I walked through the road as I went about my merry way to the scarlet forest.

  I choose the road with the least amount of people while still wide enough for my cart to go through.

  When I saw a way that had stairs, I turned around and chose another way, and like that, I finally arrived at the western gate.

  Finding my way through the city is kind of fun, like a mini form of adventure where I must find my way out of a labyrinth but with no particular danger.

  I pass through the gate and make my way out of the city.

  The guard didn’t stop me like when I first arrived here, but they're probably going to question me after I finish the quest and go back here.

  Well, it was not a problem anymore, though, since I already got an identification in the form of the adventure guild card.

  The card will make my job easier, as I will go in and out often in the future.

  The breeze feels kind of invigorating, the merchant brings their goods, and some people that look from the same line of jobs as me occasionally enter my sight.

  But different from the lonesome me, they came in a group of four to five people.

  Is it weird for me to be alone, or is it weird for them to be many?

  That is a question better not answered.

  After a half an hour journey, the view of the surroundings from the crowd of travelers with a sparse tree to a forest full of red color

  Most of the things inside the forest have a tinge of scarlet color, which piques my curiosity.

  I wonder where they got it from.

  A little inspection also uncovers some unique things about the tree.

  The trees inside the scarlet forest have some properties of metal.

  It was tougher than the usual tree, and when I cut it with a danger, it hardly left a mark.

  The leaves, though, have the same properties as the usual leaves, except for the scarlet color.

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  I push through my wooden cart as I enter deeper into the forest to search for my prey.

  I hear the sudden noise from inside the bushes near me.

  I draw my bow and shoot the thing that suddenly appears.

  It was a rabbit with a horn; the horn had the color of red at the tip, which kind of reminded me of the blood color.

  Is the horn color because it just impaled some poor guy, or is it because it has that color from the day it was born?

  Either way, it was dead and soon will become my dinner.

  Looking closely at the corpse of the rabbit in front of me, I suddenly remember the handbook content about this rabbit.

  With an innocent look that can lower your vigilance, it was a creature that will make a lot of young girls charmed by its appearance.

  It was called a horned rabbit, a former low-tier creature with an infamous title, “The Novice Killer,” because of how many it killed. They just raised this creature's level to mid-tier and also gave a special warning about this creature.

  Well, it was a classic. Don’t judge the book by its cover, I guess.

  Before it could go bad, I started to dismantle the rabbit corpse.

  I stab it and run my dagger across its body to let the blood flow off it to start the bleeding process.

  When it was over, I extracted its internal organ and also its horn.

  The tip of its horn looks sharp enough to be used as a piercing weapon, so it was a plus.

  After extracting, I cut its limb and head and skinned it to remove its skin.

  Finally done, I throw the rabbit meat and horn inside my rented wooden cart.

  Yeah, I think that was too much hassle. The next time I kill another beast, I am just going to be bleeding it and take whatever catches my eye before throwing it inside my cart.

  After all, that is the reason I rented it in the first place.

  Walking off, I continue to search for the lesser boar.

  …

  After three whole hours of hunting in the scarlet forest, I managed to hunt four lesser boars, twelve horned rabbits, and some kind of oversized cat. I think its name is forest jaguar, but with a red as its color, so I think I will call it the red jaguar.

  That oversized cat thinks it can kill me by surprise, but too bad; I know exactly where it's hiding.

  The rest was history.

  I think it was time for me to go; the cart is already full and can’t contain any more prey.

  With a cart full of dead beasts, I started my journey back into the city.

  Hmm, hmm, hm. I hummed as I traveled the now-familiar road. The distance between the city and me became closer and closer.

  The crowd of travelers started to appear once again.

  But now they stop for a moment and take a look at the mountain of prey I brought down.

  What! Never see a cart full of beasts. Then feast your eyes on my accomplishment.

  Full of pride I continue to travel before a crowd of thugs stopping me on my track.

  They are four burly men that look menacing, but looking closely, you can see their trembling legs and darting eyes as they try to make sense of what they are seeing.

  Did they want to steal my prey? If it was, then can I kill them? Is killing people forbidden by the adventure guild?

  If I go back, I need to start asking questions about the rules of the adventure guild.

  “He-hey, you give us your spoils, and we might spare your lives,” the bravest ones of the bunch started to shout in a threatening voice.

  Too bad his friend takes that as a sign to escape and leave him alone.

  He looked back in disbelief at his fleeing friend and turned his attention back to me.

  “Do-don’t think this is over yet.” He shouted as he followed his friend and ran away.

  What the heck just happened? I looked at them, full of confusion.