The third morning of their adventurer life began with excitement in the air.
The weather outside was crisp and clear, and the golden light of the early sun painted everything with promise. Inside their small home, the energy was already electric.
"We're going early today!" Lio called out, bouncing as he yanked on his boots.
Selena strapped her shield over her back. "If we're early, we get first pick at the board."
"I packed dried fruit!" Hina said brightly, holding up a small pouch.
"I polished my staff twice!" Yuzu added, cheeks pink from nerves.
Rika rolled her eyes while stretching. "You guys sound like children before a field trip."
"I mean…" Lio grinned. "This is basically our job now."
The Greenie squeaked proudly on his head.
As always, Red stood near the door, waiting silently. Dressed, armed, and unreadable.
The moment they were ready, he turned and led them out without a word.
The city was just waking up.
Shopkeepers opened shutters. Guards changed shifts. Birds circled the rooftops, singing. The morning breeze carried the scent of baked bread and roasted chestnuts. It was peaceful, almost perfect.
The group reached the Adventurer's Guild faster than usual. Only two other early birds were present, and neither were at the quest board yet.
"Go, go, go!" Lio urged.
They swarmed the Rookie Rank Board, eyes scanning.
"Found one!" Selena said first, pointing. "High-paying herb gathering."
Rika leaned in. "Thirty copper? That's way above usual."
"Pay per weight collected," Hina read aloud.
Hina: "Rare medicinal herbs south of the Silverhaven farms. Payment adjusted by quality and quantity. Requested by Master Harnel of the apothecary."
"Not dangerous," Yuzu added, voice hopeful. "Just collecting plants."
"Then let's do it," said Selena, pulling the paper free. "Before anyone else snatches it."
"Quick!" Lio said. "To the desk!"
The group hustled to Sophia's counter like overexcited children trying to buy the last sweet bun at a bakery.
Sophia blinked, raising a brow. "What's the rush?"
"This one!" Selena declared, handing the quest paper. "We're taking it."
Sophia glanced at the paper and smirked.
Sophia: "You're lucky. This job always goes fast. I was just about to post a second copy. Harnel pays well, but he's picky."
"We'll do our best!" Yuzu promised with a bow.
Red, behind them as always, said nothing.
Sophia stamped the job slip and passed it back. "Field's about a 45-minute walk south. Watch for snakes and spiders. Otherwise, it's a calm zone."
"Easy," Rika said. "We got this."
Sophia chuckled. "That's what they all say."
The walk was pleasant, and spirits were high.
The farmland path south of Silverhaven was lined with wildflowers and fluttering butterflies. Birds chirped above, and small rodents darted through bushes. In the distance, farmers waved at passing patrols.
"It's peaceful out here," Hina said, twirling once in the breeze.
"This is what I pictured adventuring would be," Yuzu added.
Yuzu: "Less blood. More sunshine."
Lio, scanning the map, pointed ahead. "This is it. That grove there."
Nestled at the base of a hill was a small clearing surrounded by brush and trees. Sprigs of glowing mint-colored plants grew in bunches under the shade. The air smelled faintly of sap and something minty-sweet.
"Alright," Selena clapped.
Selena: "We collect until we fill the sacks. Quality first, then weight."
Rika knelt to examine a cluster. "These are Iceleaf. Pain reliever. We'll get good coin for these."
"Are they rare?" Yuzu asked.
Rika: "In season? A bit. Out of season? Gold."
That settled it.
The group split up, weaving between shrubs, collecting herbs with care. They moved happily, laughing and joking while the Greenie bounced between them, carrying a leaf in its mouth like a tiny assistant.
By midday, they had already filled half the sack.
"This is easy," Lio said, shaking a bag full of sweetroot bulbs.
Lio: "No monsters. Just plants. I could do this every day."
"You said that about slimes," Rika reminded him.
Lio: "Yeah, well, slimes didn't pay this much."
Selena wiped sweat from her brow. "Let's keep going. If we max out the weight, we might get bonuses."
So they kept collecting. And collecting. And collecting.
Greedy? Maybe. But none of them had ever held thirty copper before. It felt like treasure.
The sun began to dip by the time they finished. Their bags were heavy. Clothes stained green. Backs sore from crouching.
But they were proud.
They returned to Silverhaven just after sunset, bags slung over shoulders, chatter nonstop.
"Did you see the size of that Fireleaf bunch I got?" Lio bragged.
"I counted seventeen Bloomroot clusters," Hina said.
Yuzu smiled, holding her modest bundle. "I hope Harnel likes them."
"I think we broke a record," Rika added. "That field was picked clean."
At the guild, they delivered the herbs to a stern-faced herbalist in green robes. He examined each sample with pinched fingers and a nose so sharp it seemed to sniff lies.
"This is… acceptable," he muttered at last. "Unrefined but fresh. Hmph."
He handed them a stamped paper.
Sophia raised an eyebrow as she processed the slip.
Sophia: "Thirty copper. Just like that."
She handed over the pouch.
The rookies stared at it like it was glowing.
"Thirty… copper…" Yuzu whispered, eyes sparkling.
"We're RICH!" Lio shouted.
Selena laughed. "Okay, let's not go overboard."
"You could buy a whole week of stew with this," Hina said.
"Or boots," Rika said, eyeing Lio's still-chewed-up pair.
Lio: "I like my boots," he muttered.
Rika: "You have teeth marks in them."
Lio: "They give character."
The guild around them buzzed with noise, but they stood in the center, excited, proud, and completely unaware how small their victory truly was.
Red stood near the door, arms crossed.
Watching.
That night, the house was full of energy.
Lia and Lana pounced on the coin pouch when they saw it.
Lia: "You're rich now!"
Lana: "Buy us something sweet!"
Lio tossed them each a copper. "Go wild. But not too wild."
They danced in circles, screaming: "SWEET BUNS! SWEET BUNS!"
In the common room, the team sat with bowls of stew, legs sore, hands scratched from the gathering work, but smiling nonetheless.
"We're on a roll," Rika said, lifting her bowl in a toast.
"To three days, three wins!" Selena added.
"Seven in a row!" Yuzu said, determined.
"I say we try a combat job next," Hina offered. "Nothing crazy. Just… variety."
"Let's keep the pace," Lio said. "Build momentum."
The Greenie, now wearing a tiny sock as a hat (thanks to Lana), squeaked happily and nuzzled against Lio's cheek.
Selena chuckled. "Even the slime thinks we're hot stuff."
Rika snorted. "We're not hot. We're warm. Lukewarm."
"But confident," Yuzu added.
"Still warm," Hina giggled.
They laughed.
And Red watched from the corner of the room, quiet, unmoving, and unreadable.
They hadn't been tested.
Not really.
They hadn't seen what the world could do yet.
But it was coming.
And he would let it come.
Because no lesson taught better than pain.