Chapter 146: Resuming the Hunt
After watching until Grandfather disappeared from view, Ren quietly exhaled.
Grandmother departed afterwards. She boarded House Noisette’s carriage and would travel to the territory ruled by her brother. Grandmother normally lived in House Noisette’s residence in the Royal Capital. She would visit her old home in the Noisette territory before returning there.
Most of the servants she’d brought for the celebration left with her, though a few remained to help clean up.
One carriage after another passed through the gate. Little by little, the once-lively manor returned to normal. There were far fewer people, and only the quiet footfalls of servants echoed through the corridors.
(It’s over…)
It had lasted only a few days, yet it felt much longer.
There had been happy events. He’d spoken with Grandmother. He’d learned that Eugene-san was actually his uncle and had promised to help him. He’d also managed to speak with Grandfather.
But there were still so many things he’d wanted to discuss.
Ren’s bedding was moved from the storehouse room back to his own. He kept his possessions in Small Box, so there was little more to move. Even so, the restored room somehow looked unfamiliar.
Ren opened the window and looked outside. The forest was visible in the distance.
“Maybe I’ll go into the forest for the first time in a while…”
He hadn’t been able to hunt during the celebration, and he had almost no feathers left for making Charcoal-Core Feather Pens.
He put on his rucksack and left the manor, running along the road still marked by carriage wheels towards the forest. He showed the guard his apprentice adventurer card, and the gate opened as usual.
“I’m off.”
“Be careful.”
Ren bowed to the guard’s raised hand and stepped onto the grassland. He walked over the damp grass.
Horn Rabbits bounded across the field, but he paid them no attention today.
(Today I’m hunting bird-type magical beasts. Birds, birds, birds!)
He wanted feathers for Charcoal-Core Feather Pens, preferably in beautiful colours.
(Rainbow colours… blue would be good too…)
Thinking about his goal made him excited. He entered the forest and silenced his footsteps.
Among the songs of small birds, he heard leaves rustle. Ren stopped. It wasn’t the wind, but the sound of a small weight moving from branch to branch.
(There!)
He slowly raised his gaze. Orange feathers stirred in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
(A Flame Finch.)
Ren silently nocked an arrow, steadied his breathing, and drew the string. The arrow passed between the branches, and the bird fell in a flutter of wings.
“Yes!”
He collected it at once, stored it in Small Box, delivered the finishing blow, and drained its blood.
Farther into the forest, the wind shook the trees. A blue shadow crossed a branch against the wind.
(An Azure Wind Swift!)
Its feathers were a vivid blue—the colour said to be popular in the Royal Capital. Ren took careful aim.
It was fast, but it always took off in the same way: the instant it kicked away from the branch.
He released his arrow. It cut through the air and struck perfectly. The Azure Wind Swift tumbled to the ground.
“All right!”
Ren smiled as he ran towards the landing point. He stored it in Small Box and drew a deep breath of forest air.
The weight that had pressed on his chest during the celebration seemed a little lighter.
(I’ll work even harder.)
Just as his mood brightened, he sensed movement and immediately summoned a Small Box shield.
Thud! Thud-thud!
“Kee!”
They were Small-Fanged Rats. One struck the shield and rolled across the ground. Another was flung away and fled immediately. The first also scrambled to its feet and ran into the forest.
“…I didn’t even have time to take out my spear…”
Ren watched the group disappear. There was little point chasing them when they didn’t sell for much.
“I’d like to hunt with a spear too…”
He took two spears from Small Box: his homemade makeshift spear and the one he’d bought back from the merchant.
“I wanted to ask Grandfather about spears…”
He wished he’d at least seen Grandfather wield one.
“…But I’ll work on archery today. I’m here for bird-type magical beasts.”
Ren returned the spears to Small Box. He wanted to use them, but carrying one would stop him from using his bow.
The birds were about the size of Horn Rabbits. Grandmother probably wouldn’t consider them strong beasts, but their feathers could be made into Charcoal-Core Feather Pens and sold. Even unprocessed, they were worth some money.
(Archery isn’t pointless. Neither are swords or spears. And Small Box isn’t useless.)
Little by little, he felt he was moving forwards. It seemed as though the door to his future had begun to open.
Ren looked up into the trees and walked on in search of his next prey.