CHAPTER 41: MISTY MILLIE

Rhys blinked as the system notifications faded, their glow lingering in his vision for a moment longer than usual.

His breath caught in his throat—not from exertion, but from awe. Mana Essence? He had always suspected that his mana was somehow different from others’. Whenever he saw other players use skills, their mana felt weak compared to his own. But he had brushed it off as imagination.

Now, it made sense.

The bond with Puddle, an Ancient Creature, had likely altered his mana as well. It wasn’t just ordinary mana flowing through him anymore—it was something entirely different. Something purer. Something far more powerful.

When he looked up again, the fairy was watching him closely, her expression unreadable.

"Well... who are you, by the way?" he asked as she paused, then answered softly, "My name is Milie. Misty Milie, and I am a fairy from the Moon Fairy Tribe."

She shifted slightly, her wings fluttering as she looked down. "I... I’ve been tied to this forest," she said, her voice heavy with the weight of someone haunted by old choices—like a guardian bound by duty and past mistakes.

"Tied here?" Rhys asked, frowning. "By the way, I’m Rhys. But please, just call me Blade—that’s my Adventurer name," he added with a casual nod.

Milie gave him a faint smile. "So, Mr. Blade... since you’re an adventurer, may I ask for your help?"

Before he could reply, she raised her hand—and a soft glow shimmered in front of him as a notification appeared:

{ Hidden Quest Activated }

[The Fairy Milie has been bound to the Hollow Forest for over 100 years. Help her break free.]

→ Reward: Moon Fairy’s Blessing

"How can I help?" he asked.

Milie smiled gently, her wings fluttering once as she stepped to the side and gestured toward the trees.

"You can help me by getting rid of the one who is the true source of this corrupted mana," she said, her voice laced with quiet urgency. She pointed toward the base of the distant mountain, where the trees grew darker and denser. "If you keep heading west, you’ll eventually reach a large cave carved out of the mountain. That’s where he resides."

Rhys narrowed his eyes. "Who exactly are we talking about?"

Milie’s expression darkened. "A Skeleton Lord. He’s the one spreading the corruption through this forest."

Rhys raised an eyebrow. "A Skeleton Lord? Aren’t they usually low-rank undead? Level 80 or so?"

Milie nodded. "Yes, but this one is... different. He may be level 80, but his presence twists the land like an elite boss. He’s far more dangerous than his kind should be."

Rhys exhaled slowly, then gave a confident nod. "Alright. I’ll take care of him."

"Thank you. Truly," Milie said with rare warmth. Then, in a sudden and gentle gesture, she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

A system notification appeared instantly:

[You have received the Mark of the Fairy.]

[Mark of the Moon Fairy: Increases all stats by 15% under moonlight.]

Rhys touched his cheek, surprised—but not displeased.

"...Thank you," he said softly, as Milie continued to smile brightly.

"Alright then, I’m heading out," he added as he turned to leave, casting one last glance at the serene clearing. The forest beyond awaited.

Puddle bounced onto his shoulder with a cheerful kyuu, sensing the shift in mood.

"Okay, buddy," Rhys said with a grin. "Let’s go level up by jumping into the fire."

The little slime wobbled with excitement in response, and together, they stepped forward into the shadowed forest, the glow of the Moonpetal Flower fading behind them.

Rhys paused just outside the clearing, checking his status window with a quick swipe.

[Level: 51]

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Level 51, huh? Not bad... but not good enough for what’s coming."

He glanced over at Puddle, who bounced lightly on his shoulder, glowing faintly. "Alright, buddy. It’s time to level up. We’re not going west yet. First, we’re gonna sweep through this area—hunt down everything we can find around this tree."

The slime bobbled eagerly, releasing a kyuuu! that echoed with determination.

Rhys turned back toward the twisted forest, eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings. The corrupted mana was still dense, but weaker than it had been deeper in the Hollow. That likely meant lower-ranked beasts—nothing too dangerous for him now.

Still, they’d do.

He moved quickly, using the Moonpetal clearing as a temporary base. For hours, he and Puddle swept through the forest, engaging in quick and brutal encounters.

– A pack of [Shadow Imps] tried ambushing them from the branches—Rhys incinerated them mid-air with [Light Bullets] and followed up with [Whirlwind Slash], scattering the survivors.

– A lone [Rotwood Stag], its antlers dripping with acidic sap, charged from the mist. Puddle reacted first, casting [Light Shield], allowing Rhys to take the hit and counter with [Halo Spear], pinning it to a tree trunk in a flash of holy light.

– A group of [Wailing Wisps] floated near a collapsed ruin, attempting to drain Rhys’s mana. But Puddle unleashed [Dark Mist], disrupting their senses, giving Rhys the chance to burn them all in one sweep with [Radiant Pulse].

By the time the moon rose high overhead, the area was littered with the remains of defeated monsters—and loot. Rhys had been collecting everything useful: cores, alchemical ingredients, old gear to break down later, and especially mana crystals.

[ You have gained EXP. ]

[ Level Up! ]

[ Level Up! ]

[ Level Up! ]

[ Current Level: 54 ]

"Three levels in one sweep," Rhys murmured, stretching as he leaned against a rock near the clearing again. "Not bad. And it’s not even over."

Puddle chirped in approval, a shimmer of mana dancing over its gelatinous form.

Rhys picked up one of the larger monster drops—a [Twisted Beast Core]—and held it up to the moonlight. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "if this keeps up, we might be ready to face that Skeleton Lord way sooner than I thought."

He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, eyes flickering with quiet resolve.

"Let’s keep going, Puddle. We’ll rest when this entire corrupted grove is clean."