1: Chapter 1 Stinky Fish and Shrimp 1: Chapter 1 Stinky Fish and Shrimp [Old Standard Longsword]
Type: One Handed Sword
Level: Ordinary (White)
25 Grey Skinned Rats, 12 goblins, and even a Bear Goblin…
Buddy, how can you expect more from it.
– Qian Tieliu, Legendary Sword Saint, Vice-Captain of the “Eternal Radiant Throne” Adventure Group, Titus
“This should be my Golden Finger, right?”
Beside the campfire, Xia Nan stared at the longsword laid across his knees, murmuring to himself.
This was his second day after crossing into this world.
In his past life, Xia Nan hadn’t experienced any major ups and downs.
Coming from a well-off family, he got into a fairly decent university through studying and exams.
After graduation, he went with the flow and joined an internet company, enjoying the “996 blessings”, and eventually became a department supervisor by his thirty-second birthday.
After the celebration party, he drunkenly rejected his colleagues’ offer to take him home and decided to walk, hoping the night wind would sober him up.
Unexpectedly, shortly after stepping out of the restaurant, he heard an urgent horn and screeching brakes behind him as he walked the night road.
Then everything went dark, and he found himself in this world, reborn in the body of an eighteen-year-old youth.
He let out a silent sigh, feeling a bit distracted by his memories.
The attribute panel, visible only to him hovering above the One Handed Sword, also faded away.
Inheriting all the boy’s memories, he gained some understanding of the world he had traveled to.
The good news is, this world truly is a fantasy world with Transcendent power.
Whether it’s the Minstrel from his childhood memories, lodging in the village and performing a few tricks to cover his meals, or the robust barbarian with a glowing Dual Handed Axe passing by the tavern recently, it all proved this point.
But the bad news is, in this life, he is just an ordinary farmer worrying about his next meal.
Aside from some modern knowledge from his previous life, most of his skills are about things like “how to farm with less effort” or “what crops to plant in corresponding seasons”, completely unrelated to this world’s Transcendent power.
It’s not that Xia Nan has any bias against the professions providing life essentials.
In fact, he often imagined leaving the big city for a simple pastoral life once he made enough money.
However, in this world, a few patches of farmland can’t support a big family.
And that’s why he left his village and ventured into the dangerous wilderness.
Xia Nan withdrew his gaze from the One Handed Sword.
Slightly raising his head, he looked ahead.
This is a very rudimentary camp, with no tents, only a few sleeping bags scattered around the bonfire.
Various figures were sitting scattered around the campfire.
Accompanied by the crackling of the fire, a few murmurs could be faintly heard without knowing what they were discussing.
Human, Dwarf, Half orc.
It seems like a classic four-person adventurer team setup.
But in reality, Xia Nan could blatantly say they are just a Stinky Fish and Shrimp Group.
The Dwarf “Elki”, with his race’s 500-year lifespan, doesn’t gain any advantages at his early twenties age.
His knowledge and experience are even less than an eighteen-year-old facing sunrise and sunset farmer.
Wearing two daggers at his waist, looking the part, like some kind of assassin professional.
But actually, Elki is a genuine right-hander who can barely hold a fork with his left hand, let alone a knife — Xia Nan had seen him take a full three minutes to use his left hand to unbuckler the bracer on his right arm.
The only thing slightly above average might just be his family-claimed cheerful mindset and untimely sense of humor.
Although supposedly a “half orc”, Xia Nan estimated he possessed only about one-thirty-second of Beastman blood or even less.
Because aside from slightly pointed canine teeth and a robust build, he almost looked no different from an average human.
But anyway, he could barely be considered a frontline—”at least the beasts in the jungle can get a few more bites in,” as Elki the Dwarf put it.
The last member, who is also the leader of the “Stinky Fish and Shrimp Group”.
Magi, the human Hunter.
He is probably the most reliable member of their group.
He was supposedly a renowned Hunter in several villages on the western border of the Kingdom, but had to flee home after offending some dignitary.
Elki seems to know a bit of the inside story about it.
“Ah, woman.” He said when it was brought up once.
In short, a right-hander, mutt, hunter, and farmer is the entire composition of their group.
Normally, at least in Xia Nan’s mind, a standard adventurer team should include a warrior, priest, mage, and probably an assassin or ranger.
The typical war-magic-priest combo.
But for the Stinky Fish and Shrimp Group, it’s undoubtedly too extravagant a wish.
Not to mention rare Spellcasters, the team doesn’t even have a low-level professional.
Even the most experienced hunter “Magi” is a long way from becoming a “Ranger” and obtaining his first Professional Level.
In some way, labeling their group as an “adventurer squad” is elevating Xia Nan and his teammates.
Of course, it’s not that this world lacks professionals.
It’s just that each profession’s initiation conditions are rather demanding.
Without extraordinary luck or a wealth of resources, ordinary people cannot touch that level in their lifetime.
After all, the bounty for just one goblin is three silver and seven copper coins—that’s almost two days’ salary for a dock worker!
High risk and high reward are what all intelligent beings in this world agree define an “adventurer.”
And this is precisely why the Stinky Fish and Shrimp Group came here.
“It’s half a day’s journey to the sighting spot mentioned in the mission report.” Hunter Magi sat by the campfire, organizing his quiver, “We should arrive by tomorrow morning.”
“Wow, that’s an entire goblin troop, man!
I’ve never taken on such a big job!”
Elki waved the dagger in his right hand, face reflecting excitement in the firelight, though his small stature made him look a bit ludicrous.
“What, are you scared?” The half orc grinned sinisterly, “Don’t worry, they’re just green-skinned little rats, the same size as you.
I can crush two with my toes alone.”
Elki nodded in mock seriousness, fully agreeing:
“A tough guy like you for sure doesn’t cry out for mommy during sleep talking at night.”