The Chaser of the Wild #2

 

The hardships of the wilderness are equal for all.

The examiners also have to stay in the wilderness for the entire exam period.

Although he laughed at the adventurers, Maria’s situation wasn’t much better.

At best, the level of food they brought was slightly higher, and the sleeping arrangements were better.

‘What is this delicious smell?’

Maria walked towards the cave entrance as if possessed by something.

She hid herself behind a rock and peeked inside.

“Surprisingly, it’s a nice place to stay.”

“Who is it all thanks to, senior?”

As Maria had guessed, it was Estelle and Flora.

A large chunk of meat dripping with fat sat on the fire, and a stew pot was steaming.

Gulp.

Maria stared blankly and swallowed. The noise was so loud that she almost surprised herself, wondering if the guys would notice.

‘How can you live so well?’

Like a rattling stew pot, Maria’s speed was bubbling.

It was completely different from what Maria had expected.

‘Are you here for camping?’

I wished you would shiver in the cold and suffer while chewing on hard bread that your teeth couldn’t even sink into⋯.

It was absurd to see them enjoying a luxurious rest like nobles.

That leisurely and relaxed scene was filled with a sense of romance.

“Okay, the bread is all baked.”

Estelle took out freshly baked bread from the stone oven.

“Ah, ah.”

The bread crust, baked to a golden brown, looked crispy.

Maria bit her lower lip and rubbed her fingertips nervously.

That color. That smell. That crunchy sound.

We all know that learning cooking skills is useful.

But adventurers who actually learn it are rare.

Because I judged that it would be beneficial to hone practical combat skills during that time.

The same was true of Maria.

If you want to taste that kind of food, you have no choice but to go to a restaurant.

Even if Maria’s power is used to obtain ingredients, it is useless because she lacks the skills to cook them deliciously.

It’s like putting pearls on a pig’s neck.

“Congratulations on a successful first day of hunting.”

“Cheers-“

The two adventurers clinked their glasses.

Flora dipped bread into the thick stew, while Estelle tore into a large piece of barbecued meat.

Congratulations on the hunt?

Maria’s eyes narrowed. She looked inside the cave.

Animal hides neatly arranged on shelves. Beneath them, precious materials from monsters are piled high.

Maria, a veteran adventurer, understood the situation at a glance.

“These foxes. They’ve monopolized the empty hunting grounds while others are chasing Nitrobird.”

I felt like I needed to say something to feel better.

Maria appeared inside the cave with her hands on her hips.

“Hey you guys. Are you here to play?”

“Huh? Wow! Aren’t you the examiner?”

Flora was startled by the unexpected intruder, but Estelle didn’t even look at her and calmly tore the bread.

An attitude as if he already knew that Maria was here.

So I got even more excited.

“They deliberately gave me the medicine knowing I was watching. These guys—”

I wanted to throw everything away, but it was impossible for the examiner to get into a fight with the adventurer.

I would get a severe reprimand from the guild, and more than anything, I hated getting scolded by Jack.

Maria just stared at him with her eyes wide open, unable to do anything.

“When did you arrive? Sir, please sit here. The campfire will warm you up a bit. And let’s have a meal together—”

“Huh… Huh?”

Flora moved aside to make room.

The pretty girl is quite perceptive.

Maria pretended not to be able to win and tried to sneak in.

“Hey, senior. Okay, okay – why would an examiner be so sad that he’d be eating adventurer’s food?”

“Huh? Still-”

“We’re not in a position to be overly concerned. We should just take care of ourselves. Right, Test Tube?”

Estelle looked straight at Maria and said.

The face he was talking to while holding back laughter was very annoying.

‘That bitch!’

Although I was furious, I had no pride and couldn’t beg for food after hearing such words.

Maria had no choice but to grind it.

“Hey, you guys! The test is on! Can we just stay like this? You made a bet with me!”

“I’ll take care of it. And if we lose, it’ll be good for you. Why are you so upset?”

What he said was true.

Maria will not interfere with whatever Estelle and Flora do.

Maria regretted coming here for nothing.

‘I came here for no reason and just got teased.’

Let’s see next time. Maria turned away, vowing revenge.

Leaving behind the warmth and delicious food, we set off into the dark wilderness.

A wind blew through my heavy heart.

“hey.”

Just as they were about to return to the cave entrance, Estelle called out to Maria from behind.

Maria’s feet stopped abruptly.

“Want to make a deal?”

Estelle said.

“Tell me how Wagner and Mitchell are doing and I’ll give you this.”

I had decided to ignore it and go, to go, but Maria’s eyes kept glancing at Estelle, regardless of her will.

I heard there was bread.

It’s a sandwich with several layers of thinly sliced meat inside.

I don’t know where I got it, but it was served with yellow mustard sauce, onions, and lettuce.

Maria’s pupils shook.

“There’s no way the examiners would do business with contestants like you…”

“Oh really? If you don’t like it, then don’t worry.”

Estelle opened her mouth wide as if she didn’t feel any regret.

The moment a huge sandwich was about to enter Estelle’s mouth.

“for a moment!”

Maria shouted in a hurry.

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

The examiner must not provide personal convenience to the adventurer.

However, if necessary, handling of minor matters is left to each person’s discretion.

‘This information has nothing to do with the test.’

At best, all I can do is tell them how their two colleagues are doing.

I’m not telling you where to go, nor am I asking for a hint.

It’ll be okay, this much.

Maria interpreted the test tube rules conveniently in a short moment and made it fit her.

“That big adventurer—uh, he seems a bit lost and lost. Anyway, he’s not in any trouble.”

“Hmm.”

“The elf girl is the same. She seems a little tired, but anyway, they’re both fine.”

It was Maria’s fault for having that delicious-looking sandwich blind her.

“There’s nothing I can do about it,” Maria joked.

“Really? That’s good.”

“⋯Is that the end?”

“why?”

“That, bread.”

“Bread? Do you want to eat this?”

Estelle shook the bread teasingly.

Maria’s gaze also moved back and forth along with the shaking bread.

She couldn’t bring herself to ask him to hand it over. It was Maria’s last vestige of pride.

“I’m not going to give it to you. Do you really believe me? Ahaha-”

“This fucking bitch-”

Maria’s mind went blank.

That bitch. I will never forgive her. I will kill her.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a test or anything, so I’ll just sit here-

Just before Maria could swear, Estelle threw the sandwich.

chin.

Maria clutched the bread with both hands in a panic.

“I’m lying. Enjoy your meal.”

I wanted to say something, but Maria ended up leaving the cave with her mouth sticking out.

Wow.

As soon as it came out, I took a big bite.

it’s good.

That was the only way I could express it.

Maria, who had her own unique taste in gourmet food and was a picky eater, didn’t think about it at the moment.

I was angry because it was delicious.

***

A week has passed since the exams started.

I continued hunting without rest.

Because Flora and I had been catching so many monsters, the monsters in this area were starting to dry up.

“Okay, okay- move the rock over here-”

Under Flora’s direction, the resurrected skeletal monsters gathered rocks on the hill.

Some of the skeletons roam the plateau, luring away the monsters, while others roll rocks to repel the gathered monsters.

The system for slaughtering monsters was gradually being optimized.

Now, I can leave all the hunting to Flora without any problems.

‘This is what it felt like to run a phone game with automatic hunting.’

There are also a lot of materials and magic stones from hunting monsters.

Like ants gathering food, the skeletons carried the spoils of their hunt without rest.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

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

Here too, dozens of skeletons are working tirelessly for no pay.

However, here, they move for more serious civil engineering work rather than hunting.

“The view is amazing.”

I stood on a high rocky ravine and looked down at the steep cliff.

A river flowing between red hills.

When construction is finished, part of that river will flow into the wilderness here.

Namely, the ‘Water Cleaning’ project.

There is no grand plan to bring water into the wilderness and create green reclamation projects.

I had no interest in such public service projects in the first place.

My purpose is one.

‘Just wait a minute, Giant Worm.’

A giant monster that digs a huge hole in the ground and moves around freely.

I plan to hunt the field boss Giant Worm.

If it were a classic strategy, I would have to go into the tunnel myself and track him down, but there’s no reason not to use a simpler strategy.

Even if you don’t wander around in the cave, if you pour water into it, the giant worm will show itself.

“If not now, it’ll be hard to catch. I absolutely must seize this opportunity.”

It takes over 20 years for a baby giant worm to grow into an adult.

And even if I grow that much, it’s not something I can monopolize by myself.

There are always countless adventurers wandering around the Garden Wilderness.

News of the giant worm’s appearance will soon spread throughout the wilderness.

Normally, it would be like that.

So, now is the only chance to completely monopolize the field boss without being noticed by others.

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

I watched the construction site while drinking cold orange juice.

Looking at the progress, it will probably take about two days for the construction to be completed.

One skeleton held an umbrella next to me, while another fanned himself gently.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve had a taste of cooking.’

My hands were itching. I wanted to swing the Garden’s Meteor right away.

By now, other adventurers will be chasing Nitrobird diligently under the pouring sunlight.

Cheer up, everyone.

In the meantime, I’ll take all the good stuff.