I Have a Task Log

Chapter 459: Chapter 458: Strange Mission

At that moment, a "tin can" clad in Full Plate Armor and carrying a huge backpack suddenly walked over. His Armor resembled Gothic plate, obviously a fashionable and recently Forged set that must have cost a pretty penny.

Just as Colin was sizing the person up, they unexpectedly walked straight toward him.

’Could this be some Mercenary looking for trouble?’ Colin thought. ’Just because I glanced at him a few times?’

The tin can walked over, reached up, and pulled up his visor, revealing Albert’s somewhat delicate-looking face.

"Hey, Colin, am I late?" said Albert, clad in his Full Plate Armor. "I might have underestimated how difficult it is to walk in Armor."

Colin and Kase exchanged a look with the others, then Colin spoke up. "When is the caravan arriving?"

"Caravan? I mean, you’re escorting me, and only me, back to my domain. Was I not clear before?" Albert said with a smile.

The group fell silent for a good while.

"Knew it would be something like this," Kase snorted.

Colin asked, "Let me get this straight. The situation now is that the five of us have to escort you along the main road to the perilous North, right under the noses of Frost Giants, Undead, and Orcs, and deliver you to the Weston Clan’s castle... Why would you do this?"

"Why? To experience life? Perhaps," Albert shrugged. "Alright, when do we set off? Oh, and don’t tell anyone about this. It’s just a secret between us. Also, I want to go by land, not by sea."

’Right, a rich kid trying to experience life.’

’Making him go back and get a caravan now seems pretty unrealistic.’

’I can only pray for a safe journey,’ Colin grumbled to himself. ’Otherwise, the death of the Weston Clan heir would be enough to get us in the papers again.’

Still, there was no need to think of it so grimly. It was just a simple trip to the North. If it were truly that dangerous, the trade routes connecting the North and South would have been impassable long ago.

"As for setting off, we’ll have to wait a bit." Colin looked at Bob. "Where’s your caravan headed? Mind giving us a lift for part of the way?"

"Why would I mind? My caravan is heading to Flint Village. If it’s on your way, feel free to come along." Bob was tactful enough not to ask about Albert’s identity. "Having people like you act as our guards for free... there aren’t many deals in the world better than this."

"It’s not the first time, is it?" said Colin.

-----------------

[Quest: Escort Albert]

[Rating: Not Started]

[Reward: Not Calculated]

-----------------

A little while later, the caravan’s guards finally arrived, fashionably late.

Colin glanced at them from a distance.

It was a small team, with most members wearing Leather Armor. Only two were in Chain Armor, carrying Wooden Round Shields. Judging by their equipment, they didn’t look particularly reliable.

As the team drew closer, one of the men in Chain Armor suddenly broke into a smile.

He walked briskly up to Colin and said, "It’s good to see you again, Mr. Colin."

"Hello, it’s good to see you too." Colin gave an awkward smile. "And you are...?"

"Zahir Rain," the man said with a smile. "The captain of that New Blood team that was captured by goblins near Flint Village."

"Oh, it’s you. How have you been lately?" Colin said.

"I... I’ve been alright," Zahir said, forcing a smile.

Colin took a closer look at him.

He had severe dark circles around his eyes and his face looked quite haggard. He probably hadn’t been doing well lately, and it also looked like a few new faces had replaced his teammates...

’This is probably what life is like for most Ordinary Adventurers. Even after sacrificing a few lives, the only change was that two people in the squad now had Chain Armor.’

Colin was tactful enough not to press for details. He just clapped his hands and said, "Everyone’s here. Time to head out."

The group each found a spot on the wagons, sitting near the back.

With the crack of Bob’s whip driving the horses, the entire caravan soon began to lurch and sway as it set out on the road.

As the wagons left the city, Colin looked out at the windmills spinning in the fields.

He hadn’t spent much time around Thousand Masts City lately, and he noticed that the various crops in the fields had grown quite tall in his absence.

The green wheat fields rippled under the strong wind, creating a beautiful sight.

In the distance, a few people were inspecting and reinforcing a windmill ahead of time. The rising and falling dust heralded the official start of the bustling harvest season.

Thanks to his [Winter Wolf Necklace], Colin wasn’t very sensitive to changes in temperature, but looking at the clothes of those around him, it seemed autumn was fast approaching.

"Bob, how’s this trade route been lately?" Colin asked, sitting at the back of the wagon.

Bob said, "The monsters have been a lot quieter recently. But since the Griffin Knights all pulled back, some goblins have started popping up again. Overall, it’s not too bad."

"Sounds decent enough."

"To you, those little things are just a disorganized mob at best. Nothing to worry about," said Bob.

"You’re quite the optimist."

After speaking, Colin hopped off the wagon, went over to Big Hoof Treasure, and rummaged through the pack on its back, pulling out a small file and a whetstone for polishing.

He had brought the tools he’d bought earlier on this trip.

He had originally intended to use them to pass the time while traveling with Albert’s luxurious caravan, but it seemed they were no longer needed for that.

Colin took off his Dog-faced Helmet and removed the lens from behind the eye slit.

Then he sat on the swaying wagon and began to polish the lens in his hand again.

Thanks to his increased Skill Level, Colin’s movements were much steadier than before. He looked like a veteran apprentice who had spent several years in a workshop.

After his Magic Craftsman Skill improved, he was eager to try making a few more pieces of Magic Equipment, but first, he had to deal with this defective piece from his first attempt.

A gentle breeze blew intermittently from the roadside, carrying away the fine shavings from Colin’s hands.

Sitting next to him, Albert, unable to endure the quiet any longer, asked, "So when are we actually setting off?"

"Aren’t we already on our way?" Colin replied, still busy with his work.

"This counts as setting off? Aren’t Adventurers supposed to venture into the wilderness, live off hunting and wild plants, and then slowly make their way toward their destination?"

"Where did you hear that?" Colin explained, "If we’re going into the wild, that’ll be after we reach the last village closest to our destination. Until then, we can just follow the main road. That way, we can at least get supplies from the villages along the way."

"My father mentioned it to me when I was a child," Albert said with a slightly embarrassed laugh.

Colin said, "I see."

The wave of northern pioneers that began with the founding of Thousand Masts City had continued for many long years. The farther north one went, the more recent the land development.

It was said that even today, pioneers were still constantly pushing outwards along the borders of the Weston Clan’s territory. That area was also the main region of conflict with Orcs and Barbarians.

’For those pioneers, wasn’t venturing straight into the wilderness right out their front door just a part of life?’

’It wasn’t surprising that an old-fashioned nobleman would say something like that.’

But... Colin glanced at Albert sitting beside him. Why would a nobleman who knew almost nothing about the life of an Adventurer insist on risking a trip to the wilds?

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