Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1665 - 1663: Ordinary Adventurers

"Goblin?"

Mel’s teammates looked at her in surprise.

"Are we going to hunt goblins?"

"Yeah... Mr. Fang Zheng suggested it."

After listening to Fang Zheng’s advice, Mel found her teammates and conveyed his words to them. Of course, Mel wasn’t foolish enough to reveal Fang Zheng’s true identity, she simply stated that Fang Zheng was from the same hometown and an experienced adventurer, hence his suggestion.

"But... goblins seem pretty weak, right? We’ve taken on goblin-clearing tasks before."

The maiden knight raised her doubts, and the others nodded in agreement. They had encountered goblins in the wild and didn’t feel those creatures were particularly dangerous.

"In any case, this is Mr. Fang Zheng’s suggestion and I think it makes sense. We’ve just established the Red Pledge and indeed need to learn a lot about the adventurer’s life, don’t we? Since the suggestion is from someone experienced, I think we should accept it."

"Well... since Mel says so..."

After some discussion, they decided to take Mel’s advice. No matter what, since this was advice from an experienced adventurer, it probably made sense. They were just a newly formed team at White Porcelain Rank, while the Priestess of the Goddess and others were already at Black Obsidian Rank, obviously making them more experienced.

So Mel brought her teammates to find the Priestess of the Goddess and conveyed Fang Zheng’s instructions. Originally, Mel and her team thought this was just an ordinary request, but they were surprised when the Priestess of the Goddess and the other two’s expressions changed upon hearing it. Megumin even jumped up.

"Why! Why hunt goblins? We haven’t done anything wrong recently, right? I release Burst Magic in deserted areas every day now! I’m not disturbing anyone, right!"

"Ah... um... Mr. Fang Zheng said he wanted us to experience the life of ordinary adventurers..."

"So you guys are the prime culprits, huh."

Megumin glared at Mel displeased, while Mel laughed awkwardly. She could tell the three were quite averse to hunting goblins, not only Megumin was upset, even the usually taciturn Ais seemed a bit unsettled. This puzzled Mel somewhat, because after taking on the escort job, the Red Pledge and the Priestess of the Goddess’ group had traveled the road together, and she’d gained some understanding of their abilities. Not to mention Megumin’s overpowered Burst Magic, the other two also had considerable strength. To Mel, creatures that her group could handle with ease shouldn’t pose a problem for them either.

But what’s with this strong "I don’t want to go" vibe?

"But... goblins are very weak creatures, right?"

Seeing this, Mel’s teammate, the red-haired mage Rena, asked in confusion.

"We’ve cleared goblins in the wild before and didn’t find them particularly strong."

"Uh... goblins are indeed weak..."

Upon hearing Rena’s question, the Priestess of the Goddess showed a rather subtle expression.

"Since it’s the knight’s command, we’re willing to accept it. However, we have our condition... everyone must strictly follow my orders, no matter when I haven’t given a command, no one can act rashly, understand?"

"Of course, no problem."

The members of Red Pledge nodded in agreement. Hearing their response, the Priestess of the Goddess’ expression softened a bit.

"Then, let’s set off."

As an adventurer team of Black Obsidian Grade, the Priestess of the Goddess’ group had already moved beyond the initial novice period. After arriving at the Adventurers’ Guild, the receptionist saw them and came to greet them with a smile.

"Ah, hello, what task are you planning to take today?"

"Are there any goblin tasks?"

"Goblin, huh..."

Hearing the Priestess of the Goddess’ inquiry, the receptionist blinked curiously and looked at Megumin.

"Megumin, did you get a complaint for releasing Burst Magic again?"

"I did not, okay!"

Megumin immediately jumped up and pointed angrily at Mel and others not far away.

"Fang Zheng said we should give them a newbie lesson!"

"Ah... so you chose goblins..."

Upon hearing this, the receptionist nodded. She was well-acquainted with Fang Zheng, not only because he was exceptionally handsome and charming among adventurers—dashing, elegant, poised, cultured... (five thousand words omitted)—but also because his adventuring style was unique. He gave the receptionist the impression of a seasoned adventurer leading a novice team—strict yet comprehensive. Under such guidance, the three’s growth speed was remarkable. Not to mention Ais, the receptionist was most surprised by the Priestess of the Goddess and Megumin’s rapid progress in a short time.

In fact, many adventurers might not reach this level in a year or two.

Moreover, the most important thing was the news from the Royal Capital’s Adventurers’ Guild, which suggested that Fang Zheng might have the strength of a Platinum Level adventurer. This indeed startled them. Actually, the higher-ups were discussing whether to invite Fang Zheng to teach novice adventurers combat skills. This way, at least the newbie adventurer’s mortality rate could be lowered, right?

And they would establish a connection with an adventurer of Platinum Level strength.

Of course, the only frustrating thing was that despite asking him several times, Fang Zheng refused to register as an adventurer. Even just going through the process of filling out a form, he wouldn’t comply, which puzzled everyone. He didn’t seem opposed to adventurers, so why wouldn’t he agree?

"Currently, there are two tasks for goblin-slaying. One involves a goblin kidnapping the village chief’s daughter near a village, so help is needed. The other deals with a small town in the northeastern mountains suffering goblin attacks, losing many food supplies..."

At this point, the receptionist paused and glanced at the Priestess of the Goddess.

"Actually, the former task has been taken by a small team, White Porcelain Rank, consisting of four people."

"Huh?"

Hearing the words of the clerk, the Priestess of the Goddess’s face slightly changed.

"Are they male or female?"

"All females, led by what seems to be a Young Lady from Lower Nobility. This seems to be their first time going to eliminate a Goblin Nest."

"When did they leave?"

At this moment, Ais also approached and stared at the clerk asking, creating a slightly tense atmosphere. On the contrary, Mel and others were somewhat puzzled. They looked at the clerk, then at the Priestess of the Goddess. If they hadn’t heard wrong, this was merely a mission to rescue people from a Goblin Nest, right? Why were these people so tense, as if about to face the Demon God in battle?

"A day ago, and they haven’t returned yet."

"We’ll set out immediately. Please help fill out the form for us."

"Leave it to me."

The clerk nodded, smiled, and bowed to the group. The Priestess, Megumin, and Ais promptly turned and left the Adventurers’ Guild, while Mel and others hesitated for a moment before hurriedly catching up.

"Um... is there really a need to be so urgent? It’s just Goblins..."

"You’ll understand when the time comes."

Faced with the Red-Haired Mage’s reply, Megumin frowned and replied in a low angry tone, as if recalling some terrible memory.

"Damn, always causing trouble for us. These novices are really...!"

"Megumin, don’t be anxious, maybe they just got delayed on the road..."

"Alright, alright... I understand! I’ll go find a carriage!"

Having said that, Megumin hurriedly ran off.

Despite Megumin’s apparent disdain, she moved swiftly. Soon, she procured a carriage and quickly headed towards the village.

"Don’t you think they are exaggerating things?"

Mel and her group squeezed in the back, only able to sit in the carriage cabin. But because of this, they didn’t have to worry about being overheard discussing certain things.

For instance, the Red-Haired Mage began to complain.

"It’s just Goblins, and wasn’t there already a team sent? Why so urgent? I think we should prepare a bit more..."

"They may have their own intentions..."

Another girl consoled briefly, not elaborating, while the blond female swordsman beside her pouted.

"I feel they’re just putting on a show for us... Are real adventurers like this?"

"Ah hahaha..."

Hearing this, Mel chuckled wryly. She understood the blond swordsman’s sentiment. It wasn’t uncommon in school, like when seniors in club activities wanted to show off once newcomers joined, it was human nature.

However, Mel had to admit that the demeanor from the Priestess and others had indeed given them a sense of seasoned adventurers. Compared to their own outings that seemed filled with playful chaos, the group gave off the vibe of adventurers Mel had imagined.

The riverside village wasn’t far from the town, and with a carriage Megumin arranged, it took less than half a day to reach. Then the priestess and others found the village chief and began inquiring about the previous events.

"Oh, those adventurers? Yes, they came, about a day ago. After asking where the Goblin Nest was, they went directly... and haven’t returned yet."

Upon hearing this, Mel and her group remained unmoved, but the expressions of the Priestess, Megumin, and Ais instantly changed.

"Could you please tell us where the Goblin Nest is located?"

"Oh, it’s on the other side of the woods. I’ve heard it was an ancient ruin..."

"Ruins? Is there an Underground Labyrinth?"

"Are there other creatures nearby?"

"Have you seen any creatures besides Goblins acting together?"

What puzzled Mel and the others was that the Priestess, who seemed very urgent earlier, appeared much less hurried here, asking the chief a series of questions that seemed meaningless to them. Even inquiring about nearby water sources and lakes, giving the sense of casual exploration rather than adventure.

"See, I told you."

The female swordsman leaned over, whispering in Mel’s ear.

"They’re just putting on a performance for us."

"Ah hahaha..."

Upon hearing this, Mel chuckled wryly.

What more could she say? She could only say nothing at all.