After resting for a while, Neuman went deeper into the forest. He knew that to level up faster, he needed to find stronger enemies. Wolves were good for practice, but they weren't enough to significantly increase his experience.
As he ventured further, the trees grew taller, and the undergrowth became thicker. The air grew heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. He was alert, his senses heightened, searching for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling in the bushes ahead. He stopped, his hand instinctively gripping his spear, and carefully approached the source of the sound.
He peered through the leaves and saw it: a large boar, its tusks glinting in the dim light. It was rooting around in the ground, oblivious to his presence.
He was quite surprised to find a boar. Previously, he had heard that there were other beasts in the forest, including wolves but it was quite rare to come across them. As of now, none from the camp have come across any other beast.
"Perfect," Neuman whispered to himself. Boars were much tougher than wolves and this would be a good test of his combo skill against a more formidable opponent.
Neuman stood his ground, his eyes focused on the approaching beast. He channeled his magic power, igniting his spear with flames. As the boar drew closer, he lunged forward, his burning weapon aimed at the boar.
He focused on maximizing the impact of his strike. His spear moved with incredible speed and precision, striking true. The flames seared the boar's flesh, causing it to squeal in pain.
The boar, wounded but not defeated, thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off. Neuman held on tight, his grip firm on his spear. He spun, using the boar's momentum against it, and delivered another flaming strike.
This time, his spear pierced deeper, hitting a vital organ. The boar collapsed, twitching, then lay still.
[Forest Boar killed]
[+300 exp]
[+1 soul point]
The battle was not much more of a challenge, but he had emerged victorious. He deactivated his Flame Control, watching as the fire dissipated.
He was getting a better understanding of how to use it to its full potential. The more he practiced, the more deadly he would become.
As he continued his hunt, Neuman encountered more boars and even a few bears. He used his Combo skill to great effect, defeating them all with relative ease. With each battle, he grew stronger and more confident.
By the time the sun began to set, Neuman was exhausted but satisfied. He had gained a significant amount of experience and soul points, and he had honed his skills considerably. He decided to head back to the camp, eager to rest and prepare for another day of training.
As he walked back through the forest, Neuman reflected on his progress. He had reached level 22 now and was about halfway from reaching level 23.
He didn't lose his direction as he was searching for the beast in a straight line, he just traced himself back and returned to the eaves of the city ruins. The city ruins were now bustling as there were many soldiers moving freely in the ruins searching for valuables. Now there was no need to be very alert, as the rats were cleared.
Some were happy, while others were just irritated seeing that they didn't find anything useful. The things varied: jewelry, coins, various materials, and others. Seeing someone enter the city, they looked at Neuman once and then continued their work.
Neuman went straight to the camp and entered his tent. Just as he entered, someone came to his tent and told him the commander was requiring his presence. Hearing this, Neuman nodded to the messenger and went to the commander's tent.
As he entered, he saw two captains along with the commander were already discussing something, and seeing him enter, the commander said, "Where have you been, Neuman? I sent someone to search for you for the whole afternoon."
Neuman smiled awkwardly. "Nothing, I just went out to find something useful in the ruins."
The commander nodded in understanding. "We found something in the city lord's mansion during our last search. We were thinking of distributing it among those who joined us."
He stepped over to the cabinet, retrieved a chest, and placed it on the table. All eyes turned toward it as they waited for him to open it. The commander applied some force, but the lid refused to budge.
Frowning, he drew his sword. With a swift motion, he slashed at the top, splintering the wood. He then gripped the damaged area and, exerting his strength, tore away the upper portion.
Everyone leaned in, their curiosity giving way to astonishment—the chest was filled with silver coins, interspersed with gold ornaments.
The commander and the captains exchanged glances, their expressions lighting up with joy. The commander picked up a few coins, inspecting them, while the captains wasted no time in stepping forward. They scooped up coins and ornaments, scrutinizing them.
Then, they noticed something else—gold coins nestled among the silver. Their eyes widened in surprise, the discovery only amplifying their excitement. As they sifted through the ornaments, they searched for anything particularly valuable.
They soon noticed a few gold coins mixed in with the silver. Their surprise was clear, and the discovery only heightened their excitement. As they examined the ornaments, they searched for something special among them.
After a while, Elara sighed in resignation. "These are just normal ornaments."
Varus smirked. "What were you expecting? If there were any enchanted items, the city lord would have taken them when he fled the city. Why would he leave them here?"
The commander nodded. "Varus is right. Finding gold coins among the silver is fortunate enough."
Elara accepted this and turned to the commander. "So, how will we distribute this? There are about a hundred silver coins."
Neuman had been silent, listening as they discussed enchanted items, his curiosity piqued. The commander retrieved a pouch and began filling it with coins.
Closing the pouch, he turned to Neuman. "Here. Twenty silver coins and two gold ones."
Handing it over, he continued, "We leave tomorrow. After that, you can apply to the academy. The rest can be used for any necessities you might need in the future."
Neuman nodded, remaining quiet. The commander instructed him to return to his tent while they divided the remaining items.
Obeying the order, Neuman returned to his tent, opened the pouch, and sighed. He had no sense of the purchasing power of the money in his hand—but he knew he would receive more after returning to the kingdom.
Neuman closed the pouch and put it under his bed. He lay back, staring at the tent's ceiling, letting his thoughts wander. The academy had come up in conversation a few times, and he couldn't help but think about it.
He thought that warriors and mages must be training there, but he had no clear plans yet.
He closed his eyes, but sleep didn't come easily. His mind was restless, filled with questions about the world beyond the ruins and the battlefield.
What was the kingdom truly like?
Eventually, fatigue won over, and he drifted into uneasy sleep.