CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 509 - THE LIFE OF AN INDUSTRIOUS ADVENTURER (PART 2)

With my sack of special goodies on hand, I turned around and reached for the door but then I just remembered something important. I placed the sack hurriedly in my storage, turned around and went back to Arthur. He looked confused as to why I was coming back but before he could ask why, I stole a quick kiss on his lips and then smiled at him teasingly.

Arthur’s eyes widened and his face turned red from the sudden intimacy. I turned around while giggling and then really went out the door this time.

It was quite a warm day and I kind off took my time watching the assortment of stores that I passed by at the central market. There aren’t that many people in the streets at this time of day since most people take their naps or just do not want to go out in the sun. The busiest times are early morning after sunrise and during the night market after sunset.

By the time I reached the northern gates of Hoffen City, it was already some time in the middle of the afternoon. I greeted the guard on duty with a smile on my face, showed my adventurer’s badge that clearly shows my rank and the stack of mission papers to let them know the reason I was leaving towards the direction of the forest areas. After reading my papers and verifying my badge briefly, I was then allowed to go out of the gates even though I am on my own.

Once I was at a certain distance from the gates and I am sure that nobody can see me from this distance, I used magic to boost my body so I can travel faster and reach my destination quickly. In a few minutes, I am already in the outer areas of the northern forest which should have taken a normal human adventurer about an hour or two to reach by foot.

As usual, I closed my eyes and used my mana to inspect the whole area of about 20 kilometers around me to detect if there are any large wild animals, possible shady people like bandits or areas with precious herbs that I should visit first. Let us just say that I am planning for success, not that I fear any large animals or encountering evil people.

I don’t hurt beings that do not threaten me first. Hunting small game for food is a different matter though and is an exemption to the rule of not hurting living beings. Anything else can be considered self-defense on my part.

After scanning the area for about a few seconds, I opened my eyes and at that point, I already have an idea of what is in store for me once I go inside the northern forest. I walked to the area nearer to the periphery and sat down a bit and started digging for herbs, harvesting edible berries and also certain parts of plants that can be used for alchemy.

I repeatedly walked, sat down, dug the ground and then harvested until the sun was about to set. I then looked for a place to pitch in a tent in a hidden area that I found during my trips around here before. I made sure to do this before it gets dark.

Honestly, wild animals do not bother me no matter where I go so I can actually pitch up a tent anywhere but in the guise of acting as a normal human, I need to seek shelter during the night. The only thing I am weary about is meeting random people, specifically males, who ask to be taken in for the night or bandits. They both give the same level of nuisance anyways.

The night was uneventful with me spending the night while sorting out all the valuables I got from the northern forest. I started the routine of harvesting again by the time the sun is up like an efficient little working robot that I am.

I finished all the tasks for the northern forest before lunch time. I ate a bit of the food that Arthur gave me and continued walking towards the counter clockwise direction to reach the western forest area. I made sure to get every single valuable thing I could but still left some for those that also need to complete their tasks and so that the plants will have a chance to propagate again till my next harvest time.

I continued foraging until the middle of the afternoon then moved to the southern forests right after without any delays. I ate my snacks while walking to keep the boredom away, Before sun down, I got my tent pitched in a secluded place within the southern forests already.

By the time the sun has finally set, I felt a huge amount of mana travelling quickly towards the direction of the eastern gates of Hoffen City. If I was not adept and could not get information in the fluctuations, I might even think the city was under attack.

If I would put a description on it, it felt like an enormous, hot and bright ball of light travelling quickly. With just a bit of sensing, I already knew that the first batch of priests of that cult... I mean religion have arrived in Hoffen City for the start of the academe term. They really came as per the agreement with the royal family and the academe.

I ignored the fact that the stalkers are in the city and continued with what I came to do in the forest. I stayed for the night in the southern forest and had an early start by sunrise. It took only a few hours to scour this part of the forest and by lunch time, I am on my way to the eastern forests.

Just like my previous estimation of the time I needed to complete the 22 missions, I was already back in the adventurer’s hall by late in the afternoon, roughly two days from the time I took out those 22 missions. I was ushered to a private room together with three of the receptionists from the lobby. I need this many people so that the job can be done quickly as they had to assist me in confirming the completion of each missions since which involves counting and checking the quality of the materials I brought back.

They told me that it will take about an hour and a half for the completion to be confirmed. I patiently sat on one corner while doing their job and spent my time talking to my children telepathically instead.

After the designated time, all 22 missions were confirmed as completed and some materials even have some surplus so the adventurer’s hall bought it from me at the fair market price. I added a few extra items on purpose as goodwill especially for the items that are much harder to procure. As usual, my instructions were to put my payment in my adventurer account.

After leaving the adventurer’s hall, I went to Uncle Daejung’s shop to deliver the ready to sell alchemy materials that I personally processed during the last two evenings where I did not go around the forest and stayed inside my tent. Upon seeing me and the rich variety of items I brought in, the old man looked genuinely happy and grateful but he still did not forget to express his worry for me since this is my second delivery in just a span of a week. He told me to take it easy whenever I can since the customers can just wait for new stocks if they really needed it.

I assured Uncle Daejung that I rested whenever I can. I gave him a smiled and told him honestly that I may not be able to deliver alchemy materials regularly for the next few months since I will be attending classes in the academe and even my weekend schedule is full.

I gave the reason that I simply made it a point to prepare for those times so I gathering items quickly before the academe starts. He smiled at me and thanked me again for keeping the inventory full and diversified. I also thanked him for making sure that profits come regularly due to his hardwork in managing the store.

I spent some time with Uncle Daejung in the store, helping him out in filling up the inventory and also adding some alchemy information in the our magical book about the herbs that I encountered in other places. I had not had the chance to do this last time since I was in a hurry.

Just as we were finishing the inventory and cleaning up the table that we used for tea and snacks, Dongmin arrived seemingly tired from his adventurer missions for today. He looked stunned to see me in the shop again just after a few days.

He greeted me with a single polite nod and then started talking to his father that he was not able to take any gathering missions today because none were available at the board. I coughed awkwardly upon hearing it since I think that was my fault.

Uncle Daejung told him it was alright and he can take higher tier missions as long as he stays safe. Not wanting to intrude further, I made my goodbyes to the two men but right before I left the door, I turned and reveled to Dongmin that I took all the 22 missions for gathering two days ago then smirked at him.