop me!"

"EH!? AH…!"

As they were flying perfectly above the momentarily immobile monster, Ace called out while taking out the golden dagger. The maid gasped while listening to such a direct command by instinct and then cried out in panic at the realization of what she had done.

"ENCHANT LIGHTNING!"

It wasn't a mistake or recklessness, though. Ace's dagger grew into a spear as he cast a spell, falling down onto the Bismuth-feathered Roc like a meteor veiled in lighting.

"BA-HKWAAAAAA!"

The monster moved its head, with a teeth-like protrusion growing in the shape of a crown, away at the last fraction of a second, so the spear's tip dug into the plumage on its back instead. The full brunt of the enhancement discharged into it, making the monster let out a deafening screech...!