Alinel and Veist arrive at the Guild Hall.

“We’re finally here.” Alinel excited.

Upon their arrival, Veist notices someone he knows. The person, who looks younger than Alinel, is standing in front of the Guild Hall entrance.

“Hey, look. Wyle is also here.”

“Oh. You’re right. Wyle!” Alinel called him.

Wyle faces to the direction where his name was called. He is a young hare feran whose profession is an alchemist, carrying a big box-looking bag of chemistry kit on his back. His physical body looks weak, but he’s quite smart and has good knowledge of chemistry.

“Huh? Oh! Veist! Alinel!” Said Wyle who is happy to see both Alinel and Veist coincidently. “Are you here for the hunting quest?”

“What else are we here for?” Veist answered sarcastically.

“That’s a big bag you are carrying there.” Said Alinel.

“It’s just my usual stuff. I’m preparing myself for the hunting quest. I heard monsters nowadays contains rare ingredients so I thought I could make valuable and powerful potions.”

“I see. So, are you already with a group?”

“W-Well, I haven’t make one yet, so…”

Alinel and Veist look at each other as it’s their chance to invite Wyle to join their party.

“By the way, Wyle. Why don’t you join us?” Alinel invited him.

“Huh? Join you?”

“That’s right. We could your chemistry skill to weaken the monster.” Veist suggested.

Wyle is happy to be invited to their party. He’s overacting a bit.

“Oh, thank you. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Now, now.” Alinel petted him.

“More people would be better.” Said Veist, “Let’s go in and find the bulletin board.”

“Oh, um, about that,” said Wyle with an expression that states there is a problem, “the situation is getting a bit ‘difficult’.”

“Hm? What do you mean?” asked Veist.

“Well, maybe you should look by yourself.”

Wyle points them to the lobby where the quest board is located. When they walk in, the entire room is already filled by a huge, noisy crowd of adventurers. Two viscous adventurers are fightingover a quest poster that has decent reward, members of hunting party having heating debate over plans, and Guild receptionists are having a lot of stress facing adventurers' complaints. It's like a battlefield.

“What!?” Alinel shocked. “It’s already crowded at this time?”

“When I got here, the room has already became a war zone.” said Wyle.

The Guild Hall has four sections.

While the other section is the desk where hard-working advisers give the adventurers suggestions of which quest that is suitable for them. Unfortunately, the waiting lines is very long and it could take hours to receive a quest job from them. The last section is the Guild receptionists’ desk where their job is to carefully check and make approval weather the quests which adventurers took out from the board is suitable for adventurers or not.

“Because it's breeding season, everyone seems desperate for hunting quests. They usually provide better reward. We must get one before they run out.” said Veist who also feels desperate like other adventurers in this room.

“Waiting in line will take forever. Our only choice is to pass through this crowd. Aside of that, using any ‘flying’ ability is prohibited here.” said Alinel.

“Just wait here. I’ll go get one for us.” Veist volunteered .

“Are you sure, my dearest?” Alinel worried.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Pick one that has decent reward.” Wyle requested.

“Leave it to me.” said Veist as he leaves to get a quest poster.

“Will he be alright?” asked Wyle while they  see him away.

As Veist is about to dive into the crowd, a buffed-looking lizard adventurer, who is a skalan race, just walked out from the crowd after he got a quest poster. Veist and the buffed adventurer accidentally bump each other then start a commotion. Alinel and Wyle don't know what to do so they just stand there worriedly watching them.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” shouted the lizard adventurer. “I’m not in a good mood after passing by in this crowd.”

Veist is being apologetic, yet his glare is intimidating in the lizard adventurer’s eyes.

“Oh. Pardon me. Is there any way I can make up to you?”

As Veist didn’t meant to scare him, the lizard adventurer walks away in fear, with a fake smile.

“Oh! Um, n-no no, I’m good. Hahah.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Alinel replied to Wyle as they are relieved for not to get into trouble.

Veist struggles to pass through the battlefield-like crowd, but he reaches closer to the bulletin board and looking for a suitable quest.

“Pant, pant. Finally made it.” Veist exhausted a little. “Alright, let’s see what they got here.”

Veist reads quest descriptions one by one. Yet he still can’t find suitable quest.

“Hmm, everything looks interesting, but these monsters are hard to find.” Veist thought while he keeps searching.

Not so long after, he finally found a quest poster that is suitable for his group.

“Hmm. This one will do.”

In less than a half hour, Veist walks out from the crowd with an approved quest poster. He got called by Alinel and Wyle waiting outside the Guild Hall.

“Veist dear, over here.” Alinel called him.

“We're glad you got out. We bought you a refreshment.” said Wyle after they bought a refreshment for Veist.

“Why thank you.” Veist appreciated as he drinks the refreshment.

“So what do we get?” Alinel asked excitingly.

Veist gives Alinel the quest poster.

“I thought about this one. I also got their approval.”

Alinel and Wyle read the quest description. They are interested in doing the quest with no complaint.

“Slaying a giant tree monster at Halner Forest.” Alinel rad. “This one looks promising.”

“Hm. Not just a good amount of reward, but I’ve rad this monster produce good quality of medical herbs.” Said Wyle. “But…”

“But?”

“Winter is almost over. Just like most plant-type monsters, this one is still hibernating underground, sleeping like dead corpse. No one ever detected its presence until it resurface.” Wyle explained.

“That’s tomorrow. Do you have time to prepare the traps.” she wondered.

“I can set up a few before it wakes up.” said Wyle.

“Alright then. It's settled. We’ll set off to Halner Forest. Buy everything you need and we’ll meet together at the northern gate in an hour.”

“Understood.” Both Alinel and Wyle responded excitingly.

They then dismiss, walking separate ways. Each of them is looking something for their need. Alinel buys food provisions, Veist buys sharpening stones, and Wyle buys potions and chemical ingredients. In less than an hour, they gather at the northern city gate, where there is a defensive wall that protects the city from monster threat.

“Well, then. Seems we’re all fully prepared.” said Veist.

“So how do we get to Halner Forest? Are we going to take an airship?” Wyle asked.

“Leave it to me.” Said Alinel who feels confident.

Alinel uses her summon magic to cast a small magical portal opens on thin air. Mechanical components float out from the portal and assemble together piece by piece like toy bricks, making a steam bike made from nineteenth century with a side-car and supply trailer attached with it. She also magically transform her current dress into a Victorian motorist uniform.

“There. You can load your stuffs in this trailer.” Alinel said.

Wyle is surprised of how Alinel can summon a machine. The only thing he understands about summon magic is that the host can call out biological or spiritual ‘companions’ such as spirits, undead minions, and elementals, but he never heard or saw someone who can summon a machine.

“Amazing! I never thought you can summon a machine.” Wyle amazed.

“Well, it was difficult to learn at first, but you’ll understand once you read the instruction carefully.” Explained Alinel.

“Is that so?”

While they are chatting, Veist puts everyone’s stuffs on the trailer.

“Everything is set.”

“Alright. Hop in, everyone.” said Alinel.

Alinel starts the engine and takes the handlebar. Veist sits on the side-car and Wyle is on the trailer.

“Off we go to Halner Forest.” Alinel shouted.

They set off to Halner Forest.