THE HAWKEYE'S JOURNEY

Chapter 1 - Country of Monsters

~SUPER LONG FLASHBACK STARTS~

Late September, Year 2 Tempest

Great Forest of Jura

I felt warmth on my face.

I opened my eyes. The sun had just risen.

It'd been some days I was on the way home through the Great Forest of Jura after finishing a mission.

The forest itself was still a dangerous place no matter how many times I'd passed by it since when I became an adventurer.

It had so much slopes, as well as wild plants that were potential to be monsters' hideout. I couldn't let my guard down at any time. It wasn't a rarity for me to be attacked by a B Rank monster, or even a B+ Rank one when I was resting in the night. If I was still a B Rank adventurer, coming to this forest alone was the same as attempting suicide.

I got up and looked around.

The tinder I lit last night already turned into ashes.

I stood up and wiped my clothes and body from the leaves that were sticking. I took my beret, wiped it, then put it on my head. I cast a cleaning magic for myself to ensure the cleanliness.

I stretched my body a bit.

I took my bow and arrows container on my back and continued my journey.

A few hours later...

I noticed something strange. Here was a forest, right? So...

Since when is there a paved road?! And this is a big one!

I decided to walk and follow the road. Maybe this road could lead me to Blumund faster.

Not gonna lie, it was the most convenient walk I ever made in the Great Forest of Jura. I just had to follow the road and that was it.

Not until so long later, I saw a glimpse of buildings from the distance. It was definitely not Blumund.

Oh, now that I came to think about it, I thought I remembered that there was something like... a new nation in the Great Forest of Jura? What was it, again? Jura Tempest Federation?

I heard it was a country of monsters, but it was famous among many adventurers as a more comfortable place to stay in than Falmuth. But it was a new country, right? If this road was built by them, what had possibly happened that they'd developed this far?

I walked closer and closer. I saw a huge sign read "Welcome to the Capital City of Rimuru!" with a blue slime drawing below it.

"Hello, miss!"

Suddenly a group of goblins approached me. I immediately assumed defensive stance. Furthermore...

Did my eyes deceive me? Goblins that ride direwolves? Are you kidding me?!

No, they weren't really goblins. They indeed looked like ones, but their body posture and fluency in speaking told me otherwise. In other words...

Hobgoblins?! And this many?!

"Please don't be so alarmed," the one that seem to be the leader said with friendly tone. "We're just a group of Security Forces that happens to pass by."

I relaxed my guard a little bit while still being wary.

"We never see you before. You don't appear to be a merchant. Are you an adventurer, then?"

"I am."

"Ah, very good! Then I wish you good luck on your missions. I'm sure you'll be just fine, but we need to warn you a few things."