Chapter 89: [Bandits and More!]

"2 Killings, 1 investigation and 2 protection quest, huh?" I mumbled as I looked through the quests before pondering which I should go with first.

While I do need to protect the witch sisters, I don't think I really need to worry about them for now. The arrays themselves are powerful enough to keep anyone away.

'Let's go with the A-Grade quest for now,' I thought as I decided it would be best to check this one out. It had high rewards and since the bandits were scum as well, it won't hurt to go all out.

[One Way Out!]

[Frenzy!]

And then I jumped from the rooftop towards the east of the city, where the Forest of Nahida was. Jumping from one point to another, I began moving at a rather fast pace.

And since it was nighttime.

[Greater Blessing of the Night Goddess!]

[During night, the following effect will be applied:

-The user's mana cost is reduced to half!

-The user is highly resistant to dark magic!

-The user will not feel any status ailment against any night magic!

-The user's dark magic output increased by 25%!]

'I was surprised to see that this worked even on the equipment as well,' I was still amazed at this effect. This meant that all my mana related equipment would cost half mana to function.

-Whoosh! Like a swift gale, I ran across the town, reaching the city walls, before jumping across them and reaching the forest.

The forest wasn't your typical forest, but a dense forest made up of strange trees. While there were normal trees outside the forest, there were many strange ones within.

Because of the high density of mana inside the forest, this forest was also a mana forest.

While it meant good for the mages to have abundant mana around, this also meant that they would need quite a control on their mana to prevent it from going berserk.

-Whoosh!!

Not really something that I ever needed to be concerned about, to be honest.

I ran through the forest without wasting any moment, reaching across from one side to another, finally reaching somewhat east of the forest.

"Let's see. It says that the bandits are in the east, but... isn't the east a little too big?" I thought as I looked around before trying what I could for now.

[Mana Zone(Rare)!]

[Effects: Allows the user to perceive mana around him in a limited radius of 625 metres!

Once again, a pod appeared in front of me before throwing out a man in front of us. Though unlike the others, which were unconscious, the man seemed to have his consciousness intact.

"You filthy monster!!" he shouted as he barely got on his feet, before taking a clear look at the both of us.

"Pretty ironic coming from a man who captured women and children," I spoke as I moved closer to him. His eyes seemed to be shaken as he looked at me.

"You!!" He pointed his finger at me as he shouted," I have heard of you! The Dark Mage Morpheus!"

"You do? That's a surprise," I spoke in a monotonous, bored tone as I moved closer to him one step at a time.

"Wait!! Aren't you a mercenary? I will give you as much money as you want! Just protect me!!" he shouted as he looked at me with a ray of hope before he added,

"I have about 2000 gold coins hidden within the forest. I will give you half of them. Just help me get out of here."

I looked at him with no change in my expression, while the Dryad observed me with an analysing gaze.

"Ironic again. Trying to buy the Mercenary who came for your head," I spoke with a rather curious gaze, making him look at me with a shocked gaze.

His eyes were wide open before he shouted,"Die! you bast- huh?!! Chains?"

[Dark Chains (Advanced)!]

[Effect: Allows the user to create chains of darkness and manipulate them according to his will. Damage against beings of Light x2.

Chain Length: 25 metres!!

Darkness Damage: 15x Wisdom per second!!

Mana Cost: 250MP/second!]

Dark chains of Mana bound him to the ground as they kept hurting him slowly.

"You!!" he wanted to speak or perhaps curse me again, so I blocked his mouth as well, before moving closer to him.

Perhaps because the strength was equally proportional to my [Strength], I could feel him trying his best to break free.

Though it was futile.

Taking out a dagger, I placed it on his neck. I could see him muffling really loud, but I couldn't care to listen to it so I held his head by his hairs and...

-Slash!

I cut his head from the neck and below.

Removing the chains, I let his body fall to the ground. The body immediately got absorbed into the ground, before I turned to see the Dryad looking at me with an excited yet ecstatic look.

"Well. I guess you want to do that again, huh? I could see you in your lust filled eyes, Nvida," I spoke as I saw her slowly approaching me.