Chapter 6: Finally Safe?

Time passed, and he eventually completed covering the disc from view. It would no longer be found if one simply glanced over without examining the area. But the cubes floating around the disc were still there, and he had no idea how to hide them. So, he let them be. For him, the disc was probably the entrance since this was where the green light appeared, hence being more important.

With that done, he gazed over his head and looked at the branches carefully. It took time, but he finally found a trace of his Sunrise Flower pollen. It was bright yellow, and since the vines covering the canopy were torn to shreds when the cubes spun, the bright yellow color stood out eye-catchingly under the sun.

Feeling relieved, he followed the trail on foot. He did not climb the trees since he doubted he could, considering the sharp thorns on the trunk. He did not want to injure himself any longer. Although the back of his neck became sore from constantly looking up, it was a small price to pay for being able to return in one piece.

*** (⁠ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ⁠)⁠>⁠⌐⁠■⁠-⁠■ ***

Gazing at the map of Shrouded Forest, Khennet's expression darkened seeing the borderline between the green-shaded area and the red. Looking ahead, the trees were undoubtedly more congested, making the path darker, and more dangerous.

"This is where we stop. We aren't capable enough to explore ahead." Khennet glanced at the five hunters who nodded in understanding. Though they had a Grand Hunter with them, most of them were simply hunters with no chance of survival against the uncertainties of the forest. After all, it was not just Beasts they had to worry about.

Thump!

A hunter landed on the ground from the branches and chipped in. "So do we leave, sir? Maybe the lair is just nearby."

"No, it's too dangerous to explore ahead." Khennet stated firmly. His gaze swept the hunters and he continued, "I know you're eager to earn a large profit, and avenge a fellow hunter, but there is a thin line between courage and stupidity."

"I… understand." The hunter sighed and glanced around the surroundings to prepare for their departure.

There was a heavy silence among them as they prepared to leave. They were known for their violent nature, and strong bodies, but they cared for each other as fellow huntsmen. Losing one of them affected them significantly.

Sigh.

"At this point, we'll truly be gone. There's already so few of us, yet we die like withering leaves." A hunter spoke in a saddened tone and a long sigh.

Khennet paused, recalling things from his memory, before he smiled wryly. "We are fragile as glass in this forest, but we already know that from the beginning. There is no one to blame but our stupid courage and ability to survive."

"Ha… Most people don't have those. I wonder if someone would qualify to be one this year. I hope that it's a good archer like Valier. That kid was good, sadly luck didn't seem to be on his side today." Another hunter spoke.

"True, but I don't think it would be that easy. Most young ones would rather stick to quills and papers than blades and arrows. I truly wonder what they find so interesting in it rather than feeling your life in a thread of life and death." A huntsman spoke while thinking about it deeply.

"They probably want a peaceful life. I mean, who doesn't? But unlike us, they want to stick to earning meager income without taking risks and thrills." Khennet answered the huntsman's thoughts.

"That must be it, but if this continues, won't the hunting profession be gone?" A hunter questioned while counting with his fingers. "There's only 255 of us left, and 254 now with Valier gone."

Khennet responded with a down expression. "It will take some time, but I'm sure it will happen. The forest isn't as stable as before, and at least one death occurs every month… we can only be extra careful."

"You mean…"

"Yes. From now on, two hunters should be close to each other's hunting ground to avoid a situation like this one. I know this will bring a lot of hindrances, but time's changing; we should adapt." Khennet stated authoritatively. It was not a suggestion, but an order.

"We understand."

"I agree. Time's changing."

"That's true—!"

Rustle!

Their conversation was cut off by the rustle among the ferns far away. Instantly, they took a fighting stance with their various weapons ready to kill. Although they were busily talking a second ago, they did not once let down their guards. Especially Khennet, his large greatsword was firmly gripped my him.

Step. Step. Step.

It was faint, almost nonexistent, but being an experienced hunter, Khennet heard the footsteps and raised his hand. This signaled the other hunters to not engage with the entity in the fern just yet, until he was certain what it was.

"Fudge this shit, I wish I had wings."

A hushed mumble came from the fern, shocking all hunters who heard that they exchanged a look of disbelief among themselves. They were familiar with that type of cursing. Valier was alive!

"How?" A hunter quietly inquired unconsciously.

No one answered him, and they simply gazed at the fern with disbelief. It was not long before they became certain, as a young man with dirt-brown messy hair, signature left eye scar, donning a mostly shredded camouflage suit, came out with daggers held readily.

"Hunter Valier… you're alive…" Khennet mumbled, with his disbelief slowly turning into a wide relieved smile.

Valier paused looking at them. He was surprised, but he quickly snapped out of it and nodded repeatedly. "Yes. With dumb luck, I'm still in one piece."

Other hunters might respond to Khennet with words full of respect and formality, however, Valier was different. Khennet was a dear friend of his senior brother, so Valier knew this man for a long time. It wasn't a secret, so many got used to his attitude towards the leader of the hunters.

"The heck! Is that a Beast Panther wing!?" A hunter exclaimed, pointing at the large feathers behind Valier. This quickly attracted many gazes of shock, and eventually pride.

He smiled wryly while scratching the back of his neck humbly. "Yes, it is."

"Did you kill the Beast?" Khennet asked while approaching him curiously. The other hunters followed after.

"Yeah. It got crushed by a large rock, beyond salvation. Only one wing survived." He glanced at the wing with a sad look. After almost dying by the fangs of that creature, he only obtained a wing for godsake. Truly, it was unfair.

He looked up, meeting Khennet's piercing red eyes that seemed able to discern the truth. He maintained his calm face, despite the emotional turmoil inside of him. He was anxious. Being in a position of authority for a long time, Khennet was someone that could discern lies just by observing bodily movements.

Though he told the truth, he was unsure how he would respond if the man asked about anything else. He would not be able to hide his encounter relating to Mages. Fortunately, the man's eyes relaxed, making him sigh in relief inwardly.

The doubts of the hunters were quickly gone after that. It was surprising for a person who became a hunter just a couple of years ago would be able to slay a Beast, but it was not impossible. Furthermore, the Beast was reportedly a cub.

"Sheesh. That bow will take a lot of money to fix." A hunter felt his pain.

"Damn, that's completely shattered. How did it even come to that?"

"I used it one last time to fire an arrow towards a vine to loosen the rock stuck in it. It sounds weird, but there's rocks entangled among the vines in that unexplored area." Valier explained.

Khennet listened and scanned Valier's body for his injuries. While doing so, he noticed the lump under the camouflage suit, but he did not think of it much. It was not strange to carry many pieces of paper containing various information about animals and plants in the forest while hunting. But most hunters and gatherers alike preferred folded papers, not books.

But considering Valier's years of hunting, he was still considered a newbie. There were undoubtedly many things he could not remember, so having a book to look at would be more helpful and time-saving since the information was organized in pages. What Khennet did not know was Valier was good at memorizing, so he did not need folded papers in hunting.

"Hunter Barrem, patch up his wounds." Khennet ordered the huntsman fiddling with the wing strapped on Valier's back.

Barrem nodded and began wrapping Valier's arms and legs with cloth to stop much of the bleeding. Afterwards, Valier was given water and a pat on the head by the hunters, which he detested greatly. But these towering men loved to tease him due to his short height. For them, he was a kid, which was correct. But he did not like to be treated that way.

"Can you still walk back to the camp?" Khennet asked.

"I can, halfway. After that, I think my legs would no longer work." He replied.

Khennet looked at the second largest hunter. "Hunter Somev, can you?"

"Sure."

"Good. Now, let's go back." Khennet announced.

With that, they left the area and headed towards the camp. Along the way, they remained cautious of the forest since it was in an unstable state where a Beast showed up in an area it was not supposed to be. Although they had a strong hunter among them, and they could take on Beasts with ease with their numbers, they were not gonna take their chances.

Halfway, Valier could no longer take it and climbed on Somev's back. He was given a piggyback ride until he saw the high wooden walls with wooden pikes planted at the bottom of the structure. It was a camp, surrounded by walls to protect the inhabitants from the elements.

They entered through the simple arch with a single blue flag hanging from above that had obviously experienced the effects of time as it was mostly torn from the sides, and saw lined up tents of depressing colors decorating the right side of the camp. Meanwhile, various small wooden buildings adorned the left side.

However, those were not what caught their attention, it was the massive severed head of a feline stabbed through by a pike erected at the center of the camp. But their interests quickly shifted, much like the rest of the people gathered around the head, and fell on the individual screaming and throwing a punch at someone he shouldn't.

"YOU FUDGERVASTERD! YOU'RE THE REASON Valier IS DEAD!!!"

It was Galleon who was causing a commotion, visibly turning bat-shit crazy throwing punches using his small slender arms despite being held by two large men on both sides. The person he was spouting his rage on?

Peirus, the Frost Hunter.