Investing Points in the Skill Tree

After all, in the wilderness, besides monsters, it was not uncommon to encounter "red-name" adventurers who specialized in ambushing and killing their peers.

Lance said nothing more. He merely nodded politely to them before turning and heading deeper into the map.

Sure enough, those high-safety areas had already been picked clean.

He needed to find a more secluded gathering spot.

As he walked, Lance kept a close eye on the numbers in the corner of his vision.

[Environmental Stability: 78%]

In this area, where the value had stabilized, the surroundings finally grew quiet.

Lance found his target beneath a patch of rotting fallen logs.

He put on his anti-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 procedure in the guild manual, lest he damage the mycelial roots and ruin the entire crop.

Still, the harvesting speed was not particularly fast.

After a while, a notification popped up on the panel.

[Commission Complete: Gather Coppercap Mushrooms (30/30)]

[Rewards 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 newly acquired points of 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 intensive practice.

He drew the short sword at his waist and smoothly thrust out a basic stab.

The movement truly was a touch smoother than before. The improvement was subtle, but the feeling of progress was intoxicating.

Satisfied, Lance sheathed his sword.

He could not use the knowledge experience for now. He would have to study it after returning.

Just as he was about to close the panel, something at the edge of his vision suddenly twitched.

[Environmental Stability: 62%]

The number that had represented safety had somehow already fallen below the warning threshold.

Even in the second he spent staring at it, the number dropped once more.

61%

Lance's heart jolted.

The comfort of the surroundings had nearly made him lower 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 his path.

"We need to leave."

He quickly checked his backpack. The extra Coppercap Mushrooms he had gathered today filled five entire leather bags. He had long since exceeded his target.

Without the slightest reluctance, Lance immediately packed up and turned to run.

On the way back, he deliberately chose the fastest route.

He passed the original gathering spot again midway through.

That group of poorly dressed adventurers was still there, working with their heads down.

Lance paused, recalling the kind warning Kyle, the enthusiastic greatsword-wielding young man, had given him when he first entered the forest.

After hesitating for a moment, he stopped and called out to them.

"This area isn't safe anymore. Everyone, get back quickly!"

However.

What he received in response was a round of cold stares.

Someone even looked him up and down, snorted, and muttered, "Coward."

Wealthy yet timid adventurers were the people this group despised the most.

Indeed.

Who would dress as though they were about to hunt gnollmen, then come here to do such a simple gathering commission?

Besides, the Coppercap Mushroom growing sites were all marked as the safest green zones on the guild map. They would not abandon the profits before their eyes because of a stranger's crazy 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 carts had not yet returned, 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 turn in the commission.

When the heavy copper coins landed in his hand, Lance smiled beneath his hood.

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 the coins, Lance went home first to take a bath and change into a clean 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 expertly turned into that upscale pastry shop.

He bought berry cream tarts that no girl could resist, translucent amber honey candies, and crisp vanilla pastries that crumbled at the slightest bite.

Carrying the paper bags of packaged treats, Lance returned to the Adventurers' Guild.

It was nearly dusk by then, yet Nia was still steadfastly at her post.

Wearing a pair of specialized thick leather gloves, she calmly counted a pile of bloody goblin ears on the desk.

Despite how nauseating the scene was, the seemingly delicate receptionist did not find it dirty in the slightest.

Soon, 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 in line behind him and playfully winked her large eyes at him.

During working hours, she was very professional.

Understanding her meaning, Lance stepped forward and placed his metal identification plate on the counter. Pretending to be an adventurer turning in a commission, he smoothly claimed the window for himself.

"Dear adventurer, what spoils would you like to submit?"

Nia deliberately sweetened her voice until it was almost cloying.

Suppressing a laugh, Lance produced the bag of honey candies from behind his back as if performing a magic trick and handed it to her.

Nia had not expected there to actually be something inside. She opened the bag and took a look.

Several translucent amber hard candies lay within. Complete pink flower petals were sealed inside their centers, delicate as little works of art.

They were her favorite snack.

Looking around guiltily, she saw that no one was paying attention and quickly pinched one up and popped it into her mouth.

The sweetness melted across her tongue, making her happily narrow her eyes.

"Tonight, invite Amber and Flora. Cards at the usual place."

Lance lowered his voice as he extended the invitation.

Nia made an "OK" gesture and said indistinctly, "Wait for me to get off work."

There was still some time before Nia's shift ended.

Lance wandered over to the commission board on the other side of the hall and began studying the task notices.

He was seriously considering whether to quit his copyist job and become a full-time adventurer.

That system that displayed environmental values was practically tailor-made for gathering commissions.

With it alone, he could avoid risks while earning considerable profits.

He only needed to visit a bookstore and thoroughly study potion-making and botany. That way, if he encountered rare materials unrelated to a commission on the road, he would not fail to recognize their value.

Just as he was absorbed in reading the parchment notices.

Several adventurers began speaking in low voices behind him.

"Did you hear? Something big happened east of Copper Creek today."

"Apparently, a huge group of gnollmen and goblins worked together to set a trap and ambushed quite a few teams on commissions."

"Good thing I didn't go there today. I heard one adventuring team brought along a rookie and had originally planned to challenge a small goblin nest. They still haven't come back. They're probably done for."

"It wasn't just there. Several Coppercap Mushroom gathering spots in the outer area were hit too. The sudden attacks killed a lot of people."

The adventurers sighed and shook their heads, preparing to line up at the counter to turn in their commissions.

Just then, a somewhat abrupt voice came from behind them.

"Excuse me..."

The group turned around and saw a handsome black-haired young man.

"The adventuring party that hasn't returned—was it three men carrying greatswords and axes, with a girl using a shortbow?"

The adventurers found Lance familiar and recognized him as a guild staff member, so they nodded politely.

"Yes, that was their composition."

"The young man 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 every kind of commission. The plans and hopes he had held for the future suddenly felt hollow and joyless.