Chapter 4: Boar

The chill of dawn still lingered at the forest’s edge.

Darkness had not yet fully relinquished its hold on the world, but Logan’s eyes, already sharp, were searching for prey.

His small body blended perfectly with the damp undergrowth, not even a twitch betraying his presence.

Ten years old.

His body was so fragile it was almost absurd, even to himself.

He had no intention whatsoever of recklessly venturing deep into the forest.

That wasn’t courage; it was recklessness, tantamount to a suicidal act.

Even if he didn’t lose his life, if he were to get seriously injured, how much would that kind girl, Irene, blame herself and suffer?

‘Safely. Accurately. And swiftly.’

Logan replayed the principles of hunting in his mind.

Failure was not an option.

He had to achieve the maximum result with minimal risk.

For that, careful selection of prey was essential.

Combining the knowledge he learned from Fiona with his own judgment, he eliminated candidates one by one.

First, Goblins.

Agile and cunning, but their physical abilities themselves weren’t threatening.

Their size was only slightly larger than his.

However, they never moved alone.

Even if he killed one instantly with the crossbow, the remaining ones would swarm him like bees and shout for reinforcements.

The risk was too great.

Naturally, humanoid monsters stronger than Goblins, like Orcs or Kobolds, were also excluded.

Then what about beast-type monsters?

Wolves.

Powerful individual capabilities and pack hunting.

Not even worth considering.

Horn Rabbits.

Small and relatively weak, but dangerous if gored by their horns, and more importantly, at this time of day, they were likely hiding deep in their burrows, asleep.

There was no guarantee he could find one.

As he weighed the possibilities, thinking of various other monsters, just then.

Sniff! Snort!

A low, rough breathing sound, along with the faint noise of digging earth, reached his ears.

Logan held his breath and focused all his senses in the direction of the sound.

A massive silhouette flickered through the undergrowth.

‘…Found it.’

Logan lowered his body further, completely concealing his presence.

The disadvantage of his small frame was a definite advantage in such stealth situations.

What came into his sight was a giant boar monster, a Wild Boar, just waking up and about to start its breakfast.

According to Fiona’s explanation, Wild Boars mostly acted alone and provided valuable spoils—thick hide, plentiful meat, and sharp tusks.

There was nothing to discard.

It was a perfect first opponent to test the power of his newly acquired crossbow and to gauge whether he could hunt alone in the future.

Of course, it wasn’t without danger.

If he collided with that massive body or was merely grazed by those sharp tusks, a ten-year-old boy’s body would face instant death or a fatal wound.

Like other monsters, or perhaps even more so, it was clearly a dangerous opponent.

But at the same time, it was also almost the only prey Logan could realistically target right now.

‘…But.’

Logan narrowed his eyes and observed the creature again.

Something was strange.

Compared to the illustrations in the guide Fiona had shown him, or the descriptions of common Wild Boars on guild request forms…

It was much larger.

It wasn’t just a simple size difference.

Its tusks weren’t ivory white but had a black, ominous gleam, like obsidian.

‘…Black tusks? Don’t tell me… a rare species?’

A subspecies that appeared extremely rarely.

A Black Tusk Wild Boar.

Said to be far more powerful and ferocious than common individuals, but its spoils were also incomparably more valuable.

Those black tusks alone would fetch a considerable price.

However, it also meant the risk increased exponentially.

Logan’s heart began to pound uneasily.

‘…Is it okay to provoke it recklessly? Can my crossbow bolts even pierce that thick hide?’

A moment’s hesitation shook his resolve.

Perhaps it would be wiser to quietly retreat now, go back to doing guild chores, and diligently grow under Fiona’s tutelage.

That would be the safe, the ‘right’ path.

However, Logan soon shook his head.

His gaze turned cold again.

‘No. I can do this.’

He had already simulated hunting a Wild Boar countless times in his head.

The variable of the opponent being a stronger-than-expected rare species had arisen, but the basic strategy shouldn’t be different.

Rather, this was an opportunity, not a crisis.

If he caught that thing, he could provide a much better environment for Irene.

Slowly, soundlessly, Logan raised his crossbow.

The Black Tusk Wild Boar, still unaware of Logan’s presence, had its snout buried in the ground, diligently searching for food.

It was almost motionless, the perfect moment to aim.

‘No matter how big it is or how tough its hide, weaknesses always exist. If I aim properly for a vital spot…!’

A glint flashed in Logan’s blue eyes.

He held his breath, focused all his nerves, and finished aiming.

And without hesitation—

He pulled the trigger.

---

Thwip—!

With a sharp sound of tearing air, the bolt cut through the darkness.

“KUEEEEEEEK!!!”

The next moment, a horrific scream tore through the quiet forest.

Logan’s bolt had accurately pierced the Black Tusk Wild Boar’s left eye.

‘It hit!’

Logan cheered inwardly but didn’t relax his guard.

The beast thrashed about, shaking its head wildly in pain.

Blood gushed out, staining the surrounding leaves red.

Aiming for the eye was the best choice.

Considering the crossbow’s power, which would struggle to pierce the thick hide, it was the area where he could most reliably inflict damage.

At the same time, it could rob the beast of its sight and throw it into confusion.

The beast rubbed its bleeding eye with its foreleg, agonizing, then began to look around furiously for the attacker.

And through its blood-blurred vision, it finally spotted the silhouette of the small hunter hidden in the undergrowth.

“KUUIIIIIIIIK!!!!”

The Black Tusk Boar, having lost its reason to rage and pain, roared and began to charge towards Logan.

Thud-thud-thud! Thud-thud-thud!

The vibrations from its massive, heavy body were transmitted through the ground to Logan.

An overwhelming sense of pressure, as if a small hill was charging at him whole.

But Logan was no longer the helpless boy who had been scared stiff by mere Goblins on the village streets.

‘Never again… I won’t be beaten like that again!’

He had Irene to protect.

For her sake, he couldn’t fall here.

Logan calmly aimed the crossbow again at the boar’s remaining right eye as it charged.

The distance closed in an instant, and the beast’s ragged breathing and the rank smell of blood brushed his nostrils.

THWACK!!!

The second bolt was fired.

Combined with the charging speed and the bolt’s kinetic energy, this time it burrowed even deeper and more accurately into the remaining eye.

PSSHUUUUK!!!

“KUEEEEEEEK!!!”

This time, a desperate scream, incomparable to the previous one, erupted.

Completely blinded, the beast thrashed about in pain and terror.

Unable to see, it lost all sense of direction and began to rampage madly.

It didn’t even think to use its sense of smell to track Logan; it just roared and rammed into everything around it.

CRACK! CRUNCH! KABOOM!

It was a destructive power worthy of its name as a rare species.

If Logan had hesitated even slightly, or if his first shot had missed, he would have been obliterated without a trace by that frenzied charge.

Logan quickly retreated to a safe distance and calmly loaded a third bolt.

The beast had injured itself while rampaging, and its thick hide was torn in several places, exposing the flesh underneath.

Logan carefully aimed at the deepest-looking wound, near the neck, close to the heart, as he loaded the final bolt.

‘Now!’

THWACK!

The third bolt accurately hit the target.

“Kueeek….”

With a final death rattle, the massive Black Tusk Boar’s body slumped forward limply.

THUD!

With the sound of the heavy body hitting the ground—

Silence returned to the forest.

---

“Hoo…”

Logan let out a ragged breath as the tension eased.

His heart was pounding as if it would burst, but at the same time, a thrilling sense of accomplishment enveloped his entire body.

He had done it.

By himself, he had succeeded in hunting a monster, and a rare species at that.

But there was no time to bask in sentimentality.

The strong smell of blood would soon attract other hungry monsters or a pack of wolves.

He had to gather the spoils as quickly as possible and get out of here.

“…It’s a shame, but I’ll have to be satisfied with this.”

It was impossible to move the giant boar whole.

Logan decided to take the most valuable parts first, as Fiona had taught him.

The two sharp, obsidian-like tusks, a portion of the thick, tough hide, and the tenderest, most delicious cuts of meat.

Thanks to Fiona’s education, the butchering process itself wasn’t difficult.

Of course, learning in theory and doing it oneself were different, but Logan proceeded with surprising skill.

His handiwork was already no different from that of a seasoned adventurer.

Perhaps he truly did possess an extraordinary talent for this path.

Logan stuffed as many spoils as he could carry into the large bag he had prepared beforehand.

The bag quickly became heavy.

Logan was satisfied with his achievement and didn’t get greedy for more.

It was also getting close to the time he had to report to the guild, so he hurriedly left the forest.

---

A short while later, when Logan arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild, everyone in the guild hall stared at him.

Soon, exclamations of shock and concern erupted.

His clothes were not only dirty with mud and leaves, but his entire body was soaked in dark red blood.

“Kid! Are you alright!?”

“Logan! What happened! Where did you get all this blood on you! Did you encounter a monster!?”

The adventurers who usually doted on Logan rushed over to check his condition.

A guild staff member also ran over in surprise.

Logan was slightly flustered by the concern of the people, but he soon smiled faintly as if to reassure them and said.

“Ah… this isn’t my blood. Don’t worry.”

He placed the heavy bag he was carrying on the floor.

Thump.

At the dull sound, people’s gazes turned to the bag.

Logan opened the bag and took out its contents, placing them on the guild reception desk.

Two black tusks, well-processed hide, and chunks of fresh meat.

“…This, you can… purchase this, right?”

Logan asked, looking at the guild staff member beyond the counter.

The staff member’s eyes widened as he examined the spoils, and he was especially shocked when he saw the black tusks.

“Gasp! Th-this..! It’s the tusk of a Black Tusk Wild Boar! And in such good condition…!”

“N-no way… Logan, did you…?”

“No, that can’t be! That thing gives even Silver-grade parties a hard time! Logan, tell us what happened!”

“What do you mean, what happened! What else could it be but that this kid did it! Wow, what an amazing little guy! A mere ten-year-old catching a Black Tusk Wild Boar by himself!”

The guild hall instantly buzzed with amazement and praise for Logan.

Logan didn’t know what to do with all the attention, but his chest swelled with the pride of accomplishment.

The joy of finally having done something for Irene.

But that joy didn’t last long.

“…Logan. What is the meaning of this?”

An icy voice, laced with anger.

Logan, startled, turned towards the sound.

There stood his master, Fiona, glaring at him with a frigid expression.

“F-Fiona?”

Sensing the tense atmosphere, the adventurers quickly tried to intervene.

“Hey, hey, Fiona! What’s wrong, calm down!”

“Yeah, your disciple did something great! How can you get angry instead of praising him!”

But Fiona didn’t even pretend to listen to them.

Her gaze was fixed solely on Logan, her face contorting even more fiercely as she pressed him.

“Logan, explain properly what happened!”

“…I didn’t steal it. I caught it myself.”

Logan answered without being intimidated.

“That’s not what I’m asking! Why! Why did you go into the forest alone without telling me! What if you had died!”

Fiona’s voice contained deep worry along with her anger.

“…I… I told you. I need money…”

“Even so! You’re still just a ten-year-old kid! Is money more important than your life?!”

At Fiona’s shouting, Logan was momentarily speechless.

He had expected praise, but instead, he was being harshly scolded, which was bewildering.

But soon, he read the sincere concern in Fiona’s face.

‘Ah… this person… she’s genuinely worried about me.’

Suddenly, Irene came to mind.

When he worried about Irene and tried to stop her reckless actions, hadn’t he worn a similar expression?

Realizing his master’s sincerity, Logan no longer stubbornly resisted and obediently bowed his head.

“…I’m sorry. Fiona. For worrying you…”

“No, you really are…!”

Fiona was rendered speechless by Logan’s unexpectedly meek apology.

A normal child would have felt wronged and either rebelled or made excuses.

What on earth had made this child so precocious?

Was it simply the desire to protect one childhood friend that had made a ten-year-old boy so strong?

If so, this boy’s feelings for that girl were truly…

“…Haaah.”

Fiona eventually let out a deep sigh.

She felt at a loss as to how she should handle this stubborn, somewhat precarious, yet strangely mature disciple.

She roughly ruffled Logan’s hair and said.

“Alright. Go get cleaned up. What a mess you are.”

“…Yes. Thank you.”

After Logan bowed and disappeared towards the bathhouse, Fiona turned her gaze to the spoils he had left behind.

She then spoke firmly to the receptionist.

“Settle this according to the market price, properly. Don’t even dream of tricking a child and buying it cheap.”

“Oh my, Fiona! Would I ever do such a thing! Logan is such a commendable kid! Don’t you worry!”

The staff member replied, waving his hands dismissively.

Fiona then let her eyes gleam meaningfully and continued.

“Hmph. Good then. And… I have one more favor to ask.”

“…?”

---

Washing his body with clean water felt refreshing.

However, Logan’s heart was still heavy.

He was worried that Fiona might be greatly disappointed in him over this incident and no longer accept him as her disciple.

He still had so much to learn from her.

Above all, he didn’t want to lose someone who genuinely worried about him and guided him.

When he re-entered the guild hall with an anxious heart, Logan’s eyes widened at an unexpected sight.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Ouch!”

“Kuhaha! Congratulations, kid!”

“You’re truly an amazing fellow, Logan!”

Suddenly, several adventurers approached him, slapping his back hard and offering words of congratulations.

The guild hall was even noisier than before, and the atmosphere was like a festival.

“…?”

A strange middle-aged man approached Logan, who was bewildered and didn’t understand what was happening, laughing heartily.

He had a well-built physique, expensive-looking clothes, and a broad, good-natured smile.

He seemed to be someone important in the guild.

“Kuhaha! So you’re the kid named Logan! Even with our Jingeom’s guarantee, I was half in doubt… but seeing those bold eyes of yours, I know my thoughts weren’t wrong!”

The man laughed boisterously and patted Logan’s shoulder.

“…Excuse me? What do you mean by that… And may I ask who you are?”

Logan asked cautiously in the confusing situation.

The man laughed even louder, took something out from his bosom, and thrust it before Logan’s eyes.

It was a small wooden plaque.

The character ‘木’ (Wood) was clearly engraved in the center of the plaque.

[Wood-Grade Adventurer Token]

“…?”

Logan still couldn’t grasp the situation and tilted his head.

“Kuhahaha! That expression is really something to see! What are you staring at so blankly!”

“Huh…?”

“This is yours now, Logan!”

At the man’s words, Logan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“….!!”

“Congratulations, Logan.”

Fiona, who had approached at some point, placed her hand on Logan’s shoulder and smiled.

There was no longer any trace of anger on her face.

“As of today, you are an official member of the guild, a Wood-grade adventurer!”

With Fiona’s declaration, a thunderous cheer and applause erupted once more in the guild hall.

Logan received his adventurer token with trembling hands.

It was still just a humble wooden plaque of the lowest rank, but to him, it felt more valuable and precious than anything in the world.

The first step towards caring for and protecting Irene.

Finally, he had succeeded in taking that first step on the path.