What Billy said made Erend and Lt.Boartusk feel gloomy.
Their feelings are of course just the same as him. They are worried about their families in the republic.
But then again, they couldn't do anything. They try to forget about the matter in the meantime and hope that LTC. Ibis and LTC. Coil or anyone with power in the government of the republic did not have the heart to involve their families.
But as time went on, that hope felt less and less. When Billy finally said that, the feelings of anxiety that they had always avoided came rushing in.
"Let's focus first," Lt. Boartusk said.
Erend and Billy immediately returned to focus their minds on the task at hand. They try to focus but the feeling of anxiety and fear keeps coming back.
"When should we do it?" Billy asked. "We don't have to wait for Aerchon, do we?"
"I don't think so. This is all our own business. The Elves have nothing to do with this." Lt. Boartusk said. "But I don't know the right time to do it."
"Maybe we can do it tomorrow," Erend said. "When I looked at the Portal, I saw that the woman was in a room that seemed to be a study room. It was probably her private study room."
"So?" Billy asked.
"If it was her private study room, then she would always be there," Erend said.
Billy nodded in understanding. Then, because the night was getting late, even close to morning, the three of them decided to sleep for now.
~~~
When the next day came, Erend woke up early. Because his body had changed, Erend didn't feel sleepy or tired at all. Although the sleep time is still not enough for an ordinary human.
Erend opens the Portal to do the Daily Quest. He entered the Portal then when he came out, Erend's feet stepped on dry leaves and made a rustling sound.
Erend looked up and spread his gaze around. He was now in a rainforest. The trees are so big with very dense leaves.
Because the leaves are very large and dense, the sunlight seems difficult to reach the forest floor. So the air feels cold and the atmosphere looks dark.
"What am I supposed to do here?" Erend asked Tut.
Before long, almost instantly, Tut answered. [ "You must hunt a Shellob." ]
Erend's brow furrowed deeply. The name sounded ridiculous but there was an odd feeling to it.
"What's that?" Erend asked.
[ "It's a giant spider." ]
Erend's face immediately changed to a disturbed expression. "What?!"
[ "Spider. A giant spider." ] Tut answered simply.
"Are you fucking kidding, me?!"
[ "Of course not. Why am I kidding you?" ]
"Why spiders?"
[ "Because the monster is dangerous. He often comes out of the forest and kills many creatures that pass through this forest. Including humans." ]
"Ugghh... I hate spiders." Erend said with a disgusted expression on his face.
[ "You still have to kill him. Do you remember about the experience you can get?" ] Tut said.
[ Daily Quest: Kill a Shellob terrorizing this Forrest. ]
[Rewards: 100 Exp. ]
After hearing that and seeing the Daily Quest notification, Erend's spirit returned. He knew that he still had to get stronger to prepare himself for whatever happened in the future.
"Yes. I know."
[ "Start walking." ]
Erend started walking through the damp and cold forest. The uneven ground made it difficult for Erend to walk normally. He stumbled several times.
After a few minutes of walking, Erend finally arrived at a darker part of the forest.
The trees here look bigger and the leaves are also getting thicker. Makes the darkness more unsettling.
In this place, it looks like the day had entered twilight. Even though Erend knew that it was still quite early in the morning.
When Erend looked up, his eyes widened at the many white lumps on the tree.
Erend didn't know how many there were but he knew that they must be more than ten.
Since he already knew that he was going to fight a giant spider, Erend immediately knew what the white lumps were.
It was the prey of the giant spider.
And seeing that there was so many Erend thought the spider must have quite a feast.
Suddenly while he was thinking about how terrifying the spider he would be fighting was, Erend's leg was caught by something.
Erend fell and then was pulled somewhere. A moment later he was pulled up upside down.
Erend tried to turn his head to see the creature pulling him. Then he saw it.
Eight dark, round eyes stared at him from above like a predator ready to seize on its victim.
The spider was probably the size of a car. Its eight legs are black and large.
"Oh, fuck!" Erend didn't know that the giant spider would look this terrible.
The giant spider started to roll its web that tied Erend's legs. Then it opened its fangs.
[ Skill activated: Fire Breath (Lv.1) ]
Erend spits out his fire breath at Shellob. Instantly a disturbing scream came out and the net that was entangling his feet was released.
Erend fell and hit the ground with a thud. But he immediately stood up again.
[ Skill activated: Dragon Scale (Lv.1) ]
Something fell and stabbed him in the back. Luckily Erend had activated [Dragon Scale] in time. Otherwise, Shellob's fangs would be stuck in his back by now.
Erend turned around and then slammed his fist towards Shellob.
'BUAGH!'
The giant spider was thrown and hit a big tree. Then a white lump fell in front of Erend.
The lump opened slightly revealing the dry face of a human.
"Oh shit." Erend showed an expression of disgust and nausea.
Shellob shot his web again. Being distracted by the dry corpse, the giant spider's web hit Erend's body and wrapped around him.
Erend immediately tried to free himself. But it turns out the web is very sticky.
Erend could tear it apart easily but the webs immediately glued back together.
Shellob jumped at Erend and immediately plunged its fangs into Erend's neck.
~~~