After that, once they finished stocking up on travel supplies and said their goodbyes to the orphanage nuns, they headed out of the city to start their journey. Harold and Voness, guarding the gate, waved at them as they left, and they certainly waved back. Dash opened the map he'd just bought in the market.
According to the map, the village north of Forshville was near a city to the east, nestled under the mountains—a self-governing mining town originally founded by the Dwarves, called Golddale.
"So, we're heading to Golddale because our target village is near there, and the Asura Ape hunting mission is in the mine?" Dash asked Marle, looking at his map.
"Exactly right. Kill two birds with one stone," Marle replied.
"Hmm... okay, a mining city, huh?" Dash mumbled.
"So, we head north?" Lilin asked.
"Yep. Oh, yeah, I need to let you know, there are some nobles from the Grandias Kingdom over there because the Grandias Kingdom is trying to get the mayor of Golddale to cooperate on mining," Marle answered.
"So, that city isn't as safe as Forshville, you mean?" Shel asked.
"Pretty much. That's why I was going to suggest we stick to the village, but whatever, we'll just be ready for anything," Marle replied.
"Right, no big deal. Do they have troops there?" Dash asked.
"A Knight garrison," Marle answered.
"Hmm... are they planning to conquer Golddale?" Dash asked.
"No, what the Grandias Kingdom offered Golddale was protection, that's why they set up a garrison there, and in return, they demand the mining output be shipped to the kingdom. Honestly, I've only been to Golddale twice myself, and that was just for escorting a merchant, then taking another mission and leaving right away, so I don't really know the conditions there. I only hear things from hunters who go there often," Marle replied.
"Hmm... why does that kingdom feel like they're acting like the mob back on Earth? Protection in exchange for results? Isn't that just demanding protection money, only the payment is in mining output?" Dash asked himself.
"What's wrong, Dash?" Shel asked, seeing Dash lost in thought.
"Nothing... Speaking of which, our trip is pretty long, huh? Isn't there any transport?" Dash asked.
"I usually just walk, unless I'm on an escort mission," Marle replied.
"I actually like it this way. We get to look around," Lilin said, continually looking around her as if she was seeing everything for the first time.
"Right, I prefer walking too. It feels more free," Shel added.
"Okay, no problem then," Dash responded. "Used to riding in cars everywhere back on Earth, man," Dash sighed to himself.
They continued walking, following the road north. In the distance ahead, they could see a wide-stretching forest, though there was a path cutting right through it. Dash looked at his map again. The forest was named the North Pass Woods, and it was large enough that it would probably take a full day to actually pass through and exit on the other side of the road.
Dash, who was eager to see everything, remained calm, even though his heart was pounding with excitement and anticipation to hurry up and get through the forest to the other side.
"We'll just camp inside the forest later," Marle said, pointing ahead.
"No problem," Dash replied.
"Yep, I'm okay with that too," Shel added.
"No comment," Lilin contributed.
***
Meanwhile, at the Forshville Guild, Helen was re-examining the quest documents Marle had taken when she suddenly froze. Her face immediately went pale and she looked absolutely terrified. She sprinted to the Guild's second floor and entered a room with a large door at the end of the hall.
"Guild Master Rolith, we have a problem," Helen said, panicked.
Standing before her was a tattooed, bald man, massive like a giant and so built that his uniform looked undersized. He was writing at a tiny-looking desk, and he looked up when Helen called his name.
"What is it, Helen?" asked Rolith, the Giant Guild Master.
"I... I approved the wrong quest," Helen answered, handing him the mission sheet with trembling hands.
Rolith took it and read it. He was instantly shocked, then removed the glasses that looked extremely small on his face.
"This quest... the request to exterminate the Thunder Wolf? Who did you give this to?" Rolith asked.
"Marle... I didn't look at the file. She grabbed the wrong one off the board, and when she said Dire Wolf, I immediately stamped it," Helen said remorsefully.
"Oh damn... this is bad. This is a Rank S quest that's been sitting on the board for a month. And Marle took it? She's used to soloing. There's no way she can defeat a Thunder Wolf by herself," Rolith muttered, sitting back down in his chair.
"She's not alone, sir. Please look at this," Helen said, offering him the registration file for Marle's party members.
Rolith immediately took the file from Helen's hand and read it. His face showed disbelief; he even put his glasses back on and read it a second time. Then he looked at Helen.
"This... is this real? A Dragonkin, a Half-Orc registered about three days ago, and today a Succubus? They are all with Marle?" Rolith asked.
"Yes, that's why I was distracted and unfocused—because all three of them were standing in front of me," Helen replied, looking down.
"They are all Rank F... but based on the legends I've read, Dragonkin have extraordinary power, and the reason kingdoms hunt Half-Orcs is because Orcs are already incredibly tough, and if you add magic to that, they fear the result. And finally, the Succubus—legend says they can influence anyone and are powerful fighters using magic. Let's just hope they can complete the mission, plus Marle is strong enough, right?" Rolith said.
"Forgive me, sir, I was careless this time," Helen said.
"Now, even if I forgive you, they've already left, haven't they? Nothing can change it. Everything has already happened, and now we just hope they return safely. Send a letter to the Guild Masters in that village and in Golddale City—if they show up there, please let us know," Rolith ordered.
"Yes, sir. I apologize again," Helen replied.
"That's enough. Now hurry up and send those letters," Rolith replied, waving his hand.
"Yes, sir. Excuse me," Helen replied, bowing.
Helen quickly left the Guild Master's room. Rolith was contemplative for a moment, then went back to writing briefly, but he set his pen down again and removed his glasses. Then his huge hands massaged his temples.
"That girl... why did she form a party now? But let it be. It means she's finally grown up. I just hope she's safe and comes back here," Rolith muttered to himself, genuinely worried about Marle.
***
Late afternoon, approaching night, Dash, Shel, Marle, and Lilin had entered the forest and reached a fork in the road inside. Dash looked up, and it was beginning to get dark.
"How about we set up tents here and rest?" Dash asked, turning to look at the three girls behind him.
"At the end of the road to the left, there's a lake if we go in there," Marle pointed out.
"Okay, let's go there," Dash replied.
They walked along the path to the left, and in only about 10 minutes, they actually arrived at a lake. Dash, seeing the lake, was stunned because it was bright even though night was falling, thanks to glowing algae at the bottom of the lake.
"Whoaah... this lake is beautiful," Dash said, looking around at the lake and the surrounding cliffs.
"Yeah, it is. That's why I brought us here," Marle replied.
"Nice... I like this place," Lilin said, looking around.
"Let's pitch the tents here," Shel responded.
They immediately set up the tents. Then Shel used her magic to arrange stones and gather firewood, but when she was about to light the fire,
"I got it," Lilin said.
Lilin's arm was engulfed in a fiery red aura. Then she pointed at the pile of wood set up for the campfire. "Whoosh," a small, bullet-like ball of fire shot from Lilin's index finger toward the woodpile, instantly igniting it with a large flame that slowly reduced in size. Shel, Marle, and Dash turned to look at Lilin, who then looked back at them, feeling their attention.
"What?" Lilin asked.
"You can use fire magic?" Shel asked.
"Yeah. I don't know how, but I can," Lilin answered, raising her index finger, where a small flame danced above it.
"Hmm... so you're the opposite of me," Marle said.
"Not necessarily. There's hot ice too, right?" Lilin asked.
"Huh... how do you know I can use ice magic?" Marle asked, surprised.
"I don't know... I just suddenly knew," Lilin replied, confused.
"You're awesome, Lilin," Dash said, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, hehe," Lilin replied, looking shy.
Finally, they sat down in front of the fire. Shel sat to Dash's right, Marle to his left, and Lilin across from him. But suddenly, "shhhreek," the three of them ripped off their clothes, completely naked. Then they turned to look at Dash, smiling lustfully. Dash looked at them, only sighing but smiling.
"Okay, okay... how about we take a bath in the lake first?" Dash asked.
"Yep, that was the plan," Shel, Marle, and Lilin replied in unison.