"Why the hellllll aren't you dying?"
In the middle of the chaotic battle, I saw a chance to attack the boar's vulnerable spot—its eyes.
Moving quickly and accurately, I thrust my dagger towards its right eye.
The blade hit its target, and the boar let out a loud cry of pain, staggering backward.
I examined its body and its condition.
There were many cuts all over its body, and most importantly, there was a cut on its neck from which blood was constantly pouring out.
Yet, this creature was still fighting like a wounded lion in front of me.
I was frustrated by it.
I had taken down all its companions in just an hour or two, almost like a machine, but this one...
This one was different from the rest.
I had lost track of time after killing my 50th boar of the day, but this one seemed set on dragging the fight out much longer.
For such a lesser-rank creature, its stubbornness was surprising.
Refocusing on the fight, I watched as the boar recovered from its stumble, preparing for another charge.
Its anger was almost visible, its hooves digging into the ground as it built up strength.
I stood still, waiting for the right moment.
As it lunged forward, its sharp tusks gleaming, I sidestepped just in time.
The tusks slashed through the air, narrowly missing me.
Seizing the opportunity, I swung my dagger in a quick, horizontal motion, cutting deep into the soft flesh of its belly.
The boar let out a piercing roar, staggering as if it might collapse.
Its front legs buckled, leaving it struggling to stay upright on its hind legs.
Slowly, with great effort, it turned back to face me, its bloody, pain-filled eyes locking onto mine.
Those eyes seemed to carry a message, something unspoken yet clear.
"Sorry, buddy," I said with a casual shrug, gripping my dagger firmly. "It's just how it goes."
Even though it was just a monster, I couldn't stop myself from feeling a hint of guilt for the boar.
It hadn't attacked me, nor had its group of companions...
They were just roaming peacefully, unaware that their bad luck had led them straight into my path...
That was all it took for me to kill them—every single one, except this last straggler.
And even he wouldn't hold on much longer.
I pushed the guilt aside and focused on the fight.
Any sympathy I felt vanished the moment the boar let out a furious roar, its anger cutting through my hesitation.
There was no point in dragging things out any further.
Seeing my chance, I quickly moved in, closing the gap before the boar could react.
It looked exhausted, its legs shaking as it struggled to stay on its feet.
Maybe it was exhaustion, an injury, or sheer bad luck—whatever the reason, it didn't budge as I approached.
For a brief moment, I locked eyes with the boar.
Then, without wasting any time, I stabbed my dagger deep into its neck.
It let out one last, deep roar of defiance, but its strength gave out.
Its legs buckled, and it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
It was over.
The boar's body started to disappear, glowing particles floating into the air before vanishing completely.
I stood over the fallen creature, breathing heavily, adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
"You fought bravely, my friend, but today just wasn't your day."
After a moment to catch my breath, I retrieved my daggers and surveyed the clearing.
I looked around the clearing, taking in the aftermath of the intense battle.
Blood was splattered across the ground, staining the bushes, trees, and rocks around me.
My body ached, covered with bruises and cuts.
The fight hadn't been as easy as I had anticipated; it was hard.
During the battle, I had to rely on two Gold-rank potions to heal my injuries and mend my broken bones.
I used every advantage the surroundings offered—running, hurling stones, and taking cover behind trees—to gain the upper hand against the boars.
As I pulled out another healing potion from my pocket, I noticed Ethan's surprised and amazed expression.
Maybe he'd never seen anyone fight like that before, or perhaps he'd never witnessed someone using gold-rank potions so carelessly, almost like they were water.
His surprised expression made it clear...
I'm more inclined to think it's the second reason, as my fighting wasn't particularly impressive—I almost messed up multiple times during the battle.
Ignoring his reaction, I withdrew the potion and glanced up at the sky.
The sun beat down intensely, its heat almost oppressive.
"It's so hot," I muttered to myself, feeling the sweat on my brow.
Checking my watch, I noted the time: 12:30 P.M.
The mid-day had passed, but the forest remained quiet except for the rustling leaves in the gentle breeze.
The trees above gave some relief from the bright sun, making speckled shadows on the ground below in the forest.
The open space was encircled by clusters of bushes and tall trees, their branches moving gently in the breeze.
Monster Birds chirped softly in the distance, creating a peaceful atmosphere in the background.
Even though the fight was tough, a feeling of peace filled the clearing once all the boars were defeated.
I breathed deeply, feeling both tired and satisfied after overcoming such numerous enemies.
Then, I opened my system to check the essence requirements but found myself bombarded with numerous messages.
(Congratulations, Host, Monster Core (Lesser) has been added to your inventory!)
(Congratulations, Host, Healing portion (Bronze) has been added to your inventory!)
(Congratulations, Host, Monster Essence of Boar has been added to your Character Profile!)
(Congratulations...)
...
After closing all those messages, I accessed my character profile.
Name: Michael Frostburne
Race: Human
Current rank: Iron.
Progression to Gold rank: 25.2% (630/2500 essences).
'Hmmm.'
While I was looking at my screen...
Ethan walked over to me, his eyes wide with admiration. "Sir, your combat skills were incredible," he said, clearly impressed.
"Alright, alright," I responded with a hint of amusement. "I'm glad you think so, but tell me, Ethan, is this your first time hunting?"
Ethan hesitated for a moment before answering. "No, sir, this is my fifth time hunting."
I squinted my eyes, scrutinizing him. "So, how many monsters have you killed in total in these five hunts?"
Ethan's cheeks turned red. "Zero, sir," he admitted quietly.
What a shame... If you don't know how to fight or kill, why even bother coming to hunt in the first place?
I sighed inwardly, suspecting this might be the case.
"Then why did you come to hunt monsters in the first place if you couldn't even handle one?" I asked, my tone firm with frustration but also with little curiousity.
Ethan looked down, his expression hidden from me, but his voice took on a grim tone. "I was forced to, sir," he said quietly.
I furrowed my brow, concerned by his sudden change in demeanor. "Forced to? What do you mean by that? Who forced you?" I asked, trying to understand his situation.
"My debts..." Ethan replied hesitantly, his voice trailing off.
I waited for him to continue, sensing the weight behind his words.
"My parents... No, I had parents," Ethan finally said, his voice filled with shame and fear.
He continued, "In my family, there were four of us: my mother, father, me, and my little sister. Everything was fine until one day, everything went wrong... My father was an average hunter, but he was good at taking care of us, helping my mom, and playing with us when we were young. But..."
Tears streamed down Ethan's cheeks, his emotions pouring out.
He continued, stuttering between his words, "That day, my... my father went hunting, but h-he never came back. Eventually, we received a letter from the Hunter Association informing us that our father had died fight-fighting a Platinum-rank monster."
Ethan continued, his voice wavering with the weight of his tragic tale. "After my father passed away, our family fell apart. My mother... she was devastated. When she heard the news, she fell ill and couldn't get out of bed. Her condition grew worse each day."
He paused, wiping tears from his eyes before continuing. "I was desperate to help her, to save her. But the bills piled up, and the medicine was expensive. I had no choice but to borrow money from a local loan shark."
As he spoke, Ethan's expression darkened with the memory. "I thought I could manage, that I could repay the debt somehow. But my mother's health deteriorated. She needed more care, more medicine. Despite everything I did, she... she passed away."
He took a deep breath, composing himself before speaking again. "Now, I live with my little sister. She's all I have left. But when the loan shark found out about our situation... he came with his men. They threatened me, said I had one month to repay the money. If I fail... they'll take our home. And... they might take my sister too."
Ethan's voice cracked with fear and desperation as he finished his story.
The weight of his family's tragedy was evident in every word, his shoulders slumped with the burden of his responsibilities.
"I... I don't know what to do, sir," he admitted, looking at me with pleading eyes. "I've tried everything. Hunting monsters seemed like the only way to make enough money, but... I've never been able to kill one. I'm sorry."
His voice trailed off, filled with a mixture of shame and helplessness.
Ethan stood before me, vulnerable and broken, waiting for my response.
I feel deeply sorry for Ethan, sincerely from the bottom of my heart.
Losing parents is a nightmare on its own, but having a threat hanging over you when you're responsible for your little sister is twice as terrifying.
If I hadn't stepped in to help him, it seems like he might have taken a darker path or even lost his life in despair.
I frowned, realizing the gravity of his situation. "That's why you risked your life out here," I said quietly, more to myself than to Ethan.
He nodded silently, still avoiding eye contact.
I took a deep breath, trying to process this new information. "Ethan, you should have told me earlier," I said gently, my frustration easing into sympathy. "I might have been able to help."
"I knew you could help me, but I wasn't sure if I should tell you, sir. I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm saying. It's just..." Ethan replied, his voice a mix of gratitude and regret.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, offering reassurance. "It's alright, Ethan. Don't worry, I'll take care of all your problems. Just stop crying."
Ethan wiped his tears with his hand, sniffling. "Thank you, sir. I'll be forever grateful to you."
Hmm... All I really want from you is loyalty.
If that means using up endless resources to earn it, I'm perfectly okay with that.
Your loyalty means more to me than anything.
Far more than any money I have.
I nodded, then called out mentally to the system. 'System, his personality traits said he was cautious, but from what I've seen, I don't think that's right. Can you explain it to me?'
Before the system could respond, I quickly added, 'I hope this time you don't refuse because of my level.'
There were a few seconds of silence before the system's voice echoed in my mind, cold and mechanical.
(Host, Ethan's personality trait labeled 'cautious' is accurate. However, it is important to know that Ethan's 'cautious' trait has not fully developed. He is still 15 years old; you can't expect him to be overly cautious yet. He is still a kid, and his traits will take time to mature.)
I absorbed the system's explanation. 'So, you're saying his cautious nature is still there, but it's not fully formed yet?'
(Correct.)
the system affirmed.
(Ethan's cautious nature is present, but as a young individual, his traits are still maturing. His current behavior is influenced by his youth and the extreme pressure he faces.)
I glanced at Ethan, who was still wiping away the last of his tears.
Understanding his situation more deeply now, would help me I'm the future.
'Thank you, system,' I said, my mind made up.
Then Ethan said, "Sir, I will be going then."
I quickly interjected, "No—I mean, wait!"
He stopped, looking back at me with a confused expression. "Ethan, you have to pass a little test I made to officially join my team."
Ethan looked puzzled. "But, sir, a few minutes ago, you said I had already joined your team."
I smiled slightly. "I forgot to tell you about the test then."
"But, sir—" Ethan started to protest.
I cut him off again, my tone firm but not unkind. "Is there a problem with doing my test?"
Ethan hesitated before replying, "N-no, sir."
"Good," I said, my expression serious. "Your test is to bait monsters for me."
Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "What, sir?"