A Female Knight Wouldn't Flash Double Peace Signs

After filling his stomach, Marvin left the Diligent Packhorse. About ten minutes on foot brought him to the town square.

The square had a conventional layout, with a fountain in the center for the townsfolk to draw water from. Atop the fountain stood a statue of a man in full plate armor, both hands resting on the pommel of a greatsword.

It was said that this was Charname, the great hero who had defeated Bhaal's offspring during the Time of Troubles and saved Baldur's Gate.

Many adventurers visiting the town for the first time tossed a coin into the fountain, hoping to follow in Charname's footsteps—starting here and making a name for themselves across Faerûn.

Marvin crossed the square and headed to the west side.

There was a notice board here, covered with all sorts of posted commissions.

Normally, this place was packed with adventurers.

But now, hardly anyone lingered.

Most of the adventurers had been drawn to the eastern side of the square.

That was where the Duchess had set up a recruitment station.

A clerk was ringing a bell while reading out the Duchess's writ, recruiting more adventurers to head into Cloakwood Forest and rescue the young knight.

Fine by him. Most of the adventurers in town now dreamed of becoming goblin slayers and accomplishing the heroic feat of saving a beauty.

If Marvin stayed in town, he would have far fewer competitors.

Then he could bargain with the client without a shred of guilt. "If I don't take this job, nobody will. You'll have to pay more!"

Just as Marvin was examining the notice board, a frivolous yet magnetic voice sounded beside him.

"Marvin, my friend, why are you still staring stupidly at the notice board? Join my adventuring party and let's go save Miss Ailei!"

Marvin turned to look.

The one speaking to him was an impossibly handsome bard.

If his attributes were quantified, his Charisma would be at least 17.

They had met earlier at the dining table. Marvin did not know his name, only that his nickname was "Scumbag."

Skilled at fencing, performing, and evading the vengeful husbands chasing him down.

Marvin was merely a level-one wizard, with little combat ability.

But among adventurers, spellcasters were always scarce. And as the casting class with the widest array of spells, wizards could provide enormous help to a party even if they were not especially strong at low levels.

For example, the first-circle abjuration spell Marvin had mastered, [Alarm], allowed the entire party to rest peacefully when camping in the wilderness without having to arrange a night watch.

Scumbag knew that Marvin's party had been wiped out and wanted to recruit him.

Marvin did not want to fall into the same pit twice. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he politely declined Scumbag's invitation.

Still, following the principle that another friend meant another path, he told him about the suspicious aspects of the "Rescue the Female Knight" quest.

But it did not do any good.

The bard froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "If there's something wrong with this quest, then all the more reason for you to join us.

With a clever and cautious wizard assisting our party, we'll surely overcome every hardship, unravel every plot, and claim the final victory!"

The bard spoke as though he were standing on a stage, giving a grand performance before striking an exaggerated pose.

Passersby turned to look. Some even dropped a few copper coins, showing their appreciation for the bard's performance.

Marvin knew he was wasting his breath.

Those willing to become adventurers viewed death differently from ordinary people.

At their core, adventurers were gamblers who wagered their own lives against the goddess of fate for a chance at a future.

For generous rewards, they were willing to take greater risks.

The bard continued to persuade him. "Marvin, if you had ever glimpsed Miss Ailei's beauty, you wouldn't be this stubborn.

Just think—if you married a beauty like Miss Ailei, you could practice the Succubus Seventy-Two Positions with her every night. For a man, could there be anything more blissful?

If we get there too late and that radiant golden hair, that lovely body, are all defiled by those stinking goblins, could you stand it? This isn't just a flower stuck in cow dung—it's a flower being splashed all over with shit!"

Scumbag was quite eloquent. Not only was he persuasive, but he also successfully disgusted Marvin.

Unfortunately, Marvin was not a sixteen-year-old boy ruled by hormones.

He did not believe that after only a few days' delay, the young knight would have been so thoroughly toyed with by goblins that she lost her mind and started flashing double peace signs.

"All right." Seeing that Marvin remained unmoved, the bard shrugged and finally gave up.

"Then wait in town for news of our triumphant return. May Tymora's good fortune always be with you."

"Good luck to you all too."

The bard shook his head repeatedly and left with a baffled expression.

Before long, Marvin found a quest suitable for himself as well.

Quest: Clear the Friendly Arm Inn Cellar

Difficulty: Medium

Scale: Community-level

Base Reward: One Intelligence Fragment (Collect ten fragments to gain one point of Intelligence)

Current Success Rate: 60% (Open the drop-down menu for details)

The quest's difficulty was moderate, and the reward was exactly what he needed!

Although "attribute fragments" looked like something out of a money-grubbing mobile game, this was only a cellar-clearing quest. He could not ask for too much.

Still, a starting success rate of 60% was indeed a little low.

A 100% success rate only guaranteed that the quest would be completed.

Whether he could survive the quest, or suffer serious consequences such as disability, severe illness, or curses, was another matter entirely.

A 200% success rate guaranteed that Marvin could complete the quest without suffering crippling injuries. However, he would very likely end up exhausting all his resources.

A 300% success rate would allow Marvin to complete the quest with no more than moderate injuries and reasonable expenditure of resources.

Marvin did not like pain. If he so much as stubbed his toe against a table leg, he would hop around in agony for ages.

Getting grievously wounded, erupting with sudden power, and pulling off a last-second reversal—he would leave that sort of thing to hot-blooded youngsters.

Unless he raised the success rate to 300%, Marvin would not make a move.

He needed to raise the success rate as much as possible before completing the quest.

"View details."

A stream of data unfolded in his mind, breaking the quest's total success rate down into six categories.

[Personal Strength]: Generally speaking, one must reach level 3 and possess a means of dealing fire damage to safely complete this quest.

However, as a wizard, your rich and varied spells will play a crucial role in this quest, making up for your lack of raw strength. (Success Rate +30%)

[Weapons and Equipment]: You are fully equipped, but your robe, boots, cloak, and staff are all cheap goods. (Success Rate +5%)

[Prepared Supplies]: The scrolls and potions on your person can save your life at critical moments. Also, prepare more Burning Glue. (Success Rate +25%)

[Relevant Intelligence]: You know nothing about this quest. (Success Rate +0%)

[Teammates and Servants]: Please assemble a four-person party with an average level of 3. (Success Rate +0%)

[Environmental Impact]: None. (Success Rate +0%)

"What kind of cellar needs four level-three adventurers to clear? If it's just a rat swarm, wouldn't one Burning Hands solve the problem?"

After grumbling for a while, Marvin realized that the quest was not as simple as it appeared.

He should investigate the details first. If it truly could not be done, he could choose another quest.

After all, he was already here.