Chapter 75

Duke lowered his head, incredulously staring at the protruding blade tip.

The official “Mystical Side person” with a double identity, Zhang, opened his mouth wide, wanting to call out to his “secret pet,” but a large hand covered his mouth. Not only did it block the cry that was about to escape, but it also pulled him back into the carriage.

His vision began to blur.

But Duke still vaguely saw the ‘Night Watcher’ he thought he’d successfully deceived, pulling a box from under the seat.

That was…

A bomb?!

As the box opened, Duke’s life came to an end.

In his final moment, Duke’s heart was filled with endless questions.

Eventually, it became just one.

Why was there a box of bombs in the carriage?

In fact, there wasn’t just one box of bombs in the carriage.

But… three boxes!

Ever since using up all the K2 grenades, Jason, who suffered from a severe lack of firepower, became restless.

Especially when he confirmed that some monsters and events far surpassed the capabilities of ordinary bullets and blades to resolve, this unease became like a thorn in his side.

To prevent his mood from worsening, Jason specifically requested bombs from Bondi.

Bondi approved.

The Sheriff, too, had been unsuspectingly influenced by Jason.

Sitting atop crates of bombs, Jason’s heart rapidly calmed down.

Because he knew very well that this was the source of his security.

Just like at this moment.

With Duke’s death, the ‘Harken’ revealed its form.

A pair of claws that were obviously sharp almost dragged on the ground.

The torso and head were elongated, with no facial features visible, no legs, just a whirlwind spinning beneath its body.

The ‘secret pet’ that had lost its ‘Beast Tamer’ was, at that moment, lost in confusion.

But Jason wasn’t. He lit one of the bombs from the crate.

Then…

He aimed for the ‘Harken’ and directly threw the entire crate at it.

Boom!

The fire, the shockwave, instantly obliterated the ‘Harken,’ along with the carriage being toppled to the ground.

But Jason could no longer care about these things.

A familiar scent entered his nostrils.

Jason leaped from the carriage and dashed toward the source of the scent.

Having had one experience before, Jason quickly found the ‘pigeon egg’-like food.

Picking up the ‘pigeon egg,’ the corners of Jason’s mouth turned up.

The joy of the harvest was always so sweet.

Of course!

This wasn’t the only gain.

Jason had not forgotten the information about the ‘Night Watcher’s’ promotion that Duke had mentioned before.

Carefully placing the ‘pigeon egg’ into his potion pouch, Jason turned back to the carriage. As Jason took out that piece of parchment and searched through the spoils, Finch had already temporarily untied the horse pulling the carriage, leading it aside, and kept comforting the frightened animal.

The spoils were just a money bag and that staff.

The staff was made of solid wood, concealing a blade, but the man had no firearms on him.

Clearly, he was very confident.

And having a demon-level ‘secret pet’ like the ‘Harken,’ it was understandable why he was confident.

Only…

The weakness was just as clear!

The power lay in the ‘secret pet’!

Not in the ‘Beast Tamer’ himself!

If Duke had chosen to conceal himself and send his ‘secret pet’ into battle, even carrying a considerable amount of explosives, Jason knew he would be in for a tough fight!

Even if he won, it would undoubtedly be a pyrrhic victory.

“Every ‘Mystical Side’ profession has its corresponding characteristics.”

“Only by maximizing one’s own traits can one truly be called a ‘Mystical Side’!”

“Otherwise…”

“You’re no better than an ordinary person!”

As Jason counted the money bag containing 11 Gold Crooks and 4 Silver Crooks, he experienced a bit of epiphany.

Almost simultaneously, Jason began to remind himself that he must never give up his “advantage” at any time, and absolutely could not act clever like Duke.

Perhaps one day in the future, he might face a situation like Duke’s.

But he definitely wouldn’t be as “calm” as Duke.

Nor would he be so “confident”.

After all, such confidence is already arrogance.

And the outcome of arrogance?

It’s clearly evident.

With caution, Jason pulled out the folded parchment.

After unfolding it, the Dufol Language was inscribed on it—

1. Night Watcher.

2. “Protection Against Evil (Proficient)”.

3. Hunt ten different types of monsters, and be well-acquainted with their characteristics (including but not limited to natural monsters, aberrations, Evil Spirits, constructs, as well as alchemical and Magic Potion monsters)

4. Have engaged in at least 3 nighttime battles

…

[Night Watcher advancement occupation information gathering…]

[Collection complete!]

[Night Watcher advancement occupation “Whirlwind” assessment in progress…]

[Night Watcher appointment (completed)]

[Protection Against Evil (Proficient) (completed)]

[Hunting ten different monsters, and well-acquainted with their characteristics: 6/10]

[3 nighttime battles (completed)]

[Conditions insufficient, assessment for Night Watcher advancement cannot be completed!]

…

Jason didn’t need to judge whether the information on the parchment was accurate,

the text before him gave him a definite answer.

“The advancement from ‘Night Watcher’ is to ‘Whirlwind,’ isn’t it?”

Jason murmured to himself, his gaze starting to sweep over the advancement conditions.

Aside from “hunting ten different monsters, and being well-acquainted with their characteristics,” everything else was complete.

At this moment, Jason finally understood why Taniel and Sir Beta found his collection of monsters unremarkable.

Clearly, they had taken it as a necessity for his advancement.

Without a doubt, it was a good misunderstanding.

Jason would absolutely not explain.

Then, instinctively, Jason began to mentally tally the monsters he “knew well”.

“I have consumed ‘Touch of Svaognir,’ ‘Laughingstock,’ ‘Guile’s Hangman,’ ‘Submerger,’ ‘Guthwulf Hunting Hound,’ ‘Kmeta,’ ‘Harken’ in its larval phase, Kierken Elf (Shattered) and ‘Kansa Burrowing Dragon’ in its larval phase.”

“Among them, ‘Laughingstock,’ ‘Guile’s Hangman,’ ‘Submerger,’ ‘Guthwulf Hunting Hound,’ ‘Kmeta’ are known to me because of the teacher’s notes.”

“Kansa Burrowing Dragon is because of the old knight’s servant’s explanation.”

“However, I do not know about ‘Touch of Svaognir,’ ‘Harken,’ ‘Kierken’ Elf.”

“‘Touch of Svaognir’ is special, so I’ll put it aside for now.”

“If I know the detailed information of the ‘Harken’ and ‘Kierken’ monsters, I’ll have a total of eight types.”

“That is to say, if I… hunt two more monsters, I can meet the ‘advancement’ conditions!”

Thinking this, Jason’s eyes lit up.

But then he frowned almost immediately.

Because while eating monsters is easy, understanding their characteristics is hard.

Unless someone explains it to him.

Or, if he obtains a set of notes similar to his teacher’s, he might be able to quickly fulfill the advancement requirements.

But this is not an easy task.

Who would selflessly tell him these things?

Jason couldn’t help shaking his head.

But as he was in the midst of shaking his head, suddenly a faint noise came from the carriage behind him—

Creak!

Creak!

Creak!

A blood-stained hand slowly reached out.