Chapter 135: Puppy, Wolf Girl

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Puppy, Wolf Girl

Summer in this world had a way of arriving in full before you ever really noticed.

By the time Lance returned from Copper Creek Forest, a gentle, orange-red sunset already blanketed the town’s streets.

Instead of heading straight home, he first stopped by the Adventurer’s Guild to report on his quest.

He had accepted quests to clear out Gnolls and Goblins that day.

Between the two extermination quests, he brought back trophies from twenty Gnolls and thirty Goblins.

The whole trip earned him nearly thirty shiny Silver Coins.

To his surprise, after Toby’s three-man party returned to town, they had specifically filed a detailed report with the Guild about the rescue.

With this verifiable battle report backing him up, on top of the reward from his original extermination quests, the Guild awarded Lance an extra twenty to thirty Merit Points.

As Lance heard the number, he started calculating in his head. ’Just a few more Merit Points, and I can go to the Guild’s exchange and trade them for a few special Skill Books.’

’When I looked through the Merit exchange list earlier, I also spotted some practical gear with special Effects. That stuff would speed up my efficiency at grinding monsters in the wild.’

’Still, the true value of Merit won’t be apparent until the Underground City opens up. That’s where you really burn through it.’

So for now, more than the money or the Merit, it was the bountiful harvest of Skill Experience on his status panel that truly made him happy.

The Gnolls in the outer forest were quite formidable, each one consistently yielding seven Skill Experience Points.

Including the Goblins, he had harvested a grand total of 260 general experience points in one go today.

He planned to hoard all these experience points for the time being.

’Once I get some new Skills, I want to experience that amazing feeling of instantly maxing out the Skill Level and directly unlocking a rare Specialty.’

After leaving the Guild, Lance first went home to change into some comfortable clothes.

Then he walked to the corner tavern and bought two large barrels of strong Dwarf Malt Beer, along with some spiced jerky to go with it.

Passing by a butcher shop, he took out a few more Copper Coins and bought a large bag of purely minced, unseasoned jerky.

He hung the items from his belt and strode along the clear creek toward the Veterans’ Guild.

Tonight, he was going to see a reliable elder who had always looked after him.

The elder’s name was Rein, a retired veteran who had served alongside the original Lance’s father in the Third Legion.

Ever since seeing that military insignia, Lance had a pretty good idea of who he was.

Coincidentally, back when he was still a Copyist, Uncle Rein had been telling him to find some time to visit.

He’d said there was something important concerning Lance’s future that he needed to discuss in person.

But because he’d been busy with high-intensity training to become an Adventurer, he had put it off.

’Today, while delivering the beer, is the perfect chance to go ask him what this important matter is all about.’

With the arrival of early summer, the temperature had risen noticeably.

Lance noticed that the moss-covered wooden posts along the creek were tied with all sorts of wicker baskets.

Inside, the town’s homemakers had placed sour berries and cheap ale to be chilled by the water.

As the cool creek water constantly washed over them, the baskets made a faint, pleasant clinking sound.

In the shallows where the creek’s current was slow, he could occasionally see a few barefoot children.

They wore circlets of insect-repelling grass on their heads and were happily splashing and playing in the water, sending up showers of crystal-clear droplets.

Before he knew it, Lance had followed the path along the creek and arrived at a stone arch bridge with a huge, old water wheel.

Accompanied by the dull, CREAK-CREAKing turn of the wooden water wheel, Lance stopped and expertly made his way to an abandoned, waist-high shrine beneath the bridge’s arch.

He crouched down, put his fingers in his mouth, and let out two soft whistles.

"Xiaohai, Bean Bun, I’m here."

As the sound of the whistles faded, two filthy little dogs came scrambling out from the back of the shrine, their tails wagging.

They ran happily to Lance’s feet and nuzzled affectionately against the back of his hand.

They were stray dogs Lance had come across on the street before.

’I originally thought about adopting them, but I was living in an attic back then. The environment really wasn’t suitable.’

’Later, I earned enough money thanks to my status panel and moved into a big house with a yard.’

’But I’ve already decided to leave Gray Rock Town and adventure in the wider world once I’m strong enough.’

’These ordinary house dogs aren’t suited for adventuring with me.’

Lance couldn’t bring himself to do something as cruel as adopting them only to abandon them later.

And so, the idea of taking them home gradually faded.

’If I’m going to get a pet, it’ll have to be a special Demon that can handle high-intensity combat.’

Lance smiled, opening the bag and grabbing a large handful of the minced jerky.

He poured the minced meat into a crude dog bowl in front of the two pups—one that had been hastily carved from a piece of scrap wood.

Then, he carefully folded over the rest of the large bag of jerky and tucked it securely into a dry corner of the shrine.

’This way, they’ll have plenty to eat tomorrow and won’t go hungry.’

After leaving the food, Lance stood up, dusted the crumbs from his hands, and picked up the barrels of beer to continue on his way.

The two little dogs stopped eating.

They turned and barked twice at Lance’s retreating figure.

Lance glanced back and waved with a gentle smile before striding away.

No sooner had Lance left the space beneath the bridge than a petite, incredibly agile figure dropped down from a dark corner of the stone archway above.

It was a mysterious person, completely wrapped in a large, tattered cloak.

Seeing this figure suddenly appear, the two feasting puppies were so frightened they let out a pitiful whimper. They didn’t even dare to eat anymore, instead lining up and sitting obediently on the ground.

A distinct gulping sound came from beneath the hood.

The cloaked person paid no mind to the two shivering puppies.

She reached an arm straight into the back of the shrine and pulled out the entire bag of minced jerky Lance had just hidden.

Seeing their next day’s meal being stolen, the two puppies let out a few pitiful whimpers, their eyes filled with longing for the food.

The cloaked person had intended to take the entire bag of jerky to fill her own stomach.

But when she looked down, she was met with two pairs of glistening, innocent eyes.

She seemed to struggle internally for a moment, then finally sighed. Reaching a pale hand into the bag, she grabbed a large handful of jerky and generously tossed it into the crude dog bowl.

"Go on, eat."

The cloaked person mumbled, then casually squatted down next to the two puppies, grabbed the bag of jerky, and began to wolf it down.

From a distance, it looked as if there were three stray dogs squatting under the bridge: two small and one large.