After Senko pretended to go to the movies with Kana, Haruka-Senpai and I headed to the town’s guild hall where players went to accept missions in order to get paid with Goru, the game's currency.

During the first few times we played the game, We just accepted the low level bounty missions where we were allowed to hunt whatever low level creatures.

The low level bounties included the Dryosaurus and Parkosaurus hunt we did at the start of the game, the coelophysis hunt I failed due to Diego’s sudden appearance, with the only exception being the Herrerasaurus infestation we stopped at the farm in Meadow Mosaic.

“This place is bigger than I expected.” Haruka-senpai was in awe.

The interior of the guild hall gave the vibe of a medieval tavern, it was dimly lit with torches and candles and there were players all over that were preparing for missions, eating together and sharing drinks.

“I heard that a lot of players just spent time here for fun, especially after a long mission.”

“If that's the case… after the mission shall we spend some time here just having fun together?”

“I don't mind, well then shall we look for a mission at the bulletin board?”

“Mhm!”

We were planning to do a mission that wasn't too dangerous, but challenging enough so both of us could gain levels and increase our stats.

Upon reaching the bulletin board, we started looking through the many flyers and scrolls, trying to find a mission that both of us could benefit from.

“Yuuki-kun, look at this.”

“Hm? What’s up Senpai?”

“This mission is rates 3 stars, thats moderately difficult right?”

“Over here, it says clear out Dilophosaurus from attacking the Protoceratops livestock.” Haruka-Senpai pointed at the flyer.

“.... I think I would rather take my chances with Diego's Utahraptors.”

“Why? Is there something wrong with this mission?” Haruka-Senpai looked a bit surprised and tilted her head.

“Let's just say, you are gonna want nothing to do with Dilophosaurus.”

“They're that bad huh? Alright let's keep looking then.” Senpai giggled and continued looking at the fliers.

I don't think Haruka-Senpai knew about the terror a Dilophosaurus could cause to you due to its venom spit and the excruciating pain it can inflict upon you… but I wasn't about to let her experience that pain whatsoever.

We continued looking at the quests bulletin board until I noticed a mission that's labeled 3.5 Stars.

“Senpai, this might be a good commission.”

“Let's see… help fend off a rogue juvenile albertosaurus that's been attacking Triceratops grazing fields.” Senpai analyzed the flier

“This might be good enough for both of us to handle!” I pumped myself up!

“But aren't albertosaurs a species of tyrannosaur? Wouldn't this be too dangerous?”

Haruka-senpai was right about the Albertosaurus, it was a large carnivorous dinosaur of the Late Cretaceous Period around 99.6 million to 65.5 million years ago, it's found as fossils in North America and eastern Asia. Albertosaurs are an early subgroup of tyrannosaurs, which appear to have evolved from them.

In structure and presumed habits, Albertosaurus was very similar to Tyrannosaurus Rex in many respects; both had reduced forelimbs and a large skull and jaws, although Albertosaurus was somewhat smaller due to Albertosaurus being about 9 metres (30 feet) long, and the head was held 3.5 meters off the ground. Meanwhile Tyrannosaurus Rex was up to 40 feet in length and 12 feet in height.

The hands were similar to those of other tyrannosaurs in being reduced to the first two fingers and a mere rudiment of the third. The jaws of Albertosaurus possessed numerous large, sharp teeth, which were recurved and serrated. As in tyrannosaurs, the teeth were larger and fewer than in other carnivorous dinosaurs, and, rather than being flattened and bladelike in cross-section, the teeth were nearly round—an efficient shape for puncturing flesh and bone.

Like nearly all large carnivores, it is possible that Albertosaurus was at least in part a scavenger, feeding upon dead or dying carcasses of other reptiles or scaring other predators away from their kills

“Well~ in most case you would be right, however they said this albertosaurus is just a juvenile, and unlike an adult which wasn't as large as an adult Allosaurus this one should be way smaller, not to mention the recommended level is 18-24, were both 20 and 21 in terms of levels so we should be fine, we just need to Upgrade some of our weapons!”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Well then, I'll put my trust in Yuuki-kun's hands!” Haruka-senpai also showed her optimism!

And Just like that we accepted the mission to fend off an Albertosaurus! After exiting the guild hall, we headed straight to the nearby blacksmith, and had our gear reinforced.

I had my new attire’s durability and flexibility reinforced in order to be able to shrug off heats from stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs, I then sold my pistol short sword for a silver katana and a revolver.

Meanwhile Haruka-Senpai had her beginner armor be reinforced with “reinforced” leather, and replaced her short sword with a rapier and her bow with a musket with an attached machete which was one of the coolest things I saw!

We then headed to the nearby market area and bought some peaches, apples, cherries and mangoes in order to maintain our hunger bars, and since water wasn't that difficult to come across in the wilderness, we prepared A pair of hydro flasks for both of us in case we got thirsty.

We're now ready to fight the albertosaurus!

Sakura, Haruka

Game Name: Hakura

Age: 18

Level: 20

Hp: 1,950

Atk: 650

Sp. Atk: 90

Def: 480

Sp. Def 139

Speed: 510

Rin, Yuuki

Game name: Ryuki

Age: 17

Level: 21

Hp: 2,050

Atk: 560

Sp. Atk: 120

Def: 450

Sp. Def: 310

Speed: 350

After we left town and crossed the stone bridge we realized the commission’s location was quite far from the beginning town of Gunhildr. However that problem was easily solved since the time we spent away from the game, Players have invented ways of transportation to make everyone’s lives easier!

Something I really loved about this game’s player base is how they integrated modern and ancient technology into the game. We had many options to get to our location, we could travel via horse drawn wagons, travel by foot or even by boat but we decided to travel by train.

It was the cheapest option without spending too much of our currency and we could get there in less than 2 hours.

When boarding the train we didn't bother renting a private room. We just sat around the railings between train cars since we didn't have any luggage and we much prefer being able to appreciate the scenery of the game's open world!

I sat and rested my back at the wall of one of the train cars while Haruka-senpai decided to rest herself on the guard rails.

3 minutes into the train ride I decided to break the silence and start a conversation.

“Haruka-Senpai, May I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How come Toru kept pestering you back in the clubroom?”

“I think it's because every time he asks me out on dates, I just refuse them.” Haruka-senpai scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Haruka-senpai really is a tough nut to crack… I noticed you were uncomfortable earlier.”

“Well, Toru does have a reputation of being popular among the girls at school. I do agree that he is quite handsome and “manly,” but I already agreed to go there with Yuuki-Kun and I'm not easily swayed like that.” Haruka-Senpai gave a slight smile.

I couldn't help but smile in return. We continued passing the time by telling each other stories from when we were still kids, Like the time Kana domesticated an Ussuri Brown Bear when we were camping last year, and the time we caught Senko half buried under a thick pile of snow from the time we were snowboarding out in the mountains.

During the train ride we went pass a creek which had Giraffatitans and Brachiosaurus swimming in, we also spotted a flock of Gallimimus running across an open valley, lastly we even watched a family of protoceratops taking care of their children, it really reminds you just how beautiful the world is!

After a while, we arrived at “Little Paws Acres” which was an extremely massive plains biome that was sandwiched by a large valley and a very dense forest.

“We're finally here!” I rejoiced while stretching my arms and legs.

“You seem to be having fun.”

“Well of course, I got to see protoceratops, a Gallimimus flock and Giraffatitans and Brachiosaurus swimming in a creek all in one day!”

Sharing a laugh together we admired the wide fields of Little Paws Acres.

The map says it’s a very popular area for beginners due to the beautiful scenery, the wide plain fields, the flowery meadows, and the fact it connects several beginner to moderate towns and has a few farms that specializes in raising livestock, fruits & vegetables, while the free areas are used by wild dinosaurs to graze and feed on, with the occasional huntings that occurs.

My guess is that the place being so open and tranquil is what led to the albertosaurus raiding, meaning there might be more theropods we didn't account for.

“Well then let's head to the farm now.” I suggested to which Haruka-Senpai agreed.

After we left the train station, we headed towards the farmhouse that was marked on our map when we accepted the commission at the guild hall.

While walking I couldn't help but hear some sort of low gurgling noises, like some sort of heron bellowing.

“Yuuki-Kun you heard that too?”

“I did.”

Instinctively both of us quickly scanned the area and saw that there was something inside the dense forests to our right and it was large.

“You see it too senpai?” I broke a sweat

“Yes I do, that looks too big for an albertosaurus, let alone a juvenile one…” Haruka-Senpai’s voice almost cracked there.

If that really was the albertosaurus then we might be doomed. The mission said it was just a juvenile, but the scan shows it's a full grown adult and way larger than what a grown adult should be, either way I have a bad feeling about this.

“Let's just hope it was just a deinocheirus or a Mamenchinosaurus then.” I reassured before we continued heading to the farm.

We continued walking to the farm, the sun was shining fairly brightly giving us a calming atmosphere, however the noises from earlier weren't convincing to me at all.

“Ah, are you two the people who accepted our commission?” We were greeted by a farmer, she had soft ginger hair and green eyes and was wearing a plaid shirt and overalls.

“Yes we are!” Haruka-Senpai responded.

“Well then welcome to our humble farm.”

“Thanks but the pleasure is all ours.” I answered.

We exchanged pleasantries with the farmer, and was invited in the house for some tea and biscuits which we gladly enjoyed.

After a cup of tea, She led us to the barn which was next to the farmlands that had dozens of Triceratops grazing in the field. Before she returned to the house, She told us that we were allowed to use the tools in the barn if it helped us keep her triceratops herd safe.

She also told us that the Albertosaurus tended to attack around late noon, so we had to spend some of our time relaxing and observing the triceratops herds grazing and playing with each other.

“Yuuki-kun, shall we check the barn for tools?”

“Sure.”

Upon entering the barn there was a rub down carriage, a pile of hay bales and many tools hanging around which included some rakes, a scythe, a watering can and, water hose.

“Doesn't seem like much, let's just go to the field and prepare for the Albertosaurus to attack the triceratops.” Haruka-Senpai spoke in a dissatisfied way before going to the fields first.

“Sure-”

I noticed there were 2 dozen throwing daggers behind the door. I quickly picked them up and placed them inside my coat in case I could use them as a ranged weapon substitute for my revolver.

Catching up to Haruka-Senpai who was now behind the fence watching the triceratops, I told her about the throwing daggers I spotted and I gave her one of the 2 dozen I picked up.

“Are you nervous Senpai?”

*Hmmm… only a little, after all this is the first time we're facing large theropods, haha!”

“I wouldn't be so nervous there, a full grown Albertosaurus is a bit smaller than an allosaurus and the one we're hunting is a juvenile so it's likely to be even smaller.”

“Well then, let's watch each other's backs!” Haruka-Senpai prepared herself to which I nodded.

Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that lived in North America during the very end of the Cretaceous period. It had a huge frilled head with horns over each eye that could reach over 3 feet long. Triceratops had a third, smaller horn on its nose. These would be fearsome weapons against a predator

Triceratops is one of the most common dinosaur fossils found as there were more than 50 skulls found. Within the genus, at least 7 species have been identified. The ceratopsian family is one of the most successful and varied of the Late Cretaceous as Triceratops is also the largest member of this family, reaching the size of a school bus.

Some people say that Triceratops was a herd animal; it is believed that large groups numbering into the hundreds roamed North America. Their large, horny beaks and long rows of teeth were well designed for chewing the tough, low-growing plants of the Late Cretaceous.

It was likely the main predator of these animals was Tyrannosaurus rex. A number of skeletons show bite and chew marks that match the teeth of T. rex. Horns and frills seemed to vary among individuals within the species.

Some frills were very broad, others narrow. The nasal horn shows the most variance among individual specimens, no two being the same. The material that covered its horns in life would have added significantly to the length of the fossilized bone

Despite knowing all that, What did concerned me was why a herd of triceratops needed to be protected from a juvenile albertosaurus. The only reasons I could think of are that the adults are getting too weak or sick to fight, and that the juveniles aren't that good at defending themselves yet.

We then entered the fence that kept the triceratops from escaping sat at a large rock preparing our weapons.