Chapter 121: Second fall hunting (Season 3)

“It’s splitting up!”

“Hah!”

“Corner it from the right!”

A large group of Boduas began to split into two as the Ainos divided them up. Men on Galims shoved the Boduas away by threatening them from joining the bigger group, thrusting their spears forward.

“Wow! Let me try! Let me try!”

Jasmine shouted in excitement as the other knights were also enthusiastic. They followed what the Ainos were doing and thrust their spears at the Boduas. The extensive experience they had on horseback fighting had paid off.

“Beautiful.”

It was a beautiful sight to see the Ainos warriors riding on Galims through the vast plains under the sunlight.

“It’s coming! Be ready! We will kill it instantly.”

There was no answer, but everyone readied their spears behind the boulder. They waited calmly for the arrival of their prey. The ground rumbled as the Boduas got closer.

“Don’t hesitate!” Joonbum shouted to Jasmine who looked like she was nervous. At that moment, a loud screech came from a Bodua who fell over the trap. The other Boduas behind it also fell as the lead tumbled down. The dust rose from the ground, but it was easy to imagine what was going on inside the dust cloud. As it dissipated, there were tens of Boduas lying on the ground with broken bones and severe wounds.

“Ugh.”

Jasmine suddenly became sympathetic at the merciless sight. The eyes of the animals seemed to be full of tears and pain.

“What are you doing? I thought you wanted to do this? Are you just going to sit there and watch?” Joonbum spoke to Jasmine who was speechless at the sight. Jasmine came to her senses, clenched her spear, and blushed.

‘Dammit!’

Jasmine frowned at the humiliation. She did not want to look weak in front of this knight from the Daehan Empire, but this was unexpected.

‘So he doesn’t care if I’m a woman.’

Jasmine hated to be thought of as a helpless girl. She had become rebellious so she could be stronger than a man. She tried to overcome the gender stereotypes blocking her way, but it was not easy.

‘Dammit!’

Jasmine thrust her spear as she was filled with humiliation at the thought of making a mistake in front of Joonbum. Her spear penetrated a Bodua’s heart and other the knights followed her with the other Boduas. The hunt was over in an instant. Men who were waiting gathered to collect Bodua blood as the hunt was over.

“Quick! Intestines to that side! Shower it with the salt first! Pree-an, ready for the smoking?”

“It’s done.”

Hundreds moved to work on the Boduas and soon only bones were left on the ground. A bonfire was started from multiple spots with large pots above it. They were filled with boiling water and intestines were poured in. Then they were cut into small pieces and handed over to all the people.

“What? Never had these before? It’s good. Taste the true meat.”

Joonbum sliced a big intestine and began chewing on it while he talked to Jasmine. Jasmine flinched at his voice and began eating it.

“Oh.”

“WOW!”

She didn’t seem to like the idea of eating boiled intestine, but it did not last for long. She and her knights began to gasp in astonishment as they started chewing the meat.

“Wow. This-this smells really good. What happened?”

Joonbum smiled.

“It’s fresh. You can only taste it here. Try several parts. Oh, it’s also great with beer,” Joonbum said as he gulped down Ainos beer with it.

‘This beer will trump any beer on the market in the Earth,’ Joonbum thought. The Ainos had been creating all sorts of beers that tasted way better than what he used to have on Earth.

When everyone was done eating, they went back to work.

“Are we taking the bones too?” Jasmine asked as people began to gather the leftover bones.

“Miss, I heard people at the Gedran Kingdom use bones for a broth. But these people seem to go beyond that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, look at that.”

Jasmine turned and saw the men slicing parts of the Bodua meat into the boiling broth.

“I heard the broth is the main base for their cooking. They spice it up with vegetables and salt and add rice into it.”

“How do you know that?”

James grinned.

“I found out back in Khaloda Village.”

“Oh.”

Jasmine nodded and picked up a skewer that was being baked at the side.

“Are you eating more? It will slow you down.” James pointed out. Jasmine seemed to be embarrassed, but she quickly replied. “Oh, it’s- it’s really spicy, you know? It makes me want to eat more. It makes me sweat a bit too, but it’s also refreshing to eat. Here! Take it!”

Jasmine picked up another and offered it to James. James backed away.

“Oh- Okay. I will eat it. I will eat it.”

Joonbum grinned at the sight and rose up to help others.

“Sir Joonbum!”

Daryl and Louise walked up to him as he moved away from Jasmine. They seemed to be really excited to be able to join such an incredible hunt.

“So, how was it?”

“It was amazing…”

“I’ve never experienced such a large-scale hunt. It was amazing to see people riding on Galims…”

“Yeah, this isn’t the end.”

The two were excited by Joonbum’s words. The fall hunt had just begun. Fall was the season to stock up before winter.

“Isn’t this enough to last throughout the winter?” Daryl said as he counted down the number of dead Boduas. Louise agreed.

“Yeah, I heard they have never caught this many before.”

“Yeah, but this skewer is so good! I like the spiciness,” Daryl said as he chewed on the skewer and Louise flashed his dishes in return.

“This fried meat is better. With this sweet sauce, it really changes the flavor.”

Both seemed to be very satisfied. They already appreciated any kind of good food as they never had good food in their upbringing, and they now ate more due to harsh training.

“Daryl, Louise, you should come!”

Pav came and called out to them. They bowed to Joonbum and walked away.

The number of hunted Boduas was abundant and it was surely enough to last through the winter. But something bothered Joonbum.

‘Something seems to be off…’

There was something amiss. Something was making him feel very uncomfortable from time to time.

‘Is it because of what the elder said?’

He remembered the elders talking about something happening deep in the southern mountains.

“What’s troubling you?”

Joonbum turned to see Doral handing him a beer. The good smell of beer bubbled up from the fresh clear glass bottle. Joonbum received it and sat on the rock.

“It’s nothing much. But…”

“But?”

“It just doesn’t seem right. Everything’s going well, but I feel like something’s off.”

Joonbum spoke and Doral gulped down his beer.

“You don’t know what, but you feel something?”

Joonbum nodded. Doral thought for a moment, then grinned.

“Concerns, eh? We’ll just check on it, one by one.”

“One by one?”

Joonbum began to think about it. His biggest concern would surely be the monsters.

‘Monsters. I guess it is. Maybe I just wanted to be safe?’ Joonbum thought. He loved the serene quiet life on this mountain. He loved hunting and training.

“Monsters.”

Joonbum spoke and Doral raised his eyebrows.

“You’re concerned because of what the elder said.”

Joonbum nodded. It wasn’t only the elder of Bran Town who said it. All the elders from all the tribes seemed to have the same idea. There were scheduled scout the south before winter.

‘So that was why.’

Joonbum realized he was bothered by this information.

“Maybe I should join the scouts.”

“The south is dangerous. Even the Guardians don’t stand a chance if they don’t gather as a pack.”

Doral spoke gravely. Joonbum, who seemed to feel better, answered, “Then I definitely have to go.”

Doral remembered the prowess of the machine gun and nodded.

“Yeah, you did massacre those Keroxes last year. I guess you do have the power.”

“Yeah, it will be safer with me joining the team.”

“Th-”

“Joonbum! Doral! I need help here!”

The conversation was interrupted by Pree-an’s shout. They looked at each other and stood up to go help.

The day was over when they finished salting and smoking the Bodua meat. The work continued throughout the week and it was near the end of the process where they received an emergency message.