Strange Noises in the Dark Moon Forest

Chapter 45: Strange Noises in the Dark Moon Forest

Han Dong carefully examined the female student from his cohort.

Her messy black hair was tied up in a bun, she wore a golden nose ring, ivory earrings, and colorful stone bracelets, her clothing was a wrap of woolen fabric.

She looked like a young witch doctor from the Middle East; judging by her appearance and style, she seemed more like a Mysticism Apprentice than Han Dong.

She looked to be about the same age as Nicholas, around nineteen.

The girl stared at the iron box in Han Dong's hands, her face filled with terror.

"Ah! You've already chosen? What are we going to do... I feel like what you chose is dangerous. The iron box is emitting a strange aura from all sides. Can I take a look?"

"Mhm."

After the young woman looked at the contents of the iron box, her body shivered in fear.

Inside the iron box wasn't a single 'item,' but a pile of uncomfortable things... a large amount of dried skin, peculiar skin, the layer of skin that covered eyes.

It was precisely because of this that Han Dong chose to bring the entire iron box with him.

The young woman from the Middle East kept biting her nails, saying nervously and fearfully:

"This... this is going to get people killed.

Why would you choose something like this? A monster with a collecting quirk is harder to deal with than ordinary evil entities, and far more obsessive.

It's all your fault. We finally made it through Destiny Space and could have a good life at the Knight Academy. What are we going to do now?"

Han Dong completely disregarded the young woman's attitude and words.

Choosing the iron box was a decision Han Dong had made after careful consideration. He said impatiently:

"Huh? This is my choice, what does it have to do with you... Why don't you go to the wooden cabin yourself, choose another item, and pass the test on your own?"

After Han Dong spoke so sternly, the young woman in front of him seemed to realize her mistake. She lowered her head, looking as if she was about to cry:

"Um... the internal test for departments allows teaming up, and it doesn't increase the difficulty.

My sense of direction has always been poor. I often got lost in the Holy City and couldn't find my way home... it took me several days just to find this place. I definitely can't get out by myself.

So... I was hoping..."

Han Dong's focus wasn't on the girl's poor sense of direction, but on the teaming-up issue he hadn't heard of before.

"You're saying teaming up is allowed and it doesn't increase the difficulty?"

"Yes! I asked the administrator at the entrance when I came in.

So, my initial plan was to reach the wooden cabin first, then wait for other Knight-Errants to arrive before testing, choosing, and teaming up to clear it... I didn't expect to get lost again, and then I met you here."

Teaming up without increased difficulty.

Without knowing what dangers lay ahead, adding another person would reduce the risk.

Of course... Han Dong also had to consider the potential danger the girl herself might pose.

This test is definitely being conducted under the supervision of teachers from the Mysticism Department. I'd better not let Miss Chen Li help... to avoid revealing information about the prison. However, the Ghoul Arm can be used.

The contents of the iron box are indeed sinister. If I can pass with such sinister items, my evaluation will be much higher, which is related to my future development and resource allocation.

This girl who suddenly appeared has many suspicious points, but there's also a 'necessity' to bring her along.

If she's truly a Knight-Errant of the same level, it wouldn't be bad to build a good relationship with her in advance.

Han Dong recalled his campus life when he was alive. As an associate professor, he didn't even have a single friend... Every time he met other teachers in the academy, it was just a polite greeting.

His life was very dull.

So much so that when Han Dong learned his cancer had spread, all he felt regret for was not being able to complete his research; he had nothing else to hold onto in terms of human relationships.

"Alright, let's team up temporarily."

Since he had been given a chance to be reborn, Han Dong was gradually trying to change himself.

"That's great!"

Han Dong suggested: "Let's introduce ourselves first, especially detailing your current strengths and abilities."

Han Dong had experience teaming up with Knight-Errants and solving dangerous events together. He put this experience to use immediately.

The young woman from the Middle East stuck out her tongue: "Right... I haven't introduced myself yet.

My name is Pasha Buhat. I passed a two-star difficulty Destiny Space a few days ago. Since I studied witchcraft in my tribe for a while, I chose Occultism.

I haven't had systematic training yet... so I only know some 'Divination'."

"Divination?"

Han Dong understood what divination meant.

It's equivalent to using external objects (usually specific items like shells, cards, bamboo slips, etc.) to gain insight into the future by observing the small to understand the large, predicting what will happen.

"You can only divine, why did you get lost?"

Pasha explained:

"Because I'm not very familiar with it yet, my thoughts are very messy... especially after allocating Destiny Points, my divination ability has strengthened, and sometimes I foresee future images in advance, which makes my sense of direction extremely poor.

But don't worry, I'm still 'very useful'!

I can predict danger in advance."

Han Dong nodded and began to introduce himself, "Well... my name is Valen Nicholas. I have some combat ability, but it's not very strong."

"Knights who major in [Mysticism] cannot be compared to those [Crusaders]. It's already very good that you have some combat ability... My biggest worry is that both of us can only divine.

What kind of ability do you have? Can I take a look?"

At Pasha's inquiry.

Han Dong's right arm showed a certain green substance flowing through his blood vessels... Swish! His ordinary fingernails suddenly elongated, reaching about thirty centimeters in length, sharp and curved.

As his entire arm was about to swell and expand, Han Dong immediately stopped further changes.

"Wow! You're a mutated Plague Scholar!?"

"Huh?" Han Dong didn't quite understand such professional terms yet.

"Hehe, I also read it in a book... I heard that those who can control 'Plague' are among the most dangerous figures in the Mysticism major, and those who can 'change form' are the most powerful offensive personnel in the Mysticism major.

I didn't expect you to possess both of these attributes at the same time, that's amazing!"

"Hehe."

Han Dong wanted to say that it was just a Ghoul Arm, there was no need for so many explanations.

However, being mistaken for a Mysticism ability saved Han Dong the trouble of explaining.

Thus, the two teamed up, with Han Dong carrying the iron box in his backpack as they traveled through the Dark Moon Forest.

The creaking sound of branches being squeezed, The cawing of crows, Or the sound of limbs twisting as some giant insect crawled through the forest, Han Dong and Pasha had grown accustomed to these sounds.

But... mixed within these sounds were some unsettling strange noises.

As time passed, the sounds became clearer.

Crunch! Crunch!

The sound of metal scissors, approaching from afar, becoming increasingly clear, as if hiding behind a twisted dead tree beside them.