The sun had declined toward the west, I stared at the window on the side of my room, still heavy and a bit drowsy.

I turned away and buried my face into the soft pillow, somewhat tried to catch for a bit more sleep, there was still some time left before my party met up at the Vurn.

I usually not as tired as this... probably because of the heat and yesterday hectics.

Normally, I was either having sex with Jewel or Olivia at different night, but yesterday, I unavoidably caught her peeing behind a rock, her smooth and rounded rear, an appealing outline of waist and hip, it's lying if I wasn't instantly aroused, and so we did it.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Ah, this was so torturing, my consciousness was very sleepy, but I somehow unable to enter the slumber, no matter what position and how hard I tried to rest, my eyes had been opened wide for some time.

Urgh... fine.

With a sigh, I rose and sat on the bed lazily, scratching the back of my head, I looked again toward the view beyond the window.

The sky had turned to magnificent fiery red and crimson, there were steams that came out from various chimneys, the mothers or servants had made preparation for dinner.

I saw people walking on the street, men or women, formal attire or not, I recognized most of them.

My feet touched the wood on the ground, it's cool but not enough to soothe the heat on my skin, swimming at the canal seemingly a delicious idea.

"Oof..."

I accidentally kicked a ball on the floor, it's not the kind I used to play kicking with others, it's a ball for lifting weight...

Jewel bought this for me, thinking that I could use some muscles, I thought how ridiculous that idea.

I mean, she and Nyantaa were powerful, and I didn't see any muscle on them that differed from me.

Humans, or Mino, who didn't possess magic, fight with their Stamina, a force that presented inside every creature, by drawing it out, someone could perform technique outside their normal capability, for example; I had a technique [ Sweeping Slash ], a sword-technique to wound an enemy's legs, Jewel had a technique [ Rapid Thrust ], a rapier-technique to stab enemy as fast as possible, Nyantaa had a technique [ Overwhelming Punch ], a fist-technique to break enemy body, although she's seemingly didn't require the technique to do it.

Lastly, Olivia had a technique [ Twisting Arrow ], a bow-technique to increase the damage of her arrow by twisting the string of her bow.

These techniques required massive stamina to use, it was mean to end a fight as soon as possible, so it's not fit for a war situation or any drawn-out kind of battle.

For example, let's say that I had 100 stamina... using the [ Sweeping Slash ] would cost 30 stamina, that was one-third of my stamina, meaning I could only use it three times before I only had 10 stamina left, that was a very dangerous situation if the battle had not over by then as someone with bare stamina possibly unable to continue the fight.

Stamina was also responsible for someone 4 attributes; Strength, Defense, Agility, and Endurance.

Strength defined someone's ability to lift something heavier than them, or their fist.

Defense defined someone's ability to take a hit or other people's fist.

Agility defined someone's ability to move fast or dodging people's fist.

Endurance defined someone's ability to keep up fighting, both in a battle and 'battle'.

The less Stamina someone had, the less these 4 attributes would get a benefit, in fact, if at some point, their Stamina reduced to somewhat below 0, it would lower the 4 attributes, making someone far weaker than their normal state.

In order to restore the Stamina, someone needed to take a rest, eat, or perhaps drink special items, there also mages who could restore someone's Stamina in exchange for their Mana.

Injuries or sickness could also affect Stamina, it was important to balance someone's health, both physical, mental, and spirit to project more stamina.

I put the ball on the table, then I looked around, noticed all the other stuff laying on the ground, I shrugged and walked out from my room.

"Caeth, sweetie, will you have dinner here or outside?"

I heard my mother as I stepped down the stairs, the loud thump on it, and also the creaking from the door of my room might have given away my presence.

"I'll eat outside, thanks for asking, mom..."

"No problem, do you want me to prepare something for you to bring for your friends?"

"Red Jelly Sandwich would be nice..."

"Alright."

I sat on the couch in the living room, leaning my head backward, oof... it's terribly hot, I felt like my body's burning...

"The Agni season of this year was quite unbearable..."

"Yeah, the Wilhem's son fell ill yesterday due to the heat, I didn't allow Abel to play outside at noon..."

"Where is he now, mom?"

"Probably is playing with others at the canal, will you kind enough to bring him home? The dinner almost ready..."

Hmm... the canal... it's not a bad destination to have myself cooled down.

"Sure."

"Thank you, sweetie..."

I stood up and crackled my neck, urgh, sleeping in that kind of position sure made them sore.

"See you later mom."

My mom's reply entered my ears as I halfway toward the front door, I picked my shoes and walked out of the house.

The canal was not far, probably about 300 steps from my house, I greeted the neighbors along the way, some just recently returned from their works, some were doing the afternoon activity such as drinking tea in their porch, cutting plants on the courtyard, or simply just having the time with their family.

"Caeth, going to the canal?"

A young man strolled from a house, his age was the same with me, his name was Veilo.

He also had a little brother just like me...

"Yeah... picking up Abel..."

"What a coincidence, I also am to pick up Zen..."

We walked the street together, Veilo was shorter than me and had a round face, his both eyes were small, he worked at the bakery shop albeit not full hours, the people of our age was not allowed to be fully employed, except in case you had your own stall or a hunter like me.

"Hey, heard this, Lock and Mary soon will be engaged..."

"Really?"

I snapped my head toward him with a surprised look.

"I know, shocking, right? These two barely appear to interact with each other in public, but they suddenly enter that kind of arrangement..."

"Where do you heard this?"

"They came into my store this morning, want to order a cake for their event."

The wedding custom of Moonlight continent must go through engagement first, usually for about 3 or 4 months; if during those times, each party had no problem or disagreement over the engagement, then it would carry on to a marriage.

The engagement usually attended only by two families of the couple, but it didn't prevent them to invite others, might be a best friend or lover.

This was to prevent in case the engagement was not to meet the wedding, no name and reputation would be humiliated terribly.

Therefore, there were couples that secretly engaged, or publicly engaged, depended on the arrangement between the couple and their family.

"Then, I give them my blessing..."

Lock and Mary were 2 years older than me and Jewel, but we were all childhood friends. Lock was a merchant, following his father's footsteps, he mostly not in the town, therefore, his interaction with Mary was also not frequent, and no indication in the past that both of them mutually attracted to each other.

Truly that life filled with unexpected.

"Man... I envy both you and Lock..."

Veilo put both hands behind the back of his head, his mouth protruded, making him looked a lot like a duck.

"Me? What are you talking about, I have no plan to be engaged anytime sooner..."

I couldn't help but worried about this guy, his head didn't recently got hit, right?

"No, but you are able to tame the tigress that is Jewel, people know how she literally fawned all over you..."

Ah, turned out he means that... well, I wouldn't deny that Jewel was my girl... but not as far as taming her though...

Otherwise, I wouldn't be so afraid of exposing my relationship with Olivia...

After a while, I and Veilo arrived at the area with one big tree on the yellow grasses, at the not far distant, a group of children was playing in the canal, splashing water around.

Their face was so happy and full of glee, free from any worry and problem befitting the world, it's the face like that some people were willing to work harder, so the next generation wouldn't have to suffer.

Jewel's father, for example, he worked so hard and managed to bring his family to wealthiness, making Jewel had to never worry about money again, she was free to become anything she wanted, her family could even shelter the homeless Nyantaa, being rich truly could help many.

One of the children in the canal noticed my arrival, he quickly shouted.

"Brother!"

His chubby hand rose up to the air and waved side to side, I gave a chuckle while strolling toward the canal. Veilo's brother, Zen also greeted his older brother, we both went to approach the children and played with them for a brief.

The feeling of the water flowed on my legs soothed the increased temperature on my skin, I laid my back entirely and let the stream washed away the heat, if not for Abel and the other kids slammed my stomach, perhaps I would have fallen asleep once more.

We ended up huddle together, the children gathered around me, listening to my hunt yesterday...

I told them how I single-handedly defeated an orc, or how I saved Jewel from a critical situation... of course those not true, but number one rule of story-teller, if you want to make your story interesting, that meant a lot less fact and more imagination...

The children praised my heroic act, even Veilo also did the same... wait, why are you also believing my story?

Abel proudly stood at my side, lifting up his chin and patted my shoulder, the other kids then started to praise him also...

"Wa, Abel is really lucky!"

"Abel has such amazing brother!"

Creep, how could you already knew how to leech fame from other people... I was worried and also excited for my little brother's future.

The sun had sunken much lower and the sky above had gotten very red... we bid goodbye and went home, I carried Abel with my back.

Holy sweet potato, Mom really should feed him vegetable more...

"Hey, Caeth..."

"Hm?"

Little Abel clung into my neck, his puffy cheek pasted on my back.

"Was it scary? Be a hunter?"

"Hmm..."

I never expected Abel would ask such a question, to tell the truth, it always had been horribly terrorizing for me at first.

I remembered my first hunt, it was exactly the easy blue wolf on the plain field area, I was hunting alone at that time, I remembered how I almost died fighting the monster, at the next day, I immediately invited Jewel to become a hunter, initially the latter wanted to become a fencing instructor, had been taught by a private tutor and also took lesson very extensively, her parent even had prepared her to enter Lunar Knight Academy.

But due to me, she aborted the idea and finally became a hunter, really made me proud, her family was expressing disagreement at first, a bunch of stupid people wanted to get in my way...

Her expertise in rapier was brought me to tears, yesterday struggled finally the last time I would ever experience, and now by having Nyantaa and Olivia as my girls, my future as hunter certainly bright!

"Nope, I was fearless!"

"Hee, brother is really awesome..."

Hum, having someone to praise me constantly was very vexing, Abel, please never know the truth.

"I tell you now, Abel, I am planning a different location to hunt tomorrow..."

"Really? Where?"

Abel's oval eyes lit up with excitement, a new place meant more stories!

"It's a place called Old Woodlands... the home of the legendary hellhounds!"

"Hell... hounds?"

"Yup, it's a very scary monster, they are fast and their claw is very sharp!"

"Wa, isn't that dangerous, brother?! Do you have to face them?"

"Hehe, I am a brave Mr. Hunter, I no fear of a lousy dog!"

Of course, I feared them greatly, even a skilled Warrior in Journeyman rank wouldn't dare to face the hellhounds, but fortunately, the hellhounds only came out after sunset, nothing to worry about...

"Way, Brother is awesome!"

"Nothing much..."

Little Abel pumped his little fist to the air as he cheered me up, his behavior was so cute that the passerby couldn't help but giggle.

I should bring Abel to the Vurn sometime, maybe could help me pick up a girl or two...

By the time we arrived back at the house, I was already sweating bullets, my two arms were numb, forget about the weighted ball, carrying Abel on a daily basis perhaps could grant me extra muscle.

I took a bath and changed my clothes due to the sweat, then went out of the house again while carrying a satchel, inside had several red-jelly sandwichs my mom had prepared.

The street had many poles along the path, on the top of them was bulb with a lumo rune inside, triggered automatically once the light from the sun had completely faded, each building whether a store or a house also had a torch on the front, the entire area was lit with blazing red illumination.

I entered the Vurn and greeted Mr. Nail at the counter, it's funny to think his name actually Hammer Nail...

His parents must have been drunk when thinking of his name...

It wasn't long until I found a small table consisted of three beauties surrounded it, oh, this was why I preferred having only girls in my party, it felt like those girls were waiting for their dear lord husband to join them, I spat on those who thought this was a nuisance, loser be loser.

"Caeth nyaa!"

Nyantaa stood up from her chair and jumped into me, I quickly opened my arms and steadied my footsteps.

*Pinch!*

*Bang!*

A hand rapidly shot out and grabbed Nyantaa's ankle, the she-cat let out her usual 'Ngyaa?!' before her entire body was slammed to the wooden ground, small dust quickly blew due to the impact.

I was awkwardly stood there with my both arms hung in the air, Jewel stood up from her chair and walked toward with a smile. When I thought she was about to hug me, Jewel grabbed my collar and greeted me with her lips instead.

It stunned me for a brief before I hugged her into my embrace, our lips indulged our entanglement and tongues intertwined with each other.

I could feel the sheer of jealousy rose from the surrounding, Jewel was nevertheless a big beauty, and now I was enjoying her red creamy lips.

If they also knew how many times I have enjoyed her body, perhaps they would die from envy.

Ha, who let you didn't have a pretty childhood friend who had an infatuation for you!

Her bulging chest pasted on me, greatly enticed to be grabbed and played at, but I still knew some manners, besides, Jewel would die from an embarrassment if I acted out of boundary.

"Haah... Nnn, chu... chu... Mmm..."

I sucked on her mouth for the last time before our lips unwillingly separated, Jewel's pair of eyes had glistened with arousal and desire, meanwhile, I looked past behind her left shoulder and found Olivia had depressedly drunk her beer.

"Nyaa... why Jewel is the only one who got to have fun nyaa..."

Nyantaa rose from the ground while rubbing her face, Jewel turned back to face her and revealed a smug.

"Because I am his girlfriend, official girlfriend, not someone who can only take advantage of him..."

She sneered while glancing toward Olivia, lucky for the latter had not seen it, otherwise, she would have confused as hell...

I coughed to settle the situation, of course, there was no problem in the first place, it merely a gesture to indicate people that I could handle this.

Not long after, we both sat around the table once more, I took out my mom's sandwichs, Jewel and Nyantaa had no problem to eat it, meanwhile, Olivia didn't touch it at all.

I know she didn't like sweet or might be also still felt bitter from my and Jewel's public display of affection.

The purpose of this meeting was usually for distributing the coins from the result of trading their last hunts, but since we about to change a location for the next hunt, we would also discuss it in this meeting.

"Caeth... I, I can't go hunt with you tomorrow..."

"Eh?"

After receiving each of their portion of the payment, Jewel suddenly apologized to him out of nowhere, Nyantaa who usually lousy and chirpy also went silent at this time.

Olivia, on the other hand, appeared happy instead.

"What, what happened? Are you sick?"

It's the only reason he could think of, in the past Jewel also absent from the hunt due to sickness, resulting in they didn't go hunting for about 3 days, back then there were only the two of them, and Caeth didn't dare to go alone.

Jewel shook her head and said.

"Don't worry, I'll be gone to Baruth under my father's request, and I am not going alone either..."

Baruth? That's a city under Beowulf Kingdom's influence, literally took a month of a journey, two months back and forth...

Should they cancel the plan to go to the Old Woodland?

"Caeth, you can go to the jungle without me, Nyantaa and the bit-Olivia will be enough..."

Normally, she wouldn't advise such a thing, but Jewel didn't want for Caeth to meet with Jorey, she couldn't imagine what Caeth would do once he found out the news.

"Don't worry Caeth, only the three of us is enough, let Jewel handle her matter..."

Olivia coyly said, Jewel couldn't help but glared at her.

Oh, you would love to get rid of me, weren't you?!

"Since it was an important matter, then I guess it couldn't be helped..."

"I am sorry, Caeth..."

For unable to accompany him, and also lying to him... this was the first time she lied to him, her chest painfully hurt...

"No, no, don't be, I'll miss you dearly..."

I lifted my hand and grasped hers, she trembled upon the touch, then tearfully looked at me, I wrinkled my eyebrows, was her father sent her to her death or something?

Next, we discussed about the Old Woodlands, albeit Jewel couldn't join us, she still gave her opinion into the matter, their target was only the treant, a tree-based carnivore monster who lured their prey with appetizing fruit, they dragged the prey with their branches and roots into their body, later dissolved the prey with their acid.

The treant's fruits were actually very delicious, it only had 3 day time to rot after they riped, and one treant produced no more than 3-5 fruits at one time. It could sell much bigger than the orc's heart or liver.

Next was the treant's acid, the potion-maker could make a great detergent out of it, cleaning a difficult stain or even permanent ink.

Lastly was their branches and root, they were elastic and somewhat strong, not hard to cut either, any cloth-maker would definitely happy to buy some.

The problem now was how to handle the crazed animal inside the jungle, fighting the treant was one thing, but if they also had to deal with a bunch of squirrels or snakes, then this was quite troublesome, Olivia gave her suggestion.

"What if we smear ourselves with manure?"

Manure? Like a cow's shit or something?

My expression changed immediately, slightly disgusted with her idea, I mean, this was shit we talked about...

"By covering ourselves with animal's waste, there was a chance that they would have treated us like other animals, some predators didn't even like to come close due to the ill scent..."

"Of course, this wouldn't work with the treant, they will attack us the first chance they got, the cockatrice would probably get tricked, and the hellhounds most definitely not, they could smell our souls so it didn't matter if we used any tactics."

After Olivia finished talking, we were immediately silent, both marveled and grossed out by her idea at the same time.

Yes, we were hunter, but we never dived that much into the field, Olivia had her father to teach her, she perhaps had done it one or two.

I couldn't believe I kissed her shit mouth...

Uuh, maybe I should rethink about banging her again...

Jewel looked at Nyantaa and me with pity in their eyes, somewhat she little bit glad could not come along with the hunt.

"Well, that's my idea, of course, we could look for other option..."

Olivia tapped her finger on the table; when talked about hunting, she's like entering an expert mode.

"We could cover ourselves with Zemia or Skargog blood, it was so ill-stench that the other animals might not want to get closer, oh Skargog's scent was also working, but they might have more expensive than using the manure... we could afford them, but I don't think the income from the hunt could make up for the lost..."

Zemia was a giant caterpillar, inhabited a forest far from Eldorado town, and Skargog was a black-brown weasel, living in Savana Field, much farther than Zemia's location.

In their local area, these two monsters blood or Skargog's scent might not expensive, but in the Eldorado Town, they might cost even more than 5 golds... clearly out weighted their profit.

Uuh... the only option was using the manure... but I am not really willing...

Nyantaa and Olivia looked at me, waiting for my decision, this was one of the time, that I wished I was not the leader...

Nyantaa's eyes had been full of tears, seemingly didn't want to smear herself with the manure...

Olivia was indifferent, I know it, she must have used it before, yuck!

"Fine... let's... let use the... ma-manure..."

"Jewel nyaa, take me with you nyaa!!!!!!!!!"

Nyantaa immediately sprang from the chair and clung to Jewel, the latter almost wanted to break out laughter but hold it back, softly caressing the she-cat's head and back.

Olivia's corner of the lips lifted smugly, even borderline satisfied with my decision, ugh...

At this moment, I felt a soft hand encroached my crotch, softly kneaded it, I glanced to the side and found Olivia winked at me, I gulped immediately...

Then she stood up from the chair and walked toward the restroom, I hesitated whether should follow her or not, but I eventually did after a few minutes later, Nyantaa was still crying out of mistreatment.

Olivia had been waiting for me at the secluded corner, and before I said anything, she pulled me and enveloped my lips with hers...

Her lips were such soft and her tongue was warm, she violated my mouth like there was no tomorrow, normally, I would kiss back with the same passion, but thinking back this soft mouth had been covered in animal shit before, I immediately coughed, almost threw up.

My cough blew into her mouth, Olivia startled and drew back, also coughing, but not as worse as me, she approached in worry and rubbed the back of my body.

"Caeth, are you ok? Is it too sudden? I'm... I'm... I am sorry... please don't be mad at me...."

Her tone was genuinely terrified and afraid, I would have consoled her if not for my painful throat...

After a few seconds later, I finally could breathe calmly, I knew it's not her fault, but deep inside I couldn't help but get angry...

"Caeth, I am..."

Looking at her gaze toward her feet and swayed her body like a child afraid of their parents' wrath, I calmed myself, it's not her fault if she once drenched in animal shit...

"Not it's fine... I am... I am a little cold..."

"Ah?!"

Olivia snapped her face upward, quickly placed her palm on my forehead, of course, thanked the current season's high temperature, my body was slightly warm.

"You... you should get some rest! Maybe we shouldn't go tomorrow after all..."

"No, no, I am just... just need to sleep, that's all..."

"Do you want me to make some soup?"

"No, I have my mom prepared it before... but thanks though..."

I shook my head and turned my body, right now I couldn't chase that image of her from my mind, I needed some times to relax.

"Let's return, otherwise the other would have a suspicion."

I left immediately, didn't even look at my back.

Olivia looked at Caeth's departing figure with disappointed eyes, she had cooked a lot for him... but now it just... go to waste.