Chapter 93: Frog Hunting
They stepped up into the man's house. Walking around the house, all felt uncomfortable from the pungent smell of alcohol and the clutter.
Elyssia stepped up the stairs and looked toward the three doors. Turning back, she said:
"Hey, there are three doors up here; let's go inside."
Ayaka stepped up with Elyssia to the first room. Airi and Takeshi followed immediately behind.
Airi, with a cautious voice:
"Hope there is nothing."
Takeshi: "What could be in a single room?"
Suddenly Ayaka stiffened; she opened her eyes wide in panic, hand raising and pointing, her body trembling.
"E-E-Everyone..."
Turning simultaneously, it was the man standing below; he had just come up from the passage leading down to the basement. It seemed he had just arrived at the group's house to search for the monster.
His hand still gripped the sword so tightly that the knuckles turned white as if wanting to protrude. The blade was razor-sharp and gleamed in that dim light.
Elyssia backed away in bewilderment; she knew something was about to happen instinctively.
"Everyone, run toward the end of the path; maybe there is a chance to jump down when he runs up here."
Ayaka and Elyssia turned and ran; behind them, Takeshi and Airi also followed. While running, they kept turning back to look.
But the man ran too fast; he was already chasing right behind.
Ayaka was about to jump down to the floor below when immediately Elyssia grabbed her collar and pulled her back, making her feel as if she were being strangled for a short moment.
CRASH!!!
The sword flew past Ayaka's face and slammed straight into the wall.
Elyssia turned and flung the last door open, immediately running inside.
"Run in, everyone!"
The four of them quickly ran into the room while the man chasing behind was only a few steps away.
…
Opening eyes wide in bewilderment, the four stood silently looking around.
All around, trees were brownish-black, the swamp was muddy and slushy, the trees spread their roots like a cone of roots. They were standing on a dirt road, both sides were swamp.
Elyssia was dazed.
"Where is this?"
Airi felt that everything was not simple at all.
"Don't tell me there's a trial within a trial?"
Ayaka glanced around and walked to the edge of the dirt road, looking down at the mud with a thin layer of water on top, which was grayish-black.
"Is this a swamp?"
Takeshi: "Again?"
Suddenly from afar, Lilith stepped forward slowly and calmly, a light smile clear on her lips, two hands loosely clasped together.
Airi was bewildered, watching Lilith approach.
"Why is she here?"
Elyssia frowned.
"Maybe the trial is using her image."
Lilith stopped in front of the quite bewildered group, her voice clear:
"This is a small trial for you within this trial."
Raising her hand, she snapped her fingers with a very audible "click." Appearing before the group were four sets of simple wooden bows and arrows lying neatly on the ground.
Ayaka: "So what must we do?"
Lilith still calmly replied:
"Your mission in here is quite simple."
She pointed to the four sets of bows on the ground, and her gaze directed toward the swamp forest.
"You will hunt the frogs in here, and the main goal is to hunt the Frog King. It is holding the stone of the teleportation gate that can take you out of the fog."
The group opened their eyes wide in surprise; they all knew their initial goal had always been the stone.
Elyssia: "So when we find the stone, will we escape?"
Lilith smiled; she shook her head slowly.
"Of course not. You still need to finish the rest of the trial and carry the stone outside."
Ayaka: "Are the frogs strong?"
Lilith shook her head.
"No; they are quite weak. You have also regained a bit of muscle power, do not worry."
Lilith backed away slowly and disappeared, not forgetting to leave a blessing:
"Good luck to you all."
Takeshi scratched his head in confusion.
"So we have to wade into the swamp and hunt frogs? That sounds weird."
Airi sighed.
"What choice do we have; we do what the trial gives."
Takeshi: "But I don't know how to shoot a bow."
Ayaka bent down and picked up a quiver and a bow.
"Then let me shoot; I think I can still shoot well."
Elyssia looked toward the distance, seeing the silhouette of a house far from sight.
"Hey guys, is there a house over there?"
Takeshi propped his hands on his hips and looked toward where Elyssia was looking; he shook his head.
"No, there's nothing there."
Airi: "Just follow her; her eyes see very far."
The four of them took the bows, put on the quivers, and began to walk.
Walking along the dirt road with black trees on both sides and mud retaining a thin layer of water.
Ayaka: "Looking at this scene feels pleasant too."
Takeshi held the bow; he placed an arrow and wanted to try pulling it with clumsiness. Pulling the bow tight but suddenly the string slipped from the arrow, making Takeshi quite annoyed.
Airi walking ahead also called back: "I told you to learn archery before and you wouldn't."
Takeshi sighed.
"Who could have known?"
Ayaka held the bow and stared at it.
"It seems we have a bit more muscle power for flexibility."
Takeshi: "That's how it is."
In front of the four now, several houses could be clearly seen.
Elyssia pointed and said:
"See it, everyone?"
Airi walking beside also nodded.
"I see it."
…
They quickly reached the village gate. The village had only a few small wooden houses with thatched roofs, situated on a rather small piece of land surrounded by a low wooden fence. A few people were walking around living normally.
Takeshi looked up at the village gate which was just some logs joined together.
"So do we go in and ask them something?"
Airi: "Just go in and see if there is anything."
Takeshi: "But Miss Lilith told us to hunt frogs."
Airi sighed.
"What if there are tips or something in this village? Just go in and ask."
Having spoken, Airi stepped forward. Seeing that, Takeshi, Ayaka, and Elyssia also followed.
Airi turned back, whispering a reminder:
"There are many people here; everyone behave carefully."
The moment they stepped into the village, the villagers stopped their tasks like: watering plants, drying clothes, making bows, grinding rice... Then they focused their attention on the four people walking in.
They clearly heard the sound of frogs and smelled the scent of mud.
A boy passed by, in brown clothes and brown hair, about 12 years old. Standing before the four, he asked curiously:
"Who are you all? Why have you come here?"
Airi bent down and smiled friendly.
"We want to hunt the Frog King; do you know anything?"
The boy with an innocent face understood a bit.
"For that, you should go meet the village chief to know; I don't have a clear grasp." Having spoken, the boy turned and ran away.
Airi stood up and scanned the surroundings; everyone was looking at them.
Suddenly, a girl with black hair, sparkling eyes, and a rather cute face, wearing a white dress mixed with orange, stepped forward. She smiled and introduced herself:
"Hello everyone? Are you all wanting to hunt the Frog King?"
Airi leading the way was still the one to speak for the group; she nodded:
"Yes, and you are...?"
The girl as if remembering she hadn't introduced herself, smiled and bowed her head slightly.
"Ah, apologies. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Mimi, the village chief's daughter."
"Earlier I was standing afar, happened to see you talking to the boy and knew the group's purpose here. Therefore I wanted to come and ask, as well as invite you to my house to discuss."
Airi appeared very calm; she smiled and nodded in understanding.
"Is that so? Then we truly do need help; we hope for your support."
* "Why so polite?"
Mimi smiled and leaned, pointing behind her.
"Then follow me."
They walked right behind Mimi.
Mimi: "Our village is quite small, only about thirty people. And only a few go frog hunting."
Takeshi was curious.
"So what do everyone here eat to live?"
Mimi smiled.
"Naturally we eat frogs; it is also the main dish that is never missing. Actually, if there weren't any, there would be nothing to eat."
After a few sentences, they reached a house slightly larger than the others. Mimi pushed the door and turned back:
"Please come in; my father is inside."
Stepping into the house, the interior was quite simple. There was a large low table in the middle of the house, surrounded by chairs low to the ground. All around the house, a lot of frog meat was being dried.
The village chief, also Mimi's father, sat there and pointed to the opposite side as he saw the group enter; he signaled for them to sit.
This man was quite old, white hair, wrinkled skin, haggard face.
The four of them simultaneously bowed to greet the village chief.
Mimi pointed at the four and turned to her father.
"It's them, father."
The village chief nodded, his voice raspy:
"Please sit down and talk."
All four sat down and looked at the village chief. Mimi was pouring water to offer the four.
The bow sets were removed and placed in a corner.
The village chief laughed lightly and looked at the four.
"So you came here to hunt the Frog King?"
Airi nodded and spoke:
"Yes; we currently do not know the information regarding frog hunting and also need help."
The village chief nodded in realization.
"Because you came here quite friendly, I can also see by your faces. Therefore I will help you."
He let out a sigh, also a bit difficult.
"Currently all the men in the village have gone frog hunting for the upcoming feast. So if you are patient, wait for them to return to receive the best experiences."
"If you want to go hunting now, we only have some basic skills for you."
Ayaka hearing "feast," was quite excited.
"What feast is it, village chief?"
The old village chief replied:
"Ah, it's a once-a-year feast."
"In about three days, the feast is quite fun; you can also participate."
"As for the Frog King, it lives in the swamp very far from the village. If you want to hunt, you may have to go very far."
Airi: "So has anyone here ever successfully hunted the Frog King?"
The village chief smiled.
"Of course. But hunting is also quite difficult."
Elyssia: "So has everyone here ever been attacked by the Frog King?"
The village chief shook his head.
"No; our village is surrounded by very deep swamp, as well as having poisoned arrows, so they seem afraid and do not dare attack."