The wind of the wilderness carried coarse snow particles and the wild atmosphere, whistling across the endless plain.
In the deserted wilds, a team was advancing toward the green covered by a thin layer of white on the horizon—Jade Forest.
The edge of that forest was like the spine of a giant beast crouching, making it appear shrouded in shadow when viewed from afar.
At the center of the moving caravan was a carriage, flanked on both sides by about a dozen lone riders charging across the slightly undulating wilderness like arrows leaving the bowstring, bodies closely following the bounce and sway of their horses.
These riders were not in neat formation but maintained a loose yet mutually supportive formation, ever vigilant in all directions, serving as the eyes and sharp blades of the team.
Each had a half-covered face cloth to shield against the snow particles, revealing only sharp eyes like those of a hawk, continuously scanning ahead, to the sides, and into any shadow that might conceal a threat.
At the rear were heavy supply wagons, loaded with bulging burlap sacks, oak barrels, and supplies tightly wrapped in oilcloth, all secured with thick ropes. The burdened beasts pulling the wagons snorted white breath, their steps heavy but still closely following the deliberately slowed caravan.
The air seemed to solidify.
Apart from the sounds of the carriage wheels crushing the ground, the clattering of hooves, the wind, and the heavy breathing of the pack animals, there was no other sound from the entire large caravan.
Inside the carriage, all adventurers were quietly meditating with their eyes closed.
Once they left the town, safety also bid them farewell.
They had to be continually prepared mentally and physically for battle at any moment.
A loud shriek, with a strong piercing and metallic quality, suddenly broke through the ground’s dullness from very high above.
Many people simultaneously pulled away the window covers to glance up.
In the grayish sky, as if weighed down by clouds, a nimble little black dot was spiraling gracefully and powerfully. A ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, falling on it, reflecting a brief metallic sheen.
It’s a griffon!
Gauss looked down and saw the edge of Jade Forest gradually enlarging in his view.
It was calling, alerting everyone that they were about to reach Jade Forest.
...
Outside the forest, this winter hunting team finally selected a flat piece of land at the forest’s edge to set up a temporary camp.
The heavy supplies and logistic personnel naturally couldn’t follow the adventurers into the dangerous Jade Forest for combat.
Not only would it slow down the entire team’s progress, but more critically, they would easily become a shortcoming requiring extra care.
Tents were quickly erected one by one.
Gauss and Aaliyah got off the carriage to stretch their limbs.
He gazed at the nearby forest.
Under the light snow, the forest was still green, which he found a bit incredible, such vibrant greenery.
It was like the forest and the weather were wrestling, neither able to win, forming this scene of white and green layers.
But the temperature drop was real, with leaves covering the ground, and the forest in decline.
Obviously, the falling snow representing the weather was gaining the upper hand.
"Can the raven fly in the snow?" Gauss looked at the raven perched on Aaliyah’s armguard and curiously asked.
Although the snowfall wasn’t heavy now.
"Yes," Aaliyah nodded, smoothing its shiny feathers.
After resting for a while,
Jade Forest.
A long caravan approached from afar.
Besides the central carriage convoy,
Lone riders at both sides quickly paved the way through the wilderness on the flanks.
At the very end of the team were the supply wagons loaded with logistics.
From thousands of meters in the air, looking down on this scene, Abelhard gathered all the members participating in this winter hunt.
Before setting off, the Adventurer’s Guild had already gathered all the winter hunting teams to announce the precautions, so right now, there was no long-winded reiteration but only the distribution of maps of the patrolling areas to each team leader.
About a hundred or so people were divided into 30 teams.
An average of 4 people per team.
Occasionally, there were teams with more members, but there were also streamlined teams like Gauss’s with two or three members.
Gauss and Aaliyah were Team 23.
As the captain, Gauss stepped forward, waited for a while, and came before Abelhard.
Abelhard’s crimson eyes lingered on him for a moment before picking up a map from the table beside him to hand to Gauss.
"Are you Gauss?"
"Yes, Guild Leader."
Gauss was a bit surprised to hear the guild leader Abelhard call out his name, but thinking it was likely from the information on the roster, he composed himself.
Abelhard and Gauss exchanged a look, then nodded and continued speaking.
"Not bad."
"Stay safe, and if you encounter an enemy beyond your capability, light a signal flare. Once I see it, I’ll come immediately."
"Understood." This was also part of what was discussed in yesterday’s meeting.
...
After a brief exchange.
Gauss returned to Aaliyah with the map.
People kept glancing at him during the process.
Due to time constraints and having already explained the key points at yesterday’s meeting, Abelhard and others did not really engage in much conversation.
Only with Gauss did they exchange a few words below their breath.
This unusual detail caught everyone’s attention immediately.
"Do you know the guild leader?" Aaliyah asked openly without hiding her curiosity.
Gauss shook his head.
Before this winter hunt, he had never interacted with Gray Rock Town’s guild leader Abelhard, nor had the chance.
It is said for the past two years, Abelhard mostly engaged in personal training, leaving administrative duties to Vice Leader Shirley and the secretary.
He would only appear for significant events like the winter hunt requiring someone to preside.
However, Gauss was as puzzled as to why Abelhard chose to speak to him.
Could it be that Shirley mentioned him, or was it his Goblin Slayer nickname that had reached Abelhard’s ears?
Forget it, better look at the map.
Gauss called Aaliyah over and spread out the map.
Perhaps for confidentiality, the precise winter hunting route wasn’t disclosed in the town, and only after leaving town did they know their specific itinerary.
Before this, they were only issued team numbers according to registrations and groupings.
Tonight they would rest, and at the break of dawn, the winter hunting team would formally enter Jade Forest. Upon reaching the first demon gathering spot, the guild leader and several Black Iron Level adventurers would go to eliminate the leaders of the monster army, while the other bronze adventurers would disperse to wipe out scattered leftover monsters and small factions.
Gauss and Aaliyah’s two-person team was also assigned to a sector in a fan shape, sizable in area.
After clearing their designated area, those with spare energy could assist others, of course, not helping for free. Eliminations would still count towards their merit, incentivizing effort.
This was one of the measures to motivate the teams actively.
However, one couldn’t just seize demons others were already fighting without reason.
Unless someone took the initiative to find it first or was asked for help.
Thinking about these things,
Gauss and Aaliyah entered their team’s tent.
Preparing to rest and marshal their vigor.
Starting tomorrow, they would embark on a week-long winter hunt.
...
Gauss, Aaliyah, and Ulfen advanced quickly through the forest.
"It feels a bit different from the collective attack scene I imagined."
Gauss observed the serene forest.
He originally thought he could see the power of Abelhard and several other Black Iron adventurers today, but in fact, the area where they operated didn’t require "low-strength" bronze adventurers like them.
The idea of adventurers rushing in en masse and engaging in a melee with gathered enemies didn’t exist.
"You’ll get used to it."
"Our area today should be a small team of monsters led by a half-ogre."
Though still curious about the core battleground, Gauss had to focus on the opponents he was about to face.
"Aik is back."
Aaliyah suddenly said, looking up.
Aik was the name she gave to her newly contracted raven.
Since it was still learning human language, it loved repeating what others said.
Sure enough, after a while,
A black figure descended from the canopy, eventually perching on Aaliyah’s armguard.
Aaliyah immediately cast "Animal Communication," and began to chatter with it.