Bai Ye was thinking when suddenly there was a commotion on the street. Immediately after, Bai Ye saw someone approaching quickly.
"Yo!" Bai Ye looked at the approaching person and said, "Isn't this the Ghost Six? What's going on?"
The Ghost Six were six elite Oni under Rimuru, and they were also Rimuru's confidants. Shion, with whom Bai Ye had fought before, was one of them.
Shion was furious at Bai Ye's street-bum attire, but after a huff, she said, "Something's happened. The Orc Lord's army is about to attack the Swamps, and the Lizardmen have sent out a distress signal."
"You have received a hidden quest!"
"Assist the Monster Nation in rescuing the Lizardmen of the Swamps. Defeat thirty Orcs. Quest reward: Permanent increase of 5 points to a random physical stat."
"Rescue the chieftain of the Lizardmen. Quest reward: Ruby Scepter x1."
"Find and defeat the mastermind Orc, Kurumiot. Quest reward: Hunger Ability x1, Martial Aura x1, God Stone Shard x5."
Here it comes, it's finally here!
Bai Ye looked at the hidden quest that appeared and burst into laughter!
What had he been doing as a bum for three days?
It was for this moment, for the appearance of the hidden quest!
Shion looked at Bai Ye's incessant laughter with a bewildered expression.
He was a normal person, even if he was a bit lecherous and his eyes tended to wander to inappropriate places, and a good-for-nothing bum, but he was still a normal person. How could he suddenly go mad?
A moment later, Bai Ye said, "The Lizardmen of the Swamps are under attack, is that right?"
Benimaru, the leader of the Ghost Six, nodded. "Yes, we just received the news and were about to discuss it with Lord Rimuru. Mr. Bai Ye, would you like to join us?"
"Discuss? No!" Bai Ye said, "You guys go discuss. I'm going to the Swamps to rescue people!"
After speaking, Bai Ye turned and ran.
"Mr. Bai Ye, Mr. Bai Ye..." Benimaru called out twice, then helplessly said to Shion, "Shion, go chase Mr. Bai Ye."
Shion said, "If he wants to go die, let him."
Hakurou, the eldest among the Ghost Six, said, "Mr. Bai Ye is a guest, after all, and he's here to help us. How can we let him venture out alone? Shion, hurry!"
"Oh!"
Shion reluctantly agreed and quickly dashed forward.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye had already joyfully sprinted out of the Monster Nation and quickly entered the forest.
The hidden quest had finally begun, and looking at the rewards...
A permanent increase of 5 points to a random physical stat?
While the increase wasn't much, the permanence 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 something similar. It should be good.
Hunger?
He had no idea what this was. A title? An ability? Magic?
The key was Martial Aura. This was something he could roughly understand from its name.
Magic? Aura?
Whatever it was, it should be something Bai Ye needed. As for the God Stone Shard, he wouldn't even bother mentioning it.
"Hey, wait up!"
As Bai Ye was thinking, Shion's voice suddenly rang out. Then, Bai Ye looked up and saw Shion leaping rapidly through the treetops, chasing after him.
Bai Ye said, "Why are you here?"
Shion landed from the trees and walked alongside Bai Ye, gritting her teeth. "You think I want to be here? They were worried you'd be 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 said, "If something really happens, wouldn't I have to save you?"
Shion's eye twitched. That hateful man, could he not speak human words?
But, despite being angry, she couldn't refute him. She had indeed lost to him last time.
Taking a deep breath, Shion told herself not to get angry, and then said, "Then let me ask you, you want to go to the Swamps to rescue them now, right?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Yes!"
Shion said, "Do you know what the most important thing is when going to rescue the Swamps?"
Bai Ye thought for a moment. "Strength?"
"It's knowing the way!" Shion glanced at Bai Ye. "Do you know how to get to the Swamps?"
Bai Ye took a deep breath. What she said made so much sense. He really didn't know how to get to the Swamps.
Shion let out a smug hum. "If you don't know the way, then just follow me!"
Bai Ye couldn't help but retort, "So your only use is to be a guide, and you dare to be so arrogant?"
*Crack!*
Shion clenched her fists, veins bulging on her forehead.
"I was just kidding." Bai Ye, being wise enough to know when to retreat, 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, "Orcs are just lower-class monster races, while we Great Oni are an upper-class monster race. However, the Orc Lord attacked our village with his subordinates, and we were powerless to resist. The entire village was annihilated, and only a few of us managed to escort Young Master Benimaru to escape. Fortunately, we were given names by Lord Rimuru and taken in by him, which allowed us to survive."
Bai Ye said, "So, you became Rimuru's subordinates?"
Shion said, "From the day I was given my name, I have sworn to serve Lord Rimuru until death."
Bai Ye nodded and said nothing further.
...
Bai Ye and Shion moved forward, constantly weaving through the forest.
After an unknown amount of time, Shion stopped and raised her greatsword, blocking Bai Ye's path.
Bai Ye said, "What is it?"
Shion said, "I smell Orcs."
The two slowed their pace and moved forward. After passing through a patch of bushes, they couldn't help but stop.
In front of them, three tall Orcs were squatting on the ground, gnawing on something. Judging by the scattered limbs, it seemed to be...
Lizardmen!
The next instant, the moment Bai Ye and Shion appeared.
The three Orcs simultaneously stopped their actions, slowly turned around, blood flowing from their mouths. One of them even had a Lizardman's head dangling from its jaws!
Shion held her greatsword horizontally, about to say something to them...
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Bai Ye directly threw a Beast Ball forward. Immediately, a white light flashed, and Gengar appeared. Before it even touched the ground, Gengar had already accumulated its Shadow Ball. The black sphere spun in Gengar's hands, and then Gengar forcefully threw it forward.
*Boom!*
As the Shadow Ball landed, the roar of an explosion suddenly erupted.
...