Chapter 22: Bounty Hunter Demon Hunting Squad

Time flew by like a white horse flashing past a crevice; sunlight filtered down through the forest canopy, scattering into dappled spots of light.

This environment provided excellent conditions for movement for Fulade and his two companions.

And this was already three days later.

With their figures flickering continuously, the party of three quickly arrived at the edge of the lake.

This was a lake shaped like a heart, its waters crystal clear. All kinds of animals scurried about the surroundings, birds soared overhead—a scene of natural, harmonious beauty entered the three people's eyes.

"Squeak~"

As a gorgeous figure glided down, Ailina, wearing a cool pinkish-purple gauze dress with a deep V-neck that bared half of her ample bosom, looked at the beautiful sight before her and could not help but exclaim in admiration.

Ailina, who had never traveled far from home, was experiencing the wonders of nature for the first time.

Ailina said to Fulade beside her, "Master, is this the lake where that banshee resides?"

"Mm, that's right, it should be here," Fulade said, nodding as he looked at the lake surface below.

"But it's very quiet here, and these animals are very calm too—it doesn't look like there's a banshee."

"Hmph, you still have the nerve to call me stupid. If the danger were obvious at a glance, there wouldn't be so many people rushing here to hunt for treasure."

A voice came from behind.

"Creak~"

Watching Malisika, who wore a dainty silk white-gold bodice that exposed her delicate, tender waist, covered by a layer of cool sheer fabric, fold away her bat wings and drift gracefully down, Ailina gave a cold snort and looked toward Fulade.

Regarding this Heart-shaped Lake before them, Fulade was not clear about the situation inside, after all, the information he had was far too scarce.

So in order to gather more information, Fulade had already made preparations.

As time passed, the sunlight shifted, and clouds blocked the light, plunging the forest into dimness.

Fulade looked back and murmured, "They're here!"

The two women beside him blinked in confusion, glancing at each other, quite puzzled.

Here? Here comes what.

Just as the two women were bewildered, not knowing what riddle Fulade was playing, a faint sound soon reached their ears as well.

"Someone's coming, could it be—" Ailina and Malisika thought simultaneously.

The two women exchanged a glance and turned together toward the source of the sound. Several miles away, the sound of galloping hooves and the clinking of armor colliding suddenly rang out.

They could faintly make out many armored knights charging toward them.

As the distance grew closer, all kinds of clamorous sounds became increasingly distinct.

"We Gold Diggers Demon Hunting Squad, assigned by our employer this time, have our primary objective as searching and rescuing people, and only secondarily seeking treasure. Is that understood?"

"Boss, I heard there's a banshee roaming around here, is that true?" The speaker was a young man with patchy stubble on his cheeks, clearly having only recently joined this group, appearing somewhat nervous.

And the person he was asking was the captain of this Bounty Hunter Demon Hunting Squad: Ray Jason Cole.

A Bounty Demon Hunter with over ten years in the trade and rich experience.

They saw a powerfully built but not tall middle-aged knight, wielding a two-handed greatsword, directing the team's search formation with practiced ease.

"Little Hoer, don't be afraid, big sister will protect you."

At this moment, a coy voice sounded beside Hoer, but upon hearing this voice, Hoer's expression changed, looking as though he couldn't get away fast enough.

Following the voice, they saw a woman wearing a black robe-dress, holding an ebony staff, with shoulder-length black hair, a tall figure, and quite a full bust. Though the woman was not bad-looking, she possessed a rather sultry charm of a mature woman.

But the team members who knew this woman all kept their distance as if avoiding the plague.

"N-no need, Master Famic."

Looking at the black-robed woman who had come to his side, the young knight named Hoer shook his head repeatedly in refusal, while a flash of fear crossed his eyes.

Only because this woman, whose words and deeds seemed rather flirtatious, was a Witch whose methods were extremely cruel.

When he had just joined this Hunter Demon Squad, he had personally seen a Bounty Demon Hunter who had teased her be turned to stone with a light kiss amid her laughter and chatter, then shatter with a crash.

Thinking of that terrifying scene, Hoer couldn't help but shudder. He certainly didn't want to follow in that Bounty Demon Hunter's footsteps.

"Alright, Famic, don't scare our fine young man."

Having arranged the formation, Captain Ray Jason Cole now turned his head and said to the Witch Famic, then turned back to comfort the somewhat green Hoer:

"Don't worry, Hoer. As one of the top Hunter Demon Squads in this region, we're not like those fools who fly the banner of a Hunter Demon Squad just to scam free food and drinks!"

"Haha, little Hoer, put your heart back in your belly. Don't look at us being just a mere twenty-some people, but the monsters and banshees we've hunted are quite a lot indeed."

"I'm just worried that banshee will be too scared to come out when she sees us arrive."

The speaker was a middle-aged bald man nearly two meters tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, holding a massive shield. While brandishing his shield to clear the path, he spoke in a gruff voice to ease Hoer's tension.

It was apparent that this team's atmosphere was quite friendly.

Only that Witch named Famic seemed somewhat out of place with the entire team.

As this squad continued to approach the lake, Ailina and Malisika finally made out the rough outline of this group.

"Master, you actually found a Bounty Hunter Demon Hunting Squad."

Ailina, having finally seen this squad clearly, looked at Fulade in surprise.

Ailina clearly knew more about this aspect. As a nun, the Church did specifically maintain these kinds of Bounty Demon Hunter groups.

Though she didn't know a great deal, she still understood the nature of Hunter Demon Squads.

Legend had it that they were a special group that existed to earn bounties by exclusively hunting various monsters, mutants, banshees, and other dark creatures. Sometimes even Witches were within their hunting range.

Of course, the majority of these groups were actually composed of ordinary humans.

Their strength was not formidable; they relied entirely on group combat, special weapons capable of countering those creatures, and extensive intelligence analysis to slay those extraordinary beings.

And the so-called special creatures they slew were mostly just weak monsters or mutants of low intelligence.

Moreover, Hunter Demon Squads were few in number, and mixed in among them were a large number of frauds and swindlers, so the reputation of Bounty Demon Hunters was often poor, and their strength varied wildly.

Looking at the gazes from the two women, Fulade nodded with a calm expression, without the slightest self-awareness that he himself was a dark creature.

At this moment, both women truly wanted to say to Fulade: "Master, you're really something else."

Of course, that remark could only be turned over in their own stomachs.

Watching the Hunter Demon Squad draw nearer to the lakeside, Ailina and Malisika also gradually shifted their focus onto that witch.

"Master, you seem to be playing a bit too big; I seem to feel an uneasy aura from that woman."

At this moment, Malisika had lost her earlier relaxed ease; a touch of gravity appeared on her charming, fair face, and she couldn't help muttering softly to Fulade.

Asking for votes, thanks to the big bosses for their support!

(End of chapter)