Chapter 32: The coin in my Pocket.

Chapter 32: The coin in my Pocket.Back at the Academy A gentle, quiet sound from the healing magic still filled the air inside the academy’s infirmary. Sunlight came through the tall windows, shining soft, warm light over the beds where injured students rested.. Just an hour had passed since Kael left. Zevir blinked slowly as his senses returned, groaning as he sat up. "Ugh... my head feels like it was crushed by a boulder." Beside him, Kaelric stirred with a quick movement, pushing himself upright. "Where are we...?" he muttered, eyes adjusting to the light. "The infirmary," Zevir replied, rubbing his temples. " Last thing I remember... we were surrounded. Then—Kael..." Kaelric nodded slowly, realizing that... "He saved us. That sword technique... it was nothing like what a first-year should be capable of." At that moment, a young woman stepped in—the academy’s caregivers. "You’re both awake," she said softly, carrying a tray of water and herbs. "That’s a relief." Zevir shook his head. "Where’s Kael?" The young lady glanced at the clock. "He left about an hour ago, just walked out." Kaelric exchanged a look with Zevir. "Just an hour?" Zevir stood abruptly, ignoring the stiffness in his legs. "We need to go. We need to thank him." "If it weren’t for Kael," Kaelric agreed, rising as well, "we’d be dead." The caregiver blinked. "W-Wait! You just woke up, you shouldn’t be running—" But the two had already rushed out. Out in the courtyard, their footsteps pounded against the stone paths as they sprinted toward Kael’s dorm. Third-year and second-year students walking nearby turned their heads, curious at the commotion. "Aren’t they first year students?" "Why are they running like that...?" The two ignored the stares, breath short but urgency driving them forward. When they reached Kael’s dorm, Kaelric didn’t hesitate—he knocked twice and then swung the door open. "Kael! Hey—Kael!" Silence. The room was empty. He wasn’t there. Zevir stepped inside, eyes scanning the sparse furnishings. "He’s gone..." Kaelric’s brows furrowed. "Where did he go...?" Outside, students whispered, watching the two figures standing in Kael’s doorway. "We will thank him later when he comes back". "Okay" At the city’s east district! After an hour of travel through bustling streets and narrow alleys, Kael arrived at Terminal 17, a crowded checkpoint at the edge of the eastern district. The air was heavy and full of different smells. All around, merchants shouted as they sold their goods, calling out prices and deals. Adventurers gathered in groups, checking their weapons and talking excitedly about the journeys ahead. The busy sounds of footsteps, laughter, and conversation filled the air, creating a lively and tense atmosphere as everyone prepared for the dangerous expedition to come. Standing near the terminal’s gate was a group of six people—tough-looking, battle-hardened, and alert. Their leader, a confident stance, glanced toward Kael as he approached. "So are you our collector of the day?" "You look young. Are you a student?" the leader asked with a curious smirk. Kael shook his head calmly. "No, I’m just a freelancer." One of the group members chuckled and said, "Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. we’ll protect you." The leader nodded in agreement. "We don’t leave anyone behind." The group approached the terminal officer and paid the entry fee—120 gold coins—for passage into the nearby forest dungeon. "Swissshhh..." The group stepped forward together, boots crunching on the leaf-strewn ground. Varn, the leader, stopped and turned to address them clearly, "Listen carefully. Our mission is simple—we’re here to hunt only Savage rank monsters. If we run into any monsters weaker or stronger than Savage rank, don’t engage. Run back to the junction and we will wait and search again until we find what we need." Kael nodded, eyes scanning the forest shadows as they moved deeper under the thick canopy. The atmosphere changed instantly—the sunlight dimmed as thick branches blocked the sky, and the distant calls of unseen creatures echoed around them. Step by step, they moved quietly. The forest looks deadly. The ground was damp, patches of moss covering hidden roots. Kael’s hand rested lightly on the hilt of his bag, which hung by his side to carry materials and tools. His senses were sharp, eyes constantly scanning the dense undergrowth and shifting shadows. They were no longer in the safety of the city. This was the heart of the unknown, a place where danger could spring from any direction. Each step had to be deliberate. Each sound, judged. Then— Rustling. A low growl rolled through the trees, followed by a sudden snap of branches. "Something’s coming," Varn warned, raising a closed fist to signal the group to halt. From the left, a hulking creature emerged between two trees. It had the body of a horned gorilla, but its skin was dark-gray. Its eyes glowed faintly, and on its forehead was a deep red marking. "A red mark... Savage rank," Zeirra, their scout, whispered. "Positions!" Varn barked. The group spread into formation. One tank head forward to the front—shields raised. The mage slipped behind a tree, and the healer retreated further back, beginning a low chant to prepare a defensive spell. The beast roared and lunged forward with brutal speed. The shieldbearers charged with a loud clang, the impact sending both back a step. Kael didn’t move at first—he simply watched their fighting skill and coordination. "Strike its right leg—it’s heavier!" he called out. Varn reacted instantly, charging with a shout. From behind, the mage Rennan raised his staff, firing two quick fireballs—one hit the beast’s side, the other its ribs, burning flesh with loud bursts. Then, with sharp focus, he launched a third fireball. It shot through the air and struck the red mark on the beast’s forehead, stunning it as sparks burst from the impact. The beast couldn’t—wide open for the final strike. "Now!" One of them moves forward carrying a dagger thrash on its forehead. The monster dropped with a final sound and died. "Nicely done," Varn said, wiping blood off his blade. The healer, a calm woman named Lita, rushed forward and placed her glowing hands over the wounds. "Stay still," she said. Threads of warm green light closed the cuts and soothed the pain. Kael, meanwhile, he crouched beside the corpse and used a sharp dagger to cleanly extract the mana core. Then he moved on to the bones, removing the thick armored plating and strong thigh bones—valuable for crafting materials. Finally, he cut clean slabs of flesh, storing them carefully in enchanted wrapping to prevent decay. One down! Then they began to search for another one. Hours passed. In that time, they faced one savage-rank beast after another—no rest, no warning. Each battle tested their coordination and endurance, but they moved like a seasoned unit. By the end of a few hours, four savage beasts had fallen. While the others caught their breath, Kael quietly harvested the mana cores, bones, and flesh from each kill—his bag growing heavier with valuable materials. As their supplies ran low and fatigue set in, Varn called for a retreat. They returned to Terminal 17 and made their way back to the guild house. S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside, after unpacking, Varn approached Kael and handed him a small pouch. "170 gold coins plus twenty silver coins as an extra," he said. "You did a great job today. Next time, join us again—I’ll make sure you get even more." Kael gave a quiet nod, pocketing the coins. The job was done. (For taking this much risk and I get this much coin only?) (Clearly it is not enough, I need to go to a higher rank guild).