Chapter 4: Caravan!
Waking up the next day, after getting out of bed, Orion engaged in a simple routine, completing one hundred push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.
This time, he gained a new understanding of his physical limits, having surpassed his routine and realized he could push for another hundred. However, the urge to continue faded quickly, reminding himself that this wasn't the time to test his changes.
Time was tight, and the caravan team would be displeased if he was late... He was no VIP on this journey but a tagging guard.
His emotions filled with a mix of excitement, worry, and sadness for the unknown future and of his past.
Taking a deep breath, Orion quickly cleaned himself up before filling his tummy with rye bread, two hard-boiled eggs, and warm water, making sure he had enough energy for the journey ahead.
Even hunters require a proper meal to maintain their strength, so what about me, a normal young man... Orion joked inwardly as he adjusted the strap of the bag over his shoulder.
He caressed the old door, the home that sheltered him for so long. His father's loud laughter, the steady rhythm of village life—they would all be memories now. But he would carry them with him, tucked away in his heart.
As he left the house, Orion calmly checked the sky, estimating the time to be around 6 o'clock in the morning and the caravan's departure time would be around 6:30. With the remaining time, he quietly visited the village chief and a few acquaintances to bid goodbye.
Though few of them advised him to stay, Orion expressed his determination to become a hunter, just like his late father.
After doing all that, he went straight to the village gate, where the caravan was stationed.
The caravan guards busily check the carriage's condition and its goods.
"Yoh! Are you Mr. Dave's new friend? He told me you're tagging along."
Orion heard a voice, but before he could speak, he suddenly froze in place.
Clad in hunting attire, with a bold head, bushy beard, sharp brows, and piercing brown eyes, a middle-aged man stood tall with an illusion of eyeing his prey.
"I... I..." Orion's was filled with fear.
He swallowed hard, looking at the 6'6-foot, burly middle-aged man.
"Kid, ease up. You're not my prey." noticing Orion's mental state, he patted his shoulder. "I'm the leader of the guards, Angus Bronz."
Angus paused for a moment before adding. "Your mental state is too bad. Kid, I advise you to go see a healer before pursuing your dreams. I can assure you that state of yours will kill you."
Orion controlled his emotion and slightly bowed. "Captain, sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Forget it. Just take my advice, and since you're a persistent archer, you can join Wardy over there."
As Captain Angus walked away, Orion felt a bit of anger at himself. Moments ago, the 'orb' passively activated, revealing something that made him fearful.
An incomplete sinister dog, bear, and monkey!
Pinching his left hand, his fear subsided, and when he took a glance, the illusion from the captain's body disappeared—not even the slightest aura to be seen.
'What was that?'
Thinking of this, Orion clenched his longbow and tightened his quiver straps as he met the other guards of the caravan.
At this time, Dave, aka Fatso, the owner of the caravan, appeared, patting his bulging belly under its wool and linen clothes.
"Orion, my friend, I see that you're already acquainted with Captain Angus and the others."
"Ugh," Orion smiled awkwardly. "I... I did meet the others, but it seems that I made some mistakes in interacting with the captain."
"Haha... Don't mind the awkwardness. The captain is easy to get along with." Dave laughed, patting his belly. "I forgot to inform you that Captain Angus is a hunter, the profession you aspire to be."
Orion was surprised by Dave's words, not expecting the captain to be a hunter. Now it dawned on him the illusion and aura he saw. According to his late father, hunters were beasts, and the stronger they were, the more complete their intimidation could be.
The incomplete he saw must be the animals of Captain Angus.
Excitement filled him once more. "If the captain is a hunter, what about the others?"
"You mean the captain's team? Oh, they are just ordinary warriors risking their lives to earn a living."
So that's why I did not see such illusions from the others... Orion nodded, then asked. "Isn't it safer to hire a group of hunters?"
"Cough, let's not talk about this." Dave waved awkwardly and shouted at Captain Angus. "Captain, are my caravan goods secure?"
"Mr. Dave, we can leave at your command."
"Great slumbering stone, please protect us during our journey. Let's proceed." Dave entered the main carriage.
With the order given, Captain Angus raised his hand, commanding to leave the village.
The guards steadily march by the side while the carriage is safely guarded in between the caravan's front and back.
.
An hour passed after they left the vicinity where monsters rarely appear since villages, towns, and cities were sometimes cleaned by hunters and their guards.
And in this vicinity, there was also the commonly used plant, the 'Greenguard Veil,' to repel weaker yet mischievous monsters from truly attacking settlements.
Lessening the number of deaths.
Continuing deep within the Creep forest, the scent of danger touched everyone's perception while the breeze rustled the tree.
Eerie sounds reverberated.
*Kikiki!*
*Keek!!*
"Goblins!" Angus sneered, hearing the eerie sound. "Brothers, prepare yourselves."
Wardy hurried between the carriage and the caravan while holding his bow. "Captain, from the noise alone, it sounds like there are about 40 to 50 goblins. Should we handle this the old-fashioned way?"
"Cap... Captain Angus, are you confident to fight that many goblins?" Dave opened the carriage curtain, startled by what he heard. "Should we run away?"
"Mr. Dave, please trust my strength... Hmm... This goblin may outnumber us, but they are far too weak to scare a hunter." Angus scoffs.
With confidence, Angus shouted. "Listen up, we will do this the old-fashioned way. You all defend, and I hunt."
"Captain, be careful," Wardy whispered, watching their strongest run to the deeper part of the forest before looking at a certain young man. "Orion, you take the left and I take the right. Let's support the team… Remember to be sharp."
Orion nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Uncle Wardy."
"Good."
.
.
*Boom*
*Iiiik!!!*
*Keek!!*
Soon the eerie cries of goblins once again reverberated, but this time their cries had a mix of tension and fear, as if a stronger monster were hunting them down.
Several goblins rushed out. Their expressions showed fear and timidity. Some were even heavily wounded while holding their bloody knives and bows.
The goblins quickly forgot their motives as the roles reversed from hunter to being hunted.
"Brothers, shield formation... Kill any goblins that come near you," Wardy shouted before releasing his arrow.
"Kill!"
"Goblins, time to die!"
"Contribute your life to my income."
"Oh great sleeping embers, purify all this evil spawn with your shimmering light."
Seeing the guards give their all, Orion finally controlled his emotions, raising his longbow and drew the arrow behind, his arm bent.
In just a few seconds, he let the arrow lock on their target.
It whistled in the air as it hunted the little goblin still in the distance, ripping their lives.
Kikiki!!
Orion's precise archery swiftly destroyed the incoming goblins, and with his support, the guards in defensive formation felt less burdened.
"Exterminate this darn pest." The wounded guard screamed, lifting its axe, slicing the goblin in half.
In just a few minutes, the fight quickly concluded as the corpses of fearful and timid goblins lay lifeless on the ground.
The guards only paid a small flesh wound to defeat the goblins.
Another minute passed by when suddenly everyone heard a rustling from the shrubs. A tall, burly middle-aged man emerged from it bathed in green blood with a fearsome smile.
"Another successful hunt... hahaha."
"Goddamn! Captain, can't you hunt more neatly?"
"Hahaha."
The guards laughed as they mend their wounds.
"Hmm... rather than whining such a small matter, you little rascals should already be looting these goblins... Remember the ten-minute rule." Angus scoffs, wiping the blood off his face.
Puchi!
Hearing the orders and laughter, Orion didn't hesitate to recover his arrows first, and while doing so, he discovered a worn parchment with unknown language written on it.
At least it was not the common tongue spoken by many or the old Lunaris language taught by his father.
'Is this a letter or something, but the parchment is too old?' He scans the content once more before putting it in his bag.
Ten minutes later, everyone assembled, placing the loot in the carriage from goblins' important body parts, little money, and rusty weapons.
The only thing the guards didn't accept was the discovered parchment, only laughing about it.
Since no one can read and see its importance, not even the knowledgeable merchant, they let Orion keep it.
"Everyone move. Let Mr. Dave and Wardy discuss the price."