BXBX NOVEL Chapter 127: First Trip To The Marsh
And unlike the Astor Kingdom, whose sole Level 3 Danger Zone is stand alone, not connected to another very scary danger zone, of the Betrum Nation, whose Danger Zone is encircled by mountain ranges, making the border of Forest of Bug to the nation is smaller than it should be, allowing them to focus their military in one city and the surrounding fortresses.
Torim Kingdom drew the short end of the stick, having a long border to a Danger Zone that is connected to even scarier Danger Zone. Forcing them to use most of their revenue for the sake of national defense, building fortresses and fortress cities to protect themselves from the hordes of the Marshes.
With such problem, the only reason there is no mass migration from the Kingdom is the fact nearby nations not north of them have the same problem. As for the north, they are involved in a war with another nation, making it not safe for refugee of Torim Kingdom.
In the end, the citizens of Torim decided to just buckle up and live in the nations. Aside from the danger of being attacked by the hordes, there is nothing wrong with the Kingdom itself.
With the danger of the Danger Zone, no wonder the Kingdom is welcoming to adventurers.
-x-
"Looks like the trip to the store is worth it," Alros mumbled, wadding through the stagnant and smelly water.
The receptionist of the local Adventure Guild had told him to change his clothes for some more suitable one that can easily find in any store. He decided to do just that, following the advice of the person who had been in the city longer than him.
It is a decision he is glad of, as he is not soaking, just slightly wet and warm from the atmosphere of the Marsh. There are some insects along the way, but he had bought an insect repellent, a plant that deter the bloodsuckers as well as biters. It is very effective, making him glad of his choices.
"Looks like I cannot stay here. It just to horrid," he said. The demon had thought of possibility of repeating his stay in he did in Forest of Bug, but the condition of the marsh deter him.
"It\'s a good thing I can store MP and use it latter so I don\'t need to remain here," he muttered, looking around him in case there are any lurking monsters.
The monsters in the Marsh of Torim are the standard monsters find in any swamp Danger Zones; animal-turned monsters like frogs, crocodiles, birds, and some bugs, plant turned monsters, and then there are the more sentiant like Lizardmen, and Treemen.
It is the latter two that is the real danger. While the monstrous animals can be deadly, especially the crocodiles, they act on instinct. As for the two sentiant monsters, they are capable of thought process, forming simple but effective strategies and able to create traps and tools, though they are more intent on using their natural weapons in the form of tails, claws and teeth.
They are the equivalent of orcs, at least Lizardmen are. As for Treemen, they differ from other sentiant races. The best way to describe them is that they are similar to spirit, except corrupted and will rip you to half if given the chance.
Having the two species in his force would be ideal, allowing him to use them in similar biomes or more of they are able to live in forest as well as riverside.
As he mused over such thing, he almost missed an attack on his legs. Almost.
Alros easily leap away, looking at the monsters that attacked him. A brief glance told him the identity of his attacker.
"Large fish," he muttered. With the marsh being filled with water, there are aquatic species of course, but fishes are scarcer in the shallows. Well, scarcer, not having zero presence.
The one that attacked him look like catfish, except likely bigger and have a taste of human, well, demon flesh. While he do want some monsters, aside from being farmed for food, there are little uses for it except maybe bait to bigger and more powerful monsters.
So, he just took out his javelin and impaled the creature, killing it. He do brought it with him. Maybe he can fish for crocodiles this way.
-x-
"Looks like such tactics work fine," Alros exclaimed, pulling in his tenth crocodiles. He would never have thought using the fish he killed as bait for crocodiles to be so effective.
After pulling and wrestling the crocodiles into submission, the demon decided to walk away. He had been forced to kill several adventurers that get curious and saw his tail and wings. Aside from 3 female, which make fine additions to his harem.
He looked at the items that had been asked for the mission. After all, he still need to do his job as adventurer to feed himself, even if he can survive with no money with his access to the system space.
However, he did not want to bring attention to himself by doing so, so he had to do adventurer\'s jobs. Then again, doing so allow him access into different Danger Zone, so he could not complain.
The job in question asked him to collect several flowers. While it is not dangerous on it\'s own, the guardians of the flower are more so. They are snake monsters of smaller size, at least compared to the other serpentine species he encountered in the forest, which he subdued of course.
Unfortunately, he could not keep them, as he also took a mission to gather the fangs and venom sacs, so he had to kill them. Maybe in the future, he would take them but for now, he has a mission to complete.
-x-
"Looks like you are done with both missions," the receptionist looked at him in approval.
"Just wanting to put some food on the table, as well as other things," he will probably visit any brothel he could find, maybe finding some more prime kidnapping materials.
The receptionist handed him the money and he make his way to his inn, though he did not plan to sleep much. After all, there are three new women for him to sample.