I gazed at the shimmering quest window, eyes practically popping out.
This is…?
An actual quest?
Something you'd actually see in a normal RPG game instead of this obnoxious 'muh realism' game?
I've been so immersed with surviving that I forgot that this was a game world, with actual game mechanics.
Is this how the devs are showing me where to go?
Or the system—game itself, for that matter?
Either way, I'm beyond cloud nine now that I finally have a goal I can work on.
With renewed conviction, I decided I'd pay a visit to the human camp and prepare for my journey.
And besides, five weeks had passed since I made the agreement with Silver Vane.
Five weeks was the time Silver estimated their business would return to normal, and their business was indeed doing well.
It's due time I finally get some goodies from them.
As well as about time I gave back that necklace.
…
…
…
The next morning, I approached the human camp through their front gate.
Something that I had never done before, considering we were fighting each other.
And that showed.
As I stepped out from the treeline, I heard people murmuring and chattering as they gawked at me.
Their own pace considerable slacked, with some even halting entirely.
I didn't mind—I mean, I couldn't.
I had to keep up my appearance of the 'big green mean guy' right now if I didn't want them to think they could exploit me.
Maybe I can do a Heel-Face turn later, but right now my reputation as a monster of the forest was protecting me.
The guards of the place didn't raise their weapons against me.
Sure, their gripped tightened, but they never raised them.
They just kept a watchful eye on me, and that was fine with me.
I'm not here to do any funny business.
After a bit of standing, one old fellow approached me; looked like the captain of the guards.
"Sir Grul, if you're looking for Sir Silver, then please follow me."
And follow I did.
The old man led me to what appeared to be a wooden building, the door to it swung, revealing the man of the hour, Silver.
He looked less frazzled than the last time I saw him.
His ponytail was neatly tied, and his clothes, were clean and clearly of fine quality—how envious.
Maybe I should request some of my own tailor-made clothes, too?
No, they'll just get torn by the time I get back to my little cave home.
Silver walked directly toward me, stopping a respectful distance away, his eyes fixed on, strangely, my tusks.
"Grul, it's good to see you. I see you're doing well for yourself. We're doing well on our end, too. Yields are plentiful, and beasts aren't prowling near us. We have gained more than we had before, all thanks to you."
Aw, shucks.
Hearing someone compliment me for the first time in a long time feels nice, but for something like this, it feels undeserving.
All I did was whack a few bears and boars and sprayed some of my blood on trees.
It's nothing special.
Feeling a sudden bout of self-consciousness, I merely nodded and quickly began writing down on the ground what I wanted.
First, I drew a stick figure of myself, and then an arrow pointing to the forest, and then a pile of supplies I wanted:
- Armor
- Sturdy bag
- Good quality weapons
- Potions
- And some other stuff I thought could be useful
Silver watched the process patiently.
When I was finally done, wiping the dust from my hands, Silver looked at the message, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"You want to go deeper into the forest…and you want some equipment to do it?"
Good job, Silver.
I knew I could count on you.
I nodded with what I tried to make look like a smile, but seeing Silver's face turn from being stoic to a smidgen of horror, I quickly went back to my impassive expression.
"Alright. Please wait a moment, Grul. I'll see what I can do."
Before he could leave, I pulled out his necklace from my handmade pocket.
"And…the matter about making our deal into written form will have to be postponed. Some…troublesome affairs have occurred on my part. Apologies, Grul. The necklace will stay with you for now."
Oh.
D'oh!