"It seems like your stretching sessions are paying off."
"They have to, I don't want to go through that more times than necessary."
After several weeks of stretching, I can finally move with some degree of normalcy. I can't do things like stretch and touch my toes, but it feels extremely good not to be so limited.
My joyful thoughts were interrupted as soon as a status window appeared in front of me.
[New mission: "The birth of an adventurer!" Enter a house area to kill your first monster.]
Huh...? Are you crazy, goddess? I can barely move and you want me to go kill something!?
[Tch, baby girl. It's time for you to do something interesting. I'm tired of watching you complain about your body for 5 years.]
Whose fault is that!? Can't you wait a little? I improved my mobility, but you're being very rude.
[Let's see if you say that with this...]
Following her words, a new screen appeared that made me doubt my actions.
[REWARD: Once completed, you will be given: Complete body restoration and 10 stat points]
"Hmmm... That doesn't sound so bad."
"Ah! Yes, of course."
For a moment, I had forgotten that our systems were connected. The union of systems brought several good things, such as knowing where and how the other was, and seeing each other's screens.
Still, this isn't something that happens very often, so I've had several scares like this. Hernesto has a habit of appearing suddenly without making a sound.
"Killing a monster shouldn't be that difficult."
"That's true for you, but I can barely run for 5 minutes."
"Besides, if your parents find out, they'll make a big fuss."
He's right... in a way. On the one hand, my father will be happy that I'm following in his footsteps as an adventurer. However, my mother is another matter; she's too overprotective.
While I was thinking of a way to complete the mission without causing a problem, Hernesto clapped his hands, as if he had remembered something.
"Now that I think about it, my family is a merchant family. I've seen them talking to the guild leaders of this city several times. I'm sure if I ask them, they'll help us."
Ugh... Damn rich guy. With no other options, I decided to follow Hernesto to his big castle and ask his family for help.
<<>>
"You want to go into a dungeon?"
"That's right, Grandpa, I want to become an adventurer."
Along with his words, Hernesto patted his chest, making his words more believable... Since when is he like this?
"Hmmm... Entering a dungeon is crazy, even if it's one with a low age requirement. But on the other hand, there are several training grounds that have low-level creatures."
"That's fine!"
He didn't even let me hesitate, huh? It seems he's becoming the kind of character who uses everything to his advantage. I couldn't help but smile at the thought. Having Hernesto by my side will bring many benefits thanks to his connections.
"All right, I'll call the instructors at those places. Take a guard with you in case something gets complicated."
"Of course, Grandpa!"
<<<<>>>>
Well, it turns out it was a little more difficult than that. We had to wait a whole week to be allowed in. Bringing Hernesto here complicates things a lot because of the care required for the grandson of a major taxpayer. In addition, they had to change the creatures used for practice because they were 'too dangerous'. What a load of crap.
"All right, everything is ready. You may enter!"
With the confirmation of an instructor, we were able to enter the practice area and found... Several slimes...
[Those things are not going to meet the requirements]
I know... How is this supposed to prepare us?
[I don't know, but you just gave me an idea]
Along with his words, a new notification appeared in front of me
[Requirements: Kill a creature within 20 minutes. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the forced scoring of the user's soul] Ahhh!!!???, Goddess!
[Hehehe, good luck~]
"Hey, Hernesto, we have to hurry."
"Mmm...? Why?"
Without wasting a second, I showed him the new requirement, with the timer ticking down.
"Damn... This is going to be too complicated. The guards won't let us explore freely."
We both had to rack our brains to come up with an idea....
Come to think of it, the guards' only mission is to protect Hernesto, so if I separate from him, I'll be able to complete the mission. It will be a real problem if something goes wrong, but I have to take the risk. With that idea in mind, I communicated it to Hernesto, devising that we would separate as soon as we were far enough away and he would distract the guards.
"Now!"
At my command, we both ran deeper into the practice area, sinking among the trees.
"Young master!"
The guards quickly realized we were getting away, so they ran after us.
Slowly, our surroundings began to change. The practice area was a small forest, not very large, so it was very easy to access the more "dangerous" parts.
"I think we're far enough away!"
"Yeah, I think so too!"
"You go right, I'll go left!"
"Okay!"
-Trac, Trac, Trac
Oh shit, damn branches! With every meter I sank, the branches became thicker or longer, making them harder to dodge.
-Chhhhhhiiiii!
Seriously? Of all the creatures I had to encounter, it had to be this one. In front of me was a centipede that seemed to be as tall as me. Its body appeared to be covered in crystals that completely reflected the light, making it difficult to even look at it.
-Chhhhhhiiiii!
"Come on, at least let me think!"
The centipede lunged at me as soon as it noticed my presence. To make matters worse, I tripped over a rock, which led to the insect cutting my side with one bite.
"Bastard!"
I grabbed the same rock I had tripped over and prepared for the next attack. But the damn thing changed its attack and began to vibrate in place. A few seconds later, several of the crystals on its body were ejected in all directions.
-Shing!
Several of the crystals pierced my body, causing intense pain. Fortunately, my body wasn't as sensitive as it used to be.
I was about to lunge at it, but I stopped when I saw the crystals stuck in the ground and trees begin to float, returning to the insect's body.
[HAHAHA! This guy is one of the big ones]
"Shut up!"
Without thinking, I lunged forward, positioning myself in front of the insect before putting all my strength into my arms and bringing the rock down on its head.
-Chhhhhhiiiii!!!
My blow hit it squarely, which also caused a large part of its head to be forcibly torn off.
"How can you not die!?"
I was about to hit it again when I was interrupted by the insect's tail.
"Ugh!"
The blow pushed me hard into a tree, knocking the wind out of me. Taking advantage of this, the centipede lunged at me, who was still on the ground clutching my chest.
"Hehehe... That's right, come on!"
Next to me was a tree branch as thick as my arm, so I waited until it got close and hit it squarely in the face.
-Chhhhhhiiiii!
I wasted no time and picked up the stone from before, jumping up and then driving the stone into the insect's head.
...
Hehe... You're dead, finally! Happy with my first kill, I threw myself on the ground and tried to calm down.
"AHHH!!!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain flooded my entire body, as if something were burning me from the inside. It was poison, this bastard had poison!
"Taren!"
Fortunately, Hernesto's voice soon echoed near me.
"Ahhh... Please hurry...!"
I muttered, biting my lip. I couldn't stay conscious and ended up passing out.
[Well done! A short but exciting fight. Just for that, I'll give you something extra in your reward.]