Chapter 115 Shadowchilds

'Ah, right. I still haven't done the Daily Quest for today.'

Erend who was too focused on what he was doing right now didn't remember at all that he had to do the Daily Quest.

The truck still going on the muddy roads. It seems like just yesterday or last night it rained heavily.

Billy driving the truck while the radio was playing his favorite song. He looked happy. A smile continued to grow on his face as he drove the truck.

Erend himself looked out at the trees beside the forest. But his mind was still fixated on the Daily Quest that he hadn't done yet.

'I already have a way to Level Up quickly. Do I have to keep doing the Daily Quest?'

If he could go to Dungeon World as he pleased, Erend thought that he would no longer need to go through the Daily Quests.

However, the Daily Quest was also something that could earn him experience.

'Should I just do it?'

Erend stared ahead. The distance to the city was still quite far and they weren't in too much of a hurry either.

"Are you in a hurry?" Erend asked Billy.

"Not really," Billy turned to Erend. "Why?"

"Can we stop for a moment?"

"You want to pee?"

"No. I have to go somewhere."

Billy pursed his lips. He remembered that Erend did have to go inside the Portal to do something he didn't know about.

Like that time. Billy actually wanted to know what Erend was doing. But he decided not to ask.

As said by Lt. Boartusk, Erend is destined for something big. Even though he didn't know what it was, Billy chose to believe it.

Billy stopped the truck at the edge of a meadow close to the forest.

"You can go," Billy said.

"Are you sure?" Erend asked.

Billy nodded. "Of course. I'll wait for you but don't take too long if it is possible."

Erend nodded then got out of the truck.

'Okay, what's the Daily Quest for today? Hopefully not some Dark Mage again.'

[ Daily Quest: Kill the Shadowchilds that threaten the adventurers. ]

[Rewards: 100 Exp. ]

[ Progress: Shadowchild killed: 0/10 ]

Upon seeing the Window in front of him, Erend frowned with a face that was more anxious than curious.

Shadowchild sounds like a disturbing monster's name. When the words 'Shadow' and 'Child' are combined, a strange effect is created.

Especially when you know that it's the name of a monster.

'But it's said that they threaten adventurers.'

Those adventurers must be in trouble right now. If Erend didn't help him, they might die.

"Alright."

Erend nodded to himself. He had already made up his mind to save them.

A Portal opened before Erend's eyes. Without waiting long, Erend stepped into the Portal and the Portal disappeared with Erend.

Billy watched Erend leave from his driver's seat. Actually, he was curious about what was behind the vortex.

But half of him said not to ask any further. Billy chose to believe his mind telling him not to ask any further.

? He didn't know what Erend was doing behind the vortex that carried him away.

However, with the power of a Dragon he has, Billy is sure that what Erend is facing is not just angry people.

Billy sighed and spent time in the truck with the song playing on the radio.

Waiting for Erend who is going to an unknown place doing unknown business.

~~~

Erend set foot outside the Portal and was immediately greeted with a view of the dense rainforest.

But that's not all. Something made Erend frown. As if confirming his earlier anxiety, Erend saw a bloodstain and a black body lying on the ground.

The black body was shaped like a human but of a small size. There was a pair of antlers on its head that was about thirty centimeters long each.

The antlers are like deer antlers. But the shape is very random like tree branches that grow wild and strange.

The creature's body was completely black, not just the dark brown Erend saw in Mithes the Dark Elf. But completely dark. It was as if his body was always covered in shadows.

"I guess I've found the Shadowchild," Erend muttered.

This Shadowchild does have the appearance of its name. Like a child made of shadow.

But the fact that one of the monsters was dead indicated that they had already started attacking and the adventurers were also fighting back.

"I have to find them quickly."

Erend followed a trail of blood that seemed to be the trail of one of the adventurers.

The blood that came out was enough to create a very clear imprint.

Erend started to worry. He quickened his pace following the trail of blood. It wasn't long before Erend heard the sound of battle from in front of him.

The screams of women, men, and the abnormal screams of small children filled the entire forest.

It is a sign for every creature to stay away and not get involved. Finally, Erend could see one of the Shadowchild waiting behind the bush with a dagger in its hand.

Erend approached with fast steps. The Shadowchild automatically noticed his presence and turned its head.

It immediately lunged at Erend with the dagger in its hand but Erend was also ready for that.

[ Skill activated: All Fire-based Power (Lv.1) ]

Erend creates a fireball in his hand and then throws it at the Shadowchild.

*ZWOOOSSSHHH!*

"AAKKHHHHH!!!"

The Shadowchild made a strange scream of pain as the fireball hit it and sent it flying several meters back.

The Shadowchild landed beside the battle between a Hund and a Shadowchild.

They were both shocked and took their eyes off their respective opponents for a moment.

Hund's eyes widened at the sight of a Shadowchild who was burning and motionless. He looked in the direction it was coming and saw someone walking from behind the bushes.

"Y-You!" Hund said.

"Watch your opponent!' Erend shouted.

Hund immediately turned to his enemy and realized that the Shadowchild had already jumped at him.

Hund immediately raised his shield.

*DANG!*

The Shadowchild's dagger hit his shield. Then Hund lowered his shield and thrust his sword forward.

*CRAAT!*

Shadowchild who didn't see the attack because it was covered by the shield had to receive the Hund pierced sword through its body.

Hund grimaced as he looked as if he had just stabbed a child. But Hund soon realized that he was just stabbing a monster.

Erend himself felt that he had seen that adventurer. He remembered that it was that adventurer and his friends who helped him fight the Dark Mage back then.

Now Erend thinks it's time to return the favor he owes them.

"Where are your friends?" Erend asked.

"We're separated," Hund said breathlessly. "This child-like creature is separating us."

"They're quite smart. Let's go find them."

Erend looked around. But the forest was too dense to see anything beyond the trees and bushes.

"How did you get here?" Hund asked.

"That doesn't matter now, does it?" Erend retorted. "Do you know how to find your friends?"

"No. We scatter in a panicked state amidst this siege of monsters so I don't have time to see where they go," Hund replied.

[ Skill activated: Dragon Eyes (Lv.1) ]

Hund saw Erend's eyes suddenly turn into those of a beast and gave off a yellowish glow.

Hund widened his eyes subconsciously. 'Is he using the Dragon's power?'

With the power of [Dragon Eyes], Erend could see more clearly into the forest. Unfortunately, it's not enough to be able to find anything.

Erend could only see a few Shadowchilds peeking out from behind the bushes.

They seemed to be more alert because of what had just happened. But that doesn't mean they're afraid. They were just waiting for the right time to start attacking.

Erend was quite impressed because even though they were just monsters, they had enough intelligence to do that.

For now, Erend's goal wasn't that monster. He had to find the separate adventurers.

'Show me the Skill Points I have.'

[You have 8 unused Skill Points. ]

'Upgrade [Dragon Eyes] to Level 2.'

[ Skill Upgraded! ]

[ Dragon Eyes (Lv.1)>(Lv.2) ]

[ 7 unused Skill Points. ]

"What are you doing?" Hund asked with a confused look on his face.

"I'm looking for your friends. Keep an eye out! The monster is still around here," Erend replied.

Hund immediately nodded and proceeded to look around.

[ Skill activated: Dragon Eyes (Lv.2) ]

Erend's eyes turned to emit a yellow glow again. He started looking in all directions and finally found a footprint on the ground.

Three footprints went in three different directions.

Erend didn't know where he should go. But he knew he couldn't waste any more time.

"Follow me!" Erend said.

Hund immediately followed Erend without asking much.

Erend knows the Shadowchilds are still lurking in the shadows but Erend ignores them for now. He would take care of them later after finding those adventurers.

Erend just ran towards one of the footprints at random. Erend thinks that the important thing is to save them as fast as possible, whoever it is.

~~~