After the Forest Wolf was dead, the veterans ordered the group to rest for a few moments while still being vigilant. David, a seasoned soldier with a weathered face and eyes that spoke of countless battles, warned everyone, "Don't get cocky. Stay alert. Wolves always hunt in packs. This one must have strayed from its group." His voice carried the weight of experience, and the recruits listened attentively.
Alois felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him as the adrenaline from the fight ebbed away. He sat under a towering tree, gratefully accepting a flask of water from David. The cool liquid soothed his parched throat, and he took a moment to catch his breath. David's presence was reassuring; his gruff exterior hid a compassionate nature that Alois had come to appreciate.
David had been one of the first veterans to show any kindness to Alois, answering his questions and offering occasional encouragement. Despite his stern demeanor and the scars that marred his face, David had a soft spot for the recruits. In Alois's mind, David was a decent guy, someone who saw beyond the surface.
While resting, Alois noticed another female veteran, Elara, standing near the corpse of the Forest Wolf with a group of new recruits gathered around her. Elara was strikingly composed, her eyes sharp and her movements deliberate. She had an air of authority about her, with short, auburn hair tied back in a practical bun and a face that carried the wisdom of many battles. Her leather armor was worn yet meticulously maintained, signaling her dedication and experience.
Curiosity piqued, Alois strained to hear her words. Elara was explaining the meticulous process of gutting the monster and extracting its valuable parts — hide, meat, organs — without damaging their quality. Her voice was steady and authoritative, and the recruits listened intently, captivated by her expertise.
Alois's eyes lit up as he listened to her lecture. "Even though I don't know much about monsters, I do know how to gut a fish. I can definitely learn this. It might be useful for food and to make some money in the future."
Despite his fatigue, Alois forced himself to stand and made his way over to the group. He positioned himself quietly at the edge, absorbing every word without interrupting.
Elara and the new recruits noticed him, eyebrows raised in surprise. Unlike the other players, these NPCs had witnessed Alois's miraculous survival against the Forest Wolf despite being level 0. This earned him a measure of respect in their eyes.
Elara looked at Alois and asked, "Do you wish to learn?" Alois, half-expecting a refusal, replied, "Can I?" Elara simply smiled and said, "Pay attention. I won't repeat it twice."
In the next few minutes, Elara demonstrated the extraction process with impressive skill. She moved with practiced efficiency, her hands deftly separating the valuable materials from the corpse. Alois and the new recruits watched in awe, their respect for her growing.
Elara left some parts of the corpse untouched so the recruits could practice. Alois was given a portion of the wolf that had tried to attack him. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Look at you now, lying in pieces for us to practice on."
Borrowing a knife from one of the recruits, Alois carefully followed Elara's instructions. His years of experience gutting fish came in handy, though he found the monster's tough hide a challenge. Even with a sharp knife, he had to exert all his strength to cut through it. By the time he finished, his hands were throbbing with pain.
He sighed in relief, "It's a good thing I didn't try to fight this wolf head-on. I wouldn't have even been able to pierce its skin, much less kill it."
Elara observed him as he worked. She was impressed by his proficiency after hearing her instructions just once. Seeing him struggle with the tough hide, she felt a pang of sympathy.
She approached him and said, "For someone without formal training, you did well. Here are some tips to make it easier next time." She offered pointers on technique and tools, her tone encouraging.
Alois took her advice to heart, grateful for the guidance. As there was still a bit of time left to rest, he retreated to the shade of a tree and sat down. Ensuring no one was watching, he allowed himself a small smile, "This is really a surprise. I didn't expect to learn something so useful."
Shortly after, a game notification appeared before his eyes.
[ Congratulations! The player has learnt a skill [Monster Harvester]. ]
[ Skill : Monster Harvester ]
• Description : This skill grants players the expertise to efficiently extract valuable parts such as hide, meat, organs, and other components from the corpses of defeated monsters. These harvested materials are crucial for crafting, alchemy, and trade.
• Current Proficiency Stage : Novice Harvester
- Effect : Grants the ability to harvest common materials from monster corpses with basic precision.
- Bonus : +10% chance to gather additional common materials.
• Next Proficiency stage : Skilled Harvester
- Proficiency Requirement : Harvest 100 monster corpses, including at least 10 different monster types.
• Additional Features :
- Critical Harvests : At each proficiency stage, there is a small chance (increasing with proficiency level) to perform a critical harvest, yielding a significantly higher quantity of materials and a chance to obtain unique components.
- Harvesting Tools : Using specialized tools, such as enchanted knives or harvesting gloves, can further increase the efficiency and yield of the Monster Harvester skill.
- Skill Progression : The skill can be leveled up through repeated use, with experience gained from each successful harvest.
Alois's eyes lit up with excitement. "So, even as a level 0 player, I can still learn skills. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself. The reason I learned this skill so quickly is because I've done similar work in the real world for years. Learning a skill I know nothing about will take much longer."
Then he frowned, "What I don't understand is why I didn't get any experience after the wolf died. Don't tell me my full-power strike with that bundle of rocks didn't do a single point of damage."
He felt a wave of frustration at the extreme level suppression. "It doesn't matter. Since I'm level 0, these NPCs think I'm useless with no future. I can prove myself by becoming a master harvester." As Alois was making plans for his future, the veterans began gathering everyone to continue the training.
Though still tired, Alois wasn't worried. He had already faced his turn as the lure; now it was the other four players' turn. He looked at them with a sweet smile and said, "Good luck..." To the other four, this smile seemed the most malicious they'd ever seen.
Seeing how easily the recruits dispatched the level 10 wolf, even the veterans considered heading deeper into the forest. And so they did.
As they ventured further, they noticed deep claw marks on the trees. Elara analyzed them and said with concern, "Forest Bear." Carlos, the veteran who had sent Alois to lure out the wolf, frowned. "Forest bears are found much deeper in the forest. Why would one be here? Anyway, stay alert."
After a few more minutes, they encountered another monster. Alois immediately recognized it as another forest wolf. It was feeding on a squashed corpse, unaware of the hunters nearby.
This time, it was Isolde's turn to lure the monster. She stepped forward, trembling. As she approached within thirty meters, the wolf's ears twitched. Without looking back, it leaped into the bushes.
Isolde's heart sank, but she continued forward, making as little noise as possible. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain and her vision spun. She saw her own body, headless, before everything went black.
( Author's Note : I've also published this novel on RoyalRoad. If you wish to donate then you can do it on RoyalRoad. Cheers !! )