Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Into the Delta
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“That Lergosa thing is a monster name, right?”
“Yeah.”
He barely dredged up an old memory.
The story his parents had teasingly told their son when he’d whined about wanting to hunt monsters. They’d made Dane freak out by saying he could take on a Lergosa if he was prepared for half-death or worse.
‘But... back then, it was definitely called Type 1.’
Dane only knew monsters were classified by size. This was an unfamiliar distinction.
“What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?” At Dane’s question, Bankers answered readily.
“Type 1 refers to most common monsters. Type 2 is for special ones from the same species. Only monsters with Type 2 variants get the distinction, but most are just Type 1, so we don’t bother specifying.”
“What makes them special?”
“Monsters that form organized societies instead of simple packs get classified as Type 2. You only see them in the delta since you’ve stuck to the root territories till now.”
The idea of them forming societies felt alien. That implied a certain level of intelligence.
“Then the Krebtonos we caught is Type 2 too?” This time, he looked at Priscilla. She gave a curt reply.
“That’s how it was reported.”
From that, he could infer several things.
He didn’t know what method she’d used, but Priscilla had already reported the Conwell Village incident. And she’d classified the nest-building Krebtonos as Type 2.
But he still couldn’t grasp why that meant they couldn’t go after it. He’d figure it out once they met.
Dane spoke up.
“Nothing really changes, does it? It’s just monsters gathered together. Let’s hope they taste good.” It was a declaration worthy of him.
Bankers and River were used to it. Creya was flustered. Priscilla grew curious about Lergosa’s flavor.
* * *
The next day, rain fell from morning on.
The Dane Butchers had nothing special to prepare, so they hurried to depart.
“Every stopover village has a Creya Company branch. They’ll help without any hassle.” Creya shouted from under the building’s awning, sheltering from the rain. Dane nodded silently toward the hazy cigarette smoke drifting through the downpour.
“Hang on, come here a sec.”
Rudelver pulled Dane aside just as he was about to board the wagon.
“You got feelings for River?”
“Nope.”
“Even without that, can you protect her? I can’t lose any more kin in the hunting grounds.”
Dane paused, wondering if something had happened to River, then answered.
“River’s got more than enough skill to protect herself. She’s not the type to lean on anyone.”
Rudelver gripped Dane’s shoulder firmly without a word. Dane understood the unspoken message.
“I’ll keep the meat coming.” That would be proof enough they were fine.
Rudelver stood in the rain until the butcher wagons vanished from sight.
To reach the delta, they had to cross the bridge on the opposite side, just like entering Mekardo. The difference was the elves’ strict inspection.
The checkpoint had a Tienun orb. Hunting party captains confirmed their identity by placing a hand on it.
Dane’s hand, the Tienun, and the elf’s hand overlapped. As the elf pulled away, his gaze coldly sized up Dane.
“You’re Dane. Do you have the World Tree emblem?” Dane showed the gold badge from Tebier. The guards let the butchers pass with polite postures that contrasted their twisted expressions.
The road stretched long between swampy expanses, barely wide enough for two wagons side by side.
At its end lay Timata, the port city where they could board a merchant ship.
Everyone but Bankers retreated into the wagons. Bankers enjoyed the rain, claiming it boosted his physical abilities especially.
Dink didn’t mind the rain either.
They’d hooked up an extra Yadus trailer the night before and pushed steadily through the swamps.
The caravan wasn’t just the Dane Butchers.
Creya Company staff loaded goods bound for the eastern outpost city onto wagons following behind. Merchants and hunters, stimulated by the Krebtonos cuisine, joined for the delta.
After a full day’s march, the paths converged at Timata.
The end of the land route, the start of the Yuka River.
* * *
Timata differed from Foldtown, Root Village, or Mekardo.
On streets drizzled with rain, drunks sang and shouted obscenities. Fists flew in brawls among diverse races, blood bursting everywhere.
A lawless zone.
Even those ruffians didn’t dare mess with the Dane Butchers, led by Dink.
Whispers revealed why soon enough.
“That’s the Dane Butchers.” “Heard they were picked as Foldtown’s rep hunting party?” “Their captain’s a monster who solos Elites. Of course they’re untouchable.” “They eat monster meat. Even beastkin. Touch ’em and you’re done.”
Dane saw no need to correct the misconceptions. Trivial troubles naturally veering away was welcome.
“Creya Merchant Ship, Captain Cruise.” A burly man with white beard covering half his face greeted them at the dock.
“Dane Butcher Party captain. Looking forward to working with you.” The Creya ship was a galley with three large triangular sails and oars.
Built for trade and passengers, it was huge even for river crossing. Proof of the river’s vast width.
Many people were already aboard. Their high-grade weapons and thick armor suggested not your average hunters.
As Dane scanned the crowd, Cruise spoke.
“The Yuka River flows steadily to Muhudu, so it doesn’t take much manpower. Most aboard are mercenaries hired to guard the ship from monsters and savages.”
At Cruise’s gesture, a man in full plate approached Dane. Cruise introduced him.
“Ship security chief, Roland.” His build and chiseled face evoked a sturdy knight, matching the name.
Roland said,
“I’ve heard you’re skilled hunters, but ship combat’s different from hunting. I’ve seen plenty of hunters die pointlessly on deck, so watch yourself. I don’t want my position awkward because you got killed.”
The tone felt like a lecture. Dane asked,
“So, no hunting from the deck then?” “You didn’t get my point. I’ve warned you—do what you want.” Roland boarded first with a sour look. Dane followed Cruise’s guidance aboard.
“Els! Zm!!!”
Dink hesitated to board.
The ship’s crew panicked too. They’d never loaded a live monster, let alone a mid-to-large one.
River coaxed and soothed until Dink climbed on. Even then, its anxious cries continued, so they calmed it with heaps of tomorrow’s hay and fresh fruit.
The two Dane butcher wagons, the company wagons, and the hunters and merchants who’d agreed to the butchers’ schedule boarded in line.
Dane asked,
“It’s night with heavy rain—sure it’s okay?” “There’s no time the Creya ship can’t sail.”
Cruise ordered departure confidently. Despite the pitch-black rainy night, the ship blazed with light.
The anchored ship surged into the Yuka River like it had been held back by force.
“Elszm!!!”
Dink’s anxious cry faded into the rain.
* * *
With Dink and wagons stowed, Dane’s group headed to the passenger quarters.
The ship’s passenger area combined inn-like dining and tavern space with cabins.
Such scale made for prime business, no doubt.
Proving Dane’s guess, hunters and merchants already filled seats, whiling away time with food and drink.
“Heh, lively bunch.”
Bankers’ words rang hollow as the Dane Butchers’ arrival quieted the buzz momentarily. They were the real stars of this voyage.
Even those who’d boarded in Timata knew the butchers. Around here, they were celebrities.
The butchers took an empty table per the server’s guidance. Odd to have vacancies in such a crowd.
“Butcher party reserved.” The server read Dane’s mind, adding it was Creya’s boss’s courtesy.
The food served tasted indifferently prepared. Bankers remarked,
“Not the best for meat dishes.” Fresh game or monster meat was best near the hunt.
Timata wasn’t ideal for quality meat even on land. A ship would be worse.
The Dane Butchers filled up without fussing over taste.
After eating, they spread a map on the cleared table, sipping house beer while rechecking the route.
Bankers traced it finger by finger. He’d heard the ship schedule from Creya before leaving Mekardo.
“The ship hits six stopover villages, ending at the eastern merchant town of Arkewak. Normally ten days with loading and unloading, but we’ll hunt at stops, so longer.” “The ship’s matching our schedule?” “That’s the arrangement. Monster meat pioneering’s the point.”
Like at Root Village, showing stopover folk monster meat’s value would spark trade naturally. That was the goal.
“Bankers, where’s your hometown?” “Krukushu? South from here on Boardho village. Dense jungle—hard for outsiders to find.”
Boardho lay at the Yuka’s second big southward bend.
Bankers scratched below it with a nail.
“Lots of monsters nearby?” “More than root territories anywhere. The delta’s equal for all, in a way. Any creature that guards its life can come and go free. That’s the wild for you, haha.”
Dane liked the sound of “the wild.”
“Lots of countries like Krukushu in the delta?” Dane glanced at Priscilla. She roamed the continent studying monsters and roots—likely knew geography too. A subtle probe.
Their eyes met abruptly; she dropped hers to the map, pointing.
“Krukushu, Riyaya, Galrak.” “Most delta nations are insular. Ours too. No need to mingle with other races.”
Bankers filled the gap. Dane nodded, retracing her points.
“These are a ways from stopovers. Hunting deep like that means getting permission.” The Thick Root badge might not cut it. Hunting blindly in others’ turf would spark trouble for sure.
Skipping them wasn’t easy either.
Map-wise, sticking to stopover vicinities left big gaps.
Eastern delta nations filled exactly those spots.
Three main ones. Plus Rahasia Hills en route, and Ketuhan, Lergosa Type 2 habitat—to cover the east fully.
“Quite the long trip.” River murmured. Dane nodded.
“Among the three, Krukushu shouldn’t be too hard for hunting cooperation... right?” He eyed Bankers, who scratched his scales sheepishly.
“Haha, you wanna hear it from me? Bankers de Krukushu, first prince of the Krukushu tribe—
Everyone could hear his booming laugh, mismatched to his demeanor. Bankers guffawed long.
As River shrank in embarrassment, Dane abruptly stood, raising a hand slightly.
“Hm? Oh... was I too loud? Haha.”
“No...”
Then someone burst into the dining hall, yelling urgently.
“A monster’s appeared!”
Dane nodded. No wonder his heart had pounded so fiercely.
-Boom!
A massive thud rocked the ship. As if urging them to hurry out.