I Have a Task Log

Chapter 324: Chapter 323: Respective Progress

"Edwin wants to push this forward through the formal political assembly, but that’s far too slow. The situation in the slums made that perfectly clear. Our enemies won’t give us that much time."

Morel said with an uncharacteristically serious expression, "Believe me, Colin, our cause is absolutely just."

"I’m just an ignorant nobody, so don’t drag me into all this." Colin took the money pouch, added the money from Old Black Heart, split the total, and handed Ale her share in another pouch.

"Alright, I’ll see you later."

With that, Colin turned and led Ale into the distance.

’The fact that Morel has been able to work with Edwin for so long must mean he really does have good intentions. But in any world, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and if this fails, the ones who come to settle the score won’t care if you have a heart of gold...’

Just thinking about it gave Colin a headache.

’Thinking about this stuff is too much trouble. I’m much better suited to being a "go here, kill that" kind of Adventurer.’

"Are you going to train your Magic now?" Ale asked, following behind him.

Colin said, "Hmm... I’m thinking of going to the Great Dome first to read up on the history of Thousand Masts City."

"Okay."

Glancing back, Colin noticed the corners of the Half-Elf’s lips curve up slightly. His own expression was clearly reflected in her bright, shimmering eyes.

’Could she be happy about getting to go with me?’ The strange thought popped into Colin’s head out of nowhere.

「One month later.」

Colin moved between the bookshelves in the Great Dome library, pulling down books as he went.

After a moment, he stopped at a bookshelf and climbed the adjacent rolling ladder to a shelf about three meters off the ground to retrieve the book he wanted.

With his arms full, he casually tossed the latest book down.

After tossing down several more, he finally climbed down the ladder and headed to the reading area with Ale, who had caught them all.

The two found an empty table and sat, each taking out their own inkwell and quill.

Colin unscrewed the cap and saw that his ink had run out.

Before he could say a word, a new bottle of ink was offered to him by a small, snow-white hand.

Colin dipped his quill, filling it with ink, and began to write and sketch in his notebook.

After finishing that rather nerve-wracking mission, his life had finally settled into a proper routine.

Mornings were spent with Ale at the library, reading and taking notes. Afternoons were for training with the Dwarves in Armor Technique, Forging, and Swordsmanship. Evenings were for studying and practicing Magic at the Black Tower.

The material costs during this period were considerable. However, because he had to split his focus among different subjects, his Skill Level didn’t progress as quickly as it had when he’d spent a full month dedicated solely to Magic.

Colin also discovered that the higher his Skill Level got, the harder it became to raise it through training and experimentation. This was another reason for the slower gains.

Additionally, Edwin had contacted Colin personally.

Orelia was still studying. Things were definitely improving, step by step, but she still needed more time to recover to the point where she could cast Divine Arts. Not even Edwin knew exactly how long that would take.

Kase had also returned after spending a few days with the Orc Tribe and had been training with the Dwarves recently as well.

Other than Dorn stopping by occasionally to ask about things, there hadn’t been any major troubles.

Colin still hadn’t announced Dorn’s intention to join to the other members of the party. He felt it was better to wait until they were all together. There ought to be a little ceremony to it.

When he felt it was about time, Colin closed his book.

Ale, who was sitting across from him, also began to pack up. Once they had gathered their things, they headed for the exit together without a word, as if on cue.

After having lunch together, they headed to the sewers.

Kase was already there fiddling with his axe, training so hard he was drenched in sweat.

According to the Half-Orc, during his few days in the Orc Tribe, the other Orcs had taught him a great deal about Survival in the local forests. He claimed they wouldn’t need to hire a guide the next time they went out.

’Though Colin had his doubts about that.’

’Still, since Kase was the one saying it, he was probably reliable.’

Colin put on his Armor, intending to start his Swordsmanship training, while Ale took an absurdly large Crossbow from her backpack.

The crossbow’s limbs were made of animal horn, its stock from high-quality ash wood. A lever was fitted to the end—a necessary device for cocking it, due to its high draw weight.

At first, Colin had planned to buy Ale a Light Crossbow with a lower draw weight, but she’d fallen in love with this Lever Crossbow at first sight. In the end, they went with it, and it had cost them over sixty Gold Coins.

While practicing his Swordsmanship, Colin glanced over at Ale.

As he watched, he noticed that Kase, who wasn’t far off, was also splitting his attention to watch the Half-Elf.

Ale stood before a straw target with the intensity of someone facing a mortal enemy.

She extended her slender arms, pulled down the Giant Crossbow’s lever, and then loaded a Crossbow Arrow. ’This was the very reason Colin had agreed to her getting this Heavy Crossbow; the girl was surprisingly strong.’

Langgrin, standing beside her, pointed at the target a dozen or so meters away.

Ale raised the Giant Crossbow, aimed carefully at the distant target, and decisively pulled the trigger.

The Crossbow Arrow shot out with a WHOOSH. It hit the wall behind the target, ricocheted off, spun twice in mid-air, and landed... precisely in the target’s head.

Kase shot Colin a helpless look, as if to say, ’Are we really going to be fighting in front of a sharpshooter like *that*?’

Colin just shrugged back at him before turning his gaze to Ale.

Though the girl’s face was expressionless, Colin could tell she’d relaxed considerably. ’The Half-Elf probably figured that counted as hitting the target. A bullseye, even.’

"You did that on purpose, didn’t you?! Tell me you did it on purpose! I saw you take aim, so why did you have to twitch like that right as you fired!?" Langgrin wailed in despair, clutching his head.

Any sense of relaxation Ale might have felt vanished instantly.

She lowered her head. "I’ll try again."

"Moradin above, why must I endure such torture!" Langgrin continued to grumble. "It’s been over half a month! Over half a month, you little Elf Princess!"

Colin swallowed and silently turned his attention back to his own training.

’Yes, Ale could draw the Lever Crossbow, but her aim was astonishingly bad.’

’One could only say she had plenty of room for improvement.’

Afterward, Ale fired a few more Crossbow Arrows, and Langgrin’s complaints from the sidelines gradually died down.

It wasn’t because the Half-Elf’s shots were getting any better, but because the Dwarf had run out of ideas on how to teach her.

The Dwarf cleared his throat theatrically, walked over to Colin, and said, "Alright, time to start on your Forging Technique. I see you’ve been making some pretty quick progress lately."

Ale, standing nearby, blinked at Colin. ’The girl was probably getting tired, too.’

"Sounds good. Let’s start today’s training," Colin said.