I Have a Task Log

"It was as bad as it gets. A bunch of crazed Drow were rounding up sacrifices everywhere, and we just happened to walk right into it," Colin yawned.

He was exhausted, even after getting some rest.

"Sounds like it’s related to that whole mess lately. I heard the Drow have started organizing large-scale sacrifices to the Abyss Lords," the Wandering Poet said.

Colin had already heard about it from the Gray Squad on his way to the White Tower, so he had no interest in getting into details.

He pulled out a piece of bandage and handed it over. "We ran into a group of Drow down there," he said. "We gave all the captured equipment and loot to your people. This is the bill."

"A bill?"

The Wandering Poet took the bandage and glanced at it, and his smile froze.

He cleared his throat. "How about this? I’ll add my signature. Mr. Helder should take care of this. Don’t worry, you won’t be shorted a single copper. You’ll just have to make an extra trip."

"That’s no problem. Do you have any paper?"

When the poet shook his head, Colin turned and took out his own inkwell and quill.

The Wandering Poet muttered as he signed, "I had to buy yesterday’s beer on credit. Where would I get eight gold bars to pay for this..."

After he signed, they made some small talk about the weather.

Colin then said his goodbyes, planning to take the others to Horn Castle to file a report.

As they pushed open the doors of the Gate of the Undercity, sunlight streamed in through the crack.

Staring at the street before him, Colin felt as if a lifetime had passed.

Colin took a deep breath of the fresh sea breeze and strode onto the main road.

They hadn’t actually covered much ground in the Undercity over the last few days. Encounters with all sorts of monsters and other problems had slowed their progress immensely.

What’s more, the monsters they’d encountered in just those few days had grown progressively stronger. He felt this place was even more dangerous than Snow Deer Valley.

’It’s a good thing I didn’t listen to Kase and come down to test the waters a few months ago. Otherwise, I would’ve died without even knowing how.’

The group followed the main road to the entrance of Horn Castle.

"Hey, Colin. You all look like you’ve been through the wringer," the Guard at the gate said with a wave.

Colin immediately recognized him as the Guard he used to chat with often.

He smiled and replied, "Just a recent bout of bad luck."

"It’s been a while," the Guard added with another laugh. "Your group has gotten a lot bigger. Looks like I can’t call you ’Colin with the Orc’ anymore."

Colin found the Guard’s nonchalant demeanor a bit strange. "Speaking of which, aren’t you afraid of being seen talking to me?"

The Guard laughed, a sense of relief in his voice. "To be honest, I don’t care anymore."

Just then, Colin happened to see the same officer who had reprimanded this Guard before, striding toward them from a distance with a furious expression.

He glanced at the Guard, who still wore a faint smile. It was the look of a man who had just slain a Demon invading Horn Castle, not one who was slacking off at his post.

’Oh well, I’ll just let it be.’

Colin walked past him and headed for Edwin’s office.

He opened the wooden door. Once again, Edwin was the only one inside, still working his way through a seemingly endless pile of documents.

"Hm? There shouldn’t be anything on the first three levels of the Undercity that could get you this battered." Edwin looked at their sorry state and quickly rose to his feet, walking over to them.

He looked at Orelia first. "Are you... feeling anything strange?" he asked.

"No, Mr. Helder." The Tiefling shook her head.

"That’s good. Be more careful from now on," Edwin advised before walking over to Colin.

He raised his right hand, placing his palm in front of Colin’s forehead.

A gentle, warm light immediately began to shine from the Paladin’s palm, and Colin’s remaining wounds started to heal rapidly.

"We ran into some trouble," Colin said. "A Drow Noble Lady from Mist Harbor sent her people to capture Ale for a sacrifice."

Edwin frowned. As he started healing Kase, he said, "They’d dare to do that outside their own territory? In that case, I recommend you stay out of the Undercity for a while."

"That’s for sure," Dorn said, crossing his arms. "We also destroyed one of the Death Legion’s checkpoints. Those Hobgoblins won’t forget about this anytime soon. Who knows what crazy stunts they’ll pull down there?"

"Forgive my presumption, but you’re a member of the Shadow Anvil Clan, aren’t you?" Edwin said with a slight nod. "Please extend my regards to your king."

At these words, a broad smile crinkled Dorn’s face. "Well, look at that. I suppose I’ve finally made it to civilized society."

"Let’s get back to the matter at hand," Colin said. "We made a new discovery down below."

"Go on, Colin. I’m listening," Edwin said as he started to heal Dorn.

Colin pulled over a stool and sat down. He then gave a detailed account of their experiences in the Undercity, focusing on the Elf Cemetery and the tattered cloth he had found, and he also shared some of his own theories.

"Is that so?"

After healing the party, Edwin sat behind his desk and fell into a long silence. The smile slowly faded from his face, leaving only a hint of puzzlement.

The silence stretched on. The only sounds in the room were Kase scratching an itch and Dorn stretching.

It was the first time Colin had ever seen the man stay silent for so long.

"My apologies, I was lost in thought," Edwin said. "My own experience isn’t enough for me to see the crux of this matter. Perhaps some of my friends will have an inkling. Do you still have the Elf Relic on you?"

"I do." Colin quickly pulled the tablecloth out of his bag.

As Colin was pulling it out, Edwin threw open the curtains, opened the window, and shouted, "Morel! Morel! Get over here, quickly!"

’Hard to imagine a Legendary Paladin summoning someone in such an unceremonious way,’ Colin thought.

A moment later, Morel burst through the room’s wooden door. He pointed an indignant finger and bellowed, "It’s my lunch break, Edwin Helder! No one has the right to drag me away from the lovely Horn Castle gardens while I’m enjoying my lunch!"

"Come help me make a rubbing. I recall you Mages are the best at this."

"Where did you find this piece of junk... ahem."

After seeing the starlight on the cloth, Morel cut himself off with a cough and silently began to search for paper and a pen.

Seeing this, Edwin turned back to Colin. "Since you say this item is similar to that ring, I believe it’s best you keep it with you. See if any other changes occur. What do you think?"

"That works," Colin nodded.

’Besides, the thing had no fluctuations on the Magic Net. Carrying it was no different from carrying a scrap of cloth.’

While Morel was tracing the pattern, Edwin said to the group, "The squad I mentioned earlier has returned. When are you free? We can arrange your promotion ceremony now."

"We should be free for the next few days."

"The day after tomorrow, then. How’s that? It’ll give you a full day to rest."

When Colin and the others nodded, Edwin continued, "Then meet at the Overseas Coffee Shop near the Black Tower around four in the afternoon, the day after tomorrow. Oh, and by the way, you probably haven’t heard, but Mr. Heatherway has passed away. The official funeral is tomorrow."