Chapter 59: Embarking on the Monster Island Expedition

After receiving my Silver Rank badge, Selion insisted on celebrating my promotion and led me to a sophisticated-looking restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant was slightly dim, with a subtle scent of wood lingering in the air.

It wasn’t the damp smell of old wood soaked in moisture but the fresh aroma as if it had been brought straight from the forest.

“Wow…”

A forest fragrance in a restaurant, instead of food? How on earth do they manage to maintain this kind of atmosphere here?

“Fascinating, isn’t it?”

Selion, clearly familiar with the place, exchanged a few words with a staff member before leading me to a cozy seat tucked deep within the restaurant.

“Do you have any food preferences?”

“No, I eat anything. I even enjoy monster meat.”

“That smelly stuff?”

“I’ve gotten used to it.”

“Hmm…”

Selion chuckled awkwardly at my response and ordered food from the staff.

She handed me the menu to make my own choice, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak up as the dishes had unfamiliar names.

“Just order the same thing you’re having, please.”

“Alright. Can we do that?” she asked, glancing at the staff.

Once the order was placed, Selion propped her chin on her hands resting on the table and fixed her gaze on me.

“So, where did you learn that swordsmanship?”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t use that kind of technique before, did you?”

“Oh…”

Nodding, I began recounting the events that had unfolded.

From taking a request from a blacksmith here to venturing into the desert and meeting a strange old man who guided me on an adventure to uncover an ancient legend.

“Wasn’t that a bit reckless?”

“Well, recklessness is part of adventure, isn’t it?”

“Hmm…”

I continued my story, detailing the guiding star that led me, the dwarves’ legendary Star Forge, and the bizarre encounters with sandstorms and whale-like creatures along the way.

At first, Selion listened intently, but as my tale progressed, her expression shifted to one of disbelief.

I couldn’t blame her—my story probably sounded absurd to anyone else.

Even so, my words were entirely true, recounting the path I had walked.

“So, did you meet the dwarves? Did you find the Star Forge?”

“Yes, I did,” I replied with a nod, just as the food we ordered began arriving at our table.

As the dishes were placed before us, our conversation paused naturally. However, once we started eating, the dialogue resumed.

“So, that swordsmanship of yours—it came from the dwarves?”

“Yes.”

“Well…”

“Hard to believe, right?”

“No, I believe you,” Selion replied.

Did she really? I gave her a skeptical look as I stuffed a large piece of meat into my mouth.

“Anything else interesting to share?”

“Do you know about the Thunderbird?”

“You mean the bird that’s said to appear in the Hyland region?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve encountered a Thunderbird?”

“Why not? I did.”

I exaggerated my tale, recounting my journey to the Hyland and the people I met along the way.

“So, why did you go to Hyland in the first place?”

“To get a horse, of course.”

“A horse? From the Hyland breed?”

“Yes.”

“Did you manage to get one?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Oh… Can you introduce me to it someday?”

“You’ll have to be careful, though. It’s quite shy around strangers.”

Despite my slight disappointment that I couldn’t fully enjoy the delicious food, I kept talking to entertain Selion, who had treated me.

When I mentioned heading to the Thunderbird’s mountains to find a purebred Hyland, Selion let out a gasp.

As I described the Thunderbird appearing amidst a thunderstorm, she chuckled with a peculiar smile.

“So, you’re saying you encountered a Thunderbird and managed to acquire a purebred Hyland in the process?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impressive.”

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“No, I do. Your story is just so entertaining.”

“Shall I continue?”

“You still have more to share…?”

I had plenty left to tell. In fact, explaining the reasons that brought me all the way to the Karma Empire would take quite some time.

The meal stretched on, with countless dishes arriving at our table.

By the time we finished eating, I had recounted about half of my adventures.

“You’ve truly been all over the place, haven’t you?”

“And it’s not even over yet.”

“There’s still more…?”

Nodding, I used a soft piece of bread to scoop up the sauce left on my plate.

If I had to pick the most spectacular part of my adventures, it would be the war in Greenfall.

Naturally, I hadn’t even started telling that tale yet.

My story was just reaching the point where I was racing toward the Holy Kingdom of Obrein.

I was about to talk about a drug-addicted holy knight I had encountered there when the sound of quick footsteps interrupted us.

A man with a sword strapped to his waist stopped in front of our table.

“Here you are.”

“Hmm? Balder?”

“There’s a shortage in the supplies for the exploration team. Did you complete the paperwork properly?”

As the man named Balder spoke, Selion glanced at me, seemingly checking my reaction.

It appeared she hadn’t handled her tasks thoroughly, prompting her colleague to come looking for her.

I looked down at my now-empty plate and chuckled quietly.

“It was delicious. I really enjoyed it.”

“Hmm… Sorry, I’d love to hear more about your story, but…”

“We can continue next time. It’s fine.”

As Selion stood up, Balder gave me a slight nod and offered a quiet farewell.

I returned the gesture with a polite bow of my own.

Watching the two of them walk away, I found myself lost in thought.

Although the conversation had started due to Selion’s request, I discovered how much fun it was to share stories as I went along.

For the first time, I began to understand why adventurers, often drunk, loved boasting about their exploits.

Leaving the restaurant, I headed straight for the adventurer’s guild.

Since it overlapped with mealtime, the guild hall was relatively quiet.

Even the reception staff seemed sparse, likely taking turns for their breaks.

I glanced around before approaching a receptionist who appeared unoccupied.

“Hello?”

“Oh, what brings you here? Are you looking for a specific request?”

“I’d like to join the Monster Island exploration team. How do I apply?”

“Monster Island…?”

The receptionist reacted much like the first one I’d encountered.

Before he could say more, I retrieved the silver badge issued by the swordsmen’s guild from my pocket and showed it to him.

“I’m a silver rank adventurer.”

“What…?”

The receptionist’s eyes widened in disbelief as he examined the badge in my hand.

He immediately stood up, stepped out from behind the counter, and approached me.

“Mind if I take a closer look?”

“Sure.”

I nodded and handed over the silver badge.

He scrutinized it with a suspicious expression, staring at it for what felt like ages.

Could he really discern anything from just looking at it?

Perhaps there were hidden markings only guild staff could recognize, making it impossible to counterfeit.

“Well, this is quite something…”

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, nothing. The badge checks out. So, you want to join the Monster Island exploration team?”

“Yes.”

“All right, give me a moment.”

He handed the badge back to me and returned to his desk, where he began filling out a significant stack of paperwork.

Unlike standard quest applications, the documents for this task seemed considerably more extensive.

After what felt like an eternity, the receptionist finished drafting over ten sheets of paperwork.

He handed me a small wooden token and a booklet the size of my palm.

“This is the guidebook and a temporary team member badge. Be sure not to lose them, as they’re important. The ship typically arrives around this time, but I can’t give you an exact date. I’d recommend staying in the city and waiting patiently.”

“Hmm… When will I officially become a full-fledged team member?”

“You’ll receive confirmation once you arrive at Monster Island and complete the necessary procedures.”

“Thank you for your help. I’ll take my leave now.”

Leaving the adventurer’s guild, I began shopping for the supplies listed in the guidebook.

The items weren’t much different from the typical tools adventurers usually carried, but I made sure to prepare thoroughly.

The unpredictable nature of the sea added uncertainty to the voyage.

While waiting for the ship, I visited the swordsmen’s guild to continue my sword training.

Sometimes I practiced alone, while on other days, Selion joined me for sparring sessions.

About two weeks later, a large ship docked at the port of the Karma Empire.

It was the Radon, the vessel connecting Monster Island with the empire.

“Wow…”

From a distance, I admired the Radon. The ship was massive and sturdily built, exuding an air of grandeur.

Crates filled with various monster materials and ores were being unloaded in a flurry of activity.

Every dockworker seemed occupied transporting the goods.

“You’re here too?”

“Ah, Selion.”

While I was busy observing the scene, Selion approached me from behind. Her body radiated a faint heat, likely from her earlier sword practice.

I pointed to the crates being unloaded from the ship and asked her, “That’s a lot of stuff. Are all those materials from Monster Island?”

“Yes.”

“Wow…”

What kind of monsters did they hunt to bring back claws that massive? Or were they not claws at all? Perhaps they were horns? My imagination ran wild as I smiled to myself.

“When does the ship depart?”

“In a week.”

“Sounds like a tight schedule.”

“Monster Island is always short on people. Once the ship’s maintenance is complete, we’ll set off immediately.”

A week later, the day of departure arrived swiftly.

Fully prepared, I made my way to the harbor on Nightmare.

The port was bustling with a crowd, most of whom had gathered to bless the departure of the Radon for Monster Island.

Standing near the ship were the exploration team members who had arrived earlier, waiting for the others.

I headed toward a striking figure with red hair billowing in the sea breeze.

“Selion!”

“Oh…”

Selion greeted me with a warm smile but quickly froze upon noticing the massive Nightmare beneath me.

Although I had mentioned it to her before, this was her first time seeing Nightmare in person.

Her reaction was just as I’d expected.

“Is… is this the…”

“Yes.”

I nodded while glancing around.

Like me, several adventurers had brought their mounts, but none stood out as much as my Nightmare.

Surveying the other horses with an air of arrogance, Nightmare let out a haughty snort.

I joined the other adventurers and began boarding the ship, apparently one of the last to arrive.

As I stepped onto the deck, I gazed out at the open sea.

The vast blue expanse stretched endlessly, mirroring the sky above.

Would we fall off the edge if we reached the end of the sea?

Swallowing my unease, I tightened my grip on Nightmare’s reins.