I shake my head, tearing myself away from my ruminations. Back to following the trail of breadcrumbs into the waiting jaws of Soldier-class creatures.
Sarcasm aside, I need to be as cautious as possible; patience is a virtue when facing monsters so physically superior to myself. I decide to keep my distance from feathers indicating Soldier-class winged beasts since their sheer agility means I'll be risking my life in a fight against one.
I want quick and easy victories, neither of which are a realistic outcome, but I should do everything I can to minimize the time and blood spent during battle. That means following these feces spheres the size of my head, and not the feathers the size of my arm.
I faintly discern the sounds of leaves crunching. I whirl around and slash my shortsword through the air; it squarely lands on a red blur and knocks it aside.
Blood splatters through the air, and my right arm trembles from the force of the impact. The creature's wretched form is now visible: a weasel-like animal with red fur and long, sharp claws. An Inferior Soldier, the weakest of all magical beasts.
A gash on its waist runs all the way to its spine, seeping hot blood. I nearly bisected it in one blow.
I dispassionately ram my spear through its eye socket, killing it instantly. Without hesitation, I lop off the creature's claws and toss them into my woven knapsack.
I stand up and resume strolling into the forest.
…
…
[For fuck's sake, give me some real loot.]
I've located and killed 6 Inferior Soldiers, stripping them of their tendons, claws, teeth, and other bits that I might sell. They hardly posed a threat greater than that of a wild animal, and although I finished them off with ease, their materials won't fetch a great price. Unfortunately, there just aren't that many Soldiers in this area, but I suppose that's the reason I managed to reach the city, so I shouldn't be complaining.
Disgruntled, I continue onward, taking a swig of water as I walk.
…
…
There's indentations and scratch marks on the surrounding trees. Sharp pieces of bone are littered on the ground, but oddly enough, no blood or flesh surrounds them. I imagine two or more Soldier-class creatures had a battle here.
As I approach the location I believe the beast resides in, I let my instinctual stealth tactics take reign of my body. I lightly prance across the ground, avoiding crunchy piles of leaves. I hide behind a tree or foliage with each swift motion. I grab my spear in the case of an unexpected ambush.
I gingerly pry the leaves surrounding the clearing inches apart, peeking at the brown creature resting within.
[Is it injured? Excellent.]
The "deer," its size rivaling a huge pickup truck, softly rumbles in pain. I make out a meter long gash on its torso, likely extremely deep, accompanied by several smaller wounds. I spring into action, sprinting towards the resting beast.
A sudden blur of movement races at my eyes. I sidestep what seems to be the outer layer of one of the protrusions on the deer's antlers. The monster appears to have the bizarre ability to launch sharp, hollow bones.
A volley of projectiles is sent my way. I weave through some, deflecting the rest with my spear. It grumbles in surprise and fear, and launches a second round.
But it's not the same attack. Apparently, the deer's hooves are every bit as dangerous as its antlers, and 4 hubcap-sized masses of bone are mixed in with the array of antler projectiles. I would do well to not underestimate what seems to be an Average Soldier.
This time, I evade all of the sharp missiles and 3 of the blunt ones, but I'm forced to deflect the fourth. The bones in my arms thrum violently as I barely get out of the hoof's path. I'm forced to drop the vibrating spear, but I've already closed in on the deer. All I need to do now is slit its throat with my short sword.
The deer moans in agony and fright; it focuses its eyes on mine. I see signs of pleading. It wants me to spare its life. Doesn't everything deserve a chance to live?
I ponder that question as I carve its throat open, splattering my short sword with thick blood. No. Magical beasts and humans are enemies. Any reduction in the former's population benefits the latter. I would have done a disservice to mankind if I left the deer alive to potentially harm other Hunters.
Moreover, it seems I chose a spectacular victim: the hooves and antlers are considered "rare bones," fodder for weapons like mine. I estimate that the mass of bone could easily produce 5 weapons and 4 shields. Of course, I plan to get an actual quote from the Hunter Union, who will hopefully regard me seriously after I bring them a pile of quality loot.
I strap everything to my back, dropping the tendons, the worst claws and teeth, and the rest of the materials. I can only carry so much; the deer's valuables alone are over 100 kg. Finished, I plod back to the city.
…
…
I hear murmurs as I enter the Hunter Union building, a shade smaller than the Military Headquarters and located a bit south from it. It had not been easy lugging over 160 kg of loot, weapons, and necessities; my stamina has rarely been challenged like this. Evidently, others around me picked up on this fact, and still others went further to analyze the shape of the materials under the deer skin I had draped over them. Eventually, their curiosities climax. I'm far from the most interesting sight in this structure.
I make my way to an empty desk with an expectant Hunter Mistress behind it, and plop the loot down with a thud. With professional precision and speed, she begins sorting and analyzing the materials.
Pushing up her glasses, she queries, "Where's your team? At least two members of the team must be present to sell valuables gathered by the entire group."
"I don't have one. I killed these creatures on my own." I gesture to the bloody weapons on my waist and back.
She frowns. "I find that highly unlikely. You're doing a disservice to your teammates by disingenuously pawning off these items as yours alone."
I had thought this might happen, but not so quickly and unpleasantly.
"If you look up my name, Jianyu Patel, you will not see it registered with a team. In fact, you will not see it registered at all. I had intended to register, but on second thought I realized no one here would take me seriously. Therefore, I decided to hunt first, register later. If you're still concerned about the unlikely possibility that I'm a member of an unregistered team, may I ask you to give Battlemage Li Wei a call? He can clarify that I indeed am capable of killing some Average Soldiers on my own."
Her expression retains some wariness. "I'll be sure to contact him. In the meantime, assuming you aren't bluffing out of your mind, I can register you if you fill out these forms, and by your next visit here I'll have a Hunter's ID and Basic Hunter badge for you, as well as a card for your exclusive Hunter's bank account. Right now, I can offer you 30,000 yuan in cash for the rare bones and 2,000 for the remaining scraps. If I confirm that your story is false, the Hunter Union will press charges and reclaim your money, so think twice before accepting."
It's my turn to frown. "There isn't a single lie in what I've said. Moreover, at least 4 quality defensive items can be crafted from these 4 hooves, and refining the antlers could yield several excellent weapons and offensive equipment. Isn't 30,000 low, even considering labor fees? I'd think 70,000 for everything is more reasonable."
"Your rebuttal is adequate. I'll offer 50,000 yuan."
"60,000."
"55,000."
"Deal."
She shakes my hand. "Pleased to work with such a young Hunter. Do keep me in mind when returning to sell more valuables; I'm at this booth from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays."
Lighter 160 kg of monster materials and heavier 60,000 yuan, I feel weightless as I jog back home. I can finally contribute income to the household and share Uncle Mo's burden.
Uncle Mo is employed by the Master of the mansion estate down the street from our house. He works diligently as a chauffeur for Master Mu Zhuoyun, and he must act in a subservient manner that I find revolting; I want to free him of his job so that he can raise his head high in public. Who does this Master Mu think he is to treat him so disrespectfully? He can find another chauffeur.
I continue onwards, resolving to convince Uncle Mo to quit his job.
…
…
As I pass by the mansion, I'm once again struck by its beauty: the estate's exquisite appearance could stir envy in anyone. Each flower, plant, and tree synergize to constitute a veritable garden park. At the estate's peak stand several European-style villas. The largest is the residence of Mu Zhuoyun, who appears to be talking to Uncle Mo next to the gated driveway. No, berating is a more appropriate term; Uncle Mo looks cowed.
My steps grow heavier, as does the anger swelling up within my body. I stomp towards the pair, who pause to take my figure in.
"Jianyu! Go ahead and run along to the house, Master Mu and I are having a chat here."
Mu Zhuoyun stares at me for a moment, then smiles. "You're all worked up for no reason. I was merely admonishing your foster father to be a bit more attentive when he drives."
[Oh.]
"Indeed. I was chauffeuring Master Mu and his daughter from her after-school studies, when a pedestrian ran across the street. Poor Miss Mu has a light blemish on her forehead because my inattentive braking caused her head to collide with the seat in front of her."
My gaze shifts to the sleek black SUV in front of the gated entrance.
[Miss Mu does not like seatbelts, apparently.]
"I see. Well, Uncle Mo, this is a good a time as any, so I suppose I'll just inform you now. You're quitting this job."
The two men immediately scrunch their brows in confusion. I preclude their responses by pulling a fat wad of bills out of my knapsack and placing it in Uncle Mo's hand.
"There, a source of income for us. See? You don't need to drive anyone around anymore."
With that, I seize the befuddled man's arm and begin dragging him away. He instinctively walks with me, then relaxes. I peer at his expression, and it's one of content and peace.
[Wow, that went far smoother than imagined.]
When I glance back at Mu Zhuoyun, his eyes are narrowed, scrutinizing my figure. He notes the spear across my back, sword at my hip, and the grass knapsack from which I casually took out 10,000 yuan.
Realization flashes in his eyes, along with a hint of disbelief and awe. Subsequently, grim determination sets into his countenance.
The ground begins vibrating. Mu Zhuoyun is drawing a Star Pattern, casting a powerful Intermediate Water spell—Violent Waves: Flooding. My mind and body instantly launch into combat mode.
How do I avoid its range while dragging Uncle Mo along with me? I furiously scramble for a solution. Dodging won't help; Uncle Mo isn't agile and even if he was, Mu Zhuoyun can adjust the direction the waves fire in, pummeling the both of us with heavy bursts of condensed water. If I was a Basic Mage, perhaps my physical capabilities combined with my instincts would allow a dodge exceeding the ability of Mo Zhuoyun's perception to anticipate. As it stands, the fiend outclasses me in both magical and physical attributes.
The only way out is to interrupt the spell. His mistake was to stand so close to us while channeling the magic; his arrogance allowed no concerns that I might be a threat. Most Mages lack the ability to move around while casting a spell, and I can only hope that he is no different. A metallic screech resounds as I draw my short sword from its scabbard, lunging at him while swinging the sword at his neck. His eyes widen in fear, and the spell shows signs of blinking out. I've almost reached him-
"Stop! Father, what are you doing? I thought you were just reprimanding the driver for a minute or so, and then we could go inside the estate together. And you! Please, get your sword away from my father's throat!"
An icy pale girl with waist-length, brilliant silvery-white hair has stepped out of the car. Her facial features are exquisite: a delicate nose, soft lips, beautifully curved white eyebrows and lashes, and gorgeous blue eyes that regard us with confusion.
Mu Zhuoyun takes the opportunity to back down. "Ningxue, we were just having a pleasant chat. Mo Jiaxing has introduced me to his foster son, Jianyu Patel. Go on ahead to the house, I'll catch up in a bit."
I do not withdraw my aggression. "How utterly two-faced. You treat Uncle Mo like a workhorse, criticize him for something so inconsequential, act like you're superior, yet now you turn around and say everything's fine and dandy after I nearly sheared your neck in half to prevent you from finishing that Intermediate Water spell."
"What?! Dad, you attacked them first?"
"Well, yes, but not with intent to kill or anything like that. I just wanted to see whether Jianyu here really did have the skills to eke out a living via the Hunter Union," he chuckles. "Good thing you came out when you did, though."
[Why would he bother trying to "test" me? Did he initially intend to cripple me, then cover up his failure with this lie?]
Confusion clashes with anger, and wins. I decide to exit the situation now.
"Good night to you all; Uncle Mo will be quitting his miserable job as your chauffeur, and I hope to never see you again."
With that, I seize his hand and begin dragging him away. Mu Ningxue appears incensed and is about to let loose another indignant reply, but Mu Zhuoyun shakes his head at her. He guides her to the estate entrance, and they disappear behind the greenery.
…
…
We enter our decrepit brick house. Once the door slams shut, I turn my knapsack upside down and empty it on the rug. 5 wads of bills tumble out, identical to the sixth in Uncle Mo's pocket.
"Jianyu, what? Where did you get all this money?"
"Uncle Mo, I killed 6 Lesser Soldiers and one Average Soldier today. I earned this money from the loot in one day, yet it's more than your yearly salary."
"W-what?"
"A Hunter Mistress already agreed to register me as a solo Basic Hunter. I'll receive the badge, ID, and bank account card on my next visit. Once I enroll in Magic High School in almost 3 years, I'll awaken an Element and improve my physical prowess even more, allowing me to take on stronger Soldier-class monsters. Our income is secure. There is no more need to prostrate in front of this so-called Master Mu; quit the job. We are free. We can hold our heads high from today on."
He gently smiles. "Jianyu, don't worry about me. I have no pride to protect; my only considerations are for you and Xinxia. But I'll do as you wish. I'll have to find some hobbies to occupy myself, I suppose."
[He's taking this news surprisingly in stride. I thought he'd be more worried about my safety, about our financial situation, about finding another occupation so he can continue to provide for us. I was prepared for a long argument.]
"Did you… somehow expect this?"
"Jianyu, this world caters to the strong. Houses in large cities are worth nothing in comparison to the resources for one's magic cultivation. The magic economy, despite the relatively small percentage of Mages in the world's population, dwarfs the non-magic economy," he sighs. "It was obvious that you'd eventually set upon the path of hunting demonic beasts."
"Are you not concerned?"
"About what? You've survived the wild for 7 years with handcrafted tools. Now you have actual equipment, and you've already proven yourself by getting all these kills in a single day." He sinks into a soft chair and leans back, closing his eyes. "Why does an old man like me have to fret, when I have such an outstanding 2nd generation beneath me?"
At that, I snort. He opens his eyes and broadly grins, wrinkling the time-etched lines around his eyes. He starts chuckling, and I follow suit, our laughter slowly rising into a crescendo.
When our mirth dies down, his lips set firmly into a line, and he sits down on a chair. He states, "13 year olds simply do not fight Soldier-class monsters. Even most Basic Mages will not dare to claim they possess the ability to kill them in a one-on-one battle."
[Huh? Where is this going?]
He narrates, "As a norm, 7 regular Mages are needed to kill one demon beast of the same level. 7 Basic Mages for one Lesser Soldier, 7 Intermediate Mages for one Lesser Warrior, 7 Advanced Mages for one Lesser Commander. Perhaps the strongest Mages of each level can handle an Inferior beast of the level above, but that's the best humans can do. Why?"
"Because of our inferior processing, reaction, and fast-twitch speeds. Magical creatures have destructive prowess on par with our magic, while simultaneously trouncing us in every physical category imaginable."
"Exactly. A non-mage 13 year old possessing enough wits, strength, and instinct to kill Inferior Soldiers and even a wounded Average Soldier? If such a boy awakened an Element, his propensity for making money alone would surely carry him to the peak of the Intermediate level, perhaps even beyond that." He leans back in his chair, closing his eyes. "Jianyu, even from my low vantage point as a rich man's chauffeur, it's obvious you're destined for things I can't even imagine. At the very least, you're not staying within Bo City. This is a no-mans-land of power. The strongest magical beasts are merely Commanders, the strongest Mages merely Advanced Mages."
I retort, "Uncle Mo, don't disparage yourself like that. You're more than a-"
"Enough." He holds up his palm. "That's besides the point. At any rate, you understand why I said all this, yes?"
I nod. "You're saying that you're content to let me do as I please."
"True. But more than that. I'm making sure you are painfully aware of your own potential." At this moment, he leans forward and looks me directly in the eyes. "Jianyu, don't you want revenge?"
His words thunder through my brain. I'm left in a daze.
I shut my eyes and furiously empty my mind, but it's inevitable. My dad's glassen face. His raw, bloody heart held right next to the gaping hole in his torso. My mom's panicked eyes darting at the exit. Even as blood torrented out of her neck, her only concern was my safe escape.
My heart furiously pounds. My forehead throbs. Rage-induced heat flares through my body. Revenge.
[I'll find those men, and I'll-]
"Jianyu!"
I awake from my reverie. Uncle Mo is squatting in front of me and shaking my shoulders. "Jianyu, snap out of it!"
I grab his hand and furiously squeeze. The anger slowly ebbs away, and I relax my grip when I see him wince. "Sorry."
My mind flashes back to the gruesome scene of my parent's deaths, but a frigid current has replaced the burning hatred associated with that memory.
Uncle Mo raises his brows in surprise. "I didn't expect you to cool off so fast."
"I don't know how many times I should say 'you are right' until it's sufficient. But you're right."
"About?"
"About my future. About what my goal should be. Everything."
He firmly pats my shoulder twice, then stands up. "I'll make dinner."