The supply caches were set up as a precaution for group members who might be injured, poisoned, or unable to signal for help during patrols. They were meant to serve as a safety net.
While the items inside weren't particularly valuable, they were practical and could be lifesaving in extreme situations.
Having someone like Old Wills around certainly put everyone's mind at ease.
"An elder in the family is like a treasure... couldn't be more true," Ronan thought as he finished his routine check, glancing back to see Jacob sprawled over an old tree root, exhausted.
Jacob's stamina was abysmal, much like Ronan's had been when he first arrived. They hadn't even completed their patrol, and he was already worn out.
"Never mind," Ronan said, feeling a bit sympathetic given all the gossip Jacob had shared along the way. "I'll handle the rest on my own. You should head back and rest."
"Is that... alright, Sir Ronan?" Jacob panted, a trace of embarrassment mixed with obvious relief on his face.
Ronan waved him off and continued on alone.
"The next stop is..." Ronan glanced at the map, his expression shifting slightly.
According to the map, he was nearing the half-elf siblings' residence.
With a bit of anticipation, Ronan made his way there.
The half-elf siblings lived in a rather secluded area, surrounded by dense shrubs and weeds. Along the path, Ronan noticed several man-made traps, narrowly avoiding them thanks to his enhanced reflexes and physical condition.
These were undoubtedly set by the half-elf siblings.
Just as the silhouette of the treehouse came into view, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
Ronan instinctively dodged to the side as a black arrow embedded itself in a nearby tree, its white fletching quivering from the impact.
"Damn it," Ronan muttered, scowling as he looked toward the source of the arrow.
A tall figure hidden in the shadows of the trees was lowering a bow.
Before Ronan could speak, a cold, rough voice called out, "No need to patrol here. We can handle it ourselves."
Ronan's grip on his sword hilt tightened, then relaxed. His face set in a grim expression as he turned and retreated back into the forest.
Recalling their first encounter, Ronan took a deep breath, muttering a curse, "Crazy people!"
Feeling slightly better, he made a quick round near Jacob's place before heading to the final stop: Linus's residence.
Upon arrival, Ronan saw Linus sitting on the grass, sipping tea beside a voluptuous woman. They were engaged in a conversation, her laughter ringing out like a clucking hen.
Linus noticed Ronan but only gave him a cold glance before ignoring him.
Ronan wasn't about to bother with someone who clearly wasn't interested. He made a quick circuit and left.
Aside from the morning patrol, where Jacob accompanied him halfway, Ronan completed the rest of the day's patrols alone.
By the end of the day, he wasn't physically exhausted, but the process felt tedious and time-consuming.
However, having chosen to join, he had no complaints.
Two months later...
A low hum escaped Ronan's lips, vibrating the air around him.
A massive, dark blue energy sphere, the size of a watermelon, materialized before him, shooting out with a whoosh.
The sphere skimmed over the lake, disrupting its mirror-like surface.
As it neared the lake's center, it exploded with a thunderous crash, sending water and spray soaring over ten meters high.
Ronan watched his character panel closely.
After a moment, his face showed a hint of disappointment.
"Still not there..."
In two months, Ronan had maxed out his expert-level [Energy Missile].
Yet, the last bit of proficiency needed to break through eluded him.
"Not enough... How many times have I cast this spell? Why is the insight still lacking?"
Ronan furrowed his brows. He felt close to breaking through to the next level with [Energy Missile], but every attempt fell just short.
"I'll just have to keep grinding... At least the almost-maxed expert level [Energy Missile] is much more powerful than before."
He consoled himself and turned back toward the forest.
By now, autumn had arrived in Hoddam.
Walking on the yellowing grass, gazing at the sprawling forest under the orange sunset, the landscape looked like a painting.
Yet beneath this beauty, the turmoil and chaos were intensifying.
As Ronan treaded on the thick carpet of fallen leaves, he suddenly stopped.
He approached a pile of leaves, nudging it with a stick.
Soon, the pale, twisted corpse of a woman emerged from beneath.
She hadn't been dead long, the body not yet bloated.
Stripped of all possessions, her neck and collarbone bore bruises, suggesting she had been assaulted before her death.
Her face was contorted in pain and despair, her lifeless eyes seeming to accuse Ronan silently.
Silently, Ronan covered her face with leaves, then raised his hand.
The red ring on his right hand glowed slightly, and a fireball shot out, engulfing the leaves and the corpse in flames.
"...May truth guide you, and may your soul find peace."
Ronan murmured, chanting a spell. As the fire threatened to spread, he summoned a frosty orb, tossing it into the flames.
With a crack, the ice ball shattered, freezing the remaining flames and ashes into frost.
After ensuring everything was extinguished, Ronan turned away.
This was the third body Ronan had discovered in the forest.
Since last month, the chaos in Hoddam had spiraled out of control.
Skyrocketing prices, rampant anxiety, and tension, along with increasing reports of Black Robe sightings...
Desperate wizards, having exhausted their resources, had taken to robbery and murder.
The town's living areas were somewhat stable under the academy wizards' watch, but outside the safety zones, the situation was dire.
Fights broke out daily, and Ronan had even encountered one himself.
A fortnight ago, while returning from selling runes in town, he stumbled upon a robbery.
Fortunately, the robbers were occupied and didn't bother him.
This highlighted the benefits of being part of a group.
The local wizards knew their group included several skilled wizards. Linus, during a solo patrol, had decisively killed two Level 3 apprentices who had crossed him, showcasing his mid-level apprentice prowess.
His reputation spread, and forest wizards knew their group had a Level 5 apprentice.
However, with the forest growing increasingly dangerous and the treehouse district nearly deserted, Old Wills and the others were planning to move to the town soon.