Chapter 16
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Hungry Slayer 16
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“What? They’re temporarily bumping up our access permissions?”
The news Dane brought surprised River and Bankers.
Searchable monster info and receivable requests raised to 5th-grade level.
What on earth had he done to secure such an absurd approval?
“Requests are flooding in from the root villages in Sector 2. They said if we handle them on the tour, they might even slot us into the Thick Root Hunting Party.”
The follow-up made even less sense.
It was public knowledge that the Kemora Hunting Party was already a lock for the Thick Root Hunting Party. Made sense—they were the biggest outfit in town.
Yet they’d hinted at scrapping that. For their super-mini party of just three.
What was the Administration Office short on that they’d hand Lucas Hunting Party privileges like that?
“We’ll find out when we get back.”
Dane shrugged it off. He wasn’t all that interested, but River and Bankers clearly were.
“You... Tebier’s son or something?”
Bankers eyed Dane’s ears closely as he asked.
“Tebier’s a full elf, come on.”
“Half-elves aren’t unheard of. Might not take after him much. River, right?”
“Cut the crap. So, what exactly are we supposed to do?”
“Head to the Sector 2 fork relay station.”
Where the Thick Root Path split off toward the root paths. Served the same role as Foldtown’s info center.
‘Not sure what their angle is, but hard to turn down now.’
River’s deliberations didn’t last long. No choice but to go see. Like Dane said, best to just take it as a win for now.
She wasn’t free of fear about the sector. But her expectations outweighed it. After everything lately, she had no desire to keep getting held back.
“Let’s go.”
River hurried into departure prep.
* * *
The Lucas Hunting Party rushed their preparations.
River, tackling what she saw as the most urgent issue, led Dane to an armor shop. Bankers split off toward the commercial district to buy a horse.
“Why the armor shop?”
Dane griped right away. His steps dragged like he was being forced.
“You’re the rookie everyone’s watching. Time to get proper clothes and some gear.”
“Waste of money...”
Dane’s hunting style and regeneration made clothes and armor his natural enemies. That’s why he wandered around in ragged hand-me-downs.
Unaware of his circumstances, River just worried. She wanted to treat her promising team member to some decent outfits.
The place they dragged him to sold everything from casual wear to full armor.
“Hmm... So, something like a linen shirt and pants, leather armor for the customer?”
The tailor sized up River’s outfit and asked politely.
“Yeah, but go for the good stuff. Durable, holds up to rough use.”
Dane shook his head at River’s response.
“It’ll shred in no time anyway. Just make me short leather shorts—the best leather you’ve got.”
“Shorts? Just that?”
“What? You crazy?”
The tailor’s and River’s faces fell in unison.
“Hunters just need to hunt well. Layering up cramps you, kills the hunt.”
“You think that’s an excuse?”
“Pure practicality.”
He meant it. Only vital spot worth protecting was the crotch. And honestly, that was more about covering than armor.
‘Thick armor gets in the way of regeneration. Most clothes rip after a few hunts anyway.’
Max skin exposure suited Dane best.
“F... fine. At least add a cloak.”
River scrambled to compromise. She’d brought him to avoid embarrassment, not amplify it.
Dane, uninterested in drawing eyes, agreed.
The tailor grumbled but poured his skill into the work. By the time he finished the pants and cloak, half the day was gone. Results were top-notch.
Dane donned breathable leather shorts and draped a sleek, glossy dark-red leather cloak.
Still bare underneath like always, but his wild edge was fully tamed.
The pricey leather actually lent him an exotic air, making his handsome features stand out more.
“Well... better than before, at least.”
Even River had to admit it.
Dane’s wish to avoid attention went up in smoke. Street stares locked onto him and River.
River’s pretty-boy looks drew eyes too, but the women’s gasps were all for Dane.
River, stealing glances herself and spacing out now and then, couldn’t blame them.
‘He does stand out.’
Dane cocked his head at River’s blatant stare. Hoping he’d keep the cloak on, she hurried ahead.
Next stop: a smithy doubling as a weapon shop.
‘Wandering with just a cleaver isn’t a great look. Clothes got that nonsense excuse, but weapons—he’ll pick properly. Gotta get him a decent longsword.’
That was the plan.
But Dane’s smithy antics blew River’s expectations out of the water.
He showed the smith his cleaver, asking for another one—just bigger.
‘Damn... All that for another cleaver?’
The smith scowled like River.
“Huh... Making a cleaver from Elite ore. Only lunatics or misers waste precious stuff like that on kitchen knives. Or swimming in cash.”
“Elite?!!”
River yelped at the smith’s reaction, clapping a hand over her mouth.
‘Knew it wasn’t ordinary, but Elite...’
She snuck a peek at Dane, but he ignored her.
“Yeah... Got a weird side, sure. My dad.”
The smith’s heart sank at Dane’s meaningful cleaver-stare.
“Ah... Your dad gave it to you... Bold vision, brilliant. What I meant earlier—normies can’t use Elite for cleavers... Unless it’s deep love, haha. Looks like your dad’s got the cash to match his affection. Hahaha...”
Linking dad to pricey ore flipped the smith’s attitude instantly.
Dane played dumb and pressed on.
“Expensive and rare material?”
“Yep. Elite ore comes from killing Elite monsters—same name. Their carapace is the ore. Tough to get.”
From smith and River’s reactions, clearly a nightmare catch.
“No Elite ore here?”
Dane flashed a sheepish smile.
“Nope...”
Smith looked sheepish too. Dane’s casual tone grated.
“Grew up sheltered, huh? Elite’s a big one. Named parties band together for those massive brutes. But the carapace yield’s low—bad risk-reward. Rare and unpopular.”
Smith’s words barely registered. Just “big monster” set Dane’s heart racing. Perfect excuse to hunt one.
“Bring it, I’ll make it.”
Unexpected turn for the smith.
Shoving Elite cleavers, demanding another, vowing to fetch it...
Cocky despite explanations—must have backing or bankroll.
Dane’s looks, speech, pricey cloak helped sell it.
“Promise a masterpiece.”
“Reliable.”
Dane smiled softly at the sweat-drenched smith.
No weapon bought—just fruitless talk—then River yanked Dane outside.
“You really hunting Elite?”
“This cleaver’s Elite-made. Twin set would be nice.”
“Cleavers, specifically...”
“Bankers said top-grade hunters slice mid-size necks clean. Longer blade, I could too.”
What arrogance!
River’s face crumbled utterly.
Dane spouted madness with total conviction. River knew by now he wouldn’t listen.
“Tour first, think slow. Network with other parties.”
“Network?”
“No uniting for Elite right now anyway.”
She soothed vaguely. But his reply shattered expectations again.
“No need for others. Carapace yield’s low anyway.”
“Just us?”
River’s heart dropped.
“Tienun tips us off, or tour luck—we’re hot lately. Bound to run into one.”
Cold sweat trickled down River’s spine. Dane exceeded expectations in insanity.
‘Going to Sector 2... good idea?’
Fear bloomed late.
* * *
“Aren’t you going too easy on Lucas Hunting Party? Or Dane, I should say.”
Illein remarked. Couldn’t have heard Bankers, but she thought the same.
‘Hidden kid or what?’
Absurd, of course. Tebier’s motives were a total blank.
“Seemed that way? Our views differ.”
Tebier nodded, starting in.
“I still don’t get how the world’s turning. Something’s brewing, but what? So I’m making the weird weirder. Ride inertia into big change, you get swept away.”
Cryptic. Illein sharpened her question.
“Dane the big change?”
“Just a pebble tossed to test the depths. Will it ripple or wash away trace-less? We’ll see.”
Tebier spoke measured, then grinned mischievously at Illein.
“This stays with Chief Supervisor. Officially: Told ‘em to ship the thorn far away. Distance breeds distance... something corny like that? Hahaha.”
He laughed brazenly.
“Understood. I’ll frame it as sending them outside town for that reason.”
Just then, Lucas Hunting Party’s wagon rolled out the west gate.