Episode 122

[You have entered the Forest of Silence.]

Twelve hunters stepped into the woods, all of them seasoned slave hunters with a wealth of field experience.

"Brings back old times, doesn't it, Kadum?" Braum remarked.

"You'd be wise to spare me the pleasantries," Kadum shot back. "Once this job is over, I'm done with you lot for good."

"So cold," Braum chuckled. "Well then, let's at least get in sync for this one last time."

In truth, they were all familiar with one another. They fell into old rhythms, drawing their scimitars in unison—old habits, it seemed, died hard. Kadum sighed and pulled out his Radar Detection Network, but just then, a similar network activated from their left.

[The Nolparn Raid Party has used the Radar Detection Network.]

[Radar Detection Network Uses: 1/1]

[Initiating full-field mapping of the Forest of Silence.]

[Current Raid Parties in the Forest of Silence: 14/14]

'A step too late,' Kadum thought. The Nolparn party had beaten him to it. He scratched his head and put his device away. It wasn't a huge loss. The Kadum Raid Party had always operated outside of dungeons, and they had plenty of experience hunting elves without relying on a single item.

"You're the captain now, Kadum," Braum said. "Just give the orders like you always do."

"Tsk. I never wanted to do this again," Kadum muttered, clicking his tongue as he activated Hunter's Eye.

[A-rank Hunter Raider Kadum has activated Hunter's Eye.]

[Nearby tracks will be marked in red.]

The world was instantly washed in a shade of blue. Hunter's Eye was a skill that revealed hidden traces in the environment. Immediately, footprints concealed in the thick mud began to glow a vibrant red.

[Titanium]

[Thick]

[Deeply Pressed Mud]

The footprints offered three clues, and from them, Kadum easily deduced they belonged to a raider. 'Wearing titanium boots in a forest like this? They must be completely insane.' The owner of these tracks was likely clad in full-body armor—a fatal mistake for anyone who failed to understand the drawbacks of heavy equipment in a forest. Next, Kadum examined an arrow mark on a nearby tree.

[Traces of Mana]

[Considerable Power]

[Deeply Gouged Wood]

[Unidentifiable Arrow]

'This is it.' Kadum stood where the arrow had struck and looked up. 'The firing position must have been around there.' In the air, blue threads of residual mana connected like a bridge, slowly coalescing into their original form. Judging by the arrow's trajectory, it had been aimed straight for the brow from above. The raider must have died instantly. The incredible distance, the formidable power of the mana-infused arrow, and the flawless marksmanship—this was clearly beyond the skill of an ordinary elf.

"This sword mark must be from one of the raiders who came before," a colleague noted.

"This gouge over here seems to be from a raider, too," another added.

"There's dried blood here," a third observed. "It's not elven."

As the others found their own clues, Kadum nodded, piecing the information together. "It's definitely High Elves," he declared. "The raiders here were shot down by archers positioned in the trees. The blood splattered across the trunk suggests they were pierced through the brow in a single shot. The arrows were infused with mana. Considering the distance and trajectory, their marksmanship is exceptional. First, we take their vision."

His analysis and subsequent orders were delivered in a single, fluid breath. Pleased, Braum clapped silently. "Just like the captain who led us in the old days. You haven't lost your touch, Kadum."

"Shut up. Get moving—"

"Aaaargh!"

Just as they were about to scale the trees, a scream echoed from the distance.

"Sounds like another party got hit first," Braum commented. "The scream is dragging on, so they must have swordsmen in addition to archers."

"We have their direction," Kadum said flatly. "Let's go."

The Kadum Raid Party moved through the treetops, closing in on the source of the sound. As they drew nearer, they spotted a mage clutching his wrist, trembling violently. His companions must have all been killed; the area was littered with corpses.

A woman who appeared to be a High Elf emerged, sword in hand. The Kadum Raid Party held back, observing.

With a sharp thrust, the High Elf plunged her blade into the raider's neck.

"Guh…"

She extinguished his life in an instant. After confirming he was dead, she turned away. At that moment, Kadum tracked the direction of her gaze.

[Slender and thin body]

[Quiver on her back]

[Broadsword]

[Ten silhouettes]

Ten elves were marked in red. Aside from the one who had come down, the rest were all perched in the trees. If the hunters had revealed themselves, they would have been subjected to a one-sided barrage. As the High Elves departed, the Kadum Raid Party began to move.

'So they're hunting the raiders who came to hunt them,' Kadum mused. 'What a ridiculous situation.' Their shots couldn't even be detected by the Radar Network. His decision to tail them cautiously had been the right one.

[The Buntid Raid Party has been annihilated.]

[The Rimaria Raid Party has been annihilated.]

[The Abilion Raid Party has been annihilated.]

One by one, the raid parties were being wiped out.

[Current Raid Parties in the Forest of Silence: 7/14]

The situation was unfolding in their favor, saving them the trouble of dealing with any other witnesses. The Kadum Raid Party continued to tail the High Elves, staying just out of their line of sight.

[Silent Steps is active.]

[30 seconds remaining.]

The effect of Silent Steps was about to wear off. If their footsteps were heard now, their pursuit would be exposed. 'With skills and items restricted, it's about time we launched a surprise attack,' Kadum decided. He exchanged glances with his companions and nodded. There was still no sign of detection. If they closed the distance and ambushed them, even mana-infused arrows would be useless. 'Three will take the swordsman. The rest will incapacitate the elves on the flanks.'

After sending a series of signals, Kadum picked up speed. A binding net in one hand, a scimitar in the other, he launched himself toward the elf on the left flank. Just then, the elves on both sides turned their heads slightly. Startled, Kadum ducked behind a tree. The rest of his companions melted into the surrounding bushes, watching the situation unfold.

'What happened? They shouldn't have felt our presence.'

'Could they have noticed us?' one of his men wondered.

'No. As long as their gaze is fixed forward, even the High Elves' superior vision can't spot us. The Dungeon Master didn't use an item, so there's no way we were discovered.'

The Kadum Raid Party had been in and out of elven forests before. No one had ever detected their tracking. As he watched the elves move away, Kadum recalled the forest's layout. After making a full circle, he realized they were patrolling in a repeating pattern along a fixed route.

"Whew. What items do we have left?" he asked.

"Thankfully, the Location Transfer item is still available," Braum replied. "Thinking of setting a marker?"

"Yes. We'll place it here. Six people will transfer. We'll draw their attention to the front and launch another surprise attack from behind."

His companions carved a marker into a piece of wood. While they waited, they were careful not to leave any traces. Just in case, Kadum scanned their rear, but there was no one else in sight. Only the elves were in this forest. Or rather, the other raiders were.

'Come to think of it, have all the other raid parties been wiped out?' He checked the status of the remaining parties.

[Current Raid Parties in the Forest of Silence: 2/14]

'Looks like there's one more besides us. Are those elves searching for that party now?' Their movements certainly suggested they were tracking someone. Kadum let out a sigh of relief and leaned against a tree. He was a hunter again after ten long years. Rather than feeling nostalgic, he felt disgusted. The images of wailing elves were still burned into his memory—their hate-filled eyes, their delicate screams, their battered bodies. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists. 'This is really the end. I will never return to being a slave hunter.'

He was a father now. His wife and daughter were surely waiting for him at home. Kadum looked up at the reddening sky and suppressed his rage.

---

[Current Raid Parties in the Forest of Silence: 2/14]

The High Elves had yet to find the other raid party they were tracking. It was strange that they hadn't found them even as the sun began to set.

'Is there another group as skilled as us?' a hunter wondered.

"No," Braum said confidently. "Even after you retired, no hunters emerged who could match the Kadum Raid Party."

'Then they were just lucky… no, that can't be it.'

"It's probably the party that used the Vision Priority item," Braum surmised. "They must be barely staying alive thanks to the Vision Battle Penalty."

As Braum said, someone else had already used Vision Priority. Since it was impossible to survive against the elves by pure luck, they had to be hiding under the effects of the penalty. But Kadum couldn't shake his doubts. 'If they're under the penalty, why haven't they just left the forest? Why are they still here? Can't they give up on the elves?' If they were staying out of greed, they were fools. They would surely be discovered the moment the penalty wore off.

With no other choice, Kadum signaled to his men. 'They're about to enter the route. Ignore the other party for now and start the hunt.'

"A wise decision," Braum agreed. "They must have been tracking us this whole time, so their stamina must be drained."

'If you know, then move.'

The Kadum Raid Party resumed their pursuit as the elves slowly headed toward the transfer marker. Kadum had already sent six companions to the side and raised his hand.

'One.'

'Two.'

'Three!'

Patiently timing it, Kadum lowered his hand. The companions who had moved to the side quickly used Location Transfer. At that exact moment, the High Elves spun around.

'Whoosh!'

Arrows instantly flew toward the remaining six raiders. Kadum tried to dodge, but it was too late.

"Ugh!"

Three more High Elves appeared from behind, slitting his companions' throats.

"Damn it! What the hell happened? There were three more of them!" one of the survivors yelled.

"Were they tracking us separately? I don't know, but we don't have time for this! We have to get out of here!"

"Understood!"

Six of them had been teleported to the marker's location. With their forces split, a fight was impossible. Kadum and Braum urgently retreated, fleeing the scene. They heard their companions' screams behind them, but they couldn't turn back.

---

"…We should be able to catch our breath here," Braum panted. "We survived thanks to your companions' sacrifice. You should be happy."

"They weren't just my companions; they were yours, too! Show some goddamn respect, Braum!" Kadum snarled. The two survivors were now hiding at the base of a giant tree. Kadum's face hardened as he glared at Braum. "Are you the kind of old comrade who'd threaten my family to drag me here? I have nothing to do with you people anymore. This hunt is a failure. I'm getting out of this forest."

"W-wait! Do you think you'll be safe even if you get out? Count Dinen will surely have you killed to keep you quiet!"

"That's my business," Kadum spat. "When I think about how you blackmailed me, I want to kill you right now. It's pathetic that I can't bring myself to do it." He sighed and stood up. Braum urgently tried to stop him but then froze, backing away.

"D-damn it… they're already here. We're dead meat!"

The High Elves appeared before them. Kadum bit his lip and shot a venomous glare at Braum. "You son of a bitch! If it weren't for you, I never would have come to a place like this!"

"Ahahaha! It's all over! We're dead!" Braum broke into a mad cackle.

"Damn you! What kind of promise was this? How am I supposed to return to Vera and Calisia now?!" Kadum lost his senses, grabbing Braum by the collar. Even if he escaped, he'd have to live on the run from Count Dinen, and now it looked like he was going to die right here. "Aaaaargh! You goddamn son of a biiiitch!"

And so, Kadum and Braum were captured by the very prey they had been hunting.

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