Chapter 5: 5. First Guild Job
Ben have joined the Cait Shelter guild now, and they have an all nighter party after he join. They don't have any younger members except Ben & Wendy after all.
"Ben-boy, i will assign you to be in the same team with Wendy. You're older than her and seem to have some experiences, so i'll leave her to you. You will be like her big brother from now on."-Roubaul
"Okay, Gramps."-Ben
*BONK* Roubaul knock Ben's head
"OUCH, WHAT'S THAT FOR?"-Ben
"CALL ME MASTER, YOU LITTLE SH*T!"-Roubaul pissed
"DON'T CALL ME LITTLE SH*T, YOU OLD FOSSIL!"-Ben also pissed
"WHAT'D YOU SAY?"-Roubaul
Ben & Roubaul have a brawl, very unbefitting of their age difference. The guild members cheer on them, except Wendy that seem concerned. But the brawl make the party merrier now.
The next day, Roubaul give Ben & Wendy a simple job. They're tasked to hunt some animals for the Guild's supplies. They can gather other foods like fruits or vegetables too, but their priority is meat.
"How many animals that we need to get?"-Ben
"As many as you can. We can always preserve the leftover for future use."-Roubaul
"Alright. Are you fine with killing animals, Wendy?"-Ben
"I never do it and i don't think i'll like it, but i know it's needed, so i will try to do it."-Wendy brace herself
"No need to be so poetic like that, but you're right, you need to get used to it. For now, you'll help me defeat the animals, and i'll do the processing."-Ben
"Yes."-Wendy
Ben & Wendy leave the village and enter the forest. Ben bring his compass, so they won't get lost, and he also mark the trees. Ben isn't familiar with this place, so he need to do some prevention.
Ben carry his machette & knife, while Wendy only have a knife on her. She doesn't want to bring it at first, but Ben force her to bring it. The forest is a dangerous place, so they always need to be careful. Having something to protect yourself is always better.
They can use magic to defend themselves, and that's what Wendy plan to do. However, their magic power is limited, so they need something to protect themselves after that. Ben won't risk anything, that's why he force her to carry a knife.
"Ah, an apple tree."-Wendy
"You want to take it?"-Ben
"Yes."-Wendy
Wendy almost use her magic to help her fly up, but Ben stop her.
"Don't waste your magic power for this kind of thing. Your magic power is still very low, so use it wisely!"-Ben
"But i can eat the air to replenish my magic power."-Wendy
"I know, but you need to learn to not being too dependant on your magic. You also need to learn on how to manage your magic power correctly. Eating air won't replenish your magic power completely. It's a supportive ability and it have it's limit. You might unable to do it everytime, that's what you need to be careful of."-Ben
"I understand, but how will we take the apples?"-Wendy
"Climb the tree, or use a very long stick to push the fruit's stem and make it fall."-Ben
"B-but i can't climb a tree."-Wendy
"Hmm, then let's make the long stick."-Ben
Ben & Wendy look around the area for any long branches. They also look for some vines and cut them with machette & knife. Now Wendy know why knife is important, it have another use other than for fighting.
After they have enough long branches & vines, Ben tied the branches using the vines until it become very long. Of course he use the bigger branches for the bottom and the thinner on the top. Ben also add a basket on the top, made of vines webbing to catch the fallen fruits.
Then Ben & Wendy start to pluck the fruits using the made up tool. Wendy can't use it on her own, as it is heavy, so Ben help her. They pluck all the fruits that looks ripe and put them in their bag.
After they finish, they continue their hunting for animals. Ben teach Wendy some important things in a hunt, and she listen carefully. Ben also make a wood spear to help their hunting. He want to make a bow and arrows, but it will take longer time.
"Wendy, look! This is an animal trail. From the shape of the trail, it seem to be a boar, but it can also be another animal. Let's set up a trap here, maybe we'll catch it before we return."-Ben
"Yes."-Wendy
Ben make a trap on the trail, it's a rope trap that will catch the target's leg and pull it upwards. He use vines & tree branch to make the trap and use big stone as weight. Wendy watch carefully and help Ben some times.
After they set up the trap, they leave the area to search for another prey. They walk for sometime while looking around, and finally find a good prey. They find a deer, and it's rather big.
"What should we do?"-Wendy
"I'll attack it, you stay here and watch carefully! Don't make any moves, and keep your vigilance!"-Ben
"Did you need my help?"-Wendy
"Yeah, if the plan didn't go well, i will need your help. I'll give you a signal, then you attack the deer with your roar."-Ben
"Okay."-Wendy
Ben approach the deer carefully, and he hide behind a bush. Ben is on the deer's left, and he hold his wood spear tightly. Ben prepare his spear and then throw it toward the deer.
The spear hit & stab the deer's front thigh, and the deer start to move franctically. Ben click his tongue because he missed to stab the chest. Ben immediately run to the deer before it can run away.
The deer see Ben coming and try to attack him with it's hind legs. Ben dodge to the side and jump at the deer to stab it's chest. The deer however, jump forward and make Ben's attack miss.
'Damn, i still can't move that well with this body.'-Ben
Ben see the deer is about to run away, so Ben call Wendy.
"WENDY, USE IT!"-Ben
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"-Wendy
Wendy release a tornado blast from her mouth to attack the deer. Her attack isn't very strong, and it didn't kill the deer. The blast just push the deer and make it hit a tree. When the blast gone, the deer is still conscious, so Ben quickly stab the deer's chest to kill it.
"Good job, Wendy."-Ben
"T-thank you, but i feel sorry for the deer."-Wendy
"Don't worry, it's nature order. Maybe a tiger or wolf will eat it if we don't. The best we can do now is to not waste what we can get from it."-Ben
"I understand."-Wendy
"Now, let's drain the blood and remove the unedible organs."-Ben
Ben drain the blood, then remove the internal organs and throw away the unedible parts. He save the lungs, liver, and heart because they're edible.
After they finish, Ben decide to return to the guild. Carrying a carcass while hunting isn't a good idea to do, so they'll discard it first before hunting another prey. On their way back, Ben & Wendy find their trap have caught a prey, a big boar.
"Wow, we're really lucky."-Ben
Ben put down the deer carcass and immediately take care of the boar. He did the same thing like before and throw away the unedible organs. Ben then tie both carcass with vines before he lift it. It's very heavy, and Ben can't lift both carcasses at the same time.
"Wendy, can you use enchantment to help me?"-Ben
"Yes."-Wendy
Wendy then gather her magic power on her hands and cite her spell.
"O strengthen of arm to cleave the heavens! ARMS!"-Wendy
Ben feel his strength raised, and he look at his stats.
[Name: Ben Cooper
Age: 10
Status: Alive
MP: 1/2310
STR: 22 => 32 (+10)
AGI: 20
STA: 23
INT: 22]
'It enhanced my strength by 10 points, that's almost half of my stat. Maybe it's because she just use it on me, and will reduce if she use it on multiple targets.'-Ben
Ben is really impressed on Wendy who can do such good enchantment. Altough she get very tired, but it's because she hasn't get used to it. He know it's a difficult spell, so she is really talented to be able to use it at her age.
"Are you okay?"-Ben
"Yes, i just need to replenish my magic power a little."-Wendy
Wendy eat some air and get a little refreshed. Then, they return to the guild. Overall, their first job is a success.
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