Chapter 32: New Quest
A day later, in the city of Berm.
It was becoming a routine for Marcus to wake up in the morning, get dressed like a local, and then heading to the adventurer’s guild for quest.
Again, the gazes from the adventurers were still there. Still awed from his achievents as the one who had saved the city from the wyverns and destroyed the wyverns nest.
He saw Elaina there, working already behind the receptionist desk. She bead a smile at him and his heart lted from how cute she was. He smiled back and waved his hand before heading to the quest board where he searched for a quest.
He wanted sothing challenging and he saw one. C-rank goblin extermination quest. He recalled that goblins are one of the weakest monsters in the almanac but when in droves, they can beco dangerous. No wonder it was ranked as a C-rank mission.
Well, at least it’s not gathering herbs or spices or anything. He grabbed the parchnt.
He grabbed the parchnt and read it again.
[C-Rank Quest – Goblin Extermination
Location: Northwood outskirts, 6 kiloters from Berm
Estimated count: 30–50 goblins
Possible presence of Goblin Shaman
Reward: 100,000 kinah]
Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly. "Goblin Shaman...does it an a goblin that can cast magic? Now that’s a challenge."
He folded the parchnt once and walked back to the counter.
Elaina was already looking at him.
"You picked one already?" she asked.
Marcus placed the parchnt on the desk.
"This one."
She took it and scanned the details.
"Northwood..." she muttered. "This was posted yesterday."
She looked back at him.
"Tell
about this quest," Marcus asked.
Elaina nodded slightly and placed the parchnt flat on the desk.
"It was posted by an agricultural rchant," she said. "He owns a livestock farm near the Northwood outskirts. Pigs, cows... that kind of operation."
Marcus listened.
"They’ve been getting hit repeatedly," she continued. "At first, it was just missing animals. Then they started finding remains. Half-eaten. Fences broken. Tracks leading into the forest."
Marcus frowned slightly.
"Goblin activity."
"Yes," Elaina said. "It’s starting to affect his business. He’s already lost a significant portion of his livestock. If it continues, he’ll have to shut down operations."
Marcus nodded once.
Makes sense.
That explains the urgency.
"And the numbers?" he asked.
"Estimated from sightings and tracks," she replied. "Thirty to fifty. Possibly more if they’re hiding deeper in the forest."
Marcus tapped the parchnt lightly.
"And the shaman?"
Elaina’s expression shifted slightly.
"Confird by witnesses," she said. "They saw one casting sothing... fire, most likely. It burned part of the fence line."
Marcus gave a short nod.
"Anything else I should know about goblins?"
Elaina hesitated for a second.
Then she answered.
"They’re small," she said. "Usually around this height—" she gestured slightly below her shoulder, "—green skin, hunched posture, long arms. Their movents are erratic but fast."
Marcus listened carefully.
"They attack in groups," she continued. "They don’t fight fair. They swarm, flank, and retreat if pressured."
Marcus nodded, it’s standard behavior.
"But..." Elaina paused.
Marcus noticed it imdiately.
"What?"
She looked down at the parchnt for a second before speaking again.
"They don’t just hunt animals," she said quietly.
Marcus’s expression didn’t change.
"...Go on."
Elaina hesitated again.
Her grip on the parchnt tightened slightly.
"They have a tendency to target isolated individuals," she said. "Especially won."
"And what do they do to won?" Marcus asked but he could see in her face how troubled she was. "Actually, don’t answer. I have the gist."
"I apologize, Sir Marcus."
"No need..."
"Further information will be provided by the one who posted the quest. The rchant, his na is Roderick Hale," Elaina said. "His farm is on the outer edge of Northwood. You’ll need to speak with him first before proceeding."
Marcus paused.
"...Why?" he asked. "Shouldn’t all the details be posted on the quest already?"
Elaina shook her head.
"Normally, yes," she said. "Basic information is included so adventurers can assess the risk before accepting. But in this case... the client made a specific request."
Marcus raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What kind of request?"
"He asked for a skilled adventurer," Elaina replied. "Preferably soone with proven capability."
Marcus looked at her.
"And?"
Elaina t his gaze.
"...There have already been deaths," she said quietly. "This is not the first ti Sir Roderick Hale posted a quest."
"Hmm, that’s understandable. Very well, I just need you to point where it is in my map," Marcus said as he grabbed the map from his inventory.
Elaina took the map and placed it flat on the counter.
She leaned slightly forward and traced a path with her finger.
"This is Berm," she said, tapping the center. "You’ll exit through the northern gate."
Her finger moved upward.
"Follow this road for about a kiloter. You’ll pass a small creek. After that, you’ll start seeing farmland—fences, livestock pens."
She tapped a spot near the edge.
"His farm is here. You won’t miss it."
"Got it."
Elaina handed the map back.
Then she extended her hand.
"Guild card."
Marcus passed it to her.
She placed it against the registration plate.
A faint glow pulsed through the tal strip.
"C-Rank Quest—Goblin Extermination," she said. "Assigned to Marcus Manfred."
She paused for a second.
Then.
"Status: Accepted."
The glow faded.
She handed the card back.
"From this point forward, the quest is officially yours," she said. "Completion requires elimination of the goblin group and confirmation from the client."
Marcus slipped the card into his pocket.
"No ti limit?" he asked.
"Recomnded within three days," Elaina replied. "If left unchecked, the goblins may relocate or increase in number."
Marcus nodded.
"Understood. I’ll take my leave. See you after I complete this quest. And, when I return, how about I take you to dinner?"
Elaina tried to maintain her professional face but couldn’t quite control the pink tinge on her cheeks.
"No problem, when you return, it’s a date."
"I didn’t call it a date. I call it dinner," Marcus teased.
"Moah~stupid—"
Elaina stopped herself mid-sentence, quickly clearing her throat as she straightened her posture.
"I an... please proceed with caution, Sir Marcus," she said, forcing her tone back to normal.
Marcus chuckled under his breath.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it."
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