I set off running south as soon as all preparations are done. I can still hear Kira's last warning before I set off. "I don't want you jumping some unsuspecting girl when you get there, so make sure to make regular stops and find a prostitute." Not exactly the thing you expect to hear from your wife, but she got a point.

As I run through open fields it starts to rain so I store my cloths in my soul storage and continue the run naked like a Greek athlete. The monotonous pace with no obstacles leaves me with a lot of time to think, so I start experimenting with magic. My first attempt at making a mana shape fails as I fail to take into account that I am running. In my next attempt I anchor the mana structure to the palm of my hand before experimenting.

It proves challenging to concentrate on creating the structures while running. I try to imagine mana as atoms and the structures as molecules. It somehow always works better when I do it like this. I am still getting used to the different rules I can give the mana within the structure. What the old mage showed me was invaluable, but I have since only been able to steal moments to practice. There are too many things that need my attention.

I can't really do any fancy experiments while running but the practicing while running gives me experience I am sorely lacking. I need to get used to handling mana before actually doing it. A week of running while practicing might help.

For the first stretch I only stop for a quick powernap under a tree. No need to climb trees here. There are limited beasts this far from the wilderness, but even if a small one tried to attack me, my alert skill will wake me up.

Late afternoon on the second day I arrive at the small town. It really is a small town, just a village really. Must have recently qualified to be a town. I head to the guild branch. As I suspected, it is a really small branch. It is too far from the wilderness and to make matters worse the town is not on any frequented route to attract more hunters. As I enter, I notice that the few hunters about are just commercial members of the guild.

At the desk I see a worn out receptionist. She notices me immediately. "Are you here for the beatdown request?" Straight to the point. I confirm I am the hunter sent by the guild in Lago. "Good, she has been causing more trouble lately." She? My beatdown victim is to be a woman. Well I was raised with the concept of equal rights and all, but it didn't include beating up women. That was always frowned upon. In this world, I doubt anyone cares. It is a far more cruel and harsh world than I am used to.

While I am lost in thought the receptionist continues to talk. "I am the acting chief of this guild branch, but besides the two young apprentices I got, I do most jobs around here myself. We are too small for the guild to notice our existence." Well that explains her overworked look. "We have no strong hunters in our guild, as there is nothing for them to do around her. The only exception is Daga. She is D rank hunter who settled down here a couple of years ago, and started bullying everyone around her."

Why would she stay here for two years if there is nothing to do? Is she running some form of racketeering? Not like anyone here would stand up to a D rank hunter. "What is her overall level and skills?" "I have not been able to make any readings or updates to her file since she got here, but her level shouldn't have gone up by much since she is so far from any fighting. Her files puts her at level 12 with knife throwing and scouting skills."

As we are talking a woman in her mid twenties walks into the branch. It is quite clearly Daga, but my analyze skill also tells me that the guild file is massively out of date. Her level is even higher than my own at 18. How did her level rise so much this far from the wilderness? Daga approaches me. "So you are the one sent by the guild to give me a beating." She does not look at all intimidated. Why would she, she knows the guild file is out of date and suspects correctly that the guild has sent someone she thinks she can beat.

Daga heads towards the outdoor guild arena expecting me to follow. I turn to the receptionist and it hit me that I don't actually know how to explain how I know her real level. Better be a bit vague. "You know it is quite clear that she is not a level 12 anymore. Her level is likely a lot higher." The receptionist seems worried, she clearly believes me. "Do you want to withdraw from the request?"

I am tempted to withdraw as I am clearly not the best guy for the job, and I am not keen on hitting a woman. It just doesn't sit right with me. However, it would likely affect my standing with the guild if I refused. Even if I lose, the guild has no reason to blame me. Not that I want to. In this town no one would step in to save my hide if I take a beating.

Heading towards the arena, I evaluate my chances. Though her level is higher, her attribute numbers seem similar to my own, even a bit lower on overall strength measurements. I have always suspected that lifeforce levels and skill levels only enhance what is already there. Though stocky for a woman Daga is distinctly smaller than me, so the leveling up has only enhanced her core strength to be about to my own. Compared to Brute who is only three levels higher, she is still weak. Brute would also be twice her size.

This is probably the fist time I have actually had any use for the attribute numbers. Normally they don't tell me much but they appear to be useful for detailed comparisons. Still, with so little difference a lot is up to chance. The outdoor arena is slowly filling up. Everyone wants to see the fight. People are abnormally quiet. You would normally hear shouts of encouragement to both fighters before the fight.

Wonder if they want me to win or not. I can't imagine she made many friends if she was bullying, but I guess it depends on who she was bullying. As the fight is about to start I clear my mind, and resolve to fight without holding back and without being constrained by my past values.

The arena is strangely crescent shaped with the audience behind me and a tall wall behind Daga. It feel a lot like an auditorium, but all I can see is Daga in front of me. I try to look relaxed as to give Daga the impression that I am unaware of her higher level. As the fight starts I charge her grab her by the collar and slam her into the wall behind her.

The move clearly took her by surprise, but I know I have no room to hesitate. Pinned against the wall I start pounding her with various punches. Being a level 18 hunter, her endurance will be abnormally high. Some of her skills make her a lot more sturdy, similar to my own regeneration skill that Lak loves so much.

My adrenaline is at its peek, as I keep pounding the smaller body. She is just not going down. I shift my focus to hitting her head. She is far too affected by the impacts to try to defend herself, but not so much that she can't recover. Hitting her face painfully reminds me that I am punching a woman. Her nose must have several fractures by now, and her face will likely be a pulp in the morning. She does not have the same level of regeneration as me, but her body is abnormally sturdy.

As she finally collapses I realize how intense my emotions are. I am surprised to find a lot of the emotion is lust oriented. With two days of abstinence I shouldn't be surprised, but with the reflex erection from the stress of the fight, I find my mind is getting clouded. Not good. This is exactly what I have been trying to avoid since I picked up my lust skill. I am vaguely aware of the crowds cheering. I guess they wanted me to win after all.

I wade through the crowd with my rational mind trying to suppress my emotions. The only solution is to get away from people, and women in particular. As I get through the crowd a young female guild member blocks my path. Get out of my way unless you want me to rape you on the floor of the guild itself. My thoughts don't get spoken but she can clearly tell that I am in heat, and to my surprise makes it clear that she wants to take me to her place. Oh, that will work.

As I wake up the next morning in the guild dorm room of my new fan girl. I try to recount what happened after the fight. Most of it is blurry. If this girl hadn't taken me to her place I dread what I might have done. She seems to be fast asleep. I can't blame her. I do remember how long it took for my lust to calm down. Anyone not a high level hunter would be dead to the world from that amount of intense action going on for hours.

She is awfully quiet. I can't even hear her breathing. She isn't dead is she? I am painfully aware of how easy it would be for me to snap the neck of a normal young woman. I check her pulse. Nothing. I check again slightly panicking I find a slight pulse. Using my healing magic I scan her body and establish that she alive and well, just a bit bruised and very tried. "Don't scare me like that." No response. I guess there will be no chance to say goodbye.

I feel like I should leave a gift. Would she be offended if I left her a bit of money? Judging by her living conditions she could probably need it. The guild dorms are for those hunters that can't afford anything else. It is just a very small room with access to some communal amenities. I leave several times more silver than a prostitute would cost. I hope she will take it as a gift from someone who is genuinely grateful to her rather than payment for services rendered.