Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Joining Lucas Hunting Party
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‘Better to join a place with a skilled cook than some half-baked hunting party. My goal is to eat every monster and beast in the world anyway.’
He’d never tasted anyone’s cooking besides Deliel’s witch soup, but there was no need to compare flavors relatively. When it came to meat, Dane’s palate was absolute.
The meal at the butcher restaurant lacked nothing—exquisite seasoning that amplified the ingredients’ natural taste, precise salting that toed the perfect line, and masterful control of temperature and timing.
He was convinced after just one meal.
Tebier couldn’t hide his excitement and opened his mouth with an exclamation.
“Ooh…… Choosing the Lucas Hunting Party? That’s unexpected. Was there some kind of connection?”
As Tebier said, Dane’s choice was truly out of left field.
“Hahaha, Lucas Hunting Party……? You didn’t hit the wrong button?”“Hey! This isn’t picking your ideal type!”“What were you thinking choosing that……”
Everyone scrambled to chime in. Teasing jokes popped up here and there. River’s hiccups showed no sign of stopping.
But the one who took the biggest hit was Kemora.
She’d ordered Vice Captain Friedhold to make preliminary contact, never imagining this outcome. No, even without that, Foldtown’s top hunting party should’ve been the obvious pick.
And yet, the Lucas Hunting Party—with its dimwitted captain and just two members.
Unable to stomach the humiliation, Kemora shot Friedhold a cold glare and stormed out.
It was a clear statement: she wouldn’t even use her nomination right. She made her strong displeasure known to everyone.
A chill lingered in the spot she’d vacated. Unable to bear the awkwardness, Tebier flashed a broad smile and pressed on.
“I respect your decision. Grade 7 Dane has become a new recruit in the Lucas Hunting Party. Next up, hahaha! Nominations go in reverse order, so by coincidence, it’s the Lucas Hunting Party again. Proceed.”
River’s hiccups, which had just started to calm, kicked up anew.
But there was zero info on the new recruits. She’d planned to forfeit her nomination from the start.
‘Right…… This could be a chance. Better to raise them up than wait around for a captain who might never return.’
Her panicked gaze flitted about before landing on Bankers, who was waving both arms wildly and hopping up and down.
* * *
News that the Lucas Hunting Party had recruited two newbies set Foldtown abuzz.
Thanks to that, River, Dane, and Bankers drew nonstop stares as they walked the streets.
River said nothing, walking in silence. Her mind was a mess. Slow thoughts quickened her steps.
Meanwhile, Dane and Bankers trailed behind, chatting amiably.
“Bankers…… your tail?”
Dane asked. It had bugged him since the selection ceremony. It’d been cleanly severed just yesterday, but now it looked fine.
The long tail swished vigorously. Now his body proportions finally clicked into place.
“You got regeneration too?”
Same as him—a regenerator. Pleased at the thought, Dane pressed.
“Just the tail. Nowhere else.”
“Ah…… just the tail.”
Dane examined Bankers’ tail closely again. Sure enough, between the new growth and the stump was a strange cut surface. Around the bone joints, the veins and muscles looked unique.
“Can it get cut off, or can you detach it yourself?”“And it grows back just like that. Takes time, but…… maybe ’cause I ate a ton of meat yesterday, it’s faster than usual, hahaha.”
He cheerfully answered what might’ve been a private matter.
Dane’s eyes gleamed oddly. The regrown tail alone had to weigh over thirty kilos easy.
‘If we’re out hunting together and things get desperate……’
Dane figured it wouldn’t hurt to get closer to Bankers.
“Hahaha, anyway, this is great—feels like I’ve shed my old skin. Ending up in the same party as you. Fate’s got a hand in it. Yep, sure does.”“Yeah. Same party’s good for me too. You’re skilled, good personality. The city…… no. Perfect as a comrade.”
Bankers clapped Dane’s shoulder, beaming. Dane grinned back.
The new recruits were all chummy, but River’s expression didn’t change. Of course, she wasn’t upset.
‘What do I do now……’
She bore the vice captain yoke, but she was practically the party’s baby. No one had ever joined under her. Plus, Captain Lucas and senior Pibitz were both away.
Having resolved to run things herself, she had to ensure the recruits didn’t back out.
A mix of delight, confusion, and fluster. That was her inner state.
* * *
The Lucas Hunting Party passed the western gate. Farms lined the outer walls, dotted with houses.
“The HQ isn’t inside town?”
Dane asked.
“Wall outskirts still have root energy, so parties often set up outside. Easier to hit the hunting grounds.”
Bankers added the explanation.
They trod small offshoots of roots along a narrow tree-lined path. A dead end. They arrived at a secluded, private space.
“This the HQ?”
Dane asked, baffled. The only building-like thing was a lone massive wagon.
“What? A wagon can’t be a house?”
River snapped curtly. If it were just for travel, she wouldn’t have questioned it.
“Of course it can! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!!”
Bankers jumped in quick. Dane felt the same.
‘Awesome. This a gypsy wagon or what?’
Size alone was impressive. Room for five or six adults, tall enough to stand inside with space to spare.
Exterior looked sharp too. Colors bold but harmonious.
Wood and metal artfully layered on, windows etched with intricate patterns. Sturdy roof topped with a metal chimney.
Minus the four wheels, it was a full house.
“Come in.”
River nodded as she climbed the stairs and entered the back door. Inside was even more astonishing.
Three distinct spaces: bedroom, living room, kitchen. Kitchen took the lion’s share.
Bigger and taller than expected once inside. Even burly Bankers didn’t brush the ceiling.
“Super fancy!”
Varied leathers and fabrics screamed personality. Odd contrast to River’s plain getup.
“Sit anywhere.”
River pointed at the long table against the floor-to-ceiling setup as Dane and Bankers gawked.
They stowed gear on what seemed a counter-dining table combo and took chairs.
River eyed them steadily, locking gazes.
“Okay……. Talk. What’s going through your heads?”
Not getting it, Dane and Bankers just blinked.
“No, why’d you pick the Lucas Hunting Party?”
River clarified. Her cool tone evoked Deliel.
“Ah…… good cooking?”“Isn’t that where Dane went? Following the meat’s the natural choice.”
“Why am I the meat?”
“To me, it’s all the same.”“……Yeah, fair enough.”
Their newbie banter left her speechless. River found them baffling.
“That’s your only reason?”
“Plenty.”
“That’s all I wanted from the trials.”
Parallel tracks. Views clashed. River sighed long in resignation and continued.
“How’d you know I cook well?”“Saw it at the butcher shop.”“You knew?”
“Same name, hard to miss.”
“Was it obvious?”
“Not a common face, and that body doesn’t hide easy.”
“Wha…… what’re you saying?!”“Hahaha! You two already knew each other. Fate again.”
Bankers roared with laughter overhearing River and Dane.
River couldn’t shake the nagging doubt. She refocused on the point.
“No, that’s not it. How’s cooking or meat a party criterion?”
“What’s wrong with cooking?”
“What’s wrong with meat!”
Pleased she got cooking props, but back to square one. Wondering if she’d roped in weirdos, River recalled first meeting Lucas.
‘Well…… Captain’s no normal guy either.’
Resignation hit fast.
No time for bickering. She was in charge now, so vice captain duties first.
“Fine. Formal intros. I’m River Lake, vice captain of Lucas Hunting Party.”
“Dane.”
“Bankers.”
“Lucas Hunting Party: Captain Lucas, me as vice captain, and one more member, Pibitz. Captain and senior Pibitz are away now—honestly, no clue when they’ll return.”“Ah…… so five with us?”“Perfect number, right? Hahaha.”
Dane agreed with Bankers. Used to solo hunts, a crowd felt burdensome instead.
Bankers scratched a scale.
“Anyway…… how about titles? Feels too casual, kinda bad.”
“Lucas Party skips titles, calls by name, no honorifics. Captain hates authority.”
Equal treatment rule. Dane liked the vibe.
“Intros done. You two hungry?”
River grabbed an apron out of nowhere.
“Yeah.”
“Kinda peckish.”
She stuffed kindling into the metal stove built into one wall.
“……Not much to offer fancy welcome with our setup, but I’ll feed ya. Stir-fried ptarmigan for now. Hunt hard starting tomorrow.”
She dove into cooking.
Watching a bit, Dane spoke up.
“Great house. Killer kitchen. That stove doubles as griddle too, huh.”“Hang a pot on the hook for stew or whatever. Honestly, anything goes.”
Pride colored her voice. Kitchen praise lifted her mood.
Dane kept chatting at River’s focused back.
“This wagon move at all?”“What’s a wagon if not?”“Why wagon HQ?”“So we can leave anytime. But…… never moved from here.”
“Why?”
“Upkeep’s steep. Need active hunts to afford it, but it’s basically just me.”
“Ah, broke.”
“……”
Party direction suited him fine. Plenty of groundwork for that.
Modern terms: camper van, caravan, trailer home.
‘Could double as mobile butcher and food truck……’
Choice confirmed spot-on.