Among Monsters (Tensura)

Chapter 26: the Veilwood Guest

James awoke to the first light filtering through his window. He stretched, feeling the lingering soreness from his recent promotion test but otherwise energized and ready. He dressed, buckled his sword at his side, and went downstairs, nodding politely at the innkeeper before settling down to breakfast. Today, he intended to tackle his first C-rank quest and get accustomed to this new level of responsibility.

Finishing his meal, James made his way to the Adventurer's Guild, where the morning light illuminated a row of adventurers already busy selecting quests. His fingers grazed the quest board until his attention was caught by a listing marked with a simple but ominous description:

[Quest Name: The Lost Healers' Herb

Quest Giver: Village Healer

Objective: Collect rare herbs in a dangerous forest region known for its aggressive wildlife.

Background: A mysterious disease is spreading through the village. The local healer needs rare herbs that only grow near an ancient, magical spring deep within the Veilwood Forest. The area is overrun by aggressive creatures that only come out at night.]

James felt a flicker of determination. Not only did the quest align with his need to adapt to C-rank responsibilities, but it also spoke to his desire to help others. Turning the quest slip over in his hand, he knew he'd found his first assignment. After taking it to the guild attendant for approval, he returned to the inn's stable, saddled his horse, and began his journey to the nearby village.

The ride took a few hours, during which James focused on the road and his surroundings. As he approached the village, he noted the tense faces of the villagers. Soon, a young boy guided him to the healer's hut, a small structure with a crowded interior where bottles, herbs, and various tools lay scattered.

Inside, the healer—a middle-aged man with weary eyes and a permanent hunch—greeted him with a relieved smile. "Thank goodness you're here. We've tried everything, but it's not enough. Out of 400 villagers, we've already lost twenty, and without these herbs, I fear we might lose many more."

James absorbed the gravity of the situation as the healer showed him the herbs he needed: Nightshade Fern, Moonlight Blossom, and Silverthorn Roots—each with unique, difficult-to-gather traits. He also explained that the herbs grew around the Veilwood Forest's Sacred Spring, a site that few dared to approach because of the dangers it held.

James studied the sketches of the plants, committing their features to memory. After thanking the healer, he tightened his horse's reins and set out toward the forest. Time was ticking, and the healer had warned him that without the herbs, the village had only eleven hours before its fate would be sealed.

The path to Veilwood was dense, and after nearly three hours of riding, James finally reached its edge. He took a deep breath, feeling the forest's magical energy prickling against his skin. The Veilwood was infamous for its disorienting properties—illusions, strange noises, and creatures capable of sensing and responding to intruders.

Recalling his experience with Annihilation Creator, he summoned a familiar—a horned rabbit, its nose twitching as he imbued it with the ability to sense the specific herbs he needed. He watched as it began sniffing the air, its ears perking up before it darted into the forest.

Not wanting to risk his horse in such dangerous territory, James used Sovereign's Sanctuary to teleport it to safety in his private domain. With one last glance at the dim light filtering through the trees, he steeled himself and followed the rabbit.

Twenty minutes passed, and James began to notice a troubling pattern—they were back at the forest's entrance. A chill ran down his spine as he realized the forest was playing tricks on them. He paused, closing his eyes, and activated Perception to guard against the illusions. The rabbit, imbued with additional magicules to resist the forest's influence, twitched its ears and veered sharply in a new direction.

Finally making progress, they continued deeper until they stumbled upon their first obstacle: Forest Spiders. Large as wolves and bristling with venomous fangs, the spiders skittered out from under the dense brush, eyes glinting in the low light. James took a steadying breath, gripping his sword tightly.

The first spider lunged, but he sidestepped, slashing its side as he moved. Another spider attacked from behind, but his perception skill alerted him just in time. Twisting, he ducked under its fangs and countered with a swift upward strike. Dark, ichorous blood splattered across the forest floor. He kept his movements fluid and economical, aiming for vulnerable spots, each kill precise. After a few tense moments, the last spider fell, its body twitching as it bled out.

Satisfied, he scanned the area and spotted the faint glow of Nightshade Ferns. He carefully harvested thirty of them, tucking them safely into his pouch before summoning his Sanctuary to teleport them back. Wiping his blade clean, he pictured Moonlight Blossom in his mind, and the rabbit picked up the trail.

Barely minutes into the new path, a low growl warned him of the next threat: Bloodthirsty Boars. The creatures were muscular and covered in coarse fur, their eyes blood-red and gleaming with aggression. They charged at the first sight of him, each step rumbling through the forest floor.

James took a measured stance, waiting for the first boar to charge. As it closed in, he sidestepped, slashing down with a fluid strike and managing a deep cut along its flank. The boar whirled, fury in its gaze, but he anticipated its movements, using a hit-and-run tactic, darting in and out with controlled precision. Eventually, the boars lay still, their blood soaking into the forest floor.

With the path clear, he followed the rabbit to the Moonlight Blossoms, whose delicate petals shimmered faintly in the low light. Gathering thirty of them, he teleported them to his Sanctuary and refocused on the final herb: Silverthorn Roots.

The way grew even darker and denser as they neared the Sacred Spring. Along the way, a Lesser Earth Spirit, a being of shimmering dust and faint light, appeared, reaching out with tiny tendrils. James quickly dispatched it, knowing the forest would only throw more obstacles his way.

Finally, he reached the Sacred Spring. Moonlight from an unseen source bathed the water, casting an ethereal glow over the thorny bushes protecting the Silverthorn Roots. But the peaceful beauty was marred by the looming shadow of a giant serpent—the forest's guardian.

The serpent's scales glistened in the moonlight, a mix of green and gold, and its eyes, dark as pitch, fixed on James with cold malice. It struck suddenly, its head darting forward with lethal speed. James narrowly sidestepped, his heart pounding as he felt the rush of air from its lunge.

Realizing that his sword would be ineffective against its tough scales, he formulated a plan. He created a diversion by casting Earth Bullet, pelting the snake's side and drawing its attention. When it struck toward the spell's source, James took advantage of the distraction to cast his new spell, Binding Net Circle. The magical net ensnared the serpent's body, slowing its movements, though not completely stopping it.

Seizing the moment, James aimed for the snake's exposed underbelly with his sword, using his enhanced speed to land precise strikes. The snake writhed and hissed, breaking free of the net and whipping its tail toward him. He barely managed to roll away, gritting his teeth as pain flared up his side.

In a final move, he focused all his strength and drove his sword into the snake's vulnerable eye, the blade sinking deep. The serpent let out a death throe, its body convulsing before it finally stilled.

Breathing heavily, James collected the thirty Silverthorn Roots as quickly as he could and made his way out of the forest. He summoned his horse, mounted it, and rode back to the village with barely four hours remaining.

End of chap.