The two who left the building were seated in a corner of a tavern located behind the Adventurers' Guild. It was the closest tavern they had entered to sate their hunger, but since they were unfamiliar with the city's layout, it had taken them quite a while to find it.
The interior of the tavern had a spacious, open first floor with several tables where patrons sat, their laughter and conversations filling the air.
There was also a second floor, which, thanks to dim lighting and widely spaced seats, seemed to be a place for those seeking more private discussions.
To allow Iris to eat comfortably without her helmet, Gravel chose the most secluded spot on the second floor. They sat down and ordered stew, sausages, bread, and a tea brewed with honeygrass. When the food arrived, the two began eating quietly. As the aroma and texture of the food filled his mouth, Gravel once again realized that this was not the world of a game.
The bread was a bit hard, but when torn and dipped in the stew, it softened and was seasoned just right, making it easy to eat. The sausages had a distinctive spice that masked the gamey smell of the meat. Occasionally, the coarse grains of spice would burst with flavor, stimulating the tongue and enhancing the taste of the meat.
After a satisfying meal, Gravel handed a small leather pouch to the waitress who had taken their order, paid a few silver coins, and left the tavern.
"Hmm… According to the map we got from the guild, we need to head out through the west gate first."
Holding the map, Gravel began walking. They followed the city's roads, passed through the west gate, and continued walking for hours. As the surroundings grew devoid of people, they saw trees and green leafy crops. Gravel approached a cart driver hauling a load of hay to ask for directions to the lumberyard, showing him the map.
"The lumberyard? Oh, that sounds like Rando's place. Just head about ten lengths into the forest over there."
Perhaps realizing they were adventurers here to deal with dire wolves, the driver's response was kind.
"Thank you. (Ten lengths? Is that a unit of distance counted like one length, two lengths? I don't know how far it is, but I'll figure it out by walking.)"
After expressing his gratitude, Gravel veered off the road in the direction the driver had pointed. As they entered the forest and walked a bit, they began to see tree stumps scattered around.
Following the stumps deeper, they came upon an open area where the lumberyard stood. There were buildings for storing timber and processing wood, and in front of them were long tables and roughly carved stump-chairs for the lumberjacks' rest. Some chairs lay scattered on the ground, likely knocked over as people fled from dire wolf attacks. Bloodstains were visible here and there, splattered on tables and unprocessed logs.
"This must be the place, right?"
"Yes. It matches the location on the map you showed me earlier."
"I'll use a detection spell to locate them."
'Invenire Animal'
Gravel closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them, a faint white light briefly enveloped his pupils before fading.
"There are 21 dire wolves deeper in the forest to the west."
"I'll go take care of them, Lord Gravel."
"No, it'd be too tough to go that deep into the forest. And the sun's starting to set, so light a fire. I've got something to do in the meantime."
Following his orders, Iris hurriedly gathered wood suitable for a fire. She picked up two fallen stump-chairs, placed them next to the collected wood, and lit a fire.
As the sun sank below the horizon, the overly large bonfire Iris had prepared blazed brightly.
"I spread some deer blood around. That should lure the wolves…"
Gravel approached the bonfire from the darkness of the forest.
"Oh, so the pouch you got at the tavern was deer blood?"
"Yeah. I figured a place that serves deer meat and sausages would have deer blood, so I asked for some."
Gravel answered as he sat on one of the stumps Iris had prepared. Even as he spoke, the detection spell seemed active, as a faint white light occasionally flickered around his eyelids.
"Are they drawn by the smell of blood? I think I sense some movement… It'll take a bit. By the way, Iris, I'd like to know how you'll act in combat with the wolves."
Since this wasn't a game, Gravel couldn't predict how Iris would move or make decisions in battle, so he felt the need to ask.
"I will protect you, Lord Gravel, prioritizing your safety. Though, against wolves, I'm not sure that's necessary…"
"Right. If these were the dire wolves from the Vuul continent, I wouldn't need protection. The first thing I wanted to figure out after waking up here was whether our strength still works in this world. Back in Vuul, we were pretty strong, weren't we? So, I want to use these dire wolves to test that."
Since Iris likely wouldn't understand the name Grand World Online, Gravel used the name of the game's central continent, Vuul, to explain. He continued:
"The problem is that the dire wolves here might be different from those in Vuul. There's a chance my magic and your sword won't work…"
Realizing something, Iris lowered her head and spoke to Gravel.
"I'm sorry. My arrogance… has put you in danger, Lord Gravel."
"Haha, no, no. we are not in danger yet."
"No, please forgive my mistake."
Iris, who had been sitting, knelt on one knee, bowed her head, and asked for forgiveness.
"This is awkward… Haha. Look, I'm not certain about this either. So, when we face the wolves soon, if our strength doesn't work, I'll use magic to get us out of here. But first, I need to test if my magic works, so keep that in mind."
"Are you saying I shouldn't attack first?"
"Yes, exactly. I'll start with low-level magic, and if that doesn't work, I'll try higher-level spells. If nothing works… well, we'll have to run."
"I understand. I'll do as you say, but… if they get too close to you, I'll cut them down."
"No, if we're testing, we should also try defensive magic…"
"No! I can't allow you to take such a risk."
There was no room for compromise.
"Uh… well, if you're that insistent."
Iris's firm response and the resolute glint in her eyes from within her helmet left Gravel with no choice but to agree.
As their conversation continued, the crackling of the bonfire and the chirping of insects filled the air. Just as boredom began to set in, Gravel stood up.
"They're finally here."
In the darkness of the surrounding forest, dozens of glinting eyes reflected the bonfire's light. The growls of the threatening wolves echoed through the woods.
"Well then… let's see if this works."
A red magic circle formed at Gravel's hand. The runes within it glowed with a vivid light.
'The incantation, the magic circle, the casting, and the activation—all the information is in my head.'
Gravel folded his outstretched palm, collapsing the magic circle into a single point at his fingertip. He pointed his index finger, now glowing with red light, at a dire wolf emerging from the darkness.
"(Shouting the spell name channels mana's will and increases its power… so I should shout.) Dira Flamma!"
With Gravel's cry, a brilliant crimson flame surged toward the dire wolf. The fire morphed into the shape of a beast's jaws or a grasping hand, engulfing and incinerating the wolf.
"Level 5 Horrid Flame works!"
Though dire wolves were low-level monsters, Gravel felt a sense of relief. If his power worked to this extent in this world, even if it was minimal, he could grow stronger again. As he savored a moment of small joy, a forgotten fact crossed his mind.
'Wait… Horrid Flame is an area-of-effect spell, isn't it?'
The flames that had burned the dire wolf didn't extinguish but grew larger, extending fiery arms to snatch nearby dire wolves, engulfing them in flames and reducing them to ash before they could escape. Seeing the wolves' bones burn black and crumble to ash, Gravel recalled another forgotten detail.
'Oh… I forgot about collecting their fangs as proof of the hunt… Thinking they'd just drop like in a game… How stupid.'
Gravel furrowed his brow, chastising himself for his mistake.
"Iris, I'll handle the ones in front. Take care of the ones coming from behind."
"Yes, my lord."
With a short reply, Iris dashed toward the dire wolves approaching from the rear.
As the Horrid Flame's fire died down, the dire wolves that had hesitated began advancing toward Gravel, heads lowered.
"They saw their packmates turn to ash right in front of them, and they're still coming?"
Just as Gravel marveled at the wolves' courage, a dire wolf from the left leaped toward him.
"Let's try a Level 1 Fire Bolt… How about it?"
A fiery arrow shot from Gravel's fingertip and struck the leaping dire wolf. The wolf yelped in pain as the arrow lodged in its shoulder, rolling on the ground. It thrashed, trying to dislodge the fire bolt, but the flames wouldn't extinguish. As the other dire wolves hesitated at the sound of their packmate's pained cries, Gravel's voice rang out.
"Sagita Glacies!"
Above the dire wolf struggling to rise and those around it, a glowing blue magic circle appeared. From it, sharp, polished ice blades rained down.
The ice blades pierced the wolves' necks and bodies. One wolf collapsed, its head impaled.
The once-white ice blades were now stained red with blood, dripping down their surfaces.
"Hmm. Casting speed, efficiency, and power—all freely controlled as I want in real combat. I'll need to test against more varied monsters, but… this is satisfactory for now."
Gravel spoke to himself, pleased with the results of his spells.
"Now, the next test is my HP (durability), right?"
The bonfire flickered, dust swirled, and a white aura glowed around Gravel, illuminating his surroundings.
"Time to test if defensive magic works!"
Before him lay the ashes of incinerated dire wolves and others pierced by chilling ice blades. Four remaining wolves kept their distance, baring their teeth and growling.
Gravel slowly approached the four wolves, arms outstretched.
"No, Lord Gravel!"
Iris's voice briefly echoed from behind, followed by the sharp sound of cutting wind.
In an instant, Iris stood between Gravel and the four dire wolves. She turned, facing Gravel with her back to the wolves.
"You can't test defensive magic on yourself. If you must, cast it on me and let me do it."
Behind Iris, the four dire wolves lay dead, their necks severed.
"But with magic, there are things I can only learn by testing myself… And now, there aren't any dire wolves left to test on."
"What?"
Surprised by Gravel's words, Iris looked around and then bowed her head.
"I… I'm sorry, Lord Gravel."
Iris's voice was small as she apologized, head lowered.
"Hahaha! It's fine, it's fine. There'll be plenty of chances in the future. For now, let's collect the fangs from the ones that aren't ashes. And the ones you killed have clean hides we can skin."
Gravel patted the dejected Iris on the shoulder to cheer her up. After confirming with detection magic that no more dire wolves were nearby, he pulled out a small knife to butcher the wolves for their hides and meat.
"Huh? Is this because of the skills I learned in Grand World?"
He felt a disconnect as skinning the wolves came too easily. It was as if he could see the path the knife should take along the hide's grain, allowing him to skin the dire wolf smoothly.
Iris, having spent much time hunting monsters with Gravel in Grand World, was equally skilled at skinning.
After collecting usable hides and meat, they prepared to return. It was dawn by the time they made it back to the city. Thus, their first quest in this world came to an end.