Update 3: Those Which Reap All



...So, it was then, with the rest of my companions felled, that I took Lutefisk--
Lutefisk? Like that disgusting food?
It's...my name for my lute. Anyhow, I took Lutefisk, mustered all of my strength, raised it above the baboon's head, and--
Wait, if there's only a baboon left, why not just...run away? Why fight it?
...Erm, yes, well, you see--
EXCUSE ME, GOOD SIR AND MADAM!
GWAAAH!
Q-Quixote, please, can you...not be so sudden?
_{...Oh no.}
Emmett, my good man, if you go on these sorts of adventures, you really should invite me along! I feel as though you and I would make for the bravest of bosom buddies! Your songs and strength scare all of the littler monsters away, while my mastery of terror topples the biggest threats!
A-ah, well--
Actually, while we're here, allow me to regale you with the tale of Lord Quixote versus Clan Locke!







...After my fight against the dreaded Master Locke had concluded, I found myself grateful that Raquel Edelweiss's Energy Drain ability is something that actual vampires are not availed of!
...Huh? Raquel Edelweiss?
The main character of my one-stop compendium to all things vampire.
Emmett? Quixote? It's time to-- Emmett?!
...Please... Save me...



Perhaps biting on its claws will instill fear in this overgrown mantis!
Perhaps we'd get to hold onto our lives if you'd just actually follow the rest of us.





For such developed monsters, I'd think they could chase us when we're just running in straight lines...


Surely someone deliberately designed these rooms.
How would they have done that? Not saying you're wrong!
I...have no earthly idea, but do you have a better explanation for these past three rooms?
















Again, we're just hugging the walls...





Armadillos that have learned to always roll.
Maybe it's time to stop questioning this place, for your own mental health, Judith...

Your ears are ugly and ice is outdated magic!
Might I inquire how you terrify and shut up monsters that don't understand us?
I am The Hexer, Quixote! That is how!

You're playing incredibly quickly, there.
That is the invigorating power of my mystical compositions!


And who said that shell made ya impervious to my Gauntlets of Power?!
...No-one?
Exactly, because it's not true!
I'm...sorry, Katya, I don't follow.


That...used things a lot more.
When will people learn that weapons are nothing?! Terror is the ultimate weapon!
_{Sigrid. Can you please keep Old Man Quixote there under control?
I'm already trying...}


And the skilled hunter Emmett fells yet another mark.






A good Shock to the System, to toot my own horn!
That's a weird name for running in front of the enemies, slapping them a bunch.
Where's the fun in fighting without weird names?



Who's there?!
The adventurers appear to be veterans, and have made no move to lower their defenses. Perhaps they'll relent if you tell them that you are also explorers from Etria.
W-we're just explorers! Please, put the katana down...
Once you inform them you are explorers, they nod and lower their guard ever so slightly.
Ah, Etrian explorers. Didn't the Radha notify you?
No?
The katana-wielding woman, realizing your ignorance, shakes her head in dismay.
We have orders from the Radha to guard this place. I am Ren, a ronin, and she is Tlachtga, a hexer.
The other girl cautiously peers at you from behind Ren.
Return to town at once and get the details from Radha Hall.
Ren barks these cold, sharp words, then lapses into a silent glare. It seems you should ask the Radha official for details regarding the situation.
Do you really have to be so cold...?



I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to postpone your investigation for now.
Why?!
It appears that there are dangerous wolves prowling the lower reaches of the grove. We're considering issuing a mission calling for the extermination of these troublesome beasts. Until the lower floors have been confirmed as safe, abandon all further exploration.
We're perfectly capable of fighting any wolf!


Come on, what do we have to do to go further?
You accept, then? Very good. Now then, let me give you the details. Beyond the 3rd floor, there have been many sightings of forest wolves. This in itself poses little danger...but they seem to be organized by a leader. That leader is Fenrir, their alpha wolf, and he awaits explorers on the 5th floor.
Our own warriors are capable of defeating them, of course. I believe you've met them. But we can't overrely on Ren and Tlachtga, or newcomers will have no chances to grow.
Then, um, why did you ask us to stop investigating at first?
Their current orders are to provide support to the young explorers. We ask that you use their help in defeating Fenrir.
...I'd like an answer, but okay...


I have sent help for those who have taken on this mission. It must be completed before you continue exploring.



All I can do is make sure the inn is ready for anybody... We'll have food and room ready whenever you need it. Please be careful.
We don't even need this place any more, though!


Y'goin' to enter t'at monster hunt? T'en I'll be rootin' for you! When t'ere's fewer of you goin' down into t'Labyrint', us workin' folks lose our business...



...He warned me that there is a dangerous monster in the Labyrinth right now. Please, be careful.
Please make sure that you are well-prepared before entering the Labyrinth.



There are a lot of novice parties that aren't being allowed in the Labyrinth. Get the job done for their sakes.
I'm a bit surprised we're not considered novices.


Even the Radha have deemed the enemy to be extremely dangerous. You'd best watch yourselves down there.
Well, we already watch ourselves quite closely, so...


There, we took the mission. Can you please let us move forward now?
I see you've been to the Radha and accepted that mission. Then we're no longer needed here. I bid you good luck.
Thank you.
The women stand aside, as the severe ronin offers a final word of advice.
The wolves are resilient enemies. We'll help you as best we can, but be careful.
Considering this, you gaze into the forest and wonder if you shouldn't stock up in town.


When you look up, a bear twice your size is standing there!
A challenge, from a towering bear? Your cubs will--
I advise heavily against this!
But it has either not noticed you or has no interest in you, since it is occupied with something at its feet. If you fear that the enormous bear will turn its attention on you, you are free to make a swift retreat.
In the interest of not being mauled by a bear, let's run.
Reasoning that it would be foolhardy to stay, you immediately flee. There is no sign of the bear chasing after you... You sigh with relief and resume your investigation.



Please don't scream, please don't scream, please don't scream.

Okay, phew, no screaming.


Anyone up for burned plants for dinner?
No.







...I must know that animated stone's secrets.
Dare I ask why?
Because my heart is racing from fear right now!


Getting real tired of these things.








Without warning, an earsplitting scream sounds out, followed by the growl of a fierce beast. Mere yards away, a giant wolf is preparing to spring onto an unlucky soldier! The wounded soldier seems to be petrified with horror. An urge to draw your weapon and save the soldier wells up within you...
CHARGE!



Her lips scarcely parting, the girl with the ringing bell murmurs a mysterious chant. All at once, the wolf that had stood ready to pounce stops moving, its muscles tensed... At a final word from the girl, blood spews from the wolf's jaws, and it collapses.
...We can do that? Through fear?
Tlachtga, you fool. You've doomed us.


Fixing her pale-eyed gaze upon you, the girl approaches.
You should be careful... It's dangerous to fight wolves with open wounds like his...
Hand outstretched, Tlachtga sprinkles some droplets of shining water on you.


I'll tend to this soldier. You should go on... The stairs to the 4th floor aren't far...
As she speaks, Tlachtga points you to the back of the room.
I'll stay here until you defeat Fenrir. Come back if your wounds become too severe.
Tlachtga turns away, her attention focused on treating the collapsed soldier's wounds. The way is clear to continue forth.


We must return to town! I have new theories to implement...
_{Emmett?
Wait, I can guess. You're going to ask me to volunteer and sabotage his experiments, yes? Save us all the trouble?
I'll buy you drinks at the Golden Deer Pub after it's done...}



When that happens, I have to ask the Guildmaster to settle accounts... But that won't happen with you, will it?
We're...not even going to use this place any more.




It's tough, but flexible. Just my kind of armor! I gave y'reward to t'lady at t'pub, so go get it from her. If somet'in' else comes up, I'll post anot'er job. I hope you'll help me wit' t'at one too!
I'll...leave this armor on display, thanks.


Y'explorers are an amazing bunch, y'know t'at? Y'find somet'in new every day.



I received a letter from the Master back in Ontario. He requested that we send him a certain item. I tried to find a way to get it myself, but unfortunately it can only be found within the forest...





Oh, decided to take that request? Good, I've been hoping someone would.
This guy again?
As you've probably figured out by now, this request comes from that same merchant you've worked with before. He was so thrilled with the results he got from the place you showed him last time, that he's asking again. This time, he wants you to locate a place where he can mine. You can find him here in the pub. Would you go speak with him yourself?
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. The client entered the Labyrinth to gather materials, but was attacked by monsters and crippled by her injuries. She thought she was a goner, but a bear appeared, scared off her attackers, and took her to the outskirts of town.
...Huh?
I didn't know bears did that kind of thing.
She wants to give the bear a gift, but she hasn't recovered from her wounds yet, so she's posted this job. I know, I was surprised when I heard it, too, but she certainly didn't look like she was lying. But is a bear really capable of something like that...? Oh, sorry. Anyway, go carry out the request, okay? Here's the gift the client wants given to the bear.



Take this gift to the bear's den in the southern area of B3F. Be careful, now.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. The Guildmaster at the Explorers Guild made this request, but he didn't explain the details to me. Normally, it's my responsibility to know everything about the jobs that get posted here, but he refused to say. I'm sorry, but you'll have to speak with him at the Explorers Guild if you want to find out what to do.








Keep up this pace with your other quests, too, okay?







Oh, Tenebris. Are you taking part in the quest to defeat Fenrir?
The terror of Fenrir? Fenrir does not know true terror, until it has met my detaching thumb!
What he means is "yep."
There are other powerful enemies aside from the wolves in the forest, so be careful. For example, the Giraffa Beetle. Many adventurers underestimated it, and were defeated by its Strike Up. This attack has penetration power, and can reach into the back line of an adventuring party. If a party's healers or support fall, the people in the front will be in grave danger. Please, do not underestimate the Giraffa Beetle... Or pierce attacks in general. And so ends my lecture.
Urgh... That was difficult... How pathetic, a man of my caliber...! Ha... I'm so angry with myself!
The heck happened to you to make you talk like that?
Me, slayer of thousands of monsters... Forgetting his Ariadne Thread...!
Oh no, you poor thing...
Having to walk home, at the limits of my strength... Even the Hall avoids issuing missions that dangerous! Ha... But I faced that challenge, and I overcame it... So... That makes me... That makes me a legend!
Believe what you want to believe.


Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. Go to Shilleka's Goods and ask her what materials she needs. She was really happy about that Bone Armor job you did for her. We'll be counting on you now, too.








Is he going back into the Labyrinth again? I really think it's too dangerous for someone like him on B3F...
Not my problem.
But--
Not my problem.
In any case, thank you for your help. Here is the reward.













We graciously accepted your request for assistance.
Oh, so you guys are doing it...
Is-- Is there a problem?
Oh, uh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. Anyway, let's talk about the job. It's not a big deal. I just want you to bring me three Crabappless that you can take from the 1st Stratum. When you get 'em, bring them to me directly, and not to the pub. That's it. I'm counting on you.
So, how's the mission going? It'd be great if you could get rid of those beasts soon.
We're working on it, we're working on it!



All adventurers are allowed to access these records at any time. Just come speak to me if you want to see them.


How'd you guess?
Let's see... I need... Um... One Andradite. I'll use it t'make an accessory t'at I t'ink you'll find useful! I'm lookin' forward t'makin' t'at one!



Bug collections.
Byeah.
Wahaha! They're forming up on their own!



Byeah.




Byeah.
You hand him three Crabapples.
Thank you. Mission complete.
Cheeseburgers.
Byeah.
_{Why are we letting them--}
Shush!
...Ugh. I hate it when adventurers don't get told the reasons why they get hired, so I've got to explain. The Crabapples I had you fetch are for my kids. They love Crabapples. The other day, they were bugging me to get some for them. I know, I could've gone out and picked some myself, but I've been too busy with work lately. So there you have it. Thanks, Tenebris. But don't go yapping about this, okay? I've got my dignity to keep. Make this a secret to everybody! ...So, yeah. That's it. You can pick up the reward at the pub.








I will take full responsibility of them and send it to the manor. I already have the reward for you here. Please, take this.









All right, t'Skarn Barette's done! T'anks t'you, my shop's selection has really expanded. I've really gotta hand it to you! Y'reward's wit' t'lady at t'pub, just like last time. Go talk t'her to get it.








Keep up the pace with the other quests, too, okay?













Hey, can you tell me what the Guildmaster needed you to do?
Isn't that supposed to be between client and fulfillers?
You're right. I shouldn't be asking about something the client wanted to keep confidential. ...I need to reflect on that. Thank you for reminding me. Here's your reward. I'm counting on you if something else comes up.








You slowly peek into the den's entrance and see a large shadow. The bear is obviously at home. Perhaps luckily for you, the bear is sleeping. You need to consider how to present the gift to the bear.
Howzabout we just leave it outside?
You aren't far from the den, so you decide to leave the gift where you are, believing the bear will find it. The bear is deep in slumber. There is no indication that you have woken it. The quest has been completed. All that remains is to return to the pub and report your actions.









Welcome back. I see you've completed the request. A bear saving a person, and the person then giving something to the bear in return... It's like a fairy tale. I wonder if you'll get a present from the bear in turn, since you were nice to it.
To be honest, with the feats that bear has--
Ha, I'm just kidding.
Oh.
I'll let the client know her present was delivered, so you can go now.






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