Chapter 34: Entering Bole Forest

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Entering Bole Forest

Outside the guest quarters of Baron Kels’s Manor.

Vili held a longbow. It was over a meter long and forged entirely from refined steel.

He nocked an arrow, drew the bowstring to its full extent, and aimed at a distant target.

SWISH!

The arrow struck the bullseye with perfect stability, drawing gasps of surprise from the surrounding Hunters. Vili was a full two hundred meters from the target—a distance that far surpassed the typical maximum range of fifty meters.

’Not bad...’

Vili was satisfied with his trial run.

Vili had always used a crossbow as his ranged hunting weapon because it was quicker and more convenient to fire. But upon arriving at the manor, Baron Kels had ordered new weapons to be prepared for all the Hunters, allowing each to choose freely. When Vili saw the bows and arrows among the selection, he thought for a moment and decided to abandon his crossbow in favor of a bow.

He made this decision because, after his Constitution had improved again, a bow and arrow in his hands could unleash even greater power than a crossbow.

The average adult man had a draw weight of about forty to fifty kilograms. Vili’s, however, was now over one hundred kilograms. He could effortlessly draw the bow to its full extent, and in that state, an arrow he loosed would be far more lethal than a crossbow arrow.

Watching this from a distance, Helai broke out in a cold sweat. He was now contemplating whether to withdraw from the hunt. He was terrified that Vili might set him up while they were searching for the frost-breathing deer.

Just yesterday, after they arrived at the manor, Baron Kels had sent someone to give all the Hunters the detailed information about their target. Hunters like Vili, who had already vaguely guessed the objective, didn’t have much of a reaction. But those like Helai, who had been completely in the dark, were utterly shocked. It was as if their worldview had been turned upside down; they had never imagined that beasts capable of controlling the forces of nature actually existed.

After learning this, Helai’s resolve began to waver, and he wanted to back out of the hunt. After some thought, however, he gave up the idea. He didn’t think Baron Kels would tolerate him going back on his word. He might be done in by the Baron’s Guards the moment he stepped out of the manor.

"Lord Bamos is here."

A voice suddenly rose from the crowd of people practicing and preparing outside.

All eyes turned toward the distance. They saw Bamos, clad in a suit of armor with a Cross Sword at his waist, riding toward them on a warhorse fitted with iron plates. A few well-equipped Guards followed by his side.

"Everyone..." Bamos reined his warhorse to a stop before the crowd and said in a low voice, "Prepare yourselves. We are now setting out for Bole Forest. I hope you can all find traces of the Snow Pattern Deer and earn the handsome reward. If any of you are unfortunately injured during the hunt, the Lord Baron will provide you with sufficient medical expenses. If you are unfortunately killed, the Lord Baron will bestow a generous pension upon your families. I, Bamos O’Reilly, make this promise to you in my capacity as the Baron’s eldest son."

The Baron’s eldest son!

A collective gasp went through the Hunters.

This man, who had previously claimed to be a Senior Knight’s Squire, was actually the Lord Baron’s eldest son.

A flash of surprise appeared in Vili’s eyes but vanished in an instant. He had already noticed Bamos’s unusual, distinguished air, so he wasn’t overly shocked.

"Prepare to move out!"

Bamos gave the order.

「Half a day later.」

The outskirts of Bole Forest.

Dozens of Guards had already gathered here, and the Hunters had arrived as well.

"Everyone, use the Signal Arrows we just gave you when you encounter the Snow Pattern Deer. When we see the signal, we will rush to support you. Please watch out for your own safety."

Bamos gave his final instructions.

The Hunters dismounted one by one, split into different groups, and crept into Bole Forest.

Not long after, another contingent of guards arrived. At its head was Olay.

"Bamos."

Olay asked, "Have the Hunters entered Bole Forest yet?"

"Yes, Uncle Olay."

Bamos nodded. "I’ve told them all about the possible traces the Snow Pattern Deer might leave. I’ve also sent other Guards in to search alongside them so we can provide swift support once it’s found."

Olay grunted in acknowledgment. "I hope we can capture it smoothly. After all, the Lord Baron has been looking forward to owning a Magical Beast for a very long time."

「Inside Bole Forest.」

Vili crept through the dense woods, covering a distance of nearly a thousand meters.

He was extremely cautious, not letting his guard down just because Bole Forest was less dangerous than Morse Forest. A competent Hunter could never relax in the middle of a hunt; after all, one never knew what kind of ferocious beast might emerge from the tree-shrouded jungle.

’According to the information from the Baron’s men, the Snow Pattern Deer leaves behind tiny ice crystals wherever it goes. If it eats leaves and branches, it will also leave ice flakes on the plants. But in this weather, the ice crystals won’t last long. They’ll quickly melt into water and then evaporate. This means I have to find the trail shortly after the Snow Pattern Deer leaves it.’

This mission was incredibly difficult, and the Hunters were all prepared for a prolonged search. Each person was equipped with a special backpack containing a small amount of food and water.

Because he had a clear objective this time, Vili chose not to go after any other prey he encountered along the way, avoiding anything that might cause trouble.

’Looks like I won’t find it today.’

A few hours later, Vili looked up at the sky.

The sun had set, and the horizon was dim. A few stars had begun to twinkle, but the moon had not yet appeared.

Although Vili’s eyesight had improved significantly with his enhanced Constitution, he still couldn’t spot minuscule ice crystals in the dark.

Vili decided to rest for the time being. He found a hollow in a dead tree, cleaned out the wood chips and spiderwebs, and squeezed inside.

After searching for the better part of a day, Vili felt hungry. He opened his pack and took out a water flask and some food. The food was compressed white bread slathered with butter, which would provide the Hunters with more Energy.

After a simple meal, Vili curled up in a corner of the tree hollow. Although it was only early evening, he chose to sleep now.

By sleeping now, he could wake up around midnight. This would allow him to be better prepared for the dangers that emerged in the dead of night. In the forest, the predators of midnight were far more terrifying than those of the day.