140 Night hunt

It had been about two weeks since they had left Bleakrun. Neither Atlas nor Faun found it easy to get used to the convoy considering the comforts they previously had in the viscount's mansion.

Even so, little by little they were adjusting to the new routine.

The viscount's territory was on the other side of the border with the Skalhan empire, so with the speed at which they were going, they would still have a month to go to reach the territories that coincided with the border.

But there was no rush since Atlas was taking some time to rest. After four years of making potions and leading a somewhat monotonous life, he decided that as long as they arrived at the Empire, he would definitely take a little vacation.

The roads of the kingdom were quite safe and even if a beast appeared, any of the dozens of mages would take care of it… although Atlas doubted that any beast would dare approach.

Just like humans and animals, beasts also had an instinct for self-preservation, so if they sensed a conglomeration of mana, they would move away to avoid facing any predators.

It was getting late; the sun was about to set on the horizon and Atlas was lying on the roof of one of the carriages. He had complete freedom to do whatever he wanted as long as he didn't break the rules or stray too far from the convoy.

Atlas calmly enjoyed the sun on his face and the wind hitting his body, then the sun finally set and the convoy stopped.

Everyone got out of the carriages to rest and talk to each other while those in charge of the food prepared dinner. But there was still a while before it was ready, so Atlas climbed down from the roof of the carriage and entered the forest in silence.

During the past two weeks, he used to go into the forests they passed through to kill some Inferior beasts and consume their mana cores.

The change in his stats might not be as noticeable every time he consumed a core, but over time he would manage to see a significant change.

In addition, Atlas also took the opportunity to improve his skills as a combat mage and with the staff in spear mode with the ethereal edge.

With agile movements, Atlas raised his spear, defending himself from the attack of a beast similar to a chameleon, only it was the size of a small dog. Then, Atlas approached the chameleon and without giving it time to react, stuck the tip of his spear into its stomach.

[You have killed an Inferior Skarp]

Atlas sighed listening to the system and took out the spear from the chameleon's body. Then, with a sigh he took out a knife that he kept in his ring and bent down to pull out the mana core from inside him.

'This is the worst part'

Aside from the mana core, the only thing he could get out of the Skarp was its flesh, so after taking out the mana core, cleaning it, and putting it in a leather pouch he carried under his cloak, he lifted the beast up and drained its blood as best as possible without knowing its anatomy.

Aryn had taught him not only the basics of hunting, but also how to eat well. Every time they went out for plants, they would eventually encounter beasts, so Aryn was also a good hunter within what she was interested in.

Once Atlas had the Skarp's corpse ready, he tied it to a rope around his waist where he carried two others.

'Okay, this is enough'

He had been inside the forest for about 20 minutes, and it was time for him to return to the convoy. He had only gotten three Inferior cores, they were few, but day after day he was accumulating them.

When Atlas was about to turn around, he suddenly came face to face with a person staring at him.

Atlas was startled and narrowly avoided screaming in fright, then he simply took several steps back.

'Damn it!'

In front of him, a young woman was looking at him curiously.

"Were you hunting?"

Atlas sighed seeing that the woman didn't care that she had scared him in the slightest and she was only interested in something else.

Atlas didn't know what to do, but seeing the innocent look of the young woman in front of him, he simply sighed and nodded.

"…Yes"

"I was hunting too, look!"

The young woman turned and revealed to Atlas the 5 Skarp that she had tied around her waist just like him.

Atlas blinked several times, he was slightly surprised by the innocence and joy of the young woman in front of him, but he was also surprised to see the two furry ears that protruded from her head and the black tail attached to the lower part of her back. 

'…A beast person'

Atlas had already met some beast people in Bleakrun, he even knew that several mages of the clan were beast people, he had simply never interacted with them and the young girl in front of him was the first beast person he had spoken to.

The young woman smiled as if she were proud of her hunting and said: "I don't usually like what they cook, that's why I usually prepare my own meals"

"…I see"

The young woman continued talking, but Atlas did not pay much attention to her, instead he looked at the marks she had on her face.

Under each of her eyes, there were two black marks the same color as her hair. Furthermore, her eyes had a touch of savagery, typical of beast people.

She kept talking, but Atlas couldn't understand much of what she was saying, as if she was just expressing herself randomly. She was taller than him by a dozen centimeters and her body was well proportioned, or so Atlas could see from the tight uniform she was wearing.

'I didn't feel her at all'

Atlas trusted his ability to sense the people around him, but he didn't sense her at all and that's why he got a big scare.

Then suddenly she went quiet and a serious expression appeared on her face. Atlas was about to ask her what was happening, but he soon felt it himself.

The ground was vibrating ever so slightly and Atlas felt a mark of mana deeper in the forest, but strong enough to tell him that there was a powerful beast.

He knew that it didn't matter how strong the beast was since someone from the clan would still defeat it, but it was curious that he suddenly encountered a powerful beast.

Atlas was preparing to return when he saw the young woman next to him licking her lips.

'Is she...?'

And before he could realize it, the young woman ran in the direction of the beast.