Chapter 312: A Brief Interlude (Belerforesti Nation)
“…Dad!”
“Father! Father!”
“Ah… Fint, Yuran! Have you been well?”
A young man and a boy of about ten rushed forward. The father, returning from the battlefield, lifted his younger son into his arms and pulled his elder son close.
“Welcome back…!”
“…I’m home, Filia…! I’m so glad, so glad you’re safe…!”
Their mother, who had chased after her two sons, joined the embrace, and the four of them held each other tightly. Such scenes unfolded everywhere around them.
This was a local city in the Belerforesti Nation. The hunters, conscripted due to the war with the Prava Divine Nation, had finally been released from military service and returned to their homeland.
However, the absence of these hunters left a significant void.
With no one left to hunt the monsters dwelling in the Demon Forest, those creatures soon realized their greatest threat had vanished. Consequently, numerous villages and towns that had served as the hunters’ bases fell victim to monster attacks within a year, one after another.
Of course, the villagers hadn’t been completely defenseless. They had prepared some level of defensive measures and established emergency protocols. Yet, they were critically lacking in combat strength.
The outer walls were breached, and the invading monsters wreaked havoc. No one could ascertain how many villages had been attacked, how many towns had fallen, or how many lives had been lost.
The retired hunters and inexperienced apprentices who remained in the villages managed to fend off some of the attacks, but what was left were walls and homes destroyed beyond repair, unable to withstand another assault. The survivors abandoned their homeland and fled to the safer, rear base cities.
“So… where are we living now?” the father asked.
“Rest assured, dear. The lord has provided us with a room. It’s a bit cramped, but it’s enough for the four of us,” Filia replied.
“The lord… I see…”
In any case, they guided the father to their home, celebrating his safe return. It was a makeshift housing area prepared for the evacuees. Rows of box-like houses stood at equal intervals.
It had already been six months since they had evacuated. The identical houses were decorated in unique ways by the people living within them.
The house they entered was adorned with worn bows, wooden carvings, and cut flowers. It seemed the three had decorated it in anticipation of the father’s return.
The bow was a practice piece crafted for the elder son, who was to follow in the footsteps of a hunter. Displaying it in their home signified that he had been recognized as a capable hunter and had acquired a proper bow for hunting.
“When the village was attacked by monsters, it happened to be my night watch. I climbed the lookout tower and desperately drew my bow. In the end, I aimed at the monster that had entered the village…”
Thanks to his efforts, the damage to the villagers was minimized. The village chief personally recognized him as an official hunter.
Of course, there was likely an element of appeasement for the villagers who had lost their homes, but it was undeniable that he had achieved sufficient results as a hunter.
Thus, the family rejoiced in their reunion, celebrating late into the night with food, drink, and lively conversation.
The evacuees lived in prefabricated houses provided by the great Kingdom of Repuitari to the south.
Though made of wood, they were thoroughly waterproofed and had no gaps. In terms of construction, they were far superior to their original homes.
“What a splendid house…” the father remarked.
“We also receive proper meals. Look, they even provided us with this magnificent pot…” Filia replied, showing him a large, thick-bottomed cooking pot. Additionally, there were glossy ceramic plates, metal knives, forks, and spoons.
The clothes the family wore were also made from the supplied fabric. Moreover, the tablecloth and bed sheets were crafted from the same material. From this perspective, they were living a much better life than when they resided in the village.
“And now, Fint is earning as a hunter. We’ve been quite comfortable,” she added.
“Is that so…? In just a year, you’ve all grown so much…” the father mused.
The bow and machete used by his elder son for hunting were also high-quality items, apparently provided by the Kingdom of Repuitari.
Upon closer inspection, the supplied items bore a symbol resembling a profile of a person. It seemed they were all crafted in the same workshop.
“…Speaking of which,” the father said, pulling out a weapon he had brought back from the battlefield as a good luck charm.
It was the weapon known as the “Goddess of the Battlefield.” This revolver had protected him from the monk soldiers’ ambush.
It was one of the supplied weapons he had received during his deployment. Since the Kingdom of Repuitari had not requested its return, he had brought it home.
The revolver was loaded with five rounds, along with several dozen bullets packed in an ammunition box.
A significant number of bullets had been supplied, allowing many soldiers to take some home without permission, creating a situation where they could procure ammunition for the foreseeable future. The higher-ups were aware of the stockpiles of guns and bullets in the warehouses, so they did not actively seek to recover those circulating in the field.
The father had experienced a life-or-death situation using the revolver against a monk soldier who could deflect arrows. A bullet fired at close range had penetrated the monk soldier in one shot.
Of course, he knew that there were larger rifles that could not take down certain monk soldiers. Yet, it was this revolver that had saved his life.
“Look. This is the goddess that saved my life on the battlefield,” he said, showing the revolver.
The grip of the revolver bore the same symbol as the supplied items.
“It seems our family has been saved by this goddess,” he concluded.
“Cool, Dad. I wonder which workshop made this. It’s definitely from the Kingdom of Repuitari…” Fint pondered.
“They haven’t noticed us. Once they do, that beast won’t move from that spot for a while. Take your time and aim carefully.”
“Got it.”
A massive bear stood upright on its hind legs, surveying the surroundings.
This enormous bear, nearly twice the height of a person, was a type of monster known as a Forest Bear. They had been dispatched due to reports of its appearance in the forest by the roadside.
The Forest Bear was an extremely ferocious creature.
Its powerful muscles could easily deflect a regular sword without sustaining a scratch.
Even when faced with finely crafted spears or swords, the thick fur, fat, and layers of muscle would prevent the blade from penetrating.
Thus, the key to safely taking down this monster was to shoot an arrow at its vulnerable spots from a distance.
Of course, missing the shot could lead to dire consequences.
The novice hunter carefully took aim, channeling his magic power into the arrow as he released it.
With a swift whoosh, the arrow flew through the air, striking the Forest Bear in the throat. The arrow, enhanced for penetration, pierced through the tough fur, inflicting a fatal wound.
However…
“Last Attack!” he shouted.
The Forest Bear, with its carotid artery and spine severed, charged forward with its last ounce of strength.
“Damn it! Dodge, Fint!”
“Y-Yeah!”
Had this been a close-range battle, it would have undoubtedly been a fatal blow. The speed of its reaction and the force of its charge were terrifying.
Fortunately, they were at a considerable distance, allowing them enough time to evade the bear’s charge. As long as they moved out of its path, they would be safe.
“In situations like this, it’s fine to wait for it to stop moving, but…”
Having experienced similar situations in past hunts, the father remained calm, unlike his panicking son. He drew the revolver, aimed, and pulled the trigger.
Normally, he would follow up with additional arrows or a slingshot to finish the beast, but with the powerful revolver, he could accomplish it in one breath.
With a thunderous bang, the bullet struck the Forest Bear in the temple. The tremendous impact twisted its head at an unnatural angle, breaking its neck.
That was the final blow, and the bear’s body went limp, sliding to the ground in the momentum of its charge.
“Alright! As expected of the goddess!” the father exclaimed.
“Wow…” Fint marveled.
Even in death, monsters sometimes managed to unleash one last attack. Experiencing this in a relatively safe situation proved to be a valuable lesson for the novice hunter.
Everyone loves the revolver. It truly is a magnificent weapon. I hope to see it in action more often.