Adventurer

Chapter 5 · Adventurers

In the dark and damp sewers, three giant rats the size of domestic cats were fleeing frantically forward, occasionally looking back as if something terrifying lurked in the dark passage behind them.

Not far from the three giant rats, in a corner, Lu Minghao watched them through a crack in his hiding spot. He flinched deeper into the crack when he saw the wound on one of the rats. The clean-cut wound was obviously caused by a human weapon; it would never look like that from a fight between wild beasts.

'But why would there be humans in the sewers?'

Looking at the bloodstains on the ground not far away, Lu Minghao became increasingly confused. Could it be that other worlds also had sewer cleaners?

A few tunnels away from Lu Minghao's hiding place, in the sewers, several people who clearly looked like adventurers were struggling forward, holding a glowing stone. Groups of giant rats or low-level monsters like mud monsters and slimes would occasionally attack them.

"Brother Tuka, when can we take on other commissions? I don't want to clear these low-level monsters in this smelly sewer anymore."

A blonde youth, who looked about seventeen or eighteen, impatiently stomped a slime at his feet. The splashing mud emitted a strong stench, filling the youth's already discontented heart with irritation. He vented his frustration by splitting a giant rat leaping towards him in mid-air into two with his sword, then complained to the middle-aged man in leather armor ahead.

"Keith, you punk, be serious. Besides, we're just beginner adventurers; we're not qualified to take on other commissions."

The middle-aged man at the front of the team, named Tuka, glanced back at the complaining youth. They were just a team of beginner adventurers, not only with ordinary equipment but also without a single mage in the party. If they really accepted a commission to go outside the city, they would probably die at the hands of monsters or bandits halfway there.

As a middle-aged man who had been in the adventurer business for most of his life, although he didn't have much strength, he knew his limits. Moreover, tasks like clearing sewers were specifically benefits provided by the Adventurer's Guild for beginner adventurer teams.

On one hand, it provided a sufficient, albeit meager, income for many beginner adventurers. On the other hand, it also served as training for newcomers.

However, only beginner adventurers would take on sewer-cleaning tasks. Adventurer teams with a bit more strength would quickly level up and accept tasks like escorts or monster subjugation. After all, not only was the reward for sewer-cleaning tasks pitifully small, but the foul, dark environment of the sewers alone was disgusting. Furthermore, if one was accidentally injured, the wound could become infected.

"Tsk!"

After hearing his captain's words, Keith vented his displeasure on the low-level monsters around him. He had promised everyone when he left his village that he would become a powerful adventurer and make a name for himself. Yet now, he could only do tasks like cleaning sewers.

"Alright, everyone, get your act together. According to the information provided by the Adventurer's Guild, there's a goblin settlement not far ahead. Once we successfully clear them, this mission will be considered complete."

At this moment, Tuka, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned back and looked at everyone seriously. Their mission this time was to clear all the monsters in this area, with the goblin settlement being the most important. Although goblins, like slimes, giant rats, and mud monsters, were all low-level monsters, their strength was not on the same level.

If they didn't get serious, they might pay a considerable price. Tuka didn't want any casualties in the team because of this mission.

"Yes!"

"Understood, Captain."

The previously lax members quickly became serious, and even Keith, who had been complaining earlier, put on a solemn and focused expression. Although he really wanted to accept other missions and improve his strength and reputation, he would still seriously obey his captain's orders.

"Okay, then Gordon and I will set up traps. Nina, you'll be on lookout. Keith, protect Nina. After the traps are set, we'll lure the goblins over in batches and eliminate them all."

After speaking, Tuka and the man with a short sword beside him began setting up various traps. Tuka chose this location based on his experience. The exit ahead was the goblins' territory, and the narrow, dark passage here could perfectly prevent the goblins from swarming in.

Moreover, once the traps were set, the goblins would no longer be able to attack them easily.

As Tuka and Gordon began setting up traps, Keith and Nina quietly moved to the exit and observed the goblins inside. In an open space of about a hundred square meters, more than a dozen goblins were lazily gathered together. Trash was everywhere, along with the bones discarded by the goblins. Clear bite marks could be seen on the white bones.

In the center of the many goblins, a dilapidated iron pot was suspended over a campfire. A viscous liquid churned under the flames, and one could clearly see rotten meat, grass, and unknown bones inside. Beside the iron pot, a creature significantly larger than the other goblins was constantly stirring.

From time to time, it would reach into its pocket to scratch itself. Then, without washing its hands, it grabbed a slime from nearby and threw it into the pot. The already viscous liquid became even thicker, resembling a dark, mixed-up jelly.

"Nina, how is it?"

As Keith and Nina cautiously observed the goblins, Tuka gently patted their shoulders and asked in a low voice, looking towards the goblin settlement ahead. When he saw the goblin beside the iron pot, Tuka's expression became somewhat grim.

A Big Goblin, an evolved form of a goblin, possessed strength far exceeding that of ordinary goblins. Generally, one adventurer could barely handle three ordinary goblins, but a Big Goblin could easily deal with three ordinary adventurers.

In other words, if he hadn't chosen to act cautiously and charged in directly, today would have been the end for their four-person team. And if nothing unexpected happened, the three men would become part of the contents of the iron pot, while Nina...

"Nina, give me your bow and arrows. Keith, take Nina and retreat behind the traps first."

The next second, Tuka patted Keith's shoulder, telling him to take Nina and retreat behind the traps first. Then, he took the bow and arrows handed over by Nina, reluctantly took out a small bottle from his embrace, attached it to the arrowhead, and aimed at the Big Goblin.

This thing was an alchemical bomb concocted by some mages. It was very powerful. As long as it hit successfully, it would be enough to kill the Big Goblin. The explosive power could also clear out the other goblins. However, the price for such a useful and powerful item was its high cost.

This one alchemical bomb had cost the entire team half a year's public funds. But for the sake of survival and completing the mission, Tuka had no choice but to use it here. Besides, the reward for one Big Goblin was enough to offset the cost of the alchemical bomb.

My good brothers, please support with follow-ups, collections, and recommendation tickets, crying (╥﹏╥)o