Chapter 17
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__ltp>The hunt had been underway in the Blackheath Wilds for three full hours.
PTafnir wiped his hands clean and shouted out loud.
__ltp>“I’ve done enough!”
__ltp>The quest completion condition had been met.
__ltp>The skeletons’ skill test had been completed too.
__ltp>The results were not bad at all.
__ltp>Against the blood-red wolves of the wilds, he could easily drive them in herds!
__ltp>“With this kind of spec, hunting even higher-level monsters would pose no problem.”
__ltp>Normal users would never have thought this way.
__ltp>Instead of wasting time exploring unknown monsters and conquering them,
__ltp>farming familiar hunting grounds quickly would be the most efficient choice.
__ltp>“But then there’s no fun in it either… and I can’t follow the growth trajectories of main-character-level figures at all.”
__ltp>In the end, this was nothing more than minimizing the behavior of named players backed by big corporations or guilds.
__ltp>“To reach the pinnacle, distribution like that won’t cut it.”
__ltp>Time to find a new hunting ground!
__ltp>But before that, let’s receive the rewards first.
__ltp>“Here is the leather you requested.”
__ltp>Tafnir returned to the city and reported the completion of the quest.
__ltp>“Thanks to you, I survived! Now we can make the deadline.”
__ltp>- Experience points acquired.
__ltp>- Five units of red dye acquired.
__ltp>- Thick leather coat (Magic) acquired.
__ltp>“Defeating fifty blood-red wolves. Guld boasted about it, but you worked hard!”
__ltp>- Experience points acquired.
__ltp>- Thirty silver acquired.
__ltp>- Byron City Guard’s favorability increased by +5.
__ltp>Even with the same hunt, paying attention to every little detail was the secret to fast growth.
__ltp>“Although your weapons and armor took a beating, there’s a guard headquarters smithy, so use that.”
__ltp>- Entry to the Byron City Guard outpost is possible without a permit.
__ltp>- Official equipment of the Byron City Guard can be purchased.
__ltp>On top of that, unforeseen benefits.
__ltp>“This must have something more.”
__ltp>There is no such thing as a free meal in this game.
__ltp>The feeling that getting entangled would only cause trouble!
__ltp>“Then I’ll be going now…”
__ltp>“Wait just a moment.”
__ltp>Tafnir, who was about to slip away, was stopped by the guard captain.
__ltp>“While you were away, the scouting unit obtained new information. It seems that the rampage of the blood-red wolves is connected to a lycanthrope named the Wolf King in the Black Forest.”
__ltp>An image appeared before Tafnir’s eyes.
__ltp>In the middle of a pack of wolves stood a wolf-human who walked on two legs.
__ltp>Kung kung!
__ltp>Awoo woo!
__ltp>The wolf-human howled, and the surrounding wolves howled in unison.
__ltp>The force that rules over the Black Forest!
__ltp>The guard captain continued.
__ltp>“If we leave it alone, it will be a huge regret later, so we need to cut off the sprout now. Would you be willing to take on this mission?”
__ltp>“I’m a bit busy right now…”
__ltp>“If you complete this mission well, I’ll speak to the lord about your merits. How about it?”
__ltp>As expected, the next connected quest!
__ltp>“This one really hooked me.”
__ltp>Although the content itself wasn’t bad.
__ltp>The Black Forest was also not a bad new hunting ground, and with the generous reward from the connected quest, it was not a loss-making business.
__ltp>“I have no choice. I’ll give it a try.”
__ltp>- Quest “Wolf King Extermination (Magic)” accepted.
__ltp>“Thank you. If you need any support, just mention our name and we’ll gather adventurers.”
__ltp>A group hunt quest to gather companions and hunt the boss.
__ltp>Of course, Tafnir had never considered gathering people in the first place.
__ltp>“Since I can hunt alone, there’s no need to split the reward.”
__ltp>Tafnir headed down toward the castle.
__ltp>“That empty spot can be solved like this.”
__ltp>The place he arrived at was the guard outpost shop near the castle.
__ltp>This was a place only users recognized by the guard NPCs could enter.
__ltp>- Entered the guard outpost shop.
__ltp>Inside the shop, various equipment and consumables were laid out.
__ltp>The guard members were keeping their positions, but they gave way a little when they saw Tafnir.
__ltp>“I want to see the equipment you sell.”
__ltp>“There’s nothing we can’t show you. Here it is.”
__ltp>The blacksmith unfolded the equipment one by one.
__ltp>- Byron City Guard Official Armor Tunic
__ltp>- Grade: Normal
__ltp>- Level limit: 40
__ltp>- Physical defense: 75
__ltp>- Strength +3
__ltp>- Vitality +3
__ltp>- 2-piece set effect: Damage reduction 10
__ltp>- 4-piece set effect: Damage reduction 20
__ltp>- 6-piece set effect: Damage reduction 30
__ltp>- Price: 30 silver
__ltp>“It’s a decent equipment set.”
__ltp>The guard was the lord’s direct unit.
__ltp>The equipment they wore was among the Normal items of the same level, on the superior side.
__ltp>“Thinking about the set effects, there’s no better value.”
__ltp>When you’re hungry, it feels just like warm Korean rice soup!
__ltp>“Just give me three of these equipment sets.”
__ltp>“Top, bottom, boots and gloves… three sets come to 5 gold and 25 silver.”
__ltp>Tafnir bought three equipment sets at once, so the expense was considerable.
__ltp>Tafnir added, “Also, I’d like to get some unused arrows or broken spears.”
__ltp>“Get them for free? That’s all for sale.”
__ltp>Just as the blacksmith was about to refuse the free request.
__ltp>“The blacksmith assigned me a big task. If you need anything, just say it here…”
__ltp>“……”
__ltp>“But for official business, you should have said it earlier. How many do you need?”
__ltp>Obtaining usable equipment for free by leveraging the authority of the guard deputy!
__ltp>“As expected, one has to climb the ranks to get benefits.”
__ltp>Tafnir, who had finished preparing, thought.
__ltp>“Come to think of it, I should start selling the wolf set and making new equipment.”
__ltp>He was still wearing equipment with a 10-level limit, so defense problems were starting to appear.
__ltp>Skeleton soldiers fought in direct combat, but he didn’t know yet.
__ltp>“Then let’s start hunting.”
__ltp>Tafnir headed to the place the guard captain told him where the Wolf King appeared.
__ltp>- Entered the outer edge of the Black Forest.
__ltp>- The monster level is excessively high compared to the current level!
__ltp>A completely distant outer area from Byron City.
__ltp>Dense tree scents now hung in the air.
__ltp>In the darkness where even an inch ahead was invisible.
__ltp>The sound of beast howls coming from afar!
__ltp>In this spine-chilling atmosphere, Tafnir remained calm.
__ltp>“The top champion used by the vampire monsters is several times more terrifying than the ghosts in horror movies.”
__ltp>Past pro-gamer rivals’ specialty!
__ltp>Just recalling it now makes the back of my neck cool down.
__ltp>Sneaky enemies sneaking behind me and jumping to the tower!
__ltp>Compared to that fear, this was nothing but a joke.
__ltp>“Main monsters… blood-red wolves and bears, right.”
__ltp>Tafnir’s expression showed interest as he analyzed the traces, including excrement.
__ltp>“This is a good place to train the skeleton soldiers.”
__ltp>A short while later, blood-red wolves began to appear.
__ltp>Kung kung!
__ltp>Clang clang!
__ltp>Soon followed a fierce battle.
__ltp>Tafnir watched it from the tree and began taking notes.
__ltp>“No. 2 doesn’t see the back well. No. 3 reacts a little slowly. No. 1 fights well but his eye for the optimal timing to retreat is a little lacking.”
__ltp>After several battles, Tafnir recorded the combat styles and pros and cons of the three skeleton soldiers.
__ltp>“Well, they’re still usable.”
__ltp>There was a huge difference between wolves on the plain and wolves in the forest, like a child and an adult.
__ltp>Even here, the blood-red wolves had adjectives like “large” and “ferocious.”
__ltp>Since he defeated them,
__ltp>Tafnir’s standard was barely a passing grade in skill.
__ltp>“Let’s start the conquest.”
__ltp>He didn’t look for the Wolf King first.
__ltp>Instead, Tafnir found a suitable clearing and set up his position.
__ltp>“Confronting the Wolf King in the forest is too inefficient.”
__ltp>From ancient times, castles had been very effective against more and stronger enemies.
__ltp>Of course, building a castle here was impossible.
__ltp>But even simple work would produce some effect.
__ltp>“It looks like the fight will be long, so I need to prepare thoroughly.”
__ltp>Tafnir took out his shovel and immediately began digging the ground.
__ltp>“What are you doing? You guys dig too!”
__ltp>……Clang clang!
__ltp>The skeleton soldiers, who had been staring blankly, quickly helped Tafnir dig the ground.
__ltp>“In the center, make it wide and flat… here there’s a rock, so remove it…”
__ltp>After digging the pit in several places, he planted the spear blade on the bottom.
__ltp>After completing the installation, he covered it with burlap, dirt, and leaves.
__ltp>The perfect trap was complete.
__ltp>“Now we just need to surround it.”
__ltp>While digging traps with the skeleton soldiers, old memories came to mind.
__ltp>The memory of wearing military uniforms and digging the ground desperately!
__ltp>“……”
__ltp>It was a memory he didn’t particularly want to recall.
__ltp>Even if he returned to his real life, he wanted to skip that era.
__ltp>“Me, I have to focus on the work.”
__ltp>Tafnir dug traps and shovels again.
__ltp>Next to him, Skeleton No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 were also digging the ground.
__ltp>More precisely, No. 2 and No. 3 were swinging the shovels,
__ltp>while No. 1 supervised them!
__ltp>Clang.
__ltp>No. 1 leaned his arm back and looked at the sky, then spread the dirt boredly.
__ltp>Thud!
__ltp>Frustrated, No. 2 opened his mouth and waved his hand.
__ltp>At that moment, No. 1’s ears twitched as he looked at No. 2.
__ltp>“……”
__ltp>No. 2 immediately lost his energy and picked up the shovel.
__ltp>“This is usable.”
__ltp>Tafnir, who had completed the temporary fortress, smiled happily.
__ltp>“Now all that’s left is to lure the monsters this way…”
__ltp>The wolves were also not stupid.
__ltp>Even if he lured them to this area from all over the forest, they wouldn’t come in normal situations.
__ltp>“There is a simple method.”
__ltp>Simpler than traps or encirclement!
__ltp>Tafnir hung the blood-red wolf meat from the last hunt on a stick.
__ltp>“This smell is the best bait.”
__ltp>The wolves who smelled the blood-red wolf meat on the stick approached with bared teeth as expected.
__ltp>Kwoong!
__ltp>Kung!
__ltp>The wolves with enmity formed a encirclement and narrowed in.
__ltp>At that moment, the wolves all kicked the ground simultaneously.
__ltp>At that instant, the ground beneath their feet collapsed.
__ltp>The pit trap with the spear planted!
__ltp>It was a war crime to use it on humans,
__ltp>but since there were no humans this time, he could install it without hesitation.
__ltp>Kyaaang!
__ltp>Kyaaeng!
__ltp>The fallen wolves became skewers on the planted spears and sticks.
__ltp>The skeleton soldiers in the pit rose up and moved almost at the same time.
__ltp>The remaining wolves were blocked by the skeleton soldiers, and the ones that passed through were struck by Tafnir’s sword.
__ltp>In this way, thirty-five blood-red wolves were caught.
__ltp>“Good start.”
__ltp>A short while later, another pack of blood-red wolves appeared.
__ltp>There wasn’t time to lay the traps again, but thanks to the skeleton soldiers who were familiar with combat, the hunt was even smoother.
__ltp>By the time the third and fourth groups came, the movements of the elite skeleton soldiers were quite familiar.
__ltp>“If this goes on, we can hunt until night.”
__ltp>Even though he had caught nearly a hundred, the wolves kept coming endlessly.
__ltp>“No. 2, come here and change equipment! No. 1 and No. 3, keep fighting!”
__ltp>He had to fight while changing equipment without time to repair.
__ltp>Several hours later.
__ltp>“Hoo.”
__ltp>In the middle of dozens of wolf carcasses, Tafnir lay back.
__ltp>“I barely survived.”
__ltp>Thanks to that, Tafnir’s level rose to 42.
__ltp>It was a happy thing, but he was too tired to celebrate it.
__ltp>“Master.”
__ltp>“Ah, it’s Bell.”
__ltp>Paat. Bell jumped out from the darkness and said.
__ltp>“The lycanthrope called the Wolf King is in the northwest of the forest.”
__ltp>“How many?”
__ltp>“One hundred twenty elite blood-red wolves and blood-red wolves, and four bears.”
__ltp>As expected, an enormous force.
__ltp>“And there were six orcs.”
__ltp>“Huh? Orcs?”
__ltp>“The Black Forest isn’t an area where orcs appear.”
__ltp>Tafnir tilted his head.
__ltp>“Did they have a territory conflict?”
__ltp>“No. The orcs were helping the Wolf King.”
__ltp>The Wolf King and orcs were on the same side.
__ltp>Important information.
__ltp>“I thought the wolves who were pushed out because the orcs increased in number invaded, but the orcs subjugated the Wolf King?”
__ltp>Interest appeared on Tafnir’s expression.
__ltp>“This connected quest must be more than just a few.”
__ltp>From the Wolf King extermination to the orcs, a large quest flow!
__ltp>At that moment.
__ltp>From the other side of the forest, someone’s voice was heard.
__ltp>“I wondered why there were no monsters, but they all gathered here.”
__ltp>“Here! Here. Huh?”
__ltp>Several people peeked out from between the trees.
__ltp>“No.”
__ltp>“Isn’t that the necromancer from back then?”
__ltp>Two of them were faces Tafnir had met before.