Monster Hunt: Notes from a Hunter

The sky was clear, free of wind and snow, making it a perfect day for travel.

The sled sped through the snow-covered forest.

Fufu, on the sled, held a portable camera, excitedly taking in everything around her.

The Third Fleet Leader, leaning against a pile of luggage, sat up slightly, reached out, and pulled down the light-filtering goggles on her forehead.

This action drew the attention of the Research Team Leader, who was driving the sled, wondering how his usually lazy sister would suddenly take care of someone.

The Third Fleet Leader also put on a pair of goggles. "The temperature in this frozen soil is too low, and the rising sun won't melt the accumulated snow.

The reflectivity of the snow surface is too high. If you don't use goggles to filter out the excess light when the sun is strong, you'll soon have snow blindness and teary eyes. Over time, it will affect your vision and even cause blindness."

"Oh, oh," Fufu touched the goggles on her face.

This thing really affects the line of sight and easily gets stuck in the viewfinder when taking pictures, which isn't very convenient, and more importantly...

"These goggles are a bit ugly," Fufu took off the goggles and looked at them a few times before reluctantly putting them back on.

The Research Team Leader frowned. Just as he was about to say something, the Third Fleet Leader interjected, "They are a bit ugly, and they're not very friendly to people who wear glasses. The frames get stuck inside, which is very uncomfortable."

Now, the Research Team Leader, being a pragmatist, was somewhat speechless.

His nearsightedness wasn't low, and he needed to wear glasses daily. Since coming to the ice field, he had often been troubled by this.

"Fleet Leader, do you think there would be a market if I brought sunglasses to Seliana to sell?"

Fufu rubbed her hands together excitedly.

Small volume, light weight, high unit price, and no expiration date – it's simply the best trade item!

The Third Fleet Leader, not expecting the conversation to turn to business, was silent for several seconds. "There should be people who need them."

After a while, she added, "If you can find a channel, remember to bring me a pair too."

Even the Research Team Leader, who was originally preparing to refute the 'ugly goggles' comment, couldn't help but ask, "Can sunglasses be made with prescription lenses?"

"No problem! What's your prescription? I'll write it down. After we return to base, I'll ask others, and then have the Tradeyard people bring them over together!

But I'll need some deposit, as the customization and transatlantic shipping costs money."

Fufu smiled slyly.

Now she had the capital, and her credibility was built-in. Her dad was the Commander of the Research Commission – who would suspect her of running away with the deposit?

As for the so-called shipping costs, she'd just have her own Tradeyard's ship carry a few dozen pairs of sunglasses. It wouldn't even be a few kilograms of stuff, so why would she need money?

"No problem," the Research Team Leader chuckled. "Research Commission members have high salaries, and there aren't many places to spend money in the New World, so everyone has some savings.

I believe many people in Seliana would be willing to pay this money to make themselves more comfortable.

However, do I need to remind you?"

"I know, this business can only be done once, after all, sunglasses are something that can last for decades with good care."

Fufu grinned and snatched the words, "The more profitable, sustainable businesses have already been taken up by my aunt and those merchants.

They don't look at this kind of business that can only make a small profit, so it's been left untouched until now.

But I'm satisfied with making this little bit."

Fufu pinched her fingers and blinked, gesturing a "tiny bit."

The Third Fleet Leader reached out and ruffled Fufu's hair a couple of times. "Wearing hunter's gear, traveling with scholars, but all you can think about is doing business.

You little thing, I really don't know what you're thinking. Does your family lack money? Why bother with all this effort?"

"My dad forced me to," Fufu put on a pitiful look and sniffled. "I still owe him money, so I have to find a way to pay it back."

"I think your father's purpose in making you owe money might not be to make you use your brain like this..."

"Woof—!"

The Raging Wolf pulling the sled in front let out a warning growl, interrupting their conversation.

"Looks like a monster is approaching. A large monster? Or something like a Jagras or a Shrieking Legiana?" The Research Team Leader raised his voice slightly, knowing that Raging Wolf could fully understand these words.

"Woof!"

"Looks like a large monster. This area isn't too far from Seliana and has been cleared many times, so there shouldn't be dangerous species like Fulgurbugs.

Most likely it's a Banbaro or a Beotodus. The Banbaro's movements should be more obvious. Is it a Beotodus, then?"

She was well aware of her own limitations.

Don't look down on Raging Wolf just because it's a dog, its combat power is many times hers. If a battle really breaks out, it's the absolute main force.

"Don't stop," the Research Team Leader decisively rejected Fufu's suggestion. "The Beotodus is very agile in deep snow. Once we stop, it's likely to bypass Raging Wolf and attack us.

Continue accelerating like this. It might not be able to catch up with us in a straight line. There will be traces on the snow surface when it gets close, so we should be prepared.

You're a ranged hunter..."

"I'm a half-baked trainee ranged hunter!" Fufu quickly corrected, lest the other party have too high expectations of her strength.

"...In short, after it appears, use your weapon for a ranged attack. The Beotodus won't be able to catch up with us for a while, and after feeling the pain, it should leave."

"Understood!" Fufu took a deep breath, picked up the deer antler slingshot, and grabbed a few pellets from the quiver.

The Research Team Leader couldn't help but glance at her hand.

He had observed Fufu's weapon before and thought it was some kind of small folding hunting bow he hadn't seen before. How could it really be a slingshot!

"It's coming!" The Third Fleet Leader warned loudly.

On the snowy ground dozens of meters behind the sled, a raised trace appeared, along with a blue curved horn splitting through the snow.

The monster swimming in the snow was trying to accelerate and approach them, and Raging Wolf was also accelerating. The distance between the two didn't decrease significantly.

Then, the Beotodus in the snow suddenly sprang up and leaped out from under the snow, pouncing towards the sled.

"Evade! Hold on tight!" The Research Team Leader shouted loudly.

Raging Wolf, who was very experienced in both combat and sled pulling, immediately made a sharp turn, leading the sled to avoid the Beotodus's leaping attack.

In the few seconds that the Beotodus leaped out of the snow, Fufu pulled the slingshot and fired pellets several times in a row.

It wasn't easy to hit a leaping monster on a bumpy, rapidly turning sled, but fortunately, the distance was close enough that four or five out of a dozen pellets hit.

Then, there was no then.

After falling into the snow, the blast fungus that stuck to the Beotodus's body was quickly rubbed off by the ice and snow. As for the damage from the pellets themselves, it wasn't enough to break through the Beotodus's tough hide.

Fufu wanted to continue attacking, but the Research Team Leader held her neck and pushed her back onto the sled.

With that attack power, what are you attacking for? You might as well lie down and lower your center of gravity, so that the sled runs more stably.

Seeing that the Beotodus had approached the sled and was about to launch a new round of attacks, Fufu suddenly had an idea.

The encyclopedia said that Beotodus, which move in the snow, are similar to Sand Pukei-Pukei in the sand sea, and are afraid of noise. If that's the case!

She pushed away the Research Team Leader's hand protecting her, took out a sonic bomb, pulled the pin, and threw it out.

"Buzz—!"

The high-frequency noise, difficult for the human ear to capture, swept through the forest, blowing the Beotodus tumbling in the snow wave out, constantly twitching and twisting in a mess.

"Well done!" The Research Team Leader, who rarely praised people, couldn't help but shout, "Take this opportunity to shake it off!"

At this moment, several wooden throwing spears flew out from the snow forest and pierced fiercely into the Beotodus's exposed soft abdomen.

Splashes of blood stained the snow red.