I Have a Task Log

The old Priest they had seen before emerged from the crowd.

He walked up to Colin and said, "Respected sir, we cannot express in words our gratitude for you saving our home and our families. We humbly ask that you allow us to send you off with the respect you deserve."

Colin was a little taken aback by such formal language.

He glanced at the villagers outside. There was clearly no room to refuse.

Colin nodded and said, "I just hope you don’t wear yourselves out. The village still needs to be rebuilt. And, ah, sorry about the Church..."

"It’s nothing, hero. Nothing at all," the old Priest said with a smile.

Edwin glanced inside the house, then patted Colin’s shoulder. "Go on, get everyone out here. I’ll pack your things."

As soon as he finished speaking, a few men dressed as Paladins standing next to him stepped forward, looking like they intended to help.

The smile vanished from Edwin’s face. He pushed the Paladins aside and said, "You are heroes who saved this village, too. Now, go escort Colin and his group."

Yuri then waved to Colin. "Come on out! Let’s not waste any more time."

Seeing this, Colin called Kase and the others out.

Most of the villagers were visibly surprised when the group emerged from the house. Their faces didn’t quite match the image of heroes they had in mind.

However, the gratitude in their eyes didn’t fade. Regardless of their race, it was an undeniable fact that this group had saved their home.

Once in the small courtyard, Colin glanced around.

Standing with them were mainly Yuri and several Paladins, as well as Foresters and Rangers from the surrounding villages, just like Roland.

These were all people who had lent a hand in the battle.

Yuri stepped forward and said to Colin, "Say a few words. These people are all here to see you off."

"Huh? Oh." Colin spoke up loudly, "I wish you all a smooth recovery from this ordeal and success in rebuilding your village."

Only after he finished did he notice Yuri’s strange expression.

Yuri spoke again, "What you said was a bit... never mind. Let’s just go. They’ll probably see us part of the way."

The moment he finished, a cheer erupted from the crowd.

The sounds of flutes, lutes, and drums arose from somewhere, creating a festive atmosphere.

Colin and his companions followed Yuri and the others toward the village exit, with the villagers thronging around them as they moved slowly forward.

Halfway there, the old Priest from before approached with a few villagers. They placed several pouches of coins into their hands and draped Beast Hides over their shoulders.

Colin even saw figures in the crowd leaning on crutches and wrapped in bandages. It seemed like basically everyone in the village who could walk had come.

The procession followed the road all the way to the village gate.

The village’s Foresters and Half-Elf Rangers followed behind them, weapons in hand, escorting them out of the village.

After they had walked about a mile, the canopy above their heads began to shake.

Colin, who had been quite relaxed, tensed up instantly. The sound of bowstrings being drawn echoed around them. Everyone immediately looked up, afraid another White Dragon or some other creature was about to dive down from the canopy.

The group only relaxed after seeing a few feathers drift down with the leaves. Giant Dragons don’t have feathers.

A Griffin emerged from the canopy and descended slowly. Upon closer inspection, it was Edwin, who had finished packing their things.

"Alright, this is where we part ways," Yuri said.

He and the Paladins beside him immediately took off their furs and coin pouches, handing them to the Half-Elves and Foresters standing nearby.

One of the Half-Elves said hesitantly, "Sir, these were given to you."

"I know, but they’re too much trouble to carry," Yuri said. He gave them a dismissive wave, then turned and left decisively with the other Paladins, leaving a few Rangers staring at each other in bewilderment.

Seeing this, Ale and the others also began to remove their gifts. At that moment, the Rangers all turned to look at Edwin, who was dismounting from his Griffin.

"Give them the money," Edwin said. "You can keep the cloaks and such as mementos. The Silver Star Court will make up for your reward later."

Hearing this, the group handed back the coin pouches.

After that, the Rangers and Foresters exchanged a few more words with Edwin, but after a moment, the Paladin persuaded them to head back.

"Everyone, we must be leaving as well. Our village needs to be secured," Ronan said upon seeing this.

Colin nodded. "Goodbye, Mr. Ronan."

After all the goodbyes were said, only Colin’s group and Edwin remained on the forest path.

The Paladin took out a handkerchief and unfolded it. Reaching inside, he pulled out a rolled-up blanket.

’That must be the Dimensional Hole I saw before,’ Colin thought.

Edwin then unfurled the blanket with a snap and spread it on the ground.

The pattern on the blanket was very similar to the Arabian-style carpets Colin remembered, and its edge was lined with a fringe of golden tassels.

[Flying Carpet / Extremely Rare Magic Item]

[Flying Carpet: The user can speak a Spell to make the carpet begin to fly or hover. As long as the user is within thirty feet of the carpet, it will move according to their command. A large carpet has a carrying capacity of seven hundred kilograms.]

"This is one of Morel’s prized possessions. I had to literally pry it from his hands," Edwin said, and immediately began to recite a Spell.

A moment later, the blanket lying on the ground slowly rose into the air.

Colin and the others hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and silently sitting down on the flying carpet.

As the Spell was recited again, the flying carpet began its slow ascent.

"Orelia, don’t you think the view is nice from up here?"

"It is very nice, Mr. Colin."

"Then could you relax a little?" Colin asked, looking at the small red hand gripping his right wrist for dear life. "I’d like to flip through my Spellbook."

"Uh... I’ll turn the pages for you."

Orelia quickly reached out with her other hand, turned a page in Colin’s Spellbook, and then sat primly beside him again.

Colin sighed. "Speaking of which, didn’t you stick your hands and feet out last time we were flying? Why are you so scared now?"

"That was a net, Mr. Colin."

After she spoke, Orelia braced herself on the carpet with one hand and tentatively extended a hoof toward the edge, only to snatch it back quickly. The thin tail behind her coiled around her calf again.

She started wailing, "There isn’t even a little railing this time! What if I fall off?"

"Don’t worry, Orelia. My Gleamwing will catch you," Edwin said from nearby, patting his Griffin’s neck. The great beast immediately raised its head and let out a cry.

Orelia glanced at the Griffin’s talons and looked even more terrified.

In the end, she just quietly replied, "Thank you, Mr. Helder."

Colin yawned and glanced back.

Kase and Dorn were maintaining their equipment as usual. Ale sat off to one side, still scribbling and drawing in her little notebook.

Colin suggested, "Hey, Ale seems pretty steady. Why don’t you go hold on to her?"

"But if I fall, I might pull Ale down with me," Orelia said, still reluctant.

’So it’s fine if you pull me down, is that it?’

Grumbling internally, Colin focused his attention back on his Spellbook.

After that little episode, things on the flying carpet mostly quieted down.