I walk over to Lila, who is sitting quietly in a chair, grab my backpack, take out a towel, wipe my hands, and then my face.
-Anyone would think you hate those creatures. -Lila says as she looks at the scene I left behind.
-No, that's not the case. It's just a good way to train and adapt to my profession. -I reply again, then take out a bottle of water, drink half of it, and we continue exploring other parts of the city.
-Are you a warrior? At times I thought you were a hunter. -she concludes, after observing me for a few days.
-Are you a witch or a sorceress? -I ask her, since she brought up the subject.
-If I answer that, there will be no turning back. Do you want the answer? -she says, looking at me with her deep red eyes that seem to see my true identity.
-No, it's not necessary. Everyone has their secrets. -I say, then I take the spear of the aspiring hunters that was next to my backpack.
Despite having explored while avoiding the monsters with 2 or 3 skulls, we have already explored most of the area we had chosen. The rest would be to invade the other aspiring hunters' area or start killing the monsters.
I start walking towards the outskirts of the area we were assigned. Even if I add up all the monsters, it's not worth the risk, since I don't know what kind of creature took the core of the hellish bear and the poisonous zombie. Besides, we've already explored our assigned area.
-Dan, I'll stay here and hunt the three-skull monsters. -she tells me without getting up from her chair.
The approaching zombies lost their heads. I nod and continue walking away. She is more powerful than I am; she must have her reasons for wanting to stay.
It's amazing how strange it seems to get used to something. This time she didn't let out her strange little laugh; she must be thinking about something important.
As the sun was about to set, I entered the building with the basement where I had taken refuge some time ago.
This time, in the middle of the dark basement, I stayed alert from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., placed two bullets in "Scarlet Rose," and half of my fear was absorbed. Just when it seemed like it was going to be a quiet night, everything changed when I heard a sinister and chilling laugh in the distance.
"This area must undoubtedly be in range C. First it was the sound of horse hooves, and now a Smiler."
••••
At dawn, I leave the basement, but I feel fear gathering in the distance, like when I sensed groups of zombies.
"A great haul or a deadly trap," I think, and I look around. Everything seems pretty quiet. In my backpack, I have several 1-skull cores, a few 2-skull cores, and only 1 three-skull core.
"With just the core of three skulls, I can already get between 100 and 150 black tokens; although I have to subtract 30% from the Z squad from that total; but there's still a profit." After thinking about it for a while, I consider that today is Sunday and tomorrow the cleaning shift ends. Although I will have to go to another cleaning area, they will give me a week's break between each of the two remaining weeks of punishment.
I'm heading to the outer zone because I've heard that if you're not on time at the end of the cleaning shift, they'll assume you're dead, and if you're alive, you can return when the next group finishes their cleaning shift, as long as the other group isn't full of psychopaths or undercover villains. But there's no need to go through all that trouble.
As I walk, one or two level 1 zombies attack me from time to time, but they no longer pose a threat to me.
A few hours later, I arrive at the area where the trucks that dropped us off in Area 4 were located.
Shortly after arriving, I sit down with my back against a tree, eat a packet of cookies, and then drink some water.
"If I keep hunting monsters with 1 or 2 skulls during the next two days of cleaning, I'll be able to accumulate several black tokens and live a pretty decent life, no more austerity," I think to myself. Shortly after, two groups leave the city, one consisting of two men and the woman, an aspiring hunter, of rank D. The other is made up of two women and one of the subjects belonging to Squad Z.
"How many fear points do I have?" I ask when I see the D-rank woman looking at me.
[Available fear points: 33.27]
I didn't earn as many points as before, but it's enough to kill this woman without even breathing twice.
We wait, not because we have to wait for the others, but because we have to wait until noon tomorrow for the next group assigned to cleaning to arrive. Probably everyone in the next group will die. The strongest monsters and supernatural beings seem to be preparing to act at any moment.
I can still sense fear gathering in the deepest part of the city. It must be my senses and hunter's perception that allow me to sense it, since I see the rest of the candidates very calm.
Night had just fallen when the other aspiring D-rank hunter appeared. He arrived with the aspiring hunter who had spanked one of the female aspirants, who apparently did not return, and with one of the members of Squad Z. Apparently, they had also lost or killed one of their companions.
Everyone gathers around a campfire, but I walk away and climb a tree, keeping a close eye on my surroundings.
Seeing how they look at me from time to time, I decide not to sleep tonight.
When the two moons light up the sky and are about to reach their highest point, the aspiring hunters put out the campfire. They gather together and remain on high alert.