Subquest

Upon defeating the [Metal Slime], the Dwarf Employee jumped up and down, excited.

“You’re the first person to actually cut a Metal Slime and get jelly!”

Since the Liquid Armor itself hadn’t been developed into a high-level item for very long, there weren’t many high-level players who had defeated a [Metal Slime].

So, when taking down a [Metal Slime], they usually cut it with a plate so it wouldn’t harden, but Americano had just hacked at it mindlessly.

In theory, even a Sword Master would have difficulty cutting it in one strike, they said.

‘Sword Master, huh.’

It wasn’t exactly one strike, but she couldn’t help but feel good hearing that she was being compared to a Sword Master.

Sword Master, that’s like…

Someone stronger than [High Knight Evga].

Even though she had reached Rank 1, she couldn’t definitively say she would win against [High Knight Evga].

And a Sword Master was stronger than him.

‘How strong could they be?’

I want to fight one someday.

Lastly, the Phoenix.

Phoenix Feather.

She knew why it was needed.

It was the same reason Gusta had wanted Nine-tailed Fox’s Foxfire.

“This way.”

She followed the Dwarf Employee.

The security was quite strict.

As she was being guided, she passed several Dwarf warriors.

“Phoenixes are sensitive monsters. They’re known to be immortal, but they can actually be extinguished in an instant by even a breeze. If they turn to ashes, even if they revive, they’ll be younger, which is as good as dead, isn’t it?”

“Even by a breeze?”

“Yes.”

Could you even call it a bird?

“Still, they revive from the ashes without dying. Young Phoenixes don’t turn to ashes because of the wind, but the problem is old Phoenixes.”

Entering the cave, the passage turned red as they followed the tunnel.

Entering the room,

[Ancient Phoenix]

Black letters.

A bird was burning in flames.

The [Ancient Phoenix], comparable in size to an [Ore Golem], sat still.

It was hard to believe that something so huge could be extinguished by a mere breeze.

“An Ancient is almost like fire itself. That’s how much it has become one with fire. Fire with a will. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“It is.”

“It won’t be extinguished by your breath, so you can go and ask it for a feather.”

“But why am I doing this?”

“An Ancient’s feather contains the Ancient’s will. If the armor’s owner receives the feather directly, the armor will fit better.”

“Oh.”

That sounds good.

She got up.

The Dwarf Employee gave her something.

It was a fruit.

About the size of a watermelon.

“Feed it this.”

“….”

She didn’t know what kind of fruit it was, but she approached the [Ancient Phoenix] with it.

It didn’t show any sign of opening its eyes even as she approached, and since it could be extinguished by fire, she couldn’t touch it. As she got closer, the heat blocked her path.

She drew up Yin Energy and surrounded herself with cold air.

As she approached, flap flap.

[Phoenix]

Orange letters.

Small [Phoenixes] flapped their wings and scattered from the [Ancient Phoenix].

The [Phoenixes], as if they had been nesting in the [Ancient Phoenix]’s feathers, began to circle around the room.

“───!”

The Dwarf Employee shouted something.

She couldn’t hear well because of the distance.

He shouted louder.

“…Danger…!”

Danger?

He said it was safe.

Light and heat.

It enveloped her even more intensely.

Turning her gaze back from the Dwarf Employee, the [Ancient Phoenix] leaned forward and looked at Americano.

Seeing the fruit she was holding, it snapped its beak shut on her hand.

Its biting force was weak due to its old age, so it easily came off, but as it swallowed, the [Ancient Phoenix] lowered its body again to match Americano’s eye level.

It extended its wing.

“…?”

It’s telling me to take it?

She plucked a feather.

“I thought my heart was going to stop.”

“Was it dangerous?”

“How strong is the heat emitted by the Ancient! Only the Chief Craftsman, the village chief, can withstand it! But you endured it!”

“….”

She felt like she had cheated a bit, so she couldn’t honestly be happy.

“The Ancient acknowledged that and even told you to pluck a feather yourself. It must be the highest grade, the same one the Chief Craftsman uses! Wow… the other Clan leaders will be insanely jealous if they find out about this. Wow… look at this brilliance.”

[Ancient Phoenix Feather].

It blazed fiercely.

Sparks flew around the feather like starlight and disappeared before going even an inch.

“Let’s go quickly before it cools down.”

She went straight to,

Met Ibon.

She was surprised at how fast she was, impressed that she had gathered all the materials, and couldn’t hide her shock when she saw the [Ancient Phoenix Feather].

“T, this is…”

Ibon felt the fire Magical Power contained in the [Ancient Phoenix Feather].

Feeling the radiantly shining Strength, she carefully took the [Ancient Phoenix Feather].

“H, how did you get this?”

“I just went up and gave it food, and it told me to pluck it?”

“Now that I see it, you have the Aptitude to become a Chief Craftsman.”

She later heard that the condition for becoming a Chief Craftsman was the best work that everyone acknowledged.

The better the fire used to create the work, the better the work would be, and it was only natural that using the highest quality fire would be a condition for becoming a Chief Craftsman.

Of course, just as [Phoenix] was not the only source of fire, obtaining the highest grade feather did not guarantee that one could become a Chief Craftsman.

“I must make it before this Magical Power cools down.”

Ibon couldn’t hide her excitement and immediately started working.

Dwarf Employee.

Airborn.

Airborn looked enviously at where Ibon had disappeared.

“If you’re envious, should I get you one?”

“…Don’t say things like that. You’ll make me hesitate. Even if I got something that precious, would I even be able to use it properly?”

He declined.

“It’ll take three months to complete.”

Skilla delivered the news.

Skilla had a surprised look on her face.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I’ve never seen Ibon so excited. She wasn’t like that even when she was making mine. Does she like you? I’m jealous.”

She was smiling slyly despite saying she was jealous.

They were in the lodgings.

They were each getting ready.

They were preparing to leave Dwarfneer.

“If it takes three months, there’s no need to stay here any longer.”

“That’s right. There’s no Tower here either. And since the Clans are still at odds, it’s better to leave as soon as possible. Before we get caught up in it.”

“So, about that.”

Americano had packed all her luggage.

“I have somewhere else to go, so let’s split up here.”

“What?”

“I have a Subquest I’ve accepted. I’m going to take care of it.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes.”

“No way.”

Skilla said firmly.

She had expected that answer.

But Americano was basically more comfortable alone.

She had a promise with Nabi, so she didn’t want to reveal that she was Anonymous. But she was planning to reveal herself immediately if the need arose, so being together was a bit much.

She also used that as an excuse.

Skilla strongly opposed.

“If you’re going, I’m going with you.”

“Even though it might take a long time?”

“I’m basically free too.”

“You shouldn’t use the word ‘free’ when you’re the Gospel’s Honorary Knight.”

“Ugh… Anyway, you’re my party member. I can’t stand to see the same thing happen again in a place I don’t know. Or is there a reason why I can’t come with you?”

“There isn’t. It’s just that I’m more comfortable being alone.”

Really.

No matter how much she tried to self-hypnotize, Americano was basically an Outsider.

Being with other people, sharing opinions, and communicating was a struggle.

She didn’t want to be disliked or disappointed by Skilla, but if she continued to ignore her tendencies, she might start to dislike and be disappointed in her instead.

If favorability was displayed, wouldn’t Americano’s favorability towards Skilla be -1?

Haa…

She sighed inwardly.

‘It’s nice that you’re worried, Skilla. But the person you’re worried about right now is Anonymous, who you said was strong.’

She glanced at Nabi.

She winked at her.

‘Are you going to say it?’

‘I, I’ll persuade her!’

Nabi opened her mouth in a fluster.

“Miss. I know you’re worried about Americano, but Americano is also a Hero. One of the saviors who came to our world after being called by God.”

“I know. But you know too.”

“…But don’t you have people you’ve sworn to protect separately?”

Skilla was the Gospel’s Honorary Knight.

She had sworn to protect the Gospel’s citizens in order to protect the Gospel.

The Gospel could not be said to be peaceful yet, although it would be until the situation stabilized.

“Americano has already overcome that and is going to fulfill her mission as a Hero, so you should be cheering her on instead.”

“….”

Skilla frowned and sorted out her thoughts. Soon, she let out a sigh and smiled with a mixture of sadness and pride.

“Okay, I can’t stop a Hero from fulfilling her mission.”

“Thank you.”

“But you have to text me?”

“I will.”

Americano waved goodbye to the carriage carrying Skilla and Nabi. Just as Skilla was waving her hand out the window and putting it back in.

“Hoo.”

Shall I go?

Against the backdrop of the blue sky, she opened the screen and looked at the [Quest]. There were two [Subquests] she had currently accepted.

<Subquest>

[Knight Chris’s Last Words]

[Mother of Magical Beasts]

Both were located in the north.

Dwarfneer was also located in the north.

It was just located in the middle of the road to the Quest area compared to Gospel. To get to the Quest area, she had to go a little further north.

“Hoo-oop.”

After loosening her body with stretching, Americano bent her legs towards the north and [Leap]ed. She ran off on her own without a carriage.

The forest was filling her path, but she already had her sword drawn.