Their arrival at the hunters' guild didn't take long after they decided to go on a mission to achieve their goal of buying a book about the monsters they might encounter.
"I'm excited for my second mission."
The spearman could hardly control his excitement as he raised his arms in the air. The urge to grab his weapon and swing it from side to side was tremendous as he remembered the fight against the goblins.
"I'm hoping for less difficulty. I don't like feeling the grim reaper's scythe at my throat."
The shooter just touched his throat to confirm the feeling of life in his warm body. The vivid sensation of a near-death experience was something to be remembered for a lifetime.
The receptionist's lips widened into a smile as she saw the pair of rookies approaching to take on a mission. The beautiful, silver-haired lady was stunningly beautiful.
"Are you ready for another mission?"
"Show us the most recommended ones for a duo to be able to breathe in a big city like this."
Jon didn't want to take on a mission for just one silver piece; there was no way both of them could survive in a city like Caerleon with only 50 bronze coins after splitting it.
"Have a little pity on us."
Fay was also showing concern about the lack of money they faced after the last mission. The feeling of an empty wallet ached in his soul.
"I'll get the best ones for a rookie duo."
Luna went to the counter to collect several quests, analyzing the content and rewards quickly and practically. The final result of the selection was three papers placed in front of them.
Mission 01: Destroy the goblin nest. The existence of variants such as goblin shamans has been confirmed. The existence of tamed wolves has also been confirmed. The estimated number of monsters is 30. Reward: 10 Silver.
Mission 02: Escort the merchant Larry Alvares to the water city of New Florence. The merchant mentioned that he is being targeted by a group of bandits specializing in robbing people on the road. Reward: 6 Silver.
Mission 03: The city's sewers are infested with pests such as giant cockroaches and rats. The city guard requests support with the extermination of pests. A report must be made after completing the mission. Reward: 8 Silver.
The mind of the older of the two had a very quick thought to make a decision on the next chosen mission.
"Let's go with the third one."
The spearman protested fiercely when he saw the mission chosen by his friend; the choice didn't seem to please him very much.
"Why the third one? Can't we go with the second?"
His tantrum made the stoic face of the black-haired hunter curve his lips slightly with a smile before giving an answer to his adventure partner.
"We used up our healing potions in the previous mission against the goblins. We're too inexperienced to deal with cunning monsters like those green creatures. Bandits accustomed to killing is an even worse choice; the danger faced is even greater."
Arguments and facts silenced the impulsive warrior with a heart thirsty for adventure. The points given were enough to make him reflect on the next step.
"Confirm the acceptance of the request for us."
"I will do it immediately."
Walker used a polite tone to signal the request to accept the mission of cleaning the city's sewers. The receptionist was even happier to see his attitude.
"I like his attitude of knowing his limits, not looking for things above his station. People like him live longer."
The paper for the report was handed to the firearm user. The content was nothing out of this world and even seemed quite simple to fill out.
"Then we're off."
"We'll be back to collect our money."
The duo's departure opened a conversation among several members of the guild. People had some reactions to the words and choices of the Caerleon rookies.
"Those two beggar-wannabes know how to choose their missions. They didn't throw their lives away in a fight against bandits or goblin variants."
The words came from the mage Alice, the same beautiful woman who had given that stern reprimand about their torn clothes in the hunters' guild environment.
"Those two brats didn't want to do the sewer cleaning mission; they wanted to do another mission."
The answer was given by the beautiful Hida. The archer was drinking a mug of beer while laughing about this year's guild rookies.
"Then why didn't they choose another mission?"
A rookie with black hair, too long for a man and too short for a woman, black eyes resembling coal, and leather armor had spoken these words.
"They themselves said they're not idiots to go on a dangerous mission without healing potions or proper preparations. I see your lack of attention. The coffin is not far for people like that, Hilbert!"
The silver-ranked veteran archer reprimanded the rookie for making a comment without thinking about his own words.
"Sorry, Veteran Hild!"
Laughter filled the magical and welcoming atmosphere of the guild. The rookies sighed for not being in Hilbert's place; the veterans just laughed because of the scolding.
"We're at the entrance to the sewers."
Fay knew the city very well and could guide his friend to the place where they would carry out the received mission.
"Are you excited too?"
The spearman didn't understand his friend's excitement, as he couldn't see a blue screen in front of him with words as sweet as honey for anyone going through a difficult situation.
Mission 02: Defeat the following opponents to complete the mission of cleaning the sewers of Caerleon: Giant Rats 0/12 Giant Cockroaches 0/5 Rewards: Small increase in the chosen stat.
The system's reward excited him, and the real-life reward was also exciting him. Both seemed like sweets entering his mouth, and the sugar seemed irresistible.
"Are we going to use any strategy?"
Jon hadn't thought too deeply about fighting giant rats or cockroaches. The games in his past life had an effect on this as he remembered the fights and stories involving the two species.
"I think we should advance carefully. We don't know if we can be caught by surprise, and there's the fact that incurable diseases can be transmitted from both of them."
A look of disgust was evident on the brown-haired boy's face. His nose seemed to be sensitive to smells; the reaction on his face completely betrayed the emotions he was feeling.
"Being a warrior with trained senses is pretty bad sometimes."
Jon liked being a normal mercenary when he saw his friend's extreme look of disgust. His heightened senses were working more against him than for him at that moment.
The Colt was summoned in an instant and the spear was taken from his back. The duo was ready for combat the moment they entered the stinking sewer of this second capital of the empire.
The sewer environment was not at all pleasant, with the smell strongly hurting the sense of smell. The beauty of the place was also lacking on the cracked rocky walls. The dirty water seemed to have an incredible force by the way it moved.
The enemy seemed to be hostile to human beings as a splash in the water sent it everywhere, drenching both hunters. Two giant rodents quickly leaped with their huge fangs to bite their victims.
The giant rats were what one would expect them to be: giant rodents, larger than a common rat. Their current size was very close to that of a very fat four-hundred-kilogram pig.
The long-hafted weapon made a freer and fiercer movement upon seeing all the open space. The back end of it moved in an instant to hit the monster's throat. At the same second, a spin was made to cut with the tip at the throat; the same place was hit in this swift movement. The giant rodent's blood was spilled in several different directions.
The Colt fired a considerably loud sound as it executed a precise shot towards that huge rodent. The bullet didn't take long to pierce through the fur and skin; the brain was destroyed in the same instant of the collision between brain matter and a high-speed iron bullet.
"They're not as smart as goblins."
The spearman liked being able to use his weapon to perform all the techniques, not being limited to thrusts because of the narrow environment of the previous mission in the village of Hampton.
"You could say that goblins are the top of the monsters of our ranks. They are shrewd and cunning creatures."
The assessment given to the small green creatures after the near-death of both of them was quite high by hunter standards.
A giant flying cockroach appeared, flying at high speed towards the shooter. His reaction was to aim quickly without much thought and fire the next moment.
"It was a graze."
Fay watched everything from the side as he observed the bullet tear one of the giant insect's wings. The spear didn't stand still when it saw the fall and crushed its head with the back of the shaft.
"These cockroaches seem to be the most problematic enemies. Their speed is something to pay attention to, or we might be missing a part of us."
The group's melee combatant was completely right in analyzing the speed of that giant flying insect. The danger it posed was considerable when everything was weighed.
"We shouldn't have any challenges with these creatures."
Discouragement was evident for the brown-haired young man. The adrenaline felt in the previous mission could not be felt in this mission of cleaning the sewers.
"Don't allow the influence of unnecessary emotions in your judgment."
The shot happened once more. The bullet hit the head of a giant rat ready to drag the spearman into the water after leaping from its hiding place.
"Slipping up is also normal."
The spear thrust at high speed towards a giant cockroach on the shooter's back. The insect was split in two with one part going east, the other west.
"I didn't slip up. I just trusted my partner."
Jon's smile irritated Fay a little when he saw his smug face. The pair looked like two brothers, the older one teasing the younger.
The fierce, long, and pointed weapon cut another enemy. The cut on the rodent was a brutal one to the stomach; the result was its entrails spilling out while someone vomited.
"Disgusting!"
"But you were the one who caused it. The spear was yours."
"But it's disgusting!"
Walker showed himself to be as rational as ever by maintaining a stoic face despite the uncomfortable stench in his nose. The decadent environment he was walking through must also have affected his mood, although he didn't show it.
The sound of a gunshot happened once more. The weapon fired again at that moment, aiming at two rodents advancing as if they were enraged bulls. The fall happened in the same instant. The mana projectile passed through their skulls without difficulty; they collapsed dead.
"Do you have any life goal?"
The question was asked by the inexperienced 18-year-old boy, who hadn't experienced much in life besides training and a deadly adventure.
"I don't have many plans for the future. I lack one, to tell you the truth."
Jon scratched his head when he thought about future plans. He had no future plans and just let himself be guided by the wind while taking certain actions to survive in this new world.
"I have a goal."
The bladed weapon moved brutally as it cut the two wings of the giant flying cockroach. The third blow was given to split it into four pieces.
"Which is?"
"I want to be someone like in my father's stories, a man capable of inspiring hope in other people, someone reliable in whom people can feel safe."
"So you want to become a hero? A symbol of hope?"
The older one's doubt was full of questions about why his spearman friend wanted to be a symbol of hope.
"I thought about how cool it would be to become a hero and molded my life around that. My dream is to be remembered by many people."
"Don't you think that's very generic? A dream that might not be your own?"
"I've questioned myself about that several times, and I really want to be a hero. I want to be remembered positively by future generations. I want my stories to be told to turn children into future heroes."
Jon Walker found it all very funny, but he wouldn't laugh at his friend's dream. He would support him with everything possible.
"Then I will support you on your journey. I will walk by your side to help your dream and maybe find one for myself too."
The smile of the younger of the hunters was quite innocent as he realized the difficulty of getting rid of this new friend.
"Then let's go together!"
The mission didn't take long to complete while both boys talked about various things. The topics ranged from serious matters to trivial nonsense.
Mission 02:Defeat the following opponents to complete the mission of cleaning the sewers of Caerleon:
Giant Rats 12/12
Giant Cockroaches 5/5
Rewards: Small increase in the chosen stat.
Stats: Strength: F- (Up)
Dexterity: D- (Up)
Magic: F+ (Up)
Agility: F+ (Up)
Wisdom: F+ (Up)