Chapter 176: Fighting Tier 1 Monster!
As they walked towards the city gate, Noah noticed how peaceful the streets had become. The attacks on the human kingdom had almost completely ceased, a stark contrast to the constant threat that had defined daily life just weeks ago.
Clearly, the devastating raid that King Aldric had led against the underground base had dealt a massive blow to the extremist organisation. They had lost nearly fifty operatives of various ranks, plus a master-level demon commander.
They were casualties that represented a significant portion of their operational capability.
Fifty extremists plus a master-level leader. That’s probably half their local forces eliminated in one strike.
The king hadn’t been content with simply disrupting their immediate operations. After such a successful attack against the demon extremists, he had reinforced the city’s defences with unprecedented thoroughness.
Masters now stood guard at the east, west, south, and north directions of the city walls. The deployment of four master-level defenders represented an enormous commitment of the kingdom’s most valuable military assets.
With four masters guarding the walls. The king was taking no chances with the demons’ retaliation.
The guards at the gate greeted Valeria and her group with respect. When they spotted Noah among the party, their demeanour changed to the courtesy appropriate for addressing nobility.
"Good afternoon, Viscount Noah. Safe travels on your expedition," the gate captain said with a respectful bow.
Noah returned the greeting politely before their group continued toward the hunting grounds outside the city’s protective walls.
Unlike the demon kingdom, where hunting areas were carefully guarded and regulated, the human kingdom couldn’t afford such extensive security measures. Once you ventured beyond the walls into monster territory, you were entirely responsible for your own safety.
They arrived at a region where Tier 1 monsters typically spawned, the landscape shifting from human-cultivated farmland to wild forest that harboured creatures drawn by concentrated mana.