Chapter 13

    The Success of the Young Hunter

    While everyone at the church was savoring the fragrant, roasted sweet potatoes, Jason was making his way through the pine forest along the main path used by hunters.

    Before long, the young man veered off onto the trail leading to his personal hunting ground. Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, he set snare traps along every small animal’s foraging path he encountered, hoping to catch a hungry little rabbit. If successful, the church children would get to enjoy tender rabbit meat in their meals.

    The clear waters of the great forest’s river were as refreshing and pure as always. This season saw large fish swimming upstream in great numbers to lay eggs near the river’s source. The smaller tributaries flowing into the valley were packed with fish. Most of them ended up as food for bears, since hunters refused to eat the fish, believing them to be too pungent—a meal only worth consuming in desperation or when no other option existed.

    The young hunter had no idea how such a strange, unverified belief had spread so widely.

    But now, Jason knew just how delicious these fish could be. The young man set down his gear, preparing a resting spot nearby, before lighting a fire for warmth. His long, cumbersome clothing was removed for ease of movement, readying himself to step into the icy river. A long wooden staff, cut from a young birch tree nearby, was sharpened into a spear for fishing. Then, his bare, muscular frame slipped into the cold stream, diligently hunting for food.

    Dinner would be a large grilled fish, as usual. Luckily, that clever little boy had given him a handful of dried garlic leaves. Grilled fish stuffed with strange wild herbs, lightly seasoned with salt, smelled so irresistible that his mouth watered.

    Who would have thought that a common wild grass could enhance a dish to this degree? Jason felt more satisfied with his dinner than ever before, even while alone in the dark forest. The two fish he had caught filled him to the brim, leaving a pile of bones and heads behind.

    “If there are this many fish in the river, there’s no need to waste time hunting rabbits…” The young hunter formed a plan in his mind. Tomorrow, he would catch as many fish as possible and bring them back to Kit and the nuns so they could put them to good use.

    Once winter ended, there would be no more children dying from illness and funerals to hold. Spring would be a wonderful season.

    After feeding the fire with more wood to keep the flames alive, ensuring warmth for his campsite, he checked the dry branches he had set aside, confirming there was enough for the night. Then, Jason collapsed onto his bed of soft, dry moss and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

    Halfway through the night, the sound of an intruder echoed through the darkness.

    Rustle… rustle… thud…

    Something was moving through the dry leaves. The sudden midnight disturbance put Jason on high alert. His heart pounded, yet he moved slowly, careful not to startle any wild animal that might attack.

    (What is that? It’s not far…) His hand tried to reach for his weapon, pulling an arrow onto his bowstring. The flickering firelight and frigid air, turning each breath into mist, did nothing to cool the heat in his veins—born from a mix of fear and adrenaline.

    Abandoning his campsite, Jason lowered himself into the tall grass nearby, camouflaging himself. Before leaving, he had stoked the fire, kicking more dry wood into the flames to increase its brightness. All he could do now was hope that the roaring fire would drive away any beast bold enough to approach a human.

    But he had miscalculated…

    Hunger drove animals that could not find enough food for hibernation in the winter to be far more aggressive than usual. A massive brown bear with a crescent-shaped white patch on its chest let out a thunderous roar, shaking the entire forest. As it reared up on its hind legs, towering over three meters tall, Jason was momentarily paralyzed with fear. But as the beast charged straight at him, intent on ending his life, Jason’s instincts finally kicked in.

    The muscular arm drew two arrows onto the bowstring with full force before releasing them twice in succession.

    The blessing of the God of Warriors… combined with his relentless training—allowed all four arrows to strike their mark with precision.

    One pierced the bear’s eye, while the other three embedded themselves deep into its body. Unfortunately, neither attack struck a vital point such as the heart or spine. The giant beast merely staggered for a brief moment before charging at its intruding enemy once more.

    “Shit…” Jason hurriedly grabbed another arrow and fired. The fifth arrow likely penetrated its lung, as the beast let out a harrowing wail and began panting heavily.

    It was said that… At the moment of death, wild animals go berserk, unleashing unimaginable strength. But Jason had never experienced this firsthand. Nor had he a teacher to pass down the knowledge of hunting traditions like others did. This momentary inexperience led to a fatal mistake. His adrenaline-fueled body momentarily relaxed, unknowingly exposing an opening.

    The giant blood-soaked bear suddenly lunged, its razor-sharp claws slashing at its enemy with one final act of vengeance. Before taking its last breath, the beast sank its fangs deep into Jason’s shoulder, drenching him in blood.

    Though in the end, only the strongest survived, the bear had fulfilled its final wish—leaving a lasting scar of hatred on its foe.

    "AARGH…" Jason let out a painful scream, as his adrenaline faded, no longer pumping him up like before. His trembling hands reached for the bear’s massive jaw, prying it open, revealing his deeply wounded, muscular shoulder. A wave of pain surged through his left arm, forcing him to grit his teeth hard.

    He had never suffered an injury this severe before. Overcome with rage, he kicked the bear’s side, venting his frustration. The deep claw marks running from his chest to his stomach weren’t life-threatening, but blood seeped from multiple wounds. The blessing of the God of Warriors granted him superhuman resilience. Lucky, he thought. He had no broken bones and wasn’t paralyzed or immobilized.

    With great care, he washed his wounds with clean water. Each time the cold liquid touched his injuries, he clenched his jaw so hard his muscles bulged, trying to suppress the pain. Tearing a clean cloth, he wrapped his wounds as best he could despite the rough conditions.

    His entire plan was ruined by this one bear. Though he had gained valuable meat and precious materials, in return, he had suffered a severe wound that might affect him long-term. His eyes drifted toward the fish scraps from his earlier meal. Then, he cursed himself bitterly.

    The young hunter had forgotten to dispose of his food waste properly. He had forgotten that wild animals followed the scent of food when starvation forced them to track even the faintest aroma… And sure enough—he had hit the jackpot. A crescent moon bear as his prize, along with a hard-earned lesson in survival.

    Without hesitation, he downed a dose of pain-relieving herbs from his personal stash. The bitter, dry taste slowly spread through his mouth as the medicine took effect. Jason wasted no time resting. He immediately searched for a long wooden log, crafting a makeshift sled to haul the massive bear back as quickly as possible.

    No one knew how many predators lurked in the forest, and he had no intention of finding out. The scent of bear blood would attract other hunters, drawing them into a frenzied hunt for prey. For his own safety, he had to remove his prize from the woods as soon as possible.

    Following hunter tradition, he drank the bear’s blood. Forcing down the thick, iron-rich liquid, he endured the repulsive taste. Then, he pressed forward, dragging his burdensome load. As time passed, the sky began to shift colors. The dim light of dawn gradually illuminated the path ahead. Jason, with great difficulty, hauled his spoils through the valley, pressing onward.

    The wound on his shoulder and chest throbbed painfully from the cold. He felt as if he had a mild fever, his mind growing hazy from the pain. The exhausting effort of dragging the bear’s carcass while maintaining intense concentration had left him completely drained.

    By the time he emerged from the forest, his muscular frame was battered and bruised beyond measure.

    The young man, half-lidded eyes, looked up at the sun, trying to estimate the time…

    Should he head home to have a healer tend to his wounds, or should he return to the warm church and seek help there instead?

    As he weighed his options, Jason chose to head for the grand church, placing his hopes once again on Sister Lisa’s healing abilities.

    This time, he had truly pushed himself too far. The crescent moon bear had been the worst kind of misfortune. But if he survived, it could turn into a great fortune instead. With so much meat, the children would have food throughout the winter, and he could rely on their meals without guilt.

    His trembling feet carried him up the hillside path. The young hunter was barely conscious by the time he reached the church. Before long, he heard the joyful laughter of children drifting through the wind, accompanied by a sweet aroma.

    He had no idea why the laughter suddenly erupted into a loud commotion right after…

    He only wanted to take a nap in the afternoon sunlight on the dry grass in front of the church.

    ......

    On the afternoon of the second day after Jason went into the forest, Kit was still studying diligently with the two nuns. In reality, it was mostly listening to stories about the legends of various gods or memorizing texts from the large books that the church had preserved since its founding many years ago.

    James and Anna had finished their tasks earlier that morning, so they stayed to look after the younger children, as always. For the second day in a row, the eldest brother had brought back sweet potatoes from the forest… Once again, the delightful roasted sweet potato activity was held.

    After delivering the potatoes to the two mothers and the younger brother studying inside, over a dozen children sat cheerfully munching on warm sweet potatoes in front of the grand church. But their merriment didn’t last long. Little Ethan suddenly shouted to his eldest brother, saying someone was dragging something toward their home.

    The empty road left James momentarily confused by his younger brother’s words. But within a few seconds, a figure in a rabbit-fur cloak appeared, moving stiffly in a way that seemed unfamiliar.

    "That’s Brother Jason’s cloak! What is he carrying, Brother James?" The mischievous girl, Lynn, tugged frantically at her big brother’s pant leg, nearly pulling them loose. James quickly caught his pants before they slipped, then rushed forward to greet Jason as he stepped onto the grassy field.

    "Brother Jason, you’re back so soon. Hm…?" James paused mid-sentence as the stench of blood filled the air. "Brother… did something happen?"

    The large figure, wrapped in thick fur, remained silent and unresponsive, making James feel that something was very wrong…

    Then, the huge body collapsed, face-first, onto the grass in front of the church entrance. Jason had lost consciousness, his body burning with fever…

    Anna ran off at full speed to fetch the two nuns the moment James shouted for help.

    Even Kit himself… stood frozen in shock. A wound that severe—could the mighty hunter still have a chance to survive?