Mage And Wolf
Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Chapter 120

Lelou escorts Hui’Jin home with a red robed acolyte in tow, both excitedly chattering away about their first day at school in Arcana.

It’s our first day of classes ever, so all the kids are new kids. An advantage to Hui’Jin, as she arrived in the city early and knows her way around.

"High Priestess Katrina, this is my new friend Judy. We sit beside each other in class and we both want to be adventurers!"

"Greetings Judy, how was your first day in class?" She seems like a good kid to me, and I’m a pretty good judge of character.

"Very good, thank you High Priestess. Our class is all really nice people, I think we were all picked because we can be friends, so it’s a great class to be in."

Picked because they can be friends? She might not be too far off, as the church intends the young acolytes in the class to be future leaders. As leaders in very different sectors, what better than if they know and like each other?

"I’m glad to hear that, having friends in your class makes learning fun and the better you do in class, the better the options you get after you finish school."

"I’ll be the very best student ever High Priestess. Then I can go adventure with Hui’Jin and eat tasty foods!"

Kal’Elouet chases the girls to her lounge to do their homework before dinner.

"Thanks for looking after everyone while I’m gone Lelou."

"Anytime. I love having kids to watch, I have for centuries. But at the University I wouldn’t get any."

"We’re headed out to the Sioux Falls, Fallen City Zone after dinner, likely for at least a week, maybe much more." Karl informs her. "It’s too much to leave to chance, so we posted a bribe to get more high level cultivators out."

"I saw. Have fun, be safe and we will all see you when you return"

Dinner is a fun affair. Judy came to Arcana with a church detachment, like Hui’Jin she was chosen early and already finished her basic clergy training. I learn that like Lelou she’s also a full blooded Red Dragon, and that the Red Dragons typically raise their kids in the orphanages, unless they’re on a stable guard posting.

Maybe that’s why they’re so fond of running them, even if they’re not orphans they usually grew up in one.

Judy praises the dining hall to no end. The acolytes quarters at the church makes their own meals, but none of them, from any God’s followers, that is currently here is even a decent cook.

Now that’s just tragic.

Lelou allows the girls a celebratory sleepover, in honor of making friends at school, but I can see the indulgence in her eyes. I suspect she will have a personal disciple by the time we get back.

We’re all loaded up to leave, but Karl is still having a conversation with the Toyota, apologizing for letting such cruel people drive it.

Sure, it’s got a couple dings and dents, but they add character, right? It’s a combat vehicle after all.

"Hop in, I’m driving" he announces when their one sided conversation is over. "It’ll be about six hours to get there, so rest up, you’ll get first watch and let everyone already there know of the bounty."

I’d say he’s just shirking, but I know he’s actually upset I brought his beloved custom built vehicle back damaged and doesn’t want anyone else driving it.

Spreading the word proves unnecessary. Word travels fast, and everyone knew before we got here. I suspect many collected proof of kills all afternoon to turn in tomorrow night for the bounty, but that’s alright, a kill is a kill.

"We thought it might be a prank but we saw it was from the Death God’s High Priestess and everyone knew it was real." one declares.

"Who else would reward killing so well?" another cheers. He’s got quite a strong team with him, they must be going for the rank 3 pills.

"Just to be clear, if you get the requisite kills, I will make tier 4 pills at your request if I have or you supply the materials." I shout to the crowd and all the strong fighters cheer.

"Can we stack them without claiming?" an older cultivator asks.

"Yes, bank all the kills you can until the mission eventually ends and claim in whole or part when you want."

This has their attention. No need to decide right away, just go on a killing spree and see what you can get? Paradise for those who love fighting.

"Now, as we’re already here, no need to wait until morning, head out whenever you please and we will count it towards your account."

A few groups head out right away, likely to give the other base camp the good news, while me and Karl settle in for the night, setting up a big tent, lighting a fire and getting comfortable in a folding chair while he retires to meditate.

Karl switches me out about 5 in the morning and I get a couple hours meditation in before the sun comes up. That’s when things start getting crazy. Dozens of Condensation Realm cultivators have shown up looking for teams to go hunting. The idea is to get one that can down 40 targets a day so everyone can earn a pill a day, or the equivalent of a Sect’s monthly Inner disciple pill allotment in a week.

Anybody rejected for a team isn’t taking it well, all in a hurry to get to hunting. I might have to step in or the first proof of kill today will be another cultivator.

Karl is on it quickly. Using his energy whips more like stun tentacles to separate scuffles all over camp.

"Do you need me to assign teams like you’re acolyte applicants?" I shout and the crowd calms down some. Insulting the pride is a tricky thing, you need to got just the right way to get them to do what you want.

This time worked, they’re forming teams with minimal fuss. Some solo, some in pairs, but mostly 4 or 5 person teams.

"We should go see the other base camp" I tell Karl "It’s likely no better than this one at organizing"

"I’ll drive" Karl laughs. That’s fine, I’ll just go in the back and play machine guns with my new friends.

It’s not loaded, but there’s 3 boxes, conveniently labeled ’Bang’ ’Boom’ ’Zing’. It’s a boom sort of day, the direct route takes us through category 1 territory.

We’ve just left camp when I spot my first targets of the day. Roughly 30 category 1 orangutans advancing towards a group of 4 mid Foundation level cultivators. They’ve likely got this, but I’m feeling generous.

A short burst sends explosions rolling through the beasts numbers, each one nearly 5 meters in diameter, they blast the ground into a cratered mess, leaving half the beasts dead.

"Happy Birthday!" I shout back as we drive away, just to confuse them.

"What do you think of the new explosive rounds?" Karl asks. "I heard we needed something to clear larger areas, so I gave this modification a try."

Honestly, it would be better on a shotgun shell, but this is pretty fun too.

"10 out of 10. Good Job" I call back at him through the speaker.

I blast random category 1 beasts as we go, just enjoying the explosions until we reach the second base camp. It’s in an even worse uproar than the first.

"Alright, what’s going on? Let’s get this solved and get everyone hunting, there’s bounties to collect."

"There’s a fire type category 3 monster on a rampage in the woods, we’re getting to get a team set up to stop it." a young cultivator replies.

"Was it last sighted heading this way at a rapid pace?"

"It was. Did you happen to see it?"

"See it? I was it. The series of explosions was just me blowing up category 1 beasts. The bodies and cores are still there for the taking is anyone wants them for the bounty reward."

That got them motivated. In under 5 minutes the teams are formed and everyone is heading out.