A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 5: Departure

Episode 5: Departure

Waking up in the “Snake’s Nest” is the worst part of every day. It feels like your body has turned into something entirely different.

That’s probably because the sleeping conditions are ridiculously cramped. Human bodies aren’t meant to sleep in beds that are exactly the same width as their shoulders.

That’s why the people who’ve been staying at the Snake’s Nest for a long time tend to be somewhat inhuman.

Take the innkeeper, Old Man Snake, for example—he’s the best proof of that.

“Shut up, Roger! If you’re gonna badmouth someone, do it in your head or at least say it quieter! Everyone’s pissed off!”

“Hmph. I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking. Old Man Snake, give me my disgusting breakfast too.”

“‘Disgusting’ wasn’t necessary!”

Sitting on a dirty round stool in the Snake’s Nest dining room, I leaned on a wobbly, poorly built table.

The Snake’s Nest only serves food in the morning and evening. Right now, it’s morning. Which means if you’re sitting here, regardless of your own will, you’ll be served a disgustingly bad breakfast and charged three copper coins.

“Here.”

With a *thud*, Old Man Snake slammed a round plate on the table. He then immediately walked back to the counter.

As always, the plate held the same thing—some kind of mystery bean soup and a slice of rye bread half-soaked in it. When it comes to bread, the meat bun shop has better stuff.

Though “better” just means “you don’t immediately want to spit it out.”

I scooped up the mystery bean soup with a spoon, disconnected my taste buds from my brain, and swallowed it. It was still bad.

I reached for the rye bread for backup, tore off a small piece, and popped it in my mouth.

Yup, still gross. But it did help wake me up fully.

“Roger! Shut up and eat!”

“Sorry. It’s just so bad I couldn’t help myself.”

“Listen here, I—”

Old Man Snake came over to my table as he spoke.

“—make it taste bad on purpose! It’s to push you to escape this bottom-tier inn as fast as possible! Any normal adventurer would think, ‘Let’s hurry up and raise our rank and stay somewhere decent!’ and work hard! But look at you! Everyone in here eating breakfast is just content being bottom feeders—”

“Old Man Snake… You can trash-talk me all you want, but you’re hurting everyone else’s feelings…”

He glanced around the dining hall. He then made a face like he realized he screwed up.

I cleaned my plate quickly and left the dining room with my fully awake head.

#

Today’s target is the “Water Elemental Slime.” It’s been sighted at Star Lake, about three days by carriage from the capital.

Star Lake is said to have formed when a star fell from the sky. And the impact left a crater that filled with water. Though, since there’s also a river flowing in, the whole “star” part is pretty doubtful.

Glancing at the map, I walked along the southern highway leading from the capital, thinking about that.

After about an hour, I started to get a sense of the land and my bearings. It’s like the map gradually syncs with me. The information written on the paper begins to feel like living knowledge built on someone’s real experience.

Once that happens, it’s easy.

Draw a straight line between my current location and the destination, and follow it as far as my stamina and mana will take me.

I shifted course southeast from the capital. I left the highway. Doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s better this way. I don’t want people seeing me when I’m moving seriously.

Once I was sure no carts or people were around, I flipped the switch.

I took a step—and at the moment my foot landed, I circulated mana through my legs. Briefly, swiftly.

My body blurred past the scenery. The wind tried to resist me, pointlessly. Of course, I didn’t stop. Every landing triggered another burst of mana. It was giving me explosive propulsion. Again and again.

My mind went blank. I just moved forward along the mental line I’d drawn.

In my vision, I spotted a pack of Grass Wolves.

Come to think of it, the meat in the bun I ate yesterday was Grass Wolf. Tough, smelly, and gross. Combat images floated into my blank mind. Good. I’ll use this to warm up a bit.

Running with light bounces, I drew a dagger from my waist.

Within three blinks, I’d crash into the Grass Wolf pack.

Fifteen of them.

They noticed the sound of my feet hitting the ground and took a defensive posture.

I leapt high and landed in the center of the group. They immediately spread out. They surrounded me in a circle.

I focused mana into my ears. I could hear all fifteen breathing. One of them took a big breath in.

I turned toward the one with the uneven breathing. A young and impatient one kicked off the ground, lunging at me.

I raised my dagger overhead and swung it down. At that moment, I focused mana into my arms, back, and right leg. Fast. Explosive.

The blade—now practically a part of me—first sliced the air. Then it sliced the Grass Wolf. A shockwave erupted. It blasted away the two that had jumped at me from either side.

Not bad.

I swung the dagger five more times and wiped out the entire pack.

I left the corpses where they fell. The magic stones weren’t worth much. And the meat was tough, smelly, and gross. Only a madman would eat that stuff. Which meant I’d lost my mind yesterday.

#

After that, I didn’t run into any more monster packs. I did accidentally trample a few Horn Rabbits. But that couldn’t be helped. They darted out suddenly—it was their fault.

Eventually, I felt moisture in the wind against my face.

The sun had set. That played a part. But more than that, I couldn’t ignore the huge puddle nearby.

Star Lake.

I arrived just before sunset.

Total monsters killed so far:

– 15 Grass Wolves

– 32 trampled Horn Rabbits

My pants are soaked in bl00d.