Chapter 97: Run

The mushroom discovered in the goblin nest should be related to something the barbarian Forgan was investigating.

Perhaps too dangerous, or possibly because the situation was truly urgent.

Even though I'd already pushed progress to the final step—just needed to go a bit further forward to completely get 【Fang Hunt】 started.

Still had to follow him back to the nearest human settlement.

Nothing to complain about. Just these few days—I had enough patience.

Moreover, the reason Forgan, after discovering something, didn't directly leave for the forest depths to pursue, but decided to first send me back to town.

Was considering that with my current strength, returning alone from Mist Forest to town risked too much.

And regarding such incidents involving the transcendent tier, I had absolutely no desire to get involved.

High-level professionals casually teaching me two days could make me learn precious combat skills I'd never progressed in despite bitterly practicing with countless skill books for days;

Similarly, this level of strong persons' battles—probably just slightly touching the edge, just aftershocks would be enough to kill me countless times.

What I needed to do now was already crystal clear:

Follow the barbarian's arrangements, safely and steadily stay in town.

Just like the overwhelming force when coming, pushing through all the way.

The return journey was equally smooth.

The forest-cold frost wind from northern ice plains was enough to make ninety-nine point nine nine percent of creatures in Mist Forest's outskirts shrink back, not daring to approach.

In the total day and a half on the road back to town, the only monster I'd seen was a thorn demon from who knows where.

Didn't know whether to call it reckless or clever.

Clearly detecting the barbarian's transcendent aura, still driven by hunger's desire, coming toward us.

But also didn't actively launch attacks. Just distantly across mist and woods, after being glanced at by Forgan, hurriedly flapped wings wailing and fled.

Worth mentioning, after learning from the barbarian that the nearest town to this location was Karanfor, which I'd just visited some days ago.

For insurance, I also deliberated wording, telling him about my encounter in town.

The part about myself killing Ingram was naturally omitted and blurred.

Just focused on explaining to him the strange phenomenon that the town, having lost its sheriff, was still calm as if nothing happened.

And in town, those two suspected high-tier professionals—the church priest and the aged gravedigger living alone in the suburbs.

That face of Forgan's as if covered in frost still had no reaction.

In lands illuminated by sun god "Amanator's" holy symbol, nothing was more important than adhering to social constancy and maintaining orderly sequence.

Forget a small sheriff—even if a church priest suddenly died, it wouldn't have any impact on the entire town's daily life.

Town residents wouldn't even discover until rest days that the priest presiding over worship in the church had already changed to another person.

As for high-level professionals...

Karanfor, as one of the most prosperous large human settlements near Mist Forest aside from River Valley Town, was very important whether for the Sun Church or surrounding adventurers.

Having transcendent-level professionals stationed and residing in town—nothing strange about it.

The mist permeating the air slowly dissipated. The dense shrubs and oak trees around also gradually became sparse.

When I stood on the muddy country road full of rut marks, distantly seeing house outlines with rising cooking smoke.

Sky color had already dimmed. Dim yellow twilight pressed the setting sun sinking quietly.

Forgan beside me stopped walking.

Had no intention of entering town to rest. Being able to send me here was already the limit.

The high-pitched wolf howl constantly echoing in his heart, and bone-deep icy cold, urged him every moment to walk back, pursuing that revenge target hidden deep in Mist Forest.

Forgan looked at the black-haired youth with swords on his back before him.

Speaking of coincidences, the tracking ability 【Mourning Frost Oath-Bound】 bestowed, although able to help him lock onto the enemy's general direction, didn't have precise positioning capability.

If not for temporarily accepting the commission from a former teammate's offspring, bringing this novice adventurer named "Xia Nan" to train combat skills in the forest.

He'd probably really have missed the important clue in the goblinoid nest.

Whooom—

Glinting ice light, bone-piercing cold wind under Forgan's mental control seeped from pores into my skin, submerging muscle and bone.

Referencing these days' observations of my training intensity, combined with my progress speed far exceeding ordinary people.

Before the cold energy was used up, should be enough for me to get the combat skill started.

Detecting the barbarian's stillness in place, no longer moving forward.

Feeling the cold entering my body from surrounding air.

I also understood—right now was the time for farewell.

Just unfortunately, I still hadn't had time to get 【Fang Hunt】 started.

Tightening the heavy backpack behind me—inside packed with these days' collected spoils and supplies.

Acquainted only a few days, strength tiers differing too much, naturally couldn't speak of any friendship.

The barbarian's taciturn personality like ice rock made people even harder to approach.

These days I hadn't even figured out his specific attitude, causing behavior and actions to be cautious.

Right now then didn't say much more.

Simple farewell, then turned around, walking toward Karanfor city district's direction.

Pondering inwardly:

The town's previous sheriff Ingram was killed by me. Although his motives were evil, and the matter seemed suppressed by the church.

But I still couldn't relax vigilance. Best not to stay—hurry to see if there were caravans going to River Valley Town, tomorrow morning just...

"Wait."

Behind me, the barbarian's low, heavy voice suddenly came.

Instinctively stopping footsteps, turning to look.

Only saw Forgan still standing in place, but those ice-blue eyes like cold pools were firmly staring at the roadside.

In shadows concealed by dense grass,

Lay a dark purple mushroom.

"River Valley Town's direction—you should know?"

Not knowing what happened, a surprised expression appeared on my face. Just instinctively nodding.

"You have twenty minutes."

Forgan slowly raised his head. Cold wind suddenly surging around him made the wolf fur cloak on him violently sway.

His gaze wrapped in invisible heavy pressure, as if able to penetrate spatial barriers, sweeping past me, distantly looking toward Karanfor behind me.

High, excited wolf howls faintly sounded, quickly suppressed and dissipated together with that ice mist-filled cold wind.

In the blink of an eye, all abnormal sounds completely settled.

In the air, only the quiet insect chirping echoing in the woods remained.

Just like an adventurer who'd just finished a mission, planning to return to town to rest.

Forgan moved his legs, slowly walking toward Karanfor city district's direction.

"Don't look back."

"Run."