Witch Hunter Rhapsody

Ralph's Hut Ring.

The magical items obtained from the slain wizard Raymond include a self-charging spell, Ral's Hut, which creates a temporary dwelling.

Vitas Vitalius experimented when no one was around, and the resulting hut contained only the simplest furniture, no food or water, just a house.

Such a house can be very useful when spending the night in the wild.

Although Vitas and Raymond's teacher were mortal enemies, he used the spell because of its practicality.

"Vitas, you actually possess such powerful magical artifacts! You're definitely not just an ordinary nobleman!"

Leon stared, his eyes wide with amazement.

For these ordinary mercenaries, receiving a commission from a wizard is already a great honor, and opportunities to come into contact with magic are even rarer; expensive magical items are something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

In this light, Vitas's previous contempt for himself and his mercenary group is not entirely incomprehensible.

Helena's focus, however, is different.

Is that why you don't want the others to stay?

"That's partly true, but more importantly, they're completely ineffective."

Vitas removed his helmet, placed it on the table, and sheathed his sword.

"Um, let me help you take off your armor."

Leon had long wanted to touch this armor with his own hands.

"No need, I won't take off my armor tonight."

In the wild, it would be foolish to remove one's armor when there are only three people around, so Vitas would rather train himself to sleep in armor.

"Moreover, nighttime is also a good time for observation."

"You mean you're going to wear this armor for infiltration and reconnaissance? And the targets are animals?"

"For you, which is more important, your lives or your mission?"

"Of course it's a mission."

"It seems that young people do have different ideas. If it were me, I would choose to ensure my own safety first. Besides, this is a hunting mission, and there is no need to waste my life on something like this."

Vitas offered his thoughts, then noticed Helena's expression.

"What, disappointed? He's not the knight you imagined?"

Helena turned her head away, not denying it, Vitas said in an almost regretful tone.

"Why do you confine us knights to your imagination...?"

Seeing that Helena was indeed in a bad mood, Leon quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Well, let's listen to Mr. Vitalius!"

Vitas didn't waste any more time. He decisively sat down in the corner, rested his sword on his own, and closed his eyes to rest as if leaning against a large tree in the wild.

Helena and Leon were also asleep in their respective beds, both wearing basic protective gear so they could quickly retaliate in the event of an attack.

When Vitas awoke again, the moon was already high in the sky.

He noticed that he was sleeping for shorter and shorter periods of time lately. Although he had survived the terrifying spell cast by Nexus, he could not completely avoid its effects.

Besides being haunted by the souls of his former knights, who can summon him back from hell, his body's resilience and resistance are also increasing.

Previously, when using poison gas, he could enter it without any protection. Sometimes, Vitas even doubted whether he was still human.

He opened his eyes and confirmed that neither Helena nor Leon had woken up.

Then, he put on his helmet, walked out of the room, came to an open space, stuck his two-handed sword into the ground, and closed his eyes.

He had made numerous contacts and was adept at recalling the souls of his followers from hell.

However, each such summons was a torment and an injury to him. He dragged his subordinates into hell, yet he could not let their souls rest in peace. Even after experiencing such terrible things, he still had to summon their souls back from hell to continue serving him.

What Vitas summoned were nothing more than empty shells.

"Come out, scout."

With a low growl from Vitas, about three hundred meters away, the ground cracked open, and a person wearing leather armor crawled out.

Vitas endured intense pain, suffering every time he summoned his former companions back from hell.

Vitas believed it was worthwhile because he had failed in his duty, had not kept his vow, and even had to recall the soul of his companion who should have been at rest.

This is his punishment.

"Scout, find me traces of Guros."

The scout was special; before his death, he was the scout of the Knights. He was always able to enter enemy territory and the most dangerous places silently to obtain the information that everyone needed.

Vitas can only summon his dead members by his side, with the exception of the Scout, who can be summoned from a distance and act away from Vitas.

The swaying figure drew a short sword from his body, then strode away like a normal human being.

Vitas pulled the sword from the ground, enduring endless pain.

He saw everything through the scout's eyes; the forest at night, the scouts making almost no sound, as quiet and swift as ever.

Vitas searched for Guros's trail, but the scouts' range of movement could not exceed forty miles as the crow flies.

It is enough.

He tried to determine the direction of Guros from the information he had gathered during the day, which was not difficult when he was conscious, but not so when he was in extreme pain.

Footprints, feces, and hair.

All of this was easily visible to the scouts, and Vitas relied on it to determine the location of his prey.

Vitas saw it; it was inside a cave. The scout's superior eyesight allowed him to understand what was inside.

They were the Guros they found themselves; there were more than one, about seven in total.

Seven! Vitas was somewhat excited. If what he knew was true, and that Guros was quite valuable in the wizarding world, then this was a considerable fortune.

And perhaps this will allow me to take another step closer to the wizarding world.

Vitas licked his lips; this was the best thing ever.

Because the Flying Eagle Knights insisted on coming along, he had no choice but to use this ability at this time.

If they hadn't come along, Vitas would probably have taken one or two samples back with him.

The scouts approached Guros.

These enormous creatures were resting, completely unaware that something from another world was approaching.

Vitas observed the creatures through the eyes of a scout.

Killing them head-on is unrealistic; their enormous size and the defensive capabilities of their fur and scales mean that any warrior must take these threats seriously.

Vitas was certainly not prepared to make such a reckless decision to attack.

"Vitas!"

He heard Leon's voice and thought it was a hallucination, but when he turned around, it was indeed Leon.

Leon had somehow appeared behind him and was calling out in a terrified tone.

"The bat-sheep flock is here!"

Vitas didn't immediately understand what Leon was saying.

Until he saw Helena also pick up her weapon, stand at the door of the cabin, and look in another direction.

Vitas endured the pain inflicted by the summoning spell.

It was a flock of bat-goat creatures, which flew in in a dark mass with their wings spread, emitting a mournful cry similar to that of humans.

Vitas immediately sent the scout back to Hell and took the sword in his hand.

What is the bat-sheep doing?

Vitas counted them roughly by the moonlight; there were about fifteen or sixteen, and they were now less than three hundred meters away.

"Run with me!"

Vitas did not cancel Lal's hut, which could be used as a distraction for enemies.

Anyway, the magic can restore it when it is used again.

Vitas's target was the denser forest nearby, where the bat-goat's massive size couldn't maneuver properly amidst the dense tree trunks.

Helena and Leon followed them in, but Leon was a step too slow. His clothes were grabbed by the bat-sheep, and the immense force was about to lift him into the sky.

"Damn it!"

Vitas turned around, but the distance was too great!