Chapter 15

Crystal Flower Collection

“Hey … who is is? Is it  Recess?”

When Nod heard Genius’ answer, he asked in interesting tone .

Crystal flower is a flower that blooms in some areas of the capital city, the petal and stem are transparent and it looks like a Crystal .

It was called Crystal flower because of that .

The Crystal flower itself is relatively easy to get, but it is a bit different when its pink variations .

Ordinary Crystal flowers have bluish, clear petals, but at certain times, only Crystal flowers that grow at swamps rarely become pink .

The reason was not understood by the non-scholar Nod, but he knew the story about the pink Crystal flower .

A long time ago, an adventurer fell in love with a noble daughter .

However, the daughter never thought about the adventurer, but the marriage of aristocrats is a connection between noble homes .

The daughter who understood that marriage is not allowed, said to the adventurer .

“The only thing you can dedicate to me is the Crystal flower . ”

In the Irva continent, one of the customs common to each country is to give flowers and convey their feelings . It is a flower language .

And in the flower language, the meaning of Crystal flowers is “love” . No more love than feelings toward family and friends . It was a young lady who told me so briefly and capped her love, but the adventurer appeared for a while .

　”I will give you a Crystal flower . ”

The young lady who heard the word tried to receive a flower while remembering a bunch of relief and great loneliness, whether the adventurer had given up on her .

However, the flower presented in front of the daughter’s eyes must be a Crystal flower, but its petals were bright pink petals .

At that time, the petals of Crystal flowers were thought to have only blue ones, but the adventurer found them in the swamp at the end of the adventure .

Although it is a Crystal flower, the petal color is different . The uncle who happened in front of her eyes felt that the emotions that had been suppressed with surprise were overflowing . Like this pink Crystal flower, the adventurer want to make his “impossible” love come true . 　

Eventually, the love came true,  the adventurer and the daughter were tied . It is a famous story .

The swarm of Crystal flowers found by the adventurer is the swamp in the Hamil Kingdom .

That happened in a distant country and the love story is transmitted across the country to the people who live in the land of Irva, and the Kingdom of Hamil is no exception .

Even now, the word for Crystal flowers on the continent of Irva is “love”, but the meaning of pink Crystal flowers is different .

The meaning is “I always love you” .

Genius intention is clear . He tries to confess to a childhood friend .

Rather, Nod was surprised that they were not that kind of relationship when Nod join their party for some time .

It was because he was watching them and the breaks that were perfect .

When Nod was at night, he slept with same-sex Alumina, but he thought they were a lover .

Nonetheless, Nod is not good at that area, but from his point of view, it was clear that Recess liked Genius . If Genius confesses, he will get two acknowledgments .

Therefore

“If that ’s the case, I’ll have to help . ”

　In addition to the feelings of supporting the love of a friend of the same age who had been an adventurer for the first time, he became more motivated to make a request in the swamp .

§

　After that, in order to receive a request in the swamp, Nod and Genius Party members  went out to find them .

Erza was assigned to the Nod, and Shino and Geigos were assigned to Genius and were invited to the request .

Erza was on vacation, so she visited her inn but was away . “Consultation of request . Wait in the guild” and when he posted a note that he wanted to come to the adventurer’s guild, he returned once and asked the adventurer’s guild again at night . Of course,  it was obvious that you made a small change with a simple request .

Erza came to the adventurer’s guild to report the achievement of the request .

Unfortunately, he didn’t return to the inn and the memo was wasted, but without worrying, Nod explained the story to Erza .

Erza sighed like “I’m yearning for that . ” and then accepted the request with two replies .

After telling Erza that he would meet in the guild the next day, Nod headed to the Genius’ inn .

Unfortunately, Genius told Nod that Geigos can’t accept it, but Shino was able to accept it .

Nod told Erza and tomorrow’s Adventurer Guild that he slept well at home that day .

The next morning, when we arrived early in the early morning guild, everyone gathered in a short time .

Apparently, Geigos had already made another request, and this request was made by four people: Nod, Erza, Genius and Shino .

Erza and Genius were not acquainted with each other, but after a brief introduction of each other, they started to discuss which request they would receive .

But this time, the first goal is pink Crystal flowers and the second goal Serpent and they decided to choose a request that would satisfy both of them .

If you have a specific goal that you have set yourself like this, you can earn money efficiently by receiving multiple orders that can be achieved locally .

Genius often receive long-term requests farther away than Nod (they are aiming for high-rewarded requests because of the large number of people), so Nod and other adventurer also know that

As a result of the battle for the request, he got several simple collection requests in the swamp and a request for collecting the gins of the viper inhabiting the swamp like the serpent .

Anyway, Nod wanted to subdue serpent, but unfortunately the request was not made .

They check the necessary equipment in the swamps– especially after confirming the poison control and insect repellent, the group left for the swamps .

§

The swamp spreading all over was like a ridge or pampas grass and golden carpets .

He wonder if there is abundant nutrition in the soil .

The book of grass, higher than Nod’s back, completely obscured anything lurking behind it .

The marsh soil is soft and has a footprint . However, it does not sink, and it can fully support Nod’s weight .

A wind blown from a mountain in the distance from the carriage hood strokes Nod’s face . The wind is cool and comfortable, and it is a marsh, but he don’t feel it .

“The humidity is unexpectedly low . ”

“I was wondering if I was more jealous”

Erza gave a companion to the impression of Nod he got while getting off the carriage .

“Since it’s autumn now, it’s a little bit nice .

Shino and Genius dressed in light clothing came down .

“I went to the west in the summer,” Genius continues to supplement .

The west is an area that is relatively easy to spend even in summer . Indeed, Genius would have worked in that area as well .

“How are you Nod?”

“I was in the forest and mountains . ”

In the summer, they were subjugated at these two places for rank-up quests . In the forest, trees were blocking the sun, and the mountainous area was good because the altitude was high, but if it was then a request in the swamp, it would have been hell .

“Okay, are you all ready? I asked for warning behind the scenes because I lead . ”

Sino, the scout calls out to the party in the front .

Exploration in the swamp has begun .

§

“It ’s always nice to have a scout”

Erza said, following several encounters with the monsters, and assaulting and ending it with a blow, continuing to collect the plants that were growing nearby .

“Well that’s my job”

Shino was smarter than any other party member, and when he finished collecting it, he said, observing what else was noticeable .

“Hey, we ’re always making fun and singing . ”

“Ah, yeah thanks for the praise”

Shino returns to his words of gratitude in a terrible tone .

Nod knew that he was careful about the surroundings, even though he seemed to playing with his job .

In fact, Shino as a scout was a big deal .

He was able to detect the existence of a monster from a few traces and he guessed how long ago that trace was .

Thanks to that, it was a one-sided surprise attack despite the poor prospect of wetlands .

Furthermore, since the materials to be collected were found quickly, the requests that Nod received were being finished one after another .

The monster that were killed included the serpent and succeeded in obtaining one of the necessary armor materials .

“It ’s easy to understand the swampy traces here . ”

Feel free to Shino . Nod receives the word and drops his eyes .

At the foot, there is a dark swamp soil and the footprints of Nod that walked there .

However, it is not just one person, but various things are left behind, such as the footprints of other friends moving, or the traces of monsters that remained before they came .

Nod also has the basic scouting skill, but that’s why he realized the awesomeness of Shino when he was able to detect and read various information instantly .

With the skill of Nod level, it is possible to know the extent to which it has gone .

“I want a scout…”

Nod thinks seriously while listening to Erza’s voice .

Nod who have met a fair number of white stone class adventurer requests will soon receive rank-up quests for crystal-class adventurers .

In that case, you can now ask for rank-up quests together with Genius .

However, the Genius party already has five friends, and if Nod and Erza are added there will be seven .

The composition of the Genius party consists of the spear user Geigos and the swordsman Genius as the main attacker . This is a balanced arrangement .

Both Nod and Erza are main attacker, so if you join a Genius party, you won’t pull your feet, but this time, the support of the rear-guard will not catch up .

Aside from a temporary fight, participating in a permanent party may not be very good .

Perhaps it is known, so the Genius hasn’t been talking about that before .

The short-term goal of being promoted to a crystal class adventurer would be good, but a long-term goal considering the promotion to a bronze class adventurer and a black iron class adventurer, new companion would  have become necessary .

Nod thought about that .

§

“… Wow!”

With the voice of his spirit, Nod put his power into his shield .

From the other side of the shield, which has an area that only hides about half of his body, a giant with a mass that cannot be compared to a Nod flew at high speed .

At the moment when a giant covered with green scales hits the shield, he applied a side force as if he was scolding .

A small amount of impact toward Nod’s body is deflected in the direction of the shield that has flowed outward .

── It is a type of defense technique called Offensive Defense Parry .

It is a high-level skill that is said to be able to neutralize the opponent’s attack by simply applying power to the master, and it was hard to say that Nod can still use it, but it was effective .

The serpent head is pierced by strong muscles after raising its sickle head . Although it is a simple attack, an attack that takes advantage of the mass difference is really effective .

However, the blow did not shatter Nod’s body that was behind the shield .

The direction of the force applied to the sideways changed the direction of the assault .

The serpent’s head that jumped diagonally behind Nod floated in the air without catching the prey .

The shield of Nod distorted its shape as a price, and caused severe numbness in his arm with the shield, but the shield fixed to the limb was never dropped from the hand .

The body of an extended serpent has thinner skin and scales than the contracted state .

Without missing the moment of attack, Nod delivered a painful counterattack .

On the other hand, the body was half-turned so that it could be pulled by the arm . The force of the foot is transmitted to the waist, and the rotation of the waist is condensed to the tip of the sword held by the dominant hand as a centrifugal force .

The blow that was swung down at the speed of the gale produced a destructive power that combined Nod power itself and part of the power of the serpent .

A steel blade cuts through the thick scales and thick skin, and tears the muscle fibers inside . The slight resistance is probably a snake bone . From the touch, it reached the internal organs .

Serpent screams in the swamp .

Serpent turns his body into pain and then shout angry noise to Nod .

“Shaaaa!”

Characterized by a bifurcated tongue tip, the serpent opens its mouth and the serpent attacks Nod again .

After pulling out the sword from Serpent’s body, Nod swung backwards to shake off the blood of the sword and held the shield .

However, his arms are still numb .

It will be difficult even if you try to catch it again .

But Serpent never swallowed Nod .

Instead, a sachet thrown from the side is thrown into the serpent’s chin .

The serpent  that has forgotten me because of pain and anger, has a narrow field of view and did not notice the throwing that it usually noticed .

Next, the shining thing that came from behind the sachet—the blade of a dagger that reflected the sunlight and smashed the sachet .

The sachet smashed its target, and it fell to a serpent that was at a close distance .

“──Gisya Aaa !?”

An unusual sensation that suddenly came .

Violent stimuli transmitted from sensitive olfactory organs cause Serpent to become a panic .

A spear that flew from the sky penetrated the tip of the Serpent, a snake that twists himself to escape from suffering .

It is a blow from Erza’s jump that jumped to the sky with the body of Nod as a stepping stone .

The power of adding the falling speed penetrated the face of the Serpent Serpent with a stunning aim and sewed it to the ground .

However, the life force of a snake can’t be guarded until it drops its head .

“── Genius!” “

“Let me do it!”

The voices of three people, Nod, Erza and Shino, overlapped . Genius speaks out loud in response .

“──── Oh!”

A flash of spirit .

Genius blows through the serpent’s body as they sever, and vividly separates their head and torso .

With a relentless heart, Genius sever the  Serpent with his sword .

The body that was violently convulsed weakened its movement after a while, and eventually stopped moving .

After seeing it, Genius finally wiped the sword’s blood and delivered it .

“I’m done!”

Shino raises a voice of joy . “Time to dismantle it!” Continue with .

Nods and the group that had ended the battle gathered around the serpent .

“No, I thought what would happen if I was surprised . ”

Genius, who released the last blow, looks back at the beginning of the battle in front of the corpse of the Serpent Serpent .

Yes, Nod who quickly completed the request in the marsh proceeded to the depths of the marsh to obtain their first target, crystal flowers .

Beyond that, he could see the crystal flowers flourish . Nod and the party deprived of the first moment by a pink crystal flower spreading all around .

The snake serpent that lurked in the surrounding  attacked in the moment whether it had led to a caution or what had been hit by a tremendous misfortune fumble .

Shino also noticed it first .

“There is something!”

Nod that were able to cope with the last warning of his screaming, but moreover, the enemy was a serpent –and an individual almost twice as large as an ordinary serpent, The struggle continued .

After somehow rebuilding and forming the formation to get cooperation, it is the beginning flow .

“Wow … But it was dangerous even if someone was missing . ”

“No, really,” “I’m not aware of surprises,” “No, that was rather fast . ”

“It was a nice collaboration” “I raised my skills”

In the meantime, they move their hand while looking back on the battle and having a conversation .

In no time, the Serpent was dismantled and the material of the safe part was collected .

They hadn’t had an adventure with Genius for a while, but during that time they seemed to be raising their skill . It seems to have been worn .

The materials that were dismantled one after another and obtained from the Serpent were many that would not have been available only with Nod and Erza .

“ Yeah, This is the end of dismantling . ”

“That’s finally my favorite . ”

After putting the Serpent stripping material drop item into the back sac and allowing everyone to carry it in a bun, it’s time to finally reach the maximum purpose of coming to the swamp .

In front of me, a crystal flower that changed its color during the autumn season had beautifully bloomed pink petals .

§

On the way home, there was a group of people who smiled on the requested items and stripping materials that were loaded on the carriage .

In the camp, a serpent dish cooked by Shino’s skilled work was served, and the party returned to the capital with mental and physical satisfaction .

In the capital city, Shino and Genius, including Nod acquired the necessary materials, and then settled their payments .

Genius was waiting for another adventure request after that, but no fool plunged into it .

Later when he saw a Genius party in the guild, the distance between the leader and the healer was closer than he had seen before .