Hunt Race

Kael left the mission hall with the notice folded inside his coat.

He had barely taken a few steps before he stopped.

He looked down at the paper again.

Three missing hunters.

Two days.

No confirmed beast rank.

That last part bothered him.

Usually, a mission involving missing Hunters would have at least some information about the creature involved. Even if the rank wasn't confirmed, there would normally be tracks, descriptions, signs of mana, or reports from other Hunters.

This report had almost nothing.

Kael unfolded it again.

Eastern Forest — Missing Hunter Investigation.

Objective: Locate the missing Hunters and determine the cause of their disappearance.

That was all.

Kael frowned.

"Darius really picked this one on purpose."

He folded the notice and continued walking.

Before leaving the guild, Kael stopped by the supply counter.

The receptionist looked up.

"Another mission?"

Kael placed the notice on the counter.

"Yes."

She read it.

Her expression changed slightly.

"The eastern forest?"

Kael noticed.

"You know something?"

"I've heard about the mission."

She lowered her voice.

"The Hunters who went there haven't returned."

"I know."

"They weren't beginners."

Kael's expression became more serious.

"How strong were they?"

"Bronze."

Kael nodded.

"All three?"

"Yes."

That caught his attention.

Three Bronze Hunters had entered the forest together and none had returned.

The receptionist pushed the notice back toward him.

"Are you going alone?"

"Yes."

She looked at him for a moment.

"Be careful."

Kael smiled.

"I usually am."

He took the notice and walked away.

He stopped at the equipment counter next.

His sword was already in good condition, but Kael checked the blade carefully anyway. He tightened the sheath around his waist, checked the straps on his equipment, and made sure he had enough supplies for several days.

He wasn't planning to rush.

Darius had specifically chosen the mission because it wasn't something that could be solved simply by finding a beast and killing it.

Kael needed to investigate.

That meant patience.

Something he wasn't particularly good at.

He left the guild shortly afterward.

The eastern forest was several hours away.

By the time Kael reached the outskirts of the city, the noise of the guild had disappeared behind him.

The road gradually became quieter.

Buildings gave way to open land.

Eventually, even the road became little more than a dirt path surrounded by tall grass.

Kael continued walking.

The sun slowly moved across the sky.

He didn't encounter any trouble along the way.

That almost made him suspicious.

A forest dangerous enough to make three Bronze Hunters disappear should have generated more warnings.

Yet the road remained quiet.

Kael finally reached the eastern forest near sunset.

He stopped at the edge.

The trees were enormous.

Their branches stretched across one another, blocking most of the remaining sunlight. The deeper parts of the forest were already dark.

Kael looked at the mission notice one last time.

Then he put it away.

He stepped beneath the trees.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

The sounds of the outside world faded.

Even the wind seemed quieter.

Kael walked slowly, paying attention to the ground.

Broken branches.

Footprints.

Marks on tree trunks.

Anything.

He didn't draw his sword.

Not yet.

There was no reason to announce his presence.

After several minutes, he noticed something.

A footprint.

Kael crouched.

The print was partially covered by leaves, but the shape was clear.

A boot.

Human.

He looked around.

Another footprint appeared several meters ahead.

Then another.

Kael followed them deeper into the forest.

The tracks weren't old.

Kael touched the disturbed soil.

"Less than two days."

The missing Hunters had come this way.

He stood and continued.

The tracks became harder to follow as the forest grew denser, but Kael didn't give up.

Eventually, he found something else.

A broken branch.

Then another.

Someone had passed through here recently.

Kael moved forward carefully.

A faint metallic glint caught his eye.

He stopped.

Something was lying beneath a bush.

Kael approached and pushed the leaves aside.

A small piece of metal lay in the dirt.

Part of a Hunter's equipment.

Kael picked it up.

There was dried blood on the edge.

His expression became serious.

He looked around the forest.

Nothing moved.

No beast.

No Hunter.

Nothing.

Kael slowly placed the metal piece into his pocket.

Then he noticed something else.

A thin line had been carved into the tree beside him.

Not claw marks.

A deliberate cut.

Kael stepped closer.

There were several more.

Each one appeared at almost the same height.

He followed them with his eyes.

They continued deeper into the forest.

Kael's hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

"This isn't random."

He followed the markings.

The forest became darker with every step.

Then Kael stopped.

He could feel something.

Very faint.

Mana.

His eyes narrowed.

It wasn't coming from directly ahead.

It was somewhere deeper in the forest.

Kael closed his eyes.

He tried to remember Darius's words.

Don't force it.

Feel.

Kael remained still.

The faint sensation became clearer.

Something was there.

Not moving.

Waiting.

Kael opened his eyes.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"So there you are."

He drew his sword.

Then continued deeper into the eastern forest.

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