Update 8: Bears in the Jungle



...My word, Quixote, you need to take better care of yourself.
I am the picture of perfect health! There is absolutely nothing wrong with me!
Except for various muscles in your arms atrophying from disuse, owing to your chains--
These chains play important roles for my mastery of terror!
--And the chains themselves are leaving terrible welts all over your chest and upper arms. Do try to keep them a bit looser, okay?
No.
I'm also concerned your voice might give out, due to your age, if you keep shouting like that.
My vocal chords have been finely honed throughout all my years of existence, and I will keep using them how I like!
...I've never met a group of people more resistant to proper medical care than most of my guildmates...





Hm. Those slimes are quite agile, given that they have no limbs.
That's something to be concerned about, yes?
If you don't like being covered in slime, yes.

...What did I hit, anyway?


Munch, much, munch! These horns are absolutely disgusting!
...The horns are used for vision...?


Eww. [Hey, Elly, do you have anything to clean this gunk off my spear?]
[I don't know what that gel is made of, and I'm hesitant to do anything to it.]













[I've met a lotta bears in forests. Didn't know they were common in jungles.]
[They're not. They're really, really not.]





Your arms are too well-built! How will you attract mates that are not interested in large arms?!



Never trust a sloth.






Whatever it is reflects the light shining upon it down toward you. You consider making the effort to retrieve whatever's in the branches.



Let me try. I've been taking tree-climbing lessons from Afon...
[I've told her she'd be better off with a spear to help with climbing, but she won't listen.]
[A spear? Why?]
[Tell ya later.]
Despite initial trouble climbing its slick trunk, Sigrid eventually manages to reach the branches. Once there, Sigrid sees that the reflective object is a sword lodged into the wood.
How in the world did this get up here?
Sigrid pulls it from the branch and slides back down the tree. Though the sword's blade is rusted and seems unfit for use in combat, you decide to take it with you.







You trace the scent to some food on the ground, most likely left behind by another explorer. It's hardtack, an emergency ration popular with explorers. It may yet be edible even if it has lain out for days. If you wish, you can sate your hunger with the hardtack, or simply ignore it and leave it where it lies.
No.
Emergency ration or no, you feel sure that eating food off the ground can only spell disaster for your bowels. You shrug off your intense hunger in favor of leaving at once.


[What kind of noise do bees make?]
[Imagine the letter Z. Now imagine it several times more.]

Maybe I should've...bundled up...

I never asked to see what bees the size of birds were like.


Now now, Sigrid, wake up, you've got plenty left to do.


I wonder where that golden sheen comes from.






[Isn't it kinda weird these things are always marked with, like, flowers?]
[The Labyrinth is inexplicable, most of the time. Learn that.]
[Elly, c'mon, I'm not dumb.]
[I-I, it was just something my father--] Dammit...
[Again with the adorable sign stuttering!]




Serendipitously, you detect no bees protecting it at the moment. This may be a good opportunity to reach into the hive and collect its honey.
Ooh, honey! Throwing this at peoples' feet would be an excellent--
Please don't shout, that's going to--
Just as your hand is nearly into the hive, you hear an intense buzzing throughout the area! You swallow as you realize that the bees have completely surrounded you!
Alert the bees.
However, they are not attacking yet... If you abandon the hive now, you may still escape unscathed. You consider the situation carefully before making your decision...
We're not getting away. Attack now.
Now, where did I put my anti-toxins...
To flee now would avail you nothing. You ready yourselves for battle, keen on getting at the hive at any cost. The bees, seeing the threat to their hive making no move to withdraw, launch their attack!





The fresh honey filling it oozes out... Words cannot describe the taste of the sweet-smelling honey. You cannot stop eating until all the honey is gone. Thanks to the honey, you feel your stamina replenished. Fully satisfied, you take your leave of the beehive.


I'll just put some of this in a jar...
For Afon, when we bring her back?
Correct.
Fearful that the bees may return while your hand is in their home, you leave off meddling with the hive.







But you know what? I'm pretty satisfied with how things turned out. I mean, I get to help adventurers!
[...Weirdo.]



T'at's probably why t'ere's so many what look up to 'em. I t'ink I was t'same way, which is why I do what I do. Actually, a bunch o' my friends became explorers, too...






We...already do that, though.
It is my job to make sure that all of you have a comfortable stay here.



Excellently! My prowess of raw, sheer terror has yet to be resisted by the monsters!
[But that dumb dog thing resisted you. A bunch.]
...Like I really have to ask. You kiddos look like you're having fun out there.


Gawrsh... I can't believe I lost my lucky short sword! My mom gave that to me! Aw, shuckballs! I got so excited in a fight, I threw it by accident, an' now I can't find it... I'm a terrible son... Dangit!
...This rusty sword wouldn't happen to be yours, would it?
Geez-oh-peets! That's my lost short sword! Aw, shucks! Thank you! Seriously! Wowza bo bowza!


That seems unsafe.
You can have this in exchange! Don't you worry about it! See ya!


[Couldn't lipread that kid at all. The heck was he saying?]
[I can't even guess how you would sign what he just said. Okay, actually, I have an idea. Try reading this.] Wow-za-bo-bow-za.
...Huh?
Hi. Have you been fighting monsters with a passion?
That's one way of putting it.
The monsters in the 2nd Stratum use ailments like poison and sleep... It makes fighting them so stimulating!
That is not one of the ways I would put it.
Oh, and they drop a bunch of interesting stuff, too. Hm hm. For example... Oh, you know what? I'm getting hungry.


Whole Roasted Leg!
...Leg of what?
Oh, juicy! Mmm... Wait, what kind of animal is this from? The menu changes here from day to day. Well, it tastes good anyway, so it doesn't matter. Now then, as thanks, I'll tell you something special. When fighting a Longisquama, try using a sword or whip attack to defeat it to get Cut Feathers. Hm hm hm. Have you ever touched it? It's thick, but soft and stretchy. Very interesting. The shop girl got all sparkle-eyed over it, saying she could use it to make shoes that block spikes. That seems useful, doesn't it? Perhaps you could try selling her some at the shop?
Hmm, what to order next... Oh, yes, Gradation Jelly!
Quixote, that's not even on the--
...Oh... What's that empty feeling you get when you finish eating something delicious?
...I just don't understand.
Well, in thanks for that moment of joy, why don't I tell you something about jelly...like the Venom Ooze? They're so soft, but when you push hard enough, they get all rigid. I always wondered how they did that, but it seems they make Condensed Mucus inside themselves in self-defense. You can get some if you open them up using an axe or a staff. It's one of nature's miracles, isn't it? Hm hm hm...
Finally, Mapo Gel!
[The heck is "mapo?"]
...!
[Judging by her face...]
Th-This is quite...spicy...
[Knew it!]
*ahem* Well, you bought it, so you deserve to know. Let me tell you about Binded Vine. Like the name says, you should bind the tendrils of a Fanged Vine. ...Oh, no. My hongue ih umb... Ho hot...
I have a favor to ask of you, adventurer. If you could sell some Vivid Petal to the shop, it would really help us. With that, I could make a tool that would blind monsters. Many adventurers have been asking for something like this, so... I hope to do business with you soon.
The forest is full of a variety of monsters, each with its own unique path of evolution. The monsters use a great many skills to survive in the wild... Take the Death Scorpion. While trying to catch its prey, it will use Numbing Sting. Just as the name implies, this attack causes both poisoning and paralysis in its victims at the same time.
Nothing out of the ordinary for scorpions.
N-nothing out of the ordinary?!
And the Petaloid, well... What can I say? Unlike Death Scorpion's Numbing Sting, the Sleep Powder affects everyone, and has led to many explorers' ends. Ailments have the potential to wipe out even the hardiest of guilds. And so ends my lecture.
Yo, you hear this rumor? Apparently there's a mystical spring that soothes both body and soul. It seems it's deep within B7F, but everyone who's found it says to stay well away from it. I wonder why? Could it be... I'm being lied to?
Oh, Tenebris. I know you! You're famous adventurers! I know everything!
Aww.
I even know that there are spiky plants on the second floor that hurt when you walk on them! Mommy said that. She said Daddy came home with shoes full of holes and made bloody footprints all over the floor!
...That's an...unpleasant mental image...
She was saying that if he had used an item, he wouldn't have worn out his shoes! Hee hee! I'm smart, huh? You be careful too, Tenebris. Or your Mommies will get mad at you for leaving bloody footprints!
[I don't think Rosa knows what being mad is.]


Ha. I heard the news, Tenebris... So, you finally defeated Fenrir!
Slightly slow on the uptake, there.
Huh? That was a while ago...? But everybody... Huh?! Oh, er, well... Uh, anyway... Congratulations.



Having a goal to work towards is important.


Quite impressive. Only a handful of adventurers are capable of reaching that far. You seem to be proceeding at a very good pace. I'm glad. Ah, I almost forgot. We of the Radha will be issuing a new mission today, and we hope you will assist us. If you have the time, I implore that you give it a try.


Well, uh.
Dragon's...egg?
Dragons exist?!
Finally! A chance to match my wits against a dragon!
You accept, then? Very good. Now then, let me give you the details. The 8th floor in the second Stratum is home to a legendary dragon. We don't know much of this Wyvern's ecology, but we're very eager to study it. So we'd like you to head to the Wyvern's nest and retrieve the Dragon Egg there. By studying the egg, we may learn a great deal about the Wyvern's habits. Take care, though. It will be extraordinarily difficult to beat the Wyvern as you are. Find a way to dodge the Wyvern and obtain its egg. Here are my notes on where we believe the egg could be on B8F. Review them when you're inside the Wyvern's nest.



I will be looking forward to your next report.


Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. Did you read the description? I posted that job. With so many new adventurers coming to town, I've been running low on utensils to serve people who come here. I want to get more utensils, but don't you think getting more of the same is just a waste of an opportunity? I was thinking that my customers would be happy if I started using metal utensils. Don't you think it'd be a lovely idea?

[Betcha if Momoe was here, she'd say something like "Not as lovely as you."]
"Not as lovely as you?"
My, aren't we the little lady-killer today? I'll take that as a compliment.
N-no, no, that wasn't--
Now then, in order to make these utensils, I need four Iron Shells. I hear that the Death Scorpion monsters on the 2nd Stratum drop them. That's a scary name, so be careful when you're going after them.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. This is another job from Ms. Meryl. Her next work requires Sharp Stinger. From what I hear, Sharp Stinger can be taken from Army Wasp on the 2nd Stratum. ...It seems her tastes have changed recently. That's too bad... Anyway, good luck.
Decided to take the request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. There used to be an old man in this town who grew a variety of flowers. His garden was quite beautiful. I've been there several times, myself. I heard that he passed away the other day. In his dying words, he said that he wanted someone to raise and plant the only flower he couldn't grow in town... According to him, the flower only blooms at a certain place within the Labyrinth. By the time he found the perfect spot on B7F to raise this flower... He was too weak to be able to travel there. I have the seeds to this plant. Why don't you try it out? For the sake of this old man's memory, I'm counting on you.
Decided to take that request, have you? Good, I've been hoping someone would. This time, your client is a botanist who recently came to Etria to research the monster plants of the Labyrinth. He figured he'd be able to get his information by posting jobs for the adventurers who go down there. He's just over there, waiting for someone to answer the request. Go ask him directly for the job details.


Ah, plants are wonderful. They never walk away when I talk to them about my feelings...
[Oh no.]
Hm? Who are you? Oh! Are you the adventurers who accepted my job?!
Yes.
N-- [Dammit, Elly.]
[Sorry.]
Oh, good, good! Thank you! Now I can further my research! I want you to find out more about the Petaloid! It's an adorable plant that lives on the Labyrinth's 2nd Stratum! I haven't been able to find any information about where exactly they dwell, however. So, I would like you to find out where the Petaloids grow and report to me. When you find it, come back to me. I'll be waiting here for the good news.

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