Chapter 9: We hunt In the mountains

We got to the mountain midday so the party decided to do the mission first. Fredrick had to hunt some of the common monster found the mountain grabbing there monster cores and return to the guild. For 'E' level adventures who could literally by all the gear and help they needed getting high rank or at least 'C' was a piece of cake. Fredrick and many nobility made this a common practice as such though his family was a little on the brighter side I at least thought.

Walking through the mountain path we ran into plenty of monsters, but they were taken care of thanks to the others. Fredrick, Sazz, Eleanor, and I traveled along the mountain path running into only low level monster such as mountain rats, and rock birds. The mountain rats looked like any other rat except they were yellow with green ears. There sharp teeth were used to eat rock and defend themselves against enemies. The rock birds were pink chicken looking things that would be as round as a rock. They weren't very violent but Fredrick didn't care and attacked them when he saw them.

While everyone was have there fun I found three times the amount of herbs needed for the quest. I could sell the excess to the guild, take to market myself, or save it for my privet stock but one thing for sure is that was a free meal. Of course good thing must come to and end as Eleanor brought the groups attentions to my activities.

“Tch, your just sitting in the back where is your pride. Even Eleanor fights while you site there doing nothing!”(Fredrick)

“You are just free loading off of Fredrick kindness. If you travel with use you should at least do something besides looking at dirt.”(Eleanor)

Sazz gave me a apologetic look standing behind Fredrick and Eleanor while they berated me with there about being ungrateful and lazy. Signing deeply I extended my hands showing them empty, which I guess would be obvious to anybody who took one glace at me.

“I don't have a weapon.”(Alex)

Fredrick seemed to realized the problem for the first time and frowned. Eleanor on the other hand gave a bright smile before bring out a ordinary knife that Sazz had used to dismantle the monsters from earlier. Fredrick nodded when he saw it, and it was handed to me.

“This may not be a sword but its a sharp and sturdy knife that can at least weak monster those rats. With this you have no more excuse I expect it back later and for you to work for you keep.”(Fredrick)

He was right I've seen blades like this going for at least 3 sliver in windows. It was made of mixture of iron with a monster stone melted to with it giving it a sharper edge. I gave it a few swing then nodded in thanks for it. I wasn't planning of giving it back later so thanking them was payment enough in my eyes at least. I glanced at Sazz as he gave me a “So be it” look.

–

It didn't take us long before running into a mountain rat, which got me first hand experience in fighting one. I didn't have any skills for hand to hand combat but I've used a knife in making medication and dismantling animal at the butcher shop so it wasn't anything new to me. Fredrick gave a smirk as he pointed toward the crouching rat.

“Looks like its time for you to pull your weight. Don't worry if your to hurt Eleanor will heal you right up so you can fight more.”(Fredrick)

I took a look at both of them and turned toward the monster with a since of happiness I hide. It wasn't like I was against fighting monster at all but nobody would partner up with me be it at the guild or school. Taking the less dangerous route was just in my nature since one slip could cost me my life. I held the knife tight as I slowly began to walk toward to rat that had its teeth bare.

[Mountain Rat Lvl 3, HP 10, Attack 13, Defense 25, Vitality 6, Speed 3]

Using my skill analyze I reveled his statues which didn't scare me in the least. I had a plan, a painful one but a plan non the less.. As soon as I was within range is pounced towards me with is teeth bare. I raised my right arm taking its bite as a surge of white hot pain ran through my body and blood spewed from my wound. Gritting my teeth I rotated my body with the motion from the rats jump and using my other hand to stab into the rats back. It roared in pain but I let my body weight and gravity take us towards the ground with it back facing it while grabbing it so it wouldn't get away.

It scratched at my face after hitting the ground but with my hand still firm on the handle I pulled it out while pinning the monster to the ground. I took the knife and slit its through with the knife as its jaw relaxed and the blood poured over me giving off a disgusting smell.

[Critical hit]

[You have earned 20 experience]

Level 2

HP 10/25

MP 6/6

Power 1

Speed 1

Dexterity 1

Defense 1

Wisdom 4

Intelligence 3

Endurance 1->2

Luck 0

Active Skills possessed:

Analyze

Passive Skills possessed:

Learning

Language

Meditation

Gil:

2g

Experience 40=>60/200

I let my arm loss before taking the knife stabbing it in its heart and taking out the monster stone. Glancing at my statues I sighed with the amount of experience I receive from the monster. It took me years to get my first level but just one monster help me with months of hard labor. When I got up and limped towards the group Elanor was laughing at my ragged appearance but to my surprise Fredrick looked at me with a stony face.

“Why didn't you dodge it?”(Fredrick)

“Because it was to fast for me so I had to restrain it.”(Alex)

“If you missed you would have died.”(Fredrick)

“I didn't, no can you heal me now.”(Alex)

A warm light engulfed me and my arm that had a big chunk of it mission was healing at a visible rate. After the light faded my arm that could be seen through my torn closes was completely healed. After the light faded we left down the mountain gain shortly after. I ignored the stony birds as they fled when our grouped got near. Fredrick didn't bother with them as he said he was to tired to care for weaklings. We ran into another group of seven mountain rats which we took on as a group. Me and Sazz grouped up as Fredrick and Elanor did the same.

I charged the group of three feinting a attack as the lunged at me with there teeth. When they got near I ducked and rolled under them as the arrow of Sazz struck true. One was truck between the eye killing it instantly while the other two were grazed. I jumped from my roll and slashed at the injured closes to me reaching for its neck slicing it. Another arrow flew past me striking the mountain rat mid air as it pounced towards my back. It was squirming on the group but I quickly sliced its through as well ending its struggle.

[You have earned 20 experience]

[You have earned 20 experience]

After ending the mountain rats without any damaged done to my body I looked over to see the other two having killed four rats and dismantling them. Sazz came over to me with a smile on his face and bow on his back.

“Thank you Sazz. Don't try to deny it with your skill you could have taken them out with one shot.”

His smile grew a little stiff before he shrugged with resignations. He pointed towards my toward sleeve that had dried blood stains around it.

“You have it hard as well.”(Sazz)

“hehe, when a slave take pity on a person that is bad.”(Alex)

“Well enough talking you two hurry up so we can go!”(Elanor)

We looked at each other then before dismantling out share of the hunt. As we grew closer to the carriage the signs of life in grew dimmer. A cold shiver went down my spine while looking around. I glanced at everyone and saw that we all were on high alert. Soon after we heard the sound of cry's and weapons clashing coming from our carriage directions. We dashed forward weapons ready to jump into a chaotic battle but what awaited us was a scene from hell.

In body of thirty orcs was a a old man holding one up with one hand and a sword going through his guts. The smell of blood permitted the are as the ground was dyed red with blood. I looked upon the scene with disinterested. Hey once you see a boys locker room nothing much can scare you.

Fredrick along with Elanor faces drained a little of blood as they saw the scene before them. Sazz and I ignored it and searched the bodies. The old man was very through as none of the orcs were left alive which sucked for me getting experience

We dismantled there bodies an set them in the crates in the carriage. Elanor laid down saying she was exhausted while Fredrick stayed her. The old butler prepared dinner while Sazz and I put up tents preparing for the nights.

By the time everything was ready the stars in the skies were bright. Sazz and I talked about the plants we have seen and there effect before he was sent to fetch the other two. Sazz returned a little while later with a even paler face if possible for and elf, but said nothing was wrong. When the two joined us they were dressed in common clothes which I never felt was safe when camping. We ate in silence but the looks passing through Elanor to Sazz and Fredrick gave me the story. Catching his fiance, no former fiance with another man who is his master. That is one sick joke to play especially since he was after my step sister. Either he was a player or somebody completely oblivious to the his situations.

I shook my head taking first night watch training my water ball and medication.

–

The next morning arrived without incident but instead of heading back to town Kendrick decided to stay and kill some more monsters. There were orc in the forest and a large amount were killed by the old monster yesterday so staying wasn't very smart.

“That many orc's dead will definitely lead to a retaliation from other. I advised we return to town.”(Alex)

The old man turned my way nodding his head as Fredrick sneered.

“Afraid of some small time orc will get you nowhere, but it you wanted to go I won't stop you.”(Fredrick)

Truth is I would have gone if I could but if orcs are around, knowing my luck I'll run right into them. It was safer to tag along with the group that had the monster of a old man helping out. I looked at Sazz who eyes had dark lines under than and was in the back. I sighed and shrugged grabbing my bag and followed Fredrick and his group on the hunt again.

[Level Up, Speed +1, Dexterity +1, Intelligence +1]

Around noon we had run into several groups of monsters letting me get a level up. What took me over three years of training to level had taken less than two days when hunting monster. The only down side was that the experience needed to get another level increased by double.

Level 2

HP 25/25

MP 6 => 10/10

Power 1(Dagger + 10)

Speed 1=>2

Dexterity 1=>2

Defense 1

Wisdom 4

Intelligence 3=>4

Endurance 2

Luck 0

Active Skills possessed:

Analyze

Passive Skills possessed:

Learning

Language

Meditation

Gil:

2g

Experience 15/400

When gathered our things and started down the mountain path again for lunch. Both me and Sazz carriage the dismantled monsters in the bags. Since we cleared the path most of the monster started to avoid us. Our luck turned when we got close to the bottom of the mountain.

We arrived to see the old man surrounded and fighting a orge that was red and twice his size. His clothes were ragged and his blade was dyed red. His footing was unsteady but he gave to opening for the great red orc.

Fredrick drew his blade rushing toward the group of green orcs. Sazz drew his bow and fired at the monsters in Fredrick path a while Elanor used magic to buff him. When every Fredrick was struck by a orc Elanor used her healing magic while Sazz's and Fredrick blade paid them in kind.

I wasn't idle as I dashed took Fredrick flank drawing three to four orcs attentions. I couldn't spread the powder as it could effect the others so it was me with the blade fighting. The orcs movements were fast but unrefined. Even if I wasn't and expert in hand to hand combat the training at the academy, or lesson by Bill and the others this orcs movements were nothing.(He is used to seeing faster movements because of his being beaten at school by top class students.)

Parrying, Dodging, were the only things I could do with the group attacking. I felt the fire in my body and the energy escaping me with every fury of blows. My luck turned after dodging one blow twisting my nee sending me to the ground. As a orc raised his club to smash my head like a watermelon and arrow struck him in the back giving me and opening. I gripped the dagger and with my good foot lunged at his through impaling it into him and rolling forward.

[Experience 100]

As I struggled to my feet the monsters I looked around the battle field to find that all the monsters were down and the Elanor and Fredrick were next to the old man. Sazz helped me to my feet and over to the carriage were the houses were the only things not damaged.

I didn't help with the clean up since I was injured and Elanor claimed to be out of magic after healing the old man and Fredrick. After cleaning up and having dinner Fredrick thanks to the old mans suggestion was convinced to return to town in the morning. I took first watch keeping myself alert as I expect a night raid or something else to happen with my luck, nothing happened.

–