Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Constantly Mistaken for a Pro (12)
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“Just to ask first...”
Asha tilted her head slightly and asked cautiously.
“Is hunting wild boars... difficult for your mercenary band as well, by any chance?”
It was a question that might come off as rude.
But Asha wanted to confirm the exact facts.
After all, the thing she lacked most while living in this world was common sense and knowledge.
Of course, the mercenary captain wasn't offended at all.
He had already experienced firsthand that this elf girl was far from ordinary...
Instead of trying to fit Asha into the framework of common sense, Logan replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
“We have enough manpower. Still, it's dangerous, that's a fact.”
“How dangerous?”
“There's a chance of injuries. Especially if you can't dodge the charge...”
He drew his finger across his throat to finish the explanation.
“Aha.”
Asha understood the situation perfectly.
From the mercenaries' perspective, they wanted to take her along as insurance.
“In that case, I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes. If you keep that, I'll join you.”
Logan nodded as if to say, go ahead.
Asha raised her index finger straight and stated firmly.
“First, Lady Valtline has to agree to the schedule change.”
“Ah, of course, I understand that.”
Logan replied in a tone that said it was obvious.
In fact, he'd been waiting for Asha to be alone because it was awkward to ask her directly.
At least Asha had taken the initiative to build rapport, but that knight lady had clearly drawn a line and wouldn't allow any unnecessary contact.
A noble knight who followed etiquette and boundaries to the letter.
Separate from the unusual elf, she was just as tricky to deal with.
In some ways, even more so than Asha.
“And one more thing.”
Asha raised another finger.
“Basically, I'll just watch. I'll only step in if it really gets dangerous.”
Asha was curious how others would handle the wild boars.
And this wasn't just idle curiosity.
She needed to gather information on the mercenaries' skills and levels.
Nothing's good in excess.
When they arrived at the Raglain Count's territory and got down to real work later.
Unless extra rewards came with the effort, Asha had no intention of giving her all to every miscellaneous task.
Basically, she'd work exactly as much as she was paid.
Standing out too much would only drag her into troublesome affairs.
In her previous life, when she traveled with her adoptive father, all sorts of people approached with trivial requests.
It wouldn't be much different here.
And I still lack a lot.
The things necessary to avoid being used by others carelessly.
A being with brute strength but no brains easily became a tool to be exploited.
Unless you wanted to live without a brain, you needed wisdom and knowledge to match your power.
You had to know how the world worked.
Asha planned to build her foundation steadily.
All the more to live an easy, comfortable life in the future.
Though it depends on the situation.
Of course, when she needed to step up, she'd act decisively.
“What do you think?”
“Hm...”
Logan pondered briefly.
But it didn't take long.
We've earned plenty from this job already, so prioritizing safety for the finale should be fine.
Better to wrap it up cleanly than risk injuries from overconfidence.
He made his decision.
“Fine. In return, please make sure no one gets hurt.”
“Don't worry!”
Asha replied in a bright voice.
The two shook hands firmly.
The next day at dawn.
The group headed straight into the forest as soon as the sun rose, right on schedule.
Walking behind the mercenaries, Asha recalled the conversation she'd had with Elysia the night before.
- Are you sure about this?
- Of course. We're not bound by a contract—we're equals, friends, aren't we?
Equals. Friends.
How sweet those words rang.
It was a bit embarrassing, sure, but Asha didn't dislike it.
It felt like it blew away years of solitude living alone in the mountains in one go.
Asha enjoyed her alone time often, but she deeply understood the value of connections.
And so, Elysia stayed at the inn to rest, while Asha joined the mountain trek alone.
A mountain path to hunt a massive wild boar.
Leading the way was Rune, the village hunter.
The middle-aged man calmly scanned the surroundings, tracking the boar's traces.
“What are you observing?”
“Tracks. Footprints, scratched tree bark, that sort of thing.”
“Aha... You're a real pro!”
“Ahem.”
As Asha smiled lightly in admiration, Rune stared at her blankly.
What the hell is with this elf?
He wanted to tell her not to bother him, but the words wouldn't come.
Frowning, he turned to the mercenaries and said,
“Everyone, the forest is dangerous. Do your jobs properly and don't step out of line.”
The mercenaries replied flippantly.
“Don't worry, we'll handle it.”
“Spend that breath finding the boar faster.”
“Yawn... Will we even find it today?”
Asha, meanwhile, quietly stepped back.
Better not interfere.
Unlike her usual hunts relying on senses and physical prowess, the hunter's professional tracking was intriguing.
She'd just asked out of curiosity, but it must've been rude.
Asha pursed her lips and opted to watch silently.
“Hah...”
Rune let out a short, exasperated sigh.
Who the hell is the elf here?
He'd phrased it tactfully, but it backfired into a spectacle.
The mercenaries were typical roughnecks, but why did this elf seem to actually get it?
A chill ran up his spine for a moment, making Rune shudder slightly.
N-No way it's real...
If it were, she wouldn't be this quiet!
He resumed tracking without showing it, vowing not to spout nonsense like before.
An elf joining a mountain hunt was odd to begin with...
And so, the group ventured deeper into the forest.
Rune's confusion only grew.
The mercenaries were useless, grumbling and grating on his nerves—he wanted to shove them out of sight.
The elf girl, on the other hand, followed the rugged forest path without complaint, moving with the skill and ease of someone who'd lived in the woods their whole life.
And more than that?
Whenever he glanced her way and felt her gaze, she'd point in a direction with her finger.
And there'd always be boar tracks there.
If she weren't an elf, he might've genuinely asked in awe how she knew.
What in the world is going on...
Common sense shattered, differences highlighted, constant cognitive dissonance—Rune's head throbbed.
He'd rest at home after this.
Rune shook his head and pressed on with the tracking.
How long had they wandered the forest in that atmosphere?
Rune, following the tracks, slowly spoke up.
“The trail ends here. It's nesting nearby... We should split up and search sectors.”
“Then let's assign areas and sweep them.”
At Logan's order, the mercenaries began a full search.
Asha watched their movements—and the hunter's—closely.
Who would spot the boar first?
It didn't take long to find out.
Asha's long ears twitched, catching a change.
“Logan.”
She tapped his arm.
“Hm? What is it?”
“That direction. Looks like they found it.”
Found it?
Logan turned to the direction Asha pointed.
Sure enough.
“C-Captain!”
Some mercenaries burst back through the brush, shouting.
Their voices were thick with tension and anxiety.
“We found the boar or whatever... but the situation's weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“It's going head-to-head with a huge monster!”
“Uh...”
The brief report made Logan glance at Asha instinctively, then turn back.
“If it's huge, not a goblin or something. What is it?”
“A deer!”
“......Hah.”
He'd half-suspected it, and here it was.
A massive deer was likely a Woodhorn monster.
A ferocious beast that occasionally burst from deep forest, wreaking havoc.
“Why? What kind of monster?”
Asha tilted her head curiously.
She'd encountered mountain monsters before, but knew none by formal name.
Just nicknames she'd made up.
Logan replied gravely.
“It has enormous horns—way more dangerous than a wild boar.”
“Not even comparable?”
“Yeah! To hunt a Woodhorn safely, you'd need at least a dozen mercenaries, twenty to be sure.”
“Oh...”
A real monster indeed!
Deer status, but insane tier.
They only had seven mercenaries now—less than half.
Grasping the situation, Logan said stiffly,
“Hunter, we can't handle this alone. We'll pull out—repost the request in the city.”
“Ugh... No choice.”
The hunter agreed.
He knew Woodhorn's infamous reputation well.
Then Asha tilted her head and spoke.
“But hey, everyone.”
“......?”
“That huge deer. It's charging straight at us right now, full speed.”
“......!”
Her voice was calm, but the content was anything but.
The mercenaries whipped around.
Thud. Thud. Boom! Boom!
It was true! A Woodhorn, massive horns forward, charged toward them, shaking the earth.
Still some distance away, but the heavy hoofbeats and vibrations reached their feet.
Everyone but Asha froze, faces paling as they backed away.
Then Asha said softly,
“Guess the wild boar already lost.”
No one could reply.
Only Asha remained serene.