Chapter Three: Battle Training
When I got to my living quarters I went to the cooking section. There was a giant box called a refrigerator. Judging by it's name it was probably a type of cellar. I opened it and there was a very adequate amount of food in it. What was I saying? It was more then I ate during the whole campaign against Nergal...but that wasn't very much anyway... In fact I only ate because Serra, Nino, Priscilla, Lord Pent, and Lady Louise would practically force it down my throat. Even when I was starving and had nothing to study... I wouldn't eat. I see another reason why Lord Pent wanted Serra with me. She would make sure I ate. Now that I'm alone, I can study all I want, and they wouldn't be here to remind me to take care of myself. I'd just leave my body to wither. I see how serious my habit is now. I could die just from learning, exactly what Canas fears. Dark, Light, Anima, it's all the same! If you don't stop to take a break... I can see it now. A skeleton in a Sage uniform, reading a book among thousands of other open books, and tenfold that with notes. An archeological discovery. The boy who died in the midst of study. The same as Canas's brothers though they aren't technically dead. Must I condemn myself to the same fate?
"I'm breathing hard," I said to myself. "This...I see... I'm a danger to myself. Knowledge is great, but I must not die just because of my selfish need for more knowledge. Pioneer 2 needs me. If I do die it must be while defending someone. I can't die because of my greed."
Why did Serra care if I died anyway? She complained about me in my face a lot. Ah yes. Of course she wouldn't want me dead. She'd be hassled by Lord Hector on how she let one of the units fall. I was a soldier. Sacrificing a soldier when it needn't be is a waste of a force you could use later. It's Serra's job to make sure I was okay. She'd get in trouble, plus she doesn't like looking at dead people so of course she wouldn't want me do die. The same way she doesn't want any dirt on her cloths...then again I can relate to that. I don't like being dirty...but...sometimes it seems like she actually likes my I was just the person who escorted her and she just wanted someone she knew. Even if it was a person she didn't like. Does she hate me? Or can she stand me? She said she doesn't hate me, but maybe she held back her opinion as to not make me upset...but that doesn't make sense. That's never stopped her making someone upset before. And if she doesn't want to make me upset why would she hold back the fact she hates me? And wha-" Grrruuuuhhh!
I looked down at my midsection. My stomach growled.
"Good thing no one heard that," I said to myself. "This is the same as always. I finally see why I need to eat and then get raveled in my thoughts to the point I ignored my body again...Serra. I wish I took you with me. And Lord Pent said nothing could pass the portal after it's first use for..." He said he didn't know.
"I feel cut off," I began to talk to myself again. "But I must remain strong. I have a mission to complete. I came here for more knowledge and that is what I will do. I don't need Serra to help me do that...I'm distracting myself again."
I looked in the refrigerator again. I was growing cold standing in it's doorway. It's easy. All I have to do is take something out, like that apple in the drawer there, and eat it. I took out the apple and bit into it. It felt very juicy but...dry. I disposed of my bite and the apple itself.
"This is going to be harder then I thought," I said to myself
I always ate with Serra on our journeys together, much to my displeasure, much to my satisfaction. But then again every time we ate together was because she forced me to eat. Pulled me away from my books. I did like Lowen's food, but I just can't eat. I don't like the feel of food, or anything for that matter, in my mouth. Not even water, a sacred substance. But why? I like the tastes, but it makes me ill just thinking about the feel of something in my mouth. But I must eat. If she does care about me, I can't leave the physical plane. I long for her to be kind to me again. Just one more time...
Ready sliced meats, cheeses (good ones), and fancy breads, and various other things. I made myself a small sandwich and ate. Thinking about Serra, and how she was kind to me that one time I was sick, I managed to eat the sandwich. It tasted good, but once again I had to force myself to eat it. I was still hungry, but it was a start. In the kitchen I found a 'clock' which told time very accurately. According to it, I had spent three hours trying to make that one small sandwich. I had spent so much time thinking, but it didn't feel that long. But it had to have been right. I was in front of that refrigerator for so long that ice formed slightly on my hair and on my cloths. A slightly scary thought. People...they always seem to fear such petty things. You only need to fear yourself, and that is what I've always feared. However, no one has ever feared themselves like I do, except maybe Karel. I fear of what I might say to people, and upset them. I make people hate me even though I didn't want to spurn them in the first place. Now I fear what would become of me on my own...but then again, fear gets in the ways of many things. I must not be afraid. This is the first time I've admitted this to myself anyway, so I just have to forget I had these thoughts in the first place. Besides, my mission is soon. I can feel it.
A beeping came from the PTV in the next room. I got out from the table (when did I sit down?) and went to the lobby room of my new house. The PTV showed the Guild receptionist. She told me my client was ready. Sure took the client along time to get ready. I proceeded out of my house, once again feeling the tug at my shoulder as the MAG landed on my shoulder. I really got to give it a name... We went through the teleporter, got off the teleporter terminal, and proceeded left to the Guild.
I found my client by the desk, and stood before him.
"Are you Erk?" said my client. "I'm Zidd. I asked a young hunter, Ash, to do some research on Ragol. He's supposed to be done with the job by now, but he hasn't returned yet. Perhaps he got himself into some trouble... So I want to ask you to go to Ragol and rescue him. Not by yourself. Please go with that hunter over there. Bring him over here."
I looked behind me and saw an ominous armored man near the door where I came in, I didn't even see him as I came in! That must be an android. He was tall, blazing yellow eyes like a morph, but more like the lights above my head. He was a sort of pinkish-purple, but it made him look more fearsome then funny. This was a force to be taken seriously. I cautiously made my way to the android.
"Are you Erk?" it asked. "It's the first time I've had a partner. Zidd asked me to do this job first. Unexpectedly, he told me I'd have to work with someone else... I had to say YES as he is my client..."
I wandered back over to Zidd, the android followed.
"He's Kireek," began Zidd. "Your partner for this quest. He is a HUcast. He's a pro, perhaps you can learn a lot from him. Kireek, I know you are unhappy, but I need two hunters for this. One has to retrieve the data disk that I asked Ash to get. The other is to help Ash return here if he is injured. This is my personal agenda. It has nothing to do with business. Ash is my cousin. I don't want to lose him. Please understand."
"......I have no choice," said Kireek. "Let's go Erk. Don't lag behind."
We walked out of the building, continued a short distance down the street to the teleporter, and got in.
"This will be my first time on the surface," I said. I was feeling gloomy about it next to this person I suspect might be a real hero, compared to me...
"Don't worry about it," he said to me. "Even though you are a Force and therefore aren't strong physically, your Techniques will make up for that."
I remembered the Foie spell... I took the disk I received and processed the information with a device that I have. It showed me the contents of the spell. Unlike Tomes, which are mostly incantations that give the book it's power, the disk just said straight forward what you needed to do. Instead of organization and finesse I just needed the Mental Strength to cast the Technique. It wasn't as fascinating but it was easier. That is better in my situation, I need to learn my 'spells' quickly.
"Of course I haven't cast one of the Techniques yet," I said as I stepped on the platform of the teleporter to the residential area as well as Ragol.
"That won't matter," said Kireek. "You don't need to cast as you said, to get better. You will be able to learn new ones as you level up even if you don't use the old ones."
"Level up?" I asked.
"Yes," continued Kireek. "It's amusing. As you get experience you also absorb the Photons of your victims. Sort of like a monster taking a soul, but not quite. Well eventually you 'level up' as the Photons build up. At a point your body will enhance all of your abilities and fully recover you when the Photons build up. It's called a Photon Blast. Though that term is only used for MAG's though lots of people say that it's a myth. So we call it leveling up. I think that MAG's do perform Photon Blast's, course theirs are much more powerful. Although why some MAG's do it for one owner and not for another is a mystery. I do remember hearing about one RAcaseal that liked MAG's. I don't remember what she said though considering I was busy. Don't remember her name or looks either. I don't even know why you humans take so much time into remembering the face of someone of the other sex!"
"I sort of don't understand why either," I commented. To tell the truth I didn't know. Why do people care? Does it really exist? Or is it just a myth we made up to keep ourselves occupied?
"Down to Ragol then," said Kireek. "Impute your password and registration into the computer and then we'll be off."
I did so, and in a flash of light I saw myself traveling through a tunnel of blue rings...
I came to on the ground, soft ground. Kireek was standing over me.
"Get used to that quickly," he said to me. He helped me up. I looked around me, there was a metallic cane with a glowing spot on the front of the top nub. I also noticed I was in a lushes forest, some boxes nearby.
"Where did the boxes come from?" I asked.
"They are just lost supplies I guess," said Kireek. "Crack them open and see what's inside. You can find things like items, weapons, armor, or Meseta. Anything you don't want that you find you can also sell. It's always a good idea to open up those boxes and see what's inside."
I reached down and picked up my cane. I walked over to the boxes and cracked them open with my cane. I found numerous things, including some more...
"What is 'Monomate' Kireek?" I asked him.
"Monomate is a healing liquid," he answered. "Another healing fluid is Monofluid. They are for healing. Monomate helps with wounds and Monofluid you drink when your low on Technique Photons or TP...aren't you going to laugh?"
"Ohuh?" I muttered. I didn't hear anything funny about what he said.
"Most of the new hunters that are your age laugh at the acronym TP," he commented. "I don't know why they do."
"I found nothing funny with that acronym. Shall we continue then?"
"Might as well. I personally don't want to take forever on this mission. I've got...another job to do shortly after this one..."
"Very well."
Kireek took a deep breath and said "I love adventuring."
We walked into the forest, limited to where we could go because of mounds of dirt around us.
The path curved a little right and we came to a gate with blue bands passing through it.
"Here come the wild animals of Ragol," said Kireek. "Don't let them surround you!"
"Why?" I asked. "Are they going to attack us?"
"You haven't heard?" asked Kireek. "The animals on Ragol are vicious. They attacked anyone from Pioneer 2 the moment they land on the surface. It's a wonder Pioneer 1 managed to get settled here with these ferocious animals. The only thing we can do is kill them when they attack."
"I don't agree with that," I said.
"Better them then you right? Get used to it. I'd rather not myself, less messy. But it must be done. However there is a rumor that the animals have been genetically altered to act like this."
"Genetically?"
"Don't know much do you?"
"Well Kireek...I have a rather strange story to tell. I'm not from Coral. I came onboard Pioneer 2 when the explosion occurred. My Master Lord Pent is a great sorcerer. He performed a spell which opened up a portal to another world. Only one being could pass through it, and then Master Pent wouldn't be able to open another one for an unknown amount of time. I passed through the portal. I landed on Pioneer 2. The lords...err...officials of Pioneer 2 decided to believe me and let me stay so long as I undertake a confidential mission. I was a well to do sage in my world. My world was a world of candles, bows, and swords. I learned of things like Protons Photons and Neutrons while I was here. In my world, we believe things are made up of fire, air, water, and or earth. Example, wood burns, makes smoke, and ash. We figured that wood is made of fire air and earth. My world is not as advance as this one."
"...I won't say if I believe you or not but I'll go along. Genetic engineering is altering DNA, a type of molecule found in all cells of living organisms. Follow?"
"My research took me as far as DNA and cells yes. I was also amazed to find out how the power of the sky could be taken to form what you call light bulbs! Course now you have those Photon lights. Well I think that's enough talking for now. Lets continue on, though I don't like the slaughtering either way."
I looked at my cane.
"Especially since I will be bashing in their bodies..." I grimaced.
"Most hunters are fine about that."
"I don't like getting into this sort of thing."
"They're monsters now so don't worry about it. Just do it. How about we make a game out of it? See who can defeat the most? Besides the more you beat the stronger you get."
"......very...well..."
We wandered through the gate, animals were roaming towards us. They were bear-like with red eyes, and long two pair claws. Kireek ran forward and with a giant scythe slew one in one hit.
"These guys are Boomas," said Kireek. "And that mean bony one is a Savage Wolf, don't know what Pioneer called the wolves but they earn the name! Now watch out!"
I ran up to a Booma. I ran my cane down on it's head, barely scratching it. I stepped forward and delivered a blow to the gut, barely making the beast double over. A blade came through it's chest, blood oozing from the wound and coming onto my cloths. I jumped back as Kireek ripped open the rest of the animal.
"And that's...TWO!" shouted Kireek. "You look pale Erk."
"I...I think I'm going to be ill."
I saw another Booma and ran up to it, Kireek going for the Savage Wolf. He severed the being clean in-two. I ran my cane down on the shoulder of the Booma, it lifted it's claw and slashed vertically down my chest. It hurt almost as bad as the Ereshkigal spell, only that attacked your very soul. I began to counter, swinging my cane trying to do damage. I wasn't hitting it that easily. The beast moved away from my blows. I then lifted my hand. "Foie!" I shouted as a fireball was launched from my hand and at the Booma. I shouted the spell again and slew the beast. I muttered "One," quietly. I looked over at Kireek.
"I decided to leave that one to you. Now watch as I attack too, you'll still get Photons that way, some of them will be directed towards you if you pay attention to a kill. That way you can still get some experience. Hey! Watch out!"
Teeth sank into my leg. I cried out. I swung my cane awkwardly at the Savage Wolf but it circled around to my side. It was about to bite again when Kireek buried his scythe in it's brain. Two Boomas were coming towards us. Kireek slew the two of them in one sweep.
"I have six and you have one," began Kireek. "Be careful. Even if you defeat one group, another one may be hiding near you. Watch your radar."
"Radar?" I asked.
"It is a Photon detection system. Look there on your hand. That band. It reads disks, and gives you details on your quests. Other things as well. It has a radar on it and a map. You can see doors on it, and enemies, and other hunters. So watch your radar."
"Very well."
"Prepare for the battle so you don't get surrounded."
"Yes, thank you."
We proceeded up the clearing of the forest. There was a large door on our left and in front of us. The front one had a red bar of light over it. And the other one did as well, but it had a cylinder next to it with a pattern in it matching the one on the nearby door.
"That's a door switch. Press it."
I did so and the door opened. We proceeded through the door and down another path. We came to a curve to another door. I thought I could hear a buzzing noise. We proceeded through the door. Huge mosquitoes were flying around us.
"Mothmants!" shouted Kireek. "These will just keep coming unless you find the nest and destroy it!"
I looked around. There was a disgusting looking purple ball of slimy material on wood like legs in the shade of a tree nearby. The tree was near an over look of the area where our first battle was. A Mothmant flew in front of my vision. I swung my cane, and managed to kill it in mid-air. Another poked me with it's needle mouth. The injuries I had were making me dizzy. I was not fit to fight. I was weak. I then remembered that I had that Monomate stuff. Hopefully it worked as fast as a vulnerary. I took out a Monomate and opened it. I poured it on my wounds as instructed on the label. When done I noticed Kireek had felled the Monest as he called it while insulting it.
"It's not dead yet! Just one more hit!"
I launched a fire ball to finish it off before Kireek could raise his scythe again.
"Well that kill goes to you then," said Kireek. "But Mothmants don't count okay? Even though I still killed most of them. Okay that's 6-2. I'm in the lead."
I noticed two Boomas pop out of the ground near another door. I ran to one while Kireek engaged the other. He slew it in an instant, a disgusting sound as a result. I was so distracted that I ran right into the attack of the Booma, and I fell to the ground. It was preparing to finish me off but Kireek felled it, covering me in it's blood. Kireek then helped me up as I wiped blood from my face. "8-2," he said.
"In some areas," he continued. "You must defeat all the enemies to unlock the door."
"Why is that?" I asked as politely as I could though terrified.
"Perhaps it's a security reason..." he answered. "Other doors can be opened through switches."
We went through the door we were in front of. We went down the path and took a right turn to another door, sand was on our side of the door. There was also a buzzing noise.
"If you're with your teammates," began Kireek. "They'll watch your back. If you're back. If you're alone, try to look around as often as you can. Get a view of the field."
"Didn't the tactician always say that?" I thought.
We walked through the door. The area was sandy. There was another Monest halfway up the area, at least twenty feet. Kireek ran up to the nest and hacked away, while I took care of the Mothmants. Not that I had a choice, I was surrounded by them, fighting furiously. I just couldn't hit them. I usually fought with magic. This new experience with a cane, although light-weight, as a weapon was frustrating. Kireek slew the Monest and came to my aid. Two Boomas came out of the ground at our sides. I decided to take on a defensive stance I saw Guy use once. I lifted my wrists to my shoulders while the cane crossed my head above my eyes. He was a fierce, yet clumsy swordsman. I saw him and Lady Louise talking once. His hair was unintentionally untied and she snuck up behind him and did his hair. A shaman was sneaking up behind them and I felled him, but they didn't even notice. Guy was unnerved by the fact that she was doing his hair. Seeing a male with that long of hair must of fascinated her. Why she liked people my age I don't know. She just wanted to be a mother I guess. But Guy already looked up to Karel. Both of them were fierce warriors. Guy was the one that defeated Uhai at the Dread Isle, who was a great bows man on horseback. Not only that but Guy was able to "Wake up!"
"No," I said out loud still in my thoughts. "Guy was always sleeping in."
"WAKE UP BOY!" shouted Kireek.
I came to my senses just in time to feel the full blow of the Booma's claw. I got to my feet and swung five times at the Booma, missing each time. I was still dazed. Kireek stepped in and slew it with one, accurate hit. The Booma's upper body flew high into the air as a result of Kireek's strong blow. The Booma body landed on me, and it was still alive. It was snarling in my face, trying to bend at my neck and bite. I began to scream. Kireek swung his scythe like a rogue mallet and chopped off it's head. Blood went spraying into my face, and unfortunately my mouth while I was screaming from fear. He lifted the body from my person and helped me up, while I spat out the blood.
"You could have killed me swinging that thing like a rogue mallet so close to my neck!" I shouted in his face.
"Rogue?" asked Kireek. "Isn't that what croquet was based off? Never mind. What's wrong? Is it difficult to hit the enemies?"
I calmed down a bit at this point.
"Yes, very..." I said with a sigh at the end.
"All right," continued Kireek. "I'll teach you some of the basics. Stop and listen to me. First of all, attacking like this!" he performed a simple attack, "is a fast striking move, but it's not very powerful. A charged heavy attack is more powerful, but it can be easily dodged. This is what hacked that Booma in two. Some weapons have a special power for a special attack. Understand?" I nodded. "You should do a minimum of 3 combo attacks if you attack rapidly."
He demonstrated. He brought one blow down, a blow forward for thrusting, and finally a diagonal swing upwards. "This is what most Forces do." I imitated. "Make sure you survive."
I was tired at this point from my spell casting. These Foie spells used much energy. I took out some Monomate and applied it to my wounds. I looked down at the ground and saw something on the ground. It was a green capsule.
"Monomate!" I shouted. "How'd this get here?"
"Sometimes you kill a monster and it drops something it had in it's system," said Kireek. "They eat it. So when you cut them open like I did, something may fall out. Don't worry the stuff is still good. Those capsules are tough."
I reluctantly put the capsule into a bag in my cloths. We continued on out of the area.
We went through the doors to the next area. We turned right a bit and a bit forward down a small path. We came to another area. One of the Savage Wolves were there. Kireek ran forward and slew the Wolf, but was ambushed by three others. I ran in to help him. I flew a fire ball at one of them, but wasn't able to kill it. Kireek quickly made work of the wolves, and more came. He defeated them as well with his scythe. There were seven in all. Some of the wolves were tan, and others were blue, all of them had bony exteriors.
"The blue ones are Barbarous Wolves," began Kireek. "They are the leaders. Take them down and the others lose morale."
I nodded.
"That makes it...19-2. Erk, did you learn the trick?"
"I didn't get the chance to try it out," I admitted.
"One can also use Techniques as you know. They almost always hit the enemy. Unfortunately androids can't use Techniques. I envy those who can."
"Yes but you can use mines right?"
"Yes but I don't have any on me at the moment. Let's continue on."
"...What are we doing again?"
"We are looking for a kid who got himself into trouble."
I nodded. We continued onwards. We went through the next door and down an eight foot path. I saw something that looked like a giant chick. It had yellow feathers, a short beak, and antennae like an insect.
"Rag Rappies. Rag Rappies are easy. I'll just leave them to you. Two of them."
I ran forward and began to use the attacks that Kireek taught me to coordinate myself. Three blows and a fire ball. I defeated it. The other came up to me and gave me a sharp peak at my arm. How was it that they could attack harder then some of Nergal's best? With some more attacks I felled the other. Then the one I attacked first got up and ran away, scaring me half to death.
"They play dead!" shouted Kireek, leaning on his blood ridden scythe.
I jumped away from the Rag Rappy. I looked at the hole in my arm. Just then four Boomas popped out of the ground and began to beat me. I fell down. They stood over me, ready to feast or whatever they do to their victims. In one instant all of their heads flew off, blood freely pouring over me as all their bodies fell on each other and stood in place, creating the crimson waterfall.
"KIREEK!" I shouted.
"Don't worry," said Kireek. "Blood stains come out a lot easier then with our technology."
"Not good on my psyche though!"
I felt an surge of energy and shot upwards, blowing the bodies away from me.
"Your first Photon Blast, you've leveled up," said Kireek.
I looked at my body. My wounds were healed and I was no longer tired.
"Amazing..." I stuttered.
"Same as always," began Kireek. "Get used to it. Your going to be getting those a lot for a few missions and then they will hardly happen at all. Lets get going."
I looked around us. There was two paths we could take. I looked at my map on my wrist band.
"We should cross that steam and go through the door on the other side," I stated.
We did just that.
We continued down a path and turned left. We crossed another door, and found three Boomas waiting for us. We rushed in. I tossed two fire balls and defeated one. I looked at Kireek. He had slain the other two.
"That's 24-to-5," said Kireek. "Your losing Erk."
"I'm ashamed of how many people I killed as a soldier," I said to Kireek. "I really don't want to make a contest out of killing these beasts."
We continued over to the next door. As it opened, I heard a voice.
"Wh...who is it!?" it said.
Kireek looked at me.
"Might be trouble," said Kireek. "I found these and picked them up. You can have them. Three Monofluids and a Monomate."
I accepted them. We ran inside. We found a hunter on the ground. It must have been Ash. He was not in good shape. He looked up at us.
"I don't know who you guys are," said Ash. "But be careful... They're...still hiding around here."
"I can hear something..." said Kireek. "A growl?..?"
"Excuse me do you still have the disk you were supposed to get?" I asked.
He looked at me weird.
"The disk? I think...it's near the monsters. Over there."
I walked over to where he pointed. Kireek followed. I picked up the disk and put in in my inventory. Then three Savage Wolves and a Barbarous Wolf jumped out at us. Kireek made a spinning motion which slashed all of them in mid-flight through the heart. Blood sprayed everywhere, and I was finally drenched head to toe in blood, and Kireek still managed to remain spotless somehow!
"28-to-5," said Kireek. "And we found Ash. That means I win."
I lowered my head as we walked over to Ash. Kireek lifted him onto his shoulders. Ash took a deep breath.
"Thank you...." he said.
"By the way your cousin Zidd sent us," I told him.
"Wha...?" gawked Ash. "Zidd? Now I know why you guys are here... He always treats me like a kid... I completed the quest, but suddenly, they attacked me here. Monsters appeared and I dropped the disk. I couldn't do anything." He paused. "How vexing...! I appreciate that you guys came to save me, but I..."
He made a motion to try and get off Kireek, but the android held him in place.
"I'll take this boy with me," said Kireek, receiving a particularly nasty look from Ash. "You deliver the disk to the client. Then we can finish this job. Erk...train yourself. Become much stronger to impress me...ha, ha, ha...."
He vanished in a flash of light. A ring with bright spikes of light around it was all that was left. This had to be nothing more then one of the telepipes I read about. The telepipe items allowed one to make a portal from to a place, and the creator's return through the telepipe would close it. Until then, anyone could use it. I went into it and returned to Pioneer 2, weary and covered in drying blood.
People stared at me when I was at the shop. Selling, buying. I was almost fully stocked on Monomate and Monofluid. I could only hold ten of each. I also bought some more spell disks. One was a lightning Technique called Zonde. The other's were support Techniques, used to help friends or worsen enemies. Zalure and Jellen. Zalure would lower the defense of a foe, while Jellen would lower the attack power of a foe. Zonde would be able to paralyze foes for a short while, once I learned it at higher levels. All the spells I know are only the first volumes... I proceeded out of the shop and towards the Guild.
I walked into the Guild. Ash was near the desk. I greeted him.
"Thank you," he said in gratitude to my deed, though Kireek did most of the work. "I'll keep practicing!"
"Kireek already left after recieving the Meseta," said Zidd. "Phew... I have never seen such an intimidating android. It was like that android was built for battle."
I handed him his disk while nodding.
"This must be the disk that I asked Ash to find. Thanks. Ash is enduring the pain, since he won't go see a doctor. You can get your reward at the Hunter's Guild. Thank you."
I made a mental note that a doctor must be some kind of healer. I walked over to the Guild desk.
"You've been awarded 500 Meseta," she said. "Very good! You have completed the job! This is the reward! Please come again. The Hunter's Guild helps you to enrich your life!"
I nodded, and left. I needed a 'shower.'