The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant woodsmoke as Stick, Big Man, and Hirohiro set out once more on the broad, circular road that wound around the ruins of Cavon like a forgotten relic of the past. The golden light of dawn painted long shadows across the dirt path, their boots crunching against frost-kissed ground.

  Despite the meal Gawain had prepared, Stick had barely eaten. The excitement bubbling in his chest left little room for hunger. Instead, his eyes were fixed ahead, his mind occupied by the words floating in his vision. He reread the full quest description, absorbing every detail:

  --

  Quest: The First Step to Becoming a Sir (Secret Quest)

  Quest Type: Group / Secret Quest

  Difficulty: Hard

  Recommended Level: 5+

  Objective:

  Aid in the restoration of Cavon by eliminating three Goblin Camps in the Northern Goblin Steppes.

  Quest Description:

  The path to knighthood is paved with trials, honor, and unwavering resolve. You have drawn the attention of Gawain Moore, a squire of House Blitz, who recognizes your potential. However, knighthood is not bestowed upon mere words—it must be earned.

  To prove your worth, you must aid in cleansing the ruins of Cavon from the goblin scourge that plagues its lands. Three Goblin Camps in the Northern Goblin Steppes have grown in strength, their numbers growing faster than they can be culled. Your task is to eliminate these camps, striking down their leaders to weaken the goblin forces and reclaim lost ground for humanity.

  Mission Conditions:

  Locate and eliminate 3 Goblin Camps in the Northern Goblin Steppes.

  Defeat each camp’s Goblin Leader.

  Burn their war banners to signify their defeat.

  Failure Conditions:

  Death.

  Leaving the quest area before completion.

  Rewards:

  Title Reward: [Page] (Increases reputation with House Blitz)

  Item Reward: [LVL-appropriate Armor piece]

  Experience Reward: Large EXP bonus

  --

  Group? Recommended Level: 5+? Death…

  Gawain had barely acknowledged them as they left, save for a single parting remark laced with mockery. “I’ll await your triumphant return,” he had said, arms folded, leaning against the doorframe. The way he said it made it clear—he didn’t expect them to come back victorious.

  Stick frowned. Gawain didn’t trust them, and he wasn’t sure if he trusted Gawain either. The man had slept in his armor, locking himself in the only bedroom while they took the sleeping area outside. Every action spoke of a man who expected betrayal. I don’t blame him…

  They walked in silence for a while before Hirohiro finally spoke. “We can’t do this quest.”

  Stick glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know it and I don’t trust it. Gawain is not a quest-giver. What is a Secret Quest anyway?" Hirohiro said. "We should ditch him and head south. Carnifex is looking for us. It’s only a matter of days until they find us if we stay here. If we slip through the southernmost parts of the Whispering Woods, we might actually have a shot at escape.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “That’s easy for you to say,” Stick muttered. “I was nearly eaten by Dire Wolves in the Woods. I have to level up.”

  Big Man shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.

  It’s true that the quest itself came out of nowhere, but Stick had a gut feeling that it had to do with his [Unbound] class.

  Hirohiro exhaled through his nose, dropping the subject.

  Instead, they focused on locating the goblin camps. Stick brought up his map, and the game guided him toward the correct area. Most of the terrain was still shrouded in fog, but he could make out some details. The Blitz Estate and Nova Civitas were clearly marked, as was the path they had taken from the slave camp to the capital.

  Hirohiro opened his own map for comparison. Unlike Stick’s, his was mostly uncovered, with only a few patches left in darkness. “Your map updates when you visit places, but it doesn’t always show the whole truth,” he explained. “It gives you a snapshot of your last visit, but we don’t know what’s changed since then. This place could look completely different now.”

  Stick nodded. The game wanted him to discover the world firsthand. That meant every journey was a risk.

  Eventually, the first goblin camp came into view. It was a crude settlement, little more than a collection of makeshift huts thrown together with scrap wood and scavenged materials. The sight made Stick’s stomach tighten—it reminded him too much of the slave camp.

  Goblins squirmed about, their green bodies darting between the huts. He counted six of them. One, slightly taller and broader than the rest, bore a jagged sword on its hip. A small notification appeared beside it: [Goblin Group Leader (Lv. 4)]

  Stick swallowed hard. “Gods, can I really do this alone?”

  “You were never supposed to,” Hirohiro remarked dryly.

  Big Man placed a reassuring hand on Stick’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m with you.”

  Stick hesitated. “You have no weapon.”

  Big Man raised his massive fists. “You shame me.”

  Stick sighed, then dematerialized his sword. "Fine. Let’s do this."

  “Full life?” Hirohiro reminded him.

  Right.

  Stick checked his Status. “Yes!”

  They moved in silently. Stick tightened his grip on his sword, his pulse quickening. The goblins hadn’t noticed them yet.

  Good. A clean first strike.

  A wet crunch. The goblin reeled back, screeching in pain. Not dead.

  Damn.

  Stick twisted, driving his sword forward before it could recover.

  -95 LP

  This time, it collapsed, twitching as life drained from its body. But the camp was already in chaos.

  Shrill cries erupted as the other goblins scrambled for weapons. A rusted dagger. A splintered club. A jagged spear.

  Big Man roared and charged. He slammed his fist into the nearest goblin’s chest with the force of a battering ram.

  -185 LP

  The goblin staggered. Not enough. Big Man snarled and followed up, his massive hand seizing the creature by the throat.

  With a sharp crack, he slammed it into the dirt.

  -230 LP

  The goblin twitched once, then went still.

  Stick barely had time to breathe before a jagged sword came swinging toward his face.

  He ducked. Too close.

  He felt the wind whip past his cheek, heard the whistle of metal cutting empty air.

  The Goblin Group Leader snarled, yellow eyes flashing with rage. It rushed him again. Fast. Too fast. Stick barely managed to twist away as the axe bit into the dirt where he’d just been standing. Focus. Find an opening.

  He slashed at the goblin’s exposed arm.

  -85 LP

  The leader bellowed, unfazed, and swung again. Stick rolled behind it, his heart hammering. His hands were slick on the hilt. He could feel the weight of his own breath.

  A quick thrust.

  -145 LP

  The goblin grunted. Blood oozed from the wound, but it only seemed to fuel its rage.

  Meanwhile, Big Man was a storm of destruction. Goblins swarmed him, stabbing with crude daggers, biting at his arms. His health was dropping, but his fists never stopped moving. He fought with raw power, his fists breaking bone with every swing.

  Stick realized that he could see the flow of battle.

  He twisted, slicing at another goblin that tried to flank him.

  He twisted just in time, bringing his blade across its chest.

  -110 LP

  The goblin stumbled, gurgling, but didn’t drop. Stick growled and drove his sword through its ribs.

  -255 LP (Critical!)

  The body slumped to the ground.

  The Goblin Group Leader roared, lifting its axe high. Stick’s instincts screamed at him to move. He raised his sword just in time—

  CLANG.

  The force of the impact rattled his arms. Stick gritted his teeth. His muscles burned. The goblin was strong. Too strong.

  Big Man seized another goblin, lifting it clean off the ground and slamming it into the dirt. It twitched, coughing up blood. He stomped down hard.

  A final, wet crunch.

  The last goblin standing took one look at the battlefield—at the bodies of its comrades—and turned to flee.

  Only the leader remained now. It panted heavily, its axe still gripped tight, eyes flicking between Stick and Big Man.

  Desperate. Cornered.

  With a final, guttural cry, it charged.

  Stick braced himself. The axe came down hard, meeting his sword with another jarring clash. The impact sent him skidding backward. His feet dug into the dirt, his arms trembling under the weight of the blow.

  "Big Man! Now!"

  Big Man lunged, delivering a crushing uppercut to the goblin’s jaw.

  -215 LP

  The goblin reeled, dazed.

  Stick didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, driving his sword deep into its chest.

  -90 LP

  The goblin gasped. Its weapon clattered to the ground. It wobbled, teetering on the edge of death—

  Stick twisted the blade and wrenched it free.

  -130 LP

  The Goblin Group Leader let out one last, choked breath before collapsing.

  Silence fell over the camp.

  Stick exhaled sharply, his sword still gripped tight. His heart pounded in his ears. His hands ached from the fight. That was only the first camp. Two more to go.

  Something inside him shifted. A pulse of energy.

  Two notifications flashed before his eyes.

  [Level Up!]

  [Skill Tree Unlocked]

  https://www.patreon.com/IgLu_Books