"Red-eyed Crows? We ran into them when we first arrived.
"Let's head over there as quickly as possible and start patrolling. This mission requires us to bring back the right claws of ten Red-eyed Crows as proof of completion... Does anyone have questions?"
"Kreweir — Knight-level physical fitness, proficient in esoteric techniques, and I know one zero-level spell!"
"Kreweir, I didn't expect you'd already learned a spell. Looks like you've pulled ahead of me... Ni Lan — Knight-level physical fitness, proficient in esoteric techniques. I'm still studying a zero-level spell — Hand of Fatigue — but I can't cast it yet!" Ni Lan glanced at Kreweir with some surprise.
"Lilisite — I... I've also had Knight training. My instructor says I'm good with throwing knives. I don't know any spells yet!" Lilisite said, a bit shyly.
"Lannuo — Preliminary Knight, no spells, but my archery is solid!" He hadn't expected both Kreweir and Ni Lan to have already started learning spells. Lannuo blushed, then patted the wooden bow strapped to his back. "Don't worry, I won't hold you back!"
"Leilin — Preliminary Knight, currently proficient in one spell!" Leilin touched his nose.
"So you've learned a spell too... Oh! Sorry!" Lannuo was momentarily stunned. He and Leilin had arrived at the same time, so he naturally knew Leilin's aptitude was only third-rate. He hadn't expected Leilin to already be surpassing him, a fourth-rate.
"It's fine!" Leilin shook his head, showing he didn't mind.
In truth, as long as resources kept flowing, Lannuo's meditation speed was far above his own. But Lannuo didn't have enough Magic Stones to trade for knowledge and rare resources, so Leilin had gradually pulled ahead.
"As expected of Lord Leilin! Do you know what people outside say about you?" Ni Lan's eyes were filled with admiration.
"Oh? I'd like to hear what they're saying!"
"A genius in Potionology seen only once in fifty years! If you didn't already have a mentor, several of the other Potionology professors would absolutely invite you to become their personal disciple!" Ni Lan cleared her throat, the stars in her eyes practically sparkling.
Looking at Ni Lan's fervent gaze and the expressions on Lilisite's and Lannuo's faces, Leilin gave a helpless smile.
In order to sell his potions quickly, he'd had to disguise himself as a prodigiously talented apothecary apprentice. Fortunately, Senior
"Right! Leilin, the potions you usually sell must be enough to earn resources, so why come out here?"
Lannuo asked in a low voice.
"Well, staying in the Academy all the time gets a bit dull. Besides, I just learned a spell and need to practice it!"
Leilin's real reason was to accumulate experience and prepare for eventually going out on his own to find Black Market channels — but he certainly couldn't say that.
"Alright! Chatter's over! Our destination isn't too far, but there's plenty of trouble along the way! If we don't get moving soon, it'll be dark before we know it!"
Kreweir clapped his hands, took up his machete, and led the way.
"Let's go!" Leilin followed close behind.
"I want to walk with you!" Ni Lan fell in step beside Leilin, making no effort to hide her interest.
Lilisite came next, with Lannuo bringing up the rear.
"Stay alert! The area near the Academy is open ground, but once we enter the forest, the dangers multiply!" Kreweir warned as they walked.
Leilin ignored Ni Lan at his side and focused his attention, pushing the Chip's detection to its maximum.
This was his first time venturing into the dangerous outside world, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
Black Bone Forest Academy lay deep within a stretch of black forest. Above the Academy was a dilapidated cemetery, surrounded only by low grass and shrubs — not particularly dangerous. But once inside the forest, with the cover of countless trees, it had always been a hunting ground for all manner of creatures. Leilin remembered that they had been attacked in the black forest right from the start.
"Warning! Warning! Unknown creature detected approaching. Threat level to subject: Low!"
The Chip's alert sounded, and in Leilin's field of vision, faint blue lines assembled into a three-dimensional image. From the image, he could clearly see a red line snaking its way toward them.
*Swish!* A black shadow suddenly burst from the underbrush, lunging for Kreweir's neck.
Kreweir's expression didn't change. The black blade in his hand traced an arc, knocking the shadow away.
The shadow hit the ground and revealed itself — a black snake over a meter long, with a triangular head bearing a single vertical eye. Faint bloodstains ringed its scales.
"It's an Iron-threaded One-eyed Serpent. Watch out for its venom!" Ni Lan called out a warning.
Just then, Lilisite, who had been following behind, suddenly struck. Three throwing knives flew from three different directions at the serpent.
The serpent contracted its body abruptly, dodging two of the knives. The third grazed its flank, leaving a trail of blood.
"Heh!" Kreweir stepped forward. The black machete swept across the serpent's head, its dark blade gleaming coldly, and in a single stroke, severed it completely.
The headless body coiled into a circle, blood still spurting from the wound.
"Aah!" Lilisite cried out.
"It's already dead. That's just a natural reaction. Didn't you study Neurology?" Ni Lan snorted coldly.
"Only the venom sac and the skin of the Iron-threaded One-eyed Serpent are worth anything. Whoever wants them, go collect the materials quickly. The scent of blood will draw other animals soon!" Kreweir sheathed his blade and spoke calmly.
"I'll do it!" Lannuo stepped forward. After a flurry of work, the five continued on their way.
"Chip! Did you record the data just now?"
*Ding! Recorded! Iron-threaded One-eyed Serpent — Serpentine subspecies. Strength: 1.1. Agility: 2.1. Constitution: 1.6. Blood sample collected. Muscle tissue composition recorded!* The Chip's feedback was prompt. Leilin nodded and quickened his pace.
Ten-odd days later, somewhere in the black forest.
A Red-eyed Crow perched on a branch, its alert eyes darting about as it preened its feathers.
*Thwip!* A white arrow suddenly shot toward it.
"Caw!" The Red-eyed Crow fluttered away — but in the very direction it fled, three more streaks of white light came sailing in, each carrying a silver throwing knife.
The Red-eyed Crow traced an elegant arc through the air, evading the knives, and landed on a patch of open ground.
"Kill!" A figure suddenly burst from the bushes to one side, black machete in both hands, slashing at the Red-eyed Crow. The arrows and knives had been a setup to force it to the ground.
The black blade cut through the air with a whistle as it bore down on the crow.
"Caw! Caw!!" The Red-eyed Crow shrieked, producing a grating sound.
In its red eyes flickered a flash of distinctly human-like fury. A pair of black talons rose to meet the machete.
Clang!!!
Though the Red-eyed Crow was larger than an ordinary crow — roughly the size of a rooster — it actually knocked back the Knight wielding the black machete with its talons alone.
"Caw!" The Red-eyed Crow screamed. A few black feathers drifted down from its body.
While the Knight retreated, the Red-eyed Crow launched itself forward, razor-sharp talons raking straight for his face!
"Pandora—Gleignor!"
A rapid incantation rang out, and a glob of green solution shot through the air, striking the Red-eyed Crow.
*Hsssssss!* White steam billowed upward, accompanied by the crow's agonized shrieks.
A few seconds later, the shrieking ceased entirely. All that remained on the ground was a sizable pit, with a few feathers that hadn't yet been dissolved.
"You alright, Kreweir?"
The bushes rustled, and several figures emerged.
The Knight shook his head. "I'm fine. Red-eyed Crows have Knight-level strength and can fly, but once they're on the ground, they're no match for a human with a weapon."
He looked at the figure in the middle. "Leilin, that Acid Splash was timed perfectly!"
"It was everyone's teamwork," Leilin said with a smile.
Kreweir walked to the edge of the pit and used a twig to sift through it, fishing out two black claws.
The edges of the black claws were razor-sharp, glinting with a cold light that seemed to speak of how troublesome their owner had been.
"Acid Splash has great power, but it corroded the Red-eyed Crow almost completely. Aside from the hardest claws, nothing's left..." Kreweir sounded a bit disappointed.
"Hmph! If not for Leilin, who knows what price you'd have paid to take down this Red-eyed Crow!" Ni Lan scoffed disdainfully from the side.
"True enough!" Kreweir slid the black machete back into its sheath. He had matured considerably and knew Ni Lan had a sharp tongue, so he didn't take offense.
"With this Red-eyed Crow, we've collected enough. So — should we head back to the Academy and turn in the mission?"
Kreweir looked at the visibly exhausted Lannuo and the others as he asked.
"Of course we're going back! The forest is way too dangerous. We can't even sleep properly at night!" Ni Lan said immediately.
Lilisite and Lannuo both nodded quickly in agreement.
Leilin was feeling fatigued as well. The black forest was rife with danger, and even with the Chip's warnings, he'd been on edge for days. His mind was thoroughly exhausted, and he was beginning to miss the hot water and beds back at the Academy.
"Alright, let's head back!"
Kreweir carefully stored the Red-eyed Crow's claws with a hint of regret. "What a pity. With our strength, we could've hunted more Red-eyed Crows. These crows are worth far more than those Iron-threaded One-eyed Serpents..."
"Magic Stones can never be earned fast enough, but every member of our squad is nearly spent. We've hit a dangerous line. If we don't return to the Academy soon, the next hunt could easily end in mistakes — or casualties."
Leilin's voice was cool and measured. He had always been clear-headed and would not let a small profit bind him.
"Fine! Let's head back!"
Kreweir pondered for only a moment before nodding in agreement.
At his words, the other four looked visibly relieved. Even Ni Lan, who always had a sharp tongue, broke into a smile.
The group tidied up in a hurry and set off on the return journey.