CHAPTER 8 – THE FIRST OF MANY

【Trail of the Greenhorn – Rank: Usual】

Time Limit: None

Reward: Unknown

Objectives:

›Subjugate: Five monsters

›Find: Elemental Manastone

›Reach: The Shrine

›Exterminate: The Guardian of the Shrine

—

I drew my sword from its sheath on my back, kicked the ground, and dashed full speed ahead. My grey scarf trailed behind in the air, beautifully dancing about in the wind. My overgrown, messy white hair no longer obstructed my vision, as it was blown back by the warm, gentle breeze.

My eyes were blazing with determination.

Examining my objectives, I had a rough idea of what I was supposed to do. ‘Subjugate’ would not mean the same as ‘Exterminate’, as those were separate goals. That’s good. I don’t want to kill if I don’t have to. Though, I'm not even sure if I was able to kill, even in a situation where I should.

The one thing that stuck out the most was the second goal. Finding an Elemental Manastone could prove difficult. Perhaps there were more than one hidden across the Trail, and you’d only be required to find a single one? That’s always a possibility. Maybe there was an Elemental Manastone for every single element?

I suppose I’ll fight The Guardian of the Shrine once I reach the shrine, so I don’t have to worry about those two. Yet. I do remember Seth telling me something along the lines of ‘It’s do or die out there’, but the last thing I want to do is die when some boss monster smashes me to smithereens. Well, the old man did say I wouldn't die, but I can't imagine the experience being all that pleasant either.

Dashing down the forest path, I heard rustling in the bushes to my right. Intrigued, I steered my step towards the source of the sound.

After paying closer attention to my surroundings, I could notice the abnormality in the frequency of vegetation under a tree to my right. And while the flora littering the Trail certainly was beautiful, the ones around the rustling thicket practically emanated magic essence. I guess I’ll soon find out whether my hypothesis about the Manastones of multiple elemental varieties would be proven correct.

After a closer inspection, I caught a glimpse of a figure lying in wait in the thicket.

【Kobold – Affinity: None – Rank: Usual – Rarity: E】

Although I was barely able to differentiate the beast from the background, I was able to analyze the monsters with my eye. Seth really hit the nail on the head when he said that my ability would prove useful!

It seemed to be lying in ambush, ready to take on adventurer initiates that would steer away from the beaten path. Though I couldn’t see more than a rough outline of one of them, my senses somehow felt elevated, as I could clearly feel the intent to kill directed towards me from more sources than one. However, my objective wasn’t to kill but to subjugate. How can I subjugate a monster that has its sights set on taking my life? Perhaps I could calm them down by disarming them?

Though my plan wasn’t exactly foolproof, it was the best I could come up with on the spot. I leaped into the thicket, swung my blade, cleaving my way through the shrubbery. I finally saw the true form of the monsters that were lying in wait.

Kobolds, three of them. They were Usual-Ranked monsters of a rather low rarity, that stood as tall as a human child, possessing both reptilian features, such as their tail and green, scaly skin, as well as canine features, such as their ears and fur around the head that mimicked the hair of a humanoid. Though their eyes were bloodshot, their limbs were feeble, and weapons inadequate. The weapons the trio wielded were flimsy stone weapons. The dull stones were tied to the ends of sticks using vines that grew in excess in the surrounding area. Even I, an absolute recluse, didn't feel threatened.

I took the initiative while I still had a chance. I jumped at the three kobolds swinging my blade in a wide arc. The black blade glistened beautifully in the sunlight, as it swung for the first time since the Convergence of Gods.

The strike wasn’t aimed at the kobolds themselves, but rather just short of them. Close enough to strike fear into their hearts, but far enough not to wound them.

The kobolds readied their weapons against their prey, but their prey ran fast. The moment I jumped at them, they realized that the initiative they thought they had was already long gone, and the element of surprise had switched sides.

Now on the defensive, the kobolds held their weapons up, to protect themselves the upcoming assault, but for naught. The blade I brandished swiftly cleaved through the flimsy makeshift weapons the kobolds had prepared.

I knew the blade I had purchased was amazing, but to cleave through wood with such ease? Goddamn. I just hope I don't ruin the edge like this...

The kobolds instinctively closed their eyes in preparation for their now inevitable doom. However, once they finally dared open their eyes, they found themselves completely unscathed.

I never intended to hurt them in the first place. The conditions only required the subjugation of five monsters. I was only required to exterminate the monster guarding the Shrine. The now helpless kobolds were no longer coming after me.

›Subjugate: 3/5

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The subjugation was a success!

I’m glad it worked out that easily, but I had another objective in mind. I started to rummage through the bushes in search for the Elemental Manastone.

My search quickly came to halt, as the Kobolds started to raise their voices in unison. Their shrieks weren't exactly what you'd call pleasant, at least compared to Lumi's voice, but they certainly caught my attention. At first, I was wary about them attacking once more, but that seemed not to be the case. The kobolds seemed awfully cooperative this time. They signaled me to wait. I wonder why?

Not long after, the kobold trio came back, holding a precious green gem in their hands, and presented the said gem to me while humbly bowing down. These monsters have better manners than most people in my own world! Enchanted by the glow of the gem, I gratefully received it.

【Elemental Manastone of Nature】

As soon as I had analyzed the gem it escaped from my grasp as it turned into bright light and disappeared…

›Find: 1/1

Alright! I'm off to a great start.

To think that the kobolds would actually bring me the Elemental Manastone! I returned the favor and bowed my head, giving them my thanks. I never thought I’d bow for a monster, but it just seemed natural. Without thinking twice about what I had done, I ran back to the path and pressed onward. While I ran down the path, I noticed that my steps felt a lot lighter now than they did in my old life, however, I had much more important things to think about.

What I had just found was the Elemental Manastone of Nature, and with nature being one of the nine elements I had written of, would it be safe to assume that Manastones for each element exists? While I do know that I’d only have to collect one to pass, my completionist spirit won’t allow such a half-assed act. Dedication works in weird ways…

Anyhow, I kept running along the path. If I had to guess, the path will eventually lead to the shrine, and the Manastones will be guarded by monsters and hidden along the path. The objective was to ‘Reach’ the Shrine, not ‘Find’ it anyway.

The sound of the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze was slowly being overpowered by the escalating sound of flowing water. If the Manastone of Nature was hidden in overgrown bushes, then perhaps I could find the Manastone of Water there?

I made a sharp turn into the forest towards the sound of rippling water and soon found myself at the edge of a large pond. The source of the splashes originated from water pouring down from the top of a steep stone cliff at the back of the pond.

In the middle of the pond stood a small, lonely spot of land, and on top of the small tuft of grass on the miniature island, laid a blue pearl. The stone was similar to the Elemental Manastone of Nature, yet instead of bright verdant green, it shone in tones of deep azure blue.

As I stood in awe and observed the area, numerous monsters emerged the surrounding forest. However this time, they weren’t kobolds, but slimes!

【Aquatic Slime – Affinity: Water – Rank: Usual – Rarity: D】

I found myself surrounded by five aquatic slimes. They were uncommon variants of the normal slime, usually found around still bodies of water.

Slimes, as one may know, are sentient blobs of unique magical goo. The appearance of slimes could only be described as massive, droplets of dew held together by surface tension, in sizes up to one's knee. Compared to water, they were much thicker in consistency, and their outer layer, or in other words their skin, was a pleasantly soft, yet resilient membrane. They were able to move both by bouncing and by generating directional force by wiggling the goo inside of their bodies around. The aquatic variants are able to swim, float and dive, resist slashes exceptionally well. They are easily recognizable by their light blue color.

If there was anything I knew about, it was slimes. I retreated back into the woods. Not because of my inability to deal with slash resistant monsters, as I'm fairly sure I'd still be able to cut through them with my blade, but rather because I had a plan. The slimes didn’t bother to follow, but before the slimes even started to retreat back into their positions in the surrounding shrubbery, I came back holding something in my hands.

I had collected a handful of berries from the surrounding bushes. As I laid the haul down on the side of the pond, I immediately gained the interest of the aquatic slimes.

Slimes had no mouths. They ate by absorbing their prey with their bodies and dissolving it in their bodily goo. Because of this, the slimes were never able to eat berries without dissolving the actual plant along with the berry, resulting in the sweet taste of the berry being overrun by the plant itself!

Though I would soon come to realize that my expertise regarding slimes wasn't as advanced I had thought it to be. I'm not sure whether or not slimes can taste!

To my relief, the answer was, or at least seemed to be, a resounding yes. Although the slimes lacked facial features, I could practically see their happiness as they eagerly feasted on the berries. After consuming all the berries they joyously bounced and squished about around me.

Apart from my love for the cute blobs, I had a reason to go this far. After all, aquatic slimes are able to swim, are they not? If they're going to be as polite as the kobolds after subjugation, then perhaps...

I pointed towards the spot of land in the middle of the pond, and soon found myself getting swept up by the slimes and being carried on their backs, not to the center, but across the pond!? Oi!

I barely managed to grab the blue stone on the way, but before I was able to abandon ship, the slimes threw me against the waterfall.

Were they displeased with the berries? That wasn’t it... They were so happy too, and I doubt that slimes have sociopathic tendencies. Before I had time to even brace himself to the inevitable impact with the back wall of the waterfall, I found myself laying down on cold damp stone.

Behind the waterfall was a cavern. Of course, there would be a cavern hidden behind the damn waterfall! In the back of the shallow cave behind the waterfall, a faint brownish glow could be seen lighting up the surrounding stone walls. That was the third Elemental Manastone I had in my hands. This time of the Earth element variety!

This discovery finally confirmed the existence of Manastones of each element. I was overjoyed.

›Find: 3/1

Though I'll admit, I was a bit hesitant to jump back through the waterfall, as I was still drenched for the first time going through the falling current, I closed my eyes, and decisively charged towards the waterfall and leaped through once more.

As I emerged through, to my surprise, there waited a mass comprised of aquatic slimes squishing their bodies against each other waiting to receive me. I fell down on the conveniently shaped makeshift slime raft and started floating towards the land. The slimes rolled and bounced around me one last time as I stepped on the land. I pat the slimes on the head and started sprinting towards the path once again.

›Subjugate: 8/5

Satisfied with the completion of the Subjugation and the discovery of two additional Manastones, I was once again on the run, step after another advancing along the path. The sun and the gentle warm wind were drying my utterly drenched clothes. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until I was suddenly blown back…