Galliot and his party gradually moved away.
Of course, I happily chitchat about Richard behind his back.
Once they completely disappeared, I came out from the bushes.
‘There are roughly 12 of them.’
After observing, I found that there was no captured prey.
Are they planning to secure the Moon Deer first and then gather their own prey?
Or is it a strategy where they focus all their efforts on one person?
I looked up at the sky.
Activating [Hunter’s Sense].
This isn’t just a trait to track traces.
The direction of the wind.
Temperature and humidity.
The angle of the shadows.
It helps to accurately assess my surroundings.
‘Around 4 PM.’
The sun is starting to set.
Which means it’s time for the Moon Deer to become active.
‘If things continue like this, Galliot will find the Moon Deer.’
I looked in the direction Galliot and his party had departed.
I gripped the flint and stone dagger tightly in hand.
Both were received from Dillon and Richard.
‘Lucky me. Of all things, these two.’
Will that guy Galliot be able to catch the Moon Deer?
I think not.
He seems to be all talk about tracking, but knows nothing about hunting.
The Moon Deer is not an easy prey.
But, there’s a slim chance Galliot might win.
If he utilizes his hunting skills to track the Moon Deer.
And the teamwork of the other members.
If he manages those two well, he might actually win.
‘That can’t happen.’
Leaving all aside, I want to outsmart those guys.
There’s no better way to outsmart them than to win myself.
So, I must win.
‘I need to gather more yellow umbrella mushrooms and other things too.’
I immediately set out to find the necessary items.
‘The Moon Deer is mine.’
*
Using [Hunter’s Sense], I gathered everything I needed.
Because my trait level is low and I’m not a real hunter, it took quite a while.
‘Around 5:30 PM.’
The sun began to set, and it was getting dim.
It seemed like it would be dark soon.
In a high-altitude area.
There are fewer trees in comparison to the surroundings, making it a relatively open space.
I sat on the ground and checked the items I had brought.
Flat stone plate, tinder, firewood.
Leaves and branches collected to make a simple fan, and vines.
And the flint and stone dagger received from Dillon and Richard.
‘I’ve gathered everything I need.’
First, I used the stone dagger to tear my clothes.
I held the torn fabric to my mouth and tied it behind my head.
It was a makeshift mask.
Covering my mouth, I turned my back to the wind and started the fire.
Thanks to the flint, it ignited quickly.
The warmth and smell of burning wood wafted away with the wind.
I watched the fire briefly, waiting for it to get completely dark.
‘It’s a crescent moon. That means the Moon Deer will become particularly aggressive.’
The crescent moon hung in the night sky like a smiling half-eye.
Somehow, it resembled Eliya’s eerie smile.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
All necessary preparations were completed.
‘The Moon Deer is mine.’
All that’s left is to win.
*
“I found it.”
Galliot said quietly.
At that word, those crouched in the bushes collectively turned to one place.
Beyond the dark forest where the crescent moon hung.
The Moon Deer appeared as it passed the great tree.
Soft steps, crunching through the grass.
The Moon Deer stepped into the clearing, bathed in faint moonlight.
“Wow….”
Someone sighed in admiration.
The gray antlers glimmered softly as if absorbing the weak moonlight.
The cracks running like lightning on the antlers sparkled boldly.
Unlike other creatures, it possessed high intelligence and special abilities, being a being known as a spirit.
In some religions, it’s referred to as the “messenger of God,” the true form of the ‘Moon Deer.’
Many hunters aimed for the spirit Moon Deer.
The success rate is incredibly low.
There are tales of those who successfully hunted it, but the methods aren’t specific.
There are no records of it being tamed.
Galliot’s plan was simple.
‘Traps and drives.’
Despite being a spirit, it’s ultimately just a beast.
It cannot escape the long history of human hunting.
Especially, through the prolonged wars with demon races, humans have grown even stronger.
Can’t even be compared to the past, which is why they call themselves ‘the new humans.’
Moreover, deer. I’ve hunted them several times.
It was a predictable prey.
The Moon Deer was sitting as if basking in the moonlight.
Contrary to the peaceful scenery, Galliot and the candidates’ hearts raced.
Galliot scanned the surroundings.
Cautiously, thumbs went up here and there.
It was a signal that they were ready.
Setting traps, determining the direction of the drive, and carving simple spears from wood.
The preparations were complete.
‘Victory is mine.’
After taking a deep breath, Galliot boldly jumped out and shouted threateningly.
“Waaah—!”
He intended to startle the deer and make it run away.
With that, people began to emerge from the bushes.
“Waaah—!”
They shouted just as intimidatingly.
Stamping their feet, banging shields, they were making a loud noise.
‘They have no choice but to run away.’
If it were an ordinary deer, that would definitely be the case.
But the Moon Deer remained calm.
No matter how noisy it got around.
It maintained its dignified posture.
With eyes closed, it gazed up at the moon, seemingly soaked in moonlight.
“……”
Starting with Galliot, they one by one fell silent.
That beast clearly ignored them.
“G-Galliot sir, why is it acting like that?”
“……”
I don’t know either.
That was what he wanted to say.
But he couldn’t show any sign of weakness.
Everyone waited anxiously for Galliot’s response.
“Don’t be scared! It’s just a bigger deer! Attack!”
Hiding his own panic, Galliot shouted.
He walked boldly towards the Moon Deer, representing the group.
Others awkwardly followed him.
They stopped at a distance where their spears could reach.
The Moon Deer showed no reaction.
There was no more time to wait.
If it quietly dies, it’ll be comfortable for him.
Galliot lunged at the Moon Deer’s nape with all his might.
Thwack!
A crisp sound reverberated in Galliot’s head.
“……”
The spear scraped the Moon Deer’s skin and slipped off.
As if it were scratching a tough, hard rock.
While Galliot was bewildered, the Moon Deer slowly opened its eyes.
Black pupils.
Within them, the crescent moon resembled a coldly sharpened blade.
Galliot’s heart pounded against his chest.
“G-Galliot sir…!”
The Moon Deer tossed its head.
Its enormous antlers stirred the air violently, sweeping through the surroundings.
“Ugh…!”
Galliot, struck by the antlers, was blown away.
Another candidate caught in the wind suffered the same fate.
Even though it wasn’t swung quickly, the impact felt as powerful as a strike with all one’s might sent them soaring.
“Whoosh….”
The Moon Deer lowered its head and charged at the ground.
Angry snorts scattered like mist.
“Waaah—!”
“Brother got hit!”
“Everyone run away—!”
Candidates screamed, scattering in all directions.
It was a pointless struggle.
The Moon Deer didn’t go on a rampage.
It simply became blurred, and before long, reappeared in another place.
It was almost ghost-like in its movements.
The Moon Deer that appeared in such a manner began swinging its head, mercilessly striking the candidates with its antlers.
Galliot, who clutched his ribs while standing, trembled all over.
“Ugggh—!”
Several fell, getting caught by the Moon Deer.
In the midst of this, the Moon Deer suddenly stopped moving.
It lifted its head high, staring at something.
“Brother! Are you okay?!”
“Y-Yeah… I’m fine. Are there any injuries?”
“Five are hurt. Why is it acting like that all of a sudden?”
Galliot was just as puzzled.
He had no idea that the Moon Deer was this strong.
He was utterly ignorant when it came to spirits.
The Moon Deer then seemed to stroll away, as if it had never done that before.
“Brother, what should we do?”
There was no way to hunt it.
Even if we were fine, we wouldn’t win; now Galliot was injured.
‘But I can’t go back like this….’
Just because we found a trace doesn’t mean we can pursue the target.
This was a hard-fought chance.
“It doesn’t seem to intend to attack us anymore, so let’s follow.”
“Eh? But what about the injured…?”
“I’m not aiming to hunt. I’m going to observe what it’s planning, and if I deem it impossible, I’ll run.”
“Understood.”
Quickly regrouping the injured, we chased after the Moon Deer.
It was moving slowly, allowing us to keep up easily.
No one knew where it was headed; we just followed.
“Doesn’t it smell strange?”
“Is someone bleeding?”
“No, it’s not that… it smells like something’s burning.”
Someone ahead mentioned.
We sniffed the air in unison.
Just as they said, it indeed smelled like that.
“Did someone light a fire?”
We looked in the direction from which the smell was coming.
It aligned with the direction the wind was blowing.
Simultaneously, it was the direction the Moon Deer was headed.
“Is it a forest fire?”
But the surroundings were bright.
Skeptically, we continued walking.
Then, suddenly.
“Hi, hik! Hihik!”
Someone twisted their body as if having a seizure, grinning grotesquely.
“Hit, 히히힛, 히힉!”
“What’s wrong with them…!”
“Hey, snap out of it! What’s wrong with you!”
“Hik, huhuhuhik!”
It was one person.
But then, it became two.
“Huhuhuhut, huh, huht, huh!”
“T-This…! You crazy fools! Cut it out!”
Galliot looked around, bewildered.
The bizarre laughter sent chills down his spine.
Meanwhile, the Moon Deer kept moving along undeterred.
“Brother! Is there, maybe, a ghost here?!”
“Don’t talk nonsense. A ghost in this area? Ridiculous.”
“But suddenly, they… huh, huh, huhihih!”
The candidate, who was arguing, twisted his face while laughing.
His pleading eyes looked pitiful.
“It’s the work of a ghost…!”
Someone shouted.
Panic spread rapidly.
Most of the candidates, except Galliot, fled.
He wanted to run as well.
But he couldn’t afford to make a fool of himself.
“Hihihih!”
Leaving behind those who laughed oddly, Galliot pressed on alone.
He hadn’t walked long.
On the hilltop.
Someone was sitting in front of a campfire.
Flapping a fan made of leaves and stems.
Towards the direction the Moon Deer was heading.
Galliot recognized that figure.
Although the mouth was covered, the unruly hair and disgruntled golden eyes were enough recognition.
“Judas…?”
“Eh?”
Judas, fanning the fire, was startled.
He just realized someone was approaching from behind, hidden by the Moon Deer.
“Ah, crap…. So it was your party that was laughing in the forest?”
“What?”
“I thought it was a ghost…. Phew.”
“Wait a minute. What do you mean by that…?”
Galliot couldn’t finish his sentence.
The Moon Deer approached Judas, sniffing the air.
Something was burning in the campfire.
Though it appeared black, its shape could be inferred.
‘A mushroom?’
Judas reached out toward the Moon Deer.
Finely chopped yellow mushrooms were placed at hand.
Carefully, the Moon Deer approached Judas and accepted the mushrooms placed in his palm.
“Well, you’re quite robust.”
Judas said.
“Normally, you’d get poisoned and your muscles would be paralyzed.”
“What do you mean….”
“To put it simply, I’m burning poisonous mushrooms and letting the wind carry them away. What you inhaled is the powder from those poisonous mushrooms.”
“Poisonous mushrooms?”
Galliot’s gaze dropped to Judas’s feet.
There were many yellow mushrooms.
“They’re called yellow umbrella mushrooms. Ah, don’t worry. The symptoms are temporary muscle paralysis and difficulty breathing. You’ll be back to normal in about 30 minutes after laughing like this.”
Judas held back more details.
He didn’t bother explaining the difference between yellow umbrella mushrooms and yolk mushrooms.
Or that the Moon Deer liked yellow umbrella mushrooms. There was no need for that.
‘Thank goodness I didn’t turn my back to the wind.’
The Moon Deer obediently chewed the mushrooms in its hand.
It was a remarkably gentle creature.
‘But… thinking about it, isn’t this a hunting tournament?’
The skin of the Moon Deer, illuminated by the moonlight, looked incredibly tough.
Unless wielding a sword aura, there’s no way I could kill it with my current strengths and abilities.
‘If I turn it in, the butcher will take care of it for me.’
Galliot mumbled in front of him.
“I-I’ll be the first to do it, definitely—”
“Right,” Judas replied nonchalantly while continuing to fan.
“Is it okay to gossip about others so easily?”
“…?”
“Especially when you’re many, you shouldn’t target someone as weak and young as me.”
“How do you know that….”
“It’s inevitable that if there are many people, mouths and ears will increase as well, right?”
“…….”
Judas just happened to hear that.
But he chose not to tell the truth.
It was said as if there were a spy among them.
He carefully observed Galliot, who was lost in thought.
‘He’s quite big. Around 180 cm? I think I’m about 145 or so. Looks fit too. He must have trained for a long while. Around 19? I can’t win against him no matter what.’
Even sneaking up like Kale would bear no results.
Above all, this was a body sustaining itself in the smoke of poisonous mushrooms.
‘Based on the quivering of the corners of his mouth, I guess the effects are just kicking in now.’
High tolerance and a sturdy body.
In other words, he was someone who had accumulated mana and trained.
There was no way to reach him with such cheap tricks.
“I’ll head down first.”
Judas stood up.
The Moon Deer naturally followed him.
Galliot, still grasping the situation, stood still.
He felt as if he had fallen into a trap.
But Judas neither deceived him nor set a trap.
He merely lured the Moon Deer away.
He and his companions had simply tripped over their own feet.
Judas headed toward an entrance where the test began.
Those who secured their prey were instructed to return to the starting point.
‘More importantly, can I take this guy with me?’
The Moon Deer.
In the civilian world, it’s called a spirit, and in certain religions, it’s reverently referred to as holy water.
Of course, if one hunts or trains it irresponsibly, that religion will frown upon it.
What worried Judas was not that.
‘Was the name of that religion Molsin Church? If my memory serves correctly, they have a poor relationship with the Bevel family.’
He didn’t know for certain.
In the future, Molsin Church would be suppressed by the Bevel family and would fall into decline.
There had been instances when remnants attempted to attack Eliya, the last surviving member of the Bevel family, and had met their end.
In other words, it was possible Eliya would be displeased.
Worrying late, he brushed it off.
‘…I don’t know. Eliya will decide on her own. Winning or not, it doesn’t matter to me.’
Judas cleanly discarded his worries.
‘By the way, this Moon Deer is following me quite obediently….’
Its crescent-moon-like eyes looked indefinitely gentle.
Essentially, they were in a half-tamed state.
The method he used to attract the Moon Deer was one of the procedures in games for taming.
‘Eliya may kill me, but I strangely feel sorry for it….’
Spirits are intelligent beings.
They possess intellect comparable to that of a human.
Thinking that way grew burdensome in his heart.
Judas had to try hard not to meet the gaze of the Moon Deer.
*
In the campsite set up at the entrance of the Moon Deer Forest.
This is where those who secured their prey early or gave up hunting, gather to rest.
Those who didn’t want to spend the night in the forest likely returned as well.
I arrived at the campsite with the Moon Deer.
“What’s that…?”
One by one, those resting at the campsite began to notice me.
Their eyes widened as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.
Or perhaps denying what they were witnessing.
“Is that the new recruit from the 13th Room?”
“Is that a Moon Deer beside him?”
“No way, right? Have you ever seen one in person?”
If it were me, I’d find it hard to believe too.
What kind of young kid casually brought in a much larger Moon Deer with him?
“…Judas?”
There were Richard, Dillon, and some of the other members of the 13th Room.
“Judas, you… what’s going on?”
Richard, rarely stuttering, asked.
“It’s a Moon Deer. It just happened that way.”
With no other explanation, I answered vaguely.
“Huh, huh huh….”
Richard wore a dazed smile.
“I should have at least stepped in a little to be helpful…. Why were you so impatient….”
He seemed to be blaming himself.
Even though there could be only one winner, they might hope for some reward if they contributed to capturing the Moon Deer, even a little.
It seemed like he was expecting something.
“…That’s surprising.”
Dillon briefly expressed his admiration.
“They’re said to be creatures that are incredibly uncontrollable, and they make it hard to tame, let alone capture.”
I only learned that from someone else’s guide.
I couldn’t believe the yellow umbrella mushrooms had such use.
While Dillon was impressed, he also frowned as if there was something unsatisfactory.
Many people gathered around to see the Moon Deer.
“Wow…. I never thought I’d see the Moon Deer I’ve only heard of.”
“They say it’s not easy to spot them; should we call this luck?”
“We’ve lost the competition now….”
Unintentionally, I crushed the determination of another candidate.
Dillon, who appeared to be thinking, lowered his voice and cautiously stated.
“While everyone has their situation, if you stand out like this, you’ll attract more enemies than you need. Someone will become suspicious of you.”
The tone was stiff, but it was a warning of concern.
I understood. It was obviously suspicious.
‘But what can I do? I’ve started attracting attention already, so there’s no way back now.’
And my background was just going to be that I rolled around on the streets and was sold into slavery.
Who would dig into my past at this point?
Still, there was no denying that Dillon’s words carried some truth.
The concern that lingered was somewhat comforting.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“But this Moon Deer… will it die tomorrow?”
“That surely will… we will indeed see it.”
“That’s a pity.”
Eliya was scheduled to arrive at the campsite at the time when the hunting tournament would start tomorrow morning.
Until then, I would be inconveniently hanging around with the Moon Deer following me.
*
Eliya always wears a mask.
Even when smiling, and even when appearing expressionless, it’s still a mask.
She rarely expresses emotions.
Only facade expressions according to the situation.
That’s how I knew Eliya.
The Eliya standing before me now is somewhat different.
She blinks her eyes while staring at the living Moon Deer.
Looking astonished. Looking flustered.
Is it strange that I find that feeling somewhat satisfying?
Her slightly parted lips closed late, forming a smile.
“How interesting.”
In the morning.
It was a gathering of all the candidates.
The moment it spread that I captured a Moon Deer, the competition was practically over.
“I never expected that anyone would catch something like this. And alive at that.”
It was not part of my plan either.
I have no idea how this happened.
“By the way, you two seem quite close.”
“…….”
“If you want to use it as an ingredient, you’ll need to kill it. Are you okay with that?”
While I’m saddened by this, there aren’t any other kinds of options.
It would be unreasonable to ask them not to kill it since I didn’t want them to.
That had been the initial goal.
I bowed my head and remained silent in agreement.
Eliya stared intently at me, then uttered words that seemed confusing.
“How cute.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll spare it.”
“…What?”
I glanced up and met Eliya’s gaze directly.
Her crimson eyes sparkled.
“I mean, I won’t kill it.”
It was a statement I doubted, so I asked like a child.
“Really?”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
