Chapter 21: Pumpkin and Getting Lost
Watching the bulky figure and the giant dark demon clash together, Baha was somewhat stunned, wondering who this could possibly be.
The battle ended not long after. The bulky figure used the spiral greatsword, a full one and a half meters long, to shred the giant dark demon into pieces.
After the fight, the bulky figure thrust the spiral greatsword into the ground and began gathering the giant dark demon’s corpse. He even collected the head from not far away, piled it all up, sprinkled some powder on top, and lit it. A great fire roared up.
The bulky figure sat with his back to the fire, leaning beside the spiral greatsword. His breathing was a bit rapid at first, but after a few breaths, it steadied.
“I’m late. I was thinking about where you’d be this afternoon and accidentally fell asleep.”
The bulky figure seemed a little embarrassed, patting the pumpkin-like bloated helmet on his head.
“Bai Ye, you’re in danger now. Those aberrant things in the Dark Prison have all set their sights on you. The guild’s higher-ups sent me to reinforce you. Whatever you need, just say it. What I can do, I’ll do. What I can’t do... hmm~”
The bulky figure thought for a long time but couldn’t figure out what to do about things he couldn’t manage. He quickly dropped the topic, pulled out a small bottle of wine from somewhere, and popped the cork.
“To victory in battle, cheers, hahaha.”
Just as Baha thought the bulky figure would take off that bloated helmet to drink, he instead pulled out a wooden straw, stuck it into the bottle, and started slurping away.
At that moment, a notification from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[Notification: The Hunter has rendezvoused with the friendly unit in this world, Ta Balder. Temporary party is being formed (expected to meet on the first day; due to Ta Balder getting lost, the rendezvous time has been delayed).]
[Temporary party has been established. This party has no restrictions and no penalty for leaving.]
[With the temporary party formed, if Ta Balder assists the Hunter in combat, the Hunter’s gains will not be reduced.]
Su Xiao exchanged a glance with Baha. Baha quickly shook his head, indicating he didn’t know this guy who was both hearty and a bit dim-witted.
“Bai Ye, did you bring any meat? What’s that smell so good? Dark demon burning doesn’t smell like that.”
The bulky figure tossed a small bottle of wine to Su Xiao.
[Notification: You have received Sweet Brew (supernatural wine). Drinking it can relax your mind and body. Excessive consumption will lead to drunkenness.]
“Haven’t eaten in two days. That smell’s making my stomach growl.”
“It’s me! The smell is me!”
Baha glared at the bulky figure.
“?”
The bulky figure looked at Baha in confusion. Though his expression was hidden, his demeanor suggested a huge question mark floating above his head.
“You are?”
Su Xiao sat near the fire. The burning dark demon gave off no strange odor and burned steadily, much longer-lasting than firewood.
“Ta Balder, I’m Ta Balder. Bai Ye, have we met? It seems like five years... hmm~, ten years? Hmm~, it seems we really haven’t.”
Ta Balder let out a low chuckle, instantly dispelling the awkward atmosphere.
“That doesn’t matter. We’re both hunters—that’s enough. As fellow hunters, I’ll trust you until you drive a blade through my chest.”
Ta Balder raised his small wine bottle and laughed heartily.
After hearing Ta Balder’s account, Su Xiao understood what was going on. This somewhat dim-witted guy was actually one of the three Divine Hunters of the Watch Guild.
Demon Blade: Kukulin Bai Ye.
Pumpkin: Ta Balder.
Hyena Fox: Yas.
These were the three Divine Hunters of the Watch Guild, representing its strongest echelon.
According to Ta Balder, two days ago, he received a message from the Watch Guild to rendezvous with Su Xiao and jointly investigate a certain matter.
After receiving the message, Ta Balder immediately set out from the ‘Niyel Duchy.’ To arrive faster, he didn’t even take the steam train—he ran faster than it.
As it turned out, Ta Balder would have been better off taking the steam train. The guy got lost while running, even charging out of the East Valley Federation’s territory and reaching the northern frozen lands.
Only when he reached the frozen lands did Ta Balder realize that the Rhine Kingdom didn’t have snow. He then backtracked, took a few wrong turns, and ended up back in the frozen lands.
When Ta Balder saw the snowflakes drifting before him again, he realized the seriousness of the situation and his own erratic sense of direction.
Fortunately, Ta Balder wasn’t too proud. He asked for help from the Ice Descendants of the frozen lands. To his surprise, they actually knew who he was and escorted him all the way back to the ‘Niyel Duchy.’
After that, Ta Balder obediently boarded a steam train, first arriving in Sodo City. Learning that Su Xiao wasn’t there, he sent a message to the Watch Guild. If he weren’t a Divine Hunter, he wouldn’t have learned that Su Xiao had come to Mist City. Su Xiao’s whereabouts were now the highest-level secret of the Watch Guild.
“So, you ran here along the steel rails?”
Baha spoke while barely holding back a laugh. Ta Balder was a perfect mix of strength and dim-wittedness.
“That’s right. I’m fast, aren’t I?”
“Fast enough.”
Baha was at a loss for words.
“Almost forgot. I have something to give you. I ran along the steel rails to ‘Stone City’ to get it.”
Ta Balder pulled out a Hunter’s Token and, without hesitation, handed it to Su Xiao.
[Notification: You have received ‘Twilight Relic.’ This item can be sold for 1200 World Reputation points.]
“Stone City.”
Su Xiao took the [Twilight Relic]. He had originally planned to go to ‘Stone City’ as his second stop, but now it seemed unnecessary. He could head straight to the third stop, seize the last Hunter Relic, and take the initiative.
Leaving that relic for last had its reasons. That Hunter’s Token was called the [Watch Relic]. Its owner had passed away many years ago. The Watch Guild was founded by that person, who was also the guild’s first hunter.
The World Force contained in a Hunter Relic depended on its owner’s deeds. The owner of the [Watch Relic] founded the Watch Guild. One could imagine how much World Force was in that token.
Su Xiao even suspected that if the Dark Prison forces got their hands on that relic, they might not need the others.
The [Watch Relic] was located in ‘Dawn City,’ a coastal city. As for its exact location, no one knew. It was stored somewhere in Dawn City, according to the only record of the Watch Guild.
“Next stop, Dawn City?”
Ta Balder, slightly tipsy, spoke. Clearly, he already knew the Hunter Relics were important. He had been the one chasing down what the dark demons and wraiths were up to, running all over the world.
“Mm.”
Su Xiao stood up from beside the fire. Before long, Bubu Wang and Amu emerged from the thick fog nearby.
As he walked toward the steam train station, Su Xiao could sense that a fierce battle awaited in the coastal ‘Dawn City.’ There, the Dark Prison forces would reveal their true strength.
Meanwhile, in an alley in Mist City, several dark demons and wraiths knelt on one knee. Before them stood a man with stubble on his chin, exuding mature male charm. A Hunter’s Token floated in front of him.
This was a Divine Hunter’s relic. In fact, there were three Divine Hunter relics in Mist City, but one had been lost long ago. This was that lost one.
The man in the alley stepped out. The faint streetlight illuminated his face. His name was Douglas. That morning, he had been a detective. Now, he was no longer. He was neither a dark demon nor a wraith.