Berserker's Ring

Soon after, the Devouring Snake returned to its bracelet form. Arthur could see his wounds regenerating rapidly.

Arthur already knew this.

Lucia had hunted her final monster right before the training ended.

That had let her avoid the other apprentice lords' scrutiny. Plus, having slain 80 monsters, she was strong enough that no one dared attack her easily.

Without hesitation, Arthur accepted.

"Nice."

One reason hunting the two-legged boars had been so much easier was the +7 to all stats from Valrock's temple reward.

Adding +10 on top? Most apprentice lords wouldn't even be able to show their faces.

And the runes he'd absorbed were several times what others had.

Probability Ring.

Arthur reached out toward the hologram displaying the Probability Ring.

It was a hologram, but when he grabbed it, it felt solid in his hand.

He pulled it toward himself, and the hologram vanished in a puff.

"Now I can land a powerful hit..."

That's when the Important Information View flashed.

"Again..."

No rest for the weary.

But he felt good.

Without hesitation, Arthur purchased the Important Information View.

"...!"

Arthur's eyes widened in surprise.

Probability Ring enhancement?

Artifacts could be enhanced.

Artifacts had base grades, but within each grade, there were four sub-grades.

For example, a Magic artifact: from Trivial Magic (lowest) to Ordinary Magic (mid), Faded Magic (high), and Fantastic Magic (top).

The Probability Ring Arthur had just gotten was "Trivial Rare."

What would happen if he enhanced it? Impossible to predict.

At minimum, the 10% explosion chance might increase, or damage might rise to 1.3x.

But there was a problem.

'No monsters left, damn it!'

Monsters were nowhere to be found, even if he scoured the area.

Then, a rustling sound came from the bushes.

Arthur held his breath.

Soon, a person emerged.

'Baron Alon?'

One of the nobles, always trailing Freight at the restaurant.

The moment he spotted Arthur, he grinned wickedly.

"There he is! We've finally found the bastard, Lord Freight!"

Arthur furrowed his brow.

He mulled over the name Freight.

'He's leading a strong group. To lead one, you need either outstanding leadership or raw power. But he's not that strong...'

He had no idea what was going on.

But one thing was clear now.

This guy was leading a strong group to hunt him down.

Pffft!

Without hesitation, Arthur thrust his spear into the back of the noisy apprentice lord's neck.

"Guh... luck...?"

Mercy had no place on the battlefield.

Especially not among those who'd marked him as a target.

"You little... "

Baron Alon started to turn his head slowly.

Arthur yanked the spear out with all his might.

Spurt!

Baron Alon's body crumpled limply to the ground.

'Should I hide the body?'

No need to get dragged into needless fights.

Then, numbers floated before Arthur's eyes.

The number rose to the top left of his vision: 81.

This was exactly what he thought it was.

"It applies to killing people too."

Truth be told, he'd planned to avoid clashes with other apprentice lords.

But he was changing his mind.

"Run!"

"Yes, sir!"

The scattered nobles rushed toward the sound they'd just heard.

'Probability Ring, huh...'

Basic info on the Probability Ring popped up.

At the same time, Arthur was revealed as the Monster Hunter.

Killing him would let them steal the Probability Ring and gain +20 to all stats.

Freight planned to kill him personally and claim the ring.

Luis ran beside him.

'Arthur's mine.'

The ring seemed essential, judging by its abilities alone.

Even Luis wasn't immune this time.

Freight, sprinting madly, soon spotted Alon's body.

The others scoured the area for Arthur.

But he'd vanished without a trace.

"Damn bastard!"

Freight scowled.

Arthur quickly distanced himself from Alon's spot, gauged the enemies' numbers from afar, then bolted again.

'Can't take on thirty alone. Need a clever plan.'

And these weren't slaves or commoners.

They'd been trained from childhood to protect themselves.

So, he needed that clever plan.

Running swiftly, Arthur halted upon spotting glimmers in the darkness.

'Maybe I can use those?'

Decision made, he yanked up as many as he could and stashed them in his inventory.

"Key is how the system reacts."

Lucia had stopped at exactly 80, so Arthur had no precedent.

'For now, lay low and hunt remaining monsters.'

The third night's end.

Arthur had slain four monsters and five apprentice lords.

As time passed, he realized something.

'The penalty is position tracking.'

Three apprentice lords had tracked him to his hiding spot.

Before killing the last one, he'd asked how they'd found him.

A system alert had activated a map feature, revealing his position.

'Six hours left.'

Training ended in six hours.

Currently, only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a few had position tracking.

But as time ticked down, more would get it—including someone in Freight's group.

Give up on enhancing the Probability Ring?

No way. Absolutely not.

Time for his clever plan.

"Isn't that Arthur guy weird? He knows the terrain like the back of his hand."

Luis agreed with Freight.

He was elusive, appearing and vanishing like a ghost.

'One thing's sure: stronger than Freight. He wasn't bluffing—he knew he could survive as a marked man.'

Luis concluded: don't overextend.

Freight, still burning with rage, couldn't control himself.

Of course, all nobles had met their three-day monster quotas.

Chasing Arthur wasn't a huge burden, and they all hoped to snag the Probability Ring.

Then, one apprentice lord gasped in shock.

"Gasp! M-my Lord Nurturing Device is showing a map."

"A map? You just noticed our explored land on it?"

A noble sounded puzzled.

He shook his head.

"No. It's showing Arthur's position!"

"What?!"

Freight jumped.

A gleeful smile crept across his face.

"Lead the way!"

Arthur sat on a rock, waiting.

A massive cave loomed not far behind.

'Opening an escape route is easy. Problem is, can't keep doing it.'

One escape was simple for him now.

He fiddled with his spear shaft, eyeing the bushes.

Soon, footsteps approached.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

Very fast.

'Trained, after all?'

They encircled the bushes without showing faces first.

From the sounds, Arthur predicted.

They tightened the noose, emerging one by one.

About thirty-five nobles.

'Numbers grew.'

But he didn't flinch.

"Hey, kid."

Freight sneered.

"Curious about you. How'd you hunt 80? How do you know the terrain?"

Arthur shrugged.

"Kneel and beg for mercy now. Might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠consider it."

"Hahaha! He might piss himself, Lord Freight!"

"Kuhuhu!"

Laughter erupted around them.

Mocking a little kid, huh?

Arthur shook his head.

Then, an Important Information View popped up.

400 cash. Cheap.

He bought it without hesitation and smirked at the info.

"First, I'll chop off your fingers. Then toes, wrists, ankles..."

Freight droned on, thinking Arthur was feigning bravery.

All of them believed they could kill him.

Numbers were overwhelming.

Arthur picked his ear while listening.

"Done barking?"

"...What?"

Freight scowled at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"barking."

"Dogs bark in two ways."

Arthur scanned the tightening circle.

"People either kick in anger."

He fixed on Freight.

"Or ignore it."

Then smirked mockingly.

"I just chose the latter 'cause the dog was barking."

"You dare...!"

"Don't bark too much. Noisy."

"Kill him!"

Freight shouted.

Spear ready, Arthur spun and charged.

"Gah!"

The man ahead flinched as Arthur closed in instantly.

Arthur kicked his leg, toppling him, then slipped through the gap and fled.

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

Watching Arthur run, Luis felt doubt.

'He waited on purpose. Means...'

Trap.

But the others didn't notice.

And Arthur's speed now.

'With a plan, not impossible. Tough, but doable.'

Luis decided fast.

Don't get caught in the trap.

Arthur dashed into the cave.

"Stupid fool! Cave's a dead end!"

Freight laughed viciously.

The nobles poured in after him.

They didn't notice.

As people entered, Arthur's trick would trigger.

But it wasn't a true trick.

Just glowgrass scattering.

Glowgrass was ordinary grass when fresh.

Dried and withered, it sparkled.

Arthur had ground it fine, wired it to the ceiling, and yanked the wire as they entered, showering them.

Once stuck, it wouldn't come off without washing.

Luis watched the nobles rush in, then turned away.

'Either Arthur dies, or that whole group does.'

Arthur could endure.

By dragging time and fleeing.

But he chose to hunt them. That much confidence.

Rumble!

The cave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entrance sealed shut.

Arthur, hiding nearby, had closed it.

In the pitch-black silence, every noble except Arthur glowed with sparkling light.

"What the?!"

"I-I can't see!"

"Damn it! Anyone got a torch?"

As if.

Arthur held his breath, silencing his steps.

'You can't see me. But...'

His eyes gleamed.

'I can see you.'