Yggdrasil stepped through the doors of the Adventurer’s Guild, met by a bustling atmosphere thick with the scents of ale, sweat, and leather. The boisterous laughter of Orcs boasting of their feats and the crisp clinking of silver coins being counted by human mercenaries intertwined to create a chaotic yet vibrant energy. Looking at the groups of mercenaries with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders, Yggdrasil instinctively touched his own shoulder—the warmth of Balin’s arm seemed to linger there still.

  He shook his head, pushing down that sudden surge of longing for Balin. With a lighthearted mood that almost made him want to hum a tune, he walked straight toward the quest notice board.

  Everything here was brand new and fascinating to him. Like a child walking into the capital’s most prosperous market for the first time and seeing a treasure trove of wonders, he felt a sense of curiosity for every parchment on the wall. What he wanted now was to touch every corner of this world in his official capacity as an adventurer.

  "Let’s start with the basics!" he thought to himself, his eyes sparkling. "This is what a real adventurer’s life is all about!"

  Soon, a quest titled "Exterminate Goblins in the Nearby Forest" caught his eye. Although the reward was only a few silver coins, the location was close to the city. For someone who had just received his Rank E status and was eager for his first task, it was a perfect choice.

  Yggdrasil pondered for a moment before tearing down the notice with a hint of excitement and walking to the counter. The receptionist looked up, reminding him as a matter of routine: "Goblins are low-level monsters, but they can still be dangerous if you underestimate them. Please be careful."

  Yggdrasil nodded vigorously, the smile on his face nearly impossible to hide. He took the quest permit and turned to leave the Guild. He didn't exit the city immediately; instead, he bought some water and dried rations at the market. He knew he had storage magic, but the feeling of manually packing "adventurer gear" into his rucksack gave him a strong sense of "role-playing" joy and security.

  After leaving the town and following the directions to the forest, he slowed his pace. He didn't just look for footprints like a normal scout; instead, he crouched down and pressed his broad, thick palm lightly against the damp earth.

  This wasn't a skill he had learned, but an instinct. Just as a fish senses the current or a bird senses the wind, his race—beloved by the earth and stone—was born able to hear the land's breathing. He closed his eyes, and the "heartbeat" of the forest flowed into his perception: the pulse of tree roots, the crawling of insects, and... not far off, a series of chaotic, malicious, faint vibrations belonging to goblins.

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  "Found you." He opened his eyes, a confident smile curling his lips.

  Guided by the earth, he quickly discovered signs of goblin activity. Continuing forward, he heard low conversations and occasional laughter ahead. Yggdrasil hid behind a large tree and peeked out, seeing five goblins huddled around a campfire, seemingly sharing some scraps of food.

  "Five of them... weapons are sharpened sticks and stone axes. No archers, and none that look like casters." He swiftly completed his tactical analysis.

  In the next moment, he didn't choose stealth. Instead, like an unleashed siege ram, he burst from the thicket with a heavy, crushing pressure. His rounded belly, far from being a hindrance, acted as the sturdiest of battering rams due to its sheer weight, instantly smashing a goblin’s wooden shield to splinters.

  The goblins were thrown into a panic by the sudden assault. Before they could even grab their weapons, the heavy double-edged battle-axe Yggdrasil had purchased from the town’s blacksmith was already upon them. He used no flashy magic, relying purely on the raw power of his god-given physique. With a single horizontal sweep, he sent three goblins flying like overturned wooden pins in a tavern, the sound of splintering bones clear and audible.

  The remaining two goblins shrieked in terror. One turned to flee while the other raised a trembling stone axe. Yggdrasil shifted his stance; his heavy body moved with surprising agility as he evaded the weak attack, slamming the butt of the axe heavily into the goblin’s neck. The creature let out a muffled grunt and collapsed.

  Finally, only the goblin desperately fleeing into the depths of the forest remained.

  Yggdrasil stood his ground, not giving chase. He watched the frantic retreating figure with a calm smile.

  "Killing them all is easy, but finding the nest is the goal," he whispered to himself. "A living, panicked messenger is the best guide."

  Only when the last goblin’s silhouette vanished into the woods did Yggdrasil slowly lower his axe. A strange sensation welled up in his heart.

  There was no nausea, no fear, not even a trace of psychological burden after the slaughter. His heart was terrifyingly calm.

  He remembered when he was still Naoki Fujiwara; back then, he would feel guilty even for raising his voice at a client in the office. But now, his hands had just taken several lives, yet he felt... it was only natural.

  He understood immediately. This body, from its very inception, was created for "combat." Zareon had not only given him an ideal physique but also a "warrior's heart" capable of bearing this power.

  However, he knew this warrior-like calmness wasn't his whole self. In the softest corner of his heart, there remained a place belonging to warmth.

  And that was the true reason he was willing to wield this battle-axe.

  He looked down at his thick, sturdy hands, then tightened his grip on the unadorned yet reliable axe once more. "Alright," he said softly, "then... let’s keep moving."

  "First quest in the books! I wanted to show that Yggdrasil isn't just a cute dwarf—he's a powerhouse. His 'Earth Perception' is one of his many hidden talents. Seeing him act as a 'human siege ram' was a lot of fun to write.

  Also, notice the change in his mindset. The transition from a modern salaryman to a fantasy warrior is a big part of his growth. Will he find the nest? Stay tuned! Please Follow and Rate to help us keep the momentum! Thanks for reading."