Level Is Everything

「Darn it, why am I doing this? 」

Ryou is now regretting his decision to do the quest. He is now trying his best to move stealthily in the forest. If he has to clear every monster that he met along the way, it will take too much time and he believe one day isn't enough for him to finish the quest. Thankfully the quest wasn't to kill the monster but it was only to investigate the location marked in the map.

During his travel, Ryou almost lost his life because he alerted monster that is strong enough to kill him in one attack. Most of the time, Ryou run away for his life while heading towards the objective. While keeping his attention at the full extent of his concentration, Ryou made his way slowly. This experience also brought Ryou to know more about the world of Aaru.

If Ryou have to describe it in one word, it will be 'amazing'. Ryou realized that each monster that he met along the way seemed to have their own intelligence and distinct behavior. When he met a pack of thunder wolf, he can see two thunder wolf is fighting among itself. The fight was brutal as if they are fighting for their life. When the fight is finished it was clear that the winner become the leader of the pack and the loser was forced to leave. It also made Ryou thinking, is this only a game?

The degree of realism, the pain he felt when he is attacked, the sound of wind brushing off the leaf and grass, it feels just like another real world. The only difference is the existence of monster and the game system.

Moving closer to the marked position on the map, it gets harder for Ryou to proceed. The amount of monster near the area is increased and it leave no way for Ryou to sneak his way through. If he f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y trying to move forward, he will surely be discovered by the monster and it will be his death.

「What should I do? 」

While Ryou is contemplating, he finally thinks of a weird idea.

「Since this game is a whole lot similar to the real world, is it possible for me to lure the monster away? Most of the monster in the area are 'wolf', can I bait them with some meat? 」

He knew that his destination is near and this is the only obstacle left in his way. He can see some kind of a cave in front of him and that should be where Yaga is sleeping. The only problem is the pack of wolf in front of him. He is now trying to execute his idea. He still has some horned rabbit's meat from the hunt in the dungeon so he takes out some of it, he pierced the meat into the end of his arrow and he is trying to launch the arrow crossing the wolf pack and luring them away.

「Let's do this. 」

Ryou lifted his bow upwards to make the arrow flew higher and land further. The arrow left his bow, carrying some horned rabbit's meat on its tip, it flew above the wolf pack. It landed at the opposite side of the cave entrance and it successfully lure some of the wolf away.

「Yes, my plan worked! 」

He quickly takes out the remaining horned rabbit's meat and send it away with his arrow and bow to lure more wolves.

In the end, most of the wolves are lured away from the cave entrance, only leaving around five thunder wolf left roaming the entrance.

「Should I just go for it? I guess I should just do it and bet my life on it. I'll just take a peek to see whether Yaga is still sleeping or its awake and even if I am killed, at least I have seen it so it can be considered I have investigated the quest prerequisite right? 」

Ryou decided to go big or go home. After all he already run out of horned rabbit's meat so he can't lure the rest of the wolf away. He also afraid that if he let this chance go, later on the wolves that is guarding the cave entrance will come back after finishing the horned rabbit's meat. This is his only chance.

Ryou run towards the cave entrance and surely the wolves recognized him as a threat. The wolves are running at his direction except for one that Ryou never believes in what it was about to do. The wolf that didn't come to attack him suddenly raised its head upwards and let out a howl.

「Shit! That one is calling for its friend. This is my only chance. 」

Ryou is trying his best to reach the cave entrance. He dodged the wolves left and right, rolling to the side, he tried every means that is available for him.

"Argh!"

Surely, it is no easy feat to dodge four to five wolves at the same time. One of them successfully attacked him and leaving his life in critical condition. The pain he felt also make his movement restricted by a bit. Finally, he can see another wolf is going to pounce on him and bite his head. He can see the sharp fangs of the wolf and some saliva that is dripping.

「Am I going to die here? 」

Ryou stopped all kind of movement and accepted his fate. He will have to suffer another death for this. A drop in level and waste all the time he spent to come here.

「I knew it I shouldn't have accepted Sakura as my party member! That way I wouldn't have to come to this place because of some stupid quest. I don't care if the beginner's village is destroyed. The game will surely do some compensation for the player if it happened. Screw this! 」

Just when the wolf's fang are 10 centimeters away from him, a low hideous growl can be heard from the cave.

"STOP!"

That voice immediately makes the wolves frozen in place. Ryou who was about to die was saved. But right now, he is confused. Who's speaking just now? How can the wolves have stopped in place just like that? Looking at the cave where the sound is coming from, Ryou have some idea about it but it should be impossible right?

While the wolves are pulling back towards the cave entrance, the voice from earlier can be heard again.

"Humans… How long since I've met one? If I'm not mistaken, it should be 400 years ago. Young lad, please come in. I have lots of thing to ask you."

「Oh my God. The owner of this voice should be Yaga right? It means that Yaga has already wake up from its slumber. If I return to the beginner's village and talk to the chief, it should mean that the quest is completed right? What should I do? 」

"What are you waiting for young lad?"

The tone that Yaga used for the last question doesn't have any difference from the tone he used earlier. However, this time the wolves are looking at him and baring its fang. Seeing that, Ryou definitely realized that this is the last chance given from him by Yaga. He is now contemplating, should he enter or not?