Adam woke up the next morning, enjoying the crisp morning breeze slipping through the small windows of the cottage. The sun had just begun to rise behind the mountains, its first rays glinting off the wildflowers blooming near the wooden walls. There was a strange sense of freshness in the air, as if this day carried something different.
"Today marks the start of a new adventure. We need to be ready."
He got up and walked over to where Pedro and Anna were sleeping. As he began preparing a simple breakfast, his thoughts wandered to what lay ahead.
A herb-gathering mission in the forest... It doesn't sound hard, but the forest is full of hidden dangers.
He walked over to Pedro, who was already awake, while Anna still lay quietly, her face peaceful in the morning light. Adam nodded to Pedro, signaling him to get ready.
"Get ready. We're heading out to complete the mission," Adam said with a smile.
Pedro looked at him eagerly. "When do we leave?"
"Very soon. Once Anna wakes up and we eat. It'll be a simple trip, but we need to stay alert."
Anna stirred at the sound of their voices, then slowly opened her eyes. "Is it time to leave already?" she murmured.
"Yes, Anna. Get yourself ready—we're leaving soon."
As she rose to prepare, Adam added, "Gathering herbs isn't a hard task. I brought a sketch of the plant we need from the guild. But we have to be cautious. Strange creatures lurk in the forest. Stay sharp."
Soon after, Anna was up, and they gathered around for breakfast—three small, coarse black loaves of bread.
Damn it… I need to make money fast. This barely qualifies as food, Adam thought bitterly as he stared at the dry bread.
He glanced at Pedro and Anna, who were quietly eating without complaint.
Well… for them, this is probably better than nothing.
After finishing the meager meal, they packed what little they had. Anna carried an empty bag, while Adam and Pedro each held a wooden stick as a makeshift weapon. Together, they made their way toward Greenwood's western gate, which led into the forest where the herbs were said to grow.
At the gate stood two guards. One of them, a large man with a booming voice, eyed them carefully and asked sternly:
"Where are you headed?"
Adam responded without hesitation, "We're adventurers, going out to complete a mission."
He quickly activated his "Inspect" ability:
Name: Green
Age: 28/60
Level: Apprentice Knight
Strength: 10
Speed: 7
Endurance: 9
Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (Proficient)
Note: With some training, he has great potential to become a first-rank knight.
Adam found himself staring at the man's information, lost in thought.
"Hey, are you listening?" Green snapped.
Snapping out of it, Adam replied, "Ah—sorry, I drifted off for a moment. As I said, we're heading to gather herbs near the forest."
"Let me see your badge."
Adam lifted his Black Iron rank badge. Green nodded once he confirmed it.
"Alright, but don't venture too deep into the forest. Not all parts of it are safe."
"Thanks for the warning, sir."
The trio passed through, leaving the guards behind. As they walked away, Green sighed.
"Fools… They think being an adventurer is easy. They don't know the death rate for Black Iron ranks is terrifying."
His companion replied, "Don't worry about them. Let's get back to work."
"You're right."
Adam hadn't heard their conversation—but even if he had, it wouldn't have changed his mind. This was the fastest—and perhaps the only—way to make money in their current state.
…
They soon reached the edge of the forest. Towering trees cast long shadows over the mossy ground, and the air was filled with the calls of birds and rustling animals. A gentle breeze carried the scent of leaves and earth.
"Are you ready?" Adam asked as he turned to them.
"Yes, sir!" both Pedro and Anna responded eagerly.
"That's the spirit. But remember—we're staying close to the forest's edge. Even so, we must stay alert. Better safe than sorry. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good… Let's begin."
They entered in a cautious formation: Pedro in front, Adam in the middle, and Anna bringing up the rear. After a few minutes of walking, Adam spoke:
"Alright, let's start searching. According to the sketch, the herb usually grows under large trees, near their roots. Keep your eyes sharp."
"Understood, sir," they both replied, and began carefully examining the surroundings.
Anna moved swiftly between branches, lifting small stones and peering around roots. Pedro focused on clearing fallen logs and pushing aside heavy branches. Adam monitored them while using "Inspect" on suspicious plants.
"I found something!" Anna suddenly called out.
They hurried over to her. She pointed at a plant with dark green leaves growing at the base of an ancient tree. It looked exactly like the drawing in the mission paper.
"Is this the one, sir?" Anna asked.
Adam activated "Inspect":
Name: Wild Healing Herb
Properties: Used to craft salves and treat surface wounds
Condition: Fresh and harvestable
Location: Western Greenwood Forest
Note: Must be extracted carefully from the root to remain effective.
"Yes, this is it!" Adam said with excitement.
"Alright, keep searching—we need at least twenty, and it wouldn't hurt to collect a few extra."
"Got it!" Pedro and Anna replied in unison, continuing their search.
After about an hour, they had collected twenty-three herbs. The sun had risen higher, casting rays of light through the canopy like scattered lanterns on the forest floor.
"Great work. That should be enough for today," Adam said, glancing at the bag Anna was carrying.
But before they could begin their return, a faint rustle came from the bushes nearby. Something was moving—quietly, almost unnaturally.
Adam raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Something's approaching… Be ready," he whispered.
They looked toward the source of the sound. The bushes trembled slightly, and a soft panting noise grew louder.
Suddenly, a small creature emerged from the shadows. It had jet-black fur, sharp fangs, and glowing red eyes. Though it was no larger than a dog, it moved with eerie precision.
"A small beast… but definitely not ordinary," Adam muttered as he studied it carefully.
He activated "Inspect":
Name: Shadow Wolf Pup
Level: Unranked
Strength: 5
Speed: 5
Endurance: 6
Abilities: High Agility
Note: Often travels in small packs. Despite its size, not to be underestimated.
"Be careful. It's stronger than it looks—and it might not be alone," Adam warned, gripping his wooden stick tightly.
The three of them prepared for battle as the creature crept closer, growling lowly, its red eyes fixed on them.
Adam had hoped his first quest would end quietly—but fate had other plans.
The red eyes of the Shadow Wolf glowed, watching Adam and his companions as though they were prey.
Everyone braced themselves as the atmosphere grew tense. Adam sensed the creature's danger before it made a move. His instincts urged him to stay alert, as this battle would be their first true test.
"Pedro, Ana, remember you're not alone. I will guide you," Adam said firmly, tightening his grip on his wooden staff.
Pedro nodded eagerly, "We won't fail you, sir."
Ana, a little nervous, took a deep breath and said, "I'm ready. We won't back down."
"Good. Pedro, you take the front. Ana, attack from the side. Understood?" Adam instructed.
"Yes, sir!" they responded in unison.
Ana quickly moved, relying on her speed, while Pedro advanced slightly toward the wolf to draw its attention. The plan worked, as the wolf suddenly lunged at him like an arrow shot from a bow. Its speed was unnatural, but Pedro was faster. He bent his body in preparation for a maneuver, raising his staff to block the wolf's strike.
"Pedro, use your skill!" Adam ordered sharply.
Pedro didn't hesitate, using his skill to boost his strength and face the blow. He narrowly dodged the wolf's claws and struck its head with his staff, pushing the beast back. The wolf shook its head rapidly, trying to shake off the dizziness it felt, but Adam couldn't miss this opportunity.
"Ana! From the side!" Adam shouted, pointing to the right.
Ana, ready for the signal, used her speed skill to dart through the shadows with incredible swiftness. She closed in on the wolf, grabbed a large rock from the ground, lifted it with one hand, and struck the wolf's neck with tremendous force.
"Good hit," Adam muttered to himself, watching the strike.
But the wolf didn't fall, despite the blood staining its neck. It retreated slightly, then surged forward again, leaping at Ana. Its eyes flashed with fury.
"Ana! Fall back, Pedro, move forward!" Adam yelled.
Pedro moved toward the wolf again, but this time with more caution. He used his skill to enhance his strength, preparing to take another hit. The wolf's strike was fierce, but Pedro dodged it and landed a powerful blow to the wolf's side with his staff, forcing it to retreat.
"Excellent!" Adam said as he watched the movement. "Now, let's play it carefully and make sure it doesn't come back to fight."
But the wolf, now angrier than ever after several blows, attacked Pedro once more. It dashed toward him with its bared fangs. However, Adam had anticipated this moment.
"Ana, run now! Get around it!" Adam ordered, throwing her his staff to use in the attack.
Ana, waiting for the signal, grabbed the staff quickly. Using her skill once more, she scaled a nearby rock and leapt onto the wolf's back, striking its head with the staff with an unexpected amount of force.
The vicious wolf howled loudly, charging at Ana with all its might. But Pedro was ready. He turned quickly at the last moment and ran toward the wolf. At that instant, he used his skill to increase his strength and delivered a crushing blow, sending the beast crashing to the ground.
"Now, strike together!" Adam shouted to both Pedro and Ana.
Without hesitation, Pedro and Ana activated their skills once more and delivered a fatal strike, targeting the wolf's head and landing their blows almost simultaneously. The sound of the skull cracking echoed through the air.
The wolf tried to flinch in the final moment but collapsed to the ground, dead.
"Is it over?" Ana whispered.
Adam looked carefully at the corpse, then nodded.
"Yes, it's over," Adam said, taking a deep breath.
He turned to Pedro and Ana, who were both panting from exhaustion, but their eyes burned with excitement. "Well done. That was a tough battle, but you both faced the challenge. I'm proud of each of you. But this is not the time for rest. We need to leave here quickly. Ana, carry the bag. Pedro, help me move this wolf fast."
"Yes, sir," they responded quickly.
Without delay, each of them gathered their belongings, heading toward the exit of the cave. Adam's attention was drawn once more to the note he had read earlier about the wolf.
A note about it moving in packs.