Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Help from NPCs
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"Have you heard the details of that mission?"
[No, not yet...]
Redia subtly shifted her stance and began her explanation.
"One day, we got reports of a mysterious, fierce wind blowing near Lüsen Gorge. At first, we thought it was just some ordinary weather anomaly."
But the wind grew stronger with each passing day, to the point where no one could even enter anymore.
"It's strong enough to shred an ordinary person to pieces. You can protect yourself with aura or mana and hold out for a little while, but that's no real solution. The terrain's changed because of the wind, making it incredibly dangerous."
They'd already sent out investigation teams several times to find the cause, but they hadn't even found a trace. That was the current situation.
"It's a real headache. Considering Lady Celi's health, we absolutely need those herbs that grow there naturally... but with winds like that, it's questionable if any herbs are even left, and scouting is practically impossible. Even for someone as resolute as you, this mission..."
[I want to see it through somehow. Please tell me any clues you have, even the smallest ones.]
What a protagonist-like choice.
Selecting it made Redia chuckle softly.
"You're really something else. Clues... There aren't many real ones, but one of the investigators was a rare spiritist. I'm not certain, but it seemed related to rampaging spirits... If there's a skilled spiritist around, they might figure something out."
[A spiritist...]
"Yeah... A skilled spiritist is incredibly rare. You probably won't find one around here. Sorry I couldn't be more help."
[There are no clues at all.]
[Still, you decide to do some basic investigation.]
Ask knowledgeable city residents 0/3
"Knowledgeable people, huh..."
Who among the city residents might know something?
Yoon Young carefully recalled all the NPCs he'd met so far.
'That guy at the mage class change office.'
Spiritist wasn't on the class list, but as a mage-related job, he might know something.
And Claire... or that high-ranking priestess at the temple.
It seemed to converge on the class change offices.
Yoon Young headed to the Practitioners' District for story progression.
"What? The anomaly in Lüsen Gorge?"
The blue-haired youth at the mage class change office looked annoyed at the interruption but soon pondered seriously.
"I don't know much about spirits myself. It's definitely serious, but I can't help more than I did in the last investigation. Unless you bring an elf..."
An elf?
[A certain person suddenly comes to mind.]
[You ask again.]
[Do elves know a lot about spirits?]
"Most of them do. They're born with high spirit affinity. But they wouldn't get involved in something like this on a personal level."
[Asked knowledgeable city resident 1/3]
Oh, it counted.
Yoon Young went to find Claire next.
Her drunken, giggling face was still charming as ever.
'Her body's killer no matter when I see her.'
The moment he saw her, he grabbed her waist like a child hugging its mother and buried his face in her ample bosom as he spoke.
"Lüsen Gorrrge~? Yeah, that's no picnic. I could handle it, but nothing was there when I checked~? You thinking of going there?"
[Yes.]
Selecting the option made Claire's slurred voice a bit firmer.
"With your current skill, you'll just get swept up by the wind, smash your head on a rock, and die? Sigh, can't be helped. I'll lend you a bit of my power. Yap!"
[You have temporarily learned the 'Aura Shield' skill from Claire.]
"It stimulates your mana heart to emit a temporary protective energy around your body. But since it's not truly yours, you'll lose the sensation soon and won't be able to use it. At most twice?"
Aura Shield (Imparted by Claire)
Deploys aura to block external impacts.
Uses available: 2
Whoa, there's something like this.
So that's why it said to ask knowledgeable people.
'Maybe each one gives something different?'
The priestess might give a blessing.
Yoon Young headed to the temple.
"Hmm... That doesn't seem to have much to do with me..."
But contrary to expectations, the priestess NPC didn't react much.
'What the hell.'
The other class change offices were the same.
[Asked knowledgeable city resident 2/3]
Who was the last one...
Yoon Young thought hard.
Not Redia.
Maybe an area he hadn't visited yet.
Yoon Young scoured the city thoroughly.
But he found no other clues.
'New areas open in two ways: through story progression or something that was always there but I missed. Since I searched all day and found no new portals, it can't be the latter.'
So it had to be one of the existing NPCs in the city...
'Who?'
As he pondered while walking, Yoon Young's eyes caught the alchemy workshop.
A place he'd passed many times.
Suddenly, it hit him.
'No way, Eri?'
He opened the door and went in.
"Selling potions I made myself! You can trust my skills!"
The cute light-green-haired alchemist girl greeted him.
'Her outfit's a bit different from last time?'
Flip.
'Oh, lace panties. Cute.'
He casually lifted her skirt to admire the tempting panties and tossed out the keyword.
"Ah... Lüsen Gorge. We need Lubran grass from there for Celi not to suffer... But it's not easy to get personally. Newly made medicines don't seem effective..."
Oh ho. Proper reaction.
She was the one making Celi's medicine.
Makes sense— in fantasy, alchemists handle healing potions...!
"Adventurer, are you planning to go to Lüsen Gorge?"
[Yeah.]
"It'll be dangerous... Wait a sec."
Eri turned around, opened the cabinet under the counter, and stuck her head in.
She crawled on all fours like a dog, sticking her butt out and wriggling cutely—it felt oddly erotic.
Snip.
Yoon Young lifted her skirt again, kneaded her butt, and waited for her next move.
"Ah, here it is...!"
She popped up and held out a flask with gray potion.
"This is my 'Weight Gain Potion' I developed a while back! It has the downside of slowing all your speeds, but it'll at least keep you from getting swept away by the wind. Take this at least."
[Obtained Weight Gain Potion.]
'Oh. So there's buildup for all of them.'
The first exploration felt like heading out with NPC help.
It was nice seeing each NPC play their role.
"Thanks, Eri."
As a sign of gratitude, Yoon Young planted a deep kiss on her.
Smooch!
The soft, moist feel of her lips.
It was practically harassment for Eri, but whatever.
'As long as I'm happy.'
Quest completion reward: a bit of EXP.
The next quest popped up immediately.
[Received help from city residents.]
[Now head to Daphne's secluded cabin.]
Great. Time to finally meet the elf big sis.
The faint grassy scent, her smooth skin, that firm butt—it all came flooding back.
'Heh heh heh.'
Pretty girls never get boring. Just thinking about seeing her face made his heart flutter a bit.
But going anytime dulled the thrill.
Showing up with business like with Claire, groping while saying it's legendary— that felt better.
Yoon Young headed to the hunting grounds with lecherous thoughts, seeking the secluded cabin.
Swish...
Blue lights floated up and scattered.
This place always had a mystical vibe, no matter when he came.
Passing through the otherworldly forest path, he arrived at the cabin. Elf Daphne was there, wearing scholarly glasses and reading a book.
'Wow. She looks so intellectual. This vibe's great too.'
Her pointed elf ears poking out today looked especially tempting, so he chomped down on one with his mouth.
Munch munch.
As he nibbled with his lips, Daphne shivered lightly, perhaps from the creepy sensation.
Yoon Young scooped her up, stole her chair, and sat her on his lap instead.
The conversation began like that.
"Hm? Lüsen Gorge? That cliff where the wind spirits are rampaging? Right? Why there?"
[You explain the whole story...]
"Hmm. So that's what happened. And you want my help?"
[Yes.]
"Well. I don't usually meddle in human affairs. I don't feel obligated to help."
...Huh?
If she won't help, isn't this a dead end?
'Nah, no way they'd set it up like that.'
Yoon Young continued the conversation.
"But well... I did tell you to come consult me if you had troubles last time. I'm curious how far you can go with this. I need to check if your specialness was just luck or if you're truly special."
Daphne, sitting on his lap looking down, smiled seductively.
Like a teacher giving a tough assignment to a favorite student.
"Go check it out first. If you can't even withstand the wind, resolving it is impossible anyway."
...So he had to charge in blindly and investigate first.