Published: July 4, 2025
The next morning at 6:30 AM.
Ryo and Abel were in the backyard of the adventurers' mutual aid association.
They were supposed to gather at 7:00 AM, but they arrived thirty minutes early.
Last night, they had to sleep outdoors in a nearby park since there were no rooms available at the inn...
"It’s been two nights in a row of sleeping outside."
"Does today’s mountain hunt mean…?"
"It’s confirmed we’ll be out for three days or more…"
Abel asked mercilessly while laughing, and Ryo answered with a sigh.
Although the two usually arrived thirty minutes early, there were others who came even earlier.
About twenty people were already there.
One of them spotted the two and walked over.
"You two are here to participate in the mountain hunt, right? I’m Jun Luo, a third rank adventurer. I’m somewhat the representative from the adventurers’ side this time."
"I’m Abel, an eighth level adventurer."
"I’m Ryo, also an eighth level adventurer."
As the two introduced themselves and shook hands, Jun Luo's eyes widened in surprise.
"What’s the matter?"
Abel asked suspiciously.
"No, my apologies. You two look strong, but I was surprised to hear you’re both eighth level."
"Ah, we just registered as adventurers."
Abel shrugged as he answered Jun Luo’s remark.
"I see, that explains it. Having strong individuals like you two joining is reassuring. Thank you in advance."
With that, Jun Luo left to greet another party that had just arrived.
"They seem to be strong."
"Looks that way," Ryo replied, and Abel’s face turned slightly red.
He didn’t seem entirely displeased.
"That’s great. Those who can see talent understand."
"True. But that Jun Luo guy seems pretty strong too."
"Indeed. If he’s only a third rank, I wonder how strong a first rank adventurer must be."
Ryo smiled happily, imagining the unseen first rank adventurers.
Jun Luo returned to his party.
Right next to him was the strategist, the mage Baliri.
"How were those two? Just as you expected?"
"Yeah, they’re strong. Both are foreigners, but they’ve certainly been through some serious battles."
Jun Luo nodded in response to Baliri's question.
He could tell from a distance that they were strong, but being up close confirmed it.
"The robe that mage is wearing is quite something, isn’t it? I hardly ever see such robes in Darwei."
"How’s the magical power of that mage, Baliri?"
"It’s abnormal."
"Abnormal?"
"The magical power isn’t leaking at all from their body."
Baliri stated confidently.
Jun Luo noticed Baliri, who was maintaining a smile during the conversation, was trembling slightly.
Baliri could see the magical power leaking from mages.
This allowed him to gauge their strength.
A powerful mage would radiate magical power so intensely it would blind anyone looking at them.
However...
"Not leaking magical power means that robe might not belong to a mage?"
"No, I think they are a mage. They don’t carry a mage’s staff for sure, but I can sense they are a mage somehow."
"But they’re not leaking magical power, right? Are they weak?"
"Quite the opposite. It’s hard to believe, but they seem to have complete control over their magical power to the extent that it doesn’t leak."
"Is that even possible?"
"I thought it was impossible until now, but seeing it right in front of me makes me think it might be…"
Baliri smiled wryly.
"So, it means those two really are strong."
"Yes. In this sloppy mountain hunt plan, it's one of the few reassuring things."
Jun Luo nodded in agreement, and Baliri did the same.
At 7:00 AM.
A significant number of adventurers gathered in the backyard of the adventurers' mutual aid association.
At the front, an old man with a white beard was giving a speech.
He was the vice daimyo named Fu Ten, seemingly in charge of this mountain hunt.
"From his speech, it’s clear he doesn’t like this mountain hunt."
"It seems he has some resentment towards the person who made the decision."
Both Ryo and Abel picked up on the vice daimyo’s feelings from his speech.
That said, it was clear that they had to carry out the mountain hunt.