Read Celestial Contractor (LitRPG) :: First Quest

Upon entering the grand hall, Axel noticed that there were other people there as well. The elders, Valrick, Nessir and both their parents as well as Odeus.

Valrick and Nessir were also geared up like they were going somewhere too.

“Ok now that everyone’s here, I can tell you what happens next”, said Odeus. You 3 are currently Lv1, the lowest level a person can be. You should know that to get a job in this household the minimum Lv you must be is Lv10. Yes that means everyone in this house is stronger than you”

Axel, Valrick and Nessir looked at each other with an embarrassed expression.

“Just like my siblings and I at the time, the head of the household must give the Lv1s a quest to go out and level up”, Odeus continued. “But first take these, it's an item that represents that you are a member of the Blackstone family. This is an important item that must never be lost. Its effects are that anyone who sees it immediately recognizes that you belong to this family”

An attendant to Odeus’ left stepped forward and handed Axel and the others a small metal disk. The disk was pitch black at first but when they held it, the branch family’s emblem appeared. However, after a few seconds, the emblem vanished once more; this made the object appear to be ordinary and unimportant.

“Now for the quest”, said Odeus.

A text box appeared before Axel.

Quest

Prove that you can become a great asset to the Blackstone family. Become Lv10 and reveal your warrior potential. If you fail, the family will still support you just not as a warrior.

Time Limit: 15 days

Clear conditions: Become Lv10

Additional Conditions: Kill 1000 slimes

Fail Conditions: Not reach Lv10 in 15 days

Reward: 30 Silver coins, Admiration/Support from family members

Additional Clear Reward: 1 Gold coin and ???

Quest… The system can do stuff like this too. I’ll have to figure out all its features eventually, thought Axel.

“Try to clear the additional conditions if you feel like you're up to it”. Odeus smirked.

“Now you must leave the manor. Go southwest to a small forest right beyond the walls, you must stay within sight of the mansion walls, any further than that and you will encounter monsters too strong for you to handle. As adventurers, your lives are in your own hands. Make wise decisions”, said Odeus with a stern look. “You must know that for this to truly be a test your attendants will not be accompanying you. However, because you 3 are only Lv1, guards will be stationed at the entrance of the forest; They will not help you in casual combat but If you have to flee from an opponent then head towards them. Now go!! your quest has already started”.

Nessir bolted off heading towards the door. Axel and Valrick were startled but quickly reacted by also running in the same direction. Off they went, for the first time ever, they were leaving the mansion grounds unattended. Nessir reached the gate first but the others were not too far behind.

The Duke’s manor is located on a hill almost a day’s journey by foot away from Solcrest city the capital of the Solcrest Dukedom. The manor has its own border separate from the city walls but both places were enveloped by larger walls and the forest was within them. They built it like this keeping low level monsters within an area. Regular citizens are normally around Lv5, having the forest within the walls gave ordinary citizens a chance to hunt them in case they wanted to level up and become an adventurer or a part of the region's military force.

Nessir was speeding down the hillside but Axel and Valrick soon caught up to her. All the physical training Axel did in the last few years was proving beneficial to him. Now he was running side by side with her while Valrick was still behind.

The cousins never interacted much even though they grew up in the same house. It was just family politics, everyone wanted their child to become the best and seize the title of head of the household; this meant they would become the next duke or duchess. Though they are friendly with each other, the strongest warrior of the generation inherits the throne of the duke so there is a rivalry within the family.

Axel wasn’t interested in all that and tried to make conversation with Nessir.

“Hey, it seems like you know the way. I’ll just follow you ok”, said Axel.

“Do as you wish but once we’re there we shouldn’t cooperate… that would defeat the purpose of the trial”, she replied.

“Y-Yeah, I know”, said Axel. “Hey did you also get the star contract skill, having a monster partner sounds cool right?”, he continued trying to make conversation.

“No, my mana wasn’t potent enough to learn the skill. The skill scroll rejected me”, she said with an upset expression.

“I couldn’t learn it either”, said Valrick, who had somewhat caught up with them.

“Ah… I see. Maybe someday then yeah”, replied Axel.

Nessir didn’t reply and the mood got awkward so Axel decided to fall back a little. He then maintained his pace and ran side by side with Valrick instead.

They finally reached the base of the forest. They could also see a view of the city even though it was off in the distance in the opposite direction. They also saw a large tent and the 5 soldiers that were posted there. The soldiers gave their salute and they waved back at them.

When the cousins entered the forest Valrick and Nessir immediately went off on their own. Axel was now alone, he began walking around looking at the scenery. It was like a regular forest with the sounds of birds and the wind blowing through the trees. Some grass overgrowth on some tree bases and the trees stood tall making shade in convenient places.

Axel walked around for a few minutes but still didn’t see any monsters. Then he heard water and started walking towards it. He found a stream in a small clearing.

“Whoa, a body of water. Why does it feel like I’m really on an adventure now. Oh I know, it's the water… It makes me wish I had an old rod to fish up my favorite water monster. Good times, good times”, said Axel reminiscing.

Suddenly he noticed that the little puddles of water around him weren’t water at all. They perked up into little balls that were blue and a bit translucent.

“Slimes!?. Tsk, I’m surrounded”, said Axel slightly panicking.

They started moving towards him. He noticed that they were incredibly slow. He hopped over them and retreated to the trees. The slimes tried to follow but gave up halfway to him and returned to doing nothing.

How should I start fighting these things? I was all excited but now that these things are before me it suddenly feels like real life… I know! I should attack from far away, see how good their defenses are and if they can attack back. But first. “[Inspector]”.

Lesser slime Lv1

“Oh they’re all Lv1, just stepping on them should kill them right”, said Axel. He suddenly remembered what his father said about monsters when he was little.

‘Monsters level up much faster than humans. The levels don’t correspond either, a Lv10 wolf is much stronger than a Lv10 human. Also, monsters mutate easily so in a group of any given monster there might be irregulars or a unique monster. Never underestimate them, it could cost you your life’

Now determined that these Lv1 lesser slimes were a danger to him, Axel became more cautious of them. But he decided to attack anyway.