Elegy from Another World

As I received the heavy adventurer's identity token, a strange sense of security washed over me. Finally, I felt like I was truly "on the right track"! No longer was I wandering aimlessly, but had a clear identity and a direction to strive for.

I excitedly walked to the huge request board on one side of the hall. It was covered with all sorts of parchment requests, from finding lost items and cleaning up sewer rats to slaying dangerous monsters and exploring unknown ruins. I carefully browsed through them and finally chose a request that seemed perfect for a beginner:

[Collection Commission: Slime Samples from the Ghost Forest]

Task: Travel to the Glowing Forest outside the city and collect 20 core slime samples from "Slimes". Please note that while slimes are relatively weak, their acidic slime may corrode clothing.

Reward: 2 silver coins

Recommended rating: F (Beginner)

"A perfect blend of combat and collection!" I thought excitedly. This was the starting point of my dream adventure in another world! I tore off the commission form, registered at the front desk, and then rented a carriage at the guild entrance to head towards the Gloom Forest.

Two hours later, the carriage stopped at the edge of the forest. I paid the fare, took a deep breath of the air mixed with the fresh scent of earth and grass, and stepped into the forest called "Ghost Light." Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled patterns of light, and the air was filled with the chirping of birds and insects, brimming with life.

According to the brief description on the order form, slimes usually appear in damp, shady places near water sources. I searched along a stream and, after a few minutes, found a translucent, blue, jelly-like creature slowly wriggling behind a moss-covered rock.

"Wow, it really is a slime!" I couldn't help but exclaim softly, as if I were seeing a classic monster from a game come to life. It was about the size of a basketball, soft and bouncy, and there seemed to be a faint glow flowing inside its body.

I cautiously approached, extended my finger, and gently poked its cool, smooth surface. My fingertip felt a sticky, elastic sensation, like poking into a lump of thick glue. The slime seemed to sense the touch; its entire body trembled slightly, but it didn't show any aggression, acting more like a harmless, oversized toy.

"This is so much fun!" I chuckled, took out the special collection bottle provided by the guild, aimed the bottle at the slime, and squeezed it slightly. A small clump of shimmering blue slime was sucked into the bottle. The slime, having lost part of its core slime, seemed to have shrunk a bit and slowly moved away.

The subsequent collection process went very smoothly. There were quite a few slimes in the Ghost Forest, and as the commissioner had stated, they were indeed very low in aggression; unless provoked, they would only move slowly. I easily collected 20 samples.

Mission accomplished, I was in high spirits. Before returning to the carriage waiting point, I suddenly remembered that peculiar "steel bar" weapon. I had only seen it fire lasers in life-or-death situations before, and had never actively tested its power. Now was the perfect opportunity.

I walked to an open area and aimed the end of the steel bar at a large tree in the distance that would require two people to hug. Recalling the feeling at that moment, I pressed my thumb against a tiny, barely noticeable dent at the end of the stick.

"Buzz..." A slight vibration came from the staff. The outer shell, about twenty centimeters long at the front, slowly opened like delicate mechanical petals, revealing the complex crystal structure and energy conduits inside, emitting a faint green light. The energy gathering process lasted for about five seconds.

The next moment, an extremely condensed and blazing green laser shot out silently!

"puff!"

The laser pierced through the large tree I had aimed at without hindrance, leaving a fist-sized, charred hole in the center of the trunk. Undeterred, it continued its trajectory, passing through three or four thinner trees before disappearing into the depths of the forest.

I went over to inspect it. The cut on the tree trunk that had been pierced was smooth, as if it had been instantly vaporized by the high temperature, and there was a faint smell of burning in the air.

"Indeed incredibly powerful!" I thought to myself. This power far surpasses ordinary magic; it's definitely a trump card for crucial moments. However, when I tried to activate it again, no matter how much I pressed the indentation at the end, the steel bar didn't react at all, and the energy glow inside dimmed.

"It seems it can only be used once a day, probably because the energy core needs time to cool down or recharge," I guessed, carefully retracting the steel bar. This limitation makes sense; otherwise, it would be too unbalanced.

Returning to Valencia by carriage, I went straight to the Adventurers' Guild and handed the collection bottle full of slime to the receptionist. After counting and confirming it, she pushed two shiny silver coins in front of me.

"The task has been completed very well, Miss Liscia. Here is your payment."

Holding this first paycheck earned through my own labor, though not much, filled me with a sense of accomplishment. Completing my first commission in this new chapter of my life felt truly wonderful. My future adventurer career seemed brimming with endless possibilities.