Arrival I

Diether firmly held the shinai in his hand as he faced the taller man blocking his path. The young man was unsure of this person's reason for blocking him so he didn't immediately engage in battle.

"Are you lost?"

Diether asked after confirming that he didn't really know this guy who just recently applied as a Hunter. He was hoping that he would only be asking for directions.

"Kid, there's no killing intent coming from him. Relax your hands."

"Oh.."

Reiji advised after noticing that Diether was tightening his hold on the shinai.

Since Diether didn't have an alternative weapon aside from his hidden throwing knives he purchased a few days ago, Reiji didn't start his Untouchable mission yet.

Once he planned to start that mission, he was planning to get himself covered by a cloth or something to avoid being touched for the whole duration of the mission.

Unfortunately, Diether still needs physical contact to be able to transfer his Spiritual Energy so even if he tried using the shinai while being covered by the cloth, the energy would be transferred to the cloth but not to the shinai itself.

It will be very inconvenient if the cloth was destroyed at that time. That was why Diether needed to have a different weapon.

"No… Are you Sir Diether Luxford?"

"Yes. That's my name… You know me?"

"I've heard a lot about you in the village. They said you are the youngest Licensed Hunter and a very strong one at that…"

"Ahh… Are you new to the village? They would say that to anyone who passed the license exam… They like to exaggerate things…"

"Oh, is that so? Right, I'm Art Deus… You can just call me Art… I just passed my second examination and heading back to the village…"

"Eh? Aren't you supposedly being accompanied by at least a one-star Hunter?"

"Yes… They went ahead and made a report first... Since I wasn't injured, I took my time going back to familiarize myself in the surroundings…"

Diether wanted to ask why he was coming from the opposite direction of the Wailing Forest but they don't really know each other so he didn't want to ask questions that may be related to his 2nd Hunter Exam.

"Be careful then. See you around…"

Diether politely ended the conversation as he still has to go to Rosen Town…

Although the branch of the Royal Academy was not a part of the town… It was the nearest place where he could get a rest before deciding to enter the Academy.

'I heard that the students returned to the Academy yesterday afternoon after their sparring match with the Hunters. I'm sure that their market would be very busy soon as they would be selling tons of materials and beast cores there…'

With that in mind, he no longer bothered with the man in front of him.

"Wait!"

Art suddenly shouted after noticing that Diether was leaving...

"Mhmm?"

"Can we have a sparring match?"

"Eh? Why?" Diether asked. He was confused by the sudden request.

"I want to test my strength against the one known as the youngest Hunter…"

The young man thought for a moment before declining.

"I'm sorry… I really need to leave now. I can't waste my energy since I need to protect myself from the beasts around the area so I can safely arrive in the town."

"Ugh… Is that so? That makes sense... I have very bad timing… I'll wait until you return to the village..."

"Sure…"

Diether answered as he observes the man. He was barehanded but the kid felt that under the thin leather armor was a secret weapon. Probably a dagger, needle, or even something similar to his throwing knives.

There might even be some unknown Magic Equipment or Weapon… No, the leather armor might even be the Magic Equipment itself.

Art smiled after hearing Diether's reply. It seems that he was truly interested in the 10-year-old kid who had actually passed the first exam of Sir Orga…

"If it was the 10-year-old me who took the exam, I doubt that I'll become a Hunter…"

Art said softly and only Reiji managed to hear it.

It seems that the man was truly just interested in Diether's abilities. It wouldn't be surprising since even the Arcanists can only prove themselves once they reached 12 years old.

His walk didn't take long as he decided to take a free ride on a horse-drawn carriage as permitted by Reiji. He was supposedly going to walk as part of his training but the water they've brought may not be enough with the hot weather.

The coachman was an old man who plans to bring their crops to the town. He was accompanied by a Hunter who took the mission to ensure his safety.

"Thank you for letting me join you…"

"That's fine… The weather is a bit hot today so it's better if we could quickly arrive in the town…"

"Mhmm… That's right…"

In truth, Diether hadn't really noticed the hot weather. However, after relaxing his muscles, he realized that it was indeed a bit hot. It was because of his Spiritual Energy that was always being circulated in his body that made his body adapt to the surroundings.

"Whoaaa… So this is how the town looks from afar…"

It didn't take long before they arrived at the vicinity of the Rosen Town. There were no beasts, bandits, or people being chased by assassins this time…

They arrived safely and Diether thanked the old man again.

He suddenly felt nostalgic at the town which he was very familiar with… But he suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right! I think I should try hiding my face…"

The kid wasn't really thinking too far ahead in his plans as he just realized that he must consider that those garbage collectors might look for him again. He was not afraid of them but the real culprit might be informed and planned to take care of him while he was in his territory.

Diether believes that the culprit can only act within the vicinity of the town since no one pursued him in the village.

He wasn't aware of the Farahn Village Chief's special identity that was why the protection in the village was very high. Spies, informants, or other similar professions weren't easily allowed in that small village.

'However, if it was the Greiner family's plans… Then Alexander would've reported my whereabouts already… Urgh, but it's not confirmed yet… They might not be the people who ordered the three guys…'

As he still has a lot of time, Diether decided on what to do in the meantime.

'Right, now that I'm strong enough… I might be able to ask them directly…'