Chapter 7: Merchant Guild
Well then, I don’t have a bodyguard, but it’s time to head into the forest. According to the Adventurer’s Guide, demon beasts resembling rabbits should appear just before entering the woods.
There are horned and hornless varieties; all demon beasts have horns, but the weaker ones have small horns that are barely the size of a pea, so they are referred to as hornless or namanari. Since I should be safe from dying even in my current state against hornless ones, I’ll give it a shot.
I show my identification—my Adventurer Tag—to the gatekeeper and step outside. For a while, the ground is packed yellowish soil, but soon enough, grass starts to mix in, and after about thirty minutes of walking, it transforms into a grassy plain. A sea of light green is dotted with yellow flowers here and there.
The grass, reaching up to my knees, conceals the rabbits. Thanks to my Exploration skill, I can sense their presence.
First presence, a normal rabbit.
Second presence, a normal rabbit.
Third presence, a normal rabbit.
…As expected of the logo from the adult magazine PLAYBOY. Their reproductive rate is astonishing. Even with the town so close, they haven’t been wiped out for food…
I proceed cautiously, watching out for rabbit holes. In a spot near the forest, I finally spot a hornless one. When they transform into demon beasts, they grow horns, their eyes darken, and their attack parts are enhanced.
It seems that a hornless rabbit can be defeated by an adult male. And here I am, an adult at the age of fifteen.
Since there’s no one around, contrary to my initial plan, I decide to use the Zanzenken. The rabbit seems to have noticed me. Unlike a normal rabbit, it doesn’t flee but charges toward me. I confirm there are no rabbit holes nearby and step forward.
I can clearly see the rabbit’s movements and even count the small horns protruding from its forehead. I swing my sword down, and that’s that.
Despite individual differences, it seems I can handle the rabbit demon beasts just fine. I enter a shallower part of the forest, where normal rabbits are fewer. As expected of the Demon Forest.
The horned rabbits are only slightly stronger, barely distinguishable from the hornless ones. Well, if I were to take a headbutt from one of those powerful legs, the horns would definitely pierce me, and depending on where I got hit, it could be fatal.
For now, I practice swinging my sword, taking down horned rabbits as I find them. It slices through anything, so I just need to swing straight down. It doesn’t matter if I hit the horns or if the skull is tough.
…
Should I get accustomed to fighting with a regular sword as well? It feels too easy, and I’m starting to get anxious.
…
It’s the same with a regular sword. Is my strength just that abnormal, or are the bones of these animals softer? From what I read in the Adventurer’s Guide, rabbits aren’t particularly soft.
I should have the same ability enhancement as a Hero, so that must be the reason. Even so, I can’t shake the feeling of uncertainty about my swordsmanship. I wish someone would show me how to swing a sword properly.
I want to sell the rabbits, but the Adventurer’s Guild seems like a hassle. Maybe I should try the Merchant Guild instead. I did hang them up on a tree to drain the blood, but I wonder how that’ll go.
Yeah, my Mental Resistance seems to be working just fine. Back on the island, I thought I could only handle fish.
Having gotten used to eating packaged meat, I hadn’t really been aware of taking lives. I guess it’s different since these rabbits are demon beasts, giving me a sort of justification.
I got so caught up in hunting that I lost track of time, but right now, I’m not in the mood to eat. Maybe it’s because the rabbits were charging at me; taking them down was fine, but the dismembering part feels tougher.
I stretch the bag slung diagonally across my back and stuff the rabbit inside. It’s quite a bit, but I manage. I feel like I’m in a worse situation than Santa Claus, but I’ll try not to think about it.
I’m really strong. If I had been like this back on the island, things would have been so much easier.
Entering the town, I catch the gatekeeper off guard and head toward the Merchant Guild. If I don’t ask the Adventurer’s Guild to buy them, I’ll have to sell directly, but for that, I need a merchant’s identification. The merchant’s identification can’t be obtained with the status guaranteed by the Adventurer’s Guild.
—That’s why the Adventurer’s Guide suggests going through the Adventurer’s Guild, but I have a regular identification.
“Excuse me, I’d like to sell the demon beasts I hunted, so I need a merchant’s identification. What’s the procedure?”
The inside of the Merchant Guild is brighter than the Adventurer’s Guild, with many desks. I guess it’s because there’s a lot of paperwork?
“Do you have an identification?”
“Yes.”
I show my Free Knight identification.
“Thank you. Please be aware that sometimes the Adventurer’s Guild offers better prices for demon beast sales.”
“Understood.”
They buy demon beasts even if there’s no demand, as long as their population has exploded.
“Regarding the sale of demon beasts, do you intend to have a storefront?”
I answer the Merchant Guild staff’s questions, and once a checklist is completed, they prepare the necessary documents.
“The identification will take a little time, so—are these for sale?”
“Yes, horned and hornless rabbits.”
“Would you like to sell them directly to the guild, or would you prefer us to introduce you to potential buyers?”
If I sell directly to the guild, I’ll incur a fee every time, but it’s hassle-free. Getting introduced to buyers incurs a one-time introduction fee, but nothing else. However, different shops buy different parts like skins, meat, and horns.
“Please let me sell them to the guild.”
“Alright, please take this and go to window number 10 in the adjacent building for assessment.”
It’s very businesslike, but I like that. The receptionist provided me with a document that allows for the assessment of demon beasts even without identification, serving as a substitute. It’s nice that they can be flexible like this.
Next door is a warehouse for carriages, with a large arched entrance wide open. I hand over the bag at counter number 10. This counter is for assessing demon beasts that haven’t been dismembered yet. In no time, the rabbits are pulled from the bag, hung up, and dismembered.
Sometimes, when a demon beast dies, a Spirit remains in its heart, turning into a gem. That’s why they seem to dismember them in plain sight. The magic stones, as they’re called, are valuable, so the guide suggests checking for them even if you can’t carry all the loot.
There were no magic stones this time, but I was praised for the good condition of the fur. They asked how I managed to land a precise blow to the head. After receiving the identification, I had to return to the original counter to get paid, and it seems they cleaned and wiped the bag as a courtesy.
I received the documents and identification, and after getting paid for the rabbits, it was all done. The identification is a round coin made of bronze with a hole for a string. I’ll keep the documents at home and carry the coin with me.
To establish a storefront in town, I need to be at least at the iron level, and I must belong to the respective guilds like the blacksmith guild or the bakery guild.
The identification is similar; there’s a copy that must be shown or submitted separately from the original. The copy is made for a fee at places like the lord’s mansion, stamped with a family crest as proof. I’m in a somewhat awkward situation where I have to press my own seal for issuance.
The family crest features a wolf within a shield, adorned with wing motifs. The wolf symbolizes Rishu, a safe home, and freedom. Rishu is a dog, but well, you know?
By the way, the Adventurer’s Guild has three dog tags, but no documents. This is partly because adventurers are rough around the edges and move around a lot, but also because it’s not an official identification. It relies on the guild’s credibility. In towns with weaker guild influence, they might even turn you away at the gate.
One tag is kept by the guild, and the other two are held by me. If I die somewhere, one of the tags I carry will be delivered to the guild by whoever finds it.
The bronze coin is for merchants who don’t have a storefront and buy and sell goods. There are exceptions, but transporting goods using a carriage is not permitted. Essentially, it’s for residents selling hunting spoils or herbs. The Adventurer’s Guild and the metal level are the same, but only those who sell their own crafted items can earn stars.
Now then, let’s go for a little food adventure tonight.