My Skill Bar is Full of Monster Skills-Chapter 132 - 119: The Barbarian and the Dwarf

Mill Town.

Inside the first-floor tavern of the Oak Inn.

A young girl, dressed in the Association’s receptionist attire, approached a man and a woman dining, and said, "Mr. Rein, Miss Elise, your promotion assessment tasks have been determined. If convenient, after your meal, you can visit the Association to check the detailed task information."

"So quickly?" Rein couldn’t help but put down the delicious Fighting Pig ribs he was holding, and at the same time, further realized the scarcity of healers in the Association.

Just as Liya said, with Elise, a Priest Class member here, the promotion assessment registration submitted in the afternoon had feedback in less than half a day.

"Yes, with Miss Elise, the promotion assessment application has been processed rapidly. Normally, if it were other classes, especially Warrior classes, it would take at least a week, sometimes even half a month," the girl said with a smile.

Rein nodded.

He was aware of this, given that Warriors form the largest group among Adventurers.

There are top-notch experts and ordinary adventurers just passing the time; most are the latter.

One hour later.

Inside a room in the Mill Town Adventurer’s Association.

"Mr. Rein, Miss Elise, here is the assessment task description." Liya handed Rein a thin parchment roll.

Rein immediately took it and began to read it carefully:

[Task Number]: Dorne City K-132

[Type]: Investigation

[Reward]: 6~12 Gold Coins (Outstanding performance can earn additional points)

[Task Description]: In the southwestern Azure Mine in a deserted branch, an Adventurer Squad once discovered Gray Dwarf activity. Subsequently, due to the mine collapse, the investigation was interrupted. Recently, according to some miners from Azure Mine, some have sighted Gray Dwarves and Kobolds deep within the mine.

Please ascertain the approximate number of Gray Dwarves.

[Completion Proof]: Each assessor must submit any item that represents Gray Dwarves, such as weapons, braids, etc. If there are Gray Dwarf corpses, the reward increases.

[Time Limit]: 7 days.

"Hmm?" Elise and Rein exchanged a glance, noticing surprise in each other’s eyes.

Isn’t this a continuation of the Gray Dwarf incident they discovered last time?

"Didn’t the Association continue investigating this matter later?" Rein couldn’t help but ask.

"It was reported to Dorne City. Later, I heard the Dorne City officials, seemingly... Judge from Dorne City suggested, no Gray Dwarf corpses were found, and the number of other verified items wasn’t sufficient, so it got shelved."

"This follow-up investigation, I heard, is also at the behest of the Association’s higher-ups. After all, Gray Dwarves are an evil race and pose a significant threat to humans."

Rein nodded.

This involves higher-level matters, which he is somewhat unfamiliar with.

Wait, Judge from Dorne City is Reya’s father, isn’t he?

This made Rein glance at Elise, and Elise too had a furrowed brow, clearly pondering this matter.

Of course, this doesn’t affect anything.

Rather, Rein felt a sense of ’a rare opportunity’ delight.

Remembering that time their whole squad was nearly ambushed to death by Gray Dwarves, although they ended up killing two Gray Dwarves and escaping the mine, there was always a sense of frustration.

And thereafter, if not considering Laisa’s special situation, it led to two assassination attempts...

With promotions and gaining stronger monster bloodlines, Rein somewhat has the desire to proactively solve the problem once and for all.

Of course, this doesn’t mean Rein would be careless; facing the unknown underground mine conditions, necessary caution is still a must; just that he is no longer who he was months ago.

"Mr. Rein, it’s surprising that the upper echelon indeed considered your opinion. It seems, your Special Class is quite valued by the top," Liya said with a smile.

"Oh? Is Special Class rare?"

"Not really, two or three out of ten. However, most special classes are specialties within the class, like Two-Handed Swordsman, Great Swordsman, Shield Master within Warriors. Mr. Rein’s type that spans across Warrior Series and Mage Series is relatively rarer."

Rein nodded.

Though that’s what was said.

But he feels it’s probably because those at the top saw his adventure record, having discovered and even killed Gray Dwarves in the Azure Mine for the first time, which led to the arrangement of this task.

Of course, there’s no solid evidence; it’s just a subtle feeling he has.

Especially after Laisa told him about the situation, Rein increasingly feels as though there’s a powerful dark cloud hand hovering over Dorne City.

"By the way, the task starts tomorrow morning, and the other four members will arrive at eight-thirty tomorrow morning, here in this Association room."

....

Meanwhile.

The basement of Baron Olsen’s Castle.

"I’m Laisa, um... considered the friend of Rein and Elise, I guess." Laisa hesitated when mentioning the word ’friend’.

Initially an assassin, she gradually became familiar with Rein and Elise, and though she regards the two as friends, she’s unsure if they see her the same way.

I think they would, right?

She wasn’t very confident...

But thinking of their satisfied expressions while eating her grilled spider leg and Frost Blade Leopard filet, she believes they should see her as a friend.

"Hello, Miss Laisa, but... I’ve never seen you, nor heard Elise mention you." Despite the leather-clad girl in front saying this, Reya still wasn’t entirely convinced.

After all, she neither heard Rein mention the other nor Elise talk about her.

The leather-clad girl before her seemed composed, and even exceeded her aura, suggesting she might be a Level 2 or even 3 Wanderer or Ranger.

With such a friend, it’s odd that neither of them ever mentioned it.

What’s even stranger is that the girl recognized her right away?

Actually, in some sense, it’s Elise’s fault in the last letter to Reya, only mentioning ’Farad Manor’ and some implied matters without mentioning Laisa.

"Perhaps it’s because we just met not long ago." Laisa felt embarrassed to share her story at this moment.

How could she explain?

She was actually there to assassinate Raine and later became friends?

Not to mention whether Reya in front of her would believe it; even she herself wouldn’t believe it.

"That’s not the point. The point is that the patrol will be here soon, approximately every quarter of an hour they come in for a round of patrol."

"About five minutes before the next patrol."

Upon hearing Laisa’s words, Reya immediately felt tense and hurriedly asked:

"Miss Laisa, have you seen a middle-aged man named Baron Olsen being held here?"

"Baron Olsen, you mean the owner of this castle?" Having been imprisoned here for some time, Laisa had also learned about the situation here from the prison staff.

"Yes." Reya nodded quickly, with a hopeful glimmer in her eyes.

"He seems to be in the cell at the very end, but I haven’t seen him myself."

"That’s great!"

"Eh? You are... Baron Olsen’s daughter?" Laisa seemed to realize something, her eyes brightening.

"Is there any way to get you guys out?" Reya hesitated for a moment, not directly answering the question, but instead posed another inquiry.

"It’s impossible just by yourself... Also, at this time, I guess the upper echelons of Dorne City have already..." Laisa thought for a moment, shook her head, and said.

But then, as if struck by an idea, Laisa added, "Unless... you can find Raine in the next few days and have him rescue us. There might be a chance."

"Raine?" Reya was somewhat surprised and confused.

She didn’t understand why this experienced adventurer had such confidence in Raine.

"Didn’t he just get promoted to his classes?"

"Hmm? Raine finally got promoted? It’s a special classes, isn’t it? No wonder he was able to kill Zoel." Laisa’s lips curved slightly, recalling the scene of hunting the Frost Blade Leopard and Ice Spirit with Raine.

"Zoel?" Reya was even more puzzled, sensing that Miss Laisa seemed to have an unusual relationship with Raine, but it didn’t seem particularly close.

"Yes, an assassin of at least Level 5 Classes."

"What?" Reya’s eyes widened, wearing an expression of disbelief as she looked at Laisa.

Freshly promoting, even if it was a special classes, being able to kill a Level 5 Classes assassin?

If they were outside, Reya would definitely drag Raine over to correct this lie.

"Alright, I know you don’t believe it, but you might as well go ask Raine. After all, I’m imprisoned now and can’t collaborate stories, right?" Laisa shrugged and said.

"Find Raine and have him rescue your father; that’s the most reliable way I’ve thought of."

"Of course, if you could publish a rescue mission from the Shapeshifter-controlled castle at the Adventurer’s Association, it’s also a method."

"But the problem is, as a neutral organization, the Adventurer’s Association has always been cautious about directly intervening in human internal conflicts. Setting aside whether you have the qualifications, even if you do, the Association’s review would take several days."

"This doesn’t even account for leaks of information."

"What’s more troubling is, on the night of All Saints’ Day three days from now, we will all be sacrificed." Saying this, Laisa’s eyes showed some despondency.

"Sacrifice?" This shocked Reya.

She hadn’t expected that when she just found her father and got some clues to the whole thing, they would immediately face such a dire situation.

"Yes. Lilith, a Demon Mage of at least Level 7 Classes, will sacrifice all of us."

Just as Laisa was about to elaborate, suddenly.

"Clang~"

The sound of the iron gate opening resounded!

"Quick, go! Remember, find Raine!" Laisa gestured for Reya to go quickly.

"Alright!"

Though Reya was still filled with questions, what the other party said was not unreasonable.

At least when she found Raine, she would know if he was truly a friend.

Reya quickly knelt, curling herself back into the sewer tunnel and moving the stone slab back to its original position, then swiftly heading back in the direction she came from.

’Find Raine?’

’With only three days... in that case, I’d better head to Mill Town immediately.’ Reya thought to herself.

Under normal circumstances, a caravan would take three days to travel from Dorne City to Mill Town, but if riding a warhorse, it would only take one day.

However, time should be reserved for finding someone as well.

’In case Raine is on an external mission... Oh no! In my first letter, I suggested they both undertake the promotion tasks first.’

’Hopefully, the Association hasn’t quickly arranged the promotion tasks for the two of them.’

...

The next morning.

When Raine and Elise, as agreed, arrived at the small meeting room used as a gathering point at the Association, carrying some excitement and joy, they unexpectedly heard quarrels coming from inside.

"Shorty, I didn’t expect you to be here, too." A deep voice, sounding like someone speaking with a mouthful of nuts, made Raine roughly guess the other party’s race.

"Green-skinned barbarian, no one wants to be in a team with you, a fool who goes crazy after drinking a bit of alcohol!" A low, thick voice sounded.

"Shrimp, what did you say! I haven’t settled the matter of you jumping up and hitting my belly with a wine cup last night!" The tone suddenly increased; evidently, the term ’green-skinned barbarian’ touched a certain sensitive point for the speaker.

"Fool, if you hadn’t spilled my drink in a drunken frenzy, would I have hit you? When you’re in a drunken frenzy, you’re no different from a provoked ogre, teaming up with you is worse than partnering with a goblin! At least a goblin wouldn’t harm teammates."

The low voice also visibly grew agitated.

"A goblin?! Damn shorty, you should be the one to be brothers with a goblin, shorty! Slag!"

At the doorway, Raine and Elise exchanged glances, surprised that their Association-assigned teammates were already having a shouting match before even meeting face to face!