Chapter 26: 'I just came here for some herbs.'

The old man lowered his head.

"I managed to drive them away, but this one was injured during the attack. I’ve tried healing potions, but nothing seems to be working."

Kael examined Snowbell again.

Snowbell was a small, fox-like magical beast with a soft, fluffy coat of pure white fur. Its appearance was delicate and somewhat catlike, giving it an innocent and harmless look despite being a magical creature.

Its most distinctive features were the faint blue markings scattered across its body. Thin, glowing blue patterns run along its forehead, cheeks, ears, and parts of its legs, resembling delicate frost or crystalline veins. The markings emit a weak bluish glow, which becomes more noticeable in dim lighting.

Its ears were pointed and covered in soft white fur, while its tail was large and unusually fluffy for its small body. Its paws were small, with a faint pale-blue coloration around the claws. Its eyes were a clear, icy blue, matching the delicate markings that adorned its body.

At the moment, Snowbell looks weak and exhausted. It was lying on a folded blanket rather than standing, with its body curled slightly inward. One of its legs and part of its side bear visible wounds from the goblin attack. A faint dark discoloration surrounds one wound, suggesting the presence of poison.

The creature’s breathing was weak. He already knew what needed to be done. But there was one problem.

’The Frostleaf Blossom.’

According to the beta quest, it grew in a small clearing somewhere in the eastern forest. Kael remembered the location. However, he also remembered that the official release had changed several gathering locations. And judging from everything that had happened since his reincarnation, there was no guarantee the beta map was still accurate.

He stood.

"I might know how to treat it."

The old man’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

Kael nodded and said, "Yes. I just need a particular herb."

"What herb?"

"Frostleaf Blossom."

The old man looked confused.

"I’ve never heard of it."

"Well, most people haven’t..." Kael paused and looked toward the eastern gate. "I’m going to look for it."

"Wait!"

The old man hurriedly stepped forward.

"You don’t have to do that."

Kael glanced at him.

"It’s the only way to save your beast for now."

There were other ways to treat this kind of toxin. Purification spells could cleanse it, and certain medicinal materials could also neutralize the poison. However, both alternatives were far more difficult to obtain.

For purification magic, Kael would first have to find someone capable of using it. A qualified healer was considerably harder to locate than a Frostleaf Blossom.

And during the beta test of Eclipse Hearts, there had never been another method for completing this quest. As far as Kael remembered, Frostleaf Blossom was the only reliable solution.

"B-but..."

Kael understood the hesitation in Benn’s voice. The old man clearly did not want to burden him with the task.

He gave him a faint smile.

"Don’t worry. I was heading to the eastern gate anyway. Looking for a Frostleaf Blossom won’t be much trouble."

The old man stared at him for several seconds before lowering his head deeply.

"Please... help us save Snowbell."

His daughter also joined. She lowered her head as well.

"Please save Snowvbell."

Kael nodded at them.

"I will. Just leave Snowbell here for now. And don’t give it any more healing potions until I return. They won’t help against this toxin."

"Yes. I understand."

Kael turned and continued toward the eastern gate. He had only taken a few steps when another thought crossed his mind.

’If this really is the same quest from the beta...’ Then the reward should still be there.’

His lips curled slightly.

Perhaps this trip wouldn’t be a waste after all.

As he left the crowded commercial district behind, Kael’s expression became increasingly thoughtful.

’I’ll have to take it.’

Kael had no intention of becoming the protagonist. He simply wanted to survive. Even if the world insisted on changing the rules, he would use every advantage he had.

...

Kael left Eldoris through the eastern gate.

The moment he stepped beyond the city walls, the noise of the commercial district gradually disappeared behind him.

He followed a narrow road that stretched toward the nearby forest. His pace was steady. He wasn’t in a hurry, but he didn’t waste time either.

’Frostleaf Blossom...’

Kael searched his memories.

In the beta version of Eclipse Hearts, the herb grew somewhere inside the eastern forest. The quest never gave the player an exact location. Instead, the player had to follow several clues provided by Benn.

But the Benn in this world had no idea what Frostleaf Blossom was. So he couldn’t provide him with clues either.

Fortunately, Kael completed this quest during the beta version. His memory wasn’t perfect though.

’If I remembered correctly, it was near a stream.’

He continued along the forest path. There was a large rock shaped like a wolf. Kael looked around.

His eyes met with trees.

Kael continued deeper into the forest. The path eventually disappeared. He stepped over exposed roots and pushed through several bushes. The forest became noticeably quieter.

Kael stopped with a change of expression.

He remembered this area.

’This is it.’

He looked around carefully. The beta version had placed the Frostleaf Blossoms near a stream hidden behind a small hill.

Kael climbed the hill, but he found nothing.

He frowned.

’Wait.’

He walked around the other side.

Still nothing.

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

’Don’t tell me the location has changed.’

He stood there for several seconds before he noticed something.

A faint trickling sound.

’That’s water.’

Kael excitedly followed it.

A minute later, a small stream appeared between the trees.

His expression immediately relaxed.

"There you are."

He crouched beside the stream.

Several pale green plants grew along the water’s edge. At first glance, they looked completely ordinary. But their leaves had a faint layer of frost despite the warm weather.

Kael smiled.

"Haha. I knew it. Frostleaf Blossom."

He carefully gathered several of them. He didn’t take everything. His game knowledge told him the plants would eventually regenerate.

After storing the herbs inside his sling bag, Kael stood.

Then he heard a rustling noise.

His hand instinctively moved toward the sword at his waist.

Another rustle came from the bushes.

Kael waited.

A small goblin suddenly jumped out.

Kael’s eyes widened.

"Seriously?"

Another goblin emerged and another.

Three goblins in total.

Kael stared at the goblins. They stared at him too. One of them raised a crude weapon.

Kael sighed.

"I just came here for some herbs."