Today, I arrived at the Adventurers' Guild very early, right after finishing my usual morning routine.
Being here earlier than usual let me see things I normally missed. Several adventurers were already gathered inside, some standing alone while scanning the guild board, others grouped together and deep in discussion. A few parties looked permanently comfortable, familiar, while others were clearly temporary, formed out of convenience rather than trust. Voices overlapped everywhere: arguments about rewards, debates over danger levels, laughter mixed with complaints about yesterday's failures. Of course, there were also those already lined up at the counter, faces calm and decisive, clearly knowing exactly what quest they wanted.
Then my eyes caught sight of the red-haired girl.
She stood alone in front of the guild board, arms crossed loosely, her gaze moving from parchment to parchment. From the way her eyes lingered, she seemed to be searching for something specific, most likely D-rank quests. No party beside her. No conversation. Just quiet focus.
For a brief moment, I wondered why she was alone… but quickly dismissed the thought.
I turned my attention back to the board.
Since I was already here, I wanted to properly examine the D-rank quests and see what I could realistically handle now.
Exterminate Forest Wolves.
Destroy Goblin Camps.
Eliminate Orcs.
There were more listed, but several had already been taken; some parchments were missing, others marked with red ink. My gaze paused when I saw a familiar request.
Exterminate Goblin Camp: Near the southern river.
Provide a detailed report after extermination, including goblin count.
Reward: 2 Gold Coins + goblin kills.
This was the job I had reported earlier.
When I cleared goblins before, I only dealt with the outskirts of the camp. There was a strong chance more goblins remained deeper inside the forest. Still… I thought I could handle it.
Testing my magic in a slightly more dangerous environment would be useful. I needed to know how far my current abilities could go.
Besides, the quest wasn't urgent. I didn't have to rush. I could clear the goblins slowly, day by day, if needed.
Decision made, I pulled the parchment from the board and headed toward the reception desk.
This time, the line wasn't long. It seemed the guild had hired more receptionists, something I silently approved of.
"I would like to take this quest."
I placed the parchment on the counter.
"I'll need your adventurer card for this," the receptionist said politely, extending her hand.
She glanced at the card briefly, then looked back up at me.
"It appears this is your first D-rank quest. I would recommend taking this with a party," she said gently. "Of course, that's only advice. The final decision is yours."
(I see… so they can check my previous quests.)
I hesitated internally for a moment.
(But I want to do this alone. I need to test my magic properly. And more than that… I don't want to become someone's burden.)
"I'd like to go alone," I said. "I plan to scout the camp first. After that, I'll decide whether to join or form a party."
"I understand," she replied, nodding. "Good luck, adventurer."
Her smile was professional and practiced.
These receptionists really are cute… I thought absently. Though it's impossible to tell what they're actually thinking when they wear that same smile all the time.
Leaving the counter, I exhaled quietly.
"Now… time to pack supplies."
I headed straight to the market.
I bought fruits and dried meat, simple food that wouldn't spoil easily. Enough to last me if the quest dragged on longer than expected. I also purchased a blanket, just in case I had to sleep in the forest.
Prepared and lightly excited, I tightened my pack.
"Now then… it's time to go."
The words slipped out as a mumble, but my steps were light.
Passing through the gates, I headed toward the forest. As usual, I followed the stream. Without a map, it was the safest guide.
I still couldn't afford a forest map anyway. The price was absurd: ten gold coins.
Of course, large portions of the forest were still unexplored, but the area within a few kilometers had been carefully mapped. With one of those maps, navigating would be much faster.
Someday, I thought. When I have the money.
Soon, I reached the outskirts of the goblin territory.
Ahead of me, I spotted movement.
Goblins.
I crouched down and carefully observed.
Three goblins were nearby. The problem was their positioning; they were separated. If I attacked one directly, the others would notice immediately and call for backup.
That won't do.
I quietly conjured mist.
The air thickened as pale fog spread outward, clinging low to the ground. Visibility dropped, but shapes were still faintly discernible.
The real advantage, however, wasn't concealment.
I could feel them.
I wasn't completely sure yet, but I suspected the mist formed from my mana allowed me to sense anything that disturbed it.
If that's true…
I locked onto the three presences and cast Crystal Needles.
The needles shot forward.
"Thod!"
Two goblins collapsed instantly from clean headshots.
The third was missed, but it didn't notice anything. It simply froze, confused, glancing around blindly.
Good thing I cast the mist first.
I fired again.
This time, the needle struck its abdomen, followed by another to the head.
Three down.
I collected their ears, then scanned the area.
I should search for more.
After carefully moving around, I found no other goblins nearby.
I climbed the nearest large tree, gripping the bark and pulling myself upward until I reached a high vantage point.
From above, I spotted more movement.
Ten goblins.
They were scattered three here, three there, and one group of four further back.
Let's take them one group at a time.
It would be better to eliminate them here, where I had a clear view.
I cast mist again, letting it spread and swallow the area.
Standing there, hidden above them, I felt like an assassin waiting, patient, silent.
After a minute, the mist grew thick enough, covering roughly eight hundred square meters.
This should be enough.
I unleashed a rapid series of Crystal Needles, targeting each group.
Shrill goblin screams echoed through the forest, but it didn't matter.
I can track you wherever you go inside this mist.
More needles followed, striking fleeing figures.
Some goblins, panicking and blind, struck each other in their desperation.
Truly… It's better to see a powerful enemy than face a weaker one you can't see at all.
When the sounds finally stopped, ten goblins lay dead.
For the first time, I felt it clearly.
I really do feel like a mage now.
I checked my mana, slightly less than half remained.
Let's rest for a bit.
After collecting the ears, I climbed back into the tree and concealed myself among the branches.
From here, I could rest and observe.
I needed to stay careful. I still didn't know how many goblins remained deeper inside.
After a short rest, I moved forward again, repeating the same strategy.
It worked almost too well.
This wouldn't be enough against smarter enemies, I admitted to myself. But for now… it's effective.
By the time I stopped, I had accumulated twenty-three goblin kills.
The forest around me was quiet.
No goblins nearby.
Only the sound of the leaves moving slightly and the faint sound of water far away. Nothing else moved. It felt strange after all the fighting earlier.
I exhaled slowly.
It's time.
I moved forward carefully, step by step, making sure not to step on loose branches or dry leaves. I took a longer route, just in case there were goblins wandering around the camp's outskirts. The smell reached me before I saw anything: smoke, dirt, and something rotten mixed together.
Soon, I arrived at the area where I had first discovered the camp.
The ground here was messy. Footprints everywhere. Bones, scraps of food, and broken tools scattered around. It was clear this place had been occupied for a long time.
I climbed another tree nearby, slowly and carefully. Once I was high enough, I hid myself among the thick leaves and branches and made sure I had a stable position.
From above, I could see the camp clearly.
The camp itself was crude. Wooden stakes were placed around the area, but they didn't look sturdy. There were several tents made from animal hides and torn cloth. A fire pit sat near the center, still warm, with smoke rising faintly. Weapons and shields were scattered carelessly around.
I counted quietly.
Fifteen goblins remained.
That number alone was manageable.
But what surprised me wasn't the number.
Two goblins stood out immediately.
They were bigger than the others, with wider shoulders and thicker limbs. Their skin was darker, and their movements looked more controlled. Unlike the regular goblins, they carried proper weapons and stayed alert.
Hobgoblins.
Even from here, I could tell the normal goblins avoided standing too close to them.
Then I noticed another figure near the center of the camp.
This one was even larger.
He wore pieces of metal armor, mismatched but clearly used often. A large weapon rested at his side, and he stood calmly, watching the others. The surrounding goblins moved carefully around him, some stopping and waiting whenever he shifted his gaze.
No one acted without his presence in mind.
I see…
That wasn't just a stronger goblin.
That's a goblin warrior.
And from the way the others reacted to him…
He's the leader.