17 Hunt 2 (2/2)

Yet, nothing happened.

Turning his head around, he noticed the Woodpecker which was the size of his palm hovering in the air with its eyes displaying its fury.

Using the opportunity, Edmond immediately picked up the nest and put it back on the branches from where it had been knocked off by his hand.

He tensed as the Woodpecker glared at him for a few more seconds, but after that, it made a sound that made Edmond feel as if it was saying ”Watch yourself if you don't want to get pecked” before flying back to its nest and ignoring him.

It was a mistake! But this damn bird was showing so much attitude!

Remembering a recipe for bird soup, Edmond smacked his lips, vowing to return here when he was more powerful.

He was someone who held grudges, which was known by all the bullies in the City of Dion who had been beaten up when he became stronger even though the act of them bullying him had happened years ago.

”If you don't want our agreement to end prematurely because I would have to leave if you do more stupid stuff and attract something that is really dangerous, then keep your arms and legs close to you. And look at the ground while walking. You don't look up in a forest.”

Hearing this, Edmond was at a loss for words. He had traversed through multiple forests on his way to Skystead Hamlet, but he had always been on the path placed down by the World Government for Ascenders to get between settlements.

He had thought that doing that would make it so that going into the forest would be a piece of cake, but he was so, very wrong.

The path was smooth, and only a few weak Teras had come in his way, which ran away as soon as his 'Bewitching Fox' appeared on the scene, which had further bolstered his confidence.

Grumbling under his breath, he said, ”Fine,” and followed Aaron.

Aaron knew that this wasn't the end of this clumsy human's blunders, but thankfully, except for a few stumbles and falls, nothing like the incident before happened.

Finally, after 2 hours, Aaron raised a hand to stop Edmond, who looked as if he was dying.

His clothes were completely torn due to the multiple thorny bushes on the way that he hadn't known he was supposed to avoid. Aaron always avoided them naturally, so there were no clues to pick up there.

The clay waterbottle he had borrowed in the Hamlet had been broken long ago when he had been chased, so he had had no water and was parched.

On the way, he seemed to have also touched a nasty Venom Ivy, as his whole body had become red and had become very itchy.

All in all, he was close to giving up and asking whether they could come back later.

How the heck was he supposed to know that the actual forest would be so terrifying?

Besides, this whole experience was that much more irritating when he remembered that the entire journey had been filled with the husky laughing at him whenever he stumbled or fell.

Wait…at one moment, it had laughed very loudly! Was that when he touched the Venom Ivy?

Damn this sadistic dog!

He was just about to curse out loud, but when he heard Aaron speak, all of that flew out of his mind.

”There's a family of Bewitching Foxes ahead. Get ready. How much time do you need to Bind one?”

That was the official term used in the booklet to refer to the act of a Tera Master bonding his Core with a Tera.

”10 minutes. I don't need help defeating one, I have a special object that I used a lot of money to buy that will put any Ordinary level Tera in a trance long enough for my Core to Bind it. It was what I was going to use on your…never mind.”

Of course, Aaron understood.

Yet, this wasn't the time to squabble.

So, he stated his plan, which made Edmond look at him as if he were mad.

”Get it ready. I'll grab a Fox and get it to you, while Woof distracts its father. That Fox has a vendetta against Woof, so it'll definitely chase for at least 10 minutes. I'll hold off the other, weaker Fox brothers and sisters while you finish. Oh, and, before that, you should climb that tree to the top so that you won't be a target. Just don't disturb more nests. And, I think there's a Giant Eagle nearby that can swallow you whole, so be careful. Got it?”