Chapter 85: Chapter 81: Harvest on the Return Journey
[Tenacity] Lv2 (7/20): Strengthens your defense, reducing physical damage taken from the next two attacks by 11%.
Just like with [Stealth] before, the bonus from the Skill Level increase wasn’t that big.
However, this was just a single level increase. If it could be raised to the Full Level, the small gains would add up to something substantial.
It was about time. The group got up one by one, had a simple meal to replenish their Energy, and then set off on the journey home.
Compared to when they arrived, they were now returning with a full haul; their bags were stuffed with all sorts of spoils.
This adventure had been quite fruitful, even for a mid-tier Adventurer team in Roland Town like the Bull Run Squad.
However, because of this, they also seemed to attract more greedy Goblins.
Demon materials were useful to Goblins as well.
Although they didn’t possess the exquisite skills of human and Dwarf Blacksmiths, even just crudely cutting up the materials and wearing them provided a significant boost.
The walnut-sized brains of these short, green-skinned creatures prevented them from ever considering how these people had obtained the materials. They simply followed their greedy instincts, coming to cause trouble wave after wave.
"These Goblins are endless!"
Of course, these low-level Demons posed no threat to the members of the Bull Run Squad, but being constantly interrupted and blocked was still incredibly annoying.
"It looks like the Goblin Race is growing much faster than we thought. Even the town sees people abducted from time to time. I fear for the villages..."
The tenets of the Knight Profession gave Rick a stronger sense of justice than the others.
Of course, it was limited to just talk.
"Then we’ll just have to ask our do-nothing Lord."
It was clear Alton had a problem with Baron Lael. Every time the subject came up, he had to make a couple of sarcastic remarks.
Of course, he wasn’t wrong.
"The Association, on the other hand, has actually taken some countermeasures. I heard they’re going to issue a Rescue Order soon..."
Solan, who liked to wander, always seemed to pick up on little-known rumors.
"So, are we going to participate?"
Carson, a man of few words, asked.
"We’ll see..."
Alton thought for a moment. "We just finished a quest, so we’ll need to rest for a few days after we get back. If the price is right then, we can definitely consider it."
Lin Mo listened from the side without offering an opinion.
After all, he was a new and temporary member of the squad. His understanding of quests was limited, and he had no idea what a "Rescue Order" was, so it was best to keep his comments to himself.
’Besides, this is just small talk. I’ll wait until we’re formally discussing the next quest.’
As for resting...
’Originally, I didn’t plan on resting. I’d stay for a day at most, then take a small quest and head out on my own.’
After all, only by killing Demons could he quickly raise his Skill Proficiency and become stronger.
’But this time, maybe I really can stay in town for a few extra days.’
"Here they come again, really..."
As Solan’s complaint sounded beside him, Lin Mo focused his mind and shot out like an arrow. In a few swift moves, he dispatched all the Goblins blocking their path.
His speed was so fast, his actions so decisive, that the others, who had just been preparing for battle, could only stare dumbfounded.
’Generally, experts have a certain style. They disdain to act against enemies who are too weak, letting others in the team handle them.’
’But this guy on their team was different. He was always the first to rush out, almost as if he were afraid they’d steal his kills.’
’Maybe he despises evil, or maybe he has some secret grudge against Goblins?’
Among the many works of Minstrels, while most followed the tradition of telling heroic and righteous tales, there were a few twisted ones who specialized in fabricating strange and bizarre stories to attract attention.
Alton, of course, had no interest in such stories, but he had occasionally heard them from a friend—tales of a noble Princess abducted by Goblins, or a powerful Adventurer who was dragged into a cave and tormented by Goblins as a child...
He shook his head, casting the strange thoughts aside.
’Lin Mo’s case was clearly different. After all, there was no anger or hatred in his eyes when he looked at the Goblins. Instead, he looked a little excited, like he’d just seen a naked beauty.’
’He probably just enjoys the feeling of battle.’
They walked for a little over a day. By the time they left the forest, they had encountered many waves of Goblins, totaling several dozen.
The vast majority of them died by Lin Mo’s blade, causing his Skill Proficiency to soar once again.
"Skill [Stealth] Lv4 (100/100) has leveled up!"
"Current Skill: [Stealth] Lv5 (21/180)"
The Stealth skill successfully reached Level 5. However, unlike his previous white Ordinary skills, the Green Excellent Level Stealth didn’t show a ’MAX’ indicator after reaching Level 5. Instead, there was a Level 6.
The proficiency required to go from Level 5 to Level 6 was 180 points.
In addition, the proficiency for Cross Slash was also approaching Level 5, just a few points away.
However, since Cross Slash was also a Green Excellent Level skill, reaching Level 5 wouldn’t grant any extra Attributes, so Lin Mo wasn’t overly expectant.
Besides these two main skills, he had also grinded some proficiency for [Tenacity]. But the efficiency of using Ordinary Goblins as opponents was too low, and he only managed to reach 18/20.
Then there was [Shield Strike]. Lin Mo hadn’t planned on training this skill before, feeling it wasn’t very cost-effective.
’But now it seems that maxing out a Green Excellent Level skill requires killing a huge number of Demons. As for [Shield Strike], at least getting it from Level 1 to Level 3 shouldn’t be too hard, and it would also increase his Constitution by 1 point.’
So, he specifically borrowed a spare Small Round Shield from Rick and grinded a little proficiency. It was currently at Lv2 (1/20).
Heaven knows what a massive shock the other squad members felt when they saw Lin Mo use a Knight Professional Skill.
Especially Rick, who had just lent him the Shield and was still confused. His jaw nearly hit the floor.
’A Warrior who has also mastered high-level Assassin Profession skills—that was already ridiculous enough. But he even knows Knight Skills? And he uses them so proficiently!’
’Is he even going to let us mere mortals live?’
Back in town, it was the afternoon. A lazy atmosphere permeated the stuffy streets. In the narrow alleys on either side, many laborers had taken off their coarse cloth shirts and draped them over their shoulders, lying down on the cool ground to rest.
In times like these, those who could still find work were already considered lucky.
Countless others had long since starved to death in the streets, their bodies dragged out of town by the Guards and carelessly discarded, left for passing Goblins or other Demons to scavenge.
A group of fully armed, blood-stained people walked toward them, sending ripples through the otherwise quiet street. The few pedestrians scattered, and the resting laborers in the alleys shrank back, watching them cautiously.
Even though Adventurers could not easily harm civilians, people still instinctively kept their distance from those with power.
Alton and the others, long accustomed to such stares, walked into the Association as if no one else was there...
