Chapter 43 - Tagging Along on a Gathering Quest
“Hey, Tohru. Looks like you’ve been doing pretty well lately.”
While I was looking at the quest board in the Adventurer Guild, Franz called out to me.
By his side were Eslina, Dormund, and Rick—his party members.
“Yeah, thanks to your advice.”
Using the mobility of my camper van, I’ve been taking on transport quests to earn money.
It was Franz and the others who gave me that advice.
After making a hefty sum from the iron ore transport quest, I’ve been regularly taking on transport quests at the Adventurer Guild and earning a decent income.
Even with the usual glutton in my party, my CP has been piling up, and I’ve started to feel more financially secure.
“Are you taking another transport quest today?”
“That’s what I was planning, but there aren’t many available...”
“You’ve been completing three or five transport quests a day, right? It’s no wonder the good ones are drying up.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
The quest board only had a few transport quests left, mostly for small amounts of goods or short distances.
The most efficient way is to store large quantities of goods in my Item Box and cover distances that would take carriages or walking a long time with the camper van’s speed. But after doing that a few times, those kinds of quests have disappeared.
“Maybe today I’ll focus on camping and take on a gathering quest or something.”
I’ve been enjoying camping here and there while working on transport quests, but I haven’t done a full-on camping trip outdoors yet.
If I can’t earn much money today, it wouldn’t be so bad to relax and camp outside.
“Then why don’t you join us on a quest?”
“We’ve got our eyes on a gathering quest, and we were thinking it’d be great if you could come along.”
“Mind telling me more about it?”
“Of course.”
Curious about the quest Franz and the others were proposing, I decided to hear them out.
“The quest we’d like your help with is gathering Moonlight Grass.”
Moonlight Grass grows naturally in the forest north of Nirouette.
It’s a rare plant that only blooms under the light of a full moon at midnight.
Even at night, if the moonlight is insufficient, the flowers cannot bloom. Moreover, if clouds obscure the light, they quickly revert to buds.
“It’d take two days on foot to get there, but with your camper van, we could probably make it in half a day.”
“The timing for Moonlight Grass blooming is strict, but with your camper van, we can keep trying without having to retreat back to the town.”
Rick spread out a map, and Dormund explained their plan.
With my camper van, it’s definitely a half-day trip.
The gathering quest depends on the moonlight, but with the camper van, I can stay out for days. Even in the dangerous night forest, setting up a barrier would keep us safe, and I’ve got Haku, my familiar, with me too.
Thinking about it, Haku and I could take on night quests that other adventurers tend to avoid.
“While we are relying on your camper van, we’ve completed Moonlight Grass gathering quests before. We know the northern forest well and where the grass grows, so we can make things easier for you.”
“We’re also thinking of giving you a larger share of the reward this time. What do you think?”
“Wait, can I even join that quest?”
From what I heard, it’s a C-rank quest.
Franz and the others are C-rank, but I’m only F-rank.
Wouldn’t I be ineligible to join?
“Normally, you wouldn’t be able to, but if you join our party as a porter, it’s fine.”
A porter is someone who helps collect and secure monster’s magic stones and materials.
Without a Magic Bag or an Item Box, taking on long-term requests means carrying a large amount of baggage. This would exhaust combatants, leaving them unable to fight when it matters most. To avoid this, it’s common to hire a porter to manage the supplies instead.
“It’s something young adventurers often do to gain experience, so the guild staff won’t give you any trouble.”
“Though if it looks like blatant exploitation, the guild might investigate.”
In any case, it seems I can join without any issues through this legitimate system.
“Hmm, what should I do…”
They are relying on my camper van, but it’s a quest they could complete without me. It’s just easier and safer with me around.
And it’s not like Franz and the others are just leaning on me.
They’re offering clear benefits based on their past knowledge and experience.
I realized that with their help, I could take on night quests I’d normally avoid. But trying it alone still feels a bit daunting, so gaining some experience here wouldn’t hurt.
Still, I’ve been working a lot lately.
Part of me just wants to relax and camp alone.
Should I turn them down and go camping in the camper van instead?
“By the way, if you go past the northern forest, there’s a Moonsong Tree that glows beautifully at night. Camping while gazing at it would be amazing.”
“I’m in!”
Before I knew it, I’d agreed.
If there’s a camping spot like that, they should’ve said so earlier.
Moonlight Grass and rewards? They’re nothing compared to the ideal camping experience.
Camping under a glowing tree unique to this world... not bad.
In fact, it’s the perfect, otherworldly camping experience.
“...You’re more interested in that than the reward, huh?”
“Yeah, for me, enjoying camping is the main goal!”
“Tohru, you’re such a weirdo.”
Eslina and the others giggled.
“Haku, are you okay with this?”
“I’ve been wanting to stretch my legs. As long as we’re going out, I don’t care.”
His response was blunt, but his tail was wagging happily.
He seems excited about the trip too.
I’ll earn some money, satisfy my camping cravings, and Haku has no objections.
There’s no reason to refuse.
“Alright, I’ll join you.”
“Great. We’ll handle the quest procedures. Let’s meet at the north gate in the afternoon.”
“Got it.”
●
After lunch and some preparations, we arrived at the north gate before the noon bell rang.
We met up with Franz and the others, who were already there, and headed out of the town.
Once we’d walked down the road for a while and were out of sight of people, I summoned the camper van.
“I’ll take the front seat—huhh?!”
“Hehe, sorry. This time, I’m taking the front.”
As soon as I unlocked the doors, Eslina rushed for the passenger seat.
But Rick, using his small stature to his advantage, slipped through the walkway and claimed the seat first. A halfling’s special move, I guess.
“That’s cheating! You should’ve gotten in from the front!”
“We pass through here when switching seats, right? So, losers go to the back.”
“Grrrr.”
Eslina, shooed away by Rick, reluctantly moved to the back with a pout.
“The person in the front of the sofa gets the next turn in the passenger seat.”
“First is Franz. Second is me. Eslina, you’re third.”
“Grrrrrrrr!”
Thanks to the rules Franz and Dormund came up with, Eslina was completely out of luck.
The passenger seat is as popular as ever.
Haku gracefully climbed onto the bunk bed, and Eslina, cheeks puffed, fastened her seatbelt. I started the engine and slowly pressed the accelerator.
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