As Bai Ye was thinking, a commotion suddenly broke out on the street, and immediately afterward, Bai Ye saw people hurrying toward them.
"Yo!" Bai Ye looked at the approaching figures and said, "Isn't this the Six Ghostly Fiends? What's going on?"
The Six Ghostly Fiends were six top-tier Oni subordinates of Rimuru, and his trusted confidantes. Shion, whom Bai Ye had fought before, was one of them.
Shion, seeing Bai Ye's disheveled appearance, was immediately annoyed. However, after a snort, she said, "Something's happened. The Orc Lord's army is about to attack the Marshlands, and the Lizardmen have sent out a distress signal."
"You have received a hidden quest!"
"Assist the Monster Country in rescuing the Lizardmen of the Marshlands. Defeat thirty Orc Demons. Quest Reward: Permanent +5 to one random physical attribute."
"Rescue the chieftain of the Lizardmen tribe. Quest Reward: Ruby Scepter x1."
"Locate and defeat the mastermind demon, Kuroumit, Quest Reward: Hunger ability x1, Magic Fighting Spirit x1, Shard of God's Stone x5."
Here it comes, it's finally here!
Bai Ye looked at the hidden quest that had appeared and burst into laughter!
What was he doing wandering around like a vagrant for three days?
It was for this very moment, for the appearance of the hidden quest!
Shion, witnessing Bai Ye's unrestrained laughter, wore a look of utter confusion.
He was a perfectly normal person, albeit a bit lecherous, with eyes that tended to wander to inappropriate places, and a jobless vagrant. How could he suddenly go mad?
A moment later, Bai Ye said, "The Lizardmen of the Marshlands are under attack, is that correct?"
Benimaru, the leader of the Six Ghostly Fiends, nodded. "Yes, we just received the news. We were about to go discuss it with Lord Rimuru. Mr. Bai Ye, would you like to join us?"
"Discuss? No!" Bai Ye replied. "You go discuss. I'm going to the Marshlands to rescue them!"
With that said, Bai Ye turned and ran.
"Mr. Bai Ye, Mr. Bai Ye..." Benimaru called out twice, then turned to Shion with a sigh. "Shion, go chase after Mr. Bai Ye."
Shion scoffed, "If he wants to go die, let him."
"Elder," the oldest among the Six Ghostly Fiends, Hakurou, interjected, "Mr. Bai Ye is a guest, after all, and he's here to help us. We can't just let him go into danger alone. Shion, hurry!"
"Alright!"
Shion grudgingly agreed and quickly dashed off ahead.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye had already gleefully sprinted out of the Monster Country and quickly entered the forest.
The hidden quest had finally begun, and just look at the rewards...
A permanent +5 to any physical attribute?
While the increase wasn't huge, the permanent nature of it made him quite pleased.
Ruby Scepter...
He didn't know what this was, but judging by the name, it might be a magic staff or some kind of weapon. It should be decent.
Hunger?
This one was completely incomprehensible. Was it a title? An ability? A spell?
The key was the Magic Fighting Spirit, which he could at least vaguely understand from its name.
Magic? Fighting Spirit?
Regardless of which it was, it should be something Bai Ye needed. As for the Shards of God's Stone, he wouldn't even bother mentioning them.
"Hey, wait up!"
As Bai Ye was lost in thought, Shion's voice suddenly rang out. Looking up, Bai Ye saw Shion rapidly leaping through the treetops, pursuing him.
"Why are you here?" Bai Ye asked.
Shion dropped from the tree and walked alongside Bai Ye, gritting her teeth. "Do you think I wanted to come? They were worried you'd get wiped out by the Orc Lord's army, so they sent me to keep an eye on you."
"Why would you send someone weaker than me to watch me?" Bai Ye retorted. "If something really happens, won't I have to save you too?"
Shion's eye twitched. That man, could he not speak properly?
However, despite her anger, she couldn't refute him. She had indeed lost to him last time.
Taking a deep breath, Shion admonished herself not to get angry, and then asked, "Then let me ask you, you want to go to the Marshlands to rescue them now, right?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Right!"
Shion continued, "Do you know what the most important thing is when going to rescue the Marshlands?"
Bai Ye pondered for a moment. "Strength?"
"It's knowing the way!" Shion gave Bai Ye a sidelong glance. "Do you know how to get to the Marshlands?"
Bai Ye took a deep breath. What she said made perfect sense. He really didn't know how to get to the Marshlands.
Shion let out a triumphant snort. "If you don't know the way, then follow me obediently!"
Bai Ye couldn't help but retort, "So your only use is as a guide, and you dare to be so arrogant?"
*Crack!*
Shion clenched her fists, veins bulging on her forehead.
"I'm just kidding," Bai Ye quickly said, adopting the wise approach of knowing when to retreat. He waved his hand. "Let's hurry. By the way, is the Orc Lord very strong?"
"Very strong!" Shion's expression turned solemn, and she said earnestly, "The Orcs are merely an inferior demon race, while we Great Oni are a superior demon race. However, the Orc Lord, with his subordinates, attacked our village, and we were utterly defenseless. The entire village was annihilated. Only a few of us managed to cover the escape of the young master Benimaru. It was fortunate that we were granted names by Lord Rimuru and taken in by him that we survived."
Bai Ye asked, "So, you became Rimuru's subordinates?"
Shion replied, "From the day I was given my name, I have sworn to devote my life to Lord Rimuru."
Bai Ye nodded and said nothing more.
...
Bai Ye and Shion continued forward, weaving through the forest.
After an unknown amount of time, Shion stopped and raised her greatsword, blocking Bai Ye's path.
"What is it?" Bai Ye asked.
"I smell Orcs," Shion said.
They slowed their pace and moved forward. After passing through a patch of bushes, they couldn't help but stop.
Before them, three large Orcs were crouched on the ground, gnawing on something. Judging by the dismembered limbs scattered nearby, it appeared to be...
Lizardmen!
The next instant, as Bai Ye and Shion appeared.
The three Orcs simultaneously stopped their actions, slowly turned their heads, blood trickling from their mouths. In fact, one of the Orcs was still holding a Lizardman's head in its jaws!
Shion leveled her greatsword, about to say something to them...
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Bai Ye directly tossed a Beast Ball forward. Immediately, a white light flashed, and Gengar appeared. Before it even touched the ground, Gengar had already charged up a Shadow Ball. The black sphere spun in Gengar's hands, and it then forcefully hurled it forward.
*Boom!*
As the Shadow Ball landed, the roar of an explosion erupted.