Volume 2 Chapter 18 (1/2)

The Wailing Forest which was Greenwood’s most difficult dungeon has a unique characteristic which raised its difficulty. It is a forest that was alive. The wind that blows through the forest produces a eerie groaning sound throughout the entire forest which interferes with a person’s train of thought. Meanwhile, the trees in the forest were not just alive, but also capable of movement. As soon as an adventurer passes by, the trees will begin to rearrange themselves, altering the path and disorienting the adventurer. Thanks to this, it is rumored that the eerie noises coming from the forest isn’t just from the wind, but from the screams of the exhausted adventurers lost within the forest. That was how the name Wailing Forest came about.

[Why are we walking along the river instead of entering the forest!] (Til)

Til who listened to my explanation raised her voice as we hadn’t entered the actual forest. Currently we are walking upstream of the river that flows around the perimeter of the forest.

[Once we enter the forest we will be able to begin hunting monsters. It would be an excellent adventure for us right after the monsters have respawned, however it is meaningless for us to enter now.] (Youya)

Excluding the fact that maintaining our sense of direction was difficult and pain in the ass, it is a good place to hunt monsters. However six days have already passed since the monsters have respawned, any monsters there were living in the forest have long perished. Popular dungeons often have prey up till the fifth day after they respawn and even if you were to search for monsters after then they would have already been hunted. Typically most adventurers would spend the entire five days hunting and spend the rest of the week resting and waiting for the monsters to respawn. We are part of the minority who continues to hunt everyday without taking a break.. This was a major reason why we were raising our levels at a pace much faster as compared to other adventurers who weren’t.

[But even if that was the case, there wouldn’t be any monster around if we were to remain in this kind of place.] (Til)

[That isn’t the case. I am properly trying to search for monsters. Even though we are merely strolling along the river, there is a proper reason for this. Luna, are you properly paying attention to Presence Detection?] (Youya)

[Uhn. Leave it to Luna, Luna is properly searching inside the river.] (Luna)

The river we were walking along had a gentle flow with a width of 10 metres and a maximum depth of 5 metres. Although it was a shallow river, there are still monsters swimming around. However, most adventurers do not typically hunt in the water as attempting to hunt an aquatic monster in the water is akin to an act of suicide.Even if we had an overwhelming level difference, it doesn’t make a difference if we were to drown from lack of oxygen. Humans were not built to fight on equal grounds against aquatic life in water. On the other hand, if we were capable of hunting aquatic monsters underwater, we would be able to monopolize the entire aquatic species of monsters.

[Til. It’s a present.] (Youya)

[This is.. A weird arrow isn’t it.] (Til)

[Well that’s about right. It’s a handmade arrow from Phil. Back when we were still adventuring together it was an arrow she made.] (Youya)

At the tip of the arrow was a barb to prevent the arrow from being pulled out, however this barb was especially large for the arrow. Furthermore transparent threads were connected to the arrow.

[This isn’t your typical thread is it?] (Til)

[It’s a magical thread. It has the ability to stretch as long as you want so long as you pour magic power into it. When you pour your magic power into the arrow, the thread will stretch until you decide otherwise.] (Youya)

[Fuu, so in other words we’re going fishing.] (Til)

[Exactly.] (Youya)

As expected of Til. She caught up quickly. Meanwhile Luna and Selene were tilting their heads in confusion. I’m sure they will understand it once we demonstrate the arrow in action.

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After walking upstream for thirty minutes, Luna ears began to twitch quickly, producing a *piku**piku* sound. It was the gesture she did whenever she found an enemy.

[Youya. Monsters. Extremely long and big monsters at the bottom of the river!] (Luna)

[Yosh. Good job finding the monsters.] (Youya)

To hunt an aquatic monster, the first hurdle to cross would be to actually finding the monster. However, to find the monster by swimming is practically the same as begging the monster to eat you. It could be taken as if Presence Detection was a requirement for hunting aquatic monsters.

[But Youya. If it’s that deep we won’t be able to beat it.] (Luna)

[Uhn I agree. Even with the arrow it’ll be tough to penetrate even three metres reliably into the water. In that depth the power of the arrow will be diminished and it will not penetrate into the monster.] (Til)

[Well, just wait and see.] (Youya)

I took out several pairs of gloves from my magic bag and several black stones. I passed Luna and Selene the gloves while I held the black stones.

[Til, we are going to begin luring the monsters onto the surface, keep your bow on nock and get ready.] (Youya)

[Got it. Ready anytime.] (Til)

Til readied her bow as she readied the arrow on her bow. Her entire atmosphere changes as she poured her concentration onto her bow. The black stone is a special kind of magic stone which explodes several seconds after a strong shock is applied, producing a large shockwave. It is an item that drops from several monsters with a certain drop chance and is fairly popular among adventurers due to its versatility. It is commonly called Sound Bomb.

I threw the black stone towards the river and the moment the bomb struck the surface of the water, its detonation was imminent as it slowly sank into the river and exploded at the bottom. With a huge splash, the large eel-type monsters with black bodies that usually lurked at the bottom of the river were blown into the air and fell back onto the surface of the river.

It seems that the monsters lost consciousness or were stunned from the shockwave of the Sound Bomb, and continued floating on the surface of the water.

[Til!] (Youya)

[Leave it to me!] (Til)

Til released the arrow tied with a magic thread made by Phil. The arrow which was thicker than my arms penetrated deep into the two metre long eel.. Into the Numeri Anguila.

[PIGYAAAAA]

The Numeri Anguilla which lost consciousness violently woke up with a roar. It is a monster with strong vitality that wouldn’t die from merely being penetrated by one arrow.

[Luna, Selene, grab the thread and pull!] (Youya)

[Uhn. Understood.] (Luna)

[I understand it now.] (Selene)

Luna and Selene who were wearing the gloves firmly grabbed the thread and pulled it. In one breath, the Numeri Angilla was launched into the air, landing right in front of our feet. The next moment, I drew my blade and slashed its neck, severing its head from its body. Even if it has a lot of vitality, there isn’t a living being that can survive being decapitated. I quickly grabbed the specially made arrow and threw it back towards Til.

[Hurry up and catch the remaining two eels. It’ll be troublesome if they woke up.] (Youya)

[I know that already.] (Til)

Til quickly recovered the arrow and released it a second time, piercing a second Numeri Anguilla which was being pushed downstream by the irregular current produced from the shockwave. Her archery skills were as amazing as ever. Similar to the first one, Luna and Selene pulled the thread as I severed the monster’s head as it landed onto the ground.

Although the monster appears to be easy to kill above ground, if a battle were to commence underwater, this tactic would never work. In fact our roles would be reversed. If the Anguilla were to wrap it’s body around mine and restrict my movements, I could easily be forced deeper into the water and drown.

Rule number one in a battle is to never battle in the opponent’s zone. If we are unable to defeat it underwater, then we’ll just drag it out of the water. This is how you perform a safe hunt.

[Now let’s continue at this pace! Tonight will be the Eel festival!] (Youya)

[Tons and tons! Next is Luna’s turn to cut the head!] (Luna)

[I too would like to smash it’s head with my spikes.] (Selene)

Luna and Selene were saying scary things with tremendous vigor. As expected, the monsters inside the river were left untouched.