novelraw Chapter 179: First Time Monster Slaying!
Chapter 179: First Time Monster Slaying!
Tukutuk— Tukutuk— Tukutuk—
Amidst the forest terrain, a carriage was steadily crossing the uneven path.
Ferd had a wary expression on his face as he drove the carriage, his eyes wandering the path they were taking.
’I heard some people from the city talk about how bandits are getting more active these days... Though I shouldn’t really worry too much since we’re still quite near Lumina.’
It was common knowledge that even though bandits were quite bullheaded, they did not have enough guts to operate within the parameters of cities, much less the capital city of the Kingdom of Light.
And so, even though he was still wary, he was still quite comfortable.
Instead, Ferd’s mind tacked back to what happened last night.
’That otherworlder, Deadman... Was able to chop the branch of a tree through a wave of mana produced by his hand gesture.’
Being the butler of a once-powerful noble family, Ferd also had his own share of knowledge and experiences.
’Even back in the Pendragon Kingdom, the only ones who could do that were those who already had a very high proficiency in their magic or skills... But to think that he can even use mana to make a thick tree branch into a thin stick used for roasting those white things he called marshmallows...’
Ferd could not help but shake his head with a smile, ’Well, I guess the young master and I can rest easy, since we were lucky enough to come across such a powerful individual.’
’But wait...’
Another idea then popped into his head, ’Since escorts aren’t really a necessity and just a precaution, we made sure to keep the rewards to the minimum...’
’Well, maybe he just needed a quest that he’ll do since he’ll travel to Listarte anyway?’
Ultimately, Ferd shrugged, ’It’s none of our business anyway. But I do have to say... the s’mores last night were really delicious, especially when he drizzled it with what he called a chocolate syrup...’
Recalling the taste of that ’sweet treat,’ the butler could not help but salivate.
GRRR—
"!!!"
Hearing the growling behind the bushes ahead, Ferd could not help but swallow his own saliva.
Neigh—!
The two horses dragging the carriage also showed unease as they clearly sensed some monsters ahead.
’These horses are in the 25s in terms of level, normal monsters in these parts should not pose much threat to them...’
Ferd reassured himself, but it only worsened the nervousness he was feeling.
Grrr...
It was then that low growls sounded once more as he saw multiple pairs of glowing red eyes from the gaps of the bushes.
"Unlucky..."
Ferd could not help but grip the reins tightly, "Monsters in broad daylight? And we haven’t even gotten too deep into the forest yet..."
Just as he was about to slide open the window to the carriage from the driver’s seat and call Zen, the carriage door opened.
Creak—
"I saw some news in the newspaper that it’s the mating season of wolves, so I was really expecting to encounter some on the way."
Zen spoke with a calm voice, holding Verso with his right hand.
"Deadman...! Young Master...!"
Ferd could not help but be shocked, afraid that Verso would be hurt in any way.
The child in question, however, only looked excited as his eyes were filled with anticipation.
’Young master is... excited?’ The butler could not help but be taken aback by the sudden emotion that he had never seen the boy demonstrate, even once, after his father died.
Zen looked at him and said, "I’m sorry, but I couldn’t just leave him back in the carriage when he looked at me with such eyes. Don’t worry, I won’t let even a strand of his hair get a scratch."
"T-Then, I’m assured... As long as the young master is safe..." Ferd still could not keep his heart calm.
Zen noticed this and snapped.
Tak— Woong!
In an instant, amidst the butler’s shock and the young master’s amazed gazes, a mana barrier covered them, the horses, and even the whole carriage.
"This’ll only take a minute..."
Zen’s confident voice rang out in the area, seemingly infuriating the wolves, who then revealed themselves one by one.
’I’m so excited! This is the first time I’ll be fighting a monster— that one ghoul in the past doesn’t count.’
He could barely keep himself calm, but he still decided to practice caution.
After all, in his training, he only sparred with Arthur, who was a human.
Even back in the past, when he played some monster-slaying games and the like, it was only through a screen.
As for hunting in real life, he had no experience whatsoever aside from watching a few videos and reels on the internet.
This meant that Zen did not have any idea how to deal with wolves.
’I’m really overpowered as I am right now, but I’m still a greenhorn when it comes to fighting anyone besides Teacher.’
Seeing the group of wolves looking at him warily, Zen kept calm, ’One, two, three... There are six of them. I don’t know if there are others hiding, but this should be doable.’
’Furthermore, their levels are kinda... okay, I guess? Since I’m just a level 1...’
Three of the wolves were level 17, two were level 18, and the last one at the lead was a level 20.
’This is my first time monster slaying in real life...’
Zen felt his heart pounding.
Behind him, both Ferd and Verso watched in anticipation.
’I wonder what kind of swordsmanship he’ll show us? He’s wearing a full iron armor, plus the skill he showed last night seemed to be some sort of sword skills...’
Fortunately, Zen did not wait for too long as he immediately made his move.
Raising his hand, he muttered under his breath, "Perceive... Infiltrate... Interfere... Manifest!"
As he finished speaking, his concentration reached its peak as he suddenly flicked his wrist upwards.
Woosh— Shkkk!
In an instant, earthen spikes formed from the soil beneath each of the wolves, penetrating all their bellies simultaneously.
Awooo—-
The wolves were shocked as they let out sounds.
Some growled, some howled, while some whimpered as they tried to lick the blood gushing out from their wounds.
Furthermore, due to the angle of the spike, they were immobilized as well.
"Oops..."
Seeing the pitiful situation of the monsters, Zen almost facepalmed, "I didn’t put in enough mana... I guess I underestimated their resistance too much."
He then hurriedly waved his hand as C-shaped mana projectiles shot out with every move.
Even though Zen had many skills, he preferred using magic mainly due to its convenience and the lack of incantation needed, provided that it was only something simple, of course.
Under his gaze, the now dead wolves turned into white particles that were soon absorbed in his body, followed by status windows that appeared before his eyes.
[Ding! You have killed a Forest Wolf Lv. 17!]
[Ding! You have killed a Forest Wolf Lv. 17!]
...
[Ding! You have killed a Forest Wolf Lv. 20!]
...
"Forest Wolves, huh? Hmm, they’re really weak."
Zen knew that if he did not put too little mana in his attack, he could have easily one-shot those wolves.
Of course, had he been heard by other normal players, they would have surely cursed him.
After all, Forest Wolves were one of the headaches new players encountered when they tried to venture out of their beginner towns.
"Oh, what’s that?"
Noticing something glowing on the ground where the level 20 forest wolf had been standing earlier, Zen’s eyes shone, ’Could it be... a drop!?’
As he got closer, the silhouette of the glowing item became clearer.
It looked like a giant wolf fang that had no blemishes.
He jogged towards it and picked it up as a status panel appeared before his gaze.
[Wolf Fang
Grade: Common
Tier: Middle
Type: Material
Effects: None
Description: A fang from a ferocious forest wolf. Its worth will shine through skilled craftsmanship.]
"A material, huh?"
Zen felt satisfied, ’Well, it’s my first time killing a monster, so dropping something is really lucky enough for me!’
He wore a smile as he got back to where Ferd and Verso were standing, "Let’s go."
"Y-Yes, Sir Deadman!" Ferd had a strange expression on his face as he hurriedly opened the door for the two before going back to the driver’s seat himself.
Remembering the scene of the wolves suffering before they were cleanly dealt with, he could not help but shiver.
’He’s so scary... To torture monsters like that... But I thought he was a knight or a swordsman who focused on sword-type skills and the like... to think that he’ll straightforwardly use magic instead. I wonder what his armor is for? Maybe he’s good in both close combat and magic?’
"Hiyah!"
As random thoughts filled his head, Ferd then began driving the carriage once more.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, the young child, Verso, was looking at Zen with sparkling eyes.