“Let’s discuss formation and everyone’s roles before entering the forest to give Peter an idea of how to explore in a team,” James suggested as the group made their way toward the ancient forest.
Everyone nodded cooperatively. Peter decided to spend some mana to check everyone’s status while they were at it.
“Since this is your first proper visit to the forest without the supervision of an adult, you should stay in the middle with Noelle until told otherwise,” James said, glancing at Peter. Fully into the leader mode. Peter decided to check him first.



Inspect {Human}...


Name:
James
Race:
Human


Class:
Tracker lv. 10, Villager lv.1
Level:
11


Title:
None
Age:
15


Health:
240
Mana:
200


Stats..


Constitution:
24
Spirit:
20


Strength:
15
Agility:
15


Intelligence:
12
Perception:
3


Skills:
Archery {Short Bow} lv. 14, Hawk eye lv. 8



 
"I will be at the front with Sasha, scouting for the group. We both have skills that are good for scouting," James explained, pointing at himself and then at Sasha, who waved at Peter. Peter decided to check her status next, since he was already looking at her.



Inspect {Human}...


Name:
Sasha
Race:
Human


Class:
Silent Huntress lv. 11, Villager lv.1
Level:
12


Title:
None
Age:
15


Health:
260
Mana:
200


Stats..


Constitution:
26
Spirit:
20


Strength:
16
Agility:
20


Intelligence:
20
Perception:
3


Dexterity:
4




Skills:
Spearmanship {Naginata} lv. 14, Phantom Stride lv. 6



 
Comparing their status, it was apparent why people preferred higher-grade classes. Even though Sasha and James had only a single-level difference in their classes, Sasha had more stats than him.
A common-grade class provided 1 stat in Constitution and 1 free stat with every level, whereas an uncommon-grade class provided 1 stat in Constitution and 2 free stats per level.
“I remember you having Mana Sense. You can use it to help Noelle with collecting when you're not fighting something,” James remarked, standing side by side with his counterpart. That was fine with Peter.
He didn’t need to use Mana Sense for that…Inspect was much better for something like that.



Inspect {Human}...


Name:
Noelle
Race:
Human


Class:
Herbal Alchemist lv. 4, Villager lv.3
Level:
7


Title:
None
Age:
14


Health:
210
Mana:
200


Stats..


Constitution:
21
Spirit:
20


Strength:
13
Agility:
14


Intelligence:
15
Dexterity:
2


Skills:
Swordsmanship {Short-Sword} lv. 9, Alchemical Crafting lv. 4



 
Another person with an Uncommon class, though it had taken her more effort to unlock it compared to Sasha, given those three levels in Villager.
Peter had been trying to unlock Dexterity for himself as well. It was a useful stat. The only reason his father didn’t try to unlock it was due to a lack of enough stat points to invest in it, even if he managed to unlock it.
“David and Paul will flank you and keep an eye on the back as well. Paul’s Danger Sense is extremely useful for that. Is everything clear? Feel free to ask if you have any doubts,” James said, after giving each role that aligned with their classes and skills.
“No, that seems fine to me,” Peter replied, falling into his assigned position in the formation. It was a good strategy. Peter would have chosen the same formation based on the information that James had.
“Good then, let’s make the most of our day while staying on the safe side,” Sasha added at last, enthusiastic as always.
Peter checked the status of the last two members as they entered the forest.



Inspect {Human}...


Name:
Paul
Race:
Human


Class:
Woodsman lv. 8, Villager lv.1
Level:
9


Title:
None
Age:
15


Health:
220
Mana:
200


Stats..


Constitution:
22
Spirit:
20


Strength:
15
Agility:
15


Int:
12
Perception:
2


Skills:
Archery {Short Bow} lv. 16, Danger Sense lv. 4



 



Inspect {Human}...


Name:
David
Race:
Human


Class:
Iron Cleaver lv. 3, Villager lv.1
Level:
4


Title:
None
Age:
12


Health:
160
Mana:
140


Stats..


Constitution:
16
Spirit:
14


Strength:
15
Agility:
13


Int:
10




Skills:
Axemanship {Battle-axe} lv. 13



 You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Everyone felt a bit lacking compared to Sasha, but both David and Noelle had uncommon-grade classes, so in the long run, they would easily surpass both hunters. Looking at their status, Peter felt more reassured about his chances of unlocking at least one unusual class.
“What sort of herbs do you want me to find for you?” Peter turned to Noelle, hoping for more details. As someone with skills in multiple domains, he was highly versatile. With multiple defensive skills in his arsenal, he was best suited to be the vanguard defender, but foraging herbs would be equally easy with Inspect.
“I can only make some basic salves and potions for now. They usually don’t require rare herbs, but if you find any, we can still sell them to my master,” Noelle replied. She listed some common plants, most of which Peter was already familiar with thanks to his mother’s teachings.
They were primarily used to make blood-replenishment concoctions, basic potions that enhanced natural healing, and even potions to prevent childbirth, among other applications.
These herbs were so common that most people could learn to process them with a bit of practice. However, those with specialised classes produced much more effective, longer-lasting, and faster-acting versions.
Once Peter knew what to look for, he started using Inspect on their surroundings while keeping Mana Sense at full capacity. It helped him detect hidden dangers and potential surprise attacks, as well as spot any magical herbs that might appear in his mana vision.



Inspect {Non-Magical Plant-life, Magical Plant-life} …



Dandelion: A bright yellow flower with jagged leaves, found almost everywhere. Leaves are edible and diuretic, while roots aid liver health when dried and brewed.




 
Peter could have used more mana to get much more detailed information, but there was no need for it. Just the name of the herb would be enough.
The group travelled slowly, maintaining their formation. Every so often, they would stop to collect herbs that Noelle or Peter found.



Inspect {Non-Magical Plant-life, Magical Plant-life} …



Wild Carrol: A tall plant with white umbrella-like flowers, found in glades. Seeds have been used historically as a contraceptive. (Warning: Can be mistaken for toxic Hemlock.)




 
James was constantly using his Hawk-Eye to scan in all directions for potential danger or targets, while Sasha moved beside him with a graceful gait, her presence barely noticeable.
The group had almost filled half of Noelle’s bag with fresh herbs when James signalled for them to crouch and remain silent. Those in the back exchanged glances before lowering themselves to knee height and carefully making their way toward the scouts.
“What happened?” Noelle asked beside Peter. Her voice was barely audible.
“James spotted a group of wild pheasants under the bushes, eating insects and worms,” Peter whispered, making sure not to step on any dry twigs.
“Where?” Paul asked, glancing at James. Peter hadn’t detected anything with Mana Sense. Prey was out of his effective range.
“About 320 meters northeast, a group of eight,” James replied, sounding both smug and excited.
Peter understood James’ excitement; they tasted wonderful and were always in demand. Joseph often brought one home for the family to cook and eat whenever he encountered them during routine patrols.
“I say, let me handle them. They won’t even sense my presence until I’m among them, and my spear is making quick work of them,” Sasha proposed impatiently, her fingers caressing her weapon like a lover.
“And let you take all the experience when you won’t even gain much from such a small game?” Paul scoffed, narrowing his eyes at her in a glare.
“Think you can hit a target from this distance?” James challenged him with a friendly grin and competitive gaze, agreeing with his logic.
“Without skill assistance, my ideal range is 50 to 60 meters…but with my skill, I won’t miss,” Paul replied confidently, nodding back as he freed his bow from his shoulder.
“Good, then. Let me check the surroundings to make sure there won’t be any unnecessary interference from a third party before we make our move,” James said, remaining cautious, keeping in mind the teaching of his father. A good hunter always makes his move after making full preparation.
Everyone nodded. He moved behind a tree trunk to stay out of the birds’ line of sight, though the chances of them noticing the group from this distance were slim, before scanning each direction with his skill to ensure no other creatures were present besides them and the pheasants.
He returned soon after, finding no predator lying in wait for an opportunity.
“The coast is clear. Paul and I will target the birds from here, likely hunting one each. The rest will scatter. I know, Sasha—let me finish,” he grumbled, cutting her off before she could interject. The girl was not known for her patience.
“You can go first and hide nearby to take advantage of the confusion to kill as many as you can. Try not to make a mess…we want clean kills.” No one wanted a badly butchered bird for dinner. It would not sell for a high price.
At that, Sasha gave a predatory smile before nodding at each of them. With practised ease, she activated her Phantom Stride, moving without disturbance or noise as she made her way toward their target.
Once she was gone, James finally spared Peter an apologetic glance.
“Sorry, but you don’t have any means to join in without alerting them. Don’t worry, though. Rabbits multiply fast. We’re sure to find some for you to kill,” he reassured him.
“I understand. You don’t have to worry about it. We all have our roles,” Peter replied calmly, understanding the problem. He lacked the required skills. A stealth skill was needed to approach their prey without alerting them.
They waited for Sasha to reach her hiding spot while James helped Paul line up his shot on the soon-to-be-dead birds. Peter adjusted Mana Sense, narrowing its focus to his line of sight for better tracking.
This limited Peter’s mana vision to what he could see directly, but in exchange, it extended his range significantly. Through it, he spotted a human-shaped figure cloaked in what could only be darkness-element mana, crouching near the unsuspecting targets.
“She’s ready,” he informed them. At first, Peter received confused looks, but a glance at his glowing eyes made them nod in understanding.
“Here goes nothing,” James muttered, exchanging a glance with his partner before they both released their arrows.
They watched as the arrows flew toward different targets—one using his vision skill for a precise shot that struck a bird in the eye, while the other relied solely on his talent and higher-level skill to land a hit on the belly.
Then came the shrieks…panicked birds flapping wildly, trying to escape.
A blur sprang from a nearby bush, Sasha. Her Naginata sliced through the necks of two birds in a single, fluid motion. Even before their heads hit the ground, her legs carried her forward. Three quick thrusts later, the remaining birds lay lifeless around her.
The group had already started running as soon as the arrows struck, so it didn’t take them long to reach her. The hunt ended in seconds.
Paul went ahead and examined the wounds. “Thankfully, not much damage.” He swiftly ended the struggling creatures' misery.
“Let’s bleed them out before carrying them,” James added, nodding at Paul. Both of them were way more skilled at it than others.
On the side, Sasha cleaned her weapon while both hunters started draining the birds. Once done, they handed them to David, who plucked their feathers with practised ease.
“It’s going to take some time. Let’s clean up the herbs while they work,” Noelle suggested to Peter, after observing the group diligently working in tandem.
Sasha quietly kept watch while everyone else worked for the next fifteen minutes.
“This was quite easy.” Noelle must have heard Peter’s muttering because she giggled.
“What did you expect to happen? Besides David and you, everyone else will be an adult in a few years. They’ve already started their apprenticeships.”
“Apprenticeships?” Peter hadn’t been aware of the others’ plans, though he knew Noelle had been training under the village alchemist for a year.
She answered his curiosity soon enough. “Yes, Sasha and James are working for the guards now. They’re often sent as part of teams on routine clean-ups to handle awakened beasts that stray too far from the forest depths.”
“Meanwhile, Paul often goes with his father to hunt bigger targets like deer and boars. He’s the only child, like you, so he’ll likely inherit his father’s trade,” Noelle explained while putting the cleaned herbs back into the bag.
“What are you all planning to do once you become adults?” David’s question pulled everyone into the conversation.
“That’s a good question. Have you decided what you want to do, Noelle?” Sasha asked, locking eyes with her.
“It’s not an easy decision, Sasha,” Noelle replied with a sigh.
“I just don’t get it. Your master can’t help you much with advancing your class, not with the village’s limited resources and the low demand for your profession.” Sasha frowned, shaking her head.
“Sooner or later, you’ll have to leave if you don’t want to stagnate at the same level for decades. Paul has responsibilities as his family’s only child, so it makes sense why he can’t come with us. But what’s stopping you?”
Before the conversation could continue, James clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back to the present.
“We’re done with the birds. Let’s stay focused on why we’re here.” He pleaded, not wanting them to argue in an unsafe environment.
Both girls nodded, though their expressions differed. Noelle looked thoughtful, and Sasha was still frowning. Paul, on the other hand, looked relieved that they hadn’t started an argument.
Whatever tension had lingered in the air quickly dissipated as everyone got back into position, and the group resumed their pace through the forest.