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Chapter 24: Specter hunting V

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"The first contract is right ahead, only a few miles away. It's a small village north of the Aliversta forest.

They reported sighting of specter activities as well as the disappearance of a few of their hunters. They were afraid that if this continued, they'd lose a significant source of their food supplies, so they issued the contract."

Selena started going through their objective as their horses trotted through the snow, nearing their destination.

"We'll first investigate around the village, ask its people about the incidents and what they had witnessed then we'll meet up again. I'll tell you an appropriate meeting location once we reach there."

All of them were mounting snow horses. They're the most available of ether beasts and the cheapest. They're however still expensive by normal people's standard.

Furthermore, they're the most preferable traveling companion to seekers, in the north of course.

"By the way, are you an archer or a swordsman?" Selena questioned, a bit confused as she assumed before it's the latter.

"Hmm? I am an archer. The sword is cosmetic." His answer was nonchalant, without a trace of doubt.

Selena however knew better. she knows exactly what the gem on the sword is, she had seen ones similar to it.

She still didn't question him for its not time yet, instead, she gave the team one last instruction.

"This is Borlian's contract, but he let me be the leader, so listen carefully to my instructions. For now, do as I said before, then we can discuss further."

The villagers were alerted by the unexpected visitors. They as always assembled at the village's gate, the strong of them at least.

The village was surrounded by a fairly high wooden wall, but that provides very little protection. The real protectors of the settlement are none other than its people.

They're the ones that go into the woods to hunt amidst all the danger and defend against any wandering monster or beast.

The fact that the ether seeking method is available to everyone helps a lot in that, though very few of them would have an ether art. That's what makes all the difference between a pure knight and a caster knight, or a pure caster, the latter two are leagues above the former.

The group however still guided their horses to trot towards the gate despite seeing the villagers' cautiousness.

They only halted once they reached it. Selena looked up at the village guards that are carefully watching them from above the wooden wall.

"Announce who you are and your purpose in being here or suffer the consequences!!!"

One of the guards roughly shouted from behind the wall. As one can expect, villages are rarely visited by people if ever. It's however common for desperate people to seek refuge in them, and it's entirely up to the village to accept them or not.

Neither the kingdom nor the territory's ruler intervene or even pay attention to such matters, and taking refuge in a town will likely cause more suffering, if the town even accepts them in.

So such people usually band together and form a village where they rely solely on themselves for shelter, food, and water. Who knows, the village might someday grow and become a town, thus receiving the recognition of the kingdom and their precious protection.

Until then, all they can do is seek aid from the kingdom or the hunters' associations. The latter comes at a cost with the added benefit of quick response while the former only responds sometimes.

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In this case, the village had no choice but to rely upon the services of the specter hunters' association, using the money they squandered from hunting and selling beasts and monsters.

Selena didn't directly respond but reached out to her side bag and brought a paper from it, which she showed to the watching guards.

"We're specter hunters, and we took your contract. We're here to do the job."

The guards all had their bows aimed at the group, but after hearing that, they started lowering them... Not for long though for they heard the shouting of their leader.

The village leader was a burly man with white hair, barely noticeable under his puffy brown hat. The hat was complemented with a similarly brown bloated coat.

The group of course noticed him as he climbed the ladder to the top of the wall but remained silent until now. Only now did he below at the guards and added directly after noticing them aiming at the group again.

"You say you're specter hunters, but I see not of the cap every one of them has. Care to explain why you lied?"

Selena slightly frowned before turning her head, looking at Lucas who's obviously quite nervous. His energetic nature was nowhere to be seen as he has been silent for most of the road.

"What are you waiting for? Answer. You're the team leader after all." That was what she said, throwing the pot at the group's 'leader'.

"I'm? You just said th..." Lucas was confused for he was quite sure he just heard her taking the lead of the group. He however didn't continue his inquiry as he noticed her glaring at him.

Understanding dawned upon him as he again faced the patient village leader. He then responded while stroking his hair in embarrassment, "We're actually candidates for becoming a specter hunter and this is our test."

The village leader didn't seem to react for a while though one can clearly notice his face muscles slightly twitching, "They sent you? They sent candidates to hunt specters we dearly want out of our life? Is this a joke!"

Even he had to get emotional at that point, just like many others had in the past, and still will in the future.

The villagers had to squander most of their money just to publish the contract in the association. Moreover, they have to pay upfront, a certain percentage of that money will go to the association, but most of it will go to the contract completer.

The association simply has too much power in this regard, but there is nothing anyone can do to change that.

This situation is an example of their power. The villagers have to accept the newbies before them as their temporary hope.

Temporary because the association wouldn't be so cruel or more like stupid, going that far would be detrimental for their business, so of course they gave people hope.

If the candidates don't come back with the contract finished after a certain period of time, they'll send a full-fledged specter hunter to complete it. They also do so if the candidates never came back which is the most likely scenario.

Lucas was left speechless for a second but he got his bearing back and brought his right hand to his chest then swore, "I swear by the name of Solus that we will complete the contract or die trying, so put some hope on us."

His eyes shone with determination, his attitude taking a completely different turn. The village's leader however frowned as he looked down at the group, he could hear the faint sobbing of some of his people.

It was the sobbing of those who had lost their loved ones to the darkness of the woods, either to monsters, beasts, or specters. It was also of those who fear losing anyone else.

If the group before them were to fail, they'd have to wait for a specter hunter to come, and that wait makes all the difference for it's filled with uncertainties.

The village's leader lifted his hand, signaling for the guards to open the wooden gate, and as the guard did, he jumped from the wall to the front of the group and said while extending his hand to Selena, "Hand me the contract."

Selena couldn't help but frown at his tone but still handed the contract nonetheless. She after all understood their plight but she's still not used to people talking to her that way, though she has a hunch that she'll get used to it soon due to a certain someone in their group.

"I'm sure you'll get used to it... eventually." As if he had read her mind or her expression, Val said with amusement apparent on his face, as if he has just found a new toy to play around with.

"Mind your business." Selena sent the amused man a glare though the latter returned a questioning look and said, "We're a team, aren't we? So I can not mind my business. Moreover, I was just looking out for you so don't mind the details."

"What nonesen..." She didn't get to utter what she had to say as the village leader had enough of their childish banter, now of all times, "Shut it!!! Quit this blunder and follow me."

Selena again frowned still not used to that tone at all, but she has more than enough kindness in her to understand the man's emotional outburst. Instead, she glared at her new nightmare, saying, "It's your fault! Just wait."

By that point, the village leader had already entered through the gate without waiting for them. Selena guided her horse directly after saying that to follow him, not expecting an answer.

However, an answer she received as the gorgeous snow horse followed after her own with the one mounting it responding, "Worry not, you'll get used to it and I'll be beside you at every step of the way... That's what teams are for after all."

Selena found herself speechless, regret suddenly overwhelming her for she was the one who decided to invite him to the group for a few reasons.