After dinner.
Matthew tidied up briefly and stood up.
“Keep your spirits up these next few days. We aren't short on meat, so eat well and train hard.”
“Remember to go to Old Joel and sell those pelts, or they'll start piling up.”
With that, Matthew pulled open the door and stepped out into the snow, walking toward the center of the village.
Lately, although Matthew only entered the forest once every two or three days, he always managed to bring something back, thanks to his increasingly refined archery and familiarity with the forest's outskirts.
Aside from the meat he and Aidan consumed daily, he had accumulated quite a few rabbit skins, hazel grouse pelts, and even the occasional small beast hide.
Selling these hides to Old Joel provided a steady stream of income.
Although a single sale didn't bring in much gold, the steady trickle added up. While it wasn't enough to buy rare resources, it was more than sufficient for daily supplies and purchasing practical tools.
Besides, he still hadn't sold the Shadow Wolf pelt yet.
Night fell, and the snow reflected the faint moonlight, casting the village paths in blurry outlines.
Occasionally, the cold wind whipped up loose snow from the ground, making a soft rustling sound.
Matthew walked along the packed snow path and arrived at Instructor Calm's house. After a brief hesitation, he knocked on the wooden door.
His primary purpose for this visit was to seek Instructor Calm's advice. After all, the instructor was highly experienced and could offer sound guidance on whether they should explore the kobold nest.
If he could get Instructor Calm to join him, that would naturally be the best outcome.
Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from inside the courtyard. Matthew's curiosity piqued, and the courtyard gate swung open a moment later.
To Matthew's surprise, the person standing inside was not Instructor Calm, but a stranger he had never seen before.
The man was tall, dressed in tight-fitting leather armor, with a shortsword hanging from his waist.
With just one look, Matthew keenly sensed that this tall man was definitely a Class holder! His steady, condensed aura suggested he might have already stepped into the Brass Rank!
Behind this leader, two more men followed closely.
They similarly wore compact gear and solemn expressions, but their auras were far less deep and imposing than their leader's.
The tall man turned back to the courtyard and said politely, “No need to see us out. We know each other well enough. Please give my proposal some serious thought.”
“I've left the small gift on the table.”
Having said that, he turned to leave, his eyes meeting Matthew's, who was standing in the snow outside.
The tall man's steps faltered for an imperceptible fraction of a second, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. He let his gaze linger on Matthew for a brief moment before giving an extremely subtle nod as a greeting.
The sky was dark, and the two attendants behind him did not notice this interaction. Seeing Matthew's youthful face, they paid him no mind whatsoever.
The three of them did not linger. They set off, their boots crunching loudly in the snow as they walked quickly toward the village entrance.
Matthew stood in place, watching the direction they had vanished, his brow furrowing slightly.
Who were these people?
Based on the brief exchange between the man and Instructor Calm, Matthew was now certain that the tall leader was likely a Brass Rank powerhouse!
A massive wave of doubt rose in his heart.
Brass Rank Class holders were not common! Especially in a remote, small place like Stone Mill Village, a warrior capable of reaching the Brass Rank held a status comparable to a town guard captain or even some minor nobility.
Why would such a figure pay a late-night visit to Instructor Calm?
Matthew's mind raced with possibilities.
Just then, Instructor Calm's steady voice came from the doorway: “Matthew, come on in. Don't just stand there in the snow.”
The two of them walked into the main room, greeted by the smell of woodsmoke and a faint scent of blood.
The hearth in the room was burning brightly, radiating a continuous wave of warmth.
Matthew's eyes habitually swept across the room and quickly landed on the center of the wooden table. A dark burlap sack sat there, the blood seeping from its opening exceptionally eye-catching in the firelight.
Seeing this, a guess formed in his mind.
Seeing Matthew enter, Calm smiled, temporarily casting aside his solemn expression from earlier.
“You've come at the perfect time, Matthew.”
Calm pointed at the sack on the table. “Take some of this back to eat. Those few pounds of Shadow Wolf meat you shared with me last time tasted truly wonderful.”
He paused, his gaze lingering on Matthew's face for a moment as if trying to discern something, before continuing in his usual tone: “This was just delivered, and the quality is slightly better than Shadow Wolf meat. It's exactly what you need right now.”
Matthew took a quick glance and was inwardly startled. The weight of this sack was likely far more than ten pounds, perhaps even close to twenty!
Such a large quantity... if converted to market price, it would probably be worth six or seven gold coins!
Matthew waved his hands repeatedly, his attitude respectful yet firm. “Instructor, this is too valuable. I cannot accept it.”
“The magical beast meat I gave you last time was just a small token of my gratitude for your constant guidance.”
Calm looked at him, and after a brief silence, he did not press the issue.
He shook his head and asked instead, “Coming over so late in this snowstorm, is there something urgent?”
“Yes, Instructor. I mainly wanted to ask for your advice regarding the kobold nest.”
“I suspect the kobold nest might be located near the goblin nest; otherwise, there would be no reason for the two groups to fight so desperately to the death... I have some conjectures regarding its potential location and what we might find inside, and I wanted to hear your thoughts.”
Matthew then explained the situation regarding the kobold nest, along with his theories.
“Indeed, your reasoning is sound. It is certainly worth a try.”
Calm paused, his expression turning serious. “They have likely accumulated things they've plundered or gathered, such as ores, weapons, and money... More importantly, we can completely eliminate this potential threat, which would be a great thing for the village.”
“After all, kobolds are much stronger than goblins. If we allow them to grow their numbers in the forest, it will become a major headache for the village.”
Hearing this, Matthew's heart settled. He could tell that the instructor was willing to go with him!
But Instructor Calm's next words made him suppress the urge to take immediate action.
“However, we'll have to wait on this.”
Calm's gaze drifted toward the courtyard gate where the visitors had just departed. “You saw them too—I just sent off those guests.”
“The leader is an old acquaintance of mine. This generous gift he brought is an invitation. He wants me to join him in hunting a mountain giant bear to help him break through to the Silver Rank.”
“So, we have to wait until that matter is settled before we can head into the woods.”
Calm's brow furrowed slightly as he added, “And I'm afraid this task won't be easily accomplished.”
...
...
Rate on N.U.
