Chapter 72

I ended up getting to see Ulrika's bow skills.

Apparently, I can also learn a lot about my own bow, so I'm grateful for that.

I already have a lot of basic knowledge from Rina, but getting a second opinion and learning from someone else might be stimulating. Besides, Ulrika seems to have different skills from Rina, so it wouldn't hurt to see them in action.

There aren't many opportunities to closely observe someone else's skills when you're solo, especially with something like a bow that I barely know. So, I decided to take this chance to watch her.

"Thanks a lot for the joint mission, Mongrel-san!"

"No problem. It's easier for me to have a ranged attacker around. Let's try to do both bow practice and the mission."

"Okay, let's go then!"

Today, I'm in the northern part of Baroa Forest with Ulrika.

Recently, there have been reports of Evil Flies appearing, and the guild members aren't coming in as much. It's not like we targeted this, but the presence of monsters in the northern forest seems to be increasing.

So, we decided to take on a mission to cull the monsters that are allowed to be hunted freely. Normally, archers target smaller creatures...

"I can aim for big game too. Let's go for boars and deer, and anything else. I'll leave the front line to you, Mongrel-san."

"Got it. Leave the shield work to me. I won't let a single one get past me as long as I'm here."

"Hehe, you're so reliable."

Ulrika has a strong attack skill with her bow. With a strong attack, most of the monsters in Baroa Forest can be taken down in one shot.

During hunts with Rina, we mainly targeted birds and beasts, but with Ulrika, I'll aim for bigger game.

"Hey, hey. When you were with Rina, did you sleep in the same tent?"

"Yeah, she tried to sleep with a cloak. It's cold even in this season."

"Hehe, but isn't that practical? You can get up quickly if something happens... Mongrel-san, did you bring that tent again today?"

"Sure did. It's the same one I used with Rina. Camping with me is comfortable."

"Hehe... I'm looking forward to it."

Ulrika is a Silver 2. At this high rank, she doesn't get treated overprotectively like Rina.

It seems to have gone smoothly even when we decided to go on a mission together.

Well, she may look like a girl, but she's a guy. It's only natural that Artemis doesn't treat her like a pampered daughter.

"These footprints are old. It might be better to go deeper."

"Ulrika, you can tell footprints too? That's impressive."

"Of course, it's just a matter of being used to it. Can't you tell from the soil, Mongrel-san?"

Well, I can't really tell from the soil.

I can recognize the traces of frosty soil, but I can't tell the age of footprints in this season.

I can't even tell the age of the Charge Deer's droppings.

"Also, the shape of the leaves might be a good indicator. Unnatural bends or breaks in the leaves can be clues."

"Ah, I see."

I walked behind Ulrika for a while, receiving guidance on scout-like skills.

...Even though she moves like a proper hunter, she still wears a skirt during missions. Well, the people in this world prioritize fashion, so it's not that out of place.

"What? What's wrong, Mongrel-san..."

"I was just thinking."

I can't say I was spacing out while looking at a guy's butt.

"...Come on, let's go this way. We'll be near a water source soon. Let's use that area as our base."

"Alright, let's set up the base. We'll finish quickly and go hunting."

"Practice with the bow too?"

"Sure."

"Hehehe."

The location we chose for our base is a sandy area by the river.

The riverbank has fine sand like a beach, and round stones are scattered around.

If the river floods badly, this place might be dangerous, but it should be fine this season. Most importantly, laying a cloak on the sand provides a wonderful sleeping surface. It's not as good as a memory foam mattress, but it fits your body nicely. With a campfire nearby, it's much more comfortable than a cheap inn bed.

"Hey, there it is. The chimney Rina talked about."

"Isn't it great? I always set this up when camping."

"Hehe, a chimney outside is funny."

"It's not bad at all. No smoke, no sparks. It's just a bit of a hassle to set up and take down."

We built a fireplace with stones, placed a metal plate on top, and inserted a chimney into the round hole. That's it. We need to seal the gaps with soil or mud, but it's a trade-off for the bulk of the equipment. It's a bit tricky.

We tied a rope to the ring at the top of the chimney and secured it to the ground to keep it from falling over.

Then we quickly set up a simple tent, set traps, and burned monster-repelling incense. That's it.

See? It's easy, right?

"Wow... You brought quite a lot of stuff, Mongrel-san..."

"I focus on food and shelter. I can't stand uncomfortable camping."

"...Mongrel-san, you're quite a clean freak, aren't you?"

"Well, I can't deny that. I'd like to be called neat, though."

"Hehe, sorry."

I'm probably the cleanest person in this world.

I don't expect others to agree, but I want to do what I like in such situations.

"I'm glad I'm clean too. When we team up with other parties, there are often a lot of dirty people..."

"Yeah, that's tough."

"In that sense, Mongrel-san doesn't smell at all."

"Well, I'm the cleanest person in the world. Even if I weren't, it's hard to share a space with someone who doesn't care about hygiene... I can't deal with dirty people."

"You'd fit in with Artemis."

"Hey, that's a bit early to start recruiting."

"Ah, really?"

Ulrika stood up and took an arrow from her quiver.

"Let's not just talk. Let's go, shall we?"

"Sure. I'll get to see Ulrika's impressive bow skills."

"Hehe... Sure, I'll show you. I'm not as accurate as Rina, but I'll show you a Silver-ranked bow. Follow me?"

I also put my bow-sword on my back and followed the swaying light pink short ponytail.

"Deep in here, there are definitely some around."

"It's a Crazy Boar."

After walking silently for a while, we found a monster in the forest with wet, muddy ground.

It's a medium-sized Crazy Boar, rubbing its body in the mud. I don't know if it's a mud bath or what, but it's definitely a sign of relaxation.

The problem is, when it's covered in mud, it becomes a bit tougher.

It's heavy, and the dissection process will dirty the clothes. Honestly, I don't want to get involved.

"It's a perfect distance. I'll aim."

"Hey, isn't that mud armor pretty tough?"

"Don't worry. I have a skill for this kind of situation."

Ulrika whispered this in a low voice and nocked an arrow.

Her bow is much larger than the one Rina used. Comparing them, I realize Ulrika's build is definitely male.

"Weak Point Analysis."

A pale pink light appeared in Ulrika's blue eyes as the skill activated.

"When I use this skill and look at a creature, I can see its weak points. It's convenient because I can set various conditions, like stopping the legs or stopping the breath... I'm really glad this was the first skill I got."

She might have talked too much, as the Crazy Boar noticed our presence.

It snorted excitedly, scratched the swampy ground with its front hooves a few times, and then charged at us.

This is dangerous. I should get my bastard sword ready. Well, it might not be necessary.

"...If I had learned this skill first, I might have become a bad archer. --Strong Shot."

Ulrika released the arrow, and the wind rushed through.

The sound of the bowstring was so hard that it didn't seem like an arrow was released. The arrow's speed was clearly abnormal, as it cut through the air, pulling the surrounding wind with it.

It's a long-range attack skill.

"Thud..."

The arrow pierced the left shoulder of the charging Crazy Boar and, incredibly, sent the beast flying backward.

With a sound like splitting wood, the Crazy Boar spun through the air and rolled into the swamp. It writhed for a while but didn't show any signs of getting up. Even though it's still alive, it's a sign of the damage it has taken that it can only wriggle.

Left alone, it will die within a few minutes.

"See? Even if I aim casually, it works. Getting used to this is bad, though."

"...No, that's amazing. The bow's strong attack skill. To repel a Crazy Boar's charge... That's insane."

"Hehe, right? The power is great, but the arrows get damaged. It's a bit wasteful, though."

"But you can't adjust the aim like Rina's skill, right? If you hit it with your own skill, it's impressive from my perspective."

"...Hmm, really? You think so?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Hehe, you still have a lot to learn, Mongrel-san."

"Of course, I'm still a beginner."

Even if I put all my magic power into it, I can't do an attack like Ulrika's... No, I shouldn't even try.

I once tried something similar and hurt my fingertips with the bowstring...

"Let's go for more prey after we dissect this one. I'll also guide you, Mongrel-san."

"Alright... But I don't think I can take them down in one shot."

"Hehe, it's all about getting used to it. I'll tell you the weak points, so aim for them. You might take them down if you're lucky!"

"Really?"

"You can do it, just try!"

After that, I got to experience the somewhat rare opportunity of shooting arrows at targets that I shouldn't be using a bow against, under Ulrika's guidance.

Well, I didn't take down any prey myself. Ulrika ended up taking them all down in the end.