Astvar prepared a coastline a little bit for attacks by placing wooden spikes close to the village. And assigning guards for a patrol around it. While they were doing their job I was preparing for the fight with the bear. By preparing I meant preparing mentally… I said that I will kill fucking giant bear! What was I thinking?! I killed one monster and thought that I could take the world? I’m so DUMB!

Hammer would be good against that bear but I probably wouldn’t even be able to lift it… Harpoons would be cool but I don’t have that much strength to throw them well enough… It will be one bear...  and I have no idea how to fight it. 

It would be nice to have some skills or magic that could damage that bear. Hakon was using some kind of spell. Maybe he will show me something? Luckily for me, he was standing on guard in front of Jarl’s house. I wanted to casually approach him but when he saw me he immediately knelt down and thanked me for saving him. Is it a thing in their family to apologize in that way?

[ Hakon ]

“Thank you for saving me, The Spear Fisher.”

[ Eric ]

“Uh… Yeah… How are you doing?” 

[ Hakon ]

“I’m doing well. Thank you for asking. Losing a hand isn’t as bothersome as I thought. Or at least I accepted it pretty fast.”

[ Eric ]

“Good to hear. I’ve been mining to ask you… You used some spell to find the monster. Do you know anything like that for attacking?” 

[ Hakon ]

“Oh. Do you mean my White Path? I do know a few attack spells but I don’t know if you can use them.” 

[ Eric ]

“Why is that?”

[ Hakon ]

“I am using spells that only sworn to Ullr can use. It’s something similar to your blessing but less powerful. Basically, you’re sworn to another god so you only can use spells bestowed by him.”

[ Eric ]

“Oh… Well… Thanks for the info.” I said as I left Hakon.

[ Hakon ]

“Info?” Said to himself Hakon.

I was going to check Galmar’s stand for something useful but then I saw another stand that interested me. They were selling tools and one of them caught my eye. The most shining amongst them was a pickaxe. I only had the money for three. Two for me and one in case? Maybe… I’ll drag Tae with me! Yeah! That’s a good plan! Basically, he has done nothing since I met him… Knocking out this giant Viking doesn’t count! I almost had him.

[ Eric ]

“We’re going into the mountains again!” I shouted as I walked into the bar. Few people were confused but at least Tae knew what I was thinking about. He was scared but I don’t care. I needed to drag him out. 

[ Tae ]

“So… what do you want to do? In the mountains?” A scared Tae asked.

[ Eric ]

I gave him the pickaxe and said “We’re going bear hunting!”

[ Tae ]

“With pickaxes?!”

[ Eric ]

“That’s right!”

[ Tae ]

“You’re joking? Right?”

[ Eric ]

“No! I’m not!”

He had that “disappointed” face all the way to the cave. I don’t know why but… this cave looks different than the last time. Tae lit up the torch and we went in. The feather we got the stronger the scent was. I could smell blood, rotten bodies, and… poo… We found a room that looked like a big half sphere. I could see the bodies of animals like wolves, rabbits, and deer. Even a human skeleton but there was no sign of a bear. We went to check the body. Or at least I went because there always might be something valuable! 

[ Eric ]

“Tae! Tae! He had ten silver coins on him! I say it’s already worth coming here!” 

[ Tae ]

“Cool… So… How long are we going to stay here?” Said Tae with obvious fear in him. 

[ Eric ]

“Until we kill the bear!” 

[ Tae ]

“But… There is no bear so we can go…”

[ Eric ]

“I will wait here… even if the ground is going to split itself!” 

It was just a joke but I spilled it out… The ground started shaking. Tae was going to run away but the only exit was blocked by stone spikes. No matter where I looked I didn’t see the bear. I only heard it roar behind me. It was two times taller than me on all fours. I leaped forward to dodge the incoming attack. I avoided it but the shockwave of the attack pushed me even further away. I knew this bear would be strong… but this is overkill!!! I felt how dangerous this beast is and it’s my first challenge? Tutorials are supposed to be super easy! But if I don’t kill it there is no way I would survive another attack of these sea monsters. 

[ Eric ]

“Tae! Are you ready to fight! Tae?” 

I was all fired up to fight but he was trying to mine his way out. Never seen him moving like that, like a madman he tried to mine his way out. As he was getting close, spikes rebuilt themselves. He looked at me with his big eyes as if he was going to cry with the hope that I’d save him.