Chapter 54: The Stay-at-Home Team
The Three-Horn was found sooner than expected, and we could head back already. However, due to the campsite’s location, we decided to push a little further ahead to spend the night. Tomorrow, we plan to hunt the Giant Lizard for a while before retracing our steps during the day.
Originally, we intended to use the next campsite as a base for a maximum of two days to explore the surrounding area. There’s talk of hunting until everyone gathers, as the report from this investigation indicates that the two Silver Rank members will definitely be staying in this forest for a longer period to reduce the number of Demon Beasts.
Thanks for your hard work in protecting the town. It seems like Retze and Ash are also planning to join in, so it’s good to prepare our gear. I’ll sit this one out and quietly hunt in the deeper parts during the duration.
Carrying the raw hides, horns, and claws of the Giant Lizard, I moved on. Since the time frame is within the contract, I have no complaints. It seems they’re being considerate of me, as they’ll give me the horns and claws, excluding what needs to be submitted to the Guild. It’s a perfect opportunity to sell the horns and claws I have at home! A little extra won’t be noticed.
And once again, I’m staying back at the base with Retze.
“Why do you want to set up your spot so much? I mean, I appreciate the comfort, but you really come up with some ideas,” Retze said, washing away the smell of blood while dismantling the Giant Lizard by the riverside.
It was Retze who volunteered to get accustomed to dismantling. Meanwhile, I was busy modifying the campsite. It was simple work, cutting down trees with a machete and fitting them between pairs of stakes I had set up.
—Yeah, I’ve got a machete, strength, and stamina. It’s a bit moving, and I feel like I might cry.
I discovered winter mushrooms, the Winter Flat. Asparagus, Dandelion, Nettle, and small Garlic Mustard from the Brassica family.
Nettle has a lot of tiny thorns, so if you’re not careful when picking it, you’ll end up with a painful sting, but once boiled, it’s all good. Today, I’ll mix this with Garlic Mustard and pine nuts into a paste with Olive Oil. That’ll make for a nice pasta dish.
The two groups had gone hunting in different directions, and there were no Demon Beasts along the riverside where I had come from. With a certain level of safety secured at the base, I wandered within earshot of Retze’s voice. I wasn’t even triggered by Exploration.
Just as I thought that, a fox appeared. Is that a Two-Horn? It’s a bit far away, but they have keen noses and ears. They don’t seem to avoid the fire; rather, they recognize it as a place where prey might be. I should head back to Retze.
“Jean, I caught three Trout!”
“Oh, they’re increasing steadily.”
In a corner of the river, three fish swam in a makeshift enclosure Retze had created with a stick. It was a simple trap shaped like a V, narrowing as you entered, but by adding bait and covering it with branches to darken the inside, it worked quite well.
“Retze, there’s a Fox Demon Beast nearby. Dispose of anything that smells.”
“Got it.”
I hadn’t seen it, but I knew it was there.
“Did I dismantle a bit too much?”
Retze looked at the skin covered with cedar leaves to mask the smell.
After rubbing the cedar leaves to release their scent and mask the odor, he slipped into the woods, hiding against the roots of a large tree. So far, everything was going according to our plan for emergencies.
“Apply this.”
Retze handed me a cream to mask the smell.
My body odor… I had washed in the river, but I was still wearing the same pants. I wanted to believe I didn’t smell too bad, but after dismantling, it was a bit of a different story. Time to face reality and be proactive; I’ll prepare a dismantling apron next time.
The atmosphere was tense, but thinking it through, I realized we could have taken it down before it alerted us. I had been checking our actions for when we encountered a Demon Beast, after all.
The fox was definitely getting closer. Unlike the Giant Lizard, the Fox Demon Beast was fast and large—about my height. If it ran, Retze would likely be caught.
“Well, a fox is probably softer than a Giant Lizard.”
“Hey…!”
Retze panicked as I stood up and drew my sword.
If I had decided to fight, I wouldn’t want to be in an unfavorable position. I needed to find a somewhat open area to swing my sword.
Just as I caught sight of the fox, it jumped and lunged at me from above. It was a predictable move, so I calmly stepped back to dodge and struck its throat before its hind legs could touch the ground.
It was fast, but the way Demon Beasts fought was dictated by their possessed bodies. Unless it was a strong individual that could speak, it was usually straightforward.
“Ugh!”
I was late to jump back, and blood sprayed all over me as the fox fell sideways, bleeding profusely.
While not as tough as a Giant Lizard, the Demon Beast had tough skin, and my sword had penetrated its bones. I thought that even with a dull sword, if I thrust it straight with enough force, it wouldn’t break, but I hadn’t expected to be unable to pull it out.
“I messed up…”
“Awesome! That’s a Two-Horn! And you did it alone!”
Retze praised me in surprise, but I was too preoccupied to care.
“Wait, what about the poison?!”
Retze’s voice turned worried immediately.
Normally, blood isn’t poisonous, but depending on the Spirit that possessed it, the blood could be toxic.
“So far, it’s just warm and sticky, and it feels gross.”
The Appraisal result showed no poison.
It’s important to take down a Demon Beast without getting covered in blood or bodily fluids, but I really messed up this time. I should have practiced fighting with a normal sword a bit more.