Chapter 17
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Hungry Slayer 17
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Bankers hummed through his nose, leisurely driving the carriage. River, sitting beside him on the coachman's seat, was lost in thought.
The clear sky stretched endlessly with excitement.
They had set off in the afternoon, but since it wasn't a race against time, there was no reason to push the horses.
Wherever they stopped, that place would become home. Everyone was relaxed.
After a few hours like that, beyond the Root Path, there was nothing but wide grasslands. This was the farthest they'd come from town.
Tall and short bushes filled the surroundings, exuding a wild aura.
Monsters began to appear here and there. There were even mid-to-small-sized ones Dane had never seen before. Perfect timing for dinner.
"I'll grab some meat!" Dane shouted from atop the carriage roof.
Before River could respond or Bankers could stop the horses, Dane leaped down.
He didn't forget to toss his cloak to River before vanishing into the tall bushes up to his height.
"Hey!!"
River was embarrassed by Dane dashing off naked. At least there were no onlookers.
'When we get to the relay station, there'll be elves we've never met. I should've paid more attention to Dane's attire.' She regretted it a bit. She worried it might leave a bad impression and affect their evaluation.
'If we find a decent village, I should make him wear green panties at least.' Elves liked green. River idly thought preparing in advance wouldn't hurt.
Unaware of her thoughts, Dane charged straight through the bushes in one direction.
He had already spotted his prey from atop the carriage.
"?"
The mid-to-small-sized monster Qurhalowk, which had been devouring a wild beast, tilted its head at the sight of a naked human charging toward it, then opened its mouth wide in welcome.
It resembled a typical bipedal dinosaur, but with a neck longer than an Epup's. That made its neck slice off faster than an Epup's.
'There's one more.'
The shiny-headed Gleklowk, peeking from behind a rock, had its neck severed by Dane's thrown cleaver.
Its glowing forehead had been too conspicuous.
It was over in a flash.
A massacre like no other. But he wasn't just killing monsters in a frenzy.
They boosted his abilities and might even be ultimate monsters, so he couldn't afford to waste any. The inescapable directive bestowed upon him had become habit.
"I'm back."
When Dane returned, arms full of monster meat and parts despite running out naked, his companions had been busy in their own ways.
River was bustling in the kitchen area preparing sides.
Outside the Root Path, Bankers was building a fire.
It felt like a picnic.
As Dane butchered the glowing parts at the table by the bonfire, River quickly finished one dish.
"Gleklowk raw tenderloin mixed with fruit and bird eggs," River said, handing over the bowl.
"Yukhoe?!"
The fresh, nutty flavor and chewy texture were exquisite.
While Dane and Bankers devoured the yukhoe greedily, River started grilling Qurhalowk on skewers.
"I'll sear it first so the seasoning doesn't burn, then baste and grill again."
"Such meticulous cooking!"
Dane agreed with Bankers' admiration.
As the two drooled watching, the charcoal smoke infused the seasoned Qurhalowk skewers.
"Wow!"
Dane marveled, popping a piece into his mouth. The sweet tang hit with a smack, finishing with a nutty depth.
They dug in properly. The yukhoe whetted their appetites as they wrapped and shoved in the seasoned skewers.
"Oh......"
"Ah......"
"Mm......"
Only the sounds of chewing and exclamations filled the air.
While they ate voraciously, no monsters approached. Because of Dane.
Dane eating was even more sensitive than usual. As if mobilizing every cell and sense to savor the taste, he focused utterly on the meat. That sharpened aura turned him into a formidable predator.
Chewing on a seasoned skewer, Dane stared into the distance. Bankers and River didn't notice, but foolish monsters were eyeing them, seemingly vulnerable.
Dane felt interrupted and unwittingly emitted a flicker of irritation.
'Come any closer, and I'll slice and eat you.' The small fry realized the peril of disturbing a dining monster and slunk away.
* * *
The Lucas Hunting Party's carriage was heterogeneous in many ways.
The grandeur of six horses pulling it was impressive, but its massive size completely blocked the Root Path, making passage difficult for others.
Yet no one complained. Thinking it a famous hunting party or merchant caravan, they yielded the way.
They traveled peacefully like that, eating and resting, until a fortnight had passed.
Entering the fork from the Thick Root Path to the Rootlet Path, the terrain changed.
Twig-like roots tangled like spiderwebs, jutting up from the ground, gradually increasing in number until stems emerged.
There, covered in roots, was the fork relay station.
While Bankers tended the horses, Dane and River entered.
A long, narrow table split the small office precisely in half, giving it a traveler's information desk vibe.
The table was woven from protruding roots, with a Tienun orb at the center.
"Western Fork Relay Station Chief of Zone 2. On tour?" An elf who looked frail greeted them from across the Tienun.
"Lucas Hunting Party. Here for a Zone 2 commission," River replied. The elf pointed straight at the Tienun. Dane placed his hand on it, and the elf overlaid his.
A warm energy overlapped top and bottom. New information and maps piled into Dane's mind.
Just in case, he thought of Dleksadhak and Elite. No info.
Regretfully, he selected one from the monster extermination commissions.
A rootlet village in crisis from a mid-to-large monster was nearby. He didn't know its name.
"We're heading to Horhe Root Village."
"Received."
The Tienun and elf confirmed Dane's intent.
"The rootlet energy is weak, so take care. May the World Tree's blessing be with you......" They left the station after the farewell.
* * *
Dane's choice burdened River and Bankers. A mid-to-large right away.
A standard party for mid-sized was five. And as monster rank rose, party size needed to double or more.
Mid-large: minimum 15, large: 30.
The Lucas Hunting Party had handled mids with three, eventually Dane solo.
No guarantee for mid-large.
His companions' faces darkened, but the chooser was nonchalantly calm.
"Let's see its face first, then decide." You'd know upon seeing. Whether they could take it. If an arm was worth sacrificing, or more.
Recalling Dane's past feats, his companions decided to trust him. The carriage headed straight for Horhe Root Village.
The rootlet path through the forest was serene.
As faint sunlight filtering through leaves shifted its slow descent, the carriage reached the sign for Horhe Village.
Ahead, where stems sprouted densely enough to seem overgrown, a log fence entwined with rootlets and vines came into view.
The World Tree's roots formed the village's fence and defense itself.
"The village is pretty big!" Bankers puffed his chest, showing excitement.
Dane, meanwhile, stared intently at the thicket beyond the path. The appearing and vanishing presences nagged at him.
'Blurry, but something's there.' The meat bell hadn't rung loudly, so not great size, but suspicious.
Pondering, they reached the entrance.
"Before we go in, I'll grab some meat!" Dane tossed his cloak and leaped from the carriage.
"Hey!!"
He vanished into the forest before they could stop him. Did it have to be now? She still couldn't get used to it.
-Wooooong!
As River clicked her tongue and Bankers chuckled, a long horn blast echoed from Horhe Village.
A watchtower had spotted the carriage and signaled. A massive root gate swung inward.
The village interior bustled at a glance, like a slice of Foldtown's commercial district.
"Wow! Look at that carriage!"
"So flashy and huge?" Before Bankers parked, onlookers gathered. Even a six-horse carriage was rare, and its size and design drew attention aplenty.
Amid gasps from all ages and genders, River and Bankers stepped down.
Men from the entrance stable led the horses and carriage away, escorted by village kids.
"I'm Yansen, chief of Horhe. Where are you from?" An old man with hunched shoulders approached through the crowd.
"From Foldtown, here on commission," River bowed politely and replied.
"A hunting party, then. But there's already one in the village for the commission......" Yansen trailed off uncertainly.
The path from the relay to here was single. They would've noticed if others passed.
Likely not on commission but stopping by to handle it incidentally.
Parties often hopped villages like stepping stones from initial commissions, selecting next via relays.
The prior party was probably doing that.
'A mid-large, so teaming up might work...... Or go elsewhere?' River's dilemma halted as a sturdy group approached from inside.
Clearly hunters by attire. All with solid shoulders. That must be the prior party.
"I'm Pohen, captain of the Pohen Hunting Party. Face rings a bell, but can't place it. Which party?" The odd man in the center spoke. His proportions were 3-head tall, amusing. Eyes too narrow for his face.
A build and face unforgettable at first glance. River knew him. Not a remarkable party, as she recalled.
"Lucas Hunting Party, Vice Captain River."
"Lucas......? Hahaha! Of course. That's why you looked familiar. I remember you."
Pohen laughed and stopped repeatedly, as if it was hilarious. His members stared at him. Noticing, he continued with a grin.
"There's this weirdo hunter named Lucas. More enthusiastic about odd stuff than hunting. Barely any members, nothing worth noting." Insulted to their faces.
Bankers' scales shivered.
"What's that? Acting so rude, thinking you're some big deal?"
Pohen narrowed his slit eyes further, scanning Bankers top to bottom. His head bobbed exaggeratedly.
"First time seeing you. New recruit? Hahaha! A newbie in Lucas Hunting Party—how'd you end up there? So...... total four now?"
He seemed unaware of the recent hunter exam and Dane's joining. Probably on tour.
"Five."
Pohen tilted his head at River's curt reply. It wobbled precariously, like it might fall.
"Two drifters is old news...... Another newbie, huh. Where's the last one?" He probed slyly, glancing around. The suspicious act didn't last.
"Kyaaaak!"
"Uwaaak!"
Commotion erupted at the entrance.
"Is that...... what? The thing on his shoulder—is that a Gork?"
"No way that's meat too?"
"But...... why naked?" "No! He's wearing panties!"
Amid the murmurs, River and Bankers gave wry smiles.