Chapter 105 – Headhunters (3)

“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten venison.”

Watching the meat being skewered and cooked over the campfire, Patrick stroked his chin.

“Have you ever eaten venison?”

“I’ve had it a couple of times before. One of my friends was a hunter.”

Having said that, Patrick smiled bitterly as if recalling the past. He stayed put and he didn’t move.

“How was the taste?”

“Taste? To be honest, venison isn’t very tasty. The meat is tough and smells like you’ve been enjoying it. Pork or chicken is much better.”

“Eh.”

Cerys looked up at Patrick with a strained voice. She was poking at the venison with a happy face saying that she had caught it, but hearing that kind of sound made me lose my mind.

The corners of Kara’s eyes, who were staring intently at her meat next to him, also became sullen.

“Sister, he said it would be delicious.”

“…I thought it would be delicious too.”

“Your sister is a liar.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to eat?”

“Your sister looks pretty today.”

Patrick and I laughed lightly as we listened to the two people’s nonsense. Belita looked ridiculous, and Andrew and Joey seemed to be a couple, so they were talking among themselves.

“Now. There is a way to make even venison taste good, so don’t fight.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Seris asked, full of her hopes. Patrick pulled out a small pouch from his bosom and showed it. Belita, who saw the pouch, was startled and asked Patrick if she meant it.

“Mister, are you going to use that?”

“Heh heh, isn’t today a vacation you haven’t had in a while? Should I use it at a time like this or when would I use it?”

“What is it? Mary, even though he insisted on using it like that, he didn’t use it.”

“Keep it a secret from Mary.”

“That’s right.”

Belita and Patrick whispered among themselves and giggled. At that point, I started to wonder what was in that pocket.

“Mr. Patrick, what is that?”

“Kuhmm, yes, you guys don’t know.”

Patrick patted his pockets against the palm of his hand. Then, black or ocher-colored grains protruded from the pouch. At the same time, it smelled a bit salty.

“This is a horse. As soon as…”

“Pepper?”

“Hmm? Did you know?”

Patrick looked at me with an expression of surprise. But to me, pepper was a familiar spice.

“Because I’ve had it a couple of times before. But I thought Patrick had pepper. Wasn’t it expensive?”

Pepper is expensive in this world.

It’s not like a pepper is gold, but it’s probably silver. That little pocket would probably cost about 5-6 silver.

“I didn’t buy it. I got it from an acquaintance.”

“You seem to know a lot of people.”

“This has been 10 years. It’s strange that it doesn’t happen.”

Patrick sprinkled pepper on the venison as it was browning.

“…Isn’t it spraying too little?”

“Uh huh, this is enough.”

Patrick said in a stern voice. It’s like a salty stone. Still, it was better than nothing, but the salty smell of my head tickled my nose. Seris and Kara gulped and waited for the meat to cook.

I was looking at the two of them in awe,

Rustle rustle-

The sound of breaking through the bush reached my ears. Without hesitation, I stood up and drew my dagger.

“Wh-what’s going on?!”

Belatedly, the other party members also drew their weapons and stood facing the place I was looking at.

“Someone is coming here.”

“What? Could it be a spirit?”

“I don’t know either. You are almost there.”

“Shit…”

We waited nervously for the other person to show up. And soon I knew who was approaching. A brown-haired middle-aged man came out of the bush with his hands up.

“What, were you a human?”

Belita let out a hollow laugh as if she had lost her nerves. She did not, however, put down her sword. Even if they are human, there is no guarantee that they are not enemies.

The brown-haired man looked at us and scratched his cheek awkwardly with a laugh.

“I followed the delicious smell… Can you please lower your weapon?”

“What a crazy thing. What do you believe, we lower our weapons?”

Said Belita, flicking her sword. Bad attitude, but the man still kept his smile.

“Ah, the introduction is late. My name is Darla. Bahran is an adventurer of the same rank who works for the adventurer’s guild.”

“An adventurer of the same rank? Why is such a person here?”

“I heard rumors that spirits roam this forest. Didn’t you all come here after hearing the rumor?”

“Um, that’s true… But would you like to show your adventure certificate? Lay down your weapons.”

“Yes, of course.”

Darla set down the sword at her waist and tried to pull the adventure certificate from her bosom. Before he could get it all out, I opened my mouth.

“I think you should also look at the people behind you.”

“What? What is that…”

Patrick, who was momentarily taken aback by my words, soon hardened his face and glared at Darla.

“Have you tricked us?”

“No, no. I just told you to wait because I wasn’t sure if you guys were safe.”

Called the person hiding behind the request. She was a pair of men and women of the same age as Darla.

Patrick checked their adventure cards and nodded at us. We laid down our weapons.

“Then why did you come to us?”

“As I said earlier, it smells delicious. I was wondering if I could get a little bit… Ah, of course, I’m not saying I’m just going to get it. We have good wine to go with the meat, but…”

Darla took a bottle from her backpack and handed it to Patrick. Patrick opened the lid, sniffed it, and soon smiled and made a place for them.

‘Why didn’t you consult with us…’

I was dissatisfied in my heart when Patrick handed me a bottle. I opened the lid as he did and smelled the alcohol.

‘…It’s worth it.’

I understood and sat down next to Sister Celis again.

“Who else is in this forest besides you?”

“Hmm, we’ve been here for about two days, and you’re the first person we’ve met. It’s a hunch, but I guess we’re all humans in this forest.”

At Patrick’s question, Darla raised his glass and said, Patrick bumped his glass into Darla’s glass.

“Then it will be a competition between the cine party and our party. Let’s be good to each other.”

“Aren’t you thinking about losing?”

The two middle-aged men laughed at each other and took a drink. The rest of the party also chatted among themselves and enjoyed meat and wine.

A night in a dark forest, a barbecue with strangers relying on a bonfire.

It felt like we were camping.

* * *

Four days had passed since I had been walking around the forest.

We couldn’t find even a trace of the spirit, let alone the spirit. Instead, I was able to meet many monsters and beasts roaming the forest.

Those who don’t even have money.

Eventually, while taking a break, I approached Patrick, who was resting against a tree.

“Patrick, isn’t something strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“If the fire spirit was crazy, it would have run wild, but we haven’t been able to find even a trace of it, let alone the real thing. The scorched marks may remain, though.”

At my words, Patrick gave a troubled laugh and scratched his head.

“Do you think that the story I heard is nonsense?”

“…I’m sorry if you were offended.”

“No, no. Actually, I was thinking that too. I thought he was a gentleman who doesn’t talk nonsense… But he must have misunderstood something.”

“Then what are you going to do now? Are you going back to Kalita?”

“But why don’t you look for it for another day? It’s not like you’re overdoing the search anyway.”

“Um… I see.”

I readily accepted Patrick’s words.

As he said, we were wandering around sloppily to call it a search. If one of them got tired from walking, they would rest, play betting games if they felt like it, and occasionally play in the water when they saw a river.

I went back to my seat and sat on the floor. Beside them, Celis and Kara were talking nonsense.

“Sister, it is really nice here. The wind is cool and the scenery is nice. If we make a lot of money later, let’s build a house like this and live there.”

“Here? I don’t like her, but… Monsters and beasts are infesting her.”

“We can catch that much!”

“Are you going to bother me too much at night? Also, if you build it in the forest, bugs will come in. When you wake up, bugs may be crawling on your body.”

“Uh… I don’t like that.”

“Yes? Look, can I crawl all over your body like this?”

Cerys wriggled her arm like a bug and stabbed it into Kara’s side. At her tickle, Kara twisted her body.

“Ahahaha! Ha, don’t!”

“Knocking around~”

Hee hee, do it, don’t do it!”

Puck.

“Kkeuk… Kara, if you kick unnie’s belly…”

“Heh… Heh… I told you not to do that!”

Seris grabbed her stomach and collapsed. Kara shook her shoulder as if she was worried when her older sister didn’t get up even though she was annoyed.

“What’s wrong with you sister? Does it hurt a lot?”

“You’re right…”

‘…What are they doing.’

I laughed and lay down on the floor. A cool breeze blew through my body. I always feel it when I come here, but the wind in this forest is very cool.

I felt the wind and closed my eyes.

-Kyaaaaa

A sudden scream was heard.

It’s a sound from a place not too far from here.

I hurriedly stood up and turned my gaze toward the place where the screams had been heard. Turned on ‘The Wolf’s Pact’. Bugs, animals, and all sorts of sounds flowed into my ears.

‘…’

However, we did not hear anyone else besides us. Instead, the fishy smell of blood stung my nose.

“What is it, a spirit? Is it a spirit?!”

Surprised by the screams, the party stood up.

“Um, isn’t that the man who asked for it? There’s only us and that uncle’s party in the forest right now!”

Embarrassed, Celis looked in the direction of her scream and at me.

“Damn it, it seems the spirit is right. Let’s go!”

Everyone in the party tried to run to the place where the screams were heard. I grabbed Ceris’s arm as she tried to raise her body.

“Yoosung? What’s wrong? Now is the time…”

“Stop. Something is wrong.”

I’ve heard that it’s definitely a fire spirit that rampages in the forest. But what about the smell of blood? It is an incense that cannot fly if it is burned to death.

If that’s the case, it’s a story about someone other than a spirit being killed, but it didn’t make sense to be beaten by a monster. No, the idea itself was wrong in the first place. That’s probably because the smell of blood I’m smelling right now wasn’t fresh.

Also…

“Belita! Mr. Patrick! Stop!!”

Belita, who had been running into the woods at my cry, hurriedly stopped grabbing onto a branch. She started with her, and her Patrick, Andrew, and Joey also stopped their legs.

“Why? Why did you tell me to stop?”

“Now is not the time for this! If you’re late, someone else could get hurt too!”

“Calm down and think carefully. Did you hear that voice just now at Mr. Darla’s party?”

“What? What is that…”

Patrick made a puzzled expression, then hardened his expression.

“None.”

The facial expressions of the other party also became subtle. Said Andrew.

“But it could be other people than the other dollar, right?”

“It could be, but…”

While I was dragging my horse, I was thinking about how to convince him. Time is running out to explain the ‘Wolf’s Pact’. Should I tell you there’s no sound of fighting?

As I pondered so much, I narrowed my brows at the sound that came into my ears. I focused my attention on my hearing. Among all kinds of sounds, such as the sound of insects, monsters fighting over territory,

Knock-

There were footsteps running towards us. Our ship was a number that exceeded.

“Damn it… Seris, jump behind Kara.”

“Yes yes?”

“Are you running backwards?”

“Run fast!”

He shouted and pushed the two of them on the back. Even though they were bewildered, they followed my words and started running. Before running, I shouted at Patrick’s group.

“Everyone, run fast! There’s a lot of stuff coming!”

“What? What bullshit is that…”

Hyuung.

An arrow went through Belita’s side of the head. A solid red line was drawn on her cheek as if the arrow blade had grazed her. Belita put her hand to her cut on my cheek. Seeing her blood on her fingers, she frowned.

“What the fuck!”

Patrick’s party hurriedly ran after us.

– Holy shit. Shoot!

Noble voice.

With the end of that voice, arrows rained down towards us. Papabak! Arrows were stuck in trees or knocked over on the ground.

Fortunately, no arrows hit us. Because we were in the forest, the trees covered us, and they were also running, so our aim was a mess.

“What crazy! What kind of chews are you behind?! “

In anger, Belita spat out her curse words. I felt the same way. What the hell are these bastards saying, all of a sudden shooting arrows and fucking?

But instead of swearing, I moved more calmly. With our enhanced hearing, we focused on footsteps following us.

‘Five to the rear on the right side, six on the left side, and nine to the rear in a straight line.’

Is a head-on collision possible?

Opponent did not show up. Because we don’t know their level of power, it’s impossible to guess.

So, is it best to keep running away like this?

Belt ring-

Suddenly, the quest presented by the status window appeared in front of my eyes. It’s been a while, but now I didn’t have time to read the quest. I erased it and continued my thoughts to break the current situation.

Belt ring-

The quest reappeared. I’ve never had anything like this before.

‘Is it related to the current situation?’

I had no choice but to read the contents of the quest while running.

‘…What the fuck.’

After thinking for a while, I turned my gaze to Seris and Kara, who were running away. As if their usual training was meaningful, the two did not show any sign of exhaustion yet.

“Ceris, Cara, I have a place to go for a while. Don’t stop and keep running like this. Again, never stop.”

“Yes, Mr. Yoosung, what is that…”

Before Celis finished replying, I approached Belita.

“Belita, Seris and Kara, please. I’ll buy you a drink later.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Request.”

After tapping her on the shoulder a few times, I turned around. It sprinted straight to the right. Cucumber! The flying arrow barely passed by the back of my neck.

“Yoosung!!”

“Brother?!”

“Don’t stop, run! I’ll follow you soon, so hurry up!”

“Ha, but…”

Seris and Kara hesitated. I hurriedly called Belita’s name. Then Belita looked at me and sighed. She grabbed Seris and Kara and started running, then she glanced back at me.

-Don’t fall behind.

She said with her mouth. She then turned her gaze to the front. After making sure they got away, I moved my legs again.

‘No need to be nervous. Just as practiced.’

Little by little, while applying the hermit art of the welcome door.