"I see, so that's how the Skill Book works," Dian nodded to himself.
"That's right," Laura replied. "It turned to ashes because I've already learned the skill, just like what was written in its description."
Dian then checked the details of Laura's Rush skill, and it was exactly the same as what he had seen in the goblins. She could increase her speed for a short time with this skill at the cost of 10 SP.
"But the cooldown is rather long, so I'll only use it in emergencies," Laura commented.
Since the skill had already become hers, she could easily check its description from her status menu, even without his Legacy Skill.
"It would be very useful and won't become ineffective as you grow stronger, so I think it's a solid skill," Dian said.
If Laura couldn't enter this world with him, he would definitely save this skill for himself. With his speed at 300, it would increase to 450 with the +50% Speed effect upon activation of the skill.
Speed was always one of the major elements that a powerhouse needed to dominate the world, based on every story he had read before. He didn't think it would be any different in this world. This skill was clearly a gem.
Next, Dian shifted his focus to the total number of Copper coins Laura had. When he added his own coin reserve to the total, he couldn't help but feel excited.
"With the Copper coins we've obtained after defeating these goblins, we already have 100 bucks if we convert them. What should we do now, continue or stop?" he asked Laura.
His main goal in entering this world was to earn money. With his broken legs, he couldn't get a proper part-time job. Even if he stopped his studies for a full-time job, the situation wouldn't improve. After all, being unable to walk was a significant disadvantage.
Additionally, he viewed this world as a place to relieve his stress. With its fresh air and vibrant natural landscapes, he felt his mind becoming free from any burdens after stepping into this realm.
As for the Heir Quest? He preferred to do his own thing. No pressure. If he could complete it and claim the rewards, that would be great. But if not? No problem—he was doing just fine without them.
Laura didn't answer him right away. Her gaze was locked on her status as her thoughts drifted back to the moments they spent ambushing groups of goblins.
Because of her low stats and lack of a proper weapon to unleash the full potential of her build and skills, she was only able to handle the weaker mobs, while nearly everything was managed by Dian.
She was aware of and accepted the power difference between them. He was a Heir Candidate, while she was merely an Adorer. However, being left behind and unable to help him in battle was frustrating.
She wanted to become stronger.
As fast as she could.
Laura closed her status menu and turned her gaze to Dian.
"Let's continue," she said.
Dian saw through her determination and couldn't help but chuckle amusingly. He gave her head a gentle pat.
"What was that for?" she complained, pouting slightly.
Dian grinned.
"Nothing~..."
He then turned around and led the way as they continued deeper into the forest.
...
Several minutes later, Dian and Laura had entered the deepest part of the forest. They found themselves in the very center, where the strongest monsters of the forest should reside if they exist.
The trees here were remarkably tall, possibly reaching over 30 meters in height. When Dian examined the trees, their descriptions indicated that they were over 300 years old. One tree was even nearly 1,000 years old.
The two were in awe of the sheer age of these trees. It seemed unimaginable to them that a tree could live that long. On Earth, such ancient trees either did not exist or were extremely rare.
"By the way, isn't it too quiet here?" Dian mentioned as he looked around.
Unlike the previous sections of the forest filled with the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects, this area was eerily silent. There were no chirps, no buzz, and not even any visible creatures moving around.
Dian frowned at the strangeness of the setting. He was about to suggest that they leave because he felt uncomfortable here, when Laura suddenly raised her hand.
"I hear something," she said, her expression turning serious. "There are many of them."
Laura closed her eyes to focus more intently on her sense of hearing. The quietness of the area allowed her to pick up sounds more clearly.
Her ears perked up, and her eyes snapped open when she identified the source of the sounds.
"It's goblins. About 300 meters from here. There are... hundreds of them."
A bead of sweat appeared on her cheek as she spoke.
"Hundreds?!" Dian exclaimed, shaken by the news. What were those little green creatures doing, gathered in a place like this? He wondered anxiously.
"Maria never mentioned that this forest was a habitat for goblins. Why are there so many in this forest?" Dian muttered, puzzled.
Hearing an unfamiliar name, Laura immediately asked, "Maria? Who is that?"
Dian hadn't expected her to ask, and he hesitated for a moment before responding.
"Ah... Haven't I once told you about the time I helped a mother with two children from a nearby village in this world?" he asked in return.
Laura remembered that story, so she nodded.
Dian smiled and began to explain.
"Maria was that mother. She explained many things about the village and the forest, but she never mentioned this forest being a habitat for goblins, which is why I'm confused about why the only monsters we've encountered so far are goblins—"
Suddenly, Dian stopped, a realization sinking in.
"Goblins! Yes, I see! So that's it… goblins… oh no…" he mumbled, a troubled look crossing his face.
Laura tilted her head in confusion. "What? What's wrong with the goblins?" she asked him.
Dian wiped his face and massaged his temples before sighing to calm himself. Noticing Laura's curious gaze, he began to explain.
"If we head back to the spot where we entered this world and walk eastward for a while, we would arrive at a plain devoid of life—similar to this place but without trees."