A wonderful day with the sun shining, birds singing and no problems in sight. Truly this is what life is all about. Lately my life has just been a hellish experience. This little break from insanity will surely heal my broken and battered soul.

No chance in hell of that happening and you know it, also 6 goblins to the right behind the trees and bushes.

Goblins are an interesting creature. Absolutely primal pieces of walking feces given form to torment the people of the world. Still they do have their uses as stress relievers by volunteering to get brutally stabbed, mangled and just generally brutalized. Nothing makes a day better than cold-blooded monster massacaring. Oh would you look at that, the goblin scouts face just burst out into a fountain and the frozen blood pierced them all. Nice going there Svor.

I can certainly agree with letting loose like this once in a while. Really helps us keep our cool.

Jenn don't even approach the remains of the green little snotballs. I don't want you to dirty yourself with anything related to those things.

'Shaa.' (Jenn)

Oh cmon now my little baby don't be like that. You know I'm just worried about them infecting you with weird things. They are also very dirty things. Nothing like their cultured hobgoblin brethren. Seriously what had evolution been smoking when it somehow made those green bags of shit into the first class gentleman that hobgoblins are. Seriously hobgoblins in this world are the most honourable people when it comes anything. They will fight tooth and nail to up hold justice. They are also fantastic knights that are realistic. Nothing like the fancy fencing that human nobles like to practice alongside their greedy habits.

Whoa there! Getting into rant mode about stupid people in charge again. Tone it down would ya. We're trying to relax here.

Geh! Sorry about that. Anyways the town is coming in view now. And holy hell what are those fields full of. They look like ashen weeds took over the fields. Is this the curses doing or are those weeds the plants they're raising? Well no time like the present, I guess. I call out to the people looking over the fields with frustration.

''Hey there! I am an adventurer tasked with figuring out the curse around here. Could you point me to the people in charge?'' (Joe)

''Fuck off would ya! We've had enough troubles with ya dang impostors already!'' (Villager)

''No, I'm legit. See, I have the request paper signed by the princess right here.'' (Joe)

The woman standing next to the elderly looking man who yelled at me takes the paper hurriedly and checks it out before sighing in relief.

''Dear don't worry, he is speaking the truth. Sorry, about that we have had a bit of a problem with impostors demanding payment upfront lately. Seriously when do people stop being so idiotic thinking village people are gullible.'' (Woman)

''Ehh, people that try and make a living that way are usually just dumb. I don't mind it and I take it he is in charge around here?'' (Joe)

Pointing at the shouting elderly man who seems to have aged a years lately he simply nods.

''Sorry 'bout that. Dads been bit jumpy with all dem weird shouty people comin in demanding monies.'' (Young man)

''Really it is fine, I understand the irritation must have been piling up lately. How about we get inside and you can tell me more about your problem.'' (Joe)

The elderly man sighs and starts walking towards the middle of the village. I guess he must be the village head or something around here. Also what the hell is wrong with this depressing surrounding. It's like someone nuked this place with depression hitting everyone and their dogs with it. The ground just feels like it wants to kill itself.

That would be what is affecting the land around here. I wouldn't be suprised if the curse has something to do with this depressing earth mana. In case you didn't notice the usual brown mana has a tinge of purple darkness.

Great we now know what the curse is. Now to figure out where, why and how to dissolve it. We enter the only two-story house in the village and enter the living room while the village head and the young man sit down with the woman going to the kitchen to make tea for us.

''Right, I should introduce myself now. My name is Joe and I'm a +C-Rank adventurer.'' (Joe)

''I am the village chief Olde. And the young man sitting down there is my son Pate. Thank you for coming to help us.'' (Olde)

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''Right who was the woman?'' (Joe)

With that said tea was placed in front of us all, after which Olde got hit with a chop on the head. I think the true village chief around here is the woman.

''Dear, you should first ask for proof before shouting at people. It gives our people a bad reputation if you keep doing it. And, oh my where are my manners. I am Olga this blockheads wife.'' (Olga)

''Uhh, right nice to meet you Olga, I'm called Joe. Now before you scold your husband anymore how about you just give me the info, I need and I'll be on my way.''

''Dear would you be so kind as to tell the adventurer coming to help us about our troubles now.'' (Olga)

''Uhh right. Around 5 weeks ago our crops started withering away mysteriously. It started with a few crops here and there nothing to cause a fuss over, but you've seen what it has come to recently. Nowadays our crops are starting to turn ashen and completely useless with the land seemingly getting poisoned. We started asking around for anything suspicious that happened before our crops started withering and the hostess of the inn mentioned a rather gloomy cloaked stranger. That stranger stayed for around 2 days before leaving. He just kinda drank his days away while sobbing while here so everyone just kinda left him to it. That is till some of the kids mocked him for a bit. He left during the night at some point after that.'' (Olde)

''Hmm from the sounds of it this curse is getting stronger every moment. Any clues to where he went?'' (Joe)

''He should have gone to the south towards the forest. Our hunters did mention an oppressive feeling around those parts so try and look around those parts.'' (Olde)

''Right thank you for the assistance, I will be on my way now.'' (Joe)

''No, no thank you for coming to help us regardless of the paltry rewards.'' (Olde)

With those words behind me, I set of towards the southern parts of the forest in search of the cloaked stranger. Sounds like a man just trying to drown his sorrows to me, and not an evil necromancer planning to curse the village for those kids mocking him.

I wish you would be correct. Just that whatever is causing the concentration of darkness mana is not weak by a long shot. Might be comparable to Jared even.

Of course it would be. Apparently my luck has just gone down huh. Also what is wrong with the clouds. It was sunny just a bit ago and now it's the most depressing dark and ominous cloudy weather ever. This can't be good huh. Also the surroundings just seem like they lost the will to live. This curse seems like the curse of depression to me. Well, I think I can see a clearing with someone there.

''Why can't, I just for once succeed. I tried my best and did everything I could. Why is it impossible for me to just get it right...'' (Stranger)

Oh lord the smell of alcohol is strong with this one. I can see atleast 10 barrels of ale just littered around the large rock the stranger is sitting on while sobbing and wallowing in self pity.

''I wanted to make you happy, but I just made you angry instead. I'm a terrible mate, aren't I. I should dissapear from the face of the planet. Just hide in a hole for the rest of my life...'' (Stranger)

Well dumb idea. Let's get drinking. Everyone needs a friends shoulder in these kinds of situations clearly.

Dumb idea, one I would expect from you.

''Hey man, you okay over there?'' (Joe)

''No just stay away. I'll only bring you misfortune if you come close. I'm just a useless dark dragon like that.'' (Stranger)

''Man you aren't useless. You just need to realize that and stop blaming yourself so harshly. Come on, I'll drink with you and you can tell me all your troubles to lighten your heart.'' (Joe)

''I'm such a wreck, how could that help me at all. I haven't done anything good for people, just by existing I bring misfortune to my surroundings.'' (Stranger)

''Look just tell me your troubles, and I can show you how you're wrong.'' (Joe)

''Whatever, at this point what does it even matter.'' (Stranger)

Taking a drink from my backpack, I uncork the bottle of wine, I had with me and share it with the stranger down on his luck. Everyone needs a friend in times like this. Sometimes all you need to solve your problems is a good night of drinking with a friend. There is no need for fancy chairs and skullshrinkers in reality. The cozy athmosphere is just relaxing in body and mind. Seriously doesn't even need to be a good friend, just someone who will listen to your troubles.

I suppose you have to live through something to really understand the feeling associated with said thing. You can symphathise with someone losing an arm, but you can never truly understand what that person is feeling. Good thing you are a train wreck with the cargo being issues from paths of life huh.

You really should shut it Svor. You being unaffected by alcohol can't understand these feelings.

I know that and it's sometimes frustrating to miss out on these moments in life. The little things are what life is truly about.

''Now come on and tell me your troubles mate. Tonight no one will bother us and troubles are gone. Just take a moment and live in it for now. You don't really need to feel so down.'' (Joe)

''Heh, I thought that was supposed to rhyme in some way.'' (Stranger)

''I'm too sober for that, so gimme some more would you.'' (Joe)

And that is how, I solved a curse with jollydrinking and complaining. I'm going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow huh.

Actions have consequences mate. And that is what you are going to have to live with now. Have fun.

'Sha!' (Jenn)

I though you we're on my side Jenn!? How could you!

I'm still you so she is on your side.

I'm still too sober to think about that sentence properly. More drinks for me!

This is going to be one hell of an embarassement for us. Thank fuck we are in the middle of nowhere with no one around.

'Sha sha' (Jenn)

Hmm, I suppose so, I suppose so.