34: Everest

On the table inside the wooden house, under the guidance of the ladies responsible for the chores in the house. The hunting party, including Caleb, sat on the wooden table for dinner. It was worth mentioning that an extra wooden chair was placed beside the original one to accommodate the eight members.

The five ladies, four teenagers, and the four oldest in the house were currently standing on the side watching the hunting party eat merrily. They didn't dare to breathe loudly for fear of distracting the big guys.

Caleb looked at their lineup, then at his food. He couldn't help but sigh. He brought down the wooden spoon on his plate.

Seeing this, Dunn raised his eyebrows.

"What's the matter?"

With a look of frustration, Caleb answered.

"Isn't it too awkward eating like this? They are standing on the side like a fool while watching us eat. I'm losing my appetite. How the hell any of you could bear such a format is beyond me."

Jin wore his usual faint smile and chuckled lightly. Under Caleb's gaze, he drank the wooden cup containing sake and said:

"Well, get used to it, then. I also found it hard to eat at first. Captain even told them not to do that but they insisted so what can we do? And, aren't you one of them when you're still not one of us?"

'Am I? Well, that's reasonable.'

Caleb forgot that his predecessor must have already acted the same way as the other four teenagers. After all, it was likely that the original host of the body looked up at the members of the hunting party! As he thought of this, Caleb's face turned bright red from shame.

'What a humiliation! How can the original host act like that!? Such a shameful act!'

Caleb's reaction made the seven members laugh. Caleb just wants to dig a hole and bury himself at this moment. He had already cursed his predecessor a hundred times in his mind.

'Curses!'

Luna, Andre, Fatty, and Clifford covered their mouths with their hands and their faces turned blue. They looked as if they had eaten shit as they tried to hold back their laugh. On the other hand, the faces of the two old men contorted, making them look like a pig. While the four ladies let out a soft chuckle.

"Hahahaha! How did you forget that kid? Do you have a fucking memory problem?" Dunn burst out laughing and subconsciously patted Caleb on the back.

'Yes, I fucking have!'

Caleb knew that he just shot his own foot at this time. Fortunately, it was a minor mistake.

'Just what's up with a hazy memory of mine? Does fate purposely fucking me up?'

With a smile, Rina pushed a plate of tiger meat to Caleb, which in turn made Caleb look at her.

"Jin is right. Just get used to it. Now, eat. We will be leaving tomorrow morning! You have to make sure that you are full of energy. Each of us will be training you next month."

'Okay, I'll just pretend that bastard doesn't exist.'

"Each of you?" Caleb blinked.

Miles nodded.

"Each of us. But it's not really what you have in your mind. We will just have sparring with you and give you tips in the process. After all, a practical battle is better than teaching you theories."

"Understood." Caleb squinted a little and nodded seriously. He just wants to get stronger as soon as possible.

If he can spar with the members one by one, he would benefit greatly. Actually, he can see through their intentions. After all, he was also an old fox. He knew that they wanted him to become familiar with them faster and have him develop a good understanding of each other.

It's crucial to know oneself and what your team can do so they can improve their teamwork smoothly while also helping him to improve his skills. It was two birds in one stone. As for why they would bother to do that just for him, it was due to the strength he revealed. His stream-lined throwing technique was particularly valuable and would greatly help the team to kill beasts with tough defenses. A move with great lethality!

"So, are you ready?"

Fushigiro put down his hands on the table and gave Caleb a serious look. His usual sunny smile was nowhere to be found.

'Is there a need to be so dramatic!?'

Caleb felt that he was amidst of making a life-and-death decision just because of the mood. When in actuality, there's no need to be that dramatic. For a while, he couldn't understand how the brain of their captain worked.

Fortunately, Caleb had graduated as a doctor of Theatrics himself. So, with a solemn nod, he answered:

"I'm more than ready..."

Hearing this, Fushigiro smiled. The tense atmosphere became relaxed again as if nothing had happened.

"That's good."

"Hahahaha! Brat, I'll let you taste the fist of love once you become my sparring partner!" Miles's eyes narrowed while simultaneously licking his lips.

Athena put her hands on her chest, making the peaks hidden in her clothes bounce. Dunn's eyes widened, and the bastard swallowed instinctively.

'So this guy was a perverted, respectable uncle.' Caleb glanced at Dunn with disdain. Then he secretly glanced at Athena's bountiful, Everest. 'Cough! I can't blame him, though.'

"Before that, let you have to know some details that you might want to know. You can ask Jin for that." Fushigiro took a bite of a medium-rare steak with a hint of relish and said.

'Well, what do I want to know? Oh... Well, I really have something.'

"How powerful is destiny? How to become one exactly? And how is the power progression?"

Hearing Caleb's question, everyone went silent for a while. Caleb swallowed, seeing their reactions.

'Did I ask something sensitive?'

"Well, good question." Jin gave the bald-caped who was silent right from the start. He hesitated for a while before sighing. "Our information about Destiny Path is quite limited, and they came from Tamasai. So my answer might not satisfy you."

Caleb breathes a sigh of relief. Then he raised the cup of water and poured it down his throat.

'These bastards are making me nervous for nothing!'

"Is that so? Well, don't worry about it. Just tell me anything you have."