Chapter 346: Conclusion, Return, and Retrieving Buried Items

Jier led the vanguard-like melee militia, walking half a day ahead of the main militia force, and after two days, they arrived at the entrance and exit outside the forest where the bandits spent the winter.

During these two days, the forward militia captured and killed many scattered bandits, and upon questioning the survivors, they learned that Ranisha the Knight, who had been guarding the Magic Beast's carcass, had already defeated many probing bandits over these past few days.

The bandits, realizing that this female Knight was not someone an ordinary person could contend with, had already begun to cleverly evacuate the forest.

Their guess was correct; when Jier led a significant number of militia to block the entrance and exit of this forest, the bandits still remaining inside would face a militia force ten times their number.

This gap for entering and exiting the forest was nearly one kilometer wide, appearing quite spacious, but when Jier, following the instructions of Kela the Knight, had two squads of militia guard the hillsides on both sides of the gap, and with the main body of their forward team stationed in the very center of the gap, the entire opening was brought under their surveillance.

After having the militia guard the gap well and not letting a single bandit who wanted to leave get past, Jier took a few militia with him, dragging a sled to bring supplies to the Magic Beast's location first.

The place was easy to find; even if Jier had forgotten the way he had originally come out, he could still find the location of the Knight and the hunters by the very conspicuous smoke and ash drifting into the sky within the forest.

"Stop, who are you? If you dare to come any closer, we will attack!"

After approaching the smoke column, Jier and his men were challenged by a person behind a tree ahead.

Jier recognized the voice; he guessed it was one of the young hunters, so he immediately spoke up to report his name: "It's me, Jier! I've brought reinforcements from the militia."

After speaking, he removed the hood of his cloak, revealing his very recognizable helmet.

Presumably seeing Jier's helmet and confirming it was indeed him, two young hunters prepared for battle flashed out from behind the tree trunk: "It really is Jier's helmet. Gosh, you've finally come. Jier, why did it take you so long to get here? These past few days, the bandits in the forest have been coming to scout day and night, and we were about to reach our limit. Also, you don't just have this many people, do you?"

Lifting his faceplate, Jier waved for the militia behind him to follow him as they dragged the sled loaded with supplies forward, then explained to the hunters who had approached: "You know, the lair of those Thieves of Luodai Cave is on the mountain, and there is also a Shandong, which is very difficult to deal with. Especially when their numbers are high."

"Did the militia suffer any losses?" one hunter asked, looking curiously at the militia following Jier, finding that the militia were neatly dressed, their weapons and equipment in good condition, and especially the crossbow bolt bags at their waists were completely full.

"What losses could there be? If you don't believe me, ask them. Guys, how were those bandits?" Jier asked, turning his head toward the militia behind him while pulling the sled with ease.

The militia shouted and hollered, saying things like they sounded formidable but were clumsy when it came to fighting, and some militia boasted about killing several bandits, making big claims that it was nothing special.

Whether they were bragging or not, at least that spirit of contempt for the bandits could not be faked.

"By the way, don't think I only brought this many people; there are actually many more behind. I brought some supplies first to give you a wave of support. I have already followed the instructions of Kela the Knight and led a group of militia to preemptively block the forest's entrance and exit. Now, unless the bandits in this forest dare to risk climbing over the high mountains, they will have to be wiped out by us in batches."

"Is that so? These bandits have been so annoying lately, constantly coming to scout, making it impossible for everyone to get a good rest for many days, especially Ranisha the Knight, who has only been able to snatch a short nap during the day and hasn't been able to rest properly at all." A hunter picked up a lump of snow from the ground, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed while speaking.

Soon, led by the two hunters, they arrived at the clearing where the Magic Beast had been killed.

Several days had passed, and the destruction caused by the Magic Beast's display of power that day still remained on the ground; moreover, the sheer size of the Magic Beast's massive carcass was enough to terrify the militia who had followed Jier.

Ranisha the Knight was sitting in her armor on the highest point of the Magic Beast's carcass. Upon seeing Jier and the others, she jumped down, took off her helmet, and blew a loud whistle.

Jier guessed that the Knight was summoning back the hunters who were guarding the perimeter.

Sure enough, just as he guessed, by the time Jier and the militia approached while dragging the sled loaded with supplies, the hunters scattered around had all returned.

"Jier! You were able to bring people here—does that mean the main militia force has already arrived?" Ranisha the Knight, with a look of exhaustion on her face, asked impatiently as soon as Jier approached.

"Yes, My Lady. I led some forward militia to block the forest exit first. The main militia force is led by Kela the Knight, trailing by half a day. By my count, they should have already reached the forest exit by now," Jier replied.

After speaking, he opened the supplies he had brought, which included nutritious, filling cured meat and large portions of bread in bags. The supplies carried by the other militia were also varied; there were warm tents and tableware needed for eating, and of course, important hemostatic materials were also brought, just in case the hunters had been injured over these past few days.

As the sky grew dark, the hunters happily took out the food and quickly roasted it. The dry, hard bread was also heated directly for consumption, and even the warhorse of Ranisha the Knight shared several pieces of bread, finally not having to struggle to dig through the thick snow to eat the fallen leaves and withered grass beneath it.

While everyone was eating, Jier pointed to the large bonfire still burning not far away; he vaguely recognized it as the place where they had burned the bandits' corpses earlier. But how could it still be burning after all these days?

Regarding Jier's question, an old hunter answered him: "The previous battle disturbed all the bandits in the forest. Those bandit groups that didn't come at the time have been sending people to scout these past few days, and after we killed them, their corpses just happened to be burned there."

So that was it. No wonder they had to raise such a conspicuous smoke column; he had previously thought it was to guide the incoming militia, but it turned out to be for disposing of the bandits who had been killed there recently.

That night, the guard duty was performed by Jier and several militia. Although Ranisha the Knight wanted to hold on for another day, after Jier's persuasion, she only needed to close her eyes and rest by the fire; there was no need to maintain a high level of vigilance.

As for the other eight hunters who were still ordinary humans, they were finally able to get a good night's rest in the tents.

When the militia were on guard, they naturally had to climb onto the large Magic Beast's carcass. At first, the militia were very nervous, but no matter how they tapped on the shell of the Magic Beast's carcass beneath their feet, this huge monster would no longer move, and they finally calmed down.

Although they were still staring with wide, excited eyes.

Jier then told Ranisha the Knight in detail about the militia clearing out the Thieves of Luodai Cave over the past few days.

"Is that so? They were all suffocated to death, then. Hmm, it doesn't concern me anyway. Jier, you did very well—not just regarding the bandits, I'm talking about the Magic Beast. Is there any reward you want? You should have a generous reward," Ranisha the Knight said to Jier.

Because of Jier's excellent performance against the Magic Beast earlier, she intended to give him a reward. Of course, the other hunters would also receive rewards. These rewards were not just one; she would provide a reward herself, and later, the lord of Kendall County, Kendall Baron, would also send them a reward.

Jier scratched his head, smiled, and readily stated what he wanted: "My Lady Knight, if you really want to reward me, then I would like the three horses you previously captured from the bandits."

"I have always relied on walking on foot, and I have always wanted a horse for transportation. It's just that horses seem to be scarce in our Kendall County, and I haven't been able to get my wish," he explained.

Smiling, Ranisha the Knight asked Jier a question: "Three horses—if I reward them to you, where do you plan to keep them? You seem to be living in the Fox Tail Chamber of Commerce; is there room there for you to squeeze in three horses?"

Not saying no meant it was possible, but the Knight's question stumped Jier. That's right, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to board the horses at the Fox Tail Chamber of Commerce, especially since he was currently living there for free.

"Then what should I do? You must have a way, right?" Jier asked with a grin.

Ranisha the Knight was a bit tired, so she didn't joke with Jier and said directly: "The hunter team has properties in Kendall City and at the Northern Border ferry, where horses can be kept. However, since you have joined my team, you will have to move out of the Chamber of Commerce, understand? I will provide you with temporary lodging until you have your own house. With your skills, it shouldn't be very difficult."

In fact, Jier currently had enough wealth to buy a small wooden house in the slums, but compared to private property, he was more concerned with the weapons and equipment he needed for fighting and adventuring.

After all, a house can't help him fight monsters, right?

After thinking about it, Jier agreed to Ranisha the Knight's request, and naturally, those three horses would belong to him after returning to Kendall City.

The next day at noon, the main militia force arrived here under the leadership of Kela the Knight.

The militia shouted and hollered; it was the first time many of them had seen a Magic Beast larger than a house. Many of the militia were truly frightened. The militia, who had been full of themselves after wiping out the bandits, saw that such a big guy could be defeated by Ranisha the Knight and her hunters, and finally put away their little pride, looking at the Knight and the hunters—and of course, Jier himself—with eyes full of admiration.

When the two Knights met, Kela the Knight praised Ranisha the Knight for growing up and not being inferior to her father, which immediately made the always-resolute Ranisha the Knight cry.

However, soon, the female Knight, who had only shed a few tears, put on her helmet and lowered her faceplate so people wouldn't see her weak side.

The embarrassed Kela the Knight had no choice but to pat Ranisha the Knight's armor and change the subject.

"This guy really looks formidable! It's been many years since I've encountered a Magic Beast of this size and ability." Kela the Knight didn't point at the Magic Beast's carcass, but at the terrain changes around them caused by the Magic Beast's magic attacks earlier.

"I almost died at the time; fortunately, I jumped up and didn't take it head-on." Ranisha the Knight's voice was muffled as she told Kela the Knight about the situation she had faced at the time.

"Come, let's go up and take a look." After speaking, Kela the Knight curiously jumped up in one go, and Ranisha the Knight also leaped up onto the Magic Beast's carcass.

Vaguely, Jier could hear the two Knights talking about the relationship between the Human Heads at what should have been the Magic Beast's eyes and the Magic Beast's magic. Afterward, they entered the Magic Beast's body through the abdominal wound Jier had previously cut open.

Although there was a Magic Beast core inside that was obviously important, the intestines and stomach filled with the swallowed remains of humans were not a place where a normal person could stay.

After coming out, the two Knights quickly gathered the important figures from the militia team to discuss the operation of establishing a camp at the location of the Magic Beast's carcass and having the militia wipe out all the bandits in this forest.

Jier was naturally among them.

But these subsequent matters were no longer important, because Ranisha the Knight and her subordinates had already completed their mission, and after many days of fighting and holding their ground, it was time to go back and get some good rest. Jier, belonging to Ranisha the Knight's hunter team, naturally returned with them and no longer participated in the militia's subsequent clearing battles and the work of dismembering and transporting the Magic Beast's carcass.

A few days later, Knight Lanisha and her party traveled through the former lair of the Thieves of Luodai Cave in the south, returned to Bingxun Pass, and then spent another day returning to Kendall City.

Knight Lanisha was exhausted; after returning to the city, she told her subordinates they could rest for a while, and that she would send someone to notify them when it was time to assemble for action.

The Hunters whose homes were in Kendall City or who had residences there dispersed as soon as they returned, while Jier, after temporarily receiving a horse from Knight Lanisha, immediately left the city again.

What else could he do? Naturally, after buying a small cart pulled by a horse, he immediately returned to the forest where the bandits had spent the winter, intending to go over and transport back all the various supplies he had recently buried.

Of course, he estimated that by this time the Militia had already cleared out all the bandits in the forest, and that their manpower was likely occupied with handling the transport of the giant Magic Beast carcasses; as long as he was careful and didn't get discovered by the Militia, he could sneakily transport back the things he had seized from the bandits.

After Jier set out from Kendall City driving the carriage, he went straight to Bingxun Pass. He rented a safe room at an inn there, then bought some hard-to-find Metal Ingots and placed them in the room.

Afterward, he took food and fodder for the horse, and drove the empty carriage into the forest west of Bingxun Pass.

Jier did not take the route where the Militia were patrolling back and forth; he took a detour, bypassing from a place further north, and after several days of bumpy travel, he finally arrived again at that forest where the bandits had been cleared out.

Jier carefully found the place where he had buried the items during the day, and at night, he carefully pulled the carriage over step by step, loading a large amount of spoils into the carriage.

Once finished, he hid the carriage during the day and went alone to find Knight Kela, who was guarding the Magic Beast carcasses.

Although the Knight was surprised by his arrival, he was not unexpected; he heard Jier inquire about the Bandit Leader's weapons and equipment he was entitled to from the battle with the Bandit Leader, as well as the reward for helping Knight Kela deal with the bandits earlier.

"Hahahaha, you kid, really. I thought you came over to help me, but it turns out you only came to ask for your things." Knight Kela was between laughter and tears; after all, this place was very remote, and Jier actually couldn't wait for his Militia to finish their mission as a whole, coming directly to ask for his reward.

Jier rubbed his nose: "The things you promised before cannot just not count, right? I don't have much money in my pocket, especially since I've been wanting to forge a set of Metal Armor recently, and I've spent all the money I had."

"Full Metal Armor? That's fine. Although that thing is very heavy, it can just happen to help you train your body's load-bearing strength. Jier, if necessary, wear the armor more often while training. Remember, by next spring, your physical fitness must meet my requirements." He pinched Jier's arm; clearly, Knight Kela was not very satisfied with Jier's level of physical strength.

"But I see that Knight Lanisha doesn't seem that sturdy, and she is already a Knight."

"The methods to reach the Knight Rank are different. My method requires you to have the best physical fitness. By the way, regarding the things you want, you can go to the Church of the God of the Dead in Bingxun Pass to ask for them. I told those Priests about those things; after they processed the Shikeng, they brought the items inside back to Bingxun Pass." Speaking to this point, Knight Kela wrote something on paper in his tent and then handed this paper to Jier.

"Take the letter and give it to the Church of the God of the Dead in Bingxun Pass, and they will give you the items. However, the reward converted from the merit you earned during the battle will have to wait until all the Militia return to Kendall City before it is issued. You can come find me then."

"Yes, my lord, I understand. Then I shall take my leave." Jier took the letter, tucked it inside his clothes, and bid farewell to the busy Knight Kela.

After Jier walked out of this bustling Yingdi, he looked at the giant Magic Beast carcass being butchered, and found an opportunity to mix his own carriage into the transport team returning to Bingxun Pass.

Because he was a familiar face among the Militia and was under the command of Knight Kela, the guarding Militia didn't care at all that Jier was joining them while driving a carriage.

When the party reached the former lair of Luodai Cave, Jier left the team, first digging out the things he had buried there earlier and bringing them onto the carriage, and then curiously drove the carriage toward the Shikeng to see what the Shikeng looked like after being "processed" by the Church of the God of the Dead.

The result gave Jier a big surprise.

The place where the Shikeng had been was now replaced by a very regular, deep, semi-circular pit. The scale of this pit, in both depth and width, far exceeded the original Shikeng.

Moreover, there was a team of Militia and a Church Pastor of the God of the Dead here.

Jier's prying made this Pastor quite nervous at first, but the Militia recognized Jier, and on top of that, Jier showed the letter written by Knight Kela and explained that he had killed a Bandit Leader at this location earlier.

This Pastor finally let down his guard and explained to Jier how they had processed this evil Shikeng.