Chapter 29: Ordinary
“Over here is Retze. Retze, this is Jean.”
I was introduced to the bearded Dean.
“I’m Jean, nice to meet you.”
“Ah, nice to meet you too. I’m not really into formalities, so let’s keep it casual, alright?”
“Sure.”
We shook hands, but Retze seemed a bit nervous? Reluctant, perhaps?
“Hey, Dean. Are you sure I’m the right choice? The looks from the women and some of the guys are killing me. Why not you? I didn’t hear anything about a handsome guy like me.”
“I already messed up once, and I know this exploration is a gamble. I’m not as polished as you.”
“What’s with the gray-haired dude? Why are there so many pretty faces around?”
I could hear their quiet banter clearly. Well, it’s not surprising that humanoid Spirits tend to be good-looking; it’s just the average.
“Retze?”
“Sorry, let’s get going. I just need to complete the requests normally, right?”
His voice dropped a bit when he responded.
Finally, my first request was about to be fulfilled.
“First, the main goal. This season, fur and meat are in demand, so I’m hunting rabbits. If I catch a large bear, I can sell it for a good price, but smaller ones don’t fetch much. Instead of putting in the effort to hunt a small bear, it’s better to catch a bunch of rabbits easily. Then, I’ll check the board for meat prices, and if they’re low, I’ll just bring back the fur and increase my numbers.”
I’ve heard that the demonized rabbits here turn white in winter, and those are quite valuable. It’s not just that strong demon beasts sell for high prices; it’s the items that people want the most that are expensive. Besides, it seems that meat from horned beasts is tougher and less tasty, while those without horns are more delicious and fetch a higher price. The fur from stronger individuals is prettier, though.
“Hmm. The bear bounty is definitely dropping.”
Ah, sorry about that. I think it’s because of me and Ash.
I checked the prices of herbs and mushrooms growing in the forest before setting off. Before leaving town, I filled my water flask with ale and bought some bread wrapped around meat and leaves. The water in the town isn’t drinkable, so I’ll have to fetch it from the forest river. It probably leaches all sorts of things from the sewers. Better than throwing it out the window, though.
I remember the strange feeling I had when I learned that capes and silk hats became popular as a way to avoid falling waste from above in my original world. My childhood dreams of capes vanished in an instant.
Putting that aside, I planned to bring along some long-lasting items like nuts and cheese in case I got injured and couldn’t move in the forest. Also, I needed healing potions, a spare knife, and a cape or robe for rain protection. This cape is useful for keeping dry, warm, and even serves as a blanket at night.
—If it rains, I can just use Teleportation to go back, and I keep food in Storage, but should I also keep preserved food in my regular bag instead of just seasonings? Just in case I need to be discreet.
Showing my face at the Adventurer’s Guild is important too; if I maintain connections, I’ll have a better chance of getting help when needed. Retze is quite diligent.
“I’ll track the prey by observing how the grass is bent and where it splits.”
Sorry, I’ll leave the Exploration to you.
Reading the traces of animals—demon beasts here—is a subtle but cool skill. I picked up a handy stick, feeling like a child in excitement.
I have a sword at my waist, but a stick is different, yeah.
If someone saw me with this keen observation, I might come off as a rather suspicious person. I reflected on my questionable actions in front of Dean… I think I was fine since I was more of an observer then, but in front of Ash, that might not be the case.
I pondered over everything from the wolf hunt to meeting up with the transporters and made my decision. Thankfully, Ash doesn’t seem to be the type to talk much unless necessary.
“The rabbit’s tracks show the back feet are aligned, while the front feet are scattered. The back feet are bigger than the front.”
Retze explained as we stood before the faint tracks left in the lightly fallen snow.
“This one seems different, though?”
“Tracks that walk in a straight line are from a fox.”
Oh?
“With these tracks, it’s hard to tell if it’s demonized or not, but the rabbit definitely has horns. There are claw marks in the snow. If we’re tracking that as prey, then the fox is likely a demonized one too.”
“I want to see you hunt a fox.”
Retze is a skilled hunter—an adventurer, it seems—and before noon, his bag was already half-filled with the rabbits he had caught.
Normally, when he finds prey, he leaves his gear behind to hunt, but since I’m carrying the load today, Retze is light on his feet.
A regular rabbit or fox can be hunted with a short bow, which is easier, but the demonized ones are immune to arrows.
“They come right at you without running, so it’s actually easier.”
“Chasing down a fleeing one with a sword sounds like a hassle.”
In that regard, the demon beasts come closer when they rustle nearby. You could say they attack. You just need to get close enough.
With that, I enjoyed a regular hunt. Yeah, I’m definitely going solo next time.
I also hunted a fox and successfully observed the disassembly process. I watched with a bit of envy as Retze exchanged light banter with the staff; he and Dean have such great communication skills. I dislike being tied down, but I also have a desire to experience friendships that were constantly interrupted by my sister.
“You’re a strange guy.”
“Strange?”
I treated Retze to a drink at the tavern. Dean covered the request fee. Even though he had already told me about the Gold Coin Grass, he added more on top of that.
“Isn’t it more common for people to enjoy more extravagant actions? Like Dean, who doesn’t do things half-heartedly.”
I can be pretty extravagant too. I might even be less thoughtful than Dean.
“Well, with those skinny arms of yours, my method probably suits you better. It’s good not to overdo it, but it’s rare for someone your age.”
He said that while tilting his wooden mug.
Even though I don’t drink, I can’t help but think that ale, which is full of grains, should be better served in glass or ceramic rather than metal. Metal is fine too, though.
For now, I just smiled ambiguously at the comment about my skinny arms. Starting today, it’s all about protein and muscle training!