Ch 7

A group of school kids were on a field trip. Led by their teacher, a former C class hunter, Areth and the rest walked the route towards the peak.

This particular mountain was located deep in the city, there are definitely no monsters here. There were men in uniform patrolling the vicinity every now and then to help lost visitors and to prepare for health emergency. Basically, the mountain was a zoo. Animals were safely enclosed in a wired fence for viewing.

Although the path was refurbished, it was still an effort for the children to climb the slope.

"What's wrong, tired already young master?"

Areth who was already sweating hard looked towards the voice. The black haired, red eyed girl was grinning at him foolishly.

Areth had no strength to rebuked her. Despite being the one who moved and talked the most, Anne was still energetic as usual. She jogged around the bending Areth and lectured him about the importance of exercise and physical fitness.

"See, if you don't train your muscles well, you would be tired after swinging a sword once. If you are a hunter, this kind of thing is fatal."

She kept going on and on that Areth began to doubt his life's decision.

'Just what did I do in my previous life to deserve this? Why does this girl keep bothering me?'

When he looked at the other kids still having the energy to pounce around and the fact that only he had the expression of someone having gone through countless tribulation, he finally accepted the fact that he was the weakest of the bunch.

After a while, the group finally reached the peak. They could see the view of City E. There were other visitors aside from them setting up their mats on the grass.

'Finally over.' Areth slumped down on the grass underneath the shade.

The teacher gathered them up and asked for their experience, before distributing their free snacks. He proceed to talk about the historic of City E and such, but Areth wasn't interested in that.

He saw Anne stretching herself, using the wooden stick she usually carries around, she performed a set of sword strokes.

Areth was not well learned in swordsmanship, but even a layman like him could discern that she did pretty well.

'What's the use of using such primitive weapon. Blasting off your enemies from long range is the most satisfying.'

Looking at the clear sky, he thought of his deeds in the past. Now he was living another life. Honestly though, he had no goals nor ambition, his thought was to merely live well.

'Right, let's just remain in the sidelines. The perfect job for this is to become a receptionist. I'm just a retired old man now.'

While he was resting, many of his classmates invited him to play, to which he declined, saying that he was tired.

"That's why you should exercise more!" Said one kid to him, with some liquid running from his nose. Areth's lips twitched.

Areth's took his smart watch and begun watching videos, one which he usually enjoys was to watch hunters livestream their activities. While the fight scene was raging on, Anne had unknowingly appeared behind his back.

"Oh, this guy's swordsmanship is quite decent." She said. She did not really hide the fact that she was more exceptional. "If you learned my swordsmanship, I can guarantee that you would be able to beat ten of these guy with ease!"

Areth thought to himself. 'I can beat everyone just fine.'

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the distance. The teacher as well as the curious students went to look and it seems like there was some fire. A personnel soon came to explain that the situation was already under control and they could resume their activities.

But Areth sensed something from that direction. He excused himself to the teacher, saying that he would be using the restroom, and after closing the door, he teleported.

The location was inside the barricade that prevents animals from roaming the road. In the air above a particular cave, a boy appeared and hovered down.

"Interesting." He sensed that a small rift had formed inside the cave. He went deeper and saw a faint light ahead.

When he reached a the edge, he finally saw the source of the light. It was a silver ring wrapped in brightness. The space around it seem unstable, time flows differently in that area.

When he was about to approach it, a feminine voice sounded in his ears. The language was unrecognizable, but as it was conveyed in thoughts, Areth could understand.

There was a being trapped in the ring, and it was asking for assistance.

'Your world is in danger. If you help me, I will make you strong enough to be able to fend of the invasion. Please trust me. Take the ring with you, I will explain everything later.'

Areth unhesitatingly approached the ring and picked it up, wrapping it in a handkerchief and a little bit of 'something'. After doing so, he vanished and reappeared inside the cubicle.

The entity inside the ring was clueless that they have already stepped out of the cave. It thanked him again and again and promised to teach him what it knows.

'So much interesting thing has happened. This trip is worth it I guess.'

Areth did not pick up the ring because he trusted the entity or because of the promise of power. He was simply curious. Even if the ring turned hostile to him, what could it possibly do?

As Areth was inspecting the ring in his hand, Anne who was practicing saw the ring from her peripheral. "Huh?"

She let go of her sword and ran to Areth excitedly. "Hey hey kid, where did you get some good stuff?"

"I picked it up."

"Good good, can you lend it to me for a while?"

"Sure."

Anne scrutinized the ring carefully when she suddenly revealed a shocked face and dropped the ring.

"I-it can talk?"

"Yes, it asked me to take it with me. Saying that it will teach me something."

"Hmmm." Anne stared at the ring silently, they seem to be communicating. After a while, Anne handed to the ring to him with a smile.

"Alright, you should take care of this ring. It seems like you struck it gold. You are destined to become a hunter, my intuition is correct!"

"So what exactly is this ring?" He asked.

Anne looked around and said in a low voice. "Look, this ring came from another world. Don't be shocked. Don't you see the rifts in TV? Right those things. And according to this senior here, their world was invaded by another world and she perished in the battle. Now only her soul escaped to this world by binding to this ring. Get it?" Anne continued speaking excitedly and mixed in some gibberish.

Areth was only interested in few things such as the ring's origins as well as the identity of the person inside.

"You're in luck kid! This senior said that she's a powerful wizard in her world. She could teach you magic!"

"O-oh!" Areth acted all excited as well.

"Once you become strong, you must join my guild okay?"

"Sure." Perhaps not as a hunter.