The next day I went to the appointment with Lord Tareus, the guards escorted me inside his office and remained at my side, no doubt waiting to skewer me the moment I tried anything funny.

The man behind the desk had a medium build, a deeply lined shaved face, and short black hair untouched by grayness despite him appearing in his fifties. His blue eyes looked at me with annoyance.

He looks just like top management.

「Allen: Greetings.」

I bowed as expected of a peasant like me.

「Tareus: Who is it now?」

The noble looked at his guards in askance. They kept their mouth shut, so I introduced myself.

「Allen: Allen Smith.」

I said with another curt bow.

「Tareus: Are you a noble?」

He asked leaning forward. Didn’t Violet already tell you about me?

「Allen: No, I’m-」

He interrupted me midway. I hated being interrupted but I didn’t let my poker face falter.

「Tareus: Why are you wasting my time with the plebs?!」

He asked loudly to the guards, who kept a stony expression.

Well, fuck you too. I thought while keeping my corporate smile on.

「Allen: Excuse me, Lord. You should have heard of me from archmage Violet Val Mariannet.」

I said, staring at him in the eyes, unblinking.

「Tareus: V-Violet?!」

He spoke with an octave higher, blanching at Violet’s mention and left his mouth hanging open for a few seconds.

「Tareus: Ah… right! The winter crops idea.」

He regained his composure and smoothed his rich suit.

「Tareus: Yes, follow me if you please.」

He stood up and walked through an adjacent door with me close behind.

We entered his private office and began discussing the project. There were dozens of papers and boards with projects and notes scribbled all over. Tareus made some of his engineers join in to provide feedback and suggestions.

I told him that Grohm had some ideas about the magical parts and that it would be best to involve him in the manufacturing process. Tareus was glad to hear Khalkear’s name and tossed a few praises about the man’s brilliant inventions.

In around four hours we had already designed a few prototypes to try out.

The only obstacle to clear was to find the correct light to generate. Plants need the right wavelengths for the right amount of time. I really missed ordering the stuff I needed from the internet. Having to walk around all over the place just to buy a few things was a torment. But I can't be helped.

Second step in saving myself from starvation, check.

Now… the Academy will stay closed for four days due to festivities.

I might have a go at adventuring.

I really needed to kill something to relieve the built up stress. From Khalkear’s abusiveness and Alchemy’s exasperating tedium–and maybe the abuse of emotion magic too–I had become like a loaded gun.

Let’s stop by the Adventurer’s Guild and see my options. I strode eagerly down the road.

A while later I reached the Guild.

Inside I found my friends who were sitting at the usual table, trading gossip. I walked toward them.

「Allen: Hello guys!」

I was about to take my seat when some dude I didn’t know addressed me.

「Dude: If it isn’t the Skullcrusher!」

He had already lost five points by calling me that. Perhaps I can kill him and save myself from another unfortunate adventure. The temptation was strong but I couldn’t let down these kids. I was an adult, I had to be an example to them.

「Dude: Have you heard about the latest about Darian, the hero?」

The dude said with eagerness, ready to spread gossip I couldn’t care less about.

「Allen: Who?」

I said flatly.

Never heard about him. Or maybe I forgot or I wasn’t paying attention. Probably another nobody in a sea of adventurers.

Namrick looked at me with shock.

「Namrick: How can you not know? He’s one of the six great heroes of our time!」

I rolled my eyes. Who cares?

「Dude: Yeah. I heard from a soldier that he and his party joined the campaign against the demon armies!」

Dude seemed really excited about that.

「Allen: A hero, huh? He’s gonna get himself killed, isn’t he?」

I said wryly and sat down on my seat.

If the common wisdom of my world holds up, being a hero just means getting signed for a premature glorious death.

「Dude: Don’t say that! They’re fighting for us!」

He frowned at me, clearly unappreciative of my fine cynicism.

「Allen: Well. I don’t know that guy, but usually, heroes die an early death. Correct me if I’m wrong.」

Namrick faced me, shaking his head.

「Namrick: He won’t die anytime soon, he’s the strongest swordsman in the kingdom. He was even given the title of Sword God.」

He uselessly praised a man he hadn’t even met. Besides… Sword God. So lame! It’s like I’m in a trash isekai novel.

I shook my head.

「Allen: Anyone can get killed, it just takes one little mistake. This is why they taught us to cover for each other during the recruit training. Don’t heroes, like, charge head front into the danger, uncaring of traps and ambushes, just like complete fools?」

Probably an accurate assessment in all worlds and fictions. Oh look, it's a trap! Let's just walk into it, what could go wrong?

「Grastel: Haha, not everyone is like that. I’m sure that the ones that survive quickly learn about those common pitfalls.」

Grastel said and Ellin nodded in agreement.

「Allen: If you say so.」

I was skeptical. Perhaps if they survive they’re not so heroic after all. If watching the news ever taught me something, is that famous people who don’t die young always hide a dark side.

「Dude: In any case, the full-scale war will slow down during the winter. So we’ll have some respite during which to fortify our defenses.」

The random guy said looking outside the window, a worry line creased between his brows.

「Namrick: The real problem is going to be food.」

Namrick said with a serious expression.

「Allen: Ah… if my project takes off that might not be much of an issue. I’ve been working on a solution to growing crops indoor.」

I said to let them know they were in good hands.

「Grastel: If… there’s also the problem that the enemy might sneak in and destroy or poison our supplies. It has happened in the past.」

Grastel shrugged.

「Ellin: True, I read about that in the story books.」

Everyone was derailing into talking about depressing stuff and making dejected faces.

「Allen: Well, whatever.」

I put my elbows on the table as I leaned forward and continued.

「Allen: I was thinking… What about doing some adventuring to take our mind off the gloomy prospects? I have four days off. I want to ki- experience some thrill.」

I said with half a smile. Namrick’s eyes lit up.

「Namrick: Hmmm, since you ask… there was a request on the billboard that caught my eye…」

He said catching the attention of the dude.

「Dude: Oh, you mean the one in the elven forest don’t you?」

「Namrick: Yes, that one. Were you going to take it?」

The dude shook his head.

「Dude: We were thinking about it, but we decided against. My team doesn’t want to deal with traitors.」

「Allen: Traitors?」

I asked, lifting an eyebrow. The dude who kept stubbornly talking without saying his fucking name continued on. I had to subtract another ten point, he was entering the aggravation zone.

「Dude: Yeah, you should know that. The elven and dwarven countries have declared that they won’t take part in the war. They fear being targeted by the demons. We’ve been left on our own. Damn cowards…」

A green haired elf who overheard our conversation took the chance to butt in.

「Elf: That’s not fair… our countries have barely recovered from the last war. We don’t breed as fast as you humans!」

The elf said in protest and engaged in a staring contest with the dude.

「Dude: Tch, whatever.」

The dude averted his gaze and walked away with a scowling face.

Ellin watched the scene with a worried expression.

Silence.

Finally, the random guy had walked away. I sighed in relief.

「Allen: So what’s this quest about?」

I asked Namrick who scratched his chin while remembering the details.

「Namrick: It’s about delivering a casket of potions to the Danaanlar’s high priest.」

A fetch quest? My smile gave out.

「Allen: What… a fetch quest?」

I said painting the disappointment all over my face. I wanted to kill things. I needed to kill things.

「Namrick: Yes. Well, if it was so simple they wouldn’t have posted a quest at the Adventurer’s Guild… the mountains across the elven city are haunted by migrating hellhounds.」

My smile was restored. YES!

「Allen: Hellhounds, what kind of monsters are they?」

I inquired.

「Namrick: They’re like giant dogs who spit and breath fire. They’re hard to fight in packs, more so if you encounter them in a forest.」

That reminded me of the fire lizards.

「Allen: Oh… do they burn down whole forests when they take a leak?」

My three friends grinned at the dumb question. It was a legitimate question, though.

「Namrick: No, the magic fire dies down after a while, but you still risk being surrounded by flames and be mauled to death.」

Namrick explained, while moving a finger across his mug.

「Allen: Great! I already had some experience fighting fire lizards. With my magic rings, we should be safe as long as we don’t run out of mana.」

I started thinking about countermeasures, but I needed a little more information.

「Namrick: A friend warned me that hellhounds’ eyes light up when they’re about to spit fire. Keep an eye open for that.」

He added. Grastel looked at me.

「Grastel: So, Allen. Since you’re the fire creature expert, how would you fight them?」

I considered for a moment an replied.

「Allen: Simple. Obsidian weapons and anti-magic fields. Kill until dead. Ah… is their skin like molten lava or something?」

I looked from Namrick to Grastel in askance.

「Grastel: No, but they light themselves on fire as a defense mechanism. We’ll try fighting them at a distance but we need a way to defend ourselves against their ranged attacks when they get in range.」

Ellin raised a hand.

「Ellin: I can shield one person along with me.」

She said confidently.

「Allen: I should be able to cover one too, albeit anti-magic fields are much easier as a group effort.」

Namrick tapped the table with his index finger.

「Namrick: We could do it like this. Two groups, Ellin and I, Allen and Grastel. If we get a frontal attack we can join up, else we guard each other back. What do you say?」

His strategy seemed good enough.

「Grastel: That sound like a good plan.」

Grastel nodded along with Ellin.

「Ellin: Sounds good!」

「Allen: Hold on.」

I said reaching for the big pouch I was carrying and put it on the table.

My friends looked curiously.

「Ellin: What’s in there?」

I grinned.

「Allen: I’m sure you’re already stacked up with potions. But there you go, 20 blasted healing potions. They’re three fifths as effective than regular ones so you can keep the good ones for emergencies. Ah… there are also 4 mana potions for Ellin. Just in case.」

I pushed the pouch toward them.

「Allen: There take them. I want my friends to stay alive.」

I could just feel we would end up needing them.

Dogs who spit and breath fire? And they move in packs? And nobody wanted to take the quest?! This is basic math.

In any case, I can probably just scare them away if things turn bad, even my teacher tries to avoid receiving my project Fear.

My three friends looked at me with grateful expressions.

「Ellin: Woah… this is a lot. Thank you!」

They gladly accepted my wares and showered me with smiles. Feels good.

「Grastel: So, huh… you tested them… right?」

Grastel asked, inspecting the potions with hesitation.

「Allen: Of course.」

I reassured them.

「Namrick: It must have cost you a small fortune to gather all the reagents.」

I scoffed, shaking my head.

「Allen: No big deal. Vargas gives me a discount. The potion vials are what costs the most… So return them to me when you’re done, I’ll put them back to use.」

I can’t legally sell potions until I join the Alchemist’s Guild, but it would be a shame to dump them in the trash.

I might be brewing them for practice but they’re still good potions.

「Allen: Well then, to tomorrow!」

We bumped our fists against each other to cheer us up.

I’ve been wondering what a true elven city looks like. Now I’ll get to find out.

And also release some stress by killing monsters. Nothing could ruin my mood.