19 Investigating The Strange Anomaly (2/2)
”Hah, Calm down, Haz. They seem to have done the same thing we did when we first arrived here.” Phu spoke out as he approached the pillar.
”Oh? Haz, you also did the same thing I did? Ahahaha!”
”Shut it, Icrin! Phu, some things don't need to be spoken in front of others! And Icrin, I'll make sure to let Elder Astrona know about how you endangered yourself when we return.”
”No-no-no! Please, no! That's too far, Elder Brother Haz!”
While Haz and Icrin were embroiled in their bickering, Rentaro decided to get some clarification with the others.
”Phu, what is this thing, exactly?”
”We don't have any definitive answers. We have already brought this topic up with the grand elders at our village and they seem to lack any definitive answers as well. In fact, we can't even be sure that this has any connection with our village. Our only guess is that it is the cause behind the animal's intellectual evolution, you probably thought the same, huh? All-in-all, we decided to leave it here and befriend the small animals in order to maintain tranquility and peace. Well, that about sums up this topic. Let's return to our tents and have something to eat. Ichi will be cooking tonight, so you know the food is going to be good!”
”d.a.m.n, you four always take advantage of my skill! You think I'll cook just because you want a good meal?” Ichi's voice was filled with distraught, though one could still make out a strong sense of pride in his words.
”Aw, come one, Ichi! Think of the newbies, not us.” s.h.i.+n patted his back, speaking with a tone of justice.
”Alright, alright! I'll cook a nice meal for my new Junior Brothers!”
”Good, haha! And while you cook for the newbies, just make a little extra for us! Easy solution to a simple problem.” s.h.i.+n's tone still contained a sense of justice, though it was rather contradicting with his words.
The group returned to where they pitched their tents, Ichi suddenly walked over to his tent and grabbed his bag, prompting glints of expectation to appear on his four friends' faces as if they were waiting for something.
He opened his bag and revealed that it was filled with ingredients, making Rentaro wonder if he had been learning to cook under Elder Astrona. There were different spices and crops that he brought with him from the village and a few strange plants that he had collected as they traveled through the forest.
Phu set up a small campfire for Ichi to cook with. Tsyun, quiet as always, made an appearance with a dead wolf in hand. Rentaro wasn't affected by the dead wolf very much, as he recalled incidents of road-kill that looked much worse than the wolf that seemed to die in one clean hit and he hadn't been there to kill the wolf himself, or see it die in general.
There was still a slight aura lingering around the wolf's corpse, showing that it was at foundation establishment stage 1, which would've completed Rentaro's quest, had he been hunting with Tsyun. Rentaro wasn't the only one disgruntled about not being able to join Tsyun on his hunt, as an unresolved voice rang out.
”Ahhh! Tsyun, why didn't you tell me when you were leaving?!”
”s.h.i.+n, any beast would have fled as soon as they noticed you. I wanted a swift hunt, simple?” His long grayish-blue hair still covered the majority of his face, only revealing a minuscule smile on his face.
”Ps.h.!.+ I would've scared the animal into shock, the hunt would've been even swifter.”
”Wrong, Ichi! You're too slow, Tsyun would've needed to walk really slow in comparison to your fastest speed.”
The hunters fooled around with one another, as Ichi prepared the food. A savory aroma a.s.saulted everyone's noses as Ichi finished up the food. The aroma was top-tier with the addition of all the spices, but it was still below that of Elder Astrona's cooking, an old man who seemed to instill his emotions into his cooking.
Ichi served out plates of meat, full of seasonings, along with different crops on the side. Some of which Rentaro had never seen before, but the scent from them implored him to eat without a care.
The group enjoyed the meal and the experienced hunters told stories of their past hunts and made fun of one another about their past rookie mistakes. It was a happy atmosphere, paired with the setting being a village filled with small animals, it was dream-like for Rentaro.
Naturally, the hunters had remained alert at all times, but being alert was instilled in them as an instinct by now, so it didn't downplay their mood in any manner.
Night fell, the squeaking of small animals quieted and the group put out their fire. They all returned to their own tents, except Roy who returned to the system's spatial pocket.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was in the middle of the night, a weak aura suddenly elapsed the entire animal village.
[Lil' Bro, wake up! Quick, we have a lead!]
Rentaro s.h.i.+fted his body, he desired a little bit more rest like anyone, though he forced himself up as Wilhelm's voice stressed importance.
'Hah? Lead for what?'
[For your investigation mission! There was a very weak aura just now, no matter how weak it is, it definitely came from a spirit that cast his senses across the village! Putting two and two together, it all makes sense now! Go towards the pillar, I'll explain my thoughts on the way. Make sure you're quiet though and just go alone to prevent any complications from arising, it shouldn't be anything dangerous based off of the aura I sensed.]
<script>