Chapter 56: Hunt [3]
Three days passed in a blur.
It was the day of the appointnt and Leon and the other mbers were already waiting in Zone [F].
"So this is the [F] zone?"
Evelyn looked around with wide eyes. In their view lay a luminescent forest, emitting a deep blue glow that starkly contrasted with the dull grayness of the surrounding world. In a sense, it added to the ominousness of the area.
Bordering next to the Yellow Region, it was the most dangerous Zone within the Black Region.
Leon looked around before turning back to look at the others.
"Be careful. Do not stray too far. I can sense multiple strong presences deep within."
"Your senses are that sharp?"
Aoife asked while she leaned on a nearby tree. She closed her eyes and tried to sense her surroundings, but after a while frowned and shook her head.
".....I can't sense anything."
"I'm a knight. That's why."
"I am too."
Aoife didn't seem to be satisfied with the answer but left it there.
There was a fundantal difference between those that belonged to the [Body] category and those that belonged to the [Mind] and [Elental] category.
To be classified as a knight, one had to belong to the [Body] category which focused on enhancing the human body.
Aoife was proficient in both [Mind] and [Body]. However, unlike him, she focused most of her attention on [Telekinesis] which belonged to the [Mind] category.
It was understandable that his senses were sharper than hers.
After all, his only talents lay in the [Body] category.
"Isn't he late? How much longer are we supposed to wait for him?"
A voice suddenly broke Leon out of his thoughts. When he looked back, Wesley, who was similarly leaning against a nearby tree, frowned.
"It's been an hour since we arrived here and he's still not here. Are we sure he's coming?"
Leon frowned but still answered.
".....He should be coming."
"Uh, well, if you say so."
Leon thought he'd leave it at that, but he suddenly continued.
"You don't think anything happened to him on the way?"
"....."
"I an, he did go by himself. And like I said, he's not very strong. It wouldn't be out of the question."
"...."
"What if he got hurt and can't make it? How much longer should we wait for?"
'He talks too much.'
It was starting to beco more and more apparent to Leon. This hadn't been the first remark he had made toward Julien.
For the past three days, he had been throwing random jabs at him.
Nobody said a thing considering that they were a group and none of the group mbers had anything to say about him.
But...
It was starting to grow on Leon's nerves.
"You, c—"
Rustle—
A gentle rustle halted Leon mid-sentence as he turned his head in the direction of where the sound ca from.
Then, a figure slowly erged from the other side of the trees.
"This..."
"Ah."
The mont he appeared, the expressions of all those present changed. This was especially so for Wesley who couldn't help but cover his mouth.
"Pftt. "
***
A weird mixture of expressions greeted my sight the mont I managed to clear the forest and arrive at the eting area.
I couldn't bla them.
While I wasn't injured, my clothes were a ss with tears all over the place. Dry blood stained my attire, adding to the disarray.
I had been so imrsed in my training that I had almost forgotten about the eting.
Thankfully, I managed to make it in ti.
"Pftt."
A certain sound caught my attention and when I looked up, I found soone staring at with
a look of mockery.
'Who is this guy?'
With long black hair, hazel eyes, and handso features, he appeared sowhat familiar, but I couldn't quite put it where.
"You're here."
My attention shifted away when I noticed Leon approach .
He sported a small frown on his face but didn't say anything about my clothing and started to brief
on the situation.
"Near here there's a Nyxfernal nest."
I raised my brow.
'Nyxfernal nest?'
Having studied the books before coming here, I was well learned on Nyxfernals. They were an underground creature that loved to dig tunnels. Highly toxic, and nimble with sharp claws, they were monsters that the Academy recomnded avoiding.
....So why was he telling
this?
"I've already scouted the area beforehand, and there's only one Junior ranked one. The rest are infant ranked."
"And?"
"Within the nest, there is a handful of Lumicore Fungi."
"Ah."
"It may not be useful for you, but it can fetch a high price if you were to sell it on the market. If you help us, we will give you a share of the gains."
"...."
I didn't answer imdiately. Staring into Leon's eyes for a brief mont, I proceeded to lower my head.
Lumicore Fungi. I knew about them. They weren't exactly useful for . They were resources more fit for those who practiced the [Body] category.
However, that didn't an they were worthless.
No, rather, they were worth a lot of money. I wasn't sure exactly how much, but each gram was worth at least multiple dozen Rend.
I was in desperate need of money.
To beco stronger faster, I needed more resources. Money was the key to gaining access to such resources.
I had no other choice but to accept.
And when my thoughts paused there, I looked up to Leon and nodded.
"Alright. I'll accept."
Just briefly, I noticed Leon's lips pull up slightly. But it left as fast as it ca, and I had a hard ti figuring out whether I had seen it wrongly or not.
In the end, I let it be.
"....Get ready. We will be leaving soon."
*
Located deep into the [F] Zone was a certain web of tunnels that one could enter from a few spots above.
Sowhat familiar with the area, Leon guided us toward a dark cave that one couldn't see the end of.
"Is this the place?"
Luxon glanced around with a frown.
"Do we have so light? Or do you-"
"There's no need."
Leon casually looked back before stepping in.
"You'll see once we reach deeper inside."
"Uh..."
His figure disappeared into the cave. Aoife followed right after him. Though confused, Luxon sighed and followed right after. I was just about to follow when soone turned to face .
He appeared friendly.
"Make sure you stay behind ."
"....?"
"I have no idea why Leon wanted you to co, but..."
He lowered his head to scan my body.
"....I can protect you if you stay behind . Since you seem to be struggling so much, I thought it'd be best if you stayed with . I'm a sharpshooter so I've got great eyesight."
What is this guy...
"If you stay next to
you won't get in the way of others and might even be able to contribute."
Every word that he spat was spat with a friendly smile, and yet... All I felt was a strange sense of disgust.
I was just about to respond to him when he turned around and entered the cave.
"Just make sure you listen to . It'll do all of us good."
"...."
I stood in silence for a short mont before lowering my head to stare at my hand.
Struggling? ....Might be able to contribute?
This...
"Hah."
I almost laughed.
What sort of situation was this? I wasn't even mad. I was just baffled. He couldn't even hide his own dislike towards .
I shook my head.
I had thought people would finally leave
alone after what I had done, but there were still a few who were not convinced.
Most likely, he had so basis behind his confidence. Given that I could sowhat recognize him, he must've had so strength to back up his confidence.
Still...
"What a pain."
Just when was it going to be enough?
Scratching the side of my head, I entered the cave and embraced the darkness. I had just taken several steps when I stopped.
The air was thick with the scent of earth and dampness, and the sound of dripping water echoed softly in the distance.
"Hm?"
However, off in the distance I took notice of a strange glow.
I didn't hesitate to follow the light and soon enough I was left shocked by the sight that greeted . Covering the walls and ceiling of the cave was an unusual blue moss, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the entire cavern.
'Wow.'
It looked like a scene straight out of a movie and I had to take a mont to observe the area.
"Julien."
I only looked away when I felt soone call my na. Looking up, I saw everyone looking at . I briefly paused my gaze on the black-haired kid before turning it back to Leon who pressed his hand against his mouth and nudged
forward.
"We're near the nest so be careful. If you—"
BOOOM—!
".....!"
The cavern shook all of a sudden. Unable to keep it steady, I lost my footing and fell against the ground.
I was the only one that fell as almost everyone was able to keep their footing.
"Hiek!"
Soone else did fall on
as my vision was covered by a set of purple hair.
The mont she fell on , I felt her body turn rigid and our eyes t. I hardly reacted given that I knew that this was an accident, but she didn't think so as her eyes darted all over the place but .
Then, just as she was about to say sothing, I caught sight of a massive figure headed in our direction from the distance and I pushed her off of .
"....!"
A trendous pressure that made it hard to breathe emitted from the creature's body as I tried to get my bearings.
Just as I was about to move forward, a hand pushed
back.
"Don't interfere."
"Get ready!"
Leon's voice reached
shortly after. With his glowing sword, he pushed his feet forward and dashed forward.
His figure blurred forward as it headed toward the distant creature. Following him right behind was Aoife who was just a tad bit slower.
The others also got into position as they readied themselves to face the creature.
I was the only one who did nothing as I t a pair of hazel eyes.
"We discussed it before, right? Stay with
so that we don't interfere with them."
"...."
Just then, I deeply stared into his eyes. He t them back. As if he was trying to challenge . However... that didn't last for long.
He soon started to grow uncomfortable with my gaze. So much that his eyes started to dart away from .
"...."
I kept at it until he couldn't bear it anymore and finally looked away.
I knew then the reasoning behind his attitude.
.....He was afraid of .
Reviews
All reviews (0)