I Have a Task Log

A transparent, eggshell-like Shield materialized around him, deflecting the three incoming blades with an invisible force.

Wielding his sword in one hand, Colin easily parried the attacks.

He looked at the Black Dragon Descendant with the Short Sword and began Casting a Spell.

With the help of Silent Sword Dance's magic resistance reduction, Tasha's Hideous Laughter easily penetrated the Black Dragon Descendant's mind, causing him to double over in uncontrollable, hysterical laughter.

The other Black Dragon Descendant charged, holding a Long Sword in one hand.

Colin blocked with a backhand, but caught off guard, he failed to completely parry the attack. The Dragonbone Longsword ground against the blade of Burning Blood and struck his other Shoulder Guard.

With a soft CRACK, he clearly felt something press against his shoulder.

A dull ache spread from his shoulder, but thankfully, it didn't feel like his flesh had been cut.

The Long Sword must have hacked straight through the outer Plate Armor, but it hadn't penetrated the Cotton Armor beneath the Shoulder Guard.

'That's some ridiculous power...' Colin took a deep breath.

Gripping his sword, he thrust his open palm forward.

In the next instant, the Magic Flames created by Burning Hand erupted from his palm. The brilliant burst of fire resembled a great maw filled with sharp teeth, lunging at the two Black Dragon Descendants.

The moment he unleashed Burning Hand, Colin didn't stop moving.

He recited a Spell and cast Silver Light Sharp Words again.

The Black Dragon Descendant with the Long Sword was about to leap back to dodge, but under the Magic's effect, his legs tangled, and he completely lost his chance to evade the spell.

The Flame instantly engulfed both Black Dragon Descendants.

"HUFF... HUFF... HUFF..." Colin panted, breathing heavily without realizing it.

From the successive injuries and the strain of high-intensity Casting, his head had begun to throb with a dull pain.

But he was no longer the clumsy Wild Mage who had taught himself Magic. This throbbing pain was nowhere near as severe as it had been when he was just starting out.

Tasha's Hideous Laughter was still in effect. The enthralled Black Dragon Descendant was still crouching on the ground, laughing manically even after being blasted by flames. Meanwhile, the other, who wielded the Long Sword, was half-kneeling and leaning on his weapon.

His tattered clothes were smoldering with embers, and his wounds were so gruesome that even Colin found them unsettling to look at.

The Black Dragon Descendant opened its draconic maw again and began desperately sucking in air.

However, Colin gave him no more chances. Burning Blood thrust straight into the draconic maw and pierced through the spine.

The Black Dragon Descendant convulsed, then collapsed limply like a punctured balloon.

Colin turned toward the other opponent, who was still under the spell's control.

A fiery flash from the Emerald Flame Sword flared for an instant, and the hysterical laughter in the cavern abruptly stopped.

Colin glanced back at Ale.

She was sitting against the cavern wall, trembling all over.

Just as he'd thought, a throwing knife was stuck in the Half-Elf's shoulder. Judging by how deep the tip was, the wound wasn't severe. After all, Dragon Vein Mages had Dragon Scales for protection.

The poison, however, seemed to be affecting the Half-Elf more severely.

Colin glanced back at the Black Dragon Descendant who had wielded the Long Sword.

'I think I saw him eat something during the fight...' With that thought, Colin swung his sword and quickly disemboweled the corpse. From its stomach, he retrieved what it had eaten—a rolled-up piece of parchment.

There was no time to leisurely sort through the loot.

Colin picked up the Dragonbone Longsword from the ground, tied it to his back with a Climbing Rope, and tucked the parchment into his bag. Then, he went to Ale and asked softly, "Ale? Ale? How are you doing?"

"I can't... I'm sorry... I'm scared to open my eyes."

The Half-Elf's voice trembled.

"It's okay. I'll get you out of here."

After saying that, Colin drank the other Healing Potion from his bag.

He glanced at Ale's arm, which had been corroded by acid, then forcefully tore away the clothing around it. After cleaning the wound, he took a Potion from Ale's bag and fed it to her.

Once everything was taken care of, Colin helped Ale up and started walking toward the exit.

The Little Myconid that had been hiding in the back ran out, scrambled up Colin's leg, and settled onto his shoulder.

The two of them and the mushroom creature slowly made their way out through the cavern's exit.

They hadn't taken more than a few steps before they entered a large cave.

This appeared to be the Kobolds' den. Tattered bedrolls were strewn everywhere, and creatures like rats and cockroaches scuttled all over the floor.

There wasn't a single Kobold here either.

It seemed the Dragon Worship Cult didn't want this place discovered too early; all the Kobolds had been sent out to search for someone.

*We are on the left...* The Little Myconid's voice reached his ears.

Colin turned his head and saw, indeed, an iron-bound wooden door with a small window to their left. On the outside was a heavy steel bolt.

He walked over and peered through the small window. Inside, just as the Myconid had indicated, over twenty Mushroommen were locked up. The caps of several of them had lost their glow entirely; he figured they were most likely dead.

Colin slid the bolt open and opened the door. At the same time, he asked in his mind, *Do you know about the traps on the path leading outside?*

*We do not know,* the Little Myconid's voice echoed in his mind.

The Mushroommen in the cell slowly got up and shuffled outside. The Little Myconid also climbed down from Colin's shoulder to leave with its kin.

Colin paid them no mind.

Leaving the cave, they found themselves in a long, narrow tunnel.

Colin quickly cast Detect Magic on himself. After a careful inspection revealed no magical traps, he continued forward with Ale.

They had only taken a few steps when he felt the floor under his feet give a soft CLICK. Immediately after, a giant net fell from the ceiling, trapping them both.

'Annoying traps. But now, we have no choice but to force our way through.'

Colin recited a Spell, using the Flame that ignited between his palms to burn through the net.

A few steps later, they triggered a spike trap. Fortunately, the spikes that shot out from the wall hit Colin's Greave and caused no Damage.

He used his lower leg to block the trap and helped Ale get past first.

The two of them continued on.

Although they encountered many more traps, none caused any fatal injuries. They made it out of the Kobold lair, shaken but unscathed, and emerged into the Supreme Forest.

It was now evening.

Bathed in the rays of the setting sun filtering through the leaves, the mist in the woods was almost tangible. A gentle breeze caressed the leaves, and a rustling sound came from all directions.

Looking up at the green canopy that covered the sky, Colin let out a long sigh of relief.

"I-I'm okay now, Colin."

Ale's voice came from his side. Colin turned to see she had tentatively opened her eyes, apparently free from the poison's effects.

"Then let's get moving." Colin let go of her.

The two of them immediately started running deeper into the Supreme Forest.

Colin had wanted to look for Kase nearby.

But they didn't know where the Kobolds had gone, nor could they get their bearings in the Supreme Forest. They could only run around aimlessly like headless flies, and in the end, they found nothing.

Not until night fell did the two, exhausted from their desperate flight, finally stop under a giant oak tree.

"Let's stop here for now," Colin said. "We'll rest for a bit. We should at least wait until morning before setting out again."