A New Life In The Beast World-Chapter 158: Another Mission Completed

Dinner ended up being a quick affair as the rabbit beastmen, specifically the cubs, could not handle the unexpected cold wind that blew once the sun had set. It was only one day into the cold season and the shift was almost immediate.

Serena made plans to meet up with the others tomorrow before they left. She then helped Theo finish cleaning up and they both decided to call it a night too.

Because even if they could handle the cold, neither one wanted to test it out. Not when they could easily stay warm instead. For the most part anyway.

They still needed to use furs to keep out the chill as the hut only kept out most of the elements and there was a light draft coming from the door. They would probably have to look into that problem soon.

Once Kiro fell asleep and Theo was dozing, Serena entered her subspace. She’d been neglecting her training and research a little and needed to catch up on it.

"Finally!" Liz exclaimed, hopping out of the basket it was curled up in the moment it spotted Serena. "I thought you’d never return."

"Stop being dramatic." Serena muttered dryly as she went to grab her books. "Did I complete that mission?"

"Yes." Liz nodded its head, laying down in the center of the crowded room. "You have been awarded 100 EXP and have met the requirements to level up. Would you like to use 50 EXP?"

"I mean that was the whole point of the mission." Serena mused. She then went still and asked, "But before I confirm anything... Are there any setbacks to doing this?"

"Not really." Liz answered. "The level up is automatic. Why? Do you need the system for something?"

"I’ll probably just need you for research." Serena stated, holding up her stack of books before settling down. "I need to catch up on my work. I’ll be meeting with the Council this week and want to have my plan sorted by then."

She had about three months to finalize everything and get the ball rolling before the rainy season came in. By then, she hoped to get the city layout completed with some farmland creation done.

Additionally, they needed the exploration team and negotiation team to be sorted out. Not to mention, she needed to finish up on those mini-projects of hers - the wheat project and the cotton clothing project.

Which was what she wanted to focus on today.

She’d been keeping it to the side for some time now, but seeing as it was now the cold season and really didn’t need to go foraging, Serena wanted to spend her time working on this project.

She wasn’t going to be much help with the grinder, so she might as well get this one going. Because who knew how much work she needed to do.

"It’s always work with you." Liz grumbled. "Do you even know how to have fun?"

"Just use the EXP to level up." Serena stated, instantly changing the subject.

Liz narrowed its eyes at the snow leopard beastwoman before doing as it was told. Its eyes flashed for a moment before it said, "You have reached Level 2. 250 EXP is required to reach the next level. Rewards have been adjusted to current level."

"Adjusted?" Serena questioned.

"Basically you get an extra 500 coins per mission completed now." Liz explained. It paused for a moment before it added, "Oh and it looks like you have some more missions..."

Serena pursed her lips as those words. The coin reward wasn’t bad, however, she wasn’t that desperate for coins as before. Her goal had changed and now she only needed coins for things in the shop.

Mostly skill books, but she had been more open to other items recently. Although she was also trying to limit her dependence on that too. Because one day, the system would be gone and she wouldn’t be able to rely on it any more.

As for missions... She already had enough on her plate as it was.

Finally Serena asked, "So what are these missions?"

"I’m so glad you asked." Liz murmured sarcastically before getting serious. "You have two new missions. Your forest mission is to increase your popularity within the village. You’ll be rewarded one fabric making book and 1500 coins upon completion."

Serena frowned at the system’s words, knowing this couldn’t be a coincidence. It was trying to force her hand again by using something she needed.

"Why do I need to increase my popularity?" Serena questioned, not yet ready to decline the mission.

She didn’t want to lose her one chance at getting that damn book. Which was her one way of learning how to make fabric from cotton. Well there was one other way...

But that required a ton of trial and error and time.

Something she didn’t quite have. She wanted the fabrics ready by the rainy season so they could start producing quite a bit and reduce the village’s need for furs. Plus it was bound to get the Horse Clan’s attention.

Though they’d probably need to keep it on the down low until they had the route secured. After all, they didn’t need the Forest City figuring out what they were really up to.

Not until it was too late.

"Because you need friends." Liz stated dryly. It then sighed, "Seriously though, your charisma stats are low right now and you need to increase it if you want to keep bullshiting your way through everything."

Serena pursed her lips at those words, not sure what to make of it. Did Liz really need to make such a snark comment about her lying? Though admittedly she did deserve it

She had ’bullshitted’ her way out of a lot of things... Even if she was coming clean with some of them to Theo.

Finally Serena murmured, "While I see your point... How the hell am I even going to do this? What counts as increasing my popularity?"

"Beastmen liking you, others coming to you for help or advice, getting closer with your neighbours... Do you even know who your closest neighbours are?" Liz asked.

Liz got her there.

"No I don’t really..." Serena sighed, rubbing her forehead as she felt a headache coming on. "Fine... I guess I’ll accept it. Can’t really say no."

"You always have a choice." Liz stated, earning a pointed look for Serena. It then coughed, "But mission has been accepted."

"What’s the other mission?" Serena asked.

"Your second mission... Hold on there’s been a change. You need to save Asdea’s priestess Merinda." Liz said, making Serena freeze.

"Save?! What the-" Serena cried out.

"LET ME FINISH!" Liz shouted. Serena fell silent and gazed at the kitten. It then muttered, "It seems using her power took more energy than she thought... and she’s sick now.... Though something has gone wrong and you need to save the rabbit beastwoman. She can’t die now... It’s not her time."

"Is this Fate’s doing?" Serena questioned immediately.

"Likely..." Liz scoffed. "It wasn’t exactly a fan of the priestresses. Wouldn’t be surprised if they bent their rules to pull this stunt."

Serena pursed her lips at that. The Beast God was meant to be taking care of Fate and keeping it from finding Liz and herself. So was this perhaps bait?

"I know what you’re thinking... and it’s indeed a risk." Liz stated. "But it won’t be good if the village loses her now."

Serena had to agree with that. If Merinda died now, the village wouldn’t lose just their priestess, but also the village chief and three elders. It would definitely throw this place into chaos at the worst time possible.

"Fine, how do I save her?" Serena asked, not caring about the rewards.

There were bigger things to worry about than what she could get out of this.

"Healer Kai’s medicine should be enough, thankfully... But they’ll need several crystals because she’s lacking energy." Liz stated. "A purple one would work..."

But she had used her only one already. Serena let out a curse. She didn’t regret helping out Jason, but this was the worst possible timing.

"Thankfully though your level up has introduced a new feature. Crystal Exchange." Liz explained. "Ten clear crystals will be enough for one purple one... Which should be enough for Merinda."

That was all her clear crystals. But she had to do it. There was no point in hoarding those crystals with stakes like this.

"Do the exchange." Serena ordered. "And I accept the mission."

"But you haven’t-" Liz started.

"I don’t care." Serena said, straightening up. "This is a matter of urgency is it not?"

Liz stayed quiet for a moment before it nodded its head in agreement. "It is... Mission has been accepted. You have one hour to complete it... Processing exchange."

Serena moved to where she kept her crystals, watching as the clear crystals disappeared and were replaced with one purple crystal. The moment it appeared, Serena grabbed it and exited her subspace.