Netori Harem: New life as a hunter and gatherer

Chapter 293: Chief will see you

After grabbing a quick meal, Luke left the house and headed toward the inn where they had stayed the previous night for a short while

Before leaving, he made sure to give everyone clear instructions.

If anything looked suspicious, they were to head straight for the safe shelter without hesitation.

He also handed them a few tools for self-defense, just in case.

Mila assured him they would be safe. Daytime patrols within the village were always exceptionally strict, making it one of the safest times to be outside.

Luke wasn’t nearly as confident.

He could hardly place his trust in someone he had met only yesterday.

So, despite Mila’s reassurance, he repeated his warnings twice before finally leaving.

Walking toward the inn, Luke casually asked the system,

"It’s been a while since I checked my stats. Did I trigger any quests over the past two days?"

[Indeed, you did, Host.]

A translucent screen appeared before him.

[Quest: Create a kill streak without receiving any damage.]

[Reward: 50 GP]

Luke nodded. That one made sense.

The next notification appeared.

[Quest: Witness your potion failing.]

[Reward: High-Grade Recovery Potion ×1]

"..."

Luke stared at the screen in silence.

What kind of quest was that?

Why was the system rewarding him for failing?

"So you’re talking about the magician I couldn’t save yesterday?"

[Indeed, Host. You could have saved him by administering a higher-grade potion. Instead, you chose your handmade potion, and it failed miserably.]

Apparently, adding that last word was absolutely necessary.

Luke shook his head with a weary sigh.

Well... whatever.

The system could mock him all it wanted. A reward was still a reward.

He had earned a high-grade recovery potion and fifty GP.

As far as he was concerned, that was an absolute win.

After a brief pause, another translucent screen appeared before him.

[Level: 3]

[Strength: 38.5 → 40]

[Speed: 32 → 33.5]

[Defense: 41.5 → 42]

[Intelligence: 25 → 26]

[Gamma: 10,000 → 12,500 / 12,500]

[GP: 1,250 → 1,050 → 1,100]

[Attribute Points: 0]

[GP Required for Level Up: 2,000]

[Gamma Required for POD Level Up: 13,000 / 10,000]

[Abilities]

1. Echolocation: Level 1 → 2 | 30/200 EXP

2. Concentrated Burst: Level 2 | 100/200 EXP

3. Enhanced Perception: Level 2 | 120/200 EXP

4. Shadow Walk: Level 2 | 60/200 EXP

5. Death Scare: Level 1 | 40/100 EXP

Another familiar notification appeared immediately afterward.

[Host, upon reaching Level 3 in any skill, you will unlock a branch ability unique to that skill. Additionally, the usage requirement of the skill will be reduced.]

Luke couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

The last time he had checked his stats was after the night hunt.

Since then, he had fought off a group of assailants trying to block their path and even killed another man the previous night.

And yet, his stats had barely improved.

Maybe it’s because I hardly had to put in any effort, he thought. None of them were much of a challenge.

The two battles combined hadn’t even lasted five minutes.

Come to think of it, he couldn’t remember receiving so much as a scratch during either fight.

Given that, it was only natural his growth had been minimal.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Luke shifted his gaze toward the imposing structure before him.

The guild.

The building loomed over its surroundings with an almost oppressive presence. Its towering stone walls and grand pillars reminded him of the courthouse back in his previous life, a place he had visited more than once.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to head inside.

He had a strong suspicion that whoever was orchestrating this entire mess had ties to the guild.

After all, there was no way a secret society of that scale could have taken root without the knowledge of the village’s second most influential organization.

As he stepped through the entrance, he immediately noticed something odd.

People kept looking at him.

Some paused in the middle of their conversations.

Others stopped in their tracks, stealing cautious glances before leaning over to whisper to the person beside them.

These weren’t the casual looks of curious bystanders.

Their eyes were filled with unmistakable wariness.

Well, it wasn’t as if they could recognize him.

This world had nothing like television or the internet to spread news about someone overnight.

Ignoring the wary stares, Luke continued down the corridor.

Large notice boards stood along both sides of the hall, covered with countless sheets.

Curiosity got the better of him.

"Hmm?"

He came to a complete stop, his gaze sweeping over the detailed illustrations of both humans and beasts pinned to the boards.

They were clearly quest postings for hunters, each accompanied by a reward listed beneath it.

"Hmm... I suppose the color of the border represents the danger level?"

"Indeed."

Luke’s brows lifted slightly at the familiar voice.

Turning around, he found the same man from yesterday standing behind him.

"Ibris."

The man had been the one to escort them into the village and had told Luke to look for him if he ever visited the guild.

"It’s good to see you again," Ibris said with a faint smile. "I take it you’re here to collect your rewards?"

Luke gave a small shrug.

"Not really. I actually came to meet the Guild Master and ask if he could introduce me to the village chief."

Ibris offered him an apologetic smile.

"Is this about what happened yesterday? I imagine it must have been quite unpleasant to receive such a welcome to our village."

Luke let out a quiet hum.

"Constantly having to stay on guard wasn’t exactly part of my plans for this trip. I was hoping the chief might be willing to offer us some protection."

Ibris nodded without hesitation.

"I’m certain he will. Ensuring the safety of our visitors has always been one of our highest priorities."

His expression darkened slightly as he lowered his gaze.

"What happened yesterday has left the chief... quite furious."

Luke offered no response.

The village authorities had every reason to be ashamed of what had happened.

After a brief silence, he asked,

"Then, can I meet the Guild Master?"

A hint of regret crossed Ibris’s face.

"I’m afraid he isn’t here at the moment. However, I don’t think you’ll need his help to meet the chief."

He smiled reassuringly.

"The chief already knows about you. If you go to his work house and simply give your name, you’ll be allowed inside."

Luke tilted his head.

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

Ibris gestured for him to follow.

"Come. I’ll show you where it is. Although..." He paused with an awkward smile. "You’ll probably have to wait until late afternoon. The chief usually arrives around that time."

Luke nodded.

"Understood."

Well... being the supreme leader certainly had its perks.

You could show up to work whenever you felt like it.

They soon left the guild, walking side by side through the village streets.

The chief’s workplace wasn’t far away.

Unlike the guild, however, it wasn’t an imposing structure. It was a modest three-story building with a simple yet well-maintained exterior.

The infrastructure here is surprisingly developed, Luke mused as his eyes wandered across the surrounding buildings. I wonder what the larger settlements look like. If I travel farther, I might come across cities that are even more advanced.

Before long, the two came to a stop in front of the building.

Ibris turned to him with a cordial smile.

"Well, I hope you get to meet the chief this evening."

After a brief pause, he added,

"And I sincerely hope the rest of your stay here isn’t plagued by any more trouble."

Luke let out a quiet sigh.

"I hope so too."

With that, the two men parted ways, each heading in a different direction.

~~~~~

A/N:- I hope you liked the Chapter.