Chapter 52: Hunter of the Wilderness #2

Chapter 52: Hunter of the Wilderness #2

The hardships of the wilderness are equal for everyone.

The examiners, like the adventurers, had to stay in the wilderness for the entire exam period.

Although Maria had mocked the adventurers, her own situation wasn’t much better.

At best, the preserved food she brought was slightly better, and her sleeping arrangements were more comfortable.

‘What is this delicious smell?’

Maria walked towards the cave entrance as if bewitched.

She hid behind a rock and peeked inside.

“Surprisingly, it’s quite livable here-“

“And whose thanks do we owe for that, Senior?”

As Maria had suspected, it was Estel and Flora.

A large chunk of meat, dripping with oil, was placed over the campfire, and a stew pot was also steaming.

Gulp.

Maria stared blankly and swallowed. Her stomach rumbled so loudly that she almost startled herself, fearing they might notice.

‘How can they live so well?’

Like the rumbling stew pot, Maria’s insides churned with envy.

The scene was completely different from what Maria had expected.

‘Are they on a camping trip?’

She had hoped they would be shivering in the cold, struggling to chew hard bread that wouldn’t even properly break down…

Seeing them enjoying luxurious rest like nobles was utterly absurd.

The relaxed and leisurely scene even exuded romance.

“Alright, the bread is ready too.”

Estel took out freshly baked bread from a stone oven.

“Ouch, ouch.”

The golden-brown crust of the bread looked crispy.

Maria bit her lower lip and nervously rubbed her fingertips together.

That color. That smell. That crispy sound.

Everyone knows that learning cooking skills is useful.

However, few adventurers actually learn it.

They judge it more beneficial to hone practical combat skills in that time.

Maria was no different.

To taste cooking of that caliber, she would have to go to a restaurant.

Even if Maria could obtain the ingredients, she lacked the skill to cook them deliciously, making them useless.

It was like putting pearls before swine.

“To celebrate our successful hunt on the first day.”

“Cheers-“

The two adventurers clinked their glasses.

Flora dipped her bread into the thick stew, and Estel tore off a large piece of roasted beast meat.

‘Celebrating the hunt?’

Maria’s eyes narrowed.

She glanced around the cave.

Animal hides were neatly stacked on the shelves. Beneath them, valuable monster materials were also piled high.

As a veteran adventurer, Maria grasped the situation at a glance.

‘These foxes. They monopolized the empty hunting grounds while everyone else was chasing Nitro Birds.’

She felt compelled to say something.

Maria placed her hands on her hips and revealed herself at the cave entrance.

“Hey, you guys. Are you here for a vacation?”

“Huh? Wow! Isn’t that an examiner?”

Flora was startled by the unexpected intruder, but Estel calmly tore the bread without even looking at her.

Her attitude was as if she already knew Maria was there.

That made her even more furious.

‘They’re deliberately trying to provoke me, knowing I’m watching. These guys-‘

She wanted to flip everything over, but an examiner couldn’t get into a brawl with an adventurer.

She would receive a severe reprimand from the guild, and more importantly, she hated the thought of being scolded by Jack.

Maria was stuck, unable to act, and could only glare with narrowed eyes.

“When did you arrive? Examiner, please sit here. You’ll warm up a bit by the campfire. And let’s eat together-“

“Uh… Uh?”

Flora moved aside and made space.

The pretty girl is quite perceptive.

Maria reluctantly squeezed into the space.

“Aish, Senior. It’s okay, it’s okay. Why would an examiner need to beg for food from adventurers?”

“Huh? But still-“

“We’re not in a position to worry about them. We should focus on taking care of ourselves. Right, Examiner?”

Estel looked directly at Maria and spoke.

Her face, trying to suppress a smile and speaking slyly, was incredibly annoying.

‘That bitch!’

She was burning with anger, but her pride wouldn’t let her beg for food after hearing such words.

Maria gritted her teeth.

“Hey, you guys! Is this… is this okay for the exam? You made a bet with me!”

“We’ll handle it ourselves. Besides, if we lose, it’s good for you. Why are you so upset?”

She had a point.

It wasn’t Maria’s business what Estel and Flora did.

Maria regretted coming here pointlessly.

‘I’m just being teased for no reason.’

Just you wait. Maria vowed revenge and turned to leave.

Turning her back on the warm heat and delicious food, she headed into the dark wilderness.

A desolate wind blew through her gloomy heart.

“Hey.”

Just as she was about to return to the cave entrance, Estel called out to Maria from behind.

Maria’s feet stopped abruptly.

“Want to make a deal?”

Estel said.

“If you tell me if Wagner and Mitchell are doing well, I’ll give you this.”

Although Maria had decided to ignore her and leave, her eyes, against her will, flickered towards Estel.

She was holding bread.

And not just any bread, but a sandwich with several layers of thinly sliced meat tucked inside.

Where she got it from, it was accompanied by yellow mustard sauce, onions, and lettuce.

Maria’s pupils dilated.

“An examiner would never make a deal with participants like you…”

“Oh, really? If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

Estel opened her mouth wide, showing no sign of disappointment.

Just as the large sandwich was about to enter Estel’s mouth.

“Wait!”

Maria exclaimed urgently.

‘There’s no problem with the regulations. Probably.’

An examiner must not provide undue favors to adventurers.

However, if absolutely necessary, minor matters are left to individual discretion.

‘It’s not information that has much to do with the exam.’

At most, it’s just telling her about the well-being of her two companions.

It’s not like she’s revealing their location or asking for hints.

It should be fine, this much.

Maria interpreted the examiner regulations favorably for a brief moment, fitting them to her own convenience.

“That big adventurer – well, he seems to be wandering around, unable to find his way, but he’s not having any major problems.”

“Hmm.”

“The elf girl is the same. She seems a bit tired, but both of them are fine.”

It was wrong that the delicious-looking sandwich clouded Maria’s judgment.

‘What can I do? It can’t be helped,’ Maria consoled herself.

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“…Is that all?”

“Why?”

“The, bread.”

“Bread? You want this?”

Estel dangled the bread teasingly.

Maria’s gaze followed the swaying bread.

She couldn’t bring herself to ask for it. It was Maria’s last shred of pride.

“I’m not giving it to you. Did you really believe me? Hahaha-“

“You fucking-“

Maria’s mind went blank.

Damn bitch. I will never forgive you. I will kill you.

Regardless of the exam, I want to-

Just before Maria could utter a curse, Estel threw the sandwich.

Thump.

Maria fumbled and caught the bread with both hands.

“It was a joke. Enjoy it.”

She wanted to retort something, but Maria left the cave with only her lips sticking out.

Crunch.

As soon as she came out, she took a big bite.

It was delicious.

There was no other way to describe it.

Maria, who had a discerning palate and was known for being picky, felt nothing but the taste right now.

She was angry because it was delicious.

***

A week had passed since the exam began.

I continued hunting without rest.

Flora and I hunted so many monsters that the monsters in this area were starting to become scarce.

“Good, good. Please move the rocks over here-“

Under Flora’s direction, the revived skeleton monsters gathered rocks on the hill.

Some of the skeletons roamed the plateau, luring monsters, while others rolled rocks to repel the gathered monsters.

The system for butchering monsters was gradually being optimized.

Now, I could even leave the hunting entirely to Flora without any issues.

‘This is what it felt like to play an auto-battle mobile game.’

The materials and magic stones obtained from hunting monsters were also piled high.

Like ants gathering food, the skeletons tirelessly carried the spoils of war.

“Good work.”

Leaving the hunting to Flora, I moved to another area of the rocky plateau.

Here too, dozens of skeletons were diligently engaged in unpaid labor.

However, their work here was more about serious civil engineering than hunting.

“The scenery is amazing.”

I stood on a high rocky canyon and looked down at the distant cliff.

A river flowing through the red hills.

Once the construction is complete, a portion of that river will flow into this wilderness.

It’s called the ‘Water Cleaning’ project.

There’s no grand ambition to bring water to the wilderness and achieve green reclamation.

I have no interest in such public service projects.

I have only one goal.

‘Wait a little longer, Giant Worm.’

A colossal monster that digs huge burrows in the wilderness and moves freely.

I plan to hunt the field boss, the Giant Worm.

The standard strategy would be to enter the burrow and track it down, but there’s no reason not to use a simpler method if I know one.

Even without wandering inside the burrow, if I flood it with water, the Giant Worm will naturally reveal itself.

‘It’ll be difficult to catch it if not now. I must seize this opportunity.’

It takes over 20 years for a baby Giant Worm to grow into an adult.

And even if it grows that large, I can’t monopolize it alone.

There are always many adventurers roaming the Garden Wilderness.

News of the Giant Worm’s appearance will quickly spread throughout the wilderness.

Normally, that’s how it is.

Therefore, this is the only opportunity to monopolize the field boss without attracting attention.

“Come on, let’s work a little harder. We’re almost done.”

I watched the construction site while drinking cold orange juice.

Based on the progress, the construction should be completed in about two more days.

One skeleton held up a parasol for me, and another fanned me gently.

‘I’ll get to taste some action soon.’

My hands were itching. I wanted to swing the Garden Meteorite soon.

By now, other adventurers are probably chasing after the Nitro Birds under the pouring sunlight.

Good luck to everyone.

Because I’ll be taking all the good stuff.