Chapter 4: To a New Town – 02
“Hey, isn’t this a Moon Wolf? So this is what was causing all the ruckus?”
The next morning, when I showed the corpse of the Night Wolf, Gashi, the beastfolk merchant, exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes, this is what appeared. It’s called a Moon Wolf, isn’t it?”
“It’s said to be a rare variant of the Night Wolf. Its fur should sell for a high price, but at this rate, transporting it will be a hassle. Can you dismantle it, Soushi?”
“Well, I can only extract the Magic Stone…”
“If you’d like, I can take care of it. Of course, I won’t charge you anything.”
“That sounds good. Could you please do it?”
With that, I asked him, and Gashi began to dismantle the creature with remarkable skill. It seemed he had some experience in this line of work. Having a trade is essential in a world like this.
While he worked, I called the village chief to explain the situation, receiving thanks and a reward in return.
It turned out that the wolf’s meat was edible, and since it was a valuable source of protein for the village, I decided to present it to them as a gift.
“Here you go, Soushi. You’re in luck! This one had an Orb!”
“An Orb?”
What Gashi handed me was not a Magic Stone but a crystal sphere that shimmered with a rainbow of colors, exuding a strange power. It must be a special Magic Stone because it came from a rare variant.
“You don’t know about Orbs? That’s a Skill Orb. When used, it allows adventurers to acquire Skills. You can sell it to the Guild for a pretty penny.”
“Really…”
That wasn’t mentioned in the guide. However, if it grants Skills, I felt inclined to use it for myself rather than sell it.
“Is it okay to use this myself?”
“Generally, anything obtained from defeating monsters belongs to the adventurer. As long as you don’t sell or trade it through the Guild, no one should complain.”
“That makes sense. But how do I use it…?”
As I squeezed it tightly, I felt something flowing into my palm.
Gradually, knowledge of a Skill began to surface in my mind. It was called “Honshin,” a skill that allows one to move defying the laws of inertia. So this was the skill the Moon Wolf had used. It seemed like a fascinating ability, and depending on how I used it, it could be incredibly powerful.
“Oh, you used it?”
“Yes, it seems I have. I’ve acquired a good Skill.”
“That’s great! But to take down one of these by yourself, you really are strong, Soushi.”
“Well, it was just one opponent. In close combat, strength plays a significant role.”
“Haha, that’s true. Alright, the skin is peeled off, so take it with you. We’ll be leaving shortly, is that alright?”
“Yes, let’s hurry so we can reach Euron by today.”
Thus, through what could be considered a stroke of luck or misfortune, I was able to acquire a new Skill. I had managed to respond calmly to a new enemy, and I felt like I was growing stronger.
After departing from the village, we encountered no further troubles and reached a point where we could see the city of Euron by evening.
Across the highway stood a town surrounded by castle walls, resembling a fortified city. Beyond the walls, only the rooftops of tall buildings were visible, but they seemed to be densely packed. The impressive mansion that stood out in the center was surely the residence of Viscount Barius.
Incidentally, outside the castle walls, there were haphazardly built houses and shacks, giving off a slum-like atmosphere. According to Gashi, this area was home to the impoverished and those with criminal records who couldn’t enter the town. In this country, it was referred to as the “Outside-Wall District.”
Viscount Barius enforced strict regulations, so it seemed unlikely that they would openly cause trouble for us. However, it was advised to be cautious if one ventured around back. “Though, it’s rare for a fool to mess with adventurers,” Gashi added.
“Ah, we finally made it. Thanks a lot, Soushi.”
“No need to mention it; I’m just doing my job.”
“Still, arriving on time is thanks to you, Soushi. I’ll make sure to show my gratitude properly.”
As we chatted, we passed through the Outside-Wall District and arrived at the castle gate. There seemed to be a checkpoint, with about forty people lined up in front of the gate. Among them were several adventurers, but there was a dedicated checkpoint for them, and they entered through that.
While I was asking Gashi for information about good inns, we reached the checkpoint. I showed my Adventurer Card, and Gashi and the others displayed their Merchant Guild cards, allowing us to pass without any stringent inspections. Being affiliated with a Guild seemed to grant us a level of trust.
The town of Euron was bustling far beyond what I had seen in Tolson. We were currently on the main street, which was flanked by houses and shops tightly packed together.
The architecture and signage were quite impressive, and glass windows, which were rare in Tolson, seemed to be common here.
The town was sprawling, and without a guide, one could easily get lost.
That said, I needed to help transport the cart to the Merchant Guild’s warehouse, so I would assist with that.
After turning off the main street and walking a little further, I spotted a large, unadorned three-story building that looked like a warehouse.
The large entrance was wide open, with numerous merchants and porters coming and going.
Once I had helped carry the cart a little way inside the entrance, it seemed my job was done.
“Could you come with me for a moment?”
Following Gashi, I was led to what appeared to be the warehouse office. After Gashi spoke with a man who seemed to be the office manager, the middle-aged man approached me.
“Ah, hello. I’m Paolo from the Merchant Guild. It seems our member has received your assistance, and I wanted to thank you. I understand you’re an adventurer?”
“Yes, I’m Soushi, an E-Rank adventurer. I happened to pass by, and Gashi seemed to be in trouble, so I lent a hand.”
Perhaps it was my polite manner of speaking, but Paolo looked a bit surprised.
“I see. Normally, we would express our gratitude through the Adventurers’ Guild, but to avoid the hassle, would it be alright if I personally thanked you? I’ll make sure to compensate you fairly.”
“That’s fine by me. Just consider it a favor.”
“Thank you. Then please accept this…”
With that, I received 80,000 Rom. I wasn’t sure if it was a high or low amount, but since the daily wage for an E-Rank adventurer during a major Goblin hunt was 50,000 Rom, this didn’t seem unreasonable for two days of work.
“I’ve received it. Do you need any sort of receipt?”
“No, no, it’s just a personal matter, so that’s fine.”
Paolo smiled politely.
“Understood. Well, I’ll take my leave now.”
As I turned to leave, Gashi hurried over and said, “You really helped me out this time. Once I settle down in this town, let’s grab a drink together.”
Even if it was just a social nicety, it felt fortunate to have made an acquaintance in a town I was visiting for the first time.
Thinking that, I headed back toward the main street to find an inn.