Chapter 89: Training I

As the receptionist explained, if the objective of the mission was only at the outermost part of the Wailing Forest where only the weak or low-grade beasts were present, it can be commissioned for a gold coin but going further inside would increase the price. 

Apparently, a larger number of Evil Beasts were lurking around that place, and if the Hunters were not careful, they might even die. Luckily, the objective was only to take a small branch of the huge tree and a specific Hunter that has Stealth Magic Equipment can easily do this without much trouble

"Actually, the price is already extremely low…" The receptionist said as she further explained. 

People may say that a mission that rewards only a single gold coin to ward off or kill a low-grade beast was extremely low. However, sometimes, it wasn't about the reward of gold coins but the contribution you make to get a higher rank.

The cores of low-grade beasts can be sold for tens of gold so it was understandable that people will say that a mission that rewards 1 or 5 gold coins were very low... 

But the point of accepting these missions was to accumulate experience and gain a chance for a promotion for a higher star rank. 

The receptionist didn't have to explain the benefits of being a higher star-rank in the Hunter Association as Stella could easily imagine what benefits they could get. 

At the very least, hunters gain the right to whatever they find or get during the mission except for the mission objective.

"So, it was a good deal for me…" Stella muttered but still felt reluctant for spending that much gold for this. 

'How much gold do you have in your savings?' Reiji asked the girl in case he could give her a piece of advice. 

'Uhmm… I have 17 gold coins in my hidden stash. I also have 6 silver and 23 copper coins right now.'

'I see, that amount would last you for a while. In any case, I believe that once you learned my sword techniques, you'll easily earn more money by hunting some beasts and selling their cores.'

Reiji didn't tell her yet about the beast core that he hid since he was now planning to get it together with her once she became a little stronger. 

Anyway, he doesn't have any use for that core so giving it to her was the best option.

'That makes sense, Master Reiji… But how long do you think I'll learn these techniques? You know that I only learned how to wield a hammer, right?'

'It shouldn't take that long. We'll maximize your potential in Spiritual Energy so a little over a month would be enough.'

'Really?! That's good to hear! I'm very excited, Master!'

Stella replied happily… If she could hunt within that timeframe, it means that she would have enough money to spend for the mission request.

'It's good that you're excited, keep it like that until the end. It wouldn't be easy, you know?'

'Urgh… I will do my best, Master.' Stella suddenly realized that making someone like her capable of hunting a beast within a month would indeed be very difficult. It means that her master was probably planning to put her in a hellish training to hasten her growth.

"Stella?" The receptionist asked her after seeing her blankly staring at the table.

"Ahh! Yes, I will. I will make a request. But I don't have enough money with me right now. I'll return once I get them back."

"Sure… Right, it may be late but you can call me Kayla."

"So it is Miss Kayla. It's my pleasure to meet you. I will return quickly... Bye!"

Stella quickly ran away from the place after being embarrassed for being absentminded. 

'Ahh… I have to be careful when I'm speaking with Master. I need to act like it was nothing… I'll have to practice, I guess…' 

Stella quickly returned home and took five gold coins with her. As she was returning to the Hunter Association building, she remembers that she forgot to ask an important question.

"How long would it take to take the materials?" Stella asked Kayla.

"Once someone accepted, it would take about five days to travel back and forth if the one who accepted the mission didn't encounter any trouble. Well, if you're lucky, it may take less than that."

"I see…" Stella nodded as she communicated with her master. 

"Do you have any questions? Don't be shy…" Kayla asked after seeing Stella hesitating a bit.

"Uhmm… Alright, but I have one more question. How much is the fee if I requested to kill an Evil Beast?"

Kayla smiled after hearing the question. 

"Do you have an Evil Beast in mind? It actually depends on the danger level of the beast. It would be hard to explain how to grade their danger level but I assure you that I remembered all of them."

"Ahh… Yes… How about the Werewolves living in the Red Forest?"

"Red Forest? That's too far from here… Hmm… Anyway, killing a single Red Forest's Werewolf would be difficult even though they are known to travel without any companion. If you make this request in the nearest Hunter's Association, the price should be fifty gold coins if you will take the rights for its body and core…"

"I see… That much, huh…" Stella thanked the beautiful lady for answering all of her questions and completed the procedure for making the request. 

After Kayla accepted the gold coins and made a post on the mission board, Stella left the building to wait for the good news. Kayla assured her that this kind of mission will be accepted within an hour once the two Hunters, who were checking out the mission board, spread the news to their factions.

Anyway, Reiji and Stella realized that requesting to hunt a beast was expensive but surprisingly cheap if the request was only to acquire a material even if it was guarded by an Evil Beast. 

Well, they may even be considering whether the mission was already completed before or considering the number of Hunters who could complete this kind of mission. 

Reiji also thought about the various potions, charms, and magic equipment that the Hunter could use to avoid combat if necessary. 

He wouldn't be surprised if the hunters here have something similar to tranquilizer at all. The only problem for that was probably the supply of such items or the differing resistance of various beasts. 

"Where are we going, Master?"

The sky was about to turn dark and even though the Evil Beasts wouldn't attack their village, she still felt a bit scared since she was used to staying in their workshop and hammering some metal around this time. 

"We'll need to have a training area… Do you know a place we can use?"

"There's one that the guards use to practice their swords. However, it's under Frank's management."

Stella and Reiji remembered Frank's hostility during the meeting before so they decided not to get near that guy in the meantime. 

There's not much space within the village too where they can peacefully train, so in the end, they settled to a tree just outside the village where the dark and gloomy Wailing Forest can be seen. 

Stella quivered as she felt that a beast would just pop out of somewhere when she looks at the dense forest. 

"Don't worry… There shouldn't be any beast lurking in the vicinity since hunters were taking care of them."

Reiji said to calm her. As far as he knows, the Hunters were hunting these beasts for cores even if there is no mission for them. 

They might even keep these cores or materials in their stash so once a mission appeared, they can easily complete it by taking them out in their storage. 

As a matter of fact, Reiji believed that a lot of Hunters were doing this. 

He even had a hunch that the hunter that would accept the mission that Stella made, already has a branch of the Beacon Tree before accepting it. Kayla even hinted that the mission may take less than five days.

Reiji would definitely do the same if he had the chance. He would take the amount requested in the mission and take more for himself in case the same mission appeared later or perhaps to sell it for his own wealth. 

He didn't mention this to Stella as he felt that there was no need to. She would surely learn of this once she grows up. 

Anyway, she doesn't seem to have plans of becoming a Hunter but just wanted to gain strength to protect those things that she loves. 

"So, we will make something that would help you in your training. I won't just teach you how to wield the sword but teach you how to fight... You have to remember that."

"I will engrave it in my heart, master!"

"Eh? You don't have to. Anyway, we'll make the Hanging Woods first…"

"Hanging woods?"

"Yes… It's like this…"

Reiji then explained the Hanging Woods Training that she was about to do.