The Price of Passage and a Forest Full of Serpents

I am the Hero.

Indeed, after all that commotion, we finally set off in the late afternoon.

“A toll of one gold coin.” At the forest’s entrance, a Guard, brandishing a long spear, blocked our path.

‘Although Twilight Forest was near Newbie Village… we hadn’t actually left Newbie Village yet…’

“I am Hero Emily.” I idly nudged the longsword at my hip, subtly showing off my faintly glowing armor.

“One gold coin.”

“Helter,” I called to the large man beside me.

He set down his absurdly oversized travel bag, drew the greatsword from his back, and slammed it forcefully onto the ground.

“One gold coin, no room for negotiation.”

“Key, divine Key, tell him the purpose of our journey.”

“Mhm.” Key nodded, then floated before the Guard. “You see, sir, the Hero’s sacred sword has rested at the bottom of the lake in the heart of this forest ever since the previous Demon Lord was defeated. We must retrieve it swiftly to embark on our adventure and preserve the peace and stability of the entire continent. We kindly ask that you do not impede us at this crucial time. Thank you.”

The Guard, picking his nose, wore an expression of utter fearlessness.

“What? Do you think yourselves so grand? I’m not some fool from Newbie Village who worships heroes like gods! I was raised in the Royal Capital, for goodness sake! I received a proper education! And what are you staring at? You’re one of those village idiots! You big oaf!” Helter, looking utterly bewildered, stood frozen in place, having been thoroughly scolded… “Still glaring? Let me tell you, I’m a Guard from the Royal Capital, and I have professional ethics! Every profession has its principles! Besides! The one gold coin toll is decreed by our King, not by me! Understand?”

‘He said the exact same thing when I was Lu Ren… I never imagined that a noble identity would be useless now, a strong bodyguard would be useless, and even a negotiating elf would be useless! Brother, you truly possess professional integrity…’

“Alright, alright,” I conceded, dutifully pulling a gold coin from my pocket and handing it to him…

“That’s more like it. Everything should be done with principles. You all shouldn’t threaten others just because you think you’re strong; that only makes you scum of society.”

‘Wow… this subordinate… how can he be so arrogant! He’s just a sentry, after all.’

‘No, how can a Hero be defeated in terms of presence! I can’t tolerate this insult.’

“At least show us a little respect…” I murmured softly.

“Respect? Did you show me any respect? No! You even threatened me, do you really think I’m afraid? Let me tell you, back in my day, I was an adventurer just like you, until—”

“Until you took an arrow to the knee?” I interjected, cutting him off.

“Hah! My cousin was the one who took an arrow to the knee; he’s still an outstanding adventurer! But I wasn’t so lucky!” The Guard turned his back, pointing to his rear. “I took an arrow to the rear end! Do you know? Even now, my backside still twitches a few times when I sit on a bench!”

‘An arrow to the rear end…’

“How far did the arrow go in?”

“Nine centimeters!”

‘Oh, sh*t!’ I instinctively covered my own rear end… “That’s truly dreadful!”

“So I’m still considered a first-degree disabled veteran! It’s your good fortune that you even see me still standing guard! Understand?!”

Out of curiosity, Helter gently poked the Guard’s backside with his index finger.

“W-wahhh! Are you devils?!” The Guard shrieked in pain, leaping several meters away.

“Oh, Helter didn’t mean it…” I explained on Helter’s behalf.

“Scram! Get in there, both of you! Just looking at you infuriates me!” The Guard raised his spear and began thrusting it wildly.

“Quick, quick, this guy’s really been pushed too far…” I bolted inside.

Helter, meanwhile, slowly sheathed his greatsword, secured his luggage, and finally bowed to the Guard in apology…

“Get out!” The Guard was so enraged, he looked ready to kill…

Half an hour later.

Twilight Forest – Small Creature Gathering Area.

“Listen up. Although the trees here are sparse and aggressive creatures like wild boars are few, we mustn’t let our guard down. There are still some deadly little inhabitants in this area.”

‘Having thoroughly learned my lesson from the last snakebite, I would no longer disregard my surroundings.’

“Understood.” Helter’s heavy footsteps as he walked startled away many small wild animals hiding in the bushes.

“Hero, what are these deadly little inhabitants you speak of?”

“Poisonous snakes. Twilight Forest is known for a particular species of snake with chronic, potent venom, which the villagers call White-Spot.”

“Are they white?” Key asked.

“Yes.”

“With somewhat prominent yellow and black stripes.”

“Mhm.”

“And a pointed head? Around thirty centimeters long? With red eyes…”

“Woah, Key! Did you read the script or something? How do you know all these characteristics of the snake?”

“What script are you talking about… Hero, I know because that very snake is currently wrapped around your left arm!”

‘On my left arm… oh, for heaven’s sake!’

I frantically tried to shake it off, but the snake clung on stubbornly!

“Helter! Help me!” I cast a desperate glance at Helter.

“My apologies, I’m in no position to help myself…”

Dozens of snakes were slithering all over Helter’s towering body…

“W-wahhh!”

Half an hour later.

“Here’s the trauma ointment, for external application, one gold coin a bottle. And the snake venom antidote, two gold coins a bottle.” The Guard looked at us with an expression of disdain.

“Thank you…”

‘Yes, we had returned…’

‘Fortunately, my armor protected me…’

But Helter wasn’t so fortunate; his entire body was riddled with bite marks.

“By the way, did you two disturb a White-Spot nest? I’ve never seen anyone bitten this badly…” The Guard seemed slightly startled. “The amount of venom here should be lethal… yet he’s still standing perfectly fine… What kind of monster is he anyway?”

“He certainly is! I won’t lie to you, this guy is incredibly strong. Don’t let his appearance as a hunter deceive you; his physical prowess is on par with a Hero’s!” I proudly patted my companion’s arm. “Right, Helter~?”

“Um…” Helter tried to speak, but was cut off.

“Yes! As the divine Key, I too have never seen such a formidable human! He could absolutely be a major force in defeating the Demon Lord!” Key chimed in, also singing Helter’s praises.

“Um…” Helter tried to speak again, only to be interrupted once more.

“Oh… but his face is starting to go pale… Is he feeling faint?” the Guard interjected, reminding us.

“Um…” Helter tried to speak, but was cut off yet again!

“Relax, relax! My Helter has never been weak! What are the venoms of a dozen snakes to him? It’s no problem at all!”

“Um…”

“What is it?”

Just as I turned to face him, he—

He spewed a mouthful of old blood directly onto my face!

“Um, actually, I’ve reached my limit… Could you please apply the medicine quickly? If not, I reckon I’ll be meeting the god Sein very soon…” Helter’s eyes were already rolling back!

“Ah, ah! I completely forgot! I was so busy introducing you! Come, come! Gulp down this antidote immediately!”

An hour later, by the time darkness had fully descended, I finally managed to apply all the medicine.

“Alright~ danger averted! Let’s continue our adventure!”

“It’s nighttime now, isn’t it… The forest should be quite dangerous at this hour…” Helter said slowly.

“A Hero never says no to adventure! Unless, of course, hundreds, even thousands, of snakes emerge from the forest right now!”

‘No sooner had I uttered that fateful prediction than—’

“Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss—”

“Hero team… it seems today isn’t suitable for your adventure…” The Guard shivered visibly as he saw pairs of glowing red eyes emerge from the forest…

“What’s wrong?” I turned my head.

‘Oh my god, don’t tell me what I just said is coming true!’

Hundreds of snakes! Had they all swarmed out of their nests?

“W-wah!” Key, equally startled, actually burrowed directly into my body!

“Key! How can you abandon us when disaster strikes?!”

“This is a huge problem!” Even the usually confident Helter began to gulp nervously!

“Holy sh*t! This is all your fault! You must have done something to enrage the Forest Lord!” The Guard exclaimed, abandoning us as he fled.

“Woah! What about your professional ethics?! You said every profession has its principles!”

“At a time like this, who cares about professional ethics?! We’ll definitely die! Goodbye!”

The Guard vanished from sight!

“Quick! Helter! Let’s leave the luggage for now! We need to go!”

“I can’t—”

Helter sat on the ground, gasping for breath.

“The antidote hasn’t fully taken effect yet… my legs are a bit numb, so I can’t run very fast… You go on ahead!”

“No! How could I abandon you?! You’ve only just joined the team, and I…”

“Go! Get out of here!”

That night, Helter’s death-defying roar profoundly moved me.