I look over her shoulder, and see itâs a quest from a nearby village about taking down goblins.
Goblins are seen as the weakest monsters, along with slime. Those two are classic examples of monsters novice adventurers fight first, but the only materials that can be harvested from them are magic stones, so theyâre not worth much. However, theyâre seen as low risk monsters that are good to build experience.
This quest has been here for five days, and no one has accepted it.
The reason is simple. The village is three days away by foot, and one day by wagon. But the cost of renting a wagon would be pretty much the same as the reward for completing the quest, and whoever accepts it could even end up losing money.
Itâs not a problem for people with their own wagon, but most people who do are high rank adventurers, who arenât going to go out of their way to hunt goblins.
âHn⊠It would be perfect if a horsebus just happened to pass there, but walking for three daysâŠâ
âIs there a problem?â
âCamping is a hassle in itself, but someone would have to keep watch at all times, meaning we wouldnât rest very well. It was really tough when the two of us walked for ten days⊠We didnât have money back thenâŠâ
Rurika says while looking into the distance. I probably shouldnât ask any more about that.
âWould it still be tough with three people? I donât have a lot of experience camping, so I honestly donât know.â
The experience I do have is from camping by myself in the real world. Back then, I pitched my tent and slept on dedicated sites, so I didnât have to worry about anything dangerous. That means the situation is completely different. All the tools I used were ones that were very easy to use too.
I donât even know how high or low the probability of countering monsters on the side of the main road is.
âIt would be a little easier with three people, and it would be a good experience that doubles as training. Itâs still warm, so a robe would probably be enough to sleep at night⊠We probably wonât encounter many monsters if we travel by the main road, so if we watch out for banditsâŠâ
Rurika mumbles to herself, and herself and Chris talk about something, before declaring they want to accept the quest.
âThis one please.â
âHum⊠Are the three of you going to accept it together?â
âYes yes. I want to teach this newbie here how to be an adventurer. I say that smugly, but itâs partially to repay him for helping us before too.â
âI see. Then I will fill out the paperwork accordingly.â
It looks like there wonât be a problem.
âWeâll buy what we need today and leave tomorrow. We have to inform our inns too. We donât know when weâll be back, so we should cancel our stay. Iâm sure theyâll at least kind of understand if we explain the reason.â
We buy food and healing potions, and check if we have everything we need to camp. If anything is missing, we have to buy it.
Healing potions are surprisingly expensive, but I guess theyâre cheap if I think about it as buying things that might save my life.
We buy monster repellent too, but weâre not planning to use it. Weâre taking it with us just in case.
As for food, we buy things that will keep for a while, and since Rurika and Chris have simple cookware, thatâs what weâll be using. I just have to buy tableware for myself.
We still have some time after weâre done, so we go to the training area. This time, Chris is doing some exercise too, but suffice to say, most of the time sheâs just watching.
We donât spend a lot of time here, because we donât want to be tired tomorrow, and leave after agreeing to meet up early tomorrow in front of the gate. Iâm going back to the inn with some bruises again today.
â â â
âHm⊠Itâs a great morning to leave the city.â
Rurika is already fired up. Isnât she going to be too enthusiastic and get tired on the way?
âOh, are you going out today?â
Says the gatekeeper, as he looks at our camping equipment. I nod, show him my guild card, and exit the city.
Weâre not going to get lost walking near the main road, but I donât see anyone else going in this direction.
According to Rurika, since the forest where the wolves appeared is in the same direction as the village, people are avoiding going that way unless they really have to.
Still, the wolves are deep in the forest, so thereâs little chance that theyâll come this way. Itâs in their nature to live in the forest, so theyâre not coming out unless they have no food or lost a turf war.
We walk along the road without any problems or really anything noteworthy. We just keep walking silently as the scenery in front of us doesnât change.
Having that said, as we slowly walk away from the forest where the wolves are, I feel relieved somehow. Rurika says itâs fine, but I can tell sheâs cautious too.
We donât push ourselves too much, and take several breaks as we walk. Itâs also important to keep ourselves hydrated. We have to be careful, since if we keep walking on our first day because we donât feel tired, thatâs going to have an effect later. Thatâs what Rurika says.
I donât feel tired no matter how much I walk, but that only accounts for the physical side. I do feel mentally fatigued. In particular, I feel like the nervousness I feel about being with two girls is intensifying as we get further away from the city.
Yes, to be honest, Iâm not used to being with girls.
Rurika is so frank and open, that I donât feel too nervous around her, but Chris is different. I donât know if sheâs not used to being around boys, or if thatâs just the way she is, but she always talks to me like sheâs shy and like sheâs constantly stepping back. I canât help but picture a coddled young lady from a rich family.
It kind of makes me feel self-conscious too.
Rurika looks at me and nods like sheâs making fun of me, but at the same time like sheâs saying she understands.
Ah, and I also have my wooden sword with me, and Iâm being trained hard during our breaks.