Chapter 170

Regular carriages only travel in the morning and take a short break at night.

No matter how well-maintained the road is, nighttime journeys are just way too dangerous.

Even if the security is decent, it’s still a headache if nocturnal beasts or monsters show up.

So, carriages operate only in the morning, and at night, they either stop or have passengers camp out. Luckily, there are rest stops along the way.

You could think of them as similar to gas stations on Earth. Thanks to that, I could grab a meal there. No need to suffer again in the woods.

“We’ve arrived!”

And so, the eagerly awaited morning of the second day dawned.

I managed to reach ‘Unity Village,’ the closest town to the Academy.

We had only stopped for a meal at the rest stop, and thanks to traveling both day and night, we arrived here early.

“Super cheap! Today’s the best deal!”

“It’s from yesterday’s cattle! Come try it out!”

Unity Village is the town closest to the Academy, which might be why it’s incredibly bustling.

Although it doesn’t have a train station like the Academy, that hasn’t stopped its growth.

In fact, it’s a hub where talent from all over the world gathers, attracting tons of people.

The Academy is fundamentally an educational institution, so its infrastructure is lacking.

That’s why this village fills in the gaps with its facilities and services.

‘Thanks to the influence of the Chaos Forest, there are quite a few beasts and monsters around here, too.’

It’s more accurate to say that this is a gateway through the Chaos Forest. If you fail in the competition, you might end up back here.

As long as humans don’t recklessly destroy the ecosystem, it’s pretty solid. There are even times when humans need to intervene directly.

This is due to the weather in the Academy and the village, which is generally regarded as a pleasant place for people to live year-round.

Even during the coldest season, winter, it hardly ever drops below freezing. So it’s perfect for activities.

A place that’s good for humans is also good for beasts and monsters.

‘If not, I would have frozen to death in winter.’

I consider that a stroke of luck. I could just roam around in light clothing.

As I wandered around the lively Unity Village, I redirected my steps. First things first: I needed to gather some information.

I only knew that demons resided near this village. I’d have to find their exact location through rumors.

‘I could be unlucky and there may not be any around here.’

If that’s the case, I’d just stay here for a few days and then head back. It could be fun in its own way.

If the Academy is the main quest, then Unity Village is the collection of side quests.

Most beginners tend to focus heavily on leveling up, and Unity Village caters to that.

As for me, I don’t really need to level up, but I came here to gather some items. I really want that one particular item.

‘To get at least a bit closer…’

I glanced around. Various street foods looking delicious tempted me, but I held out for now.

What I wanted to find was a guild, a place to accept quests. Usually, side quests can be picked up at the guild.

In a fantasy world, you might think that only certain professions can pick up tasks. That’s half-true.

‘Since I’m already an Academy student, it doesn’t matter.’

I’m not just any student. As long as I can properly show my identification, I would be able to take on quests.

It’s a kind of privilege. I made sure to bring my ID.

‘There it is.’

I headed for the building that clearly resembled a guild. The sign boldly read “Guild.”

But really, all I would do there was skim through the quests or ascertain rumors. That’s all.

I’d also take the chance to grab a bite. It’s a place that doubles as an inn, so I could easily sort myself out with a meal.

*Clunk—*

As I opened the distinct tavern door and stepped inside, it was surprisingly quiet. There were people drinking from the morning, but it was still relatively calm.

There wasn’t anyone causing a ruckus or shouting at the top of their lungs. No one was making a scene.

It seemed like, since the Academy was nearby, there was some degree of management in place.

‘Unlike other places where chaos reigns.’

In places where security is a mess, violent incidents happen frequently, and those often escalate to murder.

I took a look around the calm interior of the guild and walked over to the counter. As I approached, a pretty female attendant greeted me with a smile.

“Welcome! How can I assist you today?”

“I’m looking for quests?”

“Are you trying to accept quests? First, let me check your identification.”

As soon as I heard that, I pulled out my ID that I had tucked away in a small bag. I had gotten it the moment I became an Academy student.

When the attendant saw my Academy student ID, she nodded and kept her signature friendly smile.

“Oh, you’re an Academy student. Do you happen to know what grade you’re in?”

“First year.”

“First years are allowed to take on quests up to the orange grade, based on the rules.”

Just like levels are classified by colors, quests are also categorized by colors.

Naturally, red is the lowest, while purple is the highest. First years can take on at least orange to ensure safety.

It’s a privilege, but it’s not something you can just spam. Especially since there are many stubborn students, so the guild has put restrictions in place.

‘Otherwise, many students would end up dead.’

It’s surprisingly sensible here. I wasn’t planning on saying much since I was only there to check the rumors.

After briefly ordering a simple meal from the attendant, I shifted my focus to the bulletin board filled with various quests.

There were quite a few people by the bulletin board, and they all looked like folks who had seen their share of action.

“Huh? What’s this? A student?”

“Looks like it, huh?”

A few people who noticed my approach murmured quietly. They were speaking in a language that wasn’t the common tongue.

Then they gave me a sideways glance before casually continuing their conversation, unaware that I could hear them.

“Well, this time of year, kids tend to gather a lot. How many came yesterday?”

“A good number. I heard some thoughtlessly went to hunt goblins and ended up in a mess.”

“Learning and practice are two different things.”

Were those comments meant for me to overhear? Even though they weren’t speaking the common language, I understood everything.

But I didn’t bother pointing that out. Judging by their expressions and tone, they seemed to genuinely be concerned.

They say that the more a grain ripens, the lower its head, and those who have been around tend to be more respectful.

‘Those who aren’t respectful are all dead.’

They were people closer to savagery than civilization. People whose fists move faster than their words.

Moreover, because their lives often dangled by a thread, they usually dislike anything troublesome.

“But what’s up with his bright red eyes… is he from the Eastern Empire or the Western one?”

“I heard some Academy kids mention there’s a wildling with bright red eyes that came around. Could that be him?”

“Could be.”

I wonder if the rumor has spread all the way to this village. It’s not completely unfathomable.

After all, it’s the closest town to the Academy, and many people from around the world gather here.

Furthermore, even high-ranking individuals sometimes visit this town to relax. That’s how the economy flows.

“Hey. Do you need an orange grade quest?”

It was at that moment. One of the guys who had been chatting with his buddies turned to me. His common tongue was a bit rough, but he was trying.

I guessed he was trying to be considerate since I was right behind him, and I couldn’t help but feel it was kinda kind.

“Yeah. Anything will do.”

“By the way, is that axe yours?”

The man with a rather fearsome look pointed at the Ragnarok hanging on my back.

I had no clue why he’d ask such a thing, but I nodded in affirmation as it was indeed true.

The man stared at me for a while, then shrugged and spoke.

“Well, your physique looks sturdy despite the face… let’s see… it should require quite a bit of strength…”

“This should suffice, right?”

“Heh. If you do that, you’ll just waste time. Starting out is important, you know?”

“How about this? I just need to scout and come back.”

“Kiddo, this isn’t a spy. You’re not a rogue or an archer. What if you end up lost?”

What the heck.

In an instant, the area in front of the bulletin board turned busy. All the hefty guys started sharing opinions.

I stood behind, totally baffled, unable to comprehend what was happening.

“Alright. Pick one of these that you might be able to do. Give it your all.”

Before long, the first guy who had talked to me handed over a stack of quest papers. There were three in total.

I took them with a confused expression. Somehow, I ended up with quests I hadn’t even wanted.

‘…I guess I should think of it as earning some honor.’

Honor is important even in the Soul World. Especially for side quests, it’s a perfect system to earn it.

I figured I could adapt to the world around me while multitasking. I still checked the quest papers with a hesitant heart.

The first one that caught my eye was a labor task. I didn’t need money, and it seemed extremely simple.

“Don’t let pride hold you back. Starting with that would be good.”

As I began examining the papers, the guy threw in what was more of a suggestion than advice.

He also mentioned that Academy kids are so prideful, they tend to take on the difficult stuff first and end up getting hurt.

They were being oddly caring towards me, as if I was some little kid.

I didn’t need to do this, but I decided to go ahead. I felt a bit bad for causing unnecessary worry.

‘…Huh?’

Just as I was going through the quest papers, something that stood out among the orange grades caught my eye.

[Anomalies detected in the northwestern forest. Corpses of animals and monsters drained of blood discovered. Investigation required.]

It was marked orange simply because it was an investigation. However, this was the very quest I had been wanting!

I’d need to check in person for the details, but it was highly likely this was the work of that demon. After all, the first victims were animals and monsters.

Gradually, it would stretch its claws towards the village. Reports of missing people would coincide with the emergence of victims.

‘These people are really nice.’

I stared at the crowd moving away from the bulletin board. They were all together like a team.

Having given me such a good quest, I should at least express my gratitude. But there wasn’t much I could offer in return.

“Hey!”

“Huh?”

I called out anyway. Clutching the quest paper tightly in both hands, I approached them.

The adventurers, likely judging by their appearance, all turned to look at me with questions in their eyes.

Though they had a rather tough demeanor from having experienced their share of action, they were genuinely kind people.

“Thank you!”

I bowed deeply to express my gratitude. It might have felt like wasting their time, but it was undoubtedly a big help to me.

At my expression of thanks, the adventurers flinched momentarily and then brightened their smiles.

“Wow. Whoever you are, you’re very polite. Need any more help?”

“No, I’m good.”

“You’re sure? Do you have a compass?”

“…Huh?”

Now that I think about it, I don’t have a compass. I’ve been relying solely on my instincts until now.

Upon hearing my reaction, the guy nodded knowingly and pulled something out of his pocket.

Then he tossed it to me. I caught it, surprised, and found it was a compass, albeit a bit dirty.

“Use that well. I can just buy a new one.”

“You rich guy…”

“Hey! What money does a student have?”

No, I really do have money. I was too stunned to even respond.

“This map. Do you know how to read it?”

“…No?”

“Sigh. Figured as much. Here, let me show you.”

Not only did I receive a map, but he also went ahead and started explaining how to read it.

They say words can repay debts a thousand fold, but I already have plenty of money.

“This is your first time in this village, right? Let me introduce you to some faces.”

“It’s alright…”

“Quiet. You’re a student, so you’ll be coming here often. I’ll just let you recognize faces.”

These people are way too kind. Their faces don’t match their attitudes at all.

‘…Good things bring good things.’

It’s true that polite words come back with kind replies.

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