His name is Reeve. He was currently the highest ranked adventurer in Lizhi Village.
His father is a hunter, while his mother is an ordinary housewife. Because his father had been a hunter since childhood, Reeve was often brought by him to hunt animals in the forest.
Reeve, as a child, had several close friends. They were Gifford and also a girl named Lucy.
*Twenty years ago.
On a shiny afternoon one day.
"Reeve, we will not be hunting this week. Based on the announcement from the village chief a few weeks ago, a monster outbreak is likely to occur in these weeks." Said an adult male to Reeve.
This person was rather tall and well-built. With a little beard on his chin and short-cropped hair, this adult male sat on a chair reading a small book.
"You should not go to the area near the forest for now." Said that adult man added. "Or even better, don't leave the village if it's not too important."
"Okay, Dad," Reeve replied briefly. "All right then, I'm leaving first."
Reeve said goodbye to his father as he headed out. But without Reeve's father realizing it, his son actually wanted to go into the forest.
A few days ago, he saw a flower that he thought was beautiful and pretty in the forest. Although he has often been in and out of the forest, it was the first time Reeve saw a flower as attractive and beautiful as that.
Reeve intends to pick it and gift the flower to Lucy.
Meanwhile, Reeve's father found an oddity at Reeve's house when Reeve had just come out some time ago.
"Uh, that boy has his machete with him... could it be...." Reeve's father's expression showed a bit of panic.
Walking through the village gate, Reeve suddenly stopped and looked back because someone was calling him.
"Oi Reeve, where are you going?" asked an adult male standing near the village exit gate. This adult male was dressed in full light armor and was on standby near the village entrance gate.
The news of the monster outbreak that would occur this week made the village adventurers appear to be on alert.
"Nothing, I just want to leave the village for a while to get some fresh air, uncle," Reeve replied with a slight smile.
"Ah, then you should be careful on the road." The adult male looked a little worried and reminded Reeve. "Don't forget; in these weeks, a monster outbreak will occur, so some of the monsters in the forest will be a little more aggressive."
"Okay, uncle," Reeve waved his hand and slowly walked away from the village.
Reeve was soon walking along the grassland. Soon he arrived in front of a forest. He then entered the forest.
After walking for a while, he came to a place with a rather large space wherein the center of this place was a rather large tree. In front of this rather large tree was a large stone.
And it was under near this rock that this flower grew. Reeve then immediately approached the stone.
"Ah, there's the flower; thank goodness it's not damaged yet." Reeve was grateful this flower that he saw the other day was still intact.
The white flower has a slender stem and a cup-shaped bloom. The petals are smooth and silky, and they curve slightly inward to form a graceful outline. The color is pure and bright, like fresh snow or cotton.
"A White Tulip, exactly as described in father's note." Reeve looked amazed and mesmerized by the appearance of the flower in front of him. "It also has a subtle fragrance that is sweet and refreshing."
Reeve immediately picked up the White Tulip and put it in a box he had prepared earlier.
"Alright, time to go home." Just as Reeve was about to walk away, he heard something. He listened to what sounded like someone screaming for help.
"Aahhh... help... anyone... help me..."
Slowly the shouting voice was getting closer. Finally, the sound reached where Reeve was.
Reeve saw a boy around his age running from the pursuit of a monster. It has the body of a black-backed dog but seems larger and more robust, with a sleek silver coat and a distinctive black stripe running along its spine. Its eyes glow red, and its teeth are razor-sharp.
The boy running straight ahead stopped when he caught a glimpse of Reeve. He then ran back and turned to the left towards where Reeve was.
"Ahh.. big brother.. my hero.. my ancestor.. my god." This boy shouted while running in fear toward Reeve.
Once near Reeve, the boy jumped up and immediately hugged Reeve's legs.
"Ahh.. my father.. help me." Said this boy while looking like someone who was holding back tears.
"Huh, now my title has changed once again..." said Reeve, somewhat confused and surprised, looking down at his feet.
"Hey, you..." Before Reeve could finish his sentence, the monster, who looked like a dog chasing this boy, suddenly charged toward Reeve.
Reeve then immediately evaded, and he did not forget to also pull that boy's clothes to evade.
"Hey, you're carrying a sword on your back," said Reeve, a little annoyed with the boy because he carried a weapon but didn't use it at all.
"But that monster is scary." The child was still trembling with fear and panic.
"Well, this is bad." Reeve sighed. "This kid is already mentally affected."
Reeve then turned his gaze to the monster, who looked like a dog.
"Since I can't see your level, that means your level is higher than my current level, which is my level is only level 13," Reeve said with a serious look.
"Although the odds are slim, let's try to make a bet." Reeve sighed as he made up his mind. "It's coming."
That monster, who looked like a dog, immediately tried to attack Reeve again. The monster ran towards Reeve. It tried to bite Reeve as soon as it got close to Reeve.
"This monster is fast. Reeve immediately dodged to the side.
That monster continued its attack, attempting to strike Reeve with its claws. As Reeve dodged, it turned out that the big tree's roots were near his feet, so he slipped a little.
"Crap, I slipped." Reeve panicked. "Damn, I'm finished!"