Chapter 4: The Fourth Reminds You To Just Do It
I have to. If I want to complete this Quest and get stronger, all for the sake of going home, I need to defeat some Horned Rabbits and get their hides.
Oh, but first let me decide on the other tools I may need. A spatula is fine, an oven mitt would be good, a large mixing spoon, and...a whisk! Of course! If I want to bake anything, I need to make sure everything is mixed well. The spoon is for scooping, of course, and the mitt will be for taking things out of the heat.
Plus, I can't keep using Beth's stuff. What if I ruin it?
So what does my Quest List say now?
[Heat Resistant Mitten]
[Rabbit Hide 0/2]
[Slime Residue 0/1]
[Large Wooden Spoon]
[Sturdy Stick 0/3]
[Large Plastic Spatula]
[Sturdy Stick 0/1]
[Slime Residue 0/2]
[Large Metal Whisk]
[Iron Ore 0/3]
Huh. The spatula seems a little weird...Why does it have to be...ah! Right, it helps to not have metal flakes in your food. Scraping the bottom of pots and pans can peel off the coating and metal. You don't want that in your food. The plastic is softer. Though...more food will get stuck to the bottom of the pan or pot.
I guess I just have to not let the bottom burn.
Hmm...it looks like I need to kill 3 Slimes and 3 Rabbits. Wait, why did I need Rabbit Hide for the knife? Oh, duh. A strap to hold it, a sheath. Stupid me.
Now then...how to convince these two to help? Can I share the Quest? But, there isn't a Friend List or anything like that.
No, but there is a Map option. I can see them on the map, too. Can I select them? Oh! Cool.
[Whisper]
[Add Friend]
[Add Enemy]
[Party Request]
Sweet! Umm...hopefully they don't think I'm weird...
"Oh? Newbie already knows about the Party feature? Nice. Hm? Oho! This is...I see. No wonder you need our help."
"You're being rude again. Shut up."
Umm...yeah. I really can't talk. I feel really nervous. Eh? They're packing up? I guess I go, too...
Following silently behind the two, I get the feeling these two aren't really...together. You know? Drew is super composed and proper while Gary is...a nuisance. Perhaps they just happen to become acquainted? Ah, really now. I can't believe I am already attempting to single Drew out.
I'm being creepy again. I just need to focus on the task at hand. Especially once we get into the Dungeon. But...she is kind of cute, in an athletic sort of way. Stop. Stop thinking about her. I need to focus.
"You seem pretty chill about this, you know. It has only been a day."
"Gary..."
Does it really look that way? I know my family always complained that my resting expression made me look angry, but...I have been nothing but a train wreck on the inside.
"I guess I just manage better."
After all, I keep forcing myself to think about other things.
"...huh."
"See, you should be more like him."
"..."
I think Gary took what I said a little too personally. It probably didn't help that Drew also admonished him. But! To the Dungeon!
I want to cook something good tonight! And to do that, I need my tools!
Walking towards the door, the other two just reach out and disappear without a moment's thought. I try to do the same, but hesitate a little. I still don't like this place. I mean, I even over gathered yesterday to not come back today, just for this reason.
Oh? I should probably do the same here! If not, then what if the Blacksmith makes a mistake? I guess I need to get around 10 of each just in case.
Wow...Drew and Gary easily take down the Rabbits and Slimes. They both use the basic sword and shield combo while also dodging, rolling, and blocking. It looks like they are playing a different game, not a dungeon crawler.
Ah, the monsters do 'drop' the items. When they die, they sort of dissolve. Once the dissolution finishes, a single item remains, whether it be a jar of blue substance, a large scrap of fur, or even a small sack of coins, something is left behind.
It looks like these two don't care about any of it, as I get everything. It seems kind of lame, but...oh, can I try my moves? I don't have a knife to try Chop or Slice, but perhaps I can try Fry or Boil. Maybe even Steam.
Spotting a Horned Rabbit coming closer, I mentally prepare myself and say, "Fry!"
In that instant, my mind feels tired and a strange scene occurs of fire surrounding the Rabbit. Its fur is scorched, and it looks a little wobbly, but it is still alive. But ugh, the smell of burnt fur is terrible.
"Oh? A Chef can use magic?! Not bad!"
"Great. You will have more use than you thought."
Ouch? Drew, Gary said something nicer than you this time...I know I felt useless, but...you didn't have to rub it in. I guess that is how she is. Critical and honest. She says things how they come to her mind.
...I like her honesty though...
Anyways! The Rabbit tried to stagger off, probably trying to run away, until Gary stabbed it. This time, instead of a Rabbit Hide, it dropped a Cooked Rabbit Steak.
"Ohhhh! I want it can I have it please can I have please please please!!!"
"Shut up."
I guess Gary can, since he wants it so bad. I'm not sure how a steak made from a magically charred Rabbit would taste, but...
"Mmmmmm!! Not bad! Do it some more!"
But I need Hides...
"Enough, you can eat later. Let us just hunt some more things down."
"Hah...okay..."
We spent another half hour or so hunting Rabbits and Slimes. I didn't use Fry on the Slimes, since fire doesn't seem to work well on them, but let's try Boil.
Ugh. It...it burst. Like...well...acne would...
[You have acquired Active Mana Core]
Cool? I don't know what it does, though. Will it blow up or something? Not even the other two know what to do with it. I guess I can sell it?
But after an hour and still no sign of Sticks and Ore, I question the two.
"Where do we get Sturdy Sticks and Iron Ore?"
"...Floors 1 and 2 have only Slimes and Rabbits, so we will have to go to Floors 3 and 4 for Goblins. We will take their equipment and break it down. There should also be gathering spots for Ore there, too."
Wait, we have to go higher? And...what about the chests?
"What about the two chests on this floor?"
"Ah, yeah. The shiny chest is actually a trap. Out comes 3 Slimes and 2 Rabbits. Once you defeat them, the chest turns into a key that you can use to open the regular chest."
I thought so. And so, we head over and fight the monsters. It really feels easy when the other two are so capable, but I know for sure I cannot do what they do. I'm not that active.
Once we finish up, we head to the regular chest and I open it up, finding a dagger with a strange design on the side.
[You have acquired Breeze Dagger]
[Speed +5]
Not that I know what that means, but I leave it to the other two to decide.
"I don't need it, but I don't mind getting it and selling it for some moolah, you know?"
"It would be best for you to keep it as it could save your life."
I get what you mean, Drew! But! I don't want to fight!
Oh well. All I need to do is equip it and then run away if I have to. We head up to the next floor where it is practically the same as below, but more monsters everywhere.
Along the way, I pick some herbs, salt, and spices so I don't have to come back if I don't want to.
Which I don't.
This time, the chest contained a pair of boots that would look good on a ranger or classy gentleman swordsman guy. You know...the kind honorable thieves wear. No? Robin Hood and Zorro? Huh. Maybe I am wrong. Well, once again, it grants Speed, so yay, I guess.
It was when we reached the third floor that things changed from the stony walls. This time, the surroundings were actually muddy, as if we were surrounded by dirt. The floor was still stone, but the walls and ceiling were also heavily packed solid dirt.
Now, Rabbits dug out of burrows in the wall, spontaneously 'spawning' on us and ambushing us from behind. Slimes dripped down from the ceiling and tried to suffocate us. The level of difficulty definitely jumped up.
But...the Goblins...they...look like beasts? Green skin and hairy, but they also have wolfish ears and tails...I'm not sure why, though...
"These are actually called Gnolls, but as they are a subspecies of Goblin, we just call them Goblins. The true Gnolls are just as intelligent as regular Goblins, not these feral things."
Drew knows so much, plus, she has the strongest sounding title of the three players I have chatted with. And...her long brown hair dances around...
Ack! Enough! Focus!
And it is good that I do, as a Feral Gnoll approaches me. I pull out my blade, ready to run, but then I remember my moves.
"Slice!"
My arm swings wide, slashing the Gnoll and leaving a large gash across its chest. The beast recoils and shrieks in pain, calling the others around. However...there are no others. Gary and Drew took them out.
Then Drew stabbed the wounded Gnoll, killing it so simply. I sighed and straightened myself, but noticed a bunch of sticks and stones everywhere.
[You have acquired Sturdy Stick]
[You have acquired Solid Stone]
I don't know what it is good for, but I guess I will take the stone, too. We get the chest on this floor, which was a little red crystal, apparently called a Fire Gem. Not bad, as we had to fight 5 Gnolls for it. I could either sell it or use it to craft something. I wonder if I could use it with my knife...a hot knife is always useful.
And for some reason, these two were willing to take me to the next floor as well. We had a smoother time, and I found other items to take home.
[Edible Mushroom]
[Jalapeno Pepper]
[Sage Leaves]
Not bad. I can make stuffed jalapenos or even mix them into my scrambled breakfast or omelets to add some kick. I am not a big fan of mushrooms, but my family loved them so I was forced to cook them from time to time. And the sage is another good herb to use.
I like this floor. Plus, it had a Wind Gem in the chest. I can probably apply it to my Whisk to make it mix things easier? I don't know. I will have to see. Oh, and it seems that every time we head into the Dungeon, the chests reset. That explains why these two don't really care about my loot, as they have probably picked it up many times.
"Alright, onto the next one!"
"..."
Huh? What? Do we really need to? I have all I came for, we don't need to continue...
Ummm...uhh...Drew is looking at me with shame. Did I do something wrong? Just before I open my mouth to ask, she cuts me off.
"Please help us defeat the Boss of Floor 5."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Evil_Ginger
Evil_Ginger I will try to post once a day. If not, then either work got in the way or I just overslept. But whatever the case may be, I will try and respond by writing another.
Unlike my other stories, this one I am writing on the fly. So 'Bear' with me.
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