Chapter 63: A Poor Man’s Pride

Peace never got an answer.

Before he got the chance to question Ralph, Volkar’s head twisted to the side and the Giant froze.

‘This is why I don’t like Giants…’

Before anyone could stop him, Volkar rushed toward whatever he’d glimpsed, pulling his axe free as he ran.

Ralph stared after him, then sighed and said:

“There he goes again.”

Instead of trying to reel him in with feigned interest in his muscles, Ralph broke into a sprint after Volkar. Maura and Yulis quickly followed.

‘Welp…’

Once again, Peace passed up the prime opportunity to sleep and followed them.

Weaving through the dense forest, which resembled an uncorrupted version of the first one he’d encountered in the Corrupted Lands, Peace caught up to find… nothing.

Volkar stood with his axe at the ready, spinning around in a frantic search.

“Gah! Where did it go?!”

Ralph cursed under his breath before looking back at Peace.

“Pariah, did anyone see you?”

‘That’s the second time he’s called me that…’

Peace didn’t know what it meant, but it certainly didn’t seem like a compliment.

Making sure his displeasure showed on his face, Peace replied:

“No. I made sure I hid my hair and eyes.”

Volkar’s shoulders slumped, and he let out a defeated whimper.

“My muscles scared it off.”

Ralph slapped Volkar hard on the back.

“I’m sure they did.”

The Giant stumbled forward, nearly falling.

Yulis’s blue eyes shot to the ground beneath Volkar’s feet. His expression twisted before he took a deep breath.

Peace waited for the young elf to reveal what he’d seen — or perhaps realized — but Yulis carried on as if nothing had happened.

‘Hmm…’

After Ralph spent a few more seconds restoring Volkar’s self-confidence, they continued deeper into the Bright Forest.

Ten minutes later, they finally encountered their first true monster. The absolute weakest in the Bright Forest, and nearly the weakest Tiered beast in the entire game. Second only to the Skeleton Warriors.

[You have slain Tier 9 F-Class Gusto Larvae]

[+2 EXP]

With the creature so weak and Volkar already upset, no one bothered stopping him from eviscerating the little guy.

‘I almost feel bad…’

Volkar cleaved the little creature — an anthropomorphic pile of leaves with pointed sticks for arms — cleanly down the middle.

However, encountering a Gusto Larvae meant they’d entered the Gusto spawning zone.

And while the juveniles were weak, the adults weren’t exactly to be trifled with. They were the same rank as the Blood Warden, after all. Not that they were dangerous in the same way. Gustos weren’t physically strong, but their attacks inflicted poison.

As Ralph knelt and pulled a gray stone from the pile of withering leaves, he said:

“Volkar, no running off. Everyone else, formation A…” Looking up at Peace, he said, “Ah, right, never mind. Ahem… I take point, Volkar in the back—”

“Hey! Why—”

Ralph didn’t give Volkar a chance to finish.

“Maura, defend Yulis in the middle. Pariah, stand at my side. And, Volkar…” Tucking the stone away into his subspace bag, Ralph said, “The rear is the most glorious and honorable position of all. To defend your friends’ backs is a duty reserved only for the truest of warriors.”

As if someone had flipped a switch in his brain, Volkar thrust his axe toward the sky and screamed:

“I will not forsake my duty! For honor!”

‘I guess honor and duty are another way to control him.’

As for the assignments…

Peace couldn’t really comment, not having seen enough of his party members’ abilities or tendencies to judge, but the formation seemed optimal. So he wouldn’t complain, even if he suspected Ralph had placed him at the front solely to expose him to danger.

“Volkar…”

Ralph then pulled the Giant aside to give him a few personal instructions.

While he did that, Peace cautiously approached the corpse, now little more than a pile of dead leaves.

‘It should work… right?’

Kneeling, Peace tentatively picked up a leaf and brought it to his mouth.

Yulis, standing over Peace, asked:

“Umm, what are you doing…?”

Peace met his gaze, then Maura’s. She was giving him the same look he’d given her upon hearing her Class.

Peace chewed the crunchy, oddly bitter leaf and swallowed.

“Oh… uh, I got hungry.”

“So… you’re eating leaves?”

“Leaves of a Gusto.”

Yulis looked horrified as he palmed his forehead.

“W-what difference does that make?”

Peace shrugged, then began saying random BS.

“Clearly you’ve never starved before. Unlike regular leaves, I heard eating these helps stave off hunger.”

Yulis started to shout:

“I ha—” Catching himself, he gulped and lowered his voice. “R-really? I’ve never heard of that.”

Yulis knelt next to Peace and picked up a leaf as well.

‘Huh, what is he…’

Then Yulis squeezed his eyes shut and chucked the dead leaf into his mouth. His eyes watered as he began to gag.

‘Oh… oh no. Is he… going to be okay?’

Awkwardly watching him, Peace threw another handful of leaves into his own mouth.

While eating monster and beast meat was indeed possible in the game, very few creatures were actually safe to eat. Gusto Larvae were definitely not among them. Especially given that the sticks making up their bodies contained toxins.

And what fed those branches? Well, the leaves, of course.

Which meant there was a good chance each leaf carried traces of poison, too. ℯℯ𝑙.

Peace figured he’d be fine himself, though. After all, he’d suffered barely any ill effects from directly consuming the blood of a Blood Warden. Only his throat had been marred, his stomach entirely okay.

Peace quickly scooped up another handful, chewed the leaves into bits, and swallowed.

Maura turned away, unable to watch any longer.

“You two are disgusting.”

[???] — (condition to unlock: 90/100)

‘Phew… no more.’

Peace glanced at the odd elf, who was still struggling to swallow the dead leaves.

‘Does he take pride in being poor? Destitution isn’t a competition! Stop! I only said that so you wouldn’t get suspicious!’

Having finished his lecture to Volkar, Ralph turned to find the two elves on their hands and knees eating leaves.

In an even tone, he said:

“What the fuck.”