I am the Enchantress!

Chapter 67 Heatwave

One minute later, Gru and Joffrey returned to their original sizes.

It turned out that the Giant Growth spell provided a greater benefit to the warriors, as the increased weight further enhanced their strength.

For wanderers, strength is not a core attribute; the benefits of increasing size are limited, and it may even hinder their speed and agility.

However, in this trap-like tactical system, Joffrey didn't need to use any movement techniques; the enlarged and heavier dagger in his hand did indeed cause damage far exceeding that of ordinary weapons.

If he hadn't separated the burrowing worm's scales from its flesh, Gru's axe strike would likely have been much less fatal.

Of course, Gru himself doesn't think so—

"Last time we slashed down a tree spirit."

He laughed, his mustache almost bulging out of shape, "This time I cleaved another burrowing worm in two! Can you believe it?"

“I saw it with my own eyes, my dwarf friend,” Joffrey replied.

"If you could carry around genuine Caratou tobacco like Cyril did," Gru grinned, "I think we'd become even closer friends."

Joffrey smiled and shook his head.

The reward for this mission had been agreed upon beforehand to be split equally, and he didn't care who delivered the final blow.

Wilder didn't care.

After all, the experience gained by both Gru and Joffrey under the Giant Transformation spell would be credited to him.

He narrowed his eyes, pretending to stare at the burrowing worm's head, but actually looking at the system panel that only he could sense.

Name: Wilder

[Class]: Mage

[Level]: Lv3 (750/1000)

(850/1000)

……

Wilder frowned.

Digging bug, you're a bit weak!

Other monsters on the difficult difficulty level get at least 120 experience points, how come you only get 100?

I'll practice properly in my next life.

However, I'm only 150 experience points away from leveling up. All I need to do is hunt down one more strong, difficult-level monster.

He even had a rather perverse idea...

Could something unexpected happen?

For example, the mate of a burrowing worm might come seeking revenge, or a magical monster might suddenly appear...

But recalling the unexpected incidents he had suffered during previous missions, he shook his head.

Especially since this team only has three people, it's unlikely they'll escape by sheer luck like they always have.

……

Next up is the pleasant part: cleaning up the battlefield.

The proof of hunting a burrowing worm is its mandibles, a key tool for digging into the ground, which can be exchanged for a fixed reward of ten gold coins at the Adventurers' Guild.

Its two tentacles are one of the materials used to craft perception-enhancing potions, and are worth one gold coin.

Besides, its scales can be used to make shields and medium armor, but they are not of high quality, and a whole set can only be sold for one gold coin.

A total of twelve gold coins.

The team consists of three people, and each person receives four gold coins, a very generous reward.

If we pool our resources a bit more, we could buy a level 2 spell scroll.

Wilder sighed inwardly, feeling that the prices of mage items didn't quite match the income from labor in this world.

……

The mission was completed with surprising ease.

After packing up the spoils I'd plundered from the burrowing worms, I looked up at the sky, which was still partially obscured by the branches and leaves; the sun was just past noon.

"We'll arrive in Tiewen Town around 4 PM, which is when the association's queue is at its longest."

Gru yawned. "If you ask me, let's rest for a while before setting off. I'll take a nap."

"Let's not."

Wilder shook his head. "High-level monsters have been appearing frequently on the outskirts of the border forest lately, so we'd better not linger there."

"What's there to be afraid of? If I encounter a monster, I'll take it down with one axe!"

Gru turned around nonchalantly and walked toward a tree trunk that looked like it would be comfortable to lean against.

"We'll just rest for an hour, it won't delay anything! After we go back and turn in our mission, we'll still be in time for the tavern to open! I'll treat you to drinks!"

Wilder shook his head with a wry smile.

Without a leader and with Cyrion absent, the three-person team really had no one to keep the carefree Gru in check.

So Gru leaned against the tree trunk as he wished, and soon began to snore loudly.

Joffrey remained calm and unhurried, pulling out a piece of coarse linen from his bag and wiping the blood-stained dagger.

Wilder simply found a tree trunk that looked good to him and leaned against it, casually flipping through the book "The Relationship Between Alchemy and Spells".

The forest was extremely quiet.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the dense foliage overhead, casting dappled and swaying shadows on the ground.

A gentle breeze occasionally brushed against my cheeks, making me feel pleasant and relaxed.

At this moment, this place doesn't feel like a battlefield where life and death have been fought; it's more like a campsite where a few close friends go on a leisurely outing.

suddenly.

Wilder felt the air get warmer.

And it's getting hotter and hotter.

Although the summer tide month in Ironweave Town is almost here, it shouldn't be this hot.

A wave of heat swept in from afar, making one feel as if they were inside a steamer.

"It feels like the forest is about to catch fire..." he muttered.

did not expect.

A prophecy.

"boom!!!"

Without warning, a loud roar came from afar.

Then a dazzling and magnificent red light flashed.

The light was so bright that it pierced through the rugged terrain and layers of trees, its afterglow still illuminating the faces of the team like the setting sun.

Immediately following was an even longer and hotter heatwave that swept in.

Wilder barely managed to lift his eyes to look up. The firelight was coming from the dense forest to the north, where a thick plume of black smoke was rising.

The loud roar startled Gru awake from his dream. Still half asleep, he raised his long-handled battle axe.

"Enemy attack?!"

Neither of his teammates paid any attention to him.

Joffrey is on high alert.

His two ears, exposed outside his curly hair, twitched slightly, while his right hand remained motionless on the dagger at his waist.

The sound of the wind, the flapping of birds' wings, the rustling of leaves, and Gru's restless footsteps...

After a long while, the expression on his face relaxed slightly, and he said:

"There were no unusual noises nearby."

"They should be far away; they're not targeting us."

Wilder nodded. "It could be a spell from a high-level monster, or it could be a commotion caused by adventurers."

At this moment, Gru finally snapped out of his dream.

"The fire is due north; we'll have to pass through there to get back to Tiewen Town."

He took a few steps forward, looking at the wisps of black smoke rising in the distance and the flickering flames. "What do we do now? Go check it out? Or take a detour back?"

"Taking the detour will add two hours to the journey, but it will still allow me to get back to town before dark."

Joffrey glanced at Wilde. "Little mage, what do you think?"

Wilder stared into the distance, and it took him a while to react.

"us……"

He said slowly:

"Let's go take a look."

Gru was right; the fire started on the way back to Ironweave Town, which was the route they had taken.

And there...

This is also the area where Talia performs her gathering quests.