Chapter 48

“Mmmm….aaahh…morning…”

I watch the morning light slowly illuminate the forest as my consciousness take its times to awaken. Ah, nature really did offer the best views. This wasn’t a world full of artificial things like Japan. And so I really enjoyed these sights. I had never been to any national parks…

Great, I’m wide awake now. I untied the rope that was binding me and fixed it to a tree branch. And with that, I slid down the tree. I would just leave it there, since I’d be camping out here tonight as well. However, I would put all of my tools and belongings in the hollow bag and keep it up in the tree. I don’t know what I would do if I came back and it had been stolen. It was an important, vintage item that Russell gave to me.

I put everything that I would needed to take with me in a different bag. Breakfast would be dried meat that could be chewed as I walked. It would be difficult to move if I ate too much anyway. I remember watching a diet show on tv that said you would feel like you were full if you chewed a lot. And they must be right!

Alright now, I had my weapons. My belongings. The important stuff is up in the tree. The fire is put out. Good. Let’s go!

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And so started my second forest training camp. It was currently the second day. Yesterday, I had hunted goblins. I had now accumulated over fifty weapons from them. They practically infested this forest. Not that they all carried weapons, but I definitely killed more than fifty of them. In any case, killing a bunch of mob creatures wasn’t exactly going to make my level go up much, but you needed to think of the big picture. I’m sure that at least one stat went up, maybe.

Regardless, I was overflowing with weapons at this point, so I decided to go to the plains. There were no grass wolves around here yesterday, probably because of the wyvern. But what about today? I use presence detection to find out. By the way, I had been using this skill pretty much constantly the other day, so I was starting to get the hang of it. I had a better idea of measuring distance now. As far as numbers went, that was still a little hazy, but I was no longer likely to just bump into an enemy anymore. Thanks to that, my hunting was going very smoothly.

And now I was out in the plains. I was relieved to see that the grass wolves had returned. They seemed to be just a little ways off. I didn’t know how many there were…yet. They were behind the shadow of a great rock that was further out past some bushes.

I slowly pull out the steel sword that Aragira had fervently crafted, and slowly approached while erasing the sound of my footsteps. They may be monsters, but they were like dogs. And so I was careful about my scent. I wasn’t new to this business anymore, kinda. Now, slowly, but nimbly, I make my way towards the rock. I climb up without making a sound and look over the edge. Bingo. There were several grass wolves lying in the grass. Perhaps they had just finished eating? There were bones lying around that looked like they were from a rabbit. Then they would have their guard down. I had no choice but to hunt them now.

I slowly unsheath the short sword at my belt. I had to use ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ to throw it at one wolf, as I was not accustomed to doing that yet. Unsurprisingly, the skill led me to success, and the blade sunk deep into the grass wolves brain. I wanted to do a fist pump, but this was not the best time to do so. The pack immediately became panicked as I slid down from the rock and slashed with the steel sword. I ignore the spray of blood as I continue to swing the sword, hurling the dead grass wolf into the air and into its companions. Once they tripped and fell, all I had to do was cut off their heads.

Chop. The blade slides between the joints and the head is severed. Just then, another wolf jumps at me, and I roll out of the way. Of course, I do not forget thrust my sword upward when I do so. The grass wolf lands with streams of blood running before collapsing on the ground. And before I knew it, I was the last one standing.

“Phewww…”

I sigh and catch my breath. Looking up at the sky, I can see it’s not quite at the highest point yet. I wanted to hunt at least twenty more before it was midday. Next up, removing the claws. I lifted a dead wolf’s paw and used my short sword to dig into the roots. Now, if I can just take them out cleanly, my work would be done. The bodies would regress naturally if you left them alone, so I moved them to the side.

Now we were done with this pack. I take out a water bottle from my bag and drink. The cool, clear water rehydrates my throat. In fact, this water was made with magic. The bottle itself had magic cast on it to keep it fresh. It wasn’t quite cheap, but it fit within my budget for this outing, so it was fine.

Once I was finished resting, it was time to go to the next pack. I spread the area of presence detection and discover something a little ways away by the border of the forest and plains. Since it was close to the forest, I couldn’t tell whether it was goblins or grass wolves. The number of enemies was also a blur, but the presence seemed large, so there was probably more than a few. I better be careful with this one.

I was attacked by other grass wolves on my way there, but they were hardly a problem. I just clipped their nails and moved on. Now I was almost at the spot where I had detected something. And still, I couldn’t tell how many there were. It was the presence of something big, or wide or…damn, I still hadn’t mastered the skill completely. But really, what was this intimidating sensation? That was the one thing that was very tangible. What if it was some kind of boss version of a grass wolf or goblin?

Whatever it was, it was beyond those trees. I went closer and quietly looked through. I wouldn’t have much choice but to run if it was something too dangerous. I mentally prepare to use ‘Legs of the Forest Wolf’ as I look. And then I saw it.

Ah, are you kidding me? So it was here then…the other wyvern. I see, so the large presence wasn’t a pack. It was just one, overgrown monster. The grass wolves that had just attacked me must have been running from this guy…

“GRRRRRRR…”

Its throat growled as it lay on the floor. I wasn’t sure if it was asleep or not. But now would be the time to run. A wise man does not approach danger. That’s my motto.

But as I am about to turn around, Presence Detection catches something. Something else was headed over here. From the direction of the forest. I squinted through the trees and saw that it was a group of adventurers. Could they have been people who saw the notice on the quest board?

As I stood and stared at them, my eyes locked with one of them. I slowly put a finger up to my mouth. The man nodded and told the others in the group. They were now looking suspiciously at me, and so I pointed behind me with my thumb and suggested that they run. But the adventurers only smirked in response. What did they read from that? Was I a good-for-nothing? Or was I trying to keep the prey all to myself? It didn’t matter. I had every intention of getting out of here.

…But instead, I stop there and reconsider the situation. I would actually like to see how they would fight it. I hadn’t had much opportunity to see people fight in large groups before. I could watch and learn, it would supplement ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ just nicely.

As I watched, they began to brandish their weapons. They were going ambush it, it seemed. I crouched low in the grass and watched. First, one of them took out an arrow and aimed. A diversion? The first blow? I stare intently. The others who wielded swords were slowly approaching the wyvern now, so the bowman must be for support. Hmm, they are running now. Will they all strike at once? Ah, there goes the arrow. A simultaneous attack!

“ARRRGHHHH!!”

With a flash, the heavy blade falls towards the wyvern’s face. At the same time, an arrowhead glistens in the sunlight as it cuts through the air and pierces through the monster’s forehead. Or it tried really hard to, but dreams don’t always come true. The protection of the scales was too much for the arrow. And with the attacks and cries of the adventurers being unleashed, the wyvern opened its eyes…

“GGGGYAAAAAHHHH!!!!”

It raised its head and roars. The overwhelming power of the beast is enough to make the adventurer with the sword recoil for an instant, but he quickly regains himself and prepares to strike again. The arrow was no good, but what about a sword? Now all of the adventurers were in full view. They were eight in all, and they surrounded the beast. The wyvern glared back contemptuously. And I continued to hide in the bushes. I couldn’t wait to see how this turned out…