Chapter 6: Mountain and sky

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Status:

- HP: 300/300

- Sta: 25/25

"So you must be that weakest adventurer who survived from the 5th floor of that labyrinth? I am Vunson, an apprentice alchemist. Nice to meet you, Hivon" He offers a handshake.

"It is my pleasure to meet you, talented one" Hivon takes that.

"How come you got the nickname Pagpag?"

"If you are curious, I can't evade this. My max hp at my current level is now 300. I am a level 6"

"That is low, I am at 180 as a level 3. I am think of investing in mana to use more spells"

"Lucky you"

"I am inexperienced with combat so teach me well"

Hivon and Vunson are now embarking on the quest. They get a lift from a traveling stagecoach. At a certain point, they ask for the stop and depart on their own.

The mountain is kinda high. Finding a cave that is suitable to mine requires:

One is that mineral veins must be thick enough to gain profit

Two is that the lower, the better since it is much easier to go low then higher and more expense on provision.

Lastly, the less monsters the less fee for the guarding.

Hivon must guard and escort this fella to survey caves. Vunson's duty is now to use area of effect spells to help Hivon to eliminate small creatures that come in number and are too fast to deal with. Hivon can only help when there is a bigger monster and thankfully, this area only has a very low chance to meet a level 10 but there are a lot of small and nimble level 3 to 5. Besides, smaller means lower HP max universally.

"Senior, There is a level 3 bear over there. I can't beat that thing with my current power. What should we do?"

"Avoid attacking it."

"Why?"

"We come to survey not to subjugate anything."

"The experience point?"

"I nearly experienced death twice in my entire career."

"How so?"

"The longer we stay, the more they might come. Keep moving"

"But..."

"I will tell you while camping somewhere safe, but right now, eyes watch, ear hearing. Keep quiet"

Vunson thumbs up as a way he understands what Hivon just said.

The scar that Hivon has was when he was at level 4 two years ago. When he was in overjoy on a spree of killing monsters with his hook, he encountered a demon. The moment he met it, the abyss stared at him. That thing had a level ??? Thus means, that thing hid its own level. Two meters tall, horns were half meter long on its forehead, claws sharper than swords and it was a red demon.

He ran away. The demon just chased him, he saw an innocent lady over there. The demon might hurt her. So he stopped and took the hit.

Scarred for life, the claws marked his left eye area. He was bleeding. He grabbed the potion to recover the HP. The scar is the cursed one. It can't ever be treated by any means in his knowledge. The fortunate thing was the bleeding stopped. The demon ever since then, he hasn't encountered it ever again.

He quickly used the rag that he tore a bit from his clothing to cover the left side of his face. Walking nervously while covering it in the town. He came to an equipment shop.

He paid 4 silver coins that he had obtained earlier that day. The current helmet that he has now was bought in that store. The customization was made a year after. He often answers those who are curious about his face: "This helmet is my true face". Implying that his face should not be shown in order to hide the trauma of the past. Only now, people who he trusts can see his true face under the helmet.

Over the years, he only scouted and surveyed areas. Making matters worse, no one knows how to train him better nor to support him due to his odd weapon affinity. Even if he hadn't had such an encounter, he would still have to be alone.

"Senior, is this the place?" Vinson points at the flat ground

"Seems suitable but multiple directional attacks would not be my sleep"

"But it is flat and easy to set up hammock and camp"

"Camping rule: The less direction to guard, the less exhausting" Hivon points toward the mountain

"We are going to march to the cave for camping?"

"Yes. We have 2 people, you and me. Would you like to keep your eyes at eight directions?"

"..."

"Good. There is no time to waste. By the way, snap branches and try to keep as many as you can. We need to spend less time collecting firewood and more on traps and alarm for better sleep"

The duo walk until they see a cave. They set up a campsite. Making hammocks for sleep and fire for warmth, next they make some spring noise alarms, fences and sharpened sticks.

"So how was your first time near death?" Vunson tends the fire

"To be blunt, it was the reason why I never remove this helmet from whom I don't trust" Hivon points his helmet

"Was it an accident or ..."

"Demon"

"That thing?"

"If you are hit by a cursed attack, it will leave a terrible scar that can't be erased by any means known by humans"

"So that is why I heard people that you often say that helmet is your face"

"Yes indeed"

"Then for two years, why don't you level up like others?"

"Another reason is that I treasure my life. I witness abyss once before so I don't want that again"

"Such cowardice"

"Say what you want, but my job is mainly scouting. Beside, my HP would be always lower than average person the same level"

"I wonder if there is a way to overcome your own fear?"

"Enough talking. I will do the first watch. Sleep"

The alchemist sleeps, Hivon sharpens his hook and reads an instruction of making traps. After doing all that, he is bored so he carves a lucky charm to hope that he will survive this. Then afterward, he will burn this as an offer to his belief.

"Wake up! An ambush is here!" Hivon raises his weapon.