Monster Hunt: Notes From a Hunter

  Chapter 39 Running in the jungle

  As Amos said, the reason Gordon checked the grass roots and soil was to confirm whether it had rained in the past day or two.

   Now that we have obtained a definite answer, we will have a general direction for the next search.

  Like the big wild boar, the Qimian tribe is also a race that loves mushrooms. Unlike the former who only know how to eat, these cunning little things can use mushrooms in a much wider range.

  Gordon has seen with his own eyes a strange-faced tribe using a huge mushroom canopy as a hat, disguising themselves, and sneak attacking the approaching deer.

  According to the instructor Ernest, some of the larger odd-faced ethnic groups have even mastered the technology of blending gunpowder with nitrating mushrooms and gunpowder herbs, and then developed "hot weapons."

   Fortunately, these "high-tech" strange noodles are only found in the New World so far. For the time being, there is no need to worry about a chachapu (odd noodles) suddenly jumping out of the grass and sticking a bomb barrel on your face.

  In any case, all kinds of mushrooms are quite attractive to the odd noodles.

  Gordon decided to find a place suitable for mushroom growth first, search for the traces of the Qimian tribe, and then track and hunt the footprints.

  The types of vegetation on the outskirts of the Metabe dense forest are similar to those of Xiulet Senqiu. Gordon is too experienced in how to find a place where mushrooms grow in this environment.

   Along the way, he carefully observed the growth state of the forest plants, the shade density of the trees, and the distribution of water veins. Not long after, he found a rotten horizontal log full of large slices of specialty shiitake mushrooms beside a small water storage pool in the forest.

  To be honest, if he didn’t know that Amos and Hayatta were not far behind him, and he had the unique self-esteem of young people, he would have rushed forward with cheers and collected a lot.

   Putting aside those slightly embarrassing thoughts, Gordon told Pig Chop to pay attention to the police circle, while he approached the crossbar and observed carefully.

   After only two glances, Gordon clenched his fists excitedly.

   This specialty shiitake mushroom has obviously been "visited" from the beginning!

The horizontal log covered with mushrooms is located at a higher position, so animals such as big wild boars and mushroom pigs should be difficult to reach, and these traces are also different from the messy appearance of those gluttonous ghosts. Many mushrooms are cut off at the root .

   That is to say, they were "harvested" away!

  Gordon couldn't help getting closer, and squinted his eyes to search carefully. Soon, he found a few small footprints on the moss attached to the crossbar and the surrounding soil.

  The footprint is only the size of **** together, and the shape is somewhat similar to that of a human being, but there is no toe structure.

  Gordon is sure, this is the footprint left by the Qimian clan!

   Crouching down, gently stroked the dirt on the edge of the footprint with his fingertips, picked up some more, and twirled it with his fingertips.

   "It's still fresh, it should have been left in the middle of last night."

  Following the footprints for a while, he soon found a small animal path that would be easily overlooked if he didn't observe carefully—that is, the natural path with relatively sparse vegetation due to frequent passing by small and medium-sized creatures.

  The animal path bends intermittently, and finally points to a certain direction deep in the dense forest.

  Gordon glanced back and found that Amos was also looking at him more than ten meters away. The two exchanged glances. Seeing that the latter nodded his chin lightly, Gordon no longer had any worries in his heart.

  With big bosses following, what else is there to worry about?

   "Leave the pork chops, pay attention to distinguishing sounds and smells."

"Meow!"

  Behind them, Hayatta was making a bitter face, trying to keep up.

   This was the first time she had traveled in a dense forest full of luxuriant vines and fallen leaves.

  Amos just followed her leisurely and didn't provide any extra help. Since she wanted to become a hunter, she had to adapt to all of this.

  The advantage of being a "special equipment for beginners" hunter suit is reflected at this time.

  —Light enough to provide basic protection.

  The hard leather greaves well protected her ankles and knee joints to avoid sprains, and the sharp blades of grass and thorns among the bushes could not break through the protection of the hunting suit, scratching her all over.

  Of course, it is inevitable that a few bloodstains will be left on the exposed cheeks.

   "Teacher Ayamos, how far is it?"

   After holding on for a while, Hayata finally couldn't hold it anymore, put his hands on his knees, panting heavily.

  Amos, who breathed normally as if walking in the garden, glanced at her flushed cheeks, then glanced around, put his fingers in his mouth, and blew a loud and short whistle.

   Gordon, who was busy on his way not far ahead, immediately stopped and turned his head to look.

  Amos pressed his palm against him and made a "rest" gesture. Gordon was startled when he saw this, and then touched the bridge of his nose a little embarrassedly.

  Having never hunted in a team, he lacks a sense of cooperation.

  This time, it is true that Hayatta in the team is a pure "oil bottle", but when hunters team up to hunt together, they often encounter similar problems.

  Would the physical energy consumption of a dual-sword user with a light weight of about a few kilograms be the same as that of a gun-gun user with a total weight of more than 100 kg on his back?

  Always pay attention to the status of your companions, which is also a necessary part of cooperative hunting.

"Feel sorry."

  Gordon’s apology had just begun, but was interrupted by Amos waving his hand, “It’s nothing, I stopped you not just because Hayata needs to take a breath.

  We have entered the territory of the strange face tribe, they should show up soon, maybe there is a guy in charge of patrol watching us secretly.

   Adjust your state and get ready for battle. "

  Amos said this sentence not only to Gordon, but also to Hayatta.

  The little girl who suddenly became nervous immediately pulled out the hunter's knife stuck in the back of her waist, and put the round shield in her right hand on her chest, looking around, as if she was ready to fight someone desperately.

  Gordon and the others seemed much calmer. They checked the sharpness of their weapons, checked whether the armor straps were tightly fastened, and added a small amount of water, and they were ready.

  Only the eyeballs glancing around, and the pinnae trembling slightly from time to time, revealing their concentration at this time.

   "Here we come, two."

  Amos' gaze suddenly turned to a certain direction. He didn't intend to draw out his weapon, but grabbed Hayatta's back collar and started to back away.

   It took several seconds before Gordon accurately captured the movement from that position.

  It was the "swirling" sound of shrub branches and leaves being squeezed apart, and some kind of thin and weird cry.

   "Quack!"

   "Chaba Kacha!"

Gordon put his right hand on the hilt of the sword behind his shoulder, and locked his eyes on the slightly shaking bush. When two short figures jumped out of the bush one after the other, he swung the sword behind him without hesitation. big sword.

   "Shua!"

  The preemptive attack failed, and the heavy claw-like head of the explosive knife was embedded in the soil, and it seemed difficult to pull it out for a while.

  Hayatta, who was watching the battle from behind, couldn't help but let out an exclamation.

  At this moment, she could clearly see what the two figures who avoided the vertical slash with Gordon's great sword looked like.

   This is a small humanoid creature with a height of about 60 centimeters, with a very thin body and an uneven gray-green skin, which makes people think of limestone covered with moss.

The helmet, which seems to be made of some kind of large tree fruit husk, is covered with strange patterns. This kind of helmet, or mask, is almost half the size of their body and completely covers their heads. It is also the origin of their racial names.

  —Odd face family.

  (end of this chapter)