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Chapter 63: The Approaching Danger
Chapter 63: The Approaching Danger
The shield maiden's skin was a healthy tan, her deep blue eyes, delicate nose, and cherry-red lips formed a surprisingly exquisite face, contrasting with her rugged attire.
Her braided flaxen headband, a light gray color, held back her naturally flowing pale yellow hair, which fell to her shoulders. The headband was likely to keep her hair from obstructing her vision during combat, allowing her to maintain a clear view of her surroundings.
Her clothing differed from the other warriors in her squad; she wore a short-sleeved mail hauberk with a leather breastplate over it, exposing her round, fair thighs. Her figure was curvaceous, especially the upper half, which was particularly voluptuous.
Even the combination of mail and leather armor couldn't hide her exaggeratedly tall and firm stature, creating a heart-stirring silhouette.
Near Rain, two patrolling guards were standing not too far away, whispering to each other as they witnessed the scene:
"They seem to be barbarians from the northern empire!"
Rain's heart calmed down a little upon hearing this.
...
"Rain, you know, they just visited Lord Hamilton's office for a while, probably seeking assistance."
Rain thought for a moment and decided to put aside the remaining skill points for later consideration when he returned home.
The latter was not only tiring but also very dangerous!
It would prevent the empire's official forces from being tied down and reduce unnecessary casualties.
One of the guards was deep in thought, and suddenly his eyes lit up with excitement. "I remember now!"
So, as soon as Rain returned home, he devoured the food at a rapid pace, much to the astonishment of his family and Anna.
"Slow down, Rain!"
A sudden thought flashed through Rain's mind.
The sound of "ho-ho" filled the blacksmith's yard all afternoon as the weapons were polished.
"It seems like they've gone to the Ashwood Inn, probably waiting for the results of the Falcon's reconnaissance."
[Congratulations! Your Blacksmithing Level has increased!]
...
Rain quickly headed towards the Town Hall, thinking that being diligent was a good thing.
But at that moment, Rain shook his head with a smile.
[You focused on weapon polishing for 10 minutes. Blacksmithing Experience Points +1]
Rain had heard that sometimes the official rewards for more dangerous tasks were substantial.
"For now, let's hurry home!"
Indeed, the barbarians lived up to their name.
Rain checked his status panel, seeing his Blacksmithing Level increase from Lv1 to Lv2 (0/300), and he couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his brow, revealing a relieved smile.
Wait a minute!
He continued to read, noticing at the bottom of the panel: Remaining Attribute Points: 1, Remaining Skill Points: 1.
Rain couldn't help but give the guard a second look, impressed by his knowledge. Barbarians, huh?
They reminded Rain of the Vikings, the barbarians as the Europeans called them.
"But due to the unclear situation, they're also worried about encountering multiple ogres, so they're seeking more detailed intelligence from Lord Hamilton."
The family members exchanged glances, bewildered by their son's enthusiastic departure.
Two birds with one stone! If it was an ogre-slaying mission, it would undoubtedly be a dangerous task.
"Can't you tell? Look at their bounty hunter emblems; they're all silver, indicating intermediate bounty hunter status. And they're probably a team."
Rain wasn't surprised, as he had experienced this before when he was operating the bellows.
"Brother, you're eating too fast!"
"I heard they took on a bounty from Lord Hamadi, the Viscount and Sheriff of the Capital City, to eliminate ogres in the Nightsong Forest.
"What are they doing all the way out here in Meyster County?"
"Lord Hamilton agreed to their request and said he would contact the Habichtsburg Manor to dispatch falcons for reconnaissance."
But it seems like they've hit the mark!
The Blacksmith Shop.
And they are experienced, knowing that most sheriffs would not tolerate the presence of ogres in their jurisdiction, so they are likely to agree to assist in the investigation.
"It seems like an exceptionally capable bounty hunter squad!"
"Judging by their destination, it's obvious they're heading to the Town Hall. I'll find out everything once I return after lunch."
Rain suddenly realized why their appearance and style were so rugged.
But they still couldn't escape the stingy comparison to Boris.
"Could it be to kill the ogres in Nightsong Forest?"
"Don't just stand there guessing."
What sharp hearing!
The correct version is on Book 69! 6=9+Book_Bar Original Novel.
In the afternoon, Rain remained focused on weapon polishing, only taking breaks for water and bathroom breaks. He seemed to be welded to the whetstone.
"Wait, I think I've heard of a bounty hunter squad in Meyster County, purely composed of barbarians, and it seems like these are the very same people."
Without any spare attribute points, Rain felt a little uneasy.
Prepare for the next move!
"I estimate they'll take a few days before making their move."
The blacksmith apprentices in the shop had become numb to Rain's tireless dedication.
After several hours, Rain finally received a wonderful system notification: [You have polished weapons, and your understanding has improved!]
At the Town Hall, Rain found a familiar guard and inquired about the barbarians he had seen earlier.
He overheard two sheriff officers whispering, and the leading barbarian, Harral, turned to glance at them.
Meanwhile, they could mobilize hundreds of mercenaries and bounty hunters, preventing these hormone-driven individuals from disrupting local peace.
"I'm full. Father, Mother, Anna, take your time eating. I'm heading to the blacksmith shop!" Rain smiled and ruffled Little Mint's hair before leaving.
"I'll stay at the blacksmith shop this afternoon and see if I can level up my blacksmithing profession today or at the latest, tomorrow."
Since he had leveled up, Rain planned to head home early. It was already dusk, and he had arrived half an hour earlier than expected.
A smart move, having falcons for reconnaissance was much better than tracking ogre footprints near the Dim Lake on his own.
But what was this barbarian bounty hunter squad doing in Shiny Gold Town? Logically, they should be staying in the capital city, where there were enough bounty missions for them to earn gold coins.
Rain stroked his chin, feeling more convinced of this possibility.
Rain nodded, "I see, thank you."
[Your skill in Weapon Polishing has improved. Experience Points +1]
"That's right! It's them! The leading barbarian, nicknamed 'Giant,' has the real name Harral. His exaggerated height and a pair of crescent-shaped war axes are his trademarks!"
Feeling elated, Rain made a detour to the pie shop and bought Little Mint's favorite meat pie.
As Rain carried the pie home, he saw a group of fierce-looking tattooed men with clubs, leading four or five spotted dogs with sleek fur. They walked swiftly along the street.
Passersby quickly moved out of their way, not daring to provoke them.
The leading bald man among them took out a piece of clothing and let the dogs sniff it again. The dogs immediately started sniffing and walking, and before they knew it, the group seemed to be heading in the direction of Rain's home.
(End of Chapter)
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