Free Hunt

Outside the academic facilities, there was a vast green field. Brandon had never felt such fresh and clean air before. He spent a minute enjoying the pleasant environment.

The technology outside had advanced a lot, and the plants had developed to the point where the CO2 in the air was minimal, but the level of pure air outside the hunting dimension could not compare to what he felt at the moment.

He saw couples, domesticated beasts, people carrying different types of weapons, as well as groups carrying some dead creatures.

The more he advanced in military school, the more freedom he would have to go hunting. Additionally, the school guaranteed to rescue students in cases of life or death, but this only applied to those who were students belonging to the school.

As he walked, he approached a door that connected to a large barrier. This was the barrier that protected the school from external beasts. When he approached, he was stopped by two guards. "Your student identification," said one of the guards.

These guards were muscular, and their indifferent looks made them seem like an immovable mountain. Brandon pulled out his identification and handed it to the guard.

Before giving it to him, the guard rejected it. "You still do not have permission to leave the premises. Please go back on your way."

Brandon was amazed by this. He did not even see his identification well, but he could deduce whether he had permission or not, even though he did not know he needed some sort of permission to leave the school.

"Maybe this and other types of restrictions are what scare off those who decide not to join this military school," he thought as he walked back, wanting to see the other surroundings of the school.

"Oh, look who's here. We meet again," a familiar voice sounded from behind Brandon.

"Do you really have to appear behind people?" he said to Dereck, who was walking towards him with Jin Na.

"Are you guys a couple? I always see you together," he asked.

Jin Na blushed and answered almost shouting, "Of course not!"

"Oh, it seems like the idea of being seen as a couple almost disgusts her. You have bad luck. Is it like this with other girls?" Brandon said while giving a small smile.

Dereck and Jin Na were surprised. They thought that the ice block (Brandon) never smiled or made any jokes, but it seems like they were wrong. Perhaps the last situation changed his perspective towards them.

When Brandon saw their expressions, he realized what was happening and returned to his normal face. He did not understand why he suddenly became so friendly with these two people.

"Do you have free time? Jin Na and I are thinking of going to the general market to see if we find anything useful. Would you like to come?" Dereck asked.

"Since we're already here," Brandon didn't know what market they were talking about, as he thought it would be some classroom in a marketing class or something.

As he had nothing else to do, he decided to follow them, but he would still keep his guard up. Brandon frowned as he followed them.

He realized they were not walking towards the school's entrance, but they were going around it. Stopping and clenching his fist, he said, "Where are you taking me?"

Dereck and Jin Na looked at each other and then at Brandon. "Don't you know about the general market? I thought you knew about it since you accepted so quickly."

Putting his right hand behind his head and making a complex face, he said, "I know you suspect us, but we have no hidden motives, in fact, you can check that market on your tablet, it should be marked."

Giving a sigh, he decided to just keep walking, leaving only the phrase, "Forget it, let's continue."

If they had any hidden motive, he would find out, and the worst that could happen is to be beaten up if they ambushed him in a large group. That might help him get rid of these two and seek revenge later.

There was also the fact that he had no real animosity towards them, he just wondered why they were so friendly with him.

They arrived at the back of the school where they found a door with the name 'General Market'.

Following Dereck, they passed by several stalls selling different types of merchandise. Potions, armor, weapons, mounts, food, services, etc... What surprised him the most were the different races he encountered.

Orcs, beastmen, goblins, spirits, demons, and other varieties of races.

"This is the biggest market in the entire hunting area number one. If you cause trouble, even if you belong to a powerful race or family, you won't be able to get away with it.

Let's go, let's go through registration," said Dereck.

"Registration?" Brandon asked.

"Yes, Jin Na and I registered. When you register, they give you a direction stone that shows you how to get back to the market when you leave hunting. Since we enrolled in the school's free hunt, it would be good to have this."

"Free hunt?" Brandon asked again.

Dereck looked at him for a moment, a little frustrated, and answered, "Did you really skip the school's enrollment without knowing anything? Did you want to come and be food for the beasts?"

Sighed "The free hunt is an option that the school gives you. You can go out hunting without being tied to classes or some school restrictions."

Thinking for a moment about what Dereck said, this was something that many would really want. Most young people just wanted to enter the area to hunt beasts, they didn't want to waste time in classes.

"If this is as you say, then why bother having young people enroll in the school?" Brandon asked.

"That's a good question," said Dereck as they continued walking and talking. "We entered late, but from what I heard, new students are taken on adventures in the first few days of classes. Many die or end up injured."

Jin Na interrupted and continued.

"Although they are right about the tough life hunters have, they just want to brainwash students so they join the army after graduating, instead of any organization," he said.

"And then there's Free Hunt. They need guinea pigs to keep brainwashing the students. Plus, when you join the Free Hunt group, you have to deliver 10 cores of beasts every month and always have a GPS on you." His tone was cold this time.

Brandon noticed this, but decided not to pry, he didn't want others digging into his own past.

Derek stopped talking and they simply kept walking until they reached a giant building.

This was the place where the general market registration was done.