As Bai Ye was thinking, a commotion suddenly erupted on the street, and then Bai Ye saw someone hurrying towards them.
"Yo!" Bai Ye looked at the approaching person and said, "Isn't this the Ghoul Six? What's going on?"
The Ghoul Six were six elite Oni under Rimuru, and they were also Rimuru's confidantes. Shion, with whom Bai Ye had sparred, was one of them.
Shion was furious at Bai Ye's vagrant appearance, but after a snort, she said, "Something's happened. The Orc Lord's army is about to attack the marshlands, and the Lizardmen have sent a distress signal."
"You have received a hidden quest!"
"Assist the monster kingdom in rescuing the Lizardmen of the marshlands. Defeat thirty Orc Demonic Humans. Quest reward: Permanent +5 to one random physical attribute."
"Save the Lizardmen tribe leader. Quest reward: Ruby Scepter x1."
"Find and defeat the mastermind, the demon Krumeit. Quest reward: Ability 'Hungry One' x1, Demonic Aura x1, Shard of God's Stone x5."
It's here, it's here, it's here! It's finally here!
Looking at the hidden quest that appeared, Bai Ye started laughing heartily!
What had he been doing as a vagrant for three days?
It was all for this moment, for the appearance of the hidden quest!
Shion stared at Bai Ye's uncontrollable laughter and looked bewildered.
He was a normal person, albeit a bit lecherous and prone to looking in inappropriate places, and a good-for-nothing vagrant, but still, how could he suddenly go mad?
A moment later, Bai Ye said, "The Lizardmen of the marshlands are under attack, is that right?"
Benimaru, the leader of the Ghoul Six, nodded. "Yes, we just received the news. We were about to find Lord Rimuru to discuss it. Mr. Bai Ye, would you like to join us?"
"Discuss? No!" Bai Ye said. "You guys go and discuss. I'm going to the marshlands to save people!"
After speaking, Bai Ye took off running.
"Mr. Bai Ye, Mr. Bai Ye..." Benimaru called out twice, then turned to Shion helplessly. "Shion, go and chase Mr. Bai Ye."
Shion said, "If he wants to go die, let him."
The oldest of the Ghoul Six, Hakuro, said, "Mr. Bai Ye is a guest, and he's here to help us. How can we let him venture out alone? Shion, hurry up!"
"Oh!"
Shion grudgingly agreed and quickly dashed forward.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye had already galloped out of the monster kingdom and entered the forest.
The hidden quest had finally begun, and look at the rewards...
A permanent +5 to any physical attribute?
Although the increase wasn't large, 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 magical staff or something similar. It should be good.
Hungry One?
He had no idea what this was. A title? An ability? Magic?
The key was the Demonic Aura. This was something he could grasp from its name.
Magic? Aura?
Regardless of which it was, it should be something Bai Ye needed. As for the Shard of God's Stone, it was hardly worth mentioning.
"Hey, wait up!"
As Bai Ye was thinking, Shion's voice suddenly rang out. Then, Bai Ye looked up and saw Shion rapidly leaping through the treetops, chasing after him.
Bai Ye said, "Why are you here?"
Shion dropped from the tree 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 asked. "If something really happens, won't I have to save you?"
Shion's eye twitched. This damned man, did he know how to speak?
However, 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, then said, "Then let me ask you, you want to go to the marshlands to rescue them now, right?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Right!"
Shion said, "Do you know what the most important thing is when going to rescue the marshlands?"
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 marshlands?"
Bai Ye took a deep breath. What she said made a lot of sense. He really didn't know how to get to the marshlands.
Shion snorted triumphantly. "If you don't know how to get there, then just follow me!"
Bai Ye couldn't help but retort, "So your only purpose is to be 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, being pragmatic, quickly waved his hand. "Let's hurry. By the way, is the Orc Lord very strong?"
"Very strong!" Shion's expression turned solemn. She said seriously, "The Orcs are just an inferior monster race, while we Great Orcs are a superior monster race. However, the Orc Lord attacked our village with his subordinates, and we had no way to resist. The entire village was annihilated. Only a few of us managed to cover Benimaru-sama's escape. Fortunately, Lord Rimuru bestowed names upon us and took us in, allowing us to survive."
Bai Ye said, "So, you became Rimuru's subordinates?"
Shion said, "From the day I received my name, I swore to be loyal to Lord Rimuru with my life."
Bai Ye nodded and said nothing further.
...
Bai Ye and Shion moved forward, constantly traversing the forest.
After an unknown amount of time, Shion stopped and raised her greatsword, blocking Bai Ye's path.
Bai Ye asked, "What?"
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 from the severed limbs scattered nearby, it looked like...
Lizardmen!
The next moment, as Bai Ye and Shion appeared.
The three Orcs simultaneously stopped their actions, slowly turned around, blood dripping from their mouths. In fact, one of the Orcs was still chewing on a Lizardman's head!
Shion held her greatsword horizontally and was about to say something to them...
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Bai Ye directly threw a beast-taming ball forward. Immediately, a white light flashed, and Gengar appeared. Before it even landed, Gengar had already charged up a Shadow Ball. The black sphere spun in Gengar's hand, and Gengar forcefully threw it forward.
*Boom!*
As the Shadow Ball landed, the roar of an explosion suddenly sounded.
...