Chapter 96. The Tiger Who Repaid a Favor (5)

Yuri tilted her head at the intense gaze.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there a problem?"

"...No."

Though there was a problem, admitting it felt like a loss.

Greta shook her head, and Yuri waved her hands enthusiastically again.

As if demanding that something be placed on her hands right away.

"Anyway, a vitality potion! I think a vitality potion would be good as compensation for this! A spirit potion would be great too!"

At Yuri's intense request, Greta scratched her cheek, looking perplexed.

"Hmm... But, I don't have any? I stopped taking spirit potions and vitality potions that boost mana because they don't have much effect on me anymore."

Yuri's expression immediately turned cold.

"...I can't even eat what I want to eat? Is this aunt trying to tease me?"

"Ah! No, I have one!"

Yuri's face instantly brightened.

She bowed deeply again.

"I trusted you, sis!"

Aerin and Poppy watched Yuri's rapidly changing expressions with amusement.

Greta sighed softly as she watched Yuri grinning in front of her.

A sigh born from not really understanding what was going on.

"Ha... In the Black Sword Corps, a vitality potion is given to squad leaders when they join, but I didn't need it, so I didn't take it. If I ask for it now, I think I can get it."

"Oh? If it's given to squad leaders, it must be good, right?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't tried it myself, but according to the seniors, it's not bad."

"Great! Wow, you're really something, sis!"

Yuri's smile deepened, and she rubbed her hands together slyly.

"So, when can I get the vitality potion...?"

"Well, there's no need to drag it out. Since my role is over and I need to return, I'll go report and get the potion. I should be back before the quest ends."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the action-oriented tiger left to repay her favor.

"Come back soon! I'll be waiting!"

Yuri waved her arms vigorously as Greta quickly crossed the forest.

Once Greta was completely out of sight, Yuri's playful expression turned calm.

She turned to Aerin and Poppy and asked,

"What are you going to do now?"

Yuri and her friends' unofficial alliance had a goal: "Hunting tigers."

Now that they had achieved their goal, it was natural to discuss what to do next.

Aerin replied with a tired voice,

"I have enough points, so I'm going to rest from now on. I'm too tired to continue."

"I'm hungry."

Poppy nodded, agreeing with Aerin.

Yuri and her friends had hunted bears, and each of them now held three bear skins.

That alone was enough to place them in the top tier.

In fact, they might have earned the most points after Yuri.

For the two of them, who had no particular desire for more points, this was enough, and what they needed now was rest.

And now, with the tiger gone, the center of the Animal Forest, where no one else would come, was the safest place for them to rest.

Aerin, who had expressed her intention, now turned to Yuri and asked,

"What about you?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Yuri replied,

"I'm going to start hunting right away."

"You're really... amazing."

"I'm hungry."

Poppy and Aerin rolled their eyes at her response, as if to say, "Is that really necessary?"

But Yuri couldn't understand their reaction.

'Rest? Why?'

It had been six days since they entered the Animal Forest.

It would soon be midnight, marking the start of the seventh day.

With about three days left until the quest ended.

And for Yuri, those remaining three days were not just ordinary days.

She had already hunted all the bears in the forest.

Not only that, but she had also taken care of the top predator, the tiger.

The only remaining predators were wolves, which were no threat to her.

It would be a miracle if they didn't become her prey.

'In other words, for the next three days, this Animal Forest... will be my territory!'

Three days of absolute dominance!

A new ruler had entered the forest after the tiger left.

Only three people knew that the bears and the tiger were gone from this Animal Forest: herself, Aerin, and Poppy.

Thus, Yuri couldn't understand why Poppy and Aerin chose to rest instead of taking advantage of this opportunity.

To give up such a sweet opportunity.

'Well, if they're going to let me have it, I'll take it.'

Yuri's lips curled into a greedy smile.

She stared at the edge of the forest, thinking about the 50th level rabbits being hunted and the wolves running around excitedly.

"Ha, you're all dead."

Yuri clenched her fists, signaling the start of a frenzied hunt.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

Yuri hunted day after day, living up to the word "frenzy."

It was now the afternoon of January 28th, the day before the skin collection quest ended.

"Give me the skin. Where's the skin?"

"I, it's already been taken by someone else..."

"Are you sure it's gone? If I find it, I won't be responsible for the consequences."

"Hey, you heartless brat! Show some mercy! You've already taken so many skins from me!"

"Are you done talking?"

Rustle.

"No, I'm not done! Just because I'm a regular customer, the shop would give me a freebie. You're a regular too, right? And I'm a senior, so you should show some respect... Gulp, Gulp! Ah, I get it! I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you! Ahh!"

That day, as usual, Yuri was tormenting a rabbit.

And then, the person she had been waiting for finally arrived.

The person Yuri had been eagerly waiting for.

Greta Wigen had returned after four days.

Unfortunately, she didn't bring the item Yuri wanted.

"So, what happened..."

The two moved to a secluded spot to have a serious conversation.

Yuri's eyes narrowed as she looked at Greta.

"...Why are you empty-handed?"

My vitality potion? My vitality potion!

My vitality potion! My vitality potion!

My vitality potion! Where is it!

Greta scratched the back of her head under Yuri's intense gaze.

"Well..."

Greta began in a small voice.

She explained why she couldn't bring the vitality potion.

A moment later.

After hearing the brief explanation, Yuri asked in disbelief,

"Is it prohibited to take it out?"

"Yes."

"But it wasn't supposed to be taken out. That's why you went to get it, right?"

"...I thought it would work."

Greta looked awkward, and Yuri's face fell as if the world had ended.

"Then... I can't have the vitality potion?"

Just as Yuri's shoulders were about to droop.

Greta shook her head.

"No, that's not it. It's prohibited to take it out, but you can go to the supply station and take it there. I found out that even non-members of the Black Sword Corps can take the vitality potion, but they must consume it at the supply station."

The vitality potion given to squad leaders in the Black Sword Corps.

Although it was a standard issue within the corps, it was considered high-grade outside the cradle.

Therefore, to ensure the security of its ingredients, it was prohibited to take it out and recommended to consume it on the spot.

The supply station had a space for rest, and Greta had obtained permission to bring Yuri there.

Yuri's shoulders relaxed, and her face brightened.

"Oh, I see! Then there's no problem!"

"That's..."

Greta scratched her cheek awkwardly again.

A hint of guilt appeared in her eyes.

"I have to go on a mission soon. I finished the tiger role too quickly, so I've been assigned the next mission immediately."

"Oh, I see. Have a good trip, and take me to that supply station before you leave."

"Um... Well... The thing is, my mission... is tomorrow..."

"..."

Yuri's face, which had been smiling, turned serious again.

"Tomorrow? When will you be back?"

"I don't know. It's a long-term mission, but the return date is undecided..."

Now it made sense why Greta had come before the skin collection quest was over.

'This is why.'

Yuri asked, just in case.

"Can I go to that supply station alone?"

"Not possible. This time, I have to blindfold you to take you there. And the reason I can bring you in at all is because I vouched for you."

"Then, there's no supply station in this Animal Forest, right?"

"Of course not."

"Is it okay for me to leave the Animal Forest during the quest?"

"...I asked, and since it's not for official business but for personal reasons, it won't be considered a valid reason. If you leave the forest, you'll be disqualified."

Greta scratched the back of her head awkwardly again.

Yuri's eyes narrowed.

"Let's summarize. You can't bring the vitality potion because of the Black Sword Corps' policy, and I can't leave the Animal Forest. If I leave, I'll be disqualified, right?"

"Y-Yes."

"Damn, why does this have to happen!"

Yuri's sigh deepened.

To take the vitality potion, she had to go with Greta, who was her guarantor.

But Greta was leaving on a mission tomorrow.

The problem was that she needed one more