Chapter 39 - Chapter 38: The First Quest
One week after registering as an adventurer, Mika set out for what was called a "fixed-fee quest" among gathering-type quests.
During this one week, Mika had narrowed down the list of fixed-fee quests given by the guild's older sister into a few candidates for today's collection.
Mika had intended to try every single grass and ore gathering listed on the list, provided it was around Sarbengeal.
It was because Mika wanted to actually gather and decide which was the easiest way to earn money for Mika, considering the travel distance, ease of gathering, buyback price, safety, and so on, all comprehensively.
Today's catch was narrowed down to three types of items that could be gathered at the lake north of Sarbengeal and the forest to its west.
Immediately north of the town of Sarbengeal lies a large lake.
There is a town wall surrounding the town even on the north side, but this town wall is built in a shape that touches the lake.
If a large army were to attack Sarbengeal town, they would likely give up on the north side and attack from the other three directions.
Thinking along those lines, Mika realized while considering this gathering spot that the lord's mansion was built at the very northernmost part of the town.
"...Going to the gathering spot is too much of a hassle."
Mika left the dormitory early in the morning and headed for the West Gate.
To leave the town, one must use one of the three gates set up in the town wall.
The South Gate was where Mika first entered the town of Sarbengeal.
And the West Gate and East Gate are located on the main avenue that runs east and west.
To leave the town, one must get out to the main avenue, which is at least two kilometers away from the dormitory, even at the closest point.
When Mika arrived at the West Gate, the gate was already open, and there was some traffic of people and horse-drawn carriages coming and going.
Mika was wearing the academy uniform today as well. Of course, without a robe.
The only luggage was a canvas bag slung over the shoulder. This canvas bag was not something newly bought for the academy, but the one used to bring clothes from home.
This morning, Mika went to eat breakfast first and stole two loaves of bread for lunch, putting them into the canvas bag.
Saying "stole" gives a bad impression, but in reality, Mika just brought back a mountain of piled bread.
The dormitory meals were a style where the Cafeteria Lady served a mountain of side dishes on the tray, and one could take as much bread as they wanted.
It seemed to be the academy's policy: "Eat as much as you want!"
If mages are considered as soldiers, that makes sense.
Especially since children in their growth period are forced to exercise every day, the effect would be thin if they are not given enough nutrition.
Messerite had sighed at first that the amount was too much, but with the thought that "eating is also part of the job," it is understandable that they would try to force-feed them even if it was somewhat rough.
When Mika entered the gate, a soldier approached.
"Good morning, young lady. Aren't you with someone? Your father or mother?"
Here comes that pattern again.
Mika secretly sighed and showed the bracelet on the left hand and the guild card.
"I am a student of the Magic Academy, leaving the town for gathering as an adventurer. And I am not a young lady."
The soldier looked at Mika's bracelet with a surprised face and took the guild card into hand.
"...This is surprising. I am sorry about that. Are you gathering at the northern lake?"
When Mika nodded, the soldier returned the guild card.
"I see. Be careful when you go. The lake is fine, but do not enter the forest. Even though they are small, magic beasts come out there. ...Actually, the lake isn't absolutely safe either, but if you go into the lake there, magic beasts won't enter. If anything happens, run into the lake. If that doesn't work, you'll just have to accept your bad luck."
The soldier gave advice to Mika with a worried look.
The inside of the lake isn't absolute, but it is relatively safe. Got good information.
"Thank you. I'm going."
Mika thanked the soldier and went outside the town.
A road stretched northwest from the gate, and it seemed the Royal Capital was at the end of this road.
Although, it seems to take more than a week with a shared horse carriage.
Mika left the road and proceeded north along the town wall.
Actually, the gathering spot, which is today's destination, is about one kilometer in a straight line from the dormitory.
However, since the gates to leave the town are limited, first go south two kilometers from the dormitory.
After passing through the West Gate, one is forced to go north two kilometers, a ridiculous detour.
Psychologically, there is also this reason for feeling "going to the gathering spot is too much of a hassle."
Along the town wall surrounding the town, there are several areas where refugees have gathered on their own, called Barrack Town, where they built things like shacks.
There is no direction north from the West Gate, but the guild advised not to go south.
It seems the security is quite bad, and the guards patrolling outside the town wall don't seem to enter there much either.
Mika hurried a little, but it still took more than an hour from leaving the dormitory to reach the lakeshore.
Since leaving early in the morning, there was plenty of time, but honestly, it was a bit tiring.
Mika decided to take a short break upon arriving at the lake.
The lake was very large, and the opposite shore looked hazy.
The water was clear, looking like it could be used for drinking water.
"What a wonderful view. Maybe you can swim in the lake during summer?"
Should I open a lake house, not a beach house?
Thinking such things made Mika crave yakisoba and ramen.
"Ah, I shouldn't have remembered. I can never eat that kind of thing again...."
The strong smell and taste of sauce.
The good smell of soy sauce resurged deep in the nose.
"Guh... is this homesickness?"
Mika desperately missed the taste of Japan.
Mika suffered alone for a while and couldn't help but sigh, "Haa...."
"...I have to give up and face forward."
Mika stretched the body with a "Gugu..." sound right there.
Switching feelings, Mika remembered today's purpose.
"First, was it Momorima Stone?"
Momorima Stone, which is said to fall often on the lakeshore.
In short, it is moss balls.
Mika doesn't know if it is the same thing as moss balls in the original world, but when explained at the guild, Mika was shown various actual fixed-fee quests.
If you bring in ten or more, they will buy it for fifty rats per piece.
However, it seems they won't buy it if it's too small, and if it's big, they will buy it a little higher.
So, the bigger the better for efficiency.
Mika spent about an hour and found twenty-three large Momorima Stones.
"For now, this should do."
Mika put the Momorima Stones into a cloth rag bag given by the dorm manager Trilens, and then put it into the canvas bag.
Since the intention was to gather multiple types, Mika asked for extra bags to divide them.
With this, probably about a thousand rats in an hour.
Converted to hourly wages, it can be said to be over a thousand yen.
But, considering the travel time and effort up to here, it was by no means profitable.
"Well, maybe this is how it is at the start."
Unless you try many times, you won't easily think of efficient methods.
Today's purpose is simply to try.
For now, Mika decided to finish gathering Momorima Stones and move on to the next gathering.
Putting Momorima Stones into the canvas bag, a heavy weight pressed on the shoulder.
It should be only about two kilograms of weight, but this slowly took effect on Mika's body.
Gathering strength, Mika started walking along the lakeshore.
Within thirty minutes, Mika arrived at a place where rocks were rolling around on the lakeshore.
This is the next gathering spot.
There are many rocks rolling in the lake, and the aquatic plants growing here can be sold to the guild.
It is an aquatic plant called Razurassa Grass, three hundred rats per kilogram.
"Uge...."
They grow densely between the rocks.
Trying to grab and pull, a connected portion can be gathered.
Just a little test, and it seems to be several kilograms.
"I wonder how many grams this will be after the water is removed?"
Right now it has a lot of water so it has weight, but the water should gradually be removed.
"Well, it's unlikely to be less than one kilogram."
As long as it exceeds the minimum buyback amount, it's fine for now.
Mika put the Razurassa Grass into the cloth rag bag given.
Unable to put the wet and soggy aquatic plants into the canvas bag, Mika decided to carry them by hand.
"Oh, heavy...."
Probably, walking with a cloth bag weighing four to five kilograms was quite painful.
Mika returned to the spot where Mika picked up the Momorima Stones, and then went near the forest.
"It's a bit early, but maybe lunch?"
Unable to walk any further holding the Razurassa Grass, Mika decided to take a break once.
The time is probably not even eleven o'clock, but there is quite a fatigue.
As expected, gathering-type quests were tough more than imagined.
Mika entered the shade of a tree and decided to take a lunch break there.
Mika ate the bread brought for lunch and entered the forest.
About one hundred meters into the forest is the next gathering spot.
Next to gather is Karemiso.
This grass blooms small flowers and bears fruit, but it seems the flower blooms and the fruit forms in just one night.
Moreover, since the fruit is dry in the morning, it seems to look like withered fruit has suddenly formed.
This fruit is bought for seven hundred rats per one hundred grams.
"If it's this, it seems easy to gather about one hundred grams."
Looking around, this grass is everywhere, and the fruit is not just one per grass.
Many grow in clusters, so gathering seems easy.
Mika took out an unused rag bag from the canvas bag, put down the luggage, and started gathering.
Mika was so absorbed that it felt like more than an hour had passed.
There were several hundred grams of Karemiso in the bag, and for the gathering so far, it can be said that a sufficient amount was gathered.
"This is quite efficient. Maybe the first candidate for future fixed-fee quests."
Mika put the bag into the canvas bag and stretched the body widely.
It wasn't such an unreasonable posture, but still, for gathering, there are many times bending the body.
Mika stretched the slightly stiff body.
While Mika was stretching and twisting the body, a rabbit jumped out from the bushes about twenty to thirty meters ahead.
It was a very plump, large brown rabbit.
Facing away from Mika, it was constantly looking around with small, quick movements like a small animal.
"Ahaha, it's huge. Is it called a Flemish Giant?"
There was a rabbit that was unusually large in the original world.
Mika remembers there was such a type of rabbit, but doesn't know if that rabbit is the same species.
However, the unique form of the rabbit's back view made the cheeks relax.
Did the rabbit hear Mika's muttering? The rabbit turned around with agile movements.
At that moment, Mika's whole body stood on end.
That rabbit's face, those eyes, were clearly like a carnivore, and three eyes shone brilliantly red.
Just like that Agu Bear.
The rabbit ran towards Mika with amazing speed.
Mika, who was stunned, suddenly thrust the left hand forward.
"S... 'Stone Bullet'!"
Mika tried to shoot the "Stone Bullet" at the rabbit, but the movement of mana was sluggish.
The "Stone Bullet" did not manifest.
"Eh, why!? Ah, r-right, l-limiter Off!"
Panicking, Mika couldn't think well of what to do.
"Stone Bullet!"
Mika shot the "Stone Bullet" at the rabbit approaching within ten meters, but the speed didn't come out much.
The rabbit easily dodged it.
"Stone Bullet! Stone Bullet! Stone Bullet! Stone Bullet! Stone Bullet!!!"
Mika created and shot "Stone Bullets" recklessly, but there was no speed and no power at all.
Mika, in fear and panic, could not shoot the "Stone Bullet" properly.
By now, the rabbit wasn't even trying to dodge Mika's "Stone Bullet" and charged straight in.
Two meters before reaching Mika, the rabbit jumped greatly.
It was jumping towards Mika's face.
"Uwaaaaaah!?"
Mika instinctively covered the face with the arm, but the rabbit opened its large mouth and bit Mika's right arm.
Teeth like a bear trap bit into and pierced Mika's forearm.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Mika screamed from the intense pain.
The rabbit moved its large body violently while hanging on Mika's arm.
Using the weight to the maximum, it tried to tear Mika's arm apart.
Due to the weight and violent movement, the sharp teeth pierced into Mika's arm dug deeper into the flesh.
Mika couldn't withstand the weight and involuntarily knelt.
"Uaaaaaaah!"
Now, unable to think of anything due to intense pain and fear. Screaming and crying out.
Mika could only endure the pain, and could do almost nothing against that small predator.
The rabbit's face was dyed red with blood flowing from Mika's arm.
Mika tightly closed the eyes and, enduring the pain, tried hard to push back the rabbit's huge body, pushing its torso, but the rabbit resisted violently.
The teeth pierced into the arm dug in even more by pushing the torso.
When Mika endured the pain and tried hard to push back the rabbit's body, suddenly a dull "Bon" sound was heard.
At that moment, the rabbit's resistance disappeared.
Mika didn't notice for a while that the rabbit's resistance had disappeared, but noticing the change in situation, opened the eyes fearfully.
Then, the lower half of the rabbit's body had blown away.
Mika swallowed a breath and looked at the rabbit still biting the right arm.
Eyes wide open, the red color remained, but the brilliant glow was gone.
It seems the rabbit was dead.
Mika didn't know what happened.
But, feeling like the rabbit still biting the arm might move again, Mika endured the pain and tried hard to pry open that mouth.
Mika forced the body, stiff with fear, to move and separated from the rabbit's corpse.
Blood flowed down from the right arm, and it seemed like fainting from the pain.
Mika just repeated heavy breathing, "Ha, ha, ha," unable to think of anything.
Separating from the rabbit's corpse was just because it was terrifying, that was all.
Sitting down at the root of a large tree and leaning against the trunk.
Mika couldn't think of anything for a while, but as calmed down a bit, frustration slowly rose up.
"...Uh... uh...."
The body's trembling wouldn't stop.
"...Uu... uh... uaaaaaa......"
Mika barked.
Just, barked.
"Uaaaaaaaaaaaaa......"
Frustrated, pitiful, miserable, unmanly, anger and the fear remaining deep in the heart, all emotions were tangled together, and just barked towards the sky.
By continuing to bark like that, Mika started to be able to think a little in the corner of the head.
Mika remembered the right arm, burning with a throbbing pain.
"............Must heal it...."
Mika suppressed the desire to cry and faced the right arm, which was still bleeding.
Mika stood up while putting hands on the tree, put strength into the right arm enduring the pain, and thrust the fist forward.
Then, washed the right arm with "Water Splash".
"Guguuuu...!"
Gritting teeth, enduring the intense pain.
After washing thoroughly, blood flowed out from the wound again immediately, but for now, wanted to wash it off as a comfort.
"If it's a species with poison... it's over."
Even just to reach the West Gate is two kilometers.
Right now, just hoping that that damn rabbit doesn't have poison.
Mika tried the Heal magic.
Anyway, unless the wound is sealed, nothing can be done.
There is a possibility that magic beasts will come again due to the smell of blood, so want to leave this place immediately, but it won't mean anything unless the wound is healed.
Right now, sealing the wound is the top priority.
Mika squatted, closed the eyes, and concentrated on healing the right arm.
If attacked by a magic beast now, might be finished this time.
Suppressing the anxious feelings, concentrated on the Heal magic and devoted to healing the right arm.
After about ten minutes, the arm pain disappeared.
Washing the right arm again with "Water Splash", the wound was completely invisible.
No pain even when twisting or putting strength.
It seems not only the surface but also the inside was repaired.
"............Have to leave from here."
But, where is the best direction to go?
While thinking such things, noticed Mika's appearance.
The shirt was covered in blood and turned completely red.
The dark blue pants could still be hidden, but the white shirt couldn't be helped.
"The lake...."
Mika left the forest and decided to go to the lake.
Remembered that the inside of the lake was said to be relatively safe.
If just washing off, this place might be fine, but magic beasts coming due to the smell of blood would be unbearable.
Mika picked up the luggage left a little away and headed for the lake.
Placing the luggage on the lakeshore, Mika took off the shoes and entered the lake.
The lake water was cold, and the moment putting feet in, felt like the heart was shrinking.
But, without caring, waded into the lake, and after entering up to the waist, took off the shirt.
The right half was stained with blood and in a terrible state.
Probably, all the blood on this shirt was Mika's.
The damn rabbit's blood also attached when prying open the mouth, but most of it should have attached to the pants.
Mika dipped the shirt in the lake and, holding the blood-stained part slightly above the water surface with the palm, weakly shot "Water Splash".
Producing warm water by manipulating thermal energy, rubbed with the other hand.
Since the blood hadn't dried yet, it could be removed to some extent easily.
However, it seems difficult to return to the original white.
"............There's no bleach."
There was hydrogen peroxide in oxygen-based bleach, wasn't there?
Since water can be made, hydrogen peroxide should be possible, but probably it's a type of harsh medicine.
Don't know what kind of effect it has on living things if used in such a lake, and it's not something that can be touched with bare hands.
Giving up, washed off the remaining blood-stained parts with warm water and hand rubbing.
While scrubbing like that, the hands stopped, and breath caught.
"Uu... uku...."
Unable to endure, a sob leaked out.
Frustrated, tears spilled onto the lake surface one by one.
Could do nothing.
No matter how much magic could be used, it was of no use at all.
Even magic that can be used casually when nothing happens couldn't work as thought at all in actual combat.
It was said that those without the resolve to lose their lives die first.
But, Mika didn't even have the resolve to lose a life, let alone the resolve to fight.
Didn't even prepare to fight because it was too expensive to buy.
Was taught that those without preparation die first.
Entered the territory of magic beasts without even preparing to fight, or even preparing magic.
Mika squatted with a splash in the lake.
Submerged the top of the head completely in the lake water.
Cooling the head with the cold lake water. Cooling the heart.
It's no use sighing.
Came out of the water surface all at once with a splash.
Roughly raked the hair and wiped the face.
"Even so, survived...."
If there was no resolve, just make the resolve.
If there wasn't enough preparation, just make the preparation to the limit possible.
"Can't do it because it's not there" means nothing will progress.
Do what can be done!
Survived by chance or luck.
Then, there is a next time.
This time, probably saved by the accidental explosion of mana.
It wasn't intentional, but still, Mika has this "power".
Just need to accumulate from now on to be able to fight as thought.
Failures, successes, and so on...
All of it, become food, and greedily devour it!
"............How can I lose...."
Mika reached out to the shirt floating on the water surface and silently removed the soaked blood.
That was the first quest that became a bitter food.