Reunited Once More

The moment Zeliel entered the Adventurers' Association, he crashed into someone's embrace.

"Zeliel! It's been nearly half a month—I missed you to death!"

The newcomer gave Zeliel an enthusiastic hug, the powerful scent of a man rushing over him and leaving Zeliel a little dazed.

Gray beamed with excitement as he vigorously slapped Zeliel on the shoulder, even trying to lean in for a kiss.

"No, no... don't kiss my face." Zeliel was still extremely resistant to this unusual form of greeting.

"Come on! Vales, let's have a hug too." Gray turned to the half-elf ranger with a grin.

"Don't stand there hopping around like a toad—you're not hurting anyone, just disgusting them."

Vales took two or three steps back, his face full of disdain.

"You're looking lively enough. How are your injuries?" Marcus walked over and looked Gray up and down.

"Nothing serious."

Gray thumped his chest hard. "I'm perfectly fine."

Zeliel stared in astonishment, finding it a little hard to believe.

He stepped forward, pulled open Gray's clothes, and carefully examined his shoulder.

The spot where the iron shard had pierced him had completely healed. Even the scab had fallen off, leaving only a faint white mark.

Zeliel pressed on Gray's chest again.

The muscles beneath his hand felt firm and powerful, and he could sense the vigorous heartbeat underneath.

That healing ability was really something. Only around ten days had passed, yet he had already fully recovered.

If it had been an ordinary Blue Star human, wouldn't they have been bedridden for at least a month?

"Warriors are all like that—thick skin and tough flesh."

Seeing Zeliel's surprise, Vales casually explained, "After awakening the Heart of Qi, their recovery ability is much stronger than that of ordinary people."

The most important difference between a warrior apprentice and a lower-rank warrior was the Heart of Qi.

Warrior apprentices were merely ordinary people who had undergone training, with no major changes. Lower-rank warriors who had awakened the Heart of Qi were different.

If measured using Zeliel's status panel, their strength, agility, and constitution would all improve considerably, along with rapid healing and other abilities.

In later training, the Heart of Qi would also branch into various advancement paths depending on an individual's focus.

Generally speaking, those with high constitution were suited to serving as vanguards.

Those with high agility and strength had more choices. They could try being assassins, swordsmen, or rangers.

This difference became especially apparent in the class advancement paths after reaching upper-rank warrior.

For example, Guardians and Sword Saints had completely different fighting styles.

"Say... can mages awaken the Heart of Qi?" Zeliel suddenly remembered something.

He wanted that kind of healing and recovery ability too.

"In theory, they can, I suppose? It's just that very few mages would do that."

Vales shrugged. "You can't focus on two things at once. If you want everything, you'll end up with nothing, and you won't get far down either the warrior or mage path."

Marcus and Zeliel both welcomed Gray's return.

Although Vales did not particularly like the guy, he did not raise any objections.

Thus, the original party members gathered once again.

When choosing this mission, Marcus still asked Zeliel for his opinion.

"Maybe we could try a lower-rank mission?" Zeliel said.

Zeliel was currently level lv.4 (27/175).

He still needed 148 experience points to level up. Going back to those minor ordinary missions would be rather inefficient.

Lower-rank missions also had grades, ranging from one to three stars. They generally required facing monsters rated [Difficult], making them far harder than ordinary missions, though the rewards were naturally much more generous.

Marcus pondered briefly before agreeing.

"All right."

After seeing Flame Dragon, he had gained even more confidence in Zeliel.

And now that Gray had returned to the party, it was indeed time to challenge more difficult missions.

Adventurers sought wealth amid danger.

"Lower-rank missions..."

Marcus's gaze moved across the commission board. After finding his target, he reached out and tore down the notice.

"How about this one?"

[Giant-winged Bat Extermination Mission]

The Giant-winged Bats inhabiting the dense woods of western Graywood Forest had recently entered their breeding and nursing period, becoming violent and highly aggressive.

This Giant-winged Bat had already injured six people and killed one near Creek Valley Village. Its threat level was extremely high.

Commission Rank:

Lower-rank (One Star)

Commission Objective:

Eliminate the Giant-winged Bat and clear out the pups in its nest.

Bounty:

Killing the Giant-winged Bat would earn a reward of four gold coins. In addition, each Giant-winged Bat Pup would earn an extra reward of fifty silver coins.

Association Note:

Giant-winged Bats in their breeding and nursing period are exceptionally violent. Vanguards must prepare high-quality equipment capable of withstanding aerial dives.

It is recommended that the party include at least one ranged class capable of attacking aerial targets, such as a ranger or mage.

"Giant-winged Bats... there shouldn't be any problem."

Gray leaned over to take a look. "I've killed one before while following another party. It's just annoying how it keeps flying around in the sky."

"Marcus, as long as you can hold the Giant-winged Bat in check, Zeliel and I can bring it down from the sky," Vales said.

"Mm... there shouldn't be much of a problem." Zeliel nodded.

Counting the Giant-winged Bat itself and its pups, he could more or less scrape together 147 experience points.

"All right, let's take this one." Marcus walked toward the front desk to handle the paperwork.

While they waited, a heavy, muffled voice came from beside Zeliel.

"Are you the mage who helped kill the Mist Demon and the Giant Slime?"

Zeliel turned his head and quickly searched his memories for information about the other person.

He was the half-orc warrior Zeliel had seen at the Association last time.

Zeliel was not short, standing over 1.8 meters tall.

But this half-orc warrior was already over two meters tall, nearly two heads taller than Zeliel. Standing before him, he was like a small mountain, immensely imposing.

"Yes... is there something you need?" Zeliel raised his chin slightly and met the half-orc's gaze.

"Nothing. I just think you're pretty good. Pretty strong."

The half-orc split his face into what he considered a friendly smile, though it still looked rather frightening.

"My name is Gak. Let's take a mission together sometime."

"Oh... my name is Zeliel."

Zeliel awkwardly shook Gak's hand. "Sure, sometime."

After exchanging greetings, the half-orc Gak swaggered out of the Adventurers' Association with a broad axe on his back.

After he had gone some distance away, Zeliel discreetly looked around and found that some people were indeed glancing in his direction, intentionally or otherwise.

It seemed he had gained a little fame after all.

Thinking about it, that made sense. Among all those adventurers, Zeliel was the only mage, and he had killed monsters one after another. Staying low-key was impossible.