Chapter 10
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Sixty Epups
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As dawn broke, Dane and Bankers arrived at the elves' base camp, laden with heavy bundles.
The journey there hadn't been entirely smooth.
As expected, there had been an ambush near the camp—some examinees lying in wait to steal others' harvests.
Bankers cleared the path ahead, swinging his massive spear, while Dane sniffed out presences and cut down those hiding in the shadows, pressing forward.
The attackers didn't charge with the same desperate ferocity as the Svinos.
They were simply following the hunter's creed: "Abandon prey you can't catch."
They reached the camp without major incident, where those who had arrived earlier were having their harvests inspected by the elf supervisors.
"Arend 4, Udot 6, Manfred 4, Herta 5... Unqualified."
With sighs, over a dozen named examinees slunk away.
Then it was Bankers' and Dane's turn.
"Juan 14, Kahvar 10, Bankers 15, Dane... Dane..."
The elf supervisor peered deep into Dane's bundle for a long moment, counting the front paws.
The line of examinees and supervisors ground to a halt as they craned closer to see what was holding things up—and one by one, their faces went slack with shock.
"Examinee Dane... 60... individuals."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
No one could keep their mouths shut at the unimaginable number. It wasn't just impressive or surprising—the gap was absurdly wide.
No one knew how to react, not even the supervisors.
"So, do we pass?"
Dane couldn't hold back and asked, eyeing the stunned supervisor's face.
"...Anika, Juan, Bankers, Dane—qualified."
Chief Supervisor Illein answered in his stead.
Bankers bounced around, slapping Dane's shoulder. It was his way of showing gratitude for the four extra front paws that had gotten him through the test. Dane figured he was just paying for the intel.
"Does that mean the exam's over?"
Dane asked again.
"Yes. The mayor will personally award your badges at the administrative office. Come by at noon tomorrow."
"Can we take the front paws and parts?"
"Ah... yes. Since you hunted them, the parts are yours anyway."
Dane gave a brief nod of thanks, repacked his load, and left the camp with Bankers.
"The parts make sense, but... why take the front paws?"
"Shh... The base is chewy and delicious."
"Ohhh..."
"Let's get them grilled at a restaurant."
"Ohhhh!"
Their steps quickened on their own.
Dane and Bankers didn't notice Illein's gaze lingering on them for a long time.
* * *
"Huh? Did I hear wrong? I swear you just said sixty..."
Tebier, mayor of Foldtown and head of the administrative office, yanked on his large ears and leaned toward Illein.
"You heard correctly. Qualified Dane took down a total of sixty Epups."
Illein, chief supervisor of the rookie hunter exam, leaned back slightly and enunciated clearly.
Tebier just blinked his huge eyes. His expression screamed utter disbelief.
"In one day... that many Epups?"
"Over half the examinees went missing or turned up dead, so he might've stolen some, but even so, it's an outrageous number."
"Right... yeah. Haha! I never knew there were that many Epups in the administrative hunting grounds? Haha!"
Tebier rocked back and forth with booming laughter.
Illein waited politely, hands clasped, as if used to it.
Once calmed, Tebier gazed at her with a gentle smile and continued.
"So, what kind of human is this Dane?"
"It was his first time taking the exam. Not a town resident—probably from a root village or the delta."
"He was first in the preliminary round too, right?"
"Yes. In under an hour."
"Impressive. Anything else unusual? Feels like there's more."
She'd already said plenty. This wasn't just about skill.
Illein had held something back—and Tebier had noticed. Tricky old man to fool.
"He was... a strange human."
"In what way?"
"He ate... monster meat."
"You mean he ate it?"
Tebier's eyes bulged. It seemed more shocking than the sixty Epups.
"While searching for missing and dead examinees, we found traces of him roasting and eating meat where qualified Dane had stayed."
"And it was Epup meat, not some beast?"
"Yes..."
"During the exam?"
"Yes."
Tebier hunched his small frame into a tight ball. Like a little ball on a giant chair.
Illein waited silently, hard to read his thoughts.
"Uhahahahaha!!"
An explosive laugh shook the room. She knew her boss was odd, but she'd never seen him laugh this hard.
Tebier wiped tears, venting his glee.
"That's a complete lunatic. Haha, fun! So fun! Where is he now?"
He suddenly turned serious, eyes locking on her—cold and calm. Illein shivered.
"Probably headed to the secret butcher shop in the commercial district."
"Ah... that place. Where they secretly sell and eat meat? Why there?"
The office already knew about the secret butcher. Tebier left it alone on principle: seal every vent, and it causes bigger problems.
Illein paused. Under Tebier's urging gaze, she continued with resignation.
"Probably... to eat Epup front paws."
"Epup... front paws?"
"Yes. That's what I heard."
Illein endured another round of Tebier's laughter.
* * *
Dane and Bankers strolled leisurely through Foldtown to the secret butcher restaurant.
No one in the parting crowds dared speak to them.
The fierce-looking lizardman was hard enough to meet eyes with, but the man in blood-soaked rags was especially menacing.
The huge bundle on his back and the square butcher knife in his hand forbade questions or chit-chat.
'Blood Slaughterer.'
The moniker stuck to the mysterious fiend would haunt Foldtown's children in nightmares for years.
Their fearless march halted before a group blocking the way.
"Who's Dane?"
A man stepped forward from the center of seven or so hunters in matching red leather armor.
"Hmm... judging by the outfits, Kemora Hunting Party."
Bankers said.
"Vice Captain of Kemora Hunting Party, Squarejaw Friedhold. Who's Dane?"
His nickname was self-evident. Wonder if there was a story behind the goofy name.
Dane smirked and raised a hand slightly.
"Me?"
He sized them up sharply. A red glint flashed in his eyes, gauging them fully. Disappointment bloomed first at Foldtown's top party.
"...As bold as they say."
"What'd I do..."
Dane hadn't moved, but Friedhold wilted under the pressure of his gaze alone.
A lesser hunter might not have. As a rank-6, Friedhold instantly knew Dane was prey he couldn't take.
"Ah... don't misunderstand."
"Misunderstand what?"
"No... I mean, we heard you shone in the exam."
"And?"
"Straight talk. After badges tomorrow, there's a draft between rookies and Foldtown parties. As top pick, you choose. So... Captain Kemora made a bold offer. Join Kemora Hunting Party."
Did elite parties wield godlike power? The tone dripped condescension, like granting a favor or threatening force.
"Oho... scouting offer already, huh? Before even getting your badge. Impressive!"
Bankers sidled closer and boomed. Everyone on the street, including onlookers, heard.
"Huh... what'd he do to get snooty Kemora scouting right away?"
"Big guy but childish..."
"Look at him. No decent gear or weapon. Probably wants a servant, not a hunter."
"Nah, it's Kemora Hunting Party. Bow and take it gratefully."
Mixed reactions poured in. Whispers puffed up the Kemora party's shoulders. Friedhold, briefly cowed, lifted his chin to show off his jawline.
"See you tomorrow then."
Friedhold finished and hurried off. Hunter's instinct screamed it'd turn ugly if he lingered.
Dane watched the red-armored party slink away, then headed straight to the butcher.
Sadly, no Chef River. The novice guarding the kitchen recoiled at the Epup front paw bundle and waved them off.
Dane and Bankers camped on the town's outskirts and grilled the paws over a fire themselves.
* * *
The next day, Dane visited the mayor's office in Foldtown.
Qualified examinees got personal interviews with the admin chief and badges directly. Top scorer Dane first.
Guided by Illein, he opened the massive door.
An excessively grand space, flaunting power. Tree trunks and leaves filled it, tricking the eye into a forest.
"Brought the qualified."
At the end of Illein's gaze, smack in the green center, sat Tebier.
He exuded such stifling pressure it was hard to breathe—dwarf-small.
Short elf elder with pointed ears. Dane guessed he wielded a blade well.
"Welcome. You must be Dane."
Tebier greeted with a soft voice.
Dane sat in a single ornate chair. Huge enough for his height plus two heads.
Tebier, baby-sized in an even bigger chair, smiled at him.
"Younger than I expected. Heard all about your feats. Never seen scores like yours. How'd you take down so many Epups?"
"Thank you for the kind words. Lots of luck."
Dane was perfectly polite. Illein inwardly sighed in relief.
"Your moves were so unique, the report was a delight."
"Was I that odd an examinee?"
"Eating monster meat... haha! Never heard the like."
Straight to the meat talk.
He laughed, but the vibe wasn't friendly at all.