Returning home, Luke felt refreshed. Sex had always been the best way for him to clear his mind and sort through his thoughts.

His current objective was to brew potions, so he immediately began making preparations.

After setting up the hearth, he started crushing the freshly acquired bones.

The herbs were all of excellent quality, exactly as he had hoped, ensuring the brewing process would yield satisfactory results.

As he used the stump to grind the bones into powder, his thoughts drifted to the quest the system had suddenly assigned him.

Well, he had been planning to see more of the world for quite some time, so the task aligned perfectly with his own ambitions.

’There are four Pillars, huh...’

Recalling the brief conversation he had with Roxanne while walking her home, he realized something important.

This place, or perhaps more accurately, this nation, had been built around the chief village known as Gangaur. If Gangaur served as the King’s seat, then the Four Pillars were likely territories governed by the Generals.

’So there’s a chance I might meet someone strong there.’

Unlike this village, where Baldon stood as the only awakened individual, those Pillars would likely be home to numerous magical beings.

And they would undoubtedly be powerful.

Fighting monsters was one thing. They were mindless creatures that lived by only two instincts during every hunt: kill or survive.

Humans were different.

Meeting opponents who could think, adapt, and steadily grow stronger over time would allow him to truly measure his own limits.

Just as he poured the herbs into the pot, a voice suddenly called out from outside.

"Is that you in there, Luke?"

Luke tilted his head and looked toward the fence.

"Dart? What are you doing here at this hour?" he asked. It was still working hours, which made the visit unexpected.

Dart grinned. "I got some time off, so I decided to head home and have a meal with Nadia." He scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed.

Thankfully, Luke hadn’t gone over to their place today.

For all the fascination he had with Nadia’s body, he had no intention of ruining their relationship. Yeah, he knew that sounded like something a scumbag would say, but he preferred to think he was simply helping them out.

"So? Did you need something from me?" Luke asked, stirring the herbs as he spoke.

"Actually, I’ve been wondering whether you’ll participate in the hunting contest happening in a few days."

Luke blinked in surprise.

"I’ve never heard of it. What’s a hunting contest?"

Dart nodded as if he had expected that response.

"No surprise there. The chief organizes a competition among the hunters every year. It lasts an entire day. There’s no limit to how far you can travel. In the end, whoever brings back the greatest weight of edible meat wins."

Luke wasn’t surprised that his memories hadn’t provided him with that piece of information. His former self had never been involved in hunting.

Making flower garlands had been far more enjoyable for him.

"Isn’t this a strange time to hold a contest?" Luke asked. "The gloom from the recent incident hasn’t even left the village yet."

The implication of what could have happened lingered in everyone’s mind.

Yes, only a handful of people had died, but every villager had heard how powerless the chief had become during the ordeal.

And the carcass of the beast remained where it had fallen, a constant reminder that they had brushed against the edge of death and survived by the narrowest of margins.

With that weight hanging over the village day after day, Luke found it odd that they were planning something that sounded... fun.

Well, as a hunter, he certainly found a contest among hunters fun.

"That’s exactly why the event was debated for so long and why they finally decided to hold it now, of all times," Dart explained. "The barter manager was strongly against it. Since it’s a competition, the winner has to be rewarded."

A wry smile tugged at Luke’s lips.

He could vividly picture Gary leaning over a table, stubbornly arguing against the idea of spending even a single coin on anything unrelated to repairing the village.

As someone who received funds directly from the Head Tribe, Gary had to be extremely careful about how those toras were spent. In his eyes, the village’s resources should be directed toward things that truly mattered.

"But then," Dart continued, "...the chief stepped in and shut down the entire argument."

"Wait, how were you even part of that conversation?" Luke asked, surprised.

It sounded like the sort of discussion reserved for the village’s higher-ups. How had Dart ended up there? Had he somehow climbed the ranks that quickly?

Dart scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Well, the discussion originally started between Gary and my superiors. They wanted some kind of event, something entertaining for the villagers. But the argument kept escalating, and the chief ended up overhearing it. We happened to be near his house."

Luke nodded in understanding.

He extinguished the flames beneath the pot and began transferring the mixture into a pitcher, carefully stirring it as he spoke.

"So? What did the chief say?" he asked.

Dart grinned.

"Being a hunter himself, he understood better than anyone that the warriors needed something to lift their spirits, especially after everything that’s happened. He also believed people would feel far more at ease if the village appeared to be functioning normally instead of living in constant fear and paranoia."

Luke nodded, impressed. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"That sounds reasonable. But what about the funds? Gary has the authority to ignore even the chief’s requests unless it’s directly related to the village’s safety."

Dart crossed his arms.

"The chief didn’t even bother asking him." A chuckle escaped his lips. "He probably knew exactly what answer he’d get. So instead of arguing, he announced that the reward would come from his own earnings."

Luke raised an eyebrow.

"And if the chief is personally picking the prize..." Dart rubbed his hands together in the universal gesture of greed, "...then we can already guess how juicy it’s going to be."

Luke couldn’t help but grin as well.

As he’d thought, this sounded fun.

Rising to his feet, Luke gave the pitcher a casual twirl and asked, "When is it happening?"

"On the third day," Dart replied. "Are you going to join?" There was a noticeable excitement in his voice.

Luke considered it for a moment.

He would be raiding the dungeon tomorrow. Since it was the second level and he intended to clear it in a single attempt, he would likely need some time afterward to recover.

That meant he should be back on his feet within two days.

With that in mind, he nodded.

"Yep. I’m joining."

Dart’s grin widened.

"Sweet. Then let’s make a bet. Whoever wins has to cook a meal for the other."

Luke chuckled.

It was such a modest wager. Then again, it was exactly the kind of thing he would expect from Dart.

Nodding, he replied, "I don’t usually cook, but if you somehow manage to win, I’ll make something for you."

The promise only made Dart grin even wider.

•••••

A/N:- Thanks for reading.