My Last Hunt

Journey (8)

Is the rustle always meant to bring threat?

Unverified Vaga Hillocks

There were many who mostly brought this issue up for the Hightown that choosing an unverified area for the journey of lower level hunters was not wise act and there should be some hunters or elders doing this duty to protect them and safely send them in the Hightown. Though the subject of the concern was valid but it was greatly questionable for the hunters itself. They were on the path of hunting and pampering them was equal to spoil their hidden strengths and capabilities. They were supposed to lead the world of hunting in future not to sit in the corner and blame others for their weaknesses. 

There was second reason too. The Hightown was a big place no doubt and continuous stream of stronger hunters remain in there moreover it has access to the hunters of seven continents. Under the seven continents comes the hundred thousand towns several hundred islands; then there were several hundred places which always remain under threat and missions needed to be sent every now and then. This way most of the stronger hunters under the commands of the Hightown were already busy with their duties and stiff jobs. Most high class hunters were busy in taming the beasts to pass the Class Test for Hunter King Rank. 

As the saying goes 'The frog can only see the walls of the well' so most of the humans who flag these issues of protection cannot see the wider picture to understand the real competition between monsters and hunters. There was not abundance of stronger hunters at the service for every single tiny fly. If the flies were worried for their protection they should awaken their grit to face the world. 'A human who cannot protect in the broad daylight would never be able to defend in the dark night'. 

It was not just the hunters of Azzura Continent who would be taking long journey to reach the Hightown but the other six continents too. In fact it was challenging for others with regards that the Azzura Continent was nearest continent nearing the Hightown. It means the hunters from other continents would take longer journey and dangers. Most of them would be traveling for a month or two to reach the Hightown. With the fact that the Hightown was hub for the further growth of every hunter; the missions were granted; the elders taught the methods of hunting. 

The few bald forest trees were erected like the stealthy keepers. They seemed gossiping about something crude. The falling drizzling perhaps earned their resentment for the reason that the accumulated snow which was hanging on the bald branches started to drip-drip creating a weird sound effects. It was unknown why the sound effects were weird. As for the rustle; it was indeed rustling something near or far. Probably a bough of the tree cracked with the load of snow or perhaps got tired after a long struggling of keeping the balance. The reason could be anything but the breathing monsters under the hell holes of the ground. 

"Who would come first the unknown danger or the team of huntresses?" Lowa asked after a long silence. Qiao and wuza were already alert though they did not stop to take a look. 'Stopping by woods' can be a great idea but not in the present situation. Finally someone showed up when they were trying their best to not get distracted. They were expecting the team of huntresses however there appear the blood lust enemies. They were the hunters who blamed Qiao and framed him. Because of their false blame; Qiao was kicked from the previous Guild in a time when he cannot bear any loss. 

When Qiao came to know their wrongdoing; he was short of time to enroll for winter hunting and missions. Not sure if they were unlucky to end up in front of him or Qiao was given a chance to clean up his hands on some flies. "I thought that one day in the Hightown if any of my enemy happened to stop me; I would just simply slap and send him to death but it turned out that I have to get rid them before reaching Hightown. Would it ruin my reputation as hunter?" Qiao soberly looked at the all-knowing huntress and asked. Lowa got stunned for some time then spoke, "As long as you are not the first to start the battle; no one can blame you anything." She stated the rule of the Hightown for a hunter for this kind of situations. Also Lowa fell in a round of complexions asking in her head whether this young hunter actually care for the rules or he was pretending care. 

A team of four hunters stopped them. They stood in the way so that the young hunter should not neglect their presence. 

All of them were the same; not a single detail changed. For example their unwelcoming snicker; the weapons though upgraded with the time along with their level. "Guess who is here?" one of them chuckled. They tried their best to chase this young hunter even followed to kill but then he appeared lucky most of the time. The last effort was to throw him out of the Guild in order to hunt him when he would be left alone however without wasting time he went to enroll in the Starglow Guild. 

It was troublesome for them to chase after that. But they kept hunting to reach level five and then find him again. Luckily they spotted him running toward a rock a while before. There fleeces were of middle grade not worn or very expensive. Their hair was smoothly combed back. All the four hunters were wearing same pendant on their forehead. It seemed they liked to show that they were related to each other. "He is the crudest hunter whom I hate the most." The second in line spoke his hatred. 

Until now Qiao never asked them why they kept chasing him; it was unlikely that he would ask ever.