Chapter 15 - Hunting

It was late in the morning when my father and I went deep into the forest. This wasn't the first time I've visited this place but hadn't gone deeper inside. There, Paul started explaining about the basics of hunting.

"It's a shame that Rudy couldn't join us but maybe next time."

He sighed in slight disappointment wanting to spend time with us and show quality that we could look up to. I guess he's still trying to find a way to make us idolize him like a normal child. 

"Now then remember Rein, hunting isn't fun. Hunting is hard, and you will suffer. Most importantly, hunting can be dangerous. Because these parts of the wood are popular hunting grounds of the hunters from Buena village, big game like Elk and Boar can be rare. You might need to spend a long time waiting or walking before encountering a prey."

I was wearing the thick leather coat lined with fur of muted colours that could help me blend into the environment made by my mother. My coat still looked a little too big for me, since it was tailored such that the still developing child would grow into it. As a result he looked tinier and cuter than usual.

His words were accurate since they're many dangers that could be found in the forest especially when one is hunting because chances are you could be the hunted rather than the hunter. There are many important things to learn when someone wishes to go on a hunt. 

People often forget that wild animals are smarter than they think and know more about the forest than a human. They could easily use the environment against us if we were prepared and acted carelessly. 

"Since this is your first time hunting, I think it's important for you to understand a few hunting principles: the first, hunt only what you need. Over-hunting will only damage the natural habitat of all the animals living in the forest. And over time, it will ultimately reduce the number of games you can hunt in the long term. It is important to maintain a healthy balance."

That would be what modern humans would know of as maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Excess hunting just for the sake of trophies or senseless enjoyment damaged the long term population of not just the targeted species. Other hunters would also be severely impacted if the population of their prey suddenly fell drastically.

I'm not an environmentalist, but I still respect the ecosystem to not hunt for sport because there are people who may need the animal to sustain themselves. Even wild animals do not hunt for sport and only hunt for food.

"There are basically two ways to hunt prey. Stand-hunting, which is standing or sitting somewhere while waiting for prey. This requires patience, discipline and self-restraint. The second is stalking. And that is to tread slowly and deliberately on the forest floor while tracking your prey."

I'm surprised that he is able to explain this well despite being horrible when it comes to teaching us sword style. He seems more experienced in hunting and adventuring than in swordsmanship.

"Regardless of your methods there are also many other factors to consider. First things first, our smell. Animals are typically very sensitive to how we smell, and will often run away if they smell us. To remedy this, we can hide our natural scent by grabbing some grass or plants, mashing them to a paste and rubbing it over our clothes."

Paul demonstrated this and offered some grass to me to do the same. Although I already knew it since my training in the organization started at the age of 5 while hunting and survival was taught at 10. We were disciplined and taught many lessons until being trained in combat and survival. 

It was tough to say the least when a single mistake cost me to be beaten and punished. I hated them for it but the result was all worth it for my survival. Still, I was satisfied to have home and free food to live.

"Good. Now, once you've successfully masked your scent, we can start to track some deer. Most animals tend to gather at a water source, we can start from there. But be mindful of the direction of the wind. We always want to be traveling against the wind and not with it."

"Yes, Papa!"

I followed my father to the river stream in hopes of finding a trail and unfortunately didn't find any animals. However, I spread my senses with a technique that developed called Detection. A simple name and explain what it does that acts like sonar to map out an exactly 50 meters in radius feeling the flow of Mana. 

"Papa, I sensed something in the distance. They are a group of small animals that I believe to be rabbits."

"Huh? Oh you're detection spell, got it. Alright, lead the way, Rein."

My father followed me using an imperfect and barely usable [ Shundō ] to catch up to me. It's already amazing that he was able to use at around an Intermediate rank level of that technique.

After a while, we soon encountered a couple rabbits that they collected as their prey. Paul took them down with a bow and arrows, showing surprising expertise in a weapon that was not a sword for once, likely stemming from his Advanced mastery of North God style.

"Listen, Rein. When hunting make sure to hit the vitals part that could either quickly kill them or give them the least amount of pain. We are taking life for our survival and not for enjoyment."

He shared more of his philosophy in hunting which enlightened me a bit and nodded in response. I hunted because of necessity for living but it was when I lacked resources on a mission where I'm at an isolated place and never stop to think about this side of things. 

My father took a deep breath aiming for the head to give the rabbit a quick death that pierced through its skull. He proceeded to rapidly take out more arrows that shot toward the rest of the rabbit.

Meanwhile the last rabbit was hunted by me and since I was still small enough to properly use a bow, I created a rock arrow instead and shot it into its head.

"Woah! Great work, Rein!! As expected of my son!"

He ruffled my hair before calling our hunts making sure that they were properly and humanely killed. I hardly feel any sympathy when killing since I'm far too used to it.

Afterward we spent the rest of the next hour or so trying to find a deer, but failed to do so in the end. Regardless however, it was a great success in my book since we manage to hunt quite a lot of rabbit. Though, I prefer beef 

"I'm surprised you're not scared after killing an animal."

My father was teaching how to skin the rabbit, pretending that I don't know how to properly do it along the way since it would be suspicious why I'm so good and knew what I'm doing. 

"Should I be?"

I tilted my head trying to act clueless while my father seemed taken aback and thought a bit to only shake his head since he doesn't know how to respond.

"Well, when I went hunting for the first time I was shocked and didn't believe what was happening. Though, eventually I got used to it."

"...is it weird papa that I'm not scared?"

"Ah? No, rather than being weird, Rein is a special child. You shouldn't feel scared if people think you're weird because they don't know you."

He gave comforting words to me and seemed to see through the inner turmoil that I pretended to have. Though, I could care less what people view me as still afraid for people around me. I only nodded and quietly skinned the rabbit. 

My father continued instructing me on how to properly remove the skin after removing all its blood. It was vital to remove the blood first then the organs before skinning it properly. My dismantling skills were so superb that I needed to intentionally make mistakes to let my father properly guide me. 

After we finished dismantling the rabbits and washing the blood from our hands in the riverbank. We quickly tied them into long branches to carry them home. 

"Mama, look at what we caught!"

I ran inside to announce myself to my mother who quickly went to shower me with love. She looked at me and my father who was carrying the rabbit meat.

"Oh wow, did you help your dad hunt?"

"Yeah, I hunted one over there and papa taught me how to dismantle it."

"Hahaha he was quite good at hunting. I guess we will have enough meat for the rest of the week."

"Mama, can you teach me how to cook?"

"Oh Rein you're just so cute! Of course I'll teach you since I can't let your father only teach you new things."

I giggled in excitement to enjoy before helping chop the rabbit into pieces while my mother taught me crucial steps when cooking. Though, our ingredients were greatly limited especially in the spice department, still able to make a decent meal. I'm curious if I'm able to create rock salt from the compound of it. 

My knowledge was enough to know that it was created by sodium and other chemical compounds. If I'm able to create it then we would have a tastier meal. There is also the dry aging process to make it even tastier or smoking it on fire but I'll just experiment with it and pretend that it came from my dream. 

"Now, Reing when cutting, you have to make sure that you do not do it this way instead like this. The blade has a different purpose in cooking compared to  swordsmanship."

I held the hand in my hand while my mother behind me helped guide it to cut through the meat. She showed me the proper way to cut the flesh since people just chop rather than slice. There are certain techniques when cutting a meat like that of cutting a person. Well that's a horrible comparison but whatever. 

While we were cooking, a commotion could be heard as Paul answered the door. If I had to guess it's the bullies that my brother beat and indicate that he had met Sylphiette or Sylphy for short right now. My cheek moves upward forming a smile since in the series the two are my favorite couple next to Eris.

People might think it's weird why I won't pursue her but the answer is simply that there isn't a click unlike Roxy that is followed by Ghislaine. Perhaps I'm into older woman? Whatever the case, I'm proud that my brother would defend someone. 

"What was that all about, papa?"

"Yeah, is there any problem?"

"Well, it's Rudy and he had beaten some of the village kids…*sigh* I told him to use his skill for the weak and not fight other people!"

"Papa, Rudy won't do it because he likes to fight. You need to ask him first what happened."

"Guess you're right. You really act mature at the crucial moment, Rein."

"Because I don't want papa and Rudy fighting."

I cutely said that at least calm him down knowing that he would have fought with him if I didn't try to voice some reason to him. After a while, when we were busy preparing our lunch, Rudy returned home with a smile and met up father to have a discussion about what happened. When everyone was at home we all sat down to have our lunch.

"Hey Rudy what was that about earlier?"

"What-Oh that! I just met a new kid that was being bullied and saved him from them. "

"Good work, Rudy! At least you're using what your father taught you to protect the weak like he said."

"Yeah you should be proud of yourself, Rudy."

"Hehehe thanks. How about you Rein?"

"Well, Dad and I hunted some rabbits that we were about to eat. He taught me some things about hunting and maybe next time you should come with us."

"Okay, I'll make sure to hunt more than you!"

"Hold in there, we won't be hunting for sport."

"What if we give the meat to the people in the village then? At least they could have a meal and won't need to hunt on their own."

"Hmmm, I guess that could work. But enough chit chat and finish up before it gets cold."