After all, out in the wilderness, besides monsters, "red-name" adventurers who specifically ambushed their peers were hardly uncommon.
Lance said nothing more. He merely nodded politely to them before turning and heading deeper into the map.
Sure enough, these safer locations had already been picked clean.
He needed to find a more remote gathering spot.
As he walked, Lance kept a constant eye on the number in the corner of his vision.
[Environmental Stability: 78%]
With the value holding steady here, the surroundings finally became quiet.
Lance found his target beneath a rotting fallen log.
He put on his non-slip gloves and began working with practiced ease.
"Coppercap Mushroom (1/30)"
"Coppercap Mushroom (2/30)"
This type of mushroom grew extremely quickly. After a rainfall, a large patch could sprout within two days.
Lance harvested them strictly according to the standard methods in the Guild handbook, lest he damage the mycelium and ruin the entire crop.
However, his gathering speed was not very fast.
After some time, a notification appeared on the panel.
[Commission Complete: Gather Coppercap Mushrooms (30/30)]
[Reward Obtained: Skill Experience 10, Knowledge Experience 10]
Lance glanced at his skill panel.
Castro Swordsmanship LV3 (3/250)
With a thought, he invested all ten points of newly acquired Skill Experience into it.
Castro Swordsmanship LV3 (13/250)
In an instant, it felt as though his mind had gained the memories and insights of several days of intense training.
He drew the short sword at his waist and casually performed a basic thrust.
The movement was indeed slightly smoother than before. The improvement was subtle, but the sensation of progress was intoxicating.
Lance sheathed his sword with satisfaction.
He could not use that Knowledge Experience for the time being. He could only wait until he returned and did some Research.
Just as he was about to close the panel, the corner of his eye suddenly twitched.
[Environmental Stability: 62%]
That number, which had represented safety just moments ago, had somehow fallen below the warning line.
Even during the second he froze, the number dropped again.
61%
Lance's heart jolted.
The comfortable surroundings just now had nearly caused him to let down his guard.
The value was declining so steadily and continuously that it meant the environment around him was constantly worsening, and that unknown danger was following in his footsteps.
"Time to go."
He quickly checked his backpack. The extra Coppercap Mushrooms he had gathered today filled five whole leather pouches, far exceeding his target.
Lance did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately packed up and turned to run.
On his way back, he deliberately chose the fastest route.
Along the way, he passed the original gathering point again.
That group of poorly dressed adventurers was still there, toiling away with their heads down.
Lance paused, recalling Kyle, the enthusiastic young man with the greatsword, and his kind warning when Lance had first entered the forest.
After hesitating for a moment, he stopped anyway and called out to them.
"This area isn't very safe anymore. You should all head back now!"
However.
What he received in response was a wave of cold stares.
Someone even looked him up and down, snorted, and muttered, "Coward."
Wealthy yet timid adventurers were the type these people despised most.
That was true enough.
Who would dress as though they were about to hunt Gnolls, then come here to take on such a simple gathering commission?
Besides, the Coppercap Mushroom growing areas were marked as the safest green zones on the Guild map. They were not about to give up the profit right in front of them because of a stranger's ramblings.
Lance shook his head.
Since he could not persuade them, all he could do was respect their fate.
He did not linger any longer and left the forest alone at full speed.
Since the merchant caravan's logging wagons had not yet departed for the return journey, Lance could only walk back to town.
It took him a full hour to return to the Adventurers' Guild.
To avoid drawing attention, he deliberately avoided Nia's busy window and found another counter to quickly hand in the commission.
When the heavy copper coins landed in his hand, Lance smiled beneath his hood.
There were eighty-five copper coins in total.
In just half a day, he had earned far more than he did from a full day of work as a copyist.
After counting his money, Lance went home to take a bath and changed into a fresh set of casual clothes.
These eighty-five copper coins held extraordinary meaning. They were the first fortune he had earned as an adventurer.
He planned to use the money to properly treat the few friends he had in this other world.
He made his way familiarly into that upscale pastry shop.
He bought berry cream tarts that no girl could resist, translucent amber flower-honey candies, and crisp vanilla pastries that crumbled at the slightest bite.
Carrying the packed paper bags, Lance returned to the Adventurers' Guild.
It was nearly evening by then, yet Nia was still holding her post.
Wearing a pair of specially made thick leather gloves, she calmly counted a pile of bloody Goblin ears on the desk.
Despite the somewhat disgusting scene, the delicate-looking receptionist did not find it dirty in the slightest.
Before long, she finished recording everything with practiced efficiency and handed a bag of silver coins to the adventurer in front of her.
When she looked up, she happened to spot Lance standing in line behind him, and she playfully winked at him with her large eyes.
While on duty, she was nothing if not professional.
Understanding her meaning, Lance stepped forward and placed his metal nameplate on the desk, pretending to be an adventurer turning in a commission as he smoothly occupied the window.
"Adventurer, what spoils would you like to submit?"
Nia deliberately sweetened her voice until it was almost syrupy.
Suppressing a laugh, Lance pulled out the bag of flower-honey candies from behind his back as though performing a magic trick and handed it over.
Nia had not expected there to really be something inside. She opened the bag and took a look.
Several translucent amber-colored hard candies lay within, each with an intact pink flower petal sealed in its center, exquisite enough to resemble works of art.
They were her favorite snack.
Feeling guilty as though she were doing something wrong, she glanced around twice. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she quickly pinched one up and popped it into her mouth.
The sweetness melted across her tongue, making her happily narrow her eyes.
"Call Amber and Flora tonight. Cards at the usual place."
Lance lowered his voice as he made the invitation.
Nia gave him an "OK" gesture and said indistinctly, "Wait for me to get off work."
There was still some time before Nia's shift change.
So Lance wandered over to the commission board on the other side of the hall and began studying the notices posted there.
He was seriously considering whether he should quit his copyist job and become a full-time adventurer.
That system capable of displaying environmental values was practically tailored for gathering commissions.
With it alone, he could avoid risks while earning a considerable profit.
He just needed to visit the bookstore and cram some potion-making and Botany knowledge. That way, if he encountered rare materials beyond his commissions on the road, he would not fail to recognize their value.
Just as he was absorbed in reading the parchment notices one by one,
he heard several adventurers talking in low voices behind him.
"Did you hear? Something big happened in the area east of Copper Creek today."
"Apparently, a huge group of Gnolls joined forces with Goblins to set a trap and ambushed quite a few teams out doing commissions."
"Good thing I didn't go there today. I heard one team even had a newcomer with them. They were originally planning to challenge a small Goblin nest, but they still haven't come back. Things don't look good for them."
"It wasn't just there. Several Coppercap Mushroom gathering spots in the Outer Region were hit too. The sudden attack killed a lot of people."
The adventurers sighed and shook their heads as they prepared to line up at the counter and turn in their commissions.
At that moment, a somewhat abrupt voice came from behind them.
"Excuse me..."
The group turned around and saw a handsome black-haired young man.
"That adventurer team that hasn't returned... were they three men carrying greatswords and axes, with a girl holding a short bow?"
The adventurers found Lance familiar. Recognizing him as a Guild staff member, they nodded politely.
"Yes, that was their lineup."
"The young guy leading them looked pretty spirited too. What a shame."
"Thank you."
Lance thanked them softly and silently turned away.
He looked up at the wall covered in various commissions. The plans and hopes he had held for the future suddenly felt dull and empty.
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