CHAPTER 45: THE PRICE FOR WEAKNESS!

It is a weekend holiday, and Kael wasn’t about to waste it.

He got up early, packed his equipment carefully—his sword, his water flask, dry bread, and healing items.

He unbuttoned the jacket, folded it carefully, and laid it neatly on his bed.

He removed the rest of his uniform and placed it inside his drawer, locking it shut.

Then, he pulled out a plain, dark color and wore strong pants. Over that, he slipped on a faded brown cloak—one that covered most of his figure, especially with the hood up.

It was something ordinary travelers or adventurers wore—not a student from one of the continent’s top academies.

He adjusted the cloak tightly around his chest and checked the fit.

No badges.

No emblems.

Nothing that gave away his identity.

He didn’t want anyone to recognize him as a student.

He left quietly and made his way to the main terminal in Arcadia.

Below the city of Elaris, there was a small town surrounded by wooden fences and patrolled by guards carrying spears and swords. It was a place where adventurers, mercenaries, and beast hunters gathered.

Kael walked straight to the large notice board in the town square. The wind made the papers on it flap noisily.

He looked through the bounties: the paper on the board/

Wanted: Feral-rank Beast Fang – 300 gold each

Wanted: Hardened Beast Bone – 176 gold each

Wanted: Beast Skin, Tails, Claws, Organs – prices vary

High risk. Decent pay.

Kael looked carefully.

"Feral-rank beast parts... that’s dangerous. But I need the gold."

He checked his pouch—1,370 coins.

Still not enough to buy anything he wanted and things he needed to go.

He turned his eyes toward the dark forest in the distance.

Duskfall Forest—a dense, misty place full of dangerous creatures.

Still, Kael walked toward it without hesitation.

Inside Duskfall Forest!

By afternoon, Kael entered the forest.

Thick trees blocked most of the sunlight. The air was cool and damp, and the ground was soft with fallen leaves. Every little sound—snapping twigs, rustling bushes—felt louder here.

Suddenly, he heard heavy footsteps.

And then—he saw it.

A Feral-rank beast stood just a few meters away.

Its forehead was red.

It was huge—taller than Kael—with thick black fur, sharp tusks, and glowing red eyes.

It looked powerful and angry, like a monster that ruled this part of the forest.

Kael immediately drew his sword and was ready to fight.

"Let’s see if I can handle you," he whispered.

He charged forward first, swinging with speed—but the beast was quicker than he expected.

It slashed with its massive claw and knocked Kael backward, sending him flying several meters.

Kael crashed to the ground and rolled. His whole body hurt.

Still, he got up and tried again—his sword barely cut through the thick hide.

"This isn’t enough!" he thought, pain shooting through his arm.

The beast roared again and charged at him.

Kael had no choice.

He turned and ran.

The ground shook behind him as the beast chased him through the trees. He jumped over roots, ducked under branches, and kept running.

Finally, Kael spotted a narrow waterfall ahead, pouring over black rocks.

He leapt through it, hiding behind the curtain of water. The beast skidded to a stop nearby, sniffed the air, and growled—but couldn’t find him. After a few moments, it turned and walked away.

Kael stayed hidden for a while, breathing hard. His clothes were soaked, and his arms were trembling.

"I’m not ready for Feral-rank beasts... not yet."

(I will look for lower-Rank Targets)

After recovering a bit, Kael moved toward a safer part of the forest.

There, he found lower-ranked beasts—still dangerous, but not as deadly.

One by one, he tracked and fought them—waiting patiently, striking only when he had the advantage.

He killed six beasts in a total of seven hours.

By the time the sun began to set, Kael was covered in dirt, blood, and sweat.

He skinned the animals, collected fangs, claws, bones, and wrapped them in cloth.

His arms ached, and his legs were sore, but he pushed through the exhaustion.

As night fell, Kael returned to the hunting town.

He walked through the gates, his cloak torn, boots muddy, and packed heavy with beast parts.

He went straight to the merchant’s counter at the marketplace below Elaris City.

The vendor raised an eyebrow as Kael unloaded his materials.

"Hmph... not bad for something good," the merchant said.

He counted the goods and placed 2100 gold coins on the counter.

"You’d earn more if you brought back Feral-rank parts," he added with a smirk.

Kael nodded silently, taking the pouch and adding it to his coins.

Now, he has 3,450 coins.

"Still not enough—but enough to hunt the maps for two weeks."

End of the Day

Kael went back to his dorm carrying elixirs and mana vassel.

Kael stood still for a moment, feeling the cool night wind against his face.

He had faced danger.

He had failed.

But he hadn’t given up.

And he had grown stronger, little stronger than before.

"For that war, I have two and half years. Within that year, I have to grow stronger."

(Since the Ancient Coins are mostly in the hands of demons, finding even one will be nearly impossible through normal means.)

They’re not items that I stumble upon—they might have been buried in chaos, blood, or forbidden quests.

But I remember something from the original novel. An event happens right before the midterm exams.

The students’ mission.

One that involves a demon’s sudden attack near the western border.

In the novel, it was treated like a minor disturbance—but the details hinted otherwise. One of the demons that appears during that arc... he might have some information.

That means I already know when and where to look.

If I prepare well, build up my strength, and join the mission along with the top rankers of our classmates, I might be able to intercept him. No one else should know.

This is my chance.

I don’t need luck. I just need to act.