I draw "Scarlet Rose," load a bullet, and when a quarter of my fear has been absorbed, I holster it again.
It's incredible how fear changes people; the malicious thoughts they didn't try to hide turned into caution.
For my part, I close my eyes and sharpen my ears. In the distance, far enough away that I don't need to worry, I can hear the hooves of a horse.
The night is dark and cold, which suddenly reminded me of Lila's red blanket. I sincerely hope she's okay; I can't judge her just because of a strange giggle. Thanks to her, it was easier to get the fear points. But I guess she must know her limits; she didn't seem like a fool.
I grab the spear; it still has some durability left. The most dangerous period will soon be over. I must be prepared for any eventuality.
The breeze blows every so often; it's damn cold.
Just when the aspiring hunters seemed to be relaxing, a sinister laugh was heard, not far from where we were.
I don't try to locate the source of the laugh; as long as it's not too close, I'm fine with it. I don't want to provoke an anthropomorphic being unnecessarily.
After the group of aspiring hunters heard the Smiler's laughter, they have not been able to relax.
"It's obvious they won't calm down; falling into the hands of a Smiler is worse than falling into the hands of a goblin."
When the sun comes up, we all wait for the trucks, and Lila hasn't returned.
I take out a packet of cookies, eat them calmly, and when I'm done, I drink some water and climb down from the tree.
-Aspirant. Your report? -the D-rank woman asks me.
I take out a notebook and hand it to him. Then I walk away without saying another word.
I was brief but precise with each point I noted while on guard duty; how they use my report is up to them. In the end, I'm just serving my punishment.
A few hours later, I feel the fear in the deepest part of the ruined city begin to fluctuate.
"I hope the trucks arrive before this evil hornet's nest gets stirred up," I think as I run around to warm up my muscles.
The applicants chat amongst themselves. I start doing stretching exercises, to be ready for immediate action in case whatever is happening in area 4 catches up with us.
A few minutes later, the trucks arrive, and a total of 20 individuals get out of the trucks on the left and right.
They are all wearing black military uniforms as if they were a special operations group. And they all have the same emblem on the side of their shoulders.
The emblem is a red circle with a white background and a black star in the center. They appear to belong to the same guild.
Members of Squad Z and the decoys get out of the third truck. Among the members of Squad Z, I recognize a young woman with ample breasts, brown wavy hair now tied back in a ponytail, wearing a tight gray sweater, black pants, and brown boots.
I wave to her and she comes over.
-Hi, sorry I ran away. I got scared. I didn't know you were new here. -she replies, acting calm, but she actually seems nervous.
-Who are they? -I ask, feeling a little curious.
She glances cautiously, then comes closer to me and says almost in a whisper:
-They're the Black Star Guild. They're strong and dangerous. Don't look at them too much.
-Okay, don't worry, I'll be careful. -I reply.
-You're lucky. You can go back today. -she said to me as she watched the rest of her colleagues roughly guide the baits.
-Yes, you're right. Because you're all going to die here. -I said, trying to sound thoughtful as I looked out at the ruined city.
[You won: +0.13]
[You won: +0.13]
She's quite shy, poor thing, she'll probably die horribly.
I walk over to one of the trucks, climb in, and wait. In the end, I'm just a rebel who came to serve the punishment imposed on me. I don't have to ask permission from those two D-rank hunter candidates.
A few minutes later, the rest of the hunter candidates who survived this day of cleansing begin to climb into the trucks.
I hear the truck starting its engine. I touch the hilt of Scarlet Rose.
"System, show me my attributes"
Dan Helsing (Level 3) (Hunter)
Attributes:
Health: 8.9/10
Stamina: 19.1/21.1
Fear: 30.8/35.5
Intelligence: 12.7
Strength: 20.6
Agility: 35.61
Skills:
1. Tracking.
2. Stealth (locked).
3. Fast Arms.
4. Poison Resistance (Low Level)
Fear Points Available: 33.53
My fear and agility are barely at the initial stage of rank D.
Even using all my current fear points, I am unable to reach rank C. Yes, it is best to leave here.
While I reflect a little, the truck starts moving, and it does not turn back.
This time, the trucks move faster toward the city.
We reached Ciudad Rodem halfway through the journey. A member of the Black Star guild got out of one of the trucks. Apparently, they had sent someone to report on the irregularities spotted in area 4.
••••
I immediately enter the city and walk through the poorest and most miserable area. Although it is not yet dark, there are people lying on the sidewalks sleeping, and there are even human bodies rotting in the alleys.
I keep walking until I reach the wall that separates the poor area from the common area of the city.
I head to the hotel where I stayed before.
I pay two coins again at the front desk, enter the room, and throw my backpack on the floor, which can no longer hold anything else.
"I need to buy another backpack," I think to myself as I undress and then go into the bathroom, turn on the shower, and the dirt on my body slides down the drain.
I take a white bar of soap from the metal basket on the wall, lather my body and hair, and when I leave the bathroom, I take a black shirt and black pants out of my bag, get dressed, and leave the room.