Chapter-42
Disguised as a young adventurer and accompanied by the ever-stoic Lilith, Roland once again found himself bustling through the streets of Sundara. Their destination: the city's Quest Guild, a bustling hub where adventurers and mercenaries congregated to find work. With forged registration cards (courtesy of a "reliable source" Lilith knew), they blended in seamlessly amongst the throngs of hopeful warriors.
Guided by a friendly guild executive who seemed more interested in moving them along than scrutinizing their credentials, Roland arrived at the unpicked quest board. Here, a motley collection of tasks awaited any willing taker: slaying a rogue mage, retrieving a lost heirloom, even capturing a particularly plump and mischievous squirrel terrorizing a local bakery.
Roland's eyes scanned the parchment, his disguised face betraying a hint of amusement. He bypassed quests involving monstrous beasts and ancient curses, much to Lilith's initial surprise. Finally, his gaze settled on an unassuming, almost comical request. He turned to Lilith, a mischievous glint in his disguised eye.
"Are you sure about this?" Lilith asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. The quest in question was far from the usual monster-slaying fare the Den of Nightmares typically attracted. It was a simple plea: "Find infected stray dog and push antivirus."
Lilith stared at the quest parchment, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Pushing antivirus? Roland, this has to be some kind of joke. Don't tell me you're seriously considering this… dog-sitting mission?"
Roland, however, remained unfazed. A hint of amusement danced in his disguised eyes, and a satisfied smirk played on his lips. He held up the quest parchment with a flourish. "Ah, but Lilith, sometimes the simplest tasks hold the greatest potential. Besides," he added, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "who says it's just about a dog?"
His words sparked a flicker of understanding in Lilith's eyes. While the phrasing of the quest was undeniably strange, "infected stray dog" and "pushing antivirus" could be metaphors for something more. Perhaps the dog represented a specific monster within the Den of Nightmares, and the "antivirus" symbolized a way to exploit its weakness. Or maybe it was a test, a way for Roland to try out his newly acquired power called Sharingan in a low-pressure environment, one that wouldn't attract undue attention.
Despite her lingering uncertainty, Lilith decided to trust her gut feeling. Roland, despite his youthful disguise and occasional bouts of mischief, had a proven track record (she meant how he became a nobody to dungeon master). He wouldn't waste their time on a meaningless errand. This seemingly mundane quest, she realized, was likely another piece in his grand, albeit still enigmatic, plan for the Den of Nightmares.
"Alright," she conceded, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. "You've piqued my curiosity. Let's see what this 'infected dog' is all about. But," she added, a playful glint in her eyes, "if this turns out to be nothing more than chasing a mangy mutt through the streets, I'm holding you personally responsible for the wasted time."
Roland chuckled, a mischievous glint mirroring hers. "Don't worry, Lilith," he assured her, his voice laced with a hint of hidden meaning. "This little quest, I promise, will be anything but a walk in the park."
With that, they approached the guild receptionist, their faces schooled into expressions of eager adventurers. Roland presented their forged registration cards and the chosen quest parchment. As the receptionist processed their request, a sense of anticipation crackled between Roland and Lilith. The seemingly insignificant quest for a "dog with antivirus" had become the first step in a plan shrouded in mystery, a plan that promised to shake things up within the Den of Nightmares.
Stepping out of the bustling Quest Guild, Lilith and Roland were greeted by the vibrant chaos of Sundara. The air buzzed with a cacophony of shouts from vendors, the rhythmic clatter of blacksmiths' hammers, and the excited chatter of adventurers. Ignoring the allure of the marketplace, they set off on their peculiar quest – to find an "infected stray dog" and administer an "antivirus."
Lilith scanned the bustling streets, her brow furrowed in bemusement. "Are you sure this is the right approach, Roland?" she asked. "Perhaps we should have inquired about the location of the dog. Wandering the city aimlessly seems inefficient."
Roland, however, seemed unfazed. His disguised face held a hint of amusement, and a playful glint danced in his eyes. "Fear not, Lilith," he replied, his voice laced with a hint of confidence. "The dog will find us, or perhaps, we'll find something more… interesting along the way."
Their search led them through bustling markets, down narrow alleyways, and across sun-drenched open fields. Lilith diligently scanned every corner, searching for any sign of a stray canine. Roland, however, seemed more interested in his surroundings, his gaze lingering on the bustling crowds and the intricate details carved into the city's ancient buildings.
Suddenly, as they rounded a corner, they stumbled upon a scene that caught Roland's attention. In a quiet corner of the market, a sleek black cat, its movements a blur of predatory grace, was stalking a plump brown rat. The rat, desperate and cornered, darted from one side of a pile of crates to another, its beady eyes filled with terror.
A flicker of something akin to recognition crossed Roland's youthful face. He stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the feline predator. Lilith, following his line of sight, scoffed.
"Roland," she said, a hint of exasperation in her voice, "we're looking for a dog, not a cat playing with its dinner."
Roland chuckled, a mischievous glint returning to his disguised eyes. "You're right, of course," he conceded, his voice barely a whisper. But as he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the cat, his mind working furiously.
There was something about this seemingly mundane interaction that resonated with him. Perhaps it was the contrast between the sleek predator and its scurrying prey. Perhaps it was the desperation in the rat's eyes, a reflection of the struggles within the food chain.
Whatever the reason, the sight of the cat and the rat verified the idea in Roland's mind, an idea that could potentially tie into the seemingly nonsensical "infected dog" quest.
He tore his gaze away from the feline predator, "Alright, Lilith," he announced, his voice filled with renewed purpose. "Let's keep searching for the dog, but keep your eyes peeled for anything else unusual. This city might hold more secrets than we first realized."
