Seeker 281

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Chapter 281. Outlaw

A clear morning. We headed to the adventurer guild in the port town of Baren. 

Under the high blue sky, we climbed the slope that cut through the town, feeling the sea breeze.

The day after the troubles related to the underwater city, we, who were on duty(?) for a mission, thought of ourselves as diligent. 

We might deserve a bit more rest, but considering time as an experience points, we tend to be diligent, perhaps due to our frugal nature. 

It's only a limited period of 100 days. 

73 days remaining.

 It feels like there's still a long way to go, packed with intense days.

Arriving at the adventurer guild, we soon entered as it opened. The usual quest scramble. By the way, since Baren is within the Holy Kingdom, our adventurer credentials remain valid.

"Not much that stands out. Among these, maybe this one."

I took a quest request from the posted flyers on the bulletin board. The content is as follows:

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Quest Overview... Raid Quest / Monster Subjugation (Hill Giant, Ogre)

Quest Rank... A / Raid (Recommended Level: 25)

Client... Beltinto Town / City Council

Quest Details... Please subjugate the horde of monsters that attacked the town. The total number of monsters is around fifty to a hundred. Most are Ogres, with a few Hill Giants.

Other... It takes about half a day on foot to reach the site. It's a raid quest jointly with three parties.

Reward... 150 gold coins (per party)

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This time, I couldn't find a quest that seemed ideal. Among the ones posted on the bulletin board, I think this is the best. By the way, the current list of unachieved missions looks like this:

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▼ Mission List

Reach a city with a population of over 100,000... Gain 20,000 experience points

Reach a desert city... Gain 70,000 experience points

Reach an airborne city... Gain 100,000 experience points

Defeat three Wights (0/3)... Gain 8,000 experience points

Defeat one Hill Giant (0/1)... Gain 10,000 experience points

Defeat one Frost Giant (0/1)... Gain 50,000 experience points

Defeat one Rock Bird (0/1)... Gain 50,000 experience points

Defeat three Lesser Demons (0/3)... Gain 50,000 experience points

Defeat one Vampire (0/1)... Gain 70,000 experience points

Defeat four Dragons (3/4)... Gain 100,000 experience points

Defeat one Elder Dragon (0/1)... Gain 100,000 experience points

Defeat Yamata no Orochi... Gain 250,000 experience points

Defeat Fenrir... Gain 300,000 experience points

Defeat Behemoth... Gain 350,000 experience points

Clear A-rank quests three times (1/3)... Gain 30,000 experience points

Clear Raid quests three times (1/3)... Gain 70,000 experience points

Clear S-rank quests three times (1/3)... Gain 80,000 experience points

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The mission with a prospect of achievement from the quest I picked this time is "Defeat one Hill Giant" (10,000 experience points). 

Clearing "Clear Raid quests three times" also counts for one, but this leaves a gap in experience point acquisition. 

It shouldn't be considered mediocre.

Dozens of thousands of experience points are overwhelmingly irregular, and this is more normal. 

If the gained experience points aren't ridiculously high, the risk is smaller. If you challenge high-risk missions and face the risk of dying every time, you'll eventually die for real. 

It's good to be like this in ordinary times.

I showed the quest details to Kazane and Yuzuki, but they didn't seem to have any complaints. 

I always confirm at least once, but neither has objected to the quests I've decided on. 

They usually follow me with a simple "okay".

It's appreciated; quite a few people in the world who are good at complaining.

So, having decided on a plan, we were about to head to the reception with the quest flyer when──

At that moment, a loud voice from outside reached us. 

Soon, the door of the adventurer guild opened, and four people who seemed to be adventurers entered.

"Move aside, you're in the way!"

"Gelzer-san came to look for a quest. You small fry, clear the way!"

Saying that, two rough-looking men started pushing aside the adventurers in front of the quest board. 

However, they seemed more like followers. The main figure was a large man behind them.

"I'm running out of money for drinks, so I came to take on a quest."

Following the two lackeys, the man entered the guild with a big axe on his back. 

He seemed to be around 30. 

He had a very manly, well-built physique, a stubble beard, and a huge axe on his back. A woman in her late twenties clung to his side. 

A beautiful redhead with long bangs covering one eye, she had a bow and arrows on her person.

"G-Gelzer...?"

"Hey, make way. It'll be a hassle if you resist."

The surrounding adventurers, seeing the large man who appeared to be the group's leader, distanced themselves. 

It seemed that the man was named Gelzer.

Gelzer, as if he ruled the entire adventurer guild, looked around with a leisurely gaze. 

His eyes stopped when he spotted Kazane. With a sneer, he confidently approached Fuon.

Kazane, with a wary look towards Gelzer, clung to me as if seeking support. The arrogant man who had come right before Kazane opened her mouth.

"Hey, black-clad woman. I like you. Become my woman."

"...Huh?"

Kazane let out a genuinely displeased voice. 

In this brief moment, I also recognized that this man who suddenly appeared was an "enemy". 

Stepping forward to protect Kazane, I confronted Gelzer.

"Who do you think you are? Don't you think you're being rude out of nowhere?"

My words carried a nuance of hostility, but given the situation, it couldn't be helped. Gelzer turned his annoying gaze towards me.

"I don't need you, small fry. Step back. That woman is too good for the likes of you."

"I decline. I have no reason to follow your orders."

I stared back at him with hostility.