Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

“How did you sleep last night?”

Poro looked at Lake, who was lying on the bed, and blinked.

The castle, although destroyed by the giants' violence, still had most of its furniture with little damage, and there were still a few beds that could be used.

“I'm fine. At the beginning of our adventure together, I often couldn't sleep…”

The girl stretched, a bright smile appearing in her blue eyes. She raised her hand and touched Poro's fur. “But now, when I think about sleeping, knowing you're guarding me—I feel much more at ease!”

“Good to hear you slept well!”

Poro grinned. On the other side, on another bed, the old soldier also opened his eyes.

Last night, they took turns keeping watch. Lake went first, followed by the old soldier and Poro. This way, everyone could get some rest.

After all… there were no horses in the city, not even a single livestock left.

“We might have to walk a long way today.”

Lake nodded. The group checked their luggage, put it on their backs, and prepared to leave.

But at that moment, Poro's ears twitched. A breeze blew from outside the town, bringing a slight… human scent?

“It seems like humans are coming, from the direction of the town entrance.”

“Who is it?”

“It doesn't look like giants, probably soldiers from Bo Ren…”

At the town entrance, six or seven lightly armored soldiers walked out of the bushes on one side. Behind them were warhorses, and the armor on both the people and horses was painted a non-reflective grayish-yellow.

This made their figures less conspicuous in places with poor lighting.

The leader held something like a telescope in his hand, carefully surveying the town before putting it down, relieved.

But a hint of anger flashed in his eyes!

“How many towns is this now?”

“The fourth. Those bastards are becoming more and more… brazen. It seems our Seventh Giant Interception Team didn't survive.”

“Record the footprints of these giants.”

The leading officer sighed and continued, “Mark this place as lost. Then, we can enter the town to rest for a while and… look for any survivors.”

Although he said that, none of the soldiers really thought there would be any survivors in this desolate town.

Giants have a keen sense of smell, plus that…

At least, the giants are doing a better job than before at 'searching for survivors and killing them'!

Of course, in any situation, someone might survive.

Even if it's the end of the world, there will be some survivors…

Just as the Bo Ren soldiers thought they would have to patrol the town again—

Before they had taken a few steps, they saw a person walking over by the side of the road.

“Are you… soldiers of Bo Ren?”

The old soldier, Inve, walked to a position similar to that of the Bo Ren soldiers, bowed, and asked.

“We are the Second Giant Sentry Corps. Are you a survivor from the town?”

The soldiers exchanged glances, a hint of joy appearing in their eyes, but it faded as the old soldier answered.

“No, I just arrived here last night.”

“A traveler? That's rare. And your accent—where are you from?”

“From the Sino Kingdom.”

The old soldier said directly. The largest country adjacent to the Bo Ren Kingdom was the Sino Kingdom.

“A Sino person? What do you do?”

The leading Bo Ren soldier looked at the long sword at Old Soldier Inve's waist and then at the slightly gray short beard on his chin and asked.

“A hunter, coming to Bo Ren to…”

“A hunter, huh? No wonder. You must be here for the bounty, right?”

The Bo Ren soldier immediately showed a knowing look, a slight hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but he quickly hid it.

He pointed in one direction and said to the old soldier Inve:

“That direction is Aimu City. If you want to get to our capital, you have to go through there. Recently, many foreign bounty hunters have been going there—”

The Bo Ren soldier became a little colder. He gestured, and another soldier behind him took out a map, drew a route on it, and handed it to the old soldier.

“We've marked a relatively safe route. It will be faster to go from here.

But if I were you, someone your age, I would turn around now and go back to your Sino! Giants… aren't that easy to deal with!”

With that, the soldier stopped talking to the old soldier and led the others deeper into the town…

The old soldier didn't ask any further questions. He took the map, thanked them, and walked out of the town.

Outside the town, Poro and Lake were already waiting by the side of the road with Dans.

“What did they say?”

“Those Bo Ren people were quite friendly.”

Old Soldier Inve shrugged. He handed the map to Lake and said, “Also, this map is good. We can save a lot of time.”

Poro and Lake looked at the map, their eyes lighting up.

This map, made by the Bo Ren people themselves, was indeed much more complete and detailed than the ones bought in the Sino Kingdom. And at a certain distance, adjacent to the Bo Ren capital, there was indeed a city—

Aimu City.

There were more pedestrians on the road.

Aimu City was close to the Bo Ren capital, and its defense was very strong. Along the way, Poro saw many Bo Ren teams in light armor walking past.

“These people… don't seem like merchant caravans.”

In the distance, the tall walls of Aimu City were already visible.

And under the city, on the small roads, in addition to some heavily guarded merchant caravans, there were many people dressed in miscellaneous clothes, like Lake and the others.

They all carried various weapons.

What surprised Poro the most was that several people were wearing a kind of mysterious robe, looking… more like mages.

“Could they really be… people who use magic?”

Lake next to him also showed some interest.

“Not necessarily, but I do smell some unfamiliar scents from a few people.”

Poro also looked at those… people who were also walking towards Aimu City.

A large part of them did have real skills. At least the thick calluses on their hands indicated that they were at least mercenaries.

In this world, there are many capable people.

But… Poro hadn't sensed the oppressive feeling of someone like the 'Witch Hunter' or even the slightly lower 'Bo Ren Prince'.

“What are they going to do?”

“Probably about… bounties. These should all be bounty hunters.”

Old Soldier Inve spoke. He raised his gray eyebrows, and his gaze swept over a young man in front of him… carrying an air gun, walking with his head held high.

In his eyes, there seemed to be some inexplicable flame.

Confidence? Or… ambition?

“Bounties?”

“Yes, bounties.”

Old Soldier sighed. “I remember some things too. The Bo Ren Kingdom has always paid a lot of rewards to those who kill giants.

But only one person in ten years can get these rewards!”

Old Soldier recalled a little and added, “I remember that they seemed to have increased the bounty in recent months… but I didn't pay attention to how much it was. It should be a lot, right?

You know, I've been thinking about those demonized princes in recent months.”

Old Soldier stared at the distance again, at that hunter who looked like he was just starting out, who had already joined the team entering the city, hidden in the crowd.

“I don't know what their strengths are, but I think young people like that who want to make a name for themselves—”

Old Soldier Inve pointed to a young man who was also standing tall, with the light of ambition in his eyes.

“And those speculators like that—”

He pointed to a somewhat fat mercenary holding a bottle of wine and carrying a large sword.

“They don't seem like… people who can take care of a lot of giants right now.

I think their awareness and ability are not even as good as those Bo Ren soldiers we saw earlier!”

“Why?”

Lake was stunned, and Poro also looked at the old soldier curiously.

“Those young people haven't experienced too much life and death. In their eyes, there are only fantasies of battle. They only think that they can overcome all difficulties through hard work.”

Old Soldier Inve looked at Lake and changed his words, “Little girl, they are even—far worse than you!

They can go to suppress bandits, they can go to kill lions and tigers, but I think when they encounter enemies like giants, it will be difficult for them to hold the sword in their hands!

Only when they survive one life-and-death crisis after another, and still have the courage they have now, will they truly have that trace of…

The possibility of success!”

“Then… what about that mercenary? He has scars on his body and looks very experienced.”

Lake was stunned for a moment, then pointed to the… somewhat chubby man carrying a heavy sword.

“That kind is just a bounty hunter, but not a qualified giant hunter.”

Old Soldier Inve shook his head, “Although they have gone through battle after battle, they have also been confused by the enjoyment given by these battles.

His body is fat, and he has given up exercising!

Just a desperado walking on the edge of a knife, that flashy greatsword can put psychological pressure on humans, but for giants—he is not qualified enough!”

Poro felt some emotion after hearing these words.

He shifted his gaze back to Old Soldier Inve, and although Old Soldier Inve's beard and hair were gray, his figure was still very well-proportioned.

The exposed skin was also enough to see the muscles and still-strong bones of the old soldier.

Poro moved his gaze to the people walking on the road.

Instantly, those people holding weapons dropped another level in his eyes.

But… no matter what.

Holders of weapons from all directions are walking towards that Bo Ren city in front.

There… has clearly become the center of the vortex where the storm is about to rise!