Untitled Chicken Quest (1)
1426 Words
After a light dinner consisting of soy garlic chicken and dalandalan (a type of citrus fruit) juice, I go to bed and take myself on a trip to dreamland.
The next morning.
I'm now refreshed... but I still feel grimy.
It's off to the bathroom, then.
Alright, breakfast.
Breakfast burger steak, chili stir-fried noodles, and a glass of lukewarm chocolate milk drink.
And before you ask, I'm quite the capable cooker.
I just can't stand the thought of me, or anyone else in my family, being a lethal chef.
As for Belle... let's just say she does well in the kitchen, too.
Enough reminiscing about good and bad cooks.
Now I'm about to start on a brand-new quest!
At the adventurer's guild, the guild mistress, Miss Carughnunen, greets me.
“Good morning, Mr. Deschantes. We have brand-new quests lined up for your adventuring pleasures!”
Amidst the sea of item-gathering quests, quests where missing persons must be found, quests where specific monsters must be slain, there are some unique ones.
This quest is one of them.
“The Red Chicken”
Quest ID: 1019-823
Quest Difficulty: 6
Party Requirement: At least one person required to start this quest. No class requirements. Quest starter will also join in the quest as supporter.
Quest Brief:
I'm a taxonomist who, one boring day, has stumbled upon a red chicken! It's not just any ordinary chicken that lays white or light brown eggs, mind you. It's an honest-to-goodness, yet rare red-feathered one, that lays red salted eggs by itself. I'm honestly curious as to its apparent unique physiology that allows this bird to lay such unique eggs that we humans can eat. Since that bird's not yet documented in any taxonomic journal to the best of my knowledge, I at least want to catch it, study it, and then let it go. (Plus, I want to ensure that species is not endangered, so I can also do breeding experiments for propagation purposes.) Of course, I can't do it alone, even with my adventurer credentials. I want someone who is capable of helping me spread this biological breakthrough to the world!
“OK, I'll take on this quest.”
“Do note that with this quest's difficulty setting, you must tread carefully. That rare species should be known to the world, and therefore you must not mess up the researcher's efforts.”
“I know, I know.”
“Alright, then. Please step into the portal and have a great time!”
One teleportation later...
I'm now in front of a sign that says “Welcome to Orion Cepheid, Matutum Prefecture.”
I think I know this town quite well.
This is another agricultural town. While Forhampe specializes in wheat, Orion Cepheid specializes in... chickens.
It's evident by the many huge chicken coops that are located in the northwestern side of town, which are owned by several chicken farmers who take up residence in other parts of this town.
I do also want to mention that Isiazeal and Forhampe are also within Matutum Prefecture; as the prefecture itself is the largest one ever in the kingdom, and is also the biggest producer of both consumable and non-consumable goods.
Just now...
Someone hugs me unaware.
And with a high-pitched squeal at that.
“C-Come on! This is not the proper way to greet an adventurer!”
“Sorry, sorry. I get so excited sometimes.”
She lets go of her hug, reorients herself, and properly introduces herself.
“Good morning, and welcome to this town of chickens. I am Lorelei Verdillus, a taxonomist and the quest starter.”
Underneath her mandatory white lab coat, she is decked out in a yellow buttoned-down shirt, blue short pants with white trim, and black boots. Best of all, her wide-rimmed glasses accentuate her brown eyes and her chestnut-colored hair, tied into a ponytail.
She also carries a staff with her, signifying that she's also an adventurer.
“And you are?”
“Walter Deschantes.”
“Nice meeting you, Walter. You know why we're here, right?”
“Yup. The red chicken. Tell me more about it, then.”
She clears her throat first before starting her story.
“My discovery happened roughly a week ago. It was an ordinary and boring Fireday in my own lab, tinkering with papers and test tubes and samples and whatnot. As I peeked out the window, I saw something unusual. My glasses couldn't be fooling me, right? It's a chicken... with red feathers! It's certainly different from the white-feathered hens and the brown-feathered roosters I usually see in this town, that's for sure!
“My curiosity was piqued, of course, so I left what I was doing and hurried outside to get a better glimpse of that red chicken. However, by the time I got outside, that bird was long gone. I surmise that it ran so fast, that I needed a hastening spell to catch up with him.
“But in the chicken's place were some red-colored eggs. To be more specific... red with a hint of maroon or indigo or violet or something. Still imbued with the spirit of curiosity, I took the eggs home, washed them, and placed them on a plate.
“I then tested the eggs whether they are raw or not, despite knowing the fact that they just came out of the chicken, by spinning them on a flat surface. At first, I expected them to spin slowly, as their insides were apparently liquid. But to my surprise, they spun quickly, which means they were allegedly cooked on the inside! Their insides were solid and thus have stable centers of gravity.
“After confirming that all the eggs were indeed not raw, I cracked one of them open; and to my amazement, the egg white and the yolk look around the same as those of an ordinary hard-boiled egg, but these tasted salty! Not the excessive saltiness expected from seawater, but the right amount of it. I therefore concluded that the red chicken's eggs are indeed edible right from the moment that birdie laid 'em!
“I'm naturally inquisitive as to the chicken's unique physiology that allows it to produce ready-to-eat eggs right out of the gates, and I therefore conclude that it should be a unique species of chicken, which has never been classified before! My taxonomist senses are tingling!”
My response is a somewhat enthusiastic “I see”.
“So, Walter, will you help me find the red chicken?”
“Of course.”
We are heading towards Orion Cepheid's northern exit, when...
Lorelei and I happen to hear a commotion coming from inside one of the houses near the border.
“How dare you! I've busted your cover and found out you spent the money that was supposed to be sent to me and our kids into that stupid cockfighting event!”
“Uh... no! I didn't do it! I simply got robbed on the road by three brigands, that's all!”
“There goes your usual excuse! I can smell chicken blood all over your body, you foolish, worthless husband!”
Uh-oh. A wife beating up a husband over a simple issue of misuse of finances; namely, spending it all on gambling.
“OK, fine! I admit I used up all that money! I'm sorry, darling!”
“Sorry ain't gonna cut it, you worthless piece of crap!”
Our curiosity heightens when the wife suddenly brings out her inner martial artist onto her poor husband.
“Hundred Rapid Fists!”
Screams of pain can be heard as the husband declares...
“Not in the face! Owowow!!!”
“Destabilizing Kick!”
“AAGGHH! Not my groin!”
“There plenty more to come, you useless sack of gris! Meteor Suplex!”
“Aaaaahhhh! You're almost cracking my skull!”
“I'll make sure I'll beat some sense into you! Tombstone Piledriver!”
“NOOOO! Don't send me to an early grave!”
With all those moves she pulled off, we react...
“As a full-time adventurer myself, I think she's qualified to be one, based on that fighting prowess we've witnessed so far. But please, for the love of the Highest of the High, she should use those moves on monsters, not her own freaking husband!”
“Hmmm... you've got a point, Walter. Maybe... we'll report that incidence of domestic abuse to the constabulary?”
“As long as we finish our quest first.”
“Touche.”
We then both leave town.
- Writer
