Chapter 96: The Monster Problem
The forest used to be quiet—dangerous, yes—but not like this.
Lately, monsters had started appearing more often. Slimes, boars, wolves, even the occasional horned lizard. People used to panic whenever they saw one. But not anymore.
Now they hunted them.
By sunrise, groups of villagers were already heading out, guild cards hanging from their necks and makeshift weapons in hand. What used to be fearful faces were now focused, calm, and even a little excited.
Rento, a short goblin boy barely into his teens, gripped his wooden spear tight as he walked alongside his older brother and two other hunters. Their breath puffed into the cool morning air.
"I heard a slime nest popped near the east spring," said one of them, adjusting his rough leather armor.
"Good," Rento said, nervous but determined. "That's ten coins for three slimes."
They nodded and picked up the pace.
The guild had changed everything. No longer did people kill monsters just to stay alive. Now they had a reason—rank, reward, recognition.
Caelen's system worked. Kill monsters, earn coins. Trade coins for food, weapons, gear... even toys for the kids.
The Forgotten Forest was still wild, but the village had changed. And the villagers? They were changing too.