Proofreader: Me!

Today, I planned to do a simple but dangerous speed run. But, it needed a healer, which is why I desperately sought Uriel’s help yesterday. The contents of this request had one gather certain herbs within a monster-ingested forest, where each one had a designated source. Naturally, that meant people would create guides on completing it as soon as possible.

And, there was a nice hidden item which would boost my growth speed within the mana department. Although, I’d have to deal with a kind of dream world, not that’d it be a problem though.

It also gave decent amounts of currency, somewhere around five gold.

‘Hmmm…’

As a student within the first two weeks, money wasn’t needed, but I might as well start saving for later.

I quickly revised the currency system in my head. ‘Ten copper was one silver, ten silver was one gold, and a hundred gold was a platinum coin.’ It was very simple, but considering the other currencies that existed, I sometimes forgot the rate of conversion.

“Why can’t I take this quest!” The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t make it out. Giving in to my curiosity, I peered over toward the reception.

“Even if you are the Hero’s grandson I can’t make any exceptions for you!” A receptionist protested.

People crowded around, some with joy, but most with an indifferent curiosity.

“Excuse me!” A girl with blonde hair popped in and out of the crowd. “Ple- please move!”

Slowly, they made their way into the middle.

“It doesn’t matter if my grand-grand father or whatever is the hero!” He shouted, “I am worthy of taking this request.”

“Unfortunately, not only are you a first-year, but we haven’t officially started raid quests yet either!” The lady was fiercely retorting, “It’s meant for multiple people, to fight one monster!”

“Like I said-”

“Th- that’s enough!” Uriel stood in front of Mark. “Yo- yo- you’re causing trouble!”

‘Woah… improvement that quickly?’ She was visibly trembling, but with this, the image of her cowardice would be knocked down a peg.

“So what?” He shrugged, “What’s a coward’s wisdom to a Hero?”

“I… I-” Uriel’s once strong gaze fell to the floor.

“I- what? You’re a crybaby, get lost.”

Tears started to form in her eyes.

“Alright, that’s enough,” I landed on the ground after jumping forcibly shoving past other students. “Listen Mark, I get you’re the shit and all, but seriously. Bullying a girl is the oppositie of a Hero’s duty.”

“Tch.” His stance wavered the moment he saw me. “I don’t want to hear it from a weakling. How’d you even make it into the Golden Nest anyway?”

He stepped back, losing the energy of his earlier outburst.

‘Teenagers… so rowdy.’

“Uwahh!” Uriel wrapped her arms around mine, “Th- that was too scary!”

‘Was this the same person who stopped a Devil’s descent?’ I thought at first, but seeing the incredulous looks of others I felt the need to move. Especially since this pleasant feeling on my arm might awaken some kind of urge.

“Who’s that?”

“Isn’t he that commoner who hangs with the prince’s consorts?”

“Last week he was in the cafeteria every day with girls and Fen Castelle!”

“I even saw him talk on friendly terms with both the Rosemary girl, and the Empire’s Prince!”

“Is he a God of sociality?’

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

I ignored that last comment, giving my internal apologies to the blue-haired anomaly. Sorry Lisana, we could join up later.

“Excuse me, can we take this request?” I hastily asked, handing the paper I picked up before helping Uriel.

“Ah- yes!” She smiled enthusiastically, “Thank you for helping me as well, please be safe.”

I dragged the sobbing saintess who was locked onto my arm, into the teleporter next to the desk. The surroundings disappeared as the magi-machine closed its sliding doors.

“Phew,” I breathed out. “Maybe, I could make it up with candy?”

“Candy?”

…

“When did you get here?” I cautiously took a step back.

“From the start?” She replied. “You two, busy.”

An assassin? She’s not a weapons master, she’s a bonafide shadow. No training needed. I felt like a guard protecting the VIP with the way she wiggled her way in here.

“Something on my face?” Lisana asked.

“No, no, I was thinking about something else.” Tilting my head down to Uriel, I could see she finally stopped sobbing. “You good now?”

“Ye- yes,” She faintly whispered.

“Good, then I’ll need you to cast a few prayers the moment we arrive.”

“Hah?” Her face became visible, once filled with tears was now dry and confused. “What do you plan to do?”

“Nothing much.”

“Please explain,” Lisana pushed me further.

I had no intention of explaining myself, I didn’t want to deal with the aftermath of bleeding ears.

“Let’s get going now,” I put my hand on the teleport button,

-x-

I thought about Uriel briefly during the teleportation process, despite yesterday’s talk, she was acting the same… unlike Serina, who made such a move earlier. I was grateful that at least Uriel would continue to be my friend, even with such feelings.

Those thoughts ended when we arrived, needing me to re-jog my memory.

The name of this quest, [Herbs Needed! Orphanage Trouble!], was set in a mountainous region. Cliffs everywhere, ravines, and the like. Such is why this speed run needed a specific kind of hand-eye coordination.

‘However, this isn’t a game anymore.’

I’d have to risk it, but that’s why I have Uriel as a back up. Standing in the middle of a plain, both girls were before me.

“Alright, so I’ll need one for agility, luck, and one to create a one-time barrier.”

Uriel halted me, “Before I do so, could you at least tell me what this quest entails?”

“Four herbs, preferably in bundles, from this region. That simple.”

Both their gazes held suspicion.

“Ahem.” I turned toward the edge of the cliff around us, “I’ll explain later alright?”

“Wait! Don’t tell me!” Uriel tried to grab me, but I already leapt off the ground.

“Luke!” Even Lisana called my name, how blessed I was.

“Sorry girls! Just stay there for about an hour!” My lungs felt like they would burst.

The wind rushed past my face, and the imminent sense of death was felt. However, from where I jumped off, there was a cleverly placed vine right under. The developers were kind in some places at least.

Sliding down it, I would find myself at a riverbed. Monsters approached from the rocks in front of me. But, to the left, was the first herb.

“Alright, easy enough.” The first one was incredibly trivial to find and get, and the second one, was not too much.

I launched forward enhancing my agility, glancing at my minimap in the process. Of course, I wouldn’t have been able to do this without it. Not too far from the riverbed lay a waterfall, which you would get on top of by abusing a well-placed lever-like mechanism.

An axel existed here, where I could get a monster to launch myself upwards. Now, to test whether or not I could perform the same stuff as in the game.

As I ran forward, a certain monster, a mix between a lion and other creatures was a Chimera. Its snake tail was the most dangerous body part, but I trusted my mobility.

Thud!

The ground shook underneath it, releasing tremors amongst the soil.

“Hah, come and get me if you dare!” I taunted it with a universal language, using my middle finger.

RAWWRRR!

My ears made a ringing noise, but I had to move.

‘There!’ In front of me was a seesaw-like boulder and log.

Before the Chimera could its paws on me, I rolled to my side. Pebbles dug into my side, while moss and grass rubbed into my skin. Memories of my master replayed.

‘Please, not now!’

I jumped onto the backside of the log.

Tsss!

The snakehead hissed at me, leading the main body to leap at me once more.

“Phew!” I smiled in relief, “Hope we don’t meet again.”

Whoosh!

The thrilling motion of air brushing past your body at immense speeds was felt again. At the top of the waterfall was a pile of leaves, a well intentioned placement to help players who wanted efficiency.

“Umph!” My mouth filled up with strange kinds of plants. “Bleh.”

Within this pile would be the second herb.

“This is going great!” I pumped my fist into the sky, enjoying this level of athleticism. I could feel the efforts of improving attributes, and the effects of my enhancement.

This quest would be a cinch!