Chapter 131: The Witch’s Treasure?

Chapter 131: Chapter 131: The Witch’s Treasure?

The compass needle wasn’t pointing away from the house at all.

An icy chill shot straight up his spine.

This meant the object was somewhere nearby!

’How is that possible?’

Only a handful of acquaintances had ever been inside since he’d moved in.

Lance swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He suppressed his shock and followed the compass’s guidance back to his bedroom.

He finally stopped in front of a wooden wardrobe.

He pulled open the doors and dragged out a dusty, dilapidated box from the bottom corner.

It was filled with all the old things he had brought with him when he moved.

All the mementos belonging to his predecessor’s father were in here.

Lance lifted the lid, and a musty smell hit him.

The Guiding Compass in his hand radiated a faint heat, and a strange, pulling sensation guided his gaze.

He pushed aside some old clothes and immediately spotted a metal object at the very bottom.

At that exact moment, the Guiding Compass’s task was declared complete.

A new task forced its way into Lance’s mind.

[Walk 1,000 meters on your hands down the street]

Lance completely ignored the side-effect notification. He could complete it later during his nightly training.

He reached out and picked up the metal object.

It was a military insignia.

Engraved upon it was an Iris Flower, the symbol of the Empire’s glory.

This was the Third Legion insignia his predecessor’s father, a retired veteran, had left him before he died.

’Could it be...?’

Lance gripped the insignia tightly, its hard edges digging painfully into his palm.

He’d need to talk to someone tomorrow to confirm his suspicion, though.

In fact, that person had pulled a lot of strings to help him get his job as a Copyist at the Adventurer’s Guild.

After his predecessor’s father died, that person had continued to look out for the original Lance.

Lance tossed the insignia back into the box and locked the wardrobe.

’No point overthinking it.’

’Improving my strength is the only way to guarantee my survival.’

His daily training couldn’t stop today. In fact, he had to increase the intensity.

He took off his outer coat and changed into his heavy training weights.

Starting today, he would force himself to extend his hellish daily training time.

Six hours!

...

The Forest Stream Area in the western part of Copper Creek Forest was perpetually filled with the damp smell of rotting leaves.

Deep within the dense woods, a standard three-person Adventurer party was locked in a bitter struggle.

They were Adventurers from the neighboring Baihua Town who thought they had found a treasure map left by a Witch, but it turned out to just lead to a romantic spot suitable for a confession.

They were furious.

To make matters worse, they had run into a Gnoll hunting party.

Five ravenous Gnolls had them completely surrounded.

At the head of the party was a burly Shield Guard.

With both hands, he held a heavy Kite Shield that covered most of his chest, gritting his teeth as he endured the frenzied charge of a Gnoll Raider.

Gnoll Raiders are the largest individuals in an Ordinary Gnoll population.

The monster stood nearly two meters tall, its body covered in coarse, grayish-brown fur. Stinking saliva dripped from its ugly hyena head, and the muscles on its arms bulged like solid rock.

The other four Ordinary Gnolls stood between 1.7 and 1.8 meters tall.

They had already cunningly spread out.

Two of them bypassed the front line, heading straight for the agile Female Archer at the rear of the party.

The remaining two worked with the Raider, constantly harassing the Shield Guard and the young Swordsman covering him from the flanks.

"Toby! Watch out for that Raider!"

From the rear, the Female Archer, Fibi, caught a glimpse of the Raider bending its knees to jump and immediately cried out a warning.

But she was in a terrible position herself.

She could clearly see the two Ordinary Gnolls closing in on her and could only keep drawing her bow and firing arrows to keep them at bay as she retreated.

The muscles on Fibi’s arms, exposed by her Leather Armor, were clearly defined.

Her arrows were powerful, several of them grazing the Demons’ scalps as they flew past.

But against the Gnolls’ astonishing Agility Attribute, the suppressive effect of such conventional shots was far too low.

"It’s winding up for a leaping slash! The *Monster Guide* says this move has a half-second wind-up. I can totally block this! Holy crap! Since when can they kick?!"

The Shield Guard, Toby, had just braced himself for the heavy blow.

But the Raider, now in mid-air, cunningly changed its attack, slamming a heavy flying kick into the edge of his Kite Shield.

The tremendous impact sent Toby stumbling, completely shattering his defensive stance.

Just as the flank was about to collapse.

Fortunately, the Swordsman, Finn, reacted quickly.

He immediately stepped forward and delivered a sharp slash, the keen blade forcing back an Ordinary Gnoll trying to launch a sneak attack from the other side.

"Thanks, Finn... Argh!"

Toby let out a pained cry just as he regained his footing.

"Why do these mutts have iron nails in their clubs! They’re going to scrape off my new coat of anti-rust paint!"

A Gnoll’s club slammed hard against the surface of the shield, sending a shower of brilliant sparks flying.

Toby howled in anguish.

"Fibi! You have to take the repair and maintenance costs for my precious shield out of my contribution to our wedding savings!"

"Shut up! We might not even survive the day!"

The Female Archer, Fibi, shouted back angrily.

She ducked just in time to evade a Gnoll’s lethal pounce and moved quickly to break out of the other’s attempt to surround her.

In the food chain of Demons on the outskirts of Copper Creek Forest, Gnolls were definitely among the most dangerous predators.

Every single one of the monsters’ physical Attributes was on par with those of a Senior Adventurer who had trained for years.

Just as Fibi began to despair...

Two sharp WHISTLES!

Two arrows suddenly shot out from the gloomy thicket in the distance.

The arrows were astonishingly fast. One of them grazed Fibi’s shoulder before plunging straight into the chest of the Gnoll that had been about to pounce on her.

The sharp arrowhead sank about three inches deep, and the Gnoll let out a piercing shriek of pain.

Meanwhile...

The other Gnoll tasked with attacking Fibi was also struck by an arrow.

However, this monster reacted a fraction faster, instinctively blocking with its thick arm. The arrow sank deep into its bicep.

A double shot!

’Such incredible archery skill!’

As a professional Archer herself, Fibi knew exactly what that meant.

The ability to fire two arrows simultaneously with such precision was a technique that could only be honed through special Archery.

In Adventurer circles, such a honed and specialized Combat Skill was respectfully referred to as a Specialty.

The two Gnolls injured by the arrows didn’t retreat. Instead, their savage bloodlust seemed to have been fully awakened.

This was their pride and joy: their Racial Talent.

Named Bloodthirsty Hunting, this ability activated when the monster took physical damage, granting it a massive short-term boost to its Agility and Power.

A terrifying red light flared in the eyes of the two Gnolls, and they let out a furious roar in unison.

One lunged mercilessly toward Fibi.

The other twisted its head, trying to locate the mysterious archer who had shot them from the shadows.

Fibi had assumed their kind benefactor would remain hidden in the safety of the shadows to continue their assault.

But she was completely mistaken.

Accompanied by the steady crunch of footsteps on fallen leaves, a figure wearing a Wind Hat and holding a Longbow stepped right out from the shade of the trees.

It was none other than Lance, out hunting Demons.