As we set up camp both Red and Jax proceeded to use their speed and agility to scout out the region and up into the mountains to find the harpy nesting grounds, leaving only me, Aster, One-Eye and Urta to stay back at base camp and finish setting everything we need up.
'The water is so clear here, much better than the rivers back in the old world at least.' I couldn't help but think as I looked into the calmly flowing river as I watched the fish swim about, it was so clear and clean looking one wouldn't think you would need to boil it to make it safe to consume.
But unlike beasts and monsters, the humanoid races can get sick from drinking water as is with the only exception of untainted underground water sources that wells are used by people in small towns and settlements.
River water back in the old world was always murky and unfit to drink from unless one used purification magic, purification potions or the cheaper and longer method of straining and boiling the water multiple times to make it drinkable.
But this water looks like all that would be needed is one boiling and the water would be safe to consume as unlike the rivers of the old world, they weren't contaminated with waste from the people living up stream as the further down stream was on a water source the more murky and contaminated the water became, something that would cause Fishmen to be enraged and rampage about in locations with high amounts of contamination in freshwater rivers that lead out to sea.
After everything was finished we drew some water from the river for them to sate their thirst while I boiled some for myself to put into my canteens for later use.
But as the fact it could take time for Red and Jax to complete their recon of the mountains and not being in a rush to do anything I decided to fish in the river while Urta prepared a meal as Aster and One-Eye sparred with each other.
One might assume that I should train as well but in all actuality I have already reached the max potential that I can go in both archery and spearmanship which have only reached the peak of the intermediate level as I can't get any higher in those skills because I'm not a combat class.
'Actually I should look and see if I can tame better monsters' I think to myself before closing my eyes and opening them as they released a golden glow as a status menu appeared before my eyes that only I could see.
********
Name: Toby Findalson (son of Findal)
Age: 23
Job: Monster Tamer/Breeder
Taming Grade: C -> C+
Innate Skills: Monster Link, Monster Message, Monster Tame, Monster Appraisal, Monster Item Appraisal, Monster Evolution, Monster Translate
Gained Skills: Intermediate Spearmanship, Intermediate Archery, Expert Farming, Expert Harvesting, Intermediate Cooking.
Power Level: D -> D+ Grade/ Iron -> Bronze Grade Adventurer
Magic: None
*******
"Oh my strength has gone up that's surprising." I couldn't help but mutter to myself, after all my power isn't exactly my main focus.
Being a Monster Tamer your power lies in your Monsters rather than yourself, their strength is your strength so the higher ranked monsters I can tame the better my grade become.
Though luckily a monster Tamer can Tame any and all Monster eggs, no matter how high a rank they are, and an easy way for a Tamer to raise their Grade Rank is by taming higher ranked monsters along with improving their grades to increase a tamers Grade as well.
As for my power level I'm equivalent to the average strength of a squad captain in an army who have on average the strength and speed of five to seven fit adult men depending on the type of job you have, mine most likely being on the low end for not having a combat based job.
*burgle burgle burgle*
Though as I was thinking about all of this I noticed the water bubbling not to far away from me, in the water I could see a large shadow swimming beneath the surface.
I slowly got up as I looked at the shadow, but then I noticed…. Several more shadows of the same size nearby.
Just as I got up to get a better look I got this tingly feeling in the back of my neck before I noticed multiple bubbles surfacing with the large shadows, but I felt like beasts staring at prey.
Without a second thought I activated Monster Message, allowing me to communicate with my monsters from a short distance, or with only one monster over long distances telepathically, sadly it only works with my monsters and not with any humanoids as a result.
{Aster! One-Eye! Urta! We've got trouble, get to me and fast!} I shouted out to them through our shared mental link between me and my monsters.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Suddenly the several shadowy figures within the water beelined towards me at immense speed as I ran back towards my monsters who reached me in time.
*Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!*
Suddenly three figures leapt out of the water with massive maces in their hands except for one who was using large clawed/spiked guantlets to attack us with the one with the gauntlets attacking me in particular.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
Aster and One-eye were able to counter with their weapons and caused a massive clash where as I barely dodged the other one that attacked me causing a large crater to appear where I was just standing.
Aster and One-Eye pushed back their attackers while Urta launched a fire ball at the one who attacked me in order to push them back as we now squared off with our ambushers.
[Tiamo ma kuali ualakan nikan! kaua axkan anoso miki!] The monster said to us but I couldn't understand what they were saying instantly before the words were translated into what they actually said into the common tongue.
"You are not welcome here! Leave now or die!" Was what they actually said to us, but as they were still speaking in their language, a group that neither of the Orcs had interacted with which was made clear with how they looked confused at what they had just said.
{It appears we have accidentally entered the territory of the Rock Lizards} I said to them through our link as we squared off against our new enemies that appeared before us.
I was hoping this wouldn't happen but I must have jinxed myself to lead us to this moment as we encountered a patrolling group of Rock Lizards.
Whether this will have to end in violence, peace or ultimately retreating will depend if they are willing to talk at all.
*******
Finally back to working on this Story this month for you guys as it won the vote on Patreon for Nonstop Nut November.
If you want to see early chapters and any and all uncensored pictures then you can support me on Patreon.
Patreon.com/izer5