The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 33: Forest of Spiders (1)

“Hanox was an ancient city of ancient warriors. The people of this place regarded strength as the highest virtue, and when a child became an adult, they were sent to a place known as the trial grounds....”

Kai's eyes suddenly stopped while reading the book.

Trial!

The information he had been desperately seeking was in this book. Wanting to know more, Kai increased his reading speed.

“According to ancient texts, the trial grounds were a place to test strong warriors. In order to pass through this place, one must possess the qualities of a true warrior: courage, wisdom, and strength. Lacking any one of these three meant failure to pass the trial, and children who failed were not recognized as proud warriors but assigned to handling trivial tasks in the city....”

After reading a bit more, Kai closed the book as the detailed information about the Trial of Hanox ended.

Although there were no strategies for overcoming the trial, this is enough.

Having gathered enough information about the dungeon, all that was left was to level up.

I also need to practice the feeling of Supernova while I’m at it.

He couldn't afford to experience the depletion of his Holy Power like when he faced the Snake Brothers.

After collecting his thoughts, Kai left the library without any regrets. Even though he had spent a significant amount of money (one gold coin) in just two hours, the harvest was more than abundant.

***

"Now, what quests are available in this city?"

After arriving at Glendale's central square, Kai searched through the quest board. He was looking for quests to undertake while hunting in the orc tribes.

"This one requires level 60, so pass. This one... is only for adventurers with strength over 140? All these conditions are quite demanding."

Kai scratched his head and checked his stat window.

[Kai]

Class: Solaris Cleric

Level: 56

Title: Envoy of God

HP: 16,000

Holy Power: 22,800

Stats

Strength: 77 Stamina: 160

Intelligence: 68 Agility: 77

Holiness: 228 Benevolence: 38

Remaining points: 50

Casting Time: -30%

Skill Cooldown: -9%

Damage Received: -3%

He had accumulated as many as 50 stat points! Kai felt secure seeing that number, as if he had made a savings deposit.

Two goals before the formation of the expedition.

One was to reach level 60 to equip the Long Sword of the Enlightened One, and the other was to tackle the Trial of Hanox.

Hmm, there aren't as many doable quests as I thought. It feels like quests in the city are taken up quickly.

Unable to find a good quest easily, Kai let out a frustrated sigh.

Just then, an old woman passed by him and carefully posted a new paper on the board.

A new quest.

The surrounding players' eyes lit up as they checked the quest.

"Eh, nevermind."

"Tsk."

"...Sigh."

However, the moment they checked the content, they clicked their tongues and moved on.

Kai, observing their behavior, guessed the content of the quest.

The reward must not be good.

Normally, quests were accepted if the rewards weren’t too bad as they could be done at the same time with other activities.

So, if all those players ignored it, it means the reward isn't good.

Kai approached the paper the old woman had posted to check its content.

[Missing Grandson]

Difficulty: C-

Deva's grandson, Rody, is a boy who dreams of becoming a mercenary, and is always bright and energetic. However, a few days ago, he was greatly shocked when his parents, who were mercenaries, went missing in the Forest of Spiders. Determined to find them, he left for the Forest of Spiders with only an old iron sword but has not returned for four days. Search for Rody and his parents in the Forest of Spiders.

Quest Requirements: Check to see if Rody and his parents survived. If they perished, retrieve their belongings, and bring them back to Deva.

Quest Reward: Deva's Fairy Tale Storybook and 23 Silver.

“Just as I thought.”

The merit of the reward section was clearly lacking.

The Forest of Spiders was not just a simple hunting ground but a vast area connected to the Orc village. Searching for missing people there was like looking for a needle in a haystack! The effort required seemed disproportionately rewarded with such little returns that one could consider there to be no reward at all.

However...

Kai slightly turned his head and glanced at the old woman, Deva, who had posted the quest. Although she could have left after posting it on the board, she anxiously stood in one spot, watching adventurers pass by her request with sad eyes.

"Ugh, but really, I shouldn’t take it."

Kai scratched his head, looking like he had a headache.

I need to level up, gain practical experience in the Orc village, and tackle the trial of Hanox. Even two bodies wouldn't be enough for all this. It’s unfortunate, but I should give this up.

Having made up his mind, Kai turned to look for other quests.

At that moment, laughter erupted from behind.

"Hey, look at this."

"What?"

"What's with this trash quest?"

"Damn! You’re right. Where's the NPC's conscience?"

"The reward is 23 silver, and an old book. You'd have to be quite conscienceless to offer that."

"Hey, this is how to deal with quests like this."

Riip!

The players tore off the quest paper and ripped it up!

They chuckled as they touched the air.

"And when you press reject quest... voila, trash quest perfectly cleaned!"

"Ha, you sure are smart."

"Ahem. We're the only ones thinking of the players."

"That's right, that's right. It's because of kind people like us that other players can automatically filter out such trash quests."

"The NPC who posted this quest probably has no idea their quest disappeared so futilely."

"That's the fun part, heh heh."

Kai's fists trembled at the scene. Not just Kai, but other players around also frowned at the behavior! However, no one dared to pick a fight with them.

Judging by their equipment, they seem to be of high level.

There's a guild mark on their chest too....

Better not get involved, it'd be troublesome.

Soon, as if nothing had happened, the players went back to their own business!

But there was someone who approached them.

"My grandson.... Please find my grandson Rody, and my son and daughter-in-law.... Please, I beg you, adventurers."

Mistaking them for having accepted the quest, Deva kept bowing and pleading with them.

This caused the players who had rejected the quest to look at each other and burst into laughter again.

"Hahaha! Hey, did this granny post the quest?"

"Does she think we accepted it?"

"Granny, if the reward is so poor, no one will accept the quest. You should be thankful to us for teaching you a lesson in your old age."

The three mocked the desperate woman!

As if realizing too late what had happened, Deva's expression fell, and she looked down at the ground, defeated.

Unable to stand the sight, Kai shouted, "How rude...!"

"What’s going on?"

A few more players came to the side of the rude trio, all having the same guild mark on their chests!

Kai's mouth closed as naturally as water flowing.

"Oh, boss, you came? We were just cleaning up a trash quest. As usual."

"Take it easy, bastards. There's such a thing as a guild image."

As the tall man at the front with an annoyed expression said this, the rude trio backed down.

"Hehe. Got it."

"We should listen to the guild master's words."

"Anyway...." One of the trio came forward with a smile. "You, didn't you just say something about us being rude?"

"...."

Kai calmly squinted, assessing their numbers.

...A total of six.

Kai stood no chance against such numbers in his current state!

He carefully said, without showing any fear, "Oh, I was just chasing after a guest who hadn't packed up their leftover food.... Did it sound the wrong way?"

"...."

A cold silence came down on the square!

But after a moment, the rude trio burst into laughter.

"Ahahaha! This bastard, he's funny."

"Hahaha, we'll let it slide this time since you’re so pathetic!"

The rude ones patted Kai on the shoulder as they passed by.

Expressing his humiliation through his trembling body, Kai said to a nearby player, "Excuse me, do you know the name of that guild?"

"Hmm, crimson fists.... Yes, that's the Crimson Fist."

"The Crimson Fist?"

"Yes, those six members over there are all there is to it. But, it's best to avoid them... The rumors about them aren’t good."

Kai tilted his head and asked again, "Is there any connection to the Crimson Sunset guild?"

"Huh? There’s also a guild called the Crimson Sunset?"

"...."

Was it merely a coincidence!?

After thanking the player for the explanation, Kai rubbed his forehead.

...Is it that anything with 'Crimson' in the guild name turns out like this, or is there some kind of connection between those without manners?

Kai pledged that if he ever joined a guild, he would definitely not join one with crimson in its name.

The Crimson Fist, huh?

Kai believed in repaying kindness twice over and avenging wrongs with interest whenever he remembered.

The existence of the Crimson Fist guild was firmly imprinted in his mind.

"Oh dear... oh dear...."

Kai then saw Deva crouched down on the ground, picking up the torn pieces of paper.

"Oh, I really shouldn’t..."

Watching her, Kai wore a tired expression and sighed deeply.

Well, where else would my fate take me?

***

[Quest accepted.]

"Thank you, truly...."

"Let's save the thanks for when we find your grandson."

Kai, having eventually accepted the quest, was able to learn basic information about her grandson.

He's fourteen years old. The place his parents went to investigate before they disappeared is near the center of the Forest of Spiders.

Fortunately, this information significantly narrowed down the search area! Kai checked the mini-map, marked the location he needed to go to, and then checked his equipment.

Equipment durability check, inventory space check, well-fed, and well-rested.

He was completely prepared!

With nothing left to prepare, Kai headed straight for the Forest of Spiders.

"Looking for Warriors above level 53!"

"Fire Wizard looking for a party, I'm level 55!"

"Looking for a tank for a party of at least level 55! Ready to depart immediately!"

Recruiting party members usually took place in the city's square or at the entrance of hunting grounds. However, the Forest of Spiders, which had recently become popular, was crowded with many players.

"Eh? Isn't that guy from the square earlier?"

"Huh? Where, where?"

The rude trio from the Crimson Fist guild smiled after spotting Kai heading toward the Forest of Spiders.

"Hey, go ask him to join our party."

"What? Why party with that bastard?"

"Because it's about time we made some money."

"...Ah. Shall we?"

The trio approached Kai with a sly grin.

Then, Kai furrowed his eyebrows as someone abruptly grabbed his wrist and turned to look.

"We must be fated to meet. Saw you in the square, and here we are again, right?"

"...."

Ignoring what the trio said, Kai looked at his grabbed wrist with cold eyes.

"If you're a dealer, wanna party with us?"

"We'll make sure the loot distribution is fair."

"Try it, try it."

[You have been invited to join a party. Will you accept?]

"...."

After looking at their faces one by one, Kai roughly pulled his wrist away and warned, "Don't touch others without permission."

"...What?"

"Look at this bastard talking!"

"Do you know who we are? You were crawling around us earlier!"

The trio became instantly furious, showing their rage, but Kai remained indifferent.

Well, earlier there were six of them, and it was an open square.

He wasn't about to cause trouble in the city while on a quest for Baron Arsen; it wasn't because he was afraid of them.

"Anyway, I don't party with people who have no manners and touch others without permission. And...."

[Party invitation has been rejected.]

Kai glared at them after declining the party invitation.

"Touch me without permission again, and you'll regret it."

Leaving those words behind, Kai turned and walked away.

The trio, left with their mouths open, finally snapped back to reality.

"Hey!"

"Hey! Stop right there! I said stop! Three, two, one...!"

"Why isn’t that bastard stopping!?"

Despite the trio's curses and warnings, Kai wasn't about to listen to their nonsense!

Rather, as the attention of those around concentrated on them, the trio's expressions only soured.

"Ugh, if only master hadn't told us to lay low...."

"Next time we see that bastard in the field, let’s kill him on the spot."

"He really pissed me off this time."

After grumbling for a while, they called over another guild member.

"What? Why did you call me?"

"We've been looking for someone to scam for hours today and keep failing. Let's just ambush another party in the hunting ground."

"Thinking of hitting a big score? Sounds good," the newly joined tank, Lark, smirked.

With a dirty plan in mind, the group headed straight into the Forest of Spiders.