The reason why Klautz was gathering people was simple.

The rewards he could obtain outside were greater than what he could earn here.

Moving luggage, searching, and even sleeping, are better done in a group than by himself.

Also, it was better to hunt for monsters outside than killing them during the raids.

Primarily, people raise their skills better when they strive for them.

By fighting monsters in here, their skills will rise quickly in the beginning, but they will slowly stagnate.

If you didn’t constantly improve your abilities, you wouldn’t be able to survive the harsh realities of Hellfeim.

It was a struggle to stay alive… but for now, it was more important to find the magical items hidden outside the temple.

Although Klautz lost many important things by going back to the past, he was able to keep his knowledge and experience. After killing each of his thousands of targets, he would always read and memorize their history.

“Don’t forget me pal” Steve butted in.

Klautz nodded receiving his intentions

Klautz gave each of them a torch.

The ends of the torches were smeared with oil.

The oil was made by boiling the carcasses of the monsters.

“Never lose the torches and the oil can, unless you want to end up as monster fodder.”

Although Kluatz said ‘cans’, it was just hollowed bamboo.

Unlike the modern world, with bright neon lights everywhere to brighten up even the darkest nights, here, they could only rely on the torches to see.

Most monsters fear fire.

At the very least, going around with a torch meant that they would be less likely to be ambushed.

A man, who received a torch, asked, “Aren’t we just looking around for 3 to 4 hours?”

It was currently early morning.

If they were to explore for 3 to 4 hours, the sun will be at its highest.

It seemed like he felt uncomfortable with the preparations for the night.

But Klautz said with a firm voice, “We don’t know what kind of situation we will come across. Also, every midnight, the surrounding topography will change and if we don’t have the torches then, we won’t be able to find our way out.”

After all, they could end up getting badly injured or just might get lost in the wilderness owing to which they might just need be to survive the night. Better be safe than sorry.

“What do… you mean our surroundings change?”

This time, it was Bill who asked.

Of course, they didn’t know.

“There are a lot of tree-type monsters that stay dormant during the day, Trent, Druids you name it. They become active when night falls. If trees started to move around all of a sudden in a forest of course the topography has to change”

The summoned people had yet to face a tree-type monster. That was because most raids occurred during noon.

So, of course, they didn’t know.

But Klautz who was a shinobi by profession, moving in the darkness of the night was the usual scenario. How else would he sneak into his target’s base otherwise? It would nothing but foolish… childish to invade during the day.

When everyone was confused, Klautz acted as if he knew what was going to happen.

He passed onto everyone their own share of water.

They took hold of the bamboo containers as if they were their pay-check.

*Gulp*

A man among the group wanted to empty it as soon as he got it. But, he resisted his urge.

He told them, “Outside the ruins is wilderness itself. We won’t have the time to help those who fall behind.”

And then, as if he was looking to see their resolve, he examines each of them.

There was a total of four of them excluding himself..

He especially carefully examined the young girl, Reena Samuel.

Having quick wits was more helpful than others with ambiguous skills, but there was the question of her being able to keep up in the harsh conditions.

As she knew what he meant, Reena gritted her teeth and said, “I’ll do my best. So I won’t be a burden to anyone…”

After all, there were no other options for her if she wanted to survive.

If she was to lose the chance at being by Klautz’s side, there wouldn’t be anyone else who would take care of her.

She made up her mind that even if she was to die, she wanted to at least attempt to live.

After examining every one of them, he turned his back.

“If you don’t want to die, don’t argue with my orders. Don’t get curious. Follow me unconditionally. Understand?”

Everyone solemnly nodded their heads.

There was nothing more important than words from an expert.

Especially after seeing what Klautz was capable of, at least in the survival aspect, he was a pro.

“Then let’s head out.”

After preparing their weapons and packing some tools, the torch, and the oil can, they started to move.

—

Author’s thoughts:

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