[Party 3 has entered the Weekday Dungeon, Sinmiel Plateau (Lowest Rank).]
[You will collect materials and return!]
[00:59:59]
The others took notice of the window.
"Huh? What's this? Weekday Dungeon?"
"Collect materials? Is that what we're supposed to do?"
"I guess that's why the fairy gave us these baskets."
"Is that the time limit below the description? One hour?"
I walked up to the dimensional portal and examined it.
As expected from the mission window, the portal was connected to the storage.
"Master wants us to collect anything useful from this place and bring it to the storage."
I told my party.
"Do we just put the things we gathered into the baskets and wait till we return?"
Trudy asked.
"No. I believe we still need to pour them into this dimensional portal. I'm sure master will take care of the rest."
I said to them, recalling how master summoned those throwing spears for Jonah back in the fifth floor.
The others soon understood our task. They then began to look around for things to collect.
"Ooh! Is that a wheat field over there? We could use them in the kitchen."
Pauline said while heading over to the meadow with a basket.
"I'll help!"
Trudy said joining her.
"I think I'll check the river on that far side of the field to see if there's something useful for the workshop."
Gerrits said as he separated himself from us.
I supposed that was why master called those two with us.
Pauline worked in the kitchen while Gerrits in the workshop.
By coming here, the two could discover what would be useful for their respective station and inform the others about it.
As I watched them heading over to the meadow, my gaze caught the sight of a flower blooming by the crevices of the tall cliff.
I walked over to it and inspected it more carefully.
There was no mistaking it.
Its bright crimson color on the flower's six petals was the distinct characteristic of Dara flowers, a key ingredient in health potion.
I found many of this precious flower blooming all over the side of the cliff.
"Tarran."
I called up to the little boy who came with us. He was about to go along with Gerrits.
"Yes, Miss Serafina?"
He asked while coming back to me.
"You see this red flower?"
"Ah! A Dara flower?"
"You know about it?"
"Yes! I used to work for an herbalist and they would send me to the woods to collect them."
He definitely lived up to his name as an errand boy.
"That's great! Then would you collect these flowers as many as you can? Try getting a hundred if possible."
Tarran quickly nodded his cap.
"Right away, Miss Serafina! I'll turn the entire cliffside bald."
He said while agilely going through the crevices of the cliff.
Znggg…
Around then, I sensed a magical energy resonated throughout the meadow.
It was a familiar feeling from when I was stuck inside my laboratory.
"Trudy! Come with me!"
I called out to her as she was cutting down wheats with Pauline.
"What's the matter?"
She asked while heading my way.
"Prepare yourself. There are enemies nearby."
Trudy quickly drew her sword and shield.
"Enemies?! Where?!"
"Stay calm. Follow me."
The two of us walked further into the meadow until we reached the river where Gerrits was at.
He was currently digging up clay by the riverbank as well as setting up the basket as a fish trap.
Seeing this, I made the opportunity to address something.
"Gerrits, I need you to fill up the satchels with water."
"Why? We have barrels of water back in the lodging. They got refilled everyday. There are wells too."
"The water in this river isn't just any water. They are plateau water or what mages called Padang water. Their pure and rich condition is ideal for potion making."
"Ah, I see! Sure! I'll fill every satchel to the brim."
"Good. By the way, did you spot any monsters while you're here?"
Gerrits raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Monsters? No, not really. But I think I heard something from upstream."
"Alright then. Just hurry collecting things up here and get back to the portal."
Having said what I needed to say to Gerrits, Trudy and I continued walking by the river.
We made our way up, against the current, until we found this short waterfall by a small hill.
Grrr!
As expected, a pack of wolves was hanging around the waterfall. They numbered around a dozen.
"Serafina!"
Trudy called out as she spotted the monsters.
"Hold on. They did not seem aggressive. Not yet, at least."
Even though the wolves had seen us and had turn wary, the monsters did not charge forward and stayed by the waterfall. Unlike the monsters in the trial that immediately attacked us the moment they noticed our presence.
They acted like how wild animals would in the forest. Only aggressive once provoked.
But I was certain the moment we stepped closer to them, the entire pack would soon attack us.
"What should we do? Do we just leave them alone? The mission is only to gather materials after all."
Trudy asked.
I observed the pack more attentively.
Among the wolves, there was one whose size doubled the others.
Its claws and fangs were three times as massive as the others' in the pack. Its fur had these glowing streaks that made the creature more intimidating.
Most of all of its distinct characteristics, the wolf exuded with peculiar magical energy.
There was no doubt about it. The energy from this wolf was what I was sensing earlier.
"We're not going to leave them alone, Trudy. We're going to slay these beasts."
I told my comrade as I walked closer to the pack.
"Alright! We're a bit outnumbered. But I'm sure we can take them down!"
I chuckled upon her statement while striding closer to the pack.
"Don't worry. You won't even break a sweat in this battle."
"What?"
Howl!
The wolves began charging toward us, readying their claws and teeth to rip our flesh apart.
While maintaining my pace toward them, I raised my hand forward and casted a spell.
[Davah Shashanam]
In an instance, the wolves stopped right on their tracks.
Their heads, limbs, and tails turned solid mid movement as if they were frozen in time.
Indeed. This was the spell I casted on the ogre back in the fifth floor trial.
If I could enchant something that big, then these wild dogs were nothing.
"Wh-what's happening?"
Trudy wondered with confused face.
I walked past the static canines and perched myself on top of a rock by the waterfall.
I looked back to Trudy who was still astounded.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Slice their necks open!"