Chapter 12

    Ee Khor Hill Tribe Village

    The wind... Pun could feel the wind blowing across his face... the scent of trees... This moment was incredibly delightful, the most delightful since his birth. Pun had never ridden an ostrich across the fields like this before. To his left were white rabbits, foxes, wolves, red bulls, and as he went further, he encountered even bigger animals. That was a wild boar, and it looked fierce, but Pun had no chance to test his skills against them because the ostrich wouldn’t stop running until it reached its destination. That destination, the one it was trained to reach, was where Pun needed to visit. It was... a hill tribe village located near the city border and not far from the forest. Throughout Pun's journey, the silence might be due to everyone participating in the activity, even though he could still hear it from afar. The city must be wired with speakers everywhere. Who would be the lucky one to win the legendary rights belt, huh? Wow... that's really nice. But... oh well, let it be. He was starting to see shades of green, about another 120 km to go. Why could he see so clearly? Or was his hunter's instinct awakening... (Daydreaming section)

    ...

    In the middle of a public square

    "Quick, send someone to close off the city gates. Search thoroughly. Kill first, ask questions later!!!~~" The voice from the blue guild was ruthlessly loud.

    "Listen up, everyone!~~ If anyone has the symbol, join us. We promise a handsome reward, like half of the prize money or a good position in the Dragon Guardian Guild..." The confident voice came from the man in golden armor. His guild might have a vast number of members, but let me tell you, not just anyone can join. There were many tests for applicants... So, almost everyone hoping for fame wanted to join his guild.

    Players within the city gathered around the event area, some checking their faces in mirrors for the symbol, seeking protection and the best deal from any faction.

    No one dared to claim the prize themselves because even if they got the reward money and the legendary item, they wouldn't be able to live with others for sure. How to survive when you’ve crossed the major guilds with countless members...

    ...

    Pun stood at the beginning of his journey, the Hill Tribe Village. As Pun dismounted the turkey vulture, it sprinted out of the village immediately. Pun looked around in wonder.

    There were only about 20-30 houses in the village, quite a lot actually.

    Signs of liveliness here included a tent rental shop and a wild food restaurant. Oh, the names... "Spicy Soup, Roast, Steam", and another shop selling forest products, not far from the village. Because they had bamboo shoots, yams, tree roots, and even medicinal herbs. How did he know this? Well... why did he know? The benefits, harms, types of herbs, how to use them? How did Pun know to check? Oh... checking, right. If he remembered correctly, he had an inspection skill that came with his shirt...

    To foster goodwill and potential friendship, Pun approached a man sitting in the largest house in the village center. The silence was real, though the place looked like it used to welcome numerous visitors. Pun thought as he observed his surroundings.

    "Hello, sir. May I know why the village is so quiet?"

    "I’m not sure, young man. Since sunrise until now, you're the first person to come. Ahem!~ Welcome, travelers, to the Ee Khor Hill Tribe Village. I am the village head here."

    "Thank you for the warm welcome. I am Jompran, a hunter, grateful for your hospitality." Pun felt somewhat shy saying this.

    But look into the village head's eyes. Was there a strange sparkle there, or was it just him?

    "Oh! Are you a hunter? I must apologize. Our village hasn’t had a hunter for a long time. Mostly we have, heh, wandering adventurers, generals, young masters, lords, and such. Welcome again, hunter." The village head's voice, full of sincerity despite the scoffing at others.

    "I apologize, but why does it seem like you’re not welcoming those others, yet you seem happy about a hunter like me? I'm just an ordinary hunter... nothing more," Pun couldn't help but think of his journey here.

When he was about to get on the bus, he overheard disparaging words from those who got off the bus. A hunter like him in forest attire could afford the cheapest hotel? He didn’t want to argue that he had been to the top floor of the hotel. But if he did that, he wouldn’t need to leave the hotel at all. But... why was he so agitated? Even though he'd been provoked more seriously than this before... Ah... perhaps because he was wearing a hunter's attire, and he's very proud of the honor of hunters. In the novels he had read, every hunter was a gentleman of the forest, rarely deceiving like city folks.

    "Hunter... is there something wrong, young man? Heh, if this old man’s eyesight isn’t failing him, I see sadness in your eyes. Sigh!~ Your question is difficult indeed, but let it be. I see you as one of my own grandchildren... But are you staying here or going somewhere else?" The village head asked concernedly.

    "Yes, thank you very much, village head. I think I'll stay here but I'm going to look around for a bit, maybe I'll find something interesting," Pun said, very pleased. At least today, he found someone who seemed sincere to him.

    "Er, good, my boy. Hey!!~ Nyang, Nyang, come here quickly. Wait a moment, young man. I'll have Nyang show you to your accommodation. Though my house is just a wooden one, not luxurious at all, it could be shelter. But, young man, would you like someone to show you around? I’ll have Nyang take you," the village head said, then waved his handkerchief.

    "Here I am, Grandpa!!~ Ha ha, why did you call for me? Do you fancy making Nyang the village head instead? I'm up for it, Grandpa... Ha ha ha," a young man's voice teased, likely in his twenties, strong and well-built, dressed differently from typical hill tribe people, wearing knee-length pants and black jeans instead, and a long-sleeved shirt with a bow and arrows coming to the village head.

    "Nonsense!!~ You troublesome grandson, who would make you the village head? I called you because I have a task for you, not because I’m fond of you," the village head yelled back, pretending to find something to hit his mischievous grandson.

    "Oh... well then... being called Nyang, the grandson of Grandpa Jamnong, is such a hard fate. I thought Grandpa loved me, calling for me, but it turns out you just have a task for me to do. Alas! Nyang, oh Nyang..." the grandson sat, making exaggerated gestures until the grandfather tried to hit him on the head.

    "Ha! Grandpa doesn't even love his own grandson, how could you hit me? People with so little brain, it might spill out if you hit them. Grandpa, oh, old man..."

    Geez... the grandson still teased the grandfather further. Pun watched the scene in front of him with joy. This is what family is, the truth of humanity. Pun liked this scene very much and thought of his own family. Maybe if they met often, it would be like this too.

    "Enough, Nyang. Where are you planning to run off to now? I called you because I have something to say, not for you to make fun. Stop it!!~~ Don't argue with me. Listen!!~" Grandpa Jamnong tried to get to the point.

    "I called you here because I want you to take this young man to our house for accommodation. Take good care of him, alright? He's your responsibility now. And since the hunter might want to explore around here, take him around, got it?" Grandpa Jamnong finally got to his point.

    Pun, too, lifted the hat specially made to match his outfit, a narrow-brimmed hat with a six-star tiger stripe band.

    "Ah, so Grandpa called his pitiful grandson to be someone else's servant, huh? Ho, ho, does Grandpa not love his grandson anymore? Ah, but, do people in the city like to draw strange symbols on their foreheads? But I think it suits you well. Leave it to me, Grandpa. Just sit back and do what you have to do. Young man, follow me quickly."

    And thus, the mischievous character, sometimes good, sometimes bad, led Pun towards the house, all the while accompanied by a stream of grandpa's lengthy praises from behind...

    "It's strange, really strange. It's unbelievably strange..." Nyang or Grandpa Jamnong's Nyang kept muttering non-stop.

    "Sorry!! What's so strange, Nyang? Why are you muttering like that? Is there a big problem?" Pun couldn't help but ask. What's so strange? It'd be better to speak up and clear things up... Pun followed Nyang, noting they were just a short walk behind the house where the elder sat. The coarse wooden house soon came into view, a typical hill tribe house, raised high with retractable stairs... Pun, following Nyang, went up into the accommodation. Although it looked narrow, it was spacious enough for this jungle home.

    "Please sit, sir. I'll go get something for you to eat; it's already noon. Then I'll take you around the village," Nyang was about to leave if Pun hadn’t stopped him.

    "Wait a moment, please!!~ Don't trouble yourself. It's not that I'm picky, I just want to quickly explore. Do you understand!!" Pun had to make his intentions clear, even though he really wanted to try the jungle food. But what could he do? Less than 10 meters away from this house, he could already hear animals calling... Nyang agreed to Pun's request, although he looked at Pun, shook his head, but the sparkle in his eyes was brighter than before. Then Pun took out 2 sets of the supplies prepared by the hotel, 7-day preserved food, contained in jade-green boxes. When Nyang saw this box, his mouth hung open.

    "Wow, they’re really beautiful. Ha, even the rice box is like this, what about the rice inside?"

    Without delay, Nyang opened the rice box immediately. Pun's first meal was Dragon Shrimp stir-fried basil with lobster over Jasmine Rice, accompanied by pork soup and vegetable salad, with water toddy palm in syrup as dessert. Nyang’s box contained Black Pepper Pork Ribs, with vegetable soup on the side, and he particularly liked the special shaved ice dessert... A midday meal in a dreamy forest home, with food as exquisite as a top hotel.

    One bite of the food, listening to the harmonious sounds of animals, the breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers... It was blissful.

    ...

    At the starting city

    "Brother... don't be stressed out. There must be a way. The starting town might be big, but with so many of our people, we must find it... Brother, let's eat something first," the woman in a purple dress tried to calm her brother as he was now radiating a murderous aura.

    "Darla!! How can I calm down? It's already noon. If... if another guild finds the person with the symbol before us, we might lose the auction for the legendary weapon box... And you think I should be concerned about eating?" First was exhausted. He had to commit himself fully to this game, both physically and mentally. If their guild couldn’t secure the legendary box, or if it went to another party, he knew they would venture into the forest. Not just for its valuable resources, but for something far more significant... the secret at the heart of the Dark Forest... a secret known to few... a secret even the Creator had to hide from those desiring it...

    "...Brother... trust Darlah... there must be a solution. It's not just about forcing you to eat alone; I will order all guild members to eat first. A good guild leader must take care of his followers... If the elder brother doesn't eat, the followers or wouldn't dare to eat," Darla quickly retorted when she saw her brother about to argue.

    "Alright, alright, Dara. I'll follow your order, you real busybody," First could only shake his head at his sister's words, and there was no arguing with that. After all, his sister

    was a woman, and women are always more delicate... Just like their mother, truly.

    "Announcement to all members!! Thank you for dedicating your strength and heart to our Dragon Guardian Guild. But now, we should take a break and eat. I invite everyone to dine at any restaurant and then submit your receipts to the guild's treasury."

    "Don't take this as an order but as a plea instead!"

    Dara could only look at her brother with admiration. Her brother was truly the best, brave, capable, and majestically handsome. How could she find a man to match her brother? If she were to have a boyfriend, he would at least have to measure up to half of her brother. But who got the symbol? Where could that person be? Do they realize that everyone here is almost flipping trash cans over looking for them? They must know if they're in the town for sure and might be hiding... What if they're outside the town? But... nobody has left the town since the random selection finished. The Dragon Guardian Guild, Red Wood Guild, Blackhead Guild, and Sage Gangsters Guild scattering and guarding the gates so tightly? Where is that person with the symbol... Tch!

    ...

    "Ahchoo!~~~" Suddenly, Pun sneezed for no apparent reason. Did this game even have sneezing? Hah, not to mention sneezing, it even had a hunger system...

    "Ha, ha, who's thinking about you to make you sneeze like that, Pun? Who's pining for you?" And then Nyang, Grandpa Jamnong's grandson, mother Jamni's son, burst into laughter on the floor of the house, making Pun feel so annoyed he had to kick him once. Maybe the attack was a bit too strong, for Nyang fell with a thud! and started writhing on the ground... Amen!