My adventures in another world with my brother Chapter 13 Adventures in the town and the girl?

We soon arrived at a town just before the capital, needing to resupply as we were running low on food. As we approached, two guards with beards and low-quality armor stopped us, gesturing for us to show our IDs. The sheer size of the town surprised us; it was excessively large for a town and felt more like a city compared to what we had seen so far. Apparently, this town was one of the largest ports in the country and boasted a wide variety of inhabitants.

As we made our way through the town, we noticed that the closer we got to the port, the nicer and more furnished the buildings and streets became. Of course, that didn’t stop the alleys from being suspicious. The caravan manager gestured for us to meet the vendors for the resupply, mentioning that we’d be staying until tomorrow evening. We hurried over to meet up with the other group, started getting the supplies from the vendors, and loaded them onto the caravan wagons.

That night, we stayed at an inn called "Misty Moon." It was cheap but looked fancy. The innkeeper was a short person with pointy ears. From what we heard from other passersby, he was a half-gnome. Apparently, it wasn’t that rare to see such a mix of species. Interestingly, when I used my appraisal skill, it said, "This is so mixed up I’m just gonna say unknown. Look harder if you want to know all the percentages." It was a funny way of putting it; I didn’t know the skill had a personality.

The next day, we woke up early as the beds were not great for our large frames. Overon was quite literally on the floor when I got up. I nudged him, but to no avail—he was going to continue sleeping. I decided to have breakfast without him and go out for a stroll. As I was walking, I heard a commotion from one of those suspicious alleys and thought to myself, "Well, I’m all-powerful, so why not?" I activated Dark Shadow, which created a mist to hide myself, similar to an invisibility cloak.

As I arrived at the source of the commotion, I found a girl being harassed by three thugs. They had beaten her and were continuing to harass her. When I appraised them, I saw they were all around level 20, while the girl was classless and around level 10. It seemed like none of this was really my business until the girl, with strange, non-human eyes, locked eyes with me as if she could see me. My appraisal skill indicated her race was unknown, but I had a gut feeling this girl was special.

Just as one of the thugs was about to hit her, I took the opportunity to snatch his hand right off his body and revealed myself with wings open and eyes glowing. The men screamed, "Devil! It’s the devil!" and ran away in terror. The girl looked at me with tears in her eyes and faintly said, "I knew you’d answer my prayers," before collapsing.

I stayed with her until she woke up. Bored, I experimented with healing magic on her, and it worked like a charm. As she began to wake, she saw me now in my disguised form towering over her. She looked perplexed, almost as if coming out of a dream. She looked me up and down, seemingly seeing something beyond just me. She thanked me and walked away, leaving me more confused than her. I decided to head back to the inn and meet up with Overon, where I found him stuffing his face with meat.

“Kinda early for meat,” I remarked.

“Nope, never too early. Meat is meat,” he replied with his mouth full.

“Ya know, I’ll never understand you,” I said, shaking my head.

I proceeded to tell Overon about the strange encounter I had. As he listened while stuffing his face, he said, “If she saw you, she likely has an attribute similar to yours.”

Perplexed, I thought it was probable, but to think she’d have such high-level magic was impressive. In that moment, Overon whispered, “What’s getting to me is the way she looked at you afterward. If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure she was looking at your aura, which could mean she’s a similar species to you, just saying.”

“Wait, what’s this about aura?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, you weren’t there.”

“Where?”

“I overheard that some people have this weird skill where they can tell people apart from crowds because they share the same species using something called aura.”

“But isn’t that weird? Aren’t we high-ranking species?”

“True, but just because we’re high class doesn’t mean we don’t share our origins.”

I thought attentively about that and decided to pass it off. Later that day, we departed for the capital with an unbeknownst follower.

My adventures in another world with my brother Chapter 12 Start of the great Journey

It had been about two months since we had arrived in this world, and we were just about to prepare for our journey. We were set to go at dawn. As the sun began to rise, casting a golden hue over the city, Overon and I met up with the other adventurers at the guild. The merchants' caravan, a line of sturdy carriages laden with goods, awaited us. Ivan, the branch manager, stood by the lead carriage, overseeing the final preparations.

"Good morning, everyone," Ivan greeted us with a nod. "I hope you're all ready for the journey ahead."

We exchanged greetings and checked our gear one last time before boarding the carriages. Overon and I were assigned to the lead carriage along with Ivan and a few other adventurers. Vyrin and Elara took positions on the rear carriage, while Jax, Lyna, Hargan, Kira, Thalrok, Zayla, Aeron, and Liora were spread out among the remaining ones.

The journey began smoothly. The roads were well-trodden, and the scenery was a beautiful blend of rolling hills and dense forests. Ivan kept us entertained with stories of his many travels and the various cultures he had encountered.

"I remember one time," Ivan began, "I was in the southern deserts, negotiating a trade deal with a group of nomadic tribes. They have a fascinating way of life, completely different from anything I've seen before."

Overon and I listened intently, absorbing the details of his stories. The other adventurers also chimed in with their own experiences, creating a lively atmosphere within the carriage.

Suddenly, the peaceful journey was interrupted by a pack of wolves that emerged from the forest. The horses reared in panic, and the caravan came to an abrupt halt.

"Stay calm and defend the caravan!" Ivan shouted, drawing his sword.

Overon and I leaped from the carriage, ready to engage the wolves. Their snarls filled the air as they charged towards us. With a swift punch, Overon sent one of the wolves flying, its body exploding into a mist of blood and fur. I drew upon my fire magic, summoning a torrent of flames that incinerated several wolves at once.

The other adventurers joined the fray, forming a defensive circle around the carriages. Vyrin's daggers flashed as he dispatched wolves with precision, while Elara's arrows found their marks with deadly accuracy. Jax and Hargan held the line with brute strength, and Kira's healing magic kept everyone in fighting shape. This was the first we had seen anyone fight in this way it was quite impressive.

Within a few minutes, the wolves were defeated, their charred and mangled bodies scattered around the caravan staining the ground and trees. Fortunately for us, no one had noticed our immense strength as they were busy with their fights.

"Is everyone alright?" Ivan called out, surveying the group.

"We're fine," Overon replied, dusting off his hands. "These wolves didn't stand a chance."

The caravan resumed its journey, the mood slightly more somber after the unexpected attack. As night fell, we made camp in a small clearing by the road. The adventurers set up tents and lit a campfire, the warm glow providing a comforting contrast to the darkness of the forest.

Overon and I sat by the fire, joined by Vyrin, Elara, Jax, and Kira. The conversation turned to lighter topics as we shared stories and got to know each other better.

"So, how did you two end up here?" Vyrin asked, his violet eyes reflecting the firelight.

"It's a long story," I replied with a chuckle. "We got lost on a journey and found some ruins that transported us here, Still trying to figure out how and why." Overon stared in confusion as i said that as i shot him a glance that clearly said go with it.

"Sounds like quite the adventure," Jax commented, his yellow eyes narrowing in thought. "Must be tough, being in a completely unfamiliar place."

"It has its challenges," Overon admitted. "But it's also exciting. We've met some great people, and there's so much to learn and explore."

The conversation flowed easily, with everyone sharing their experiences and dreams. Lyna and Hargan joined us, adding their voices to the mix. The camaraderie among the group grew stronger as we laughed and bonded over shared stories.

The next morning, we set out at dawn, the sky painted with the soft hues of sunrise. The caravan moved steadily, and soon we reached the open plains. The landscape was vast and beautiful, with tall grasses swaying in the gentle breeze.

Our journey, however, was far from over. As we traveled through the plains, we were ambushed by a group of bandits. The Redwing bandits, notorious for their ruthlessness, launched their attack with arrows raining down upon us from the tall grasses and nearby trees.

"Defend the caravan!" Ivan shouted, drawing his sword once more. His voice carried a sense of urgency, and we knew this was a serious threat.

The adventurers sprang into action, forming a protective barrier around the carriages. The bandits charged at us, their weapons glinting menacingly in the sunlight. Overon and I fought fiercely, our combined strength overwhelming many of the attackers. Arrows bounced off us harmlessly, but not all of our companions were so lucky.

"Hold the line!" Vyrin yelled, his daggers flashing as he fended off a bandit who had broken through the defenses. Elara's arrows flew with deadly precision, each one finding its mark.

"Lyna, behind you!" Hargan bellowed, swinging his massive axe to intercept a bandit aiming for Lyna. She nodded her thanks and continued casting defensive spells to protect the group.

Despite our best efforts, the bandits' numbers were overwhelming. Jax was in the thick of the fight, his sword swinging in powerful arcs. Suddenly, a volley of arrows descended upon him. He managed to deflect a few, but there were too many. His body was riddled with arrows, and he collapsed with a grunt.

"Jax!" Kira screamed, rushing to his side. She started to cast a healing spell, but a bandit took advantage of her distraction. He struck her down with a brutal blow. Kira's healing magic faltered as she fell beside Jax.

"No!" I shouted, fury igniting within me. I unleashed a torrent of fire magic, incinerating several bandits in an instant. The flames roared around me, my rage fueling the intensity of the inferno.

I had gone beserk as the fire within became uncontrollable blood spears started forming and my nature was open to everyone as filled the enemies with hole made of blood.

Overon, seeing our fallen comrades, let out a battle cry and charged into the midst of the bandits. With each punch, he sent enemies flying, their bodies exploding from the sheer force of his blows. The ground was littered with the remains of those who dared to face him.

Ivan fought valiantly beside us, his swordsmanship unmatched. "We can't let them break our spirits! Fight on!" he encouraged, cutting down another bandit.

Despite the chaos, we managed to capture twenty of the bandits while the rest were killed in the heat of battle. The remaining bandits, realizing their defeat, surrendered with fear in their eyes.

With the bandits defeated, we gathered the prisoners and continued our journey. The mood was somber as we reflected on the lives lost. Upon reaching the nearest guard post, we handed over the captured bandits to the authorities.

"We lost good people today," I said quietly to Overon as we watched the guards take the bandits away. The weight of the loss hung heavily in the air.

"Yeah," Overon agreed, his expression serious. "But we did what we had to do. We'll honor their memory by seeing this mission through."

Ivan approached us, his face drawn and tired. "They fought bravely," he said, nodding towards the direction where Jax and Kira had fallen. "Their sacrifice won't be forgotten."

"We won't let it be in vain," I assured him, though my heart ached from the loss. The other adventurers gathered around, their expressions a mix of grief and determination.

Elara wiped away tears, her voice trembling. "Jax always talked about seeing the world and helping those in need. He would've wanted us to keep going."

Vyrin placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "And we will. For him, and for Kira."

The loss weighed heavily on us, but we knew we had to keep moving forward. 

My adventures in another world with my brother Chapter 11 The unexpected hiccup part 2

In the meeting room, Garrick studied us intently, his gaze piercing and scrutinizing. The silence hung heavily in the air before he finally spoke.

“I must say, your accomplishment is quite extraordinary for adventurers of your rank. Over 200 goblins and a goblin king?” Garrick’s voice carried a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

“We’re just that good,” I replied with a confident grin.

“Indeed. But I need to be sure. Please sign this form; it details your reward.” Garrick slid a piece of parchment across the table, accompanied by a pen.

I reached out to pick up the pen, but as soon as I lifted it, I realized it was far heavier than it looked. Despite its surprising weight, I lifted it effortlessly and began to sign the form. Overon noticed the subtle test and smirked, knowing we’d passed it with flying colors.

Garrick’s eyes widened momentarily before he masked his surprise. “I see. That pen weighs several hundred kilograms. I wanted to see for myself just how strong you are.”

Overon chuckled. “You could have just asked.”

Garrick leaned back, folding his arms. “Well, it’s clear you two are exceptionally powerful. But I’m still curious. What brings adventurers of your caliber to our guild?”

“We’re pretty strong,” I admitted, keeping my tone casual. “But beyond that, there’s nothing more to say.”

Garrick nodded, seemingly satisfied for the moment. “Very well. Here’s your payment. You’ll receive it over the course of a month.” He handed us a pouch filled with gold coins.

As we made our way back to the inn, the streets were quieter, the hustle and bustle of the day having died down. Overon turned to me, a curious look on his face.

“Deserter, why are we heading to the human kingdom’s library? You mentioned it, but I didn’t catch the reason.”

I glanced at him, thinking back to our findings. “Our races are an upgraded version of normal races. After talking to adventurers, we discovered that our races are found in legends. In the game, the only way to change to a better race was to surpass level 100. The fact that our races exist here implies that there were others who reached that level—possibly other players.”

Overon’s eyes widened slightly. “So, you’re saying there might have been other players who reached level 100 and beyond?”

“Exactly,” I nodded. “Historically, the highest level recorded for a humanoid was level 92. Monsters go past that, but they don’t change race until much higher levels because they’re strong from the beginning and live longer. If there were other players who managed to reach higher levels, they might have left behind valuable information in the human kingdom’s library.”

Overon’s face lit up with understanding. “I see. That makes sense. We might find clues about other high-level players and learn more about this world’s history.”

“Exactly,” I said, feeling a sense of purpose. “We need to know more about this world and what happened to the other players. The library is our best bet.”

The next morning, we woke up early, ready to tackle the next requirement to level up in the adventurers guild. We made our way through the bustling streets back to the guild. The lively atmosphere of the previous day had not waned; adventurers of all kinds were milling about, preparing for their missions.

We approached the counter where Miss Abecca was stationed. Her feline features perked up as she saw us.

"Ah, Deserter and Overon! Back for another quest, nya?" she greeted us with a friendly smile.

"Good morning, Miss Abecca," I said. "We’re here for the bandit extermination quest."

"Excellent choice," she replied, shuffling through some documents. "There's an escort mission that would fit perfectly. A group of villagers needs safe passage to a herb collecting ground. The area is notorious for bandit activity, specifically a group known as Redwing."

Overon and I exchanged a glance and nodded. "We'll take it."

Miss Abecca handed us the details. "The villagers are waiting at the north gate. Safe travels, and be careful, nya."

We headed to the north gate, where a small group of villagers anxiously awaited. Their leader, an elderly man with a kind face, greeted us.

"Thank you for agreeing to escort us. The herb grounds are not far, but the Redwing bandits have been increasingly aggressive," he explained.

"No need to worry," Overon reassured him. "We'll ensure your safety."

The journey began uneventfully. The forest was serene, with the morning sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The villagers chatted quietly, collecting herbs as we stood guard. But soon, the tranquility was shattered.

A rustling in the bushes was the only warning we had before arrows began to fly. Overon and I instinctively shielded the villagers, but the arrows merely bounced off us, harmlessly clattering to the ground. The bandits, numbering around thirty, emerged from the underbrush, weapons drawn and faces twisted in malicious glee.

"You picked the wrong day to be out here, travelers," one of the bandits sneered.

Overon stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I don’t think so."

The battle was swift and brutal. Overon lunged at the nearest bandit, his punch landing with such force that the man exploded into a spray of blood and gore. I unleashed a torrent of fire magic, flames roaring to life and consuming several bandits in an instant.

"Fireball!" I shouted, grinning at the absurdity of using such a powerful spell in close quarters. The explosion was spectacular, engulfing a group of bandits and leaving nothing but scorched earth in its wake.

Despite our overwhelming strength, we tried to hold back enough to capture some of the bandits alive. By the time the dust settled, twenty bandits lay bound and groaning in pain, while the rest were nothing more than charred remains or pulverized bodies.

The villagers, though initially terrified, looked at us with awe and gratitude. "Thank you, brave adventurers. We would have been lost without you."

We escorted the villagers back to the city, their baskets full of precious herbs. At the gate, we handed the captured bandits over to the guards, who stared in disbelief at the sheer number of prisoners.

"These are members of the Redwing bandits," I explained. "We encountered them near the herb grounds."

The guards nodded, quickly taking the bandits into custody. "Thank you for your service. The city is safer thanks to you."

Back at the adventurers guild, we reported our success to Miss Abecca. Her eyes widened as we recounted the battle and showed her the loot we’d collected.

"You... you captured twenty bandits and killed the rest?" she stammered, her face a mixture of shock and admiration. "I didn’t think you’d manage such a feat, nya."

"Just doing our job," Overon said with a grin.

"Well, you've certainly exceeded expectations," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I'll update your ranks immediately."

With our new ranks and a sense of accomplishment, we headed back to the inn. 

The next morning, Overon and I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. Today, we were signing up for the escort mission to the northern human kingdom. We made our way to the adventurers guild, the bustling energy of the city greeting us warmly. Upon entering, we were once again met by Miss Abecca, who smiled and waved us over.

"Good morning, Deserter and Overon. Ready for your next big adventure, nya?" she greeted us with her usual cheerfulness.

"Good morning, Miss Abecca. We’re here to sign up for the escort mission to the northern human kingdom," I replied.

"Ah, yes! I've got your names down for it. You'll need to meet the other adventurers who will be joining the mission. Head over to the training grounds behind the guild. They’re all gathering there to prepare," she instructed.

We thanked her and made our way to the training grounds. As we approached, we saw a diverse group of adventurers sparring, discussing tactics, and preparing their equipment. The first to catch our eye was a pair of dark elves, their midnight-black skin and silver hair contrasting starkly against the greenery of the training grounds.

The taller of the two, a male with piercing violet eyes, approached us. He was clad in sleek leather armor that allowed for maximum mobility. "Greetings. I am Vyrin, an E-rank rogue. This is my sister, Elara," he said, gesturing to the woman beside him, who nodded in acknowledgment. She wore similar armor but carried a bow slung across her back, indicating her role as a ranger.

Next, we met a group of cat-like adventurers, their feline features reminiscent of Miss Abecca's. One of them, a muscular male with black fur and yellow eyes, stepped forward. "Name's Jax. I'm a D-rank warrior," he introduced himself with a nod. Beside him was a smaller, more agile-looking cat person with white fur and bright green eyes. "I'm Lyna, C-rank thief," she said with a playful smirk.

We were then introduced to a couple of dog-like adventurers. The leader, a tall, broad-shouldered male with shaggy brown fur and a stern expression, introduced himself. "I'm Hargan, E-rank berserker. This is Kira," he said, pointing to a female with sleek gray fur and kind eyes. "She’s a healer, D-rank."

A pair of Dragonborns caught our attention next. Their scales glistened in the sunlight, one a deep blue and the other a shimmering gold. The blue-scaled one stepped forward. "I am Thalrok, C-rank sorcerer," he said, his voice a deep rumble. The golden one, a female with a regal bearing, introduced herself as Zayla, B-rank knight.

Lastly, we met two elves who radiated an aura of calm and precision. The male, with his long blond hair and serene blue eyes, introduced himself as Aeron, D-rank cleric. His companion, a female with auburn hair and emerald eyes, was named Liora, C-rank archer.

Over the next few weeks, we trained with this eclectic group, learning their strengths and weaknesses. Time seemed to fly by as we honed our skills, shared strategies, and built camaraderie. The training grounds echoed with the sounds of sparring, laughter, and the occasional explosion of magic.

A week before the escort mission, we were introduced to the merchants we would be protecting. The caravan was led by Ivan, a branch manager of the Parlatence company, renowned throughout the continent for its extensive trade network. Ivan was a Demi-human with the appearance of a human but with faintly glowing eyes and a presence that commanded respect.

"Good day, adventurers," Ivan greeted us with a courteous bow. "I am Ivan, and I will be leading the merchant caravan. I trust you have been well prepared for the journey ahead?"

"We’ve been training hard," Overon replied. "It’s an honor to meet you."

Ivan smiled, a warm and genuine expression. "The honor is mine. Parlatence has a long history of employing the best adventurers, and I am confident in your abilities. Our journey will be perilous, but with your skills, I am certain we will reach our destination safely."

We spent the rest of the day discussing the details of the journey. Ivan explained the route, the potential dangers, and the importance of the cargo we would be escorting. The merchants themselves were a diverse group, each with their own unique stories and skills.

As the meeting drew to a close, Ivan addressed us all. "Prepare well, adventurers. In a week’s time, we embark on a journey that will test our resolve and strength. I look forward to traveling with you all."

With that, we parted ways, each of us returning to our preparations with a renewed sense of purpose and anticipation. The days flew by, and before we knew it, the time for our departure was drawing near.

My adventures in another world with my brother Chapter 10 The unexpected hiccup part 1

As we strolled through the city towards the Adventurer's Guild, we encountered various species. For some reason, I had assumed that elves were reclusive conservationists who preferred to keep to themselves rather than mingle with other races. Apparently, I was very wrong. We walked past many beings similar to ourselves and some that were completely out of this world—though that expression might not fit since this is a different world.

As we continued down the path, we noticed more details about the roads, observing how finely they had been crafted from mud or some kind of primitive cement. It was quite different from the city streets we were used to. The buildings, many perched up in the trees while others stood on the ground, were large wooden houses mostly covered in moss on their roofs.

When we finally reached the Adventurer's Guild, we were greeted by a lively scene. It was truly a sight to behold—parties examining different jobs while others sat around ordering food. Approaching the counter, we experienced the long-forgotten tedium of waiting in line, something we hadn't done in years due to the prevalence of electronic transactions in our world. But I guess it was nice to stand in line for a change.

Finally, we reached the receptionist, a catwoman for lack of a better word—a humanoid girl with purple hair, cat ears, and what seemed to be cat hands. I assumed she had a tail somewhere, but I couldn't quite see it.

"Excuse me, please. Next person in line, step up to the counter," she called out.

"Hi there, Miss...?" I asked hesitantly, unable to tell by the voice whether this was a woman or a man.

With a smile, she responded, "Miss Abecca is the name."

"Ah, Miss Abecca, good to meet you. I am Deserter, and this is my brother Overon."

"Hi," Overon said, stepping up next to me.

"Hello there, it's good to meet you. I heard you two were new recruits for the Adventurer's Guild. I am very happy to be of service. Please let me know what you need."

"Well, my brother and I would like to go on a quest that involves traveling to the northern human kingdom. We heard there was an escort mission we could maybe take?"

"There is, but I have to inform you that you two don't fit the rank requirements for this mission, nya," she said apologetically.

Overon and I just stared at her. She was truly a cat girl, ending her sentences with "nya"—something we had only ever seen in anime and manga.

"My brother and I are pretty new to this area. Could you explain what you mean by that?" I asked.

"Well, of course. You two are at Rank G. For the escort mission, you need to be at Rank E at the very least. There are eight ranks in total, ranging from the top being S Rank, followed by A, B, C, D, E, F, and lastly G. In order to level up, you must complete missions posted on the billboard. For this specific mission, it requires you to be at Rank E, which involves taking out at least five bandits, nya."

"Okay..." I looked at Overon. "Looks like we have quite the job ahead of us."

"That is putting it mildly, Deserter. Where are we going to find these bandits and goblins?"

"If you would let me interrupt you two," Abecca chimed in, "there is a goblin extermination quest posted on the billboard. We've had a recent increase in the goblin population, usually kept low near the west side of the Great Forest. You can find a cave they have been spotted in. If you head that way, I'm sure you can get many of the required goblins, nya."

"Well, thank you for the information. I guess we'll do that then."

"Perfect! I'm glad you took the job. I will sign you up for it right now, nya," she said, licking her hand.

Overon and I exchanged glances again as she said "nya" and licked her hand. It was a curious sight.

We were given a map showing the general location of the goblin hideout. As we made our way towards the Westgate, we discussed our attire. We really didn’t blend in; Overon’s body armor and my nobleman-like clothes made us stand out. But how could we remove it? It was the highest-ranked armor we had and probably the best for repelling anything we didn’t know about. The problem was, we just stood out too much.

When we arrived at the Westgate, our jaws dropped. The sheer size of the massive door letting in and out people, pulling in wagons, and adventuring parties entering the city was quite a sight to behold.

We gave our permission slip to the guard and were let out to find the goblin nest.

As we made our way through the dense forest, the sunlight filtering through the canopy created a dappled pattern on the forest floor. The path ahead was overgrown, but the map Abecca had given us was detailed enough to guide us.

“Keep your eyes peeled for any signs of goblins,” I said, scanning the surroundings.

Overon nodded, his eyes sharp and alert. “This shouldn’t take long.”

We trekked deeper into the forest, the sounds of the city fading away until all we could hear were the rustling leaves and distant animal calls. After an hour or so, we spotted the entrance to the cave—a dark, yawning maw in the side of a rocky hill.

“Ready?” I asked, gripping my staff tightly.

“Always,” Overon replied with a grin, cracking his knuckles.

We stepped into the cave, the air instantly cooler and damper. It didn’t take long before we encountered our first goblin. The small, green creature snarled at us, brandishing a crude spear.

Overon didn’t hesitate. With a swift movement, he punched the goblin square in the chest. The impact was so powerful that the goblin exploded into a shower of green blood and bits.

“Well, that’s one way to start,” I remarked, smirking.

“Guess I don’t know my own strength,” Overon said, shaking his hand clean of goblin remains.

We continued deeper into the cave, navigating the winding tunnels with ease. Each goblin we encountered met a similar fate—Overon’s punches turned them into green mist, and any that managed to get close to me were incinerated by my fire magic.

“Fireball!” I shouted, launching a blazing orb of fire at a group of goblins. The explosion lit up the cave, and the goblins were reduced to ash in an instant.

Overon chuckled. “You really like your fireballs, don’t you?”

I grinned. “I don’t care how small the room is, I cast fireball.”

We both laughed, the joke lightening the mood as we pressed on. We moved with purpose, clearing out the goblins with ruthless efficiency. My fire magic cut through them like a hot knife through butter, and Overon’s punches were devastatingly effective.

After navigating a particularly winding tunnel, we reached a large cavern. In the center of the room sat a goblin king—larger and more imposing than the others, with a crown made of bones and a massive club in its hand.

“So, you’re the boss,” I said, stepping forward.

The goblin king roared, charging at us with surprising speed. Overon met its charge head-on, ducking under a swing of the club and delivering a powerful punch to its gut. The goblin king staggered but didn’t go down.

“Strong one, aren’t you?” Overon taunted.

I took the opportunity to show off my fire magic. “Inferno!” I called, and a massive wave of fire erupted from my hands, engulfing the goblin king. The heat was intense, and the cavern lit up with the flames.

When the fire died down, the goblin king was still standing, albeit heavily scorched. It growled, swinging its club at me, but Overon intercepted it, grabbing the club and snapping it in half with ease.

“Time to finish this,” I said, conjuring a massive fireball. “Meteor Flame!”

The fireball shot forward, hitting the goblin king square in the chest. The resulting explosion rocked the cavern, and when the smoke cleared, the goblin king was nothing but charred remains.

“Guess that’s that,” Overon said, dusting off his hands.

“Yeah, let’s head back and report our success,” I agreed, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

We made our way out of the cave, the journey back through the forest feeling much shorter than the way in. With the goblins dealt with, we were one step closer to reaching Rank E and taking on the escort mission.

As we approached the city gates, I turned to Overon. “You know, this escort mission might actually be interesting. Who knows what we’ll find in the human kingdom?”

“Yeah, and that library sounds promising,” Overon replied. “Might be just the place to learn more about this world and how to control our powers better.”

As we made our way back through the forest, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows on the path ahead. The air was cooler now, and the sounds of the forest were starting to come alive with the chirping of crickets and rustling leaves.

“Can you believe we took out over 200 goblins?” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

Overon grinned. “Yeah, it was almost too easy. I mean, I expected a challenge, but they went down like paper targets.”

“Not to mention the goblin king,” I added, a hint of pride in my voice. “That fireball was something else.”

Overon laughed. “Yeah, you really went all out with that one. I thought the whole cave might collapse.”

“I don’t care how small the room is, I cast fireball,” I said, repeating our earlier joke.

Overon chuckled. “That one never gets old.”

We walked in companionable silence for a moment, the forest growing darker around us. The path was familiar now, and we navigated it with ease.

“You know,” Overon said after a while, “I think this mission was a good test of our abilities in this world. We’re definitely overpowered, but it’s good to know we can handle ourselves.”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s reassuring. And it’ll make our journey to the human kingdom a lot easier, knowing we can take on whatever comes our way.”

Overon glanced at me. “Do you think we should reveal our true strength to anyone, or keep it hidden?”

I pondered the question for a moment. “For now, let’s keep it hidden. It’s better to have an ace up our sleeve. Besides, we don’t want to cause unnecessary panic.”

“Good point,” Overon agreed. “Plus, it’s kind of fun being the underdogs who are secretly the top dogs.”

We both laughed at that, the sound echoing through the forest. The city gates were coming into view now, and we could see the faint glow of the city lights beyond.

“Ready to report our success?” I asked, a sense of anticipation building.

“Definitely,” Overon said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Let’s go show them what we’re made of.”

As we approached the gates, the guards recognized us and waved us through. We were tired, but there was a sense of accomplishment that made the journey back feel worthwhile.

As we walked into the adventurers guild, it was still bustling with activity, though it had thinned out a bit since the morning. We made our way to the counter where Miss Abecca was helping another adventurer. When she noticed us, her eyes widened slightly and she quickly wrapped up with her current task.

“Deserter, Overon! Welcome back!” she greeted us, her usual cheerful tone in place. “How did the goblin extermination mission go?”

Overon and I exchanged grins. “It went really well,” I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out a handful of magic gems. “We took out over 200 goblins and even got the goblin king.”

Miss Abecca’s eyes grew large as saucers. “Over 200 goblins?” she repeated, her voice a mixture of disbelief and awe.

“That’s right,” Overon said, placing a particularly large magic stone on the counter. “And here’s the proof. We also got this from the goblin king.” He pulled out a massive, intricately carved stone that shimmered with an otherworldly light.

Miss Abecca’s mouth fell open as she stared at the pile of loot on the counter. Her eyes darted from the gems to the stone and back to us. Her face slowly transformed from surprise to complete horror, her ears flattening against her head and her pupils narrowing into thin slits. She seemed to struggle to find her voice, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

“Th-this is… incredible!” she finally managed to stammer, her voice trembling. “I-I didn’t think you would… I mean, this is way beyond what we expected!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction. “Yeah, it turns out we’re a bit stronger than we thought,” I said casually, though I was enjoying her astonishment.

She continued to stare at the loot, her face a mix of disbelief and growing anxiety. “I need to… I need to get the guild master,” she said abruptly, her voice almost a whisper. “Please wait here.”

Without another word, she turned and hurried off, her tail flicking nervously behind her. Overon and I exchanged amused glances.

“She’s really freaked out, huh?” Overon said, barely suppressing a laugh.

“I guess we made quite an impression,” I replied with a grin.

After a few moments, Miss Abecca returned, followed closely by Garrick, the guild master. His imposing figure seemed even more intimidating up close, and his expression was one of serious curiosity.

“Gentlemen, please follow me,” Garrick said, his deep voice commanding attention.

We gathered our loot and followed him to a nearby meeting room. As we entered, he closed the door behind us, turning to face us with a scrutinizing gaze.

“Miss Abecca tells me you’ve completed the goblin extermination mission with remarkable success,” he began, his eyes flicking to the pile of gems and the large stone.

“Yes, sir,” Overon said, straightening up. “We took out over 200 goblins and their king.”

Garrick’s eyes widened slightly, though he quickly masked his surprise. “I see. This is quite an impressive feat for adventurers of your rank. Please, have a seat.”

We sat down, sensing that this conversation was about to get very interesting.