Chapter 33: Setting Out
Early the next morning, an ordinary carriage wobbled as it departed from the bustling East Gate of Radiant City, heading southeast.
Inside were the five members of the Yael Adventure Squad. Arsen had rented the carriage to transport them to the destination specified in their commission. After some deliberation and review yesterday, the team had finalized their choice of contract:
[High-Level Subjugation Mission: Baron Zett Tony’s vineyard has been infiltrated by unknown magical beasts (suspected to be of Silver-tier). More than a dozen deaths have been reported, including a Silver-tier mercenary. Objective: Eliminate the beasts and clear all threats from the vineyard. Reward: 1,000 gold coins. Duration: One week.]
As Lis had anticipated, a new task had also appeared in his system.
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[Silver-tier Mercenary Task: Magical Beast Subjugation]
[Requirements: Join the Yael Adventure Squad to eliminate the magical beasts causing chaos in Baron Tony’s territory.]
[Rewards: 700,000 experience points, 100 gold coins.]
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As expected of a Silver-tier mission, the experience reward was generous—enough to boost his level by three more ranks. It was just as he had guessed; joining the Yael Adventure Squad allowed him to accept missions above his current rank. This was a truly worthwhile alliance.
Lost in thought, Lis leaned against the side of the carriage, resting on the dry, sun-warmed straw. Along the road, many farmers were already busy with their daily toil in the fields.
The carriage moved at a leisurely pace. Although the vineyard was not far from Radiant City, it would still take over a day to reach on foot. To conserve stamina for any potential emergencies, Arsen had decided to rent the vehicle. While a more comfortable box-carriage was an option, such vehicles were poorly suited for the bumpy, unpaved rural roads and were far less convenient than this lightweight model.
The members of the Yael Adventure Squad were accustomed to this mode of travel. As for Lis, he was even more used to it; in his previous life, long-distance travel in the early stages of the game had relied almost exclusively on these light carriages. Advanced methods like teleportation circles were only accessible in the later stages.
"You know, the pay for this mission is quite high. It's about fifty percent more than a standard Silver-tier contract, isn't it?" Lis asked Arsen, who was driving the carriage.
Yael was currently draped over the side of the carriage, watching the farmers working in the distance. She idly swung a thumb-thick branch she had picked up from somewhere. Although she was the leader, she generally left the management of the adventure squad to Arsen, who served as their capable backbone.
"You're quite sharp," Arsen replied with a nod, flicking the reins to guide the pack horse. "This mission is a bit unique. I checked with the guild; several mercenary groups have taken it before, but none have succeeded. A Silver-tier mercenary was even killed in a sneak attack by the beast. That’s why few people take it now, and I suspect the client raised the bounty because of that."
"Surely that's not the only reason?" Lis followed up.
"True. You hold a noble title yourself. Even though you don't have a fief, you should realize the implications," Arsen paused before continuing. "As a noble lord, the people in the territory pledge their loyalty to him, and in return, the lord is obligated to ensure their safety. It is the most fundamental and important duty of any lord."
"Baron Zett Tony is facing a crisis. The severe casualties and the inability to resolve the situation have not only crippled the vineyard’s operations and caused heavy economic losses, but more importantly, it has cast doubt on his ability to govern his territory in the eyes of the royal family."
"If this were on the fringe of the kingdom, it might not matter much, but his estate is only a day’s journey from the capital, Radiant City. That makes it critical. If he can't resolve this soon, he risks losing his title and his lands."
"Just as I thought!" Lis nodded.
The world of Gaia was different from his previous life. These lands were inhabited not only by humans but by countless intelligent races, magical beasts, and wild beasts. To govern more effectively, the monarchy had originally granted portions of the land beyond the royal family's direct control to others—the origin of the nobility.
The people living within these noble fiefs paid taxes and obeyed the lord in exchange for protection, as the wild environment was far too harsh for ordinary folk. The existence of magic meant that supernatural creatures were widespread. Even within the kingdom, various magical beasts wandered between the cities and territories. Even with the kingdom’s armies conducting regular sweeps, they could only keep the population of these creatures at a manageable level.
Even the weakest of these supernatural creatures—goblins, kobolds, and slimes—posed a lethal threat to commoners. Thus, even though the taxes were high, commoners still flocked to the safety of walled cities and the protection of a lord's army.
Yet, humans were a miraculous race. While the weak could not even defeat a slime, the strong stood at the pinnacle of the gods, looking down upon all living things. Lis mused that this was likely why humans occupied the most fertile lands in Gaia; after all, the human pantheon held the most seats in the Hall of Gods.
As the carriage progressed, the surroundings grew increasingly desolate. The signs of human activity faded, replaced by dense, wild vegetation.
Lis and the others grew vigilant. The most dangerous thing in the wild was carelessness. Even a Gold-tier warrior could be turned to ash by the breath of an Ancient Red Dragon should one happen to cross their path. The odds were low, but never zero. Experienced mercenaries who had survived countless adventures always kept this in mind.
Just as Lis was multitasking—keeping watch while simulating spell models in his mind—a sound erupted from the bushes along the road ahead.
"Ya!"
Two small creatures suddenly lunged out, screeching at the carriage. Arsen brought the carriage to a halt, entirely unruffled; he had recognized them immediately.
"Lis, this is your first time leaving the city for a mission, isn't it? Do you know what these are?"
Lis certainly did. He was intimately familiar with them. He knew at a glance that these were not human.
They were kobolds, one of the most common supernatural creatures found in the wild. Kobolds were short, typically standing about two feet tall. Their skin was scaly, ranging in color from dark brown to black. They had two small, pale horns, bright eyes, and straight, rat-like tails.
Kobolds were cowardly and cunning, skilled at hiding and launching sneak attacks, with a tendency to torment other creatures. They feared bright light and usually lived in dark places, such as underground or in dense, shaded forests. It was said that kobolds possessed a trace of dragon blood, which might explain why dragon-blooded sorcerers occasionally appeared among them.
Even though Lis had seen countless kobolds, he still couldn't fathom how such ugly creatures could be considered kin by dragons. Perhaps the dragon race truly had a unique perspective on beauty.
Watching the two kobolds hopping toward the carriage, Arsen said to Lis, "Since you recognize them, why don't you use these two to test your skills?"