Quest Time!

The next morning, I met up with Als and Lizbet for the day to check for decent quests, but all there was were the usual everyday ones. Nothing but quests even low-level solo adventurers could handle, so we were stumped. I suggested they take a simple one—just for the experience, since I didn't need any share of the reward—and after a moment's thought, they agreed.

According to Sera's explanation that we couldn't contract without some compensation, we settled on a nominal fee of one fairy tale coin and picked up a seemingly easy quest: gathering mushrooms in the forest near the city (plus killing any monsters we encountered). We weren't sure if monsters would show up, but the guild buys materials and magic stones from any we ran into during collection. I'd never heard of magic stones before, so I asked about them—they're crystallized stones sometimes found near a monster's heart, useful for all sorts of things.

With the quest set for the next day, we sat at a table and showed each other our adventurer cards to share info. Gotta know your partner's weapons if you're watching each other's backs, right? I checked out their cards.

Hmm. Their stats were oddly balanced. Lizbet's mana was impressively high, but her Esser capacity was way lower than mine. For a celebrated mage, this seemed modest—was I the abnormal one? No wonder people gawked at my Esser amount. Otherwise, her specialization in fire magic stood out—fitting, I guess. Since skills and magic were listed separately, the magic probably required Mana Conversion to use.

Als had infinite Esser thanks to his bold "Hero" listing, but his other stats looked low. Even for a beginner hero, why so underwhelming? As I pondered this and glanced at them, they were staring at my card in shock.

"Esser capacity of 516,000!? Stamina at 723…!? And strength 282…!?"

"This is insane... Level 12? Gotta be a Divine Beast to explain it."

"No way, how...?"

After their shock wore off and we swapped cards back, I asked casually. Lizbet got scouted for magic academy due to her innate mana talent. It's rare, but mages like her are born with it, marking them as future powerhouses, so academies come calling.

For Als, I questioned his sparse skills. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Warriors who train Fighting Spirit usually have few or none beyond it—Fighting Spirit acts like an attack/defense buff, making them strong enough without extras. Human strength stats hit growth limits, so they focus on Fighting Spirit and technique instead. That explained Als's lean build for a hero—and why city guys looked scrawny. Warriors get judged on Fighting Spirit and feats, not raw stats, so guilds spar or check achievements when recruiting.

"Makes sense... Guess my stats are weird, huh?"

"Totally. Esser and stamina like that? High-level adventurers don't hit those numbers."

"Still, with stats like yours, you're rock-solid."

We chatted a bit more, swapping info, then left the guild office. To prep for mishaps, we shopped around, checking potions and gear. Shopkeeps gawked at me but were like, "Ah, you're that Divine Beast!"—rumors had spread.

I didn't need much, but watching Als and Lizbet browse like a couple was a mix of heartwarming and gut-twisting envy. We wrapped up, agreed to meet at the east gate next morning, and parted.

Morning came. I stretched, munched hay from the corner to fill up, then dunked my face in water from the warehouse well. This world had high-tech spots here and there—the well just needed a button press. Handy for a horse body, but still awkward. Worst was not washing properly. During my two-week inspection, soldiers hosed me down once when I asked, but that was it. I'd bathed in streams in the forest, but not in the city. Nearly ten days unwashed—body odor had to be an issue. Did I reek of horse?

"Hope the forest has a stream. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Plenty of time on this beginner quest to wash up." If not, I'd swallow pride and ask Als to hose me later. With that, I headed to the east gate.

The gate was a ways off, but closest from my warehouse—thirty minutes' slow walk. The west gate? Two hours. City was massive. Winding roads or not, east-west straight-line was 5-6 km? Building those walls must've been hell. Wall height matched three-story buildings, but taller 4-8 story ones everywhere—isekai architecture was solid. Magic-assisted, probably. Weird how high-tech elements coexisted with monarchy.

Arriving at the east wall, I spotted Als and Lizbet arguing fiercely. What? They were fine yesterday.

"No, no, no! What's the point if it's just me and that guy?!"

"Liz, come on..."

"Why fight first thing? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠What's up?"

Sticking my face between them, Lizbet huffed and turned away; Als gave an awkward smile and explained.

"After we split yesterday, some trouble. A soldier delivered a message to our inn—all Radia's heroes urgently summoned. A veteran hero—pretty strong one—died in the new dungeon. They want all heroes at the lord's castle today, canceling everything, to share details."

"Uh... so skip the quest and go?"

"Yeah, but... We formed our own guild to make names for ourselves. We've completed every quest so far—canceling even a simple one could hurt our rep."

Hm... Prodigies like them skipping a basic gathering quest could spark rumors. And a veteran hero dead? Isekai dungeons are no joke.

"They won't cut slack for the situation?"

"Solo guilds get passes for staffing issues, but we're just two... Checked before coming—they said Lizbet counts as staffing since she's here. Not dangerous anyway, so she has to finish it. And since we included you as temp contractor, you're required too."

Makes sense. Als had to bail, leaving Lizbet solo with me—a horse stallion. No wonder she was pissed.

"Ugh, that lord asshole... Drop dead."

"Liz, don't say that. I'm worried sending you alone, but it's experience, right? Sema's there—no danger."

"I'd rather go solo... Fuck..."

Watching her sulk, my patience—boosted by speech—wore thin. Old Earth misogyny stirred, the kind I'd buried. Why's this bitch so prickly with me? Hold it together. Women need understanding. Channel inner Confucian boomer...

"Got it? I'll head to the forest ASAP after. If not back by dusk, meet at guild."

"...Fine."

Lizbet slumped in defeat; Als smiled, patted her head, told me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to look after her, and headed to the lord's castle.

"......"

Once he was gone, I said to the still-hanging-head Lizbet, "...Shall we?"

"Sigh..."

I walked slowly; she followed. Showed cards to guards, stated destination, exited. Gate crowds glanced over. What're you staring at, old man?

"Forest's an hour walk, right? Mood booster—wanna ride, Lizbet?"

Offering my back, she eyed it, sighed.

Her face looked wearier since we met. "Fine... Gotta go anyway. Won't take all day—knock it out quick. And drop the 'Miss.' It's annoying when you stress it."

Busted. I'd teased with emphasis since day one when she insisted on formality.

"Lower your back if you're giving a ride. Too tall."

I crouched; she mounted, legs together, ass on my waist. First ride, excitement masked it, but her huge-ass cheeks pressed soft through the cloth.

(Fuck... This is torture. Two months celibate—dying here...)

Post-city, forest tension gone, no-jerking agony hit hard. Nearing limit. Thought I'd hold till Humanization, but isekai beauties made my horse cock twitch constantly. It'd popped out a few times already. Once, after stuffing it back, precum dripped like mine on the ground—street vendor would've freaked if spotted. Cloth hid it, but sans cloth? Instant riot—that monstrous erection swinging free.

The stares it'd draw terrified me. Could hold reason now, but soon? Might lose it, grab a wild female monster. Virgin experience with a monster? Chilling.

Lost in grim thoughts, we reached the forest. Her jiggling ass made it pop thrice en route. If lover-boy Als's girl saw? Total meltdown. Fucking insane...