Heroes, Magic and Monsters

I was running as fast as could, hoping to lose goblins in the forest. But the noise was following me. Goblins where screaming something in there screeching tongue, and it sounded to me like there were laughing, happily following their prey. A proper Isekai story would send me a group of adventurers that would save my life, but no such luck. I glanced back, and discovered that my running away plan was half-way working. Goblins where further back, but hobgoblin wasn't far away. But at least there was only one hobgoblin. I turned around and took aim. Then released my arrow. It hit hobgoblins armored plated and broke. Second shoot I aimed at monsters feet. Arrow went throw hobgoblins tight and monster fell on the ground. Third arrow finished the monster by hitting its head. luckily for me, he didn't had a helmet. Three arrows, counted I in my head. I copied some cartoon whose character always counted bullets, losing all my arrows an staying defenseless in front of monsters was one of my fears.

Goblins released an angry cry and started running even faster. I regretted the fact that we were in a forest, In an open field I could easily kill all these monsters with my bow, but in the forest the trees were covering them and messing with my shots. So I turned around and continued running, searching for more open space. Soon I got lucky and found a small meadow. I run through it, hoping that goblins would be stupid enough to follow me by running through the meadow, instead of going around it. Just in case I hide behind a bush. Luck was on my side this time and goblins followed me directly. I stood up and released an arrow. It pierced goblins neck. Now there were only three monsters left. I was sweating, hoping that I could kill all goblins before they could reach me. They were armed with daggers, and one of them even had a small sword, unlike me who had only bow. In a close fight my chances would be quit bad, and in a fight two on one I wouldn't stand a chance.

Another goblin died from an arrow to the chest. Surviving goblins screamed in anger and ran as fast as they could, trying to reach me. Third goblin fell with an arrow in its stomach. Sweat was running on me like water, while I was reaching for an arrow. Last goblin was so close to me that I could smell its breath. Arrow hit monsters face and through it back a little. Just in case I hit goblin with my leg and through it even farther. Without hesitation I shoot him one more time.

Goblin who I wounded in a stomach was still alive. It was heavily bleeding, but still slowly crawling towards me. Not wanting to take a risk I shoot the monster twice. When it stopped moving I set up on the ground. My hands where trembling and I needed some time to calm down. After calming down a little I slowly approached the monsters. They smelled, but it was tolerable, even which my elven sense of smell, which was better than humans. I collected my arrows, and cleaned them with grass. I also collected the short sword and the best of the daggers. I wanted to take with me all weapons, but decided against it. Not like I had a bottomless bag or magical inventory, where I could keep all my loot. Nothing more of value except piece of close wrapped around monsters waists they didn't have, but I didn't really need those.

For a moment I considered collecting goblin ears, but decided against it. Isekai novels that I read, said, that goblin ears were proof of slayed monsters, but I didn't know that for a fact. And the idea of carrying around bunch of bloodied ears was kind of disgusting. I also though off cutting open monster corpses searching for a magic stones, but decided against it for the same reasons.

I traced back my steps and found a hobgoblin's body. Unlike the other monsters it had pants and sandals. Also a small pouch that contained several coins. From the look of it they were made of copper and silver. In a game, my character had thousands of golden coins, and other coins weren't even mentioned. Still the loot was a loot.

Hobgoblins mace had a decent quality, but it was quit heavy. Not knowing how long I will have to travel I left it with a corpse. Monster's breast plate also didn't peak my interest, so I collected only the money.

Wasn't I suppose to level up? I didn't feel anything, but at level one, killing half a dozen monsters should have increased my level and my stats. In the game I had level 106. It was quite high. Game didn't exactly had an upper level, but leveling up after level one hundred was quite difficult. You had to literally kill more than a thousand dragons to level up. Which players technically could do, with an army of monsters behind their back, but there weren't exactly many such opportunities. So reaching even level one hundred was as far as only small amount of players could reach.

It was quite different when your character was at single digit level, when to level up players had to kill only a few low level monsters or overwhelm with their level one soldiers a high ranking monster, like a dragon or devil. But I didn't feel anything, and no voice from the sky told me anything, which was quit disappointing.

I continued my journey trying to move through the forest as silently as I could. To my surprise I was able to move without making a noise and leaving almost no tracks behind me.

Avone's race was elf, and my characters job was a ranger. Both my race and job was hunter based and forests were the best terrain for them. I managed to shoot a rabbit and after draining it's blood and removing its skin I took the animal's body with me. Luckily for me I spent some time in the village and knew how to skin an animal. I was planning to eat it, but the problem was, that I had no fire, and had no idea how to start one. I read somewhere that it is possible to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, however, to start a fire with sticks humans needed more than 15 minutes, and I wasn't sure that I had enough patience. Another possibility was eating the meet raw, but I wasn't that hungry yet.

Soon after killing a rabbit I got lucky and discovered a road. It was just a dirt road. but that was good for me since I could see a carriage tracks. Somehow my ranger job allowed me to read tracks. Mostly road contained two kinds of tracks ones were deeper. Which meant that heavier carts were traveling one way and lighter were mostly traveling different way. After thinking a while I decided that probably there were peasants or merchants who delivered there goods or food to the town and then left with empty carts. The rod went through the forests plains. I was already walking several hours, but didn't met anyone, what started to worry me, when I finally saw a town in a distance. Sun was already setting, but I reached the town before sunset. I considered it lucky, since from what I considered that most cities would close there gates after sunset, and I had no desire to spent a night outside the town, in a forest where I could be attacked by monsters.

I had no idea what town that was. In a proper Isekai story protagonist reincarnated to the game, would have rudimentary knowledge about the world, and the locations. But Heroes, Magic and Monsters game had many different scenarios with different maps. Worst than that in those scenarios cities often had the same name, but located in different maps. The common idea was that the world of Heroes, Magic and Monsters had three continents inhabited by humans, elves, dwarves, beastmen and demon races. But the smaller maps were changed and the world map only showed three continents and there shapes, so I couldn't even guess where I am right now.

Town had a medieval feeling, surrounded by a large stone wall that was at least four meters high. The gate was guarded by two soldiers armed with spikes and swords. Guards wore dented armor and were European looking. In the evening there was no movement at the gate and I was the only person who wanted to enter the town. On my way to the town I threw away the rabbit corpse, since I wasn't shore what to do with it, when I entered the town.

I worried about the language for a moment, but then I realized that for some reason I speak one more language. I thought about it for a moment and understood that I can also use runes to read and write. Which was quit convenient, but probably came along with Avone's background.

As I approached the gate I smiled at the guard and both of the guards smiled back. There expression became friendly and they seemed eager to help me.

I remembered my favorites characters description. In the game all heroes had back stories and Avone's was something like:

"The kindhearted Avone was a pure blooded high elf. She was beloved and respected by her brethren elves. Avone was the envy of women and desire of men. Her beguiling charms and sense of duty made her well liked through the continent and allowed her to raise money and support for her adventures."

It was quit helpful in the beginning of the adventures, since it allowed her receive greater rewords and better conditions for the quests. But in the long run that wasn't very helpful. The Heroes description or a profile was a bonus skill that only Heroes or playable characters receive. Most of them were swordmasters, genius magicians, or had increased stats. They had a background that gave them basic magic skills, or allowed them move their troops more efficiently. The only reason why I choose Avone's character was because I thought that her profile looked great.

But I guess you take what you have. My smile became wider as I greeted the soldiers.

- Good evening, brave soldiers, may I enter your beautiful town.

- Of course, but we will need to see your identification documents.

- Oh, I'm sorry, but I don't have any. You see I left my village hoping to see the wider world and became an adventurer. So this is the first human town that I am visiting. Will that be a problem, - I tried to show concern on my face, hoping that this story will be believable.

- Of course not, - one of the soldiers smiled, trying to encourage me: - That's not a problem but you will have to pay a copper coin in that case. I'm sorry, but that's the rule for everyone who does not have any documents or adventurers tag.

Internally I smiled. Bet this was the first time, that the guard apologized to anyone for asking them money.

- That is fine, - I removed a copper coin from my wallet and gave it to the guard: - Oh, and could you recommend me a tavern, something clean, but cheap, and also tell me where I can find an adventurers guild?

- Of course, - guard smiled, happy to be of help: - If you want to became an adventurer them you will probably want to stay in Silver shield tavern. Its located farther down this street, then you take third turn left, and fourth turn right. The adventurers guild is located not far away from the tavern, you will easily see it. It's one of the few three-story buildings in the town.

I thanked the guard and followed his directions. The street was covered by stone. The town was dirty, but not too much, and in general was well maintained. Few shops and food stands, that I saw, where already closing. There were some children playing in the street, what gave me a feeling that the town was reasonably safe. Buildings where build from wood and had one or two floors. Only few buildings where made from the stone.

I easily recognized the tavern, it had no written name, but there was a sign with a drawing of a silver shield above a door. From the inside I heard sounds of music, and laughter. I entered the tavern and stopped on a doorstep looking around.

In a corner there was a bard singing a song about a prince saving a princess from a dragon. Most of the room was filled with tables and chairs occupied by men and several women, who looked like a proper adventurers. One side of the room was left for a bar counter behind which there was a several barrels and a door, judging from the smell, it led to the kitchen. On the left side were located stairs to the second floor. The room was illuminated with several lamps inside which where magical stones.

I hesitated for a moment when a cute looking waitress noticed me.

- Are you new here? - she smiled at me. Waitress wore a long dress and an apron, covered by dirty stains: - Do you wish to have some food or are you looking for the room.

- Both, - I answered: - Can I get a room and have food delivered upstairs?

It would be more beneficial for me to eat downstairs, but I was cute looking girl, an in the tavern full of drunken adventurers it could lead to a trouble, which I wanted to avoid as much as possible.

- I was long time on the road, and I'm quit tired, - my explanation seem to work and waitress smiled at me.

- Of course. Room will cost you four copper coins and three more for the dinner.

- That's fine, - I reached into my pouch and gave the waitress silver coin, hoping that it be enough.

Waitress turned around and called towards the kitchen.

- Tom come here!

A young boy who looked twelve to fourteen years old run from the kitchen and approached as.

- Take the young lady upstairs and show her an empty room, then bring her some dinner.

- Yes ma'm, - answered the boy and looked at me. When he saw my face, his eyes became round from surprise. Guess he's that age.

- Let's go, - I smiled at him and beckoned towards the stairs. Tom nodded and run in front of me, shoving me the way. Few eyes followed me, but no one tried to stop me.

The second floor had a long corridor with doors on both sides. Tom opened the second door on the left side and stepped aside.

- Here you go ma'm, I'll bring the food write away.

- Thank you, - I smiled at him and entered the room. The room had a bed covered with straw and a bad sheet. There was also a single chair and small table. I put my cloak on the chair and sit down on the bed. To my surprise it was quite comfortable. I rested my legs which were tired from all the walking, but not too much. The door had no lock, but there was a wooden plate, which could be used to lock the door.

Soon someone knocked at the door and Tom came inside holding a tray with food. He put it on the table and looked at me. I had a feeling that the boy had a hard time to take away his eyes from me.

- Anything else ma'm?

- I would like to wash myself? Is it possible?

- Of course, it will cost you a copper coin.

I dropped a boy a coin and after he left approached the table. The dinner consisted of a plate of soup, piece of bread and a mug diluted ale. The soup wasn't to my liking, but it was good enough to eat, and I was very hungry. Just as I finished the dinner, Tom came inside and brought me a bowl of water and piece of cloth, to wash myself with. No bath here. After Tome left I locked the door and removed my clothe. They consisted of boots, which covered my knees and were difficult to take off, pants, shirt, leather vest and underwear which consisted of two cloth pieces were wrapped around me. After taking a middle age bath I fell asleep making plans for tomorrow.

* * *

I woke up quit late and had some trouble dressing myself with an unusual clothe. After some testing and experimenting I finally dressed myself and went downstairs. Tavern was almost empty only few customers sitting in the corners of a tavern. The same waitress as yesterday approached me and I ordered a breakfast. It costed me three copper coins and after I used a silver coin to pay, waitress gave me a change of six copper coins. So my yesterday's guess was right. At this point, I still had enough money to several days, but then I would be out of money. I had to procure me some way to get income. So adventurers guild it is.

Adventures guild stood out as the only three floor, stone building in the area, so it was easy to find. Inside the guild were many tables occupied by a few adventurers. Most of them were humans but there were also few dwarves and also beastmen. I approached one of the girls who worked behind the counter.

- Welcome to the adventurers guild, - receptionist smiled at me: - How can I help you?

Receptionist was in her twenties, a little bit taller than me, with long golden hair and pleasant looks. Kind of cliché of a fantasy world, smiled I inside me.

- I would like to register as an adventurer, - I replied, and she nodded at me.

- Registration will coast you one silver coin, and we will need to test your skills, if you want to start with higher rank?

Guess the encounter with those goblins, was quit lucky, without money that I get from them, things would be quite difficult for me, I wouldn't even be able to enter the town or register at the guild.

Higher rank meant better jobs with higher pay, so agreed to that and handed the receptionist silver coin.

- Please fill this form, - she handed me peace of parchment, quill an bottle with ink. Since I could use runes, that wasn't a problem for me. Registration required only basic information, such as name and race, job, birth place and age were optional, so I filled only job section.

After reading the information, receptionist nodded at me.

- My name is Leone, miss Avone please follow me.

She took me to a conference room and after me sat down at the table handed me a small crystal:

- Please hold this crystal, it will measure your level and record your skill.

I did as told and after holding crystal for a while, handed it back to Leone.

She put the spell on the table and waved her hand over it. Information displayed in runes appeared over it and Leone wrote down the information.

- Oh, you already have basic Archery skill, which means we can assign you rank E. Adventures have ranks, starting at F, followed by E, D, C, B, A and S. I also see that you have killed some monsters and acquired part of their life force, so you can level up now. Sadly our leveling crystal is on the lone for a church. Ordinarily you can increase your level in the Adventurers guild, but for the time being, you will need to go to a church. Since church is using our crystal, just show them your adventurers tag and you found have to pay them for using a crystal, since usually Adventurers can increase their levels for free in the guild.

So in this world adventurers leveled up by acquiring monster life energy, and using some king of a crystal. It was different from a game, were heroes automatically leveled up by killing enemies and gathering experience points.

Leone took handed me a small tag, made from copper.

- Adventurers tag will require a drop of your blood to complete registration, and serve as proof of your identity. It will also allow you to enter cities, without paying the fee.

I used my knife, to slice to cut a finger, and after my blood fell on the tag it shined for a while. Leone nodded and handed me over the adventurers tag.

- That has completed your registration. You can increase your adventurers rank by successfully completing ten jobs of your rank or five jobs of higher rank. You can only take jobs one rank higher than your, but if you do not complete the job, you will need to pay a fine.

Leone started explaining me guilds rules, and I tried to listen carefully.

- If you do not take any jobs, but prefer to hunt monsters in the dungeon, for their crystals, then adventurers can level up by reaching level 5 for rank E, level 10 for D, 20 for C and 20 more levels for every ranking after that. Rank S is reserved for special cases and require recommendations. Since you will start with rank E, in order to increase your rank you will need to reach level ten or complete guild quests.

I quickly did the math. So the middle level adventurer had a level between 20 to 40. My game level of 120 would make me a real monster. Which made sense, since at that point my strength points where twice as large as a dragons.

- If you join a party, then your party level will increase by completing the jobs, but your individual level will increase depending on your level, - continued the receptionist: - Are available jobs are posted in the guild main room. The proof of completing the job is determined by the quest. Dungeon monster magic cores you can sell to as directly or you can go to e merchant directly, that will be your choice.

- You said dungeon core monsters, so the monsters in the forest don't have them?

- Yes, only monsters who appear in the dungeon have magic cores. Destroying the magic core will also kill the monster, but you won't get paid then.

As I remembered the lore of the game, the world of Heroes, Magic and Monsters was battlefield for Chaos and Order, represented by evil god Lucifer and Gods of Light. Dungeons were creations of Chaos magic and suddenly appeared in places rich of mana. Dungeons gave birth to monsters and randomly created artifacts inside them. Left uncheck dungeons could create a monster stampede. Since dungeon monsters fed on mana in the Dungeons or other living beings, then if the adventurers didn't regularly kill monsters, their numbers would increase and they wouldn't have enough mana in the Dungeon to sustain themselves. Once that happened, monsters would leave the Dungeon and kill everyone in their way, including other creatures as well. The only difference between dungeons monsters and outside creatures was that dungeon monsters were created by dungeons magic and had magic stones inside them, while other creatures were born, mostly like humans. In order to level up adventurers or creatures had to kill other living beings who had mana, so killing Dungeon monsters was good way to level up. While killing ordinary animals wouldn't allow anyone to absorb opponents life force, and wouldn't allow to increase the levels. The problem was that anyone with mana could had access to magic or increased stats. Anyone who had mana could potentially learn how to use magic, but skills and stats increased human and creatures natural abilities. As an elf I was naturally stronger than regular humans, but increased strength stats would make me even stronger, just like magic related skills would make spells more powerful and use less mana. For someone like me hunting alone would be very dangerous, since most of the creatures would potentially be much stronger than me and I wouldn't stand a chance against any mid-ranking magician.

- Could you recommend me any adventurers party, who would be looking for an archer? - I asked receptionist.

She thought for a while: - Not now, but you can join monster extermination quest if you would like. Several adventurer parties will be participating, along with other low ranking adventurers.

- What kind of a quest is it?

- One of the noble lords wants to expand his territories. In most cases the new settlement is created by the villagers, but there were many cases when the villages are destroyed by the monsters or bandits. Some of the lords started first hiring adventurers to scout the lands and exterminate the monsters to ensure that the lands are safe. We have one such quest posted, adventurers will be departing tomorrow, and anyone can join this quest. It is considered low ranking quest, so the pay isn't very large, for that reason mostly low ranking adventurers and their parties are participating.

- I see, then I would like to participate as well.

- Very well, - nodded Leone: - I will register you, you will be leaving day after tomorrow after sunrise, from the east gate. One of the noble attendant's will be going with you, and you will receive all the specific details from him. Do you have any other questions? I will be happy to answer the for you. Also if you need any information in the future, you can ask me or any other guild receptionist. As a registered adventurer you can also have free access t guilds reference room in our town or any other.- If I want to learn any battle related or magic related skills, is there a place where I can do that?

- Yes of course, there are several schools in our town, were anyone can learn battle related skills. If you want to learn how to use new magic spells you will need to visit magic guild.

- And what are their prices?

- You will need several gold coins, if any of those places.

- I see, - I sighted internally. So, no new skill for me now. I'll have to complete quests or risk dungeon diving first: - Could you tell me where the church is located, I would like to increase my level, and after words I want to visit the guilds reference room.

- Guild's reference room is located on the second floor, first door on the left. You can visit it any time, but please don't take any books or parchments outside.

I nodded and Leone explained me how to find the church. After saying goodbyes I left the adventurers guild and visited the church. It was a large building, almost a castle, with many towers, build not for defense, but to impress commoners.

The entrance was too large doors, and the first room was large, with high ceilings. The walls and ceiling had many ornaments, telling the stories of the gods and ancient heroes.I waited a while looking around until I saw one of priests. He was a tall, bearded man dressed in white priest robes.

- Greetings traveler. How may I assist you?

- Good day father, I was told that I can use your leveling crystal here and increase my level.

- Of course my child. But if this is your first time of increasing your level, I should probably worn you that you after increasing your level, gods will grant you a skill, or increase an existing one. You will be given two choices, and will have to chooses one, or gods will choose one of them for you. As you probably now, the number of skills you can possess is limited, and you can't change them afterwards.

I bitted my lover lip. So the skills in this world worked the same way they worked in the game. One person could acquire ten skills, and once you had them, they were set and impossible to change. There were three ways to acquire skills, by leveling up, completing the quest, or learning them from a teacher or in some sorts of academy. When someone completed a quest or paid for lessons they learn a specific skill and had a choice to learn it or not. But it was different when heroes leveled up. They get a choice from to random skills, and didn't have another choice, but to choose one of them. It was kind of a problem since skills were useful when used in a right time.

For example there was a shipping skill which was useful when the scenario was in the ocean with islands. Heroes ships sailed faster and soldiers were more efficient in sea battles. But if the scenario was in the middle of the continent, were hero traveled only in deserts, forests, dungeons or swamps, then shipping skill was completely worthless. Similarly where skills which seemed useful, but were only at lower levels. First aid skill could be used to heal your armies soldiers, but a high ranking water magic or light magic skill user could use heal spell, which also removed status ailments, making first completely redundant.

I had a choice to level up and forced on me a choice of choosing a skill, hoping for a luck of a draw or refuse to level up. Of course leveling up could also offer a hero to level up existing skill, since all skills had four levels, novice, basic, advanced and master. But it was the same luck of a draw.

I could acquire skill first by completing the quests, paying someone to teach me or learning at the academy, but in order to do that I needed money, or strength to complete the quest, which required me to become stronger, by increasing my stats, and for now I only could do that by leveling up. Not so good choices all around.

- Yes, I want to increase my level, regardless, - I answered the priest.

- Very well, it will cost you three copper coins, - nodded the priest.

- I was told that adventurers do not have to pay a fee, - I shoved a priest my adventurers tag and he nodded.

- Of course, sadly our leveling crystal was stolen, and Adventurers guild loaned as their crystal, so all the people of the town could use it. Please follow me.

Priest took me to a back of the church and used a key to open the door. The room inside was almost empty, with exception of a human head sized crystal on a pedestal in the middle of it.

- Please put your hands on the crystal, - ordered the priest.

I approached the crystal and put both of my hands on it. For a while nothing happened, but then bunch of words and numbers appeared in front of me.

Elf, LV 1 - LV 2

Name - Avone;

Job: Ranger;

Status:

Health: 3 - 5;

Mana: 10 - 20;

Strength: 0 - 1;

Defense: 0 - 1;

Spell power: 0;

Luck: 0 - 1;

Speed: 6;

Morale: Neutral

Possible skill acquirement:

- Archery (Advanced);- Artillery (Novice);

Please choose one skill!

So I get Artillery which allowed me more efficient use of my armies ballista, or I could increase my Archery skill. Not so bad, Artillery skill was useless to me, since I had no armies, but increasing my archery skill was good choice. I chose Archery (Advanced) and numbers disappeared.

I really wanted to increase my speed, so I could run away or move faster, but for some reason in the game speed was the only ability which didn't increase after leveling up. The only way to increase heroes or monsters speed was by evolution or using the artifacts. At least the rest of my stats got a boost.

I thanked the priest, and left the church. The rest of two days I spend in the guilds reference room, learning as much information as I could. Adventurers guild had many books and parchments, with information about monsters, other races, some maps and basic information about surrounding cities and lands. It was very useful for me, since there were many differences from the game world. According to the books this world had three continents. Griffin continent where I found myself right now. Demon continent located north, and Barbarian continent located north-west. This kingdom was called Ashgrin and the town's name was Grimsburg. Grimsburg was small town in the east of the kingdom. Farther east were uninhabited lands, and lords of Ashgrin who wanted to increase their territories tried to establish settlements in the uninhabited lands. But most of these settlements were destroyed by raiders or monsters so this time one of the lords decided to hire adventurers to scout the lands first.