Chapter 13

A newly minted guild member, to put it bluntly, can't be relied on for any mission.

First, they can't handle guard duties. They're just kids who came from the countryside with no connections.

If they were relatives of the village chief, they might get a recommendation letter and the guild might assign them tasks, but generally, no one would entrust important jobs to such people.

Gathering tasks are also tough. Not everyone is a former farmer. Valuable herbs that can be sold for money are usually already picked clean by someone else, and to gather them, you'd have to go deep into the forest or travel quite a distance.

Even the usually unpopular city cleaning tasks become a way for newbies to earn some quick cash during this period, but this is also limited.

The only other options are the extremely dirty jobs like sewer cleaning, the incredibly tough physical labor related to construction, or venturing out on unaccustomed hunting quests.

In any era, 3K jobs (dirty, dangerous, and demanding) are tough. Seriously.

...Well, they're tough, but for some reason, hunting quests are always popular.

Maybe the young guys who came from the village have some mysterious confidence in their strength, or maybe they have too many dreams about being guild members. They keep taking on tasks that are beyond their capabilities.

Every year, a frustrating number of young people die on these hunting quests.

It's not that they can't maintain a safety margin, it's that they lack the know-how...

They should have learned this in the guild's initial training, but after the training, they all say, "Alright, let's go hunting!" and start their quests right away.

It's hopeless; they do this right after being told not to.

Why do they all enter the forest with the attitude of "It should be fine up to 2nd level, right?" even though they've never played Monster Hunter?

It's like feeding the goblins. I really wish they would stop. I also wish the skeletons wouldn't spawn afterward.

"There's no work because it's too crowded."

In front of the guild's bulletin board, my junior, Rina, was hanging her head.

Artemis is a party that mainly takes on hunting quests, but with so many rookies flooding into the forest, it must be tough for them.

For hunters, the mere presence of amateurs can change the forest's dynamics. The monsters' habitats are changing quite fluidly now.

"I don't have any work either. The Regal city cleaning team was wiped out."

"Well, you should let the beginners have those jobs..."

"Just kidding. I don't have the heart to let kids starve. ...Actually, I wanted to camp deep in the forest for a few days, but with so many people this year, that's not feasible."

"Yeah. Regal has been booming, so people from far away are also using it as a base. That's why it's so crowded."

The boom in Regal.

It's a strange phenomenon caused by the successful production of inventions spread by Lord Chaos.

In other words, it's my fault.

I messed up.

"By the way, various workshops are also hiring temporary workers. It's not guild work, but you can earn money there. If things get tough, you might want to consider it."

"Ah, workshops... They're all expanding, aren't they?"

"Everywhere is under construction, and they're all short on manpower. Well, it's good that it's lively, though."

Regal is becoming a bustling trading city.

Until recently, it was treated as a rather insignificant relay city because of its location, but with the sudden emergence of multiple specialty products, it has become a lively town that trades with many other cities.

The Duke of Regal, who manages the city, is reportedly very busy with the unexpected influx of activity. It's hilarious.

"...Alright. Rina, if you're free, how about we go to the river?"

"The river? Is there something there this time of year?"

"It's a hidden spot that amateurs don't target. It's better to go with multiple people... Just come to the East Gate with your gear, and you'll see."

"Um... sure, I'll go."

So, after a bit of preparation, I went to the river near the city with Rina.

Amidst the natural surroundings with rocks scattered around, the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the babbling of the stream.

"Alright, let's go shrimp fishing together!"

"Eh!?"

When I took out my homemade fishing rod set, Rina looked at the bow in her right hand twice.

"I thought we were going to hunt something!?"

"There are a lot of shrimp around here this time of year."

"Wait, can't anyone do this!?"

"You were free, right? Fishing is boring when you're alone."

There are no smartphones in this world. Some people might enjoy it for hours, but I'm not that type. I can't handle it without someone nearby to talk to.

"Uh... oh, is this for me too?"

"Of course. It's my custom-made, ultra-high-performance fishing rod. It's going to be a trade item soon."

"Well, it's just a stick with a string, isn't it... but I'll use it gratefully."

In Regal, seafood is rarely eaten. If it's available, it's usually dried or smoked. Sometimes, someone might catch river fish and serve them at the tavern, but it's rare.

On the other hand, if you catch them yourself, you can eat them whenever you want. This river is rich in fish and shrimp, making it a hot spot for me.

"Can we use bugs around here for bait?"

"Yeah, drop them near the rocks where the current isn't too strong, and you'll get a bite."

"Wow."

The key to bait fishing is waiting.

If you're using lures, you'd have to move the rod frantically, but unfortunately, this rod doesn't have a reel or any convenient options. Maybe someday, but for today, we'll do some patient fishing.

We stood side by side, letting our lines dangle, and waited. We waited and waited.

Moreover, even when we got a bite, it often didn't result in a catch, so a slight delay in response wasn't a problem. Thus, the time passed without much tension.

"Rina, did you not fish back in your hometown?"

"No, I mostly used traps or a bow. There were some guys who fished, but I wasn't interested."

"Have you ever eaten shrimp?"

"No, I haven't."

"Really, you haven't?"

"No, I haven't. I've heard people eat them, but there weren't enough to share with me. Oh, I've had crabs. I like crabs."

"You're missing out on half your life..."

"Is half your life shrimp, senpai?"

"More like shrimp chiri."

"What does that mean?"

"You'll find out today."

"I don't want to... Oh?"

While we were talking, there was a response on the rod. Not mine, but Rina's.

"Wait, keep it there for about ten seconds."

"But it's pulling, senpai!"

"Stay calm. It's not fully hooked yet."

Strange, is this beginner's luck? I didn't expect Rina to get a bite before I could show her how it's done.

"...Fifteen seconds, is it good now?"

"Alright, slowly lift the rod."

"Okay."

When Rina casually lifted the rod, a small shadow dangled from the line.

It was a river shrimp. Just a regular shrimp, a bit smaller than a crayfish.

"Wow."

"Good job. Put it in this pot and cover it quickly."

"Okay, it's pretty easy."

"Right? And Rina, you're doing great for a first-timer. I didn't expect that."

"Hmm."

What's with that "hmm"?

Just wait, I'll show you my skills honed from long-arm shrimp fishing.

"Oh, another one."

Second time. Well, if you find a good spot, it happens.

"Got it, senpai."

Well, if it happens once, it can happen again.

"Got it right away! Wait, calm down... wait carefully..."

...Hey, hold on a minute!

"Rina!"

"What is it, senpai?"

"How many have you caught?"

"About ten, I think."

"Switch spots and rods!"

"Alright, if you say so."

This is strange. It's definitely strange. The bait hasn't even been eaten, which doesn't make sense. We're not that far apart.

So it must be the location. If I drop my line where Rina is, I bet I'll get some mysterious power...

"Mongrel senpai, Mongrel senpai."

"What! Is it on your side!?"

"No, it's over there, across the river."

"...Oh."

Following Rina's tense gaze, I saw a monster standing on the other side of the river, staring at us.

At first glance, it looked human.

But the rough, long body hair, the extreme hunchback like an ape, and most importantly, the single eye on its head, clearly indicated that it was not human.

It was hard to gauge the distance because it was across the river, but it was big enough for its bloodshot eye to be clearly visible.

If it came closer, it would be a three-meter-tall giant.

A Cyclops. Needless to say, it's a very dangerous monster.

"What do we do?"

Rina put down her fishing rod and picked up her bow. I also stopped fishing and drew my bastard sword, thinking.

Cyclopes are highly dangerous monsters. They're stupid but incredibly strong.

Goblins often fear humans, but Cyclopes are so strong that they never fear humans. They see humans as enemies and prey. The drool dripping from the Cyclops's mouth across the river made that clear.

"I'll take care of it. This shallow river is no obstacle for a Cyclops."

"Really?"

"Really. Let me tell you, it's faster than a human and about five times stronger."

"Uh-oh."

"But it's stupid. Rina, you can see it just standing there with your bow."

"The weak point is obvious, right?"

"That creepy eyeball, right?"

Rina drew her bow, aiming at the giant with a creaking sound.

"Can you hit it?"

"...The wind over the river is tricky, and its body is sturdy, so even a slight miss could be tough."

"The eyeball is the only weak spot."

If Rina were a more experienced archer, she might be able to pierce the Cyclops's thick body and hit the vital spot.

But Rina's aim is good, but her strength is still that of a child. It would be difficult to take it down with anything but the eyeball.

And I have strength, but I got bored with archery practice, so I can't do long-range attacks.

"Well, just give it a shot."

"...It's not easy to be told that so casually in a critical situation."

"Even if you miss, I'll handle it. Think of it as practice."

When I showed her my bastard sword, Rina smiled wryly.

"...Next time, bring a longer sword, okay?"

"If there is a next time, this one is good enough, isn't it?"

The Cyclops roared across the river.

Its bloodshot single eye and inhumanly large mouth with a jumbled set of teeth.

Ugh, gross. Just the sight of an unclean monster is off-putting.

"True Sight."

Rina activated her skill, and her eyes glowed faintly.

The divine skill, as it's called in Sangreal, gave her the ability to aim perfectly. The bow's vibration stopped, and the arrow's tip was aimed directly at the Cyclops.

"Penetrate."

The arrow was released, slicing through the wind over the river and reaching the Cyclops in an instant.

But.

"Ugh."

The arrow hit the Cyclops's cheekbone and bounced off. The wind must have thrown it off. There's nothing we can do about that.

"Ugh, Ugh, Ugh."

The Cyclops, not forgiving the missed shot, roared with even more anger and waded through the shallow river, getting closer and closer.

"What... What do we do? Can I leave it to you, senpai?"

"Leave it to me. But just in case, stay back."

"...From a distance, I'll support with my bow..."

"No, wait!"

"What is it!?"

"If it kicks the pot over, we're in trouble. Take it with you."

"Really, now!?"

"Think about why we're here today!"

"Right now, it's for my life...! Oh, fine, I believe you!"

As Rina retreated, I readied my sword.

"Well... we caught a bit of an unexpected catch."

"Ugh, Ugh!"

"It's not the right size to release. Sorry, but you'll have to die here."

The approaching giant. At three meters, it was truly a formidable figure.

But it was unarmed, and I had a weapon.

Even with a bastard sword of moderate length, it was within range for a preemptive strike.

"Senpai!"

At least if it had a club, it would have been a fair fight.

Crossing the river unarmed is a losing strategy even in the Warring States period.

"Ga—"

Just before it reached the other side, I slashed at its outstretched arm.

Tendon cut. It can't grab. Then, I slashed diagonally, tearing its leg.

"Ugh!"

The wound was shallow compared to its massive body, but it knelt involuntarily.

"Ugh!?"

No matter how big it is, if one leg is injured and it squats in the river, increasing the surface area exposed to the current, it can't maintain its footing.

The Cyclops fell clumsily and was slightly swept away.

"Come on, come on."

"Ugh, Ugh!"

"Angry?"

Now, it's just a matter of stabbing it repeatedly to cause bleeding.

While being cautious of its counterattacks, aim for the weak points like blood vessels and the tendons and muscles it uses to exert force, and finish it off.

"...Impressive."

By the time the Cyclops was too weak to move, Rina had returned.

"Did the shrimp escape?"

"They didn't escape... but isn't that not the priority right now?"

"It's going to die anyway. It's like bleeding it out, even though we're not going to eat it."

Thigh, armpit, side, neck. I stabbed the Cyclops's vital points while it lay face down in the river, barely moving.

These large creatures have a lot of stamina, so it's best to overkill without hesitation. No mercy. Even stupid creatures can play dead.

"That's enough. ...Ugh, ugh, this is why I hate dismembering humanoid monsters..."

The proof of the Cyclops's defeat is its... iris? Pupil? Anyway, that part. If you cut off more than half of the eyeball, it counts as proof.

The proof is usually taken from a part that, once removed, can't be duplicated and confirms the creature is dead. In this case, it's the eyeball. It's straightforward, but... ugh, it's so gross.

"...Senpai, you're really good with a sword."

"Yeah, right?"

"But you're bad at fishing."

"Hey, that's just a bad day today."

"Really, senpai?"

Damn beginner's luck getting cocky...

"Good nerve, you... Alright, we'll go fishing again sometime. I'll show you my real skills then."

"...Hehe, I'm looking forward to it. Oh, by the way, how do you eat shrimp? Do you grill them? Boil them?"

"No, put some moss stones in the water and let them sit for a day. We'll eat them tomorrow or later."

"Ugh, that's a hassle."

"Well, don't say that. I'll let you have the best ones tomorrow."

But before that, I'll be busy reporting this unexpected Cyclops.

If this is not a stray but part of a group, this year's rookies might die in large numbers.

It depends on the guild's response... Well, we'll see what happens.