Chapter 42: Heading to the Forest
After exiting the village gate located before the forest, Ren would normally head toward the grasslands rather than the forest, but today he decided to try heading into the forest.
“Next year, I’ll be a registered adventurer too…”
Once he turned ten next year, he could register as a proper adventurer. Furthermore, at twelve, he would be old enough to attend the royal capital’s academy. He had been working as an apprentice adventurer and gradually saving money, but he felt it was still far from enough to attend the academy.
Truthfully, he hadn’t clearly confirmed exactly how much money was needed to attend the royal capital’s academy. However, since his father had said he wouldn’t pay for it, Ren assumed it must be quite a substantial amount.
He earned income steadily by hunting monsters daily and gathering medicinal herbs, but since they weren’t rare medicinal herbs or strong monsters, the pay wasn’t high.
His two-years-younger siblings Yuan and Yona had obtained their skills. Ren thought his father would probably prioritize paying for Yuan and Yona’s tuition over his own. At the very least, there was no doubt he would prioritize Yuan, who had obtained the “Swordsmanship” skill.
“…I have to earn money…”
Ren decided to expand his range of activities somewhat beyond what he had done so far.
The first step was the forest. According to the guild’s materials, the shallow areas of the forest were suitable for new adventurers. The deeper layers were for intermediate-level and above adventurers, as strong demon beasts appeared there.
Ren was still an apprentice adventurer, but he would be old enough to register as a proper adventurer next year, and he was already regularly hunting horn rabbits in the grasslands. He felt he had become quite accustomed to adventurer activities.
“If it’s the shallow area of the forest, I should be fine…”
His heart pounding, he muttered as if convincing himself. On his back were his bow and quiver. At his waist was a knife in a leather sheath. In his shoulder-slung bag were a thin rope, a canteen, and hardtack. Stones. He had collected the stones to throw at demon beasts. Hardtack could also be thrown with some force, but since it was food, he was keeping it as emergency rations.
Gazing between the trees of the forest, he tightened the corners of his mouth. He took a step forward.
Crunch
Frost pillars crunched under his boots.
The ground soil was hard in places, and among the withered grass, new sprouts were peeking out here and there. Each time the wind blew, dry branches rubbed together with a small sound.
Just before stepping into the forest, Ren stopped once, readjusting the bow on his back. To calm himself, he took a deep breath.
He had heard “the forest is dangerous” countless times.
“…The shallow area should be fine.”
Thinking about actually entering the forest made him a bit nervous, but Ren muttered as if convincing himself. He had heard that near the forest entrance was a place even new adventurers could enter. The dangerous part was deeper in.
“Alright.”
He lightly plucked the bowstring with his finger to check it, and touched one arrow in the quiver to adjust its position. Looking up at the forest, the trees still had few leaves, and thin light filtered through. Even so, the space visible between the trees looked dim and chilly.
“…Let’s go.”
Ren muttered softly and stepped into the forest.