I Have a Task Log

Chapter 463: Chapter 462: The Strange Drinker

While waiting for the food, Orelia took out a mortar and medicine pestle and began to process the herbs she had found along the way.

Dorn and Kase maintained their weapons, Colin took out his tools and started tinkering with his gear, and Ale pulled out a small notebook to sketch and write. Everyone in the small party was busy with their own tasks.

The only one who was idle, Albert, spoke up. "Actually... this is a little different from the adventuring life I imagined."

"What did you think it would be like?" Colin asked.

"Heart-pounding battles, crossing mountain ranges, fording swift currents, forging our own path... How should I put it? Maybe something a little more exciting than today," Albert said, sounding a bit downcast.

"Adventuring is just a rather dangerous way of life. There’s nothing glorious about it, really," Colin said with a shrug.

"I still don’t quite understand you humans," Dorn cut in. "You’ve clearly prepared a lot of things, almost like you’re as paranoid as Colin here, yet you think adventuring is some kind of fun affair. Those two things seem contradictory to me."

"What’s this got to do with me?" Colin said.

"Well, it’s not exactly..." Albert gave an awkward laugh and didn’t continue.

Seeing that Albert wasn’t going to say more, Dorn heaved a deep sigh and muttered under his breath, "Moradin above, this is what human lads are like."

"Let’s just look at the Supreme Forest in the distance," Colin said, changing the subject.

He had a strange feeling that Albert wasn’t telling the truth.

Under the leadership of this heir to the Weston Clan, the entire family had managed to weather the crises of the winter disaster and the refugee camps. Moreover, he was not lacking for experienced Adventurers around him, so he couldn’t possibly be completely ignorant about adventuring.

Dorn might not have high emotional intelligence, but his words did make sense.

’How could a person who had packed an entire dimensional backpack full of supplies possibly think of adventuring as a "fun" affair?’

Colin didn’t know why the other man wasn’t telling the truth.

’Of course, the answer to that question won’t affect the outcome of the adventure, so there’s no need to press the issue and get to the bottom of it.’

Early the next morning, Colin and the others got up and set out again.

Because Albert’s pace was a bit slow, they only reached Moss Stone Village around noon on the fourth day.

Before entering the village, not wanting any more unexpected trouble, Colin wrapped himself up tightly in his Cloak.

Ordinary people couldn’t see the Magic Radiance of Elf Dance, so if he walked down the street alone, he looked no different from any other common wandering Mercenary.

The streets of Moss Stone Village were lined with parked carriages, and the roadsides were filled with tents and waiting pedestrians. Seeing this, Colin could roughly guess what was going on.

Colin led the others to the small square in Moss Stone Village and walked over to the notice board.

Kase, who was following behind, urged, "What’s it say up there?"

"Due to the unrest in the forest, the main trade road to the North has been attacked by Ents, so it’s temporarily closed," Colin said.

"The Elves? Why would they attack a trade route?"

"The Supreme Forest isn’t entirely under the Elves’ control. Rather than calling them the masters of the forest, it’d be more accurate to say they’re tenants who are more in line with the true master’s wishes." Colin thought for a moment, then looked at Albert and asked, "What should we do now?"

"Let’s press on as soon as possible. I remember there are a few trails that cut through the Supreme Forest we can use to bypass this," Albert said, stroking his chin.

Then he added with a smile, "Why don’t we go to the tavern first and discuss it over a meal?"

Colin nodded and led the group to the entrance of a tavern built in an oak tree.

As soon as they entered the tavern, Colin spotted a particularly conspicuous big guy inside.

Even while sitting, the guy was taller than everyone else in the tavern. His body was far more robust than a normal person’s; one of his arms was at least as thick as three adult men’s arms put together. Even Kase couldn’t compare to him.

He wore an old Bucket Helmet and a suit of Full Plate Armor covered in slash marks. Through the gaps in the plate, the Chain Armor underneath was visible. Slung on his back was an iron-banded wooden stick large enough to be used as a crossbar for a city gate.

’He’s practically a killing machine.’

Colin glanced at the man’s hornless head. ’He’s probably an Ogre.’

Even stranger, however, was the yellowed Skeleton perched on the Ogre’s shoulder. The Skeleton looked small and slender, about the same size as Orelia.

"Now that’s a real Warrior, no doubt about it," Kase commented.

"Albert, the owner here knows me. Help me order a roasted meat platter and some mead," Colin said.

After Albert went to order, he led the others to a corner table.

The roasted meat platter was served quickly. The sight of the steaming hot food made the famished group’s eyes glaze over with anticipation.

"Since we have to pass through the Supreme Forest, we should probably hire a reliable guide. Otherwise, we could see if Ronan is home and try to hire a Forester as a guide," Colin said, spearing a piece of venison with his knife and popping it into his mouth.

Kase chuckled. "A guide? No need to waste Gold Coins on that. I can lead you guys out of the Supreme Forest!"

"For real?" Colin frowned.

"Orcs from the Kais Tribe sometimes operate around the Supreme Forest, so Kase should have learned a thing or two," Albert said, taking a sip of mead.

"That’s pretty good then. We’ll set out in a bit, follow the main path in the Supreme Forest to get around the affected area, and head straight for Wolf Castle." Colin snapped his fingers. "And just like that, it’s sett—"

THUD.

As he was speaking, Colin felt the table shake violently.

A large tankard had appeared on the table, held by an enormous hand wearing a Plated Gauntlet.

Looking up, he saw it was the Ogre with the Skeleton on his back.

A muffled voice boomed from the side, "Mog wants to talk to you."

"What can I do for you?" Colin asked.

The Ogre, who called himself Mog, turned and dragged over a chair, unceremoniously knocking its previous occupant to the floor.

The person who had been sitting there saw that it was an Ogre who had accosted him and didn’t dare say a word. He quietly took his companion and found another spot.

The Ogre spoke in a booming, muffled voice, "You want to go through the big trees. Mog also needs to go into the big trees. So Mog wants to go with you."

"You could look for another guide," Colin suggested diplomatically.

’Judging from his tone, this Ogre seems pretty smart. At least a little smarter than the White Dragon we met last time.’

’But an Ogre is still an Ogre. You can tell just from the name how unreliable these things are.’

"No one else here who can lead the way," Mog said. "Mog just heard someone say your group is a bunch of freaks. People also say Mog is a freak. Mog feels we can walk together."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!