Chương 9: Adventuring Doesn’t Feel So Bad

Vaelis removed the remaining metal fragments one by one using the same method. By the end of it, Grey's face had turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat rolled constantly down his forehead. Zelier couldn't help wincing in sympathy. No anesthesia... this really could kill someone from the pain. How did Guan Yu endure having his bones scraped clean? That was absolutely insane. Grey weakly pulled the cloth from his mouth.

"If I don't make it back..." he rasped, "tell Marianne at the tavern... that I love her."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Vaelis frowned, stuffed the cloth right back into Grey's mouth, then wiped the saliva off on Grey's own clothes with undisguised disgust. Wounds caused by metal fragments had to be disinfected. Otherwise, once infection set in... Death was almost guaranteed. The instant the cork came off the bottle of Firethroat Ale, terror filled Grey's eyes. The cheap medicinal liquor only cost thirty copper coins a bottle. It had exactly one defining feature. It was brutally strong.

Strong enough that even dwarves—famous for their drinking—would think twice before downing it. Without giving Grey even a second to prepare himself, Vaelis poured the liquor directly over the wounds.

"MMPH—!" The sharp smell of alcohol mixed with the scent of blood. Grey convulsed violently, kicking uncontrollably as the burning pain coursed through him. Only after a long while did he finally calm down. Watching him suffer, Zelier couldn't help asking,"Didn't we bring any healing potions? Wouldn't those work better?"

"You mean a Potion of Life?" Vaelis continued cleaning the wound with a strip of white cloth.

"That's the kind of luxury only Saint Healers can make."

"We couldn't possibly afford one."

"One bottle costs more than his life is worth." Zelier blinked. A Potion of Life is that expensive? Healing resources in this world were clearly far rarer than he'd imagined. Fortunately, the remaining treatment was much less torturous. After cleaning the wounds, Vaelis sprinkled a layer of coagulating powder over them before wrapping everything tightly with linen bandages.

"There."

"Done." If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Grey looked utterly drained.

"I owe you one, Vaelis."

"Quit getting sentimental." Vaelis stood up and dusted off his hands.

"You don't owe me anything."

"If you hadn't held the Mistwraith in place, we wouldn't have killed it either." Zelier draped a blanket over Grey and helped him lean against a nearby tree to rest. A gentle breeze swept through the forest. The supernatural fog finally dispersed, revealing the familiar pale trees of the Ashwood Forest once more. Looking at the peaceful woodland now, no one would have guessed such a desperate battle had taken place here only moments ago. Once Marcus confirmed the area was safe, he began collecting the spoils.

Drawing his dagger, he carefully dissected the Mistwraith's corpse. The blade sank into flesh. Blackish-red fluid oozed from the incision, releasing an unbearable stench.

"Be careful."

"Don't let it touch your skin."

"It's corrosive," Vaelis warned. The Mistwraith itself wasn't worth much. Its body was little more than a stitched-together heap of rotten flesh. The only truly valuable part... Was the mana core hidden inside its heart. Marcus sliced open the thick heart chamber. Using the tip of his dagger, he carefully pried out a crystal before wiping it clean with a cloth.

"What do you think this core is worth?" Marcus asked. Vaelis leaned over for a closer look. The crystal was diamond-shaped, wrapped in wisps of pale mist, overflowing with mana. Mistwraith mana cores were highly sought after. They could serve as the core of enchanted staves, be refined into magical potions, or used as alchemical materials. There was no shortage of applications.

"I'm no appraiser..."

"But judging by the quality..."

"It should sell for at least fifteen gold coins."

"Wow..." Zelier raised an eyebrow. Split four ways... That meant nearly four gold coins each. Four hundred silver coins. Compared to the eleven silver he'd earned from the wolf extermination quest... This was on an entirely different level.

"My beating wasn't for nothing." Even Grey managed a relieved smile. The pain suddenly seemed much easier to bear.

"Then it's settled." Marcus tucked away the mana core.

"We split it evenly. Same as always." He turned and gave Zelier a firm pat on the shoulder.

"I never imagined I'd kill a Mistwraith in my lifetime."

"Inviting you onto the team was the right decision."

"You did well, kid." Like mages, warriors were divided into Apprentice, Novice, Mid-tier, and Upper-tier ranks before choosing an advanced specialization. Marcus had been stuck as a Novice Warrior for years. Unable to awaken Aura, he'd never broken through to Mid-tier Warrior. Against monsters like Mistwraiths, whose defenses could only be breached by Aura or magic... He had always been forced to avoid them. Mana came from the Fountain Seed. Aura was born from the Heart of Qi.

A mage's Fountain Seed required talent—and luck—to awaken. The Heart of Qi, however, was accessible to almost anyone. Even someone with mediocre talent could eventually cultivate it through decades of relentless training. In that sense, Aura and mana were remarkably similar. Both dramatically increased combat power. The difference was that Aura generally reinforced the body itself... While mana could be projected outward through spells, producing all kinds of extraordinary effects.

After packing up, the group helped the injured Grey to his feet and continued the journey back to town. Fortunately, nothing else happened along the way. The forest gradually thinned. A brilliant blue sky stretched overhead all the way to the distant horizon. Far ahead, the silhouette of Blackstone Town slowly came into view. Signs of civilization appeared once more. Farmers working the fields and villagers traveling the roads glanced curiously at the battered adventuring party. Zelier took a deep breath.

A genuine smile spread across his face. So... This is what it feels like to return after completing a quest. It's... surprisingly satisfying. His first adventure had been incredibly rewarding. He'd earned 4 Gold Coins and 11 Silver Coins. Unlocked Spell Evolution. Leveled up twice. And added both The Grand Creation and Mistveil Embrace to his analysis queue. Life as an adventurer in another world... Maybe it isn't so bad after all. Blackstone Town lived up to its name.

The settlement had been built around a rich mineral vein. Its famous blackstone was a jet-black volcanic glass prized for crafting decorative works and high-quality arrowheads, making it especially popular among veteran rangers. Combined with the abundant timber and hunting resources provided by the Ashwood Forest, Blackstone Town ranked among the more prosperous settlements of its size within the Kingdom of Ther. After walking for most of the day, the party finally reached the outskirts of town.

A crude defensive wall built from massive logs and rough-hewn stone rose before them. Several guards leaned lazily against the battlements above the gate, dressed in simple chainmail with thoroughly bored expressions. A line had already formed outside the entrance. Most were farmers pushing wheelbarrows or hunters returning with game, all waiting to enter the town and sell their goods.