Chapter 40: Dangers IV

Reiji wasn't scared or wary about the killing intent that Alexander was releasing towards Diether. Instead, he was curious about his reason for such bloodlust…

'Is it some kind of misunderstanding? Did he think that we're the cause of the sudden beast raid?'

While he was contemplating, he suddenly realized that it was better to ask the young man…

'Kid, we don't have much time… Do you know this person?'

Reiji was aware that Diether knows the name of this person, however, he didn't know whether that two had some past with each other…

'Eh? No, master… This is the first time we've met… I only heard about him before as his family was a bit famous.'

'Is that so? Then, it's weird that he looks like he's about to eat you…'

However, even if that was the case, Alexander seems to be hesitating to take action and was only looking at Diether with a hostile gaze…

"Hmph!"

They heard him harrumphed before he disappeared from their sight. It seems that he was also aware of the situation in the forest and might've returned to inform his members…

Reiji didn't think too much about it as he instructed Diether to continue getting out of the forest. He was still too young and a problem that is on this scale can only be handled by those veteran Hunters…

They still lack information about this forest after all…

'Ah… Now that I think about it, I remembered that you were also attacked by your fellow garbage collectors before…'

These words from his master made Diether tremble… He remembered how the previous people that he thought as friends had betrayed him…

'They betrayed me as it seems that they would get a reward from killing me… I didn't think too much about it as I focused on running away but…'

Diether was sure that there was no bounty on his head. He didn't do any unforgivable crime that he was aware of…

The most sinful thing that he probably did was running away from home and that shouldn't be ground for execution…

"Do I have an enemy that I'm unaware of?"

It was impossible… He was only a 10 years old kid from a declining noble family…

Sigh~

'Don't think too much… He might've mistaken you for someone… You're not some kind of special person… Just escape from here and we'll think about it later…'

'Yes, master…'

Diether no longer hesitated and used most of his Spiritual Energy to run away from the place… Of course, he didn't travel in the same direction that Alexander had taken. It was best not to meet him for now…

Awoooo!

A terrifying howl was suddenly heard at the western part of the forest… It was from the place where Wang Lin followed the third-party's location.

Diether worried a bit as the howl seemed to have come from a powerful beast.

'Something must've happened out there…'

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do at this moment.

After about 15 minutes of careful but quick traveling, Diether saw the end of the forest and was happy to get out of the Wailing Forest…

Whoosh!

As soon as he got out, he noticed several Hunters and people equipped with their weapons as they patrolled the surrounding forest…

A few of them noticed him but after seeing that he wasn't a student and instead someone familiar, they decided to ignore him.

Seeing this reaction, he decided to find an answer…

"Uhmm… Excuse me… What's the sudden situation? It looks like everyone was preparing for something…"

Diether asked one of the village's people that was looking around the forest…

"Oh? Aren't you the youngest Hunter living here? Right, we got a signal from Leader Wang of Eight Thunder Claws so we have to be completely prepared… Most of us actually think that this is related to a beast tide…"

"Beast tide?"

"Mhmm… Yeah… It happens every four or five years…"

"Eh? When did the last beast tide happen, sir?"

"Just call me Emer, I'm a blacksmith here…"

"Ah, Yes… Sir Emer. You can just call me Diether…."

"Alright… The last beast tide happened only three years ago so Sir Orga went to investigate and clarify the situation…"

"I see… I only heard of the beast tide today… What happens during that time?"

"Well, Beast tides normally takes for a week… Massive numbers of wild beasts and evil beasts would try to get out of the forest… It wasn't as dangerous as it sounds since only low-grade beasts would be in this beast tide… There was rarely any mid-grade at all…"

Diether thanked the blacksmith and kept his words in his mind. Even though he tried to make him not worry about the situation, the massive numbers of low-grade beasts can still create massive damage…

'Can the False Ivy scare away the beast tide?'

He suddenly thought but since the village stands strong up to this day, he was sure that the village chief together with the cooperation of the Hunter's Association had aces up their sleeves. Including the many Arcanists that were nearby, everything should be fine…

'What do you plan to do, Diether?'

'Master, I just want to make sure that the village will be safe…'

'Very well…'

Reiji didn't say any more words… Honestly, he was feeling that his current missions, Duel Victory II, Beast Duel Victory II, and Hero Part I, was about to be completed once this beast tide truly occurs…

***

Orga leads 20 Hunters to enter the forest to look for the Eight Thunder Claw's whereabouts…

They moved unhindered as it only took them 10 minutes to arrive near the location…

Twang!

Nine of the hunters that joined them were hunters from a different village that have amazing talents in archery…

The beasts that were approaching them were immediately being killed by one of their arrows. Their arrows were directly hitting the beast's cores causing a collapse within their bodies…

"Jared, don't mind those loots for now… I can hear the sound of battle…"

"Yes, brother Gus…"

Gus was probably the best Archer in this region and even Orga acknowledges this fact…

As Gus instructed, no one bothered on picking up the cores and loot that were left behind by the beasts they killed as they hurry at the sound of battle…

Awooo!

The wolves were surrounding the injured members of the Eight Thunder Claws and the hunters were about to perish…

"Inferno Wolves… and those robed men…"

Orga muttered as he understood the gist of the situation…

The latter had also noticed their arrival and instead of stopping their assault, they immediately ordered on killing the hunters before immediately backing away…

They have probably miscalculated the arrival of the reinforcements…

"Stop there!"

Orga, the three-star Hunter who wanted a peaceful retirement said in a deep voice that made everyone shudder. The echo coming from his voice had seemingly affected the whole forest as the surrounding area vibrated…

This time, the robed men looked at Orga with fear and they immediately retracted the orders they gave to the Inferno Wolves…

Instead of killing the exhausted hunters, they were now to ensure that they will stop Orga and the newly arrived hunters from following them…

Their mission was no longer important!

They have to escape now!