Reborn in the Survival Adventure Game-Chapter 96: The Monster Problem

The forest used to be quiet—dangerous, yes—but not like this.

Lately, monsters had started appearing more often. Slimes, boars, wolves, even the occasional horned lizard. People used to panic whenever they saw one. But not anymore.

Now they hunted them.

By sunrise, groups of villagers were already heading out, guild cards hanging from their necks and makeshift weapons in hand. What used to be fearful faces were now focused, calm, and even a little excited.

Rento, a short goblin boy barely into his teens, gripped his wooden spear tight as he walked alongside his older brother and two other hunters. Their breath puffed into the cool morning air.

"I heard a slime nest popped near the east spring," said one of them, adjusting his rough leather armor.

"Good," Rento said, nervous but determined. "That's ten coins for three slimes."

They nodded and picked up the pace.

The guild had changed everything. No longer did people kill monsters just to stay alive. Now they had a reason—rank, reward, recognition.

Caelen's system worked. Kill monsters, earn coins. Trade coins for food, weapons, gear... even toys for the kids.

The Forgotten Forest was still wild, but the village had changed. And the villagers? They were changing too.

By noon, Rento's group was knee-deep in the slime field. The things oozed around aimlessly, bouncing and squishing like bags of jelly. But they were no joke—step wrong, and you'd get burned by acid or lose a weapon to their sticky insides.

"Left!" someone shouted.

Rento turned and stabbed his spear down. It went straight through the slime, which let out a weak squeal and popped like a balloon. Goo splashed on his boots, hissing slightly.

"One down!" he yelled, breathless.

They fought for another half hour before heading back, slime cores tied in a bundle like a sack of berries.

"Six cores total," said the eldest in the group, smiling. "That's 20 coins split. Not bad for a morning hunt."

Rento grinned. "Maybe I'll buy gloves this time."

At the village guild hall, the air was filled with voices and clinking armor. People of all shapes and sizes lined up to turn in monster parts. Behind the desk, a stern but kind goblin girl named Mikka handled the paperwork.

"Next!" she called.

Rento stepped forward, placing the slime cores on the wooden counter.

Mikka inspected them, gave a small nod, then slid over a pouch of coins.

"Six cores, twenty coins total," she said. "Bronze cards get a 5% bonus today. Caelen's idea."

"Really?" Rento asked.

"Mm-hmm. He said bronze rankers need support. Here." frёewebηovel.cѳm

She handed him 21 coins.

Rento nearly dropped them. "Thanks!"

"Keep training," she added. "You're getting stronger."

He nodded proudly and stepped aside.

Outside, the marketplace was already alive with chatter and trade. Villagers passed by with bundles of herbs, wooden planks, handmade clothes, or bags of flour. It wasn't just monster hunting that kept the economy moving.

But hunting had become a part of everyday life now.

"Hey!" called a familiar voice.

Rento turned to see Nale, a young elf with a bow slung across her back. "You hunt this morning too?" she asked.

"Slimes," he said. "Six of 'em. You?"

"Boars," she replied. "Two adults. My arrows broke again though. I need better tips."

"Same," he laughed. "My spear's cracked."

"Let's go check Dorgrim's. He got new stock in yesterday."

The two walked together toward the smithy. The village was still simple, still growing, but it already felt alive. Every person walking down the road had a purpose. Every house had smoke from the chimney. Every laugh, every clink of coins, every cheer after leveling up—it was proof.

Proof that this strange, quiet forest had become a home.

Near the town hall, Caelen stood on the balcony, arms crossed as he watched the village buzz with life.

Behind him, Garin stepped up, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"More monsters today," Garin said. "But people don't look scared."

"No," Caelen replied, a small smile on his lips. "They're getting stronger."

Garin looked down at the crowd. "When we first started, we couldn't even take down a rabbit without panicking. Now look at them."

Caelen didn't answer at first. His eyes settled on a little girl tugging at her mother's sleeve, showing her a shiny copper guild card.

"It's working," he finally said. "Not just the system. The people. They're growing."

Garin nodded. "So what's next?"

Caelen turned away from the railing. "We'll need better training areas. More weapons. And soon... a way to deal with what's beyond this forest."

"Think they're ready?"

"They will be," Caelen said. "One hunt at a time."

That night, in the tavern, villagers gathered again. Some showed off new scars. Others compared stats or guild ranks.

Rento sat with his group, counting his coins and dreaming about tomorrow's hunt.

The forest might be wild.

But this village? It was stronger than ever.

And getting stronger still.