Baggage Carrier ④
That unexpected encounter left me more tired than I expected.
I went fishing to relax, but I never thought it would end up tiring me out instead.
But to think things like that exist.
It was definitely a Silver Rank Monster.
Silver Rank.
Monster threat levels are ranked as Copper Rank, Silver Rank, Gold Rank, Gem Rank, and Treasure Rank.
Within those, they are further divided into Low, Mid, and High tiers.
A Monster’s threat level changes drastically depending on whether it possesses Relics.
Just one Relic makes it Silver Rank Low Tier.
Two makes it Silver Rank Mid Tier.
Three means Silver Rank High Tier. Four means Gold Rank Low Tier.
Defeating even a Gold Rank Low or Mid Tier Monster is difficult for Tier IV or Tier III Seekers.
Furthermore, a Gold Rank High Tier is tough even for Tier II Seekers unless they form a Party.
It’s hard to believe.
But that giant salamander was a Monster of that caliber.
Still, being spoken to so fluently throws me off.
I understood it possessed intelligence and had no intention of hostility.
So, based on the ethics of my previous life, I didn’t think of it as an enemy.
Repaying a favor, huh? Well, I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
On the way back, I bought fish, bread, tomatoes, cheese, and root vegetables.
Then, I had my empty Crescent Vessel filled with fruit juice, sold by measure.
“Oi! Hurry up!”
“Quit dawdling, you piece of trash!”
Suddenly hearing shouts, I looked over and saw some rough-looking men hurrying a child along in an alleyway.
“Y-Yes. I’m sorry.”
The child was a boy, maybe my age or a year younger.
He carried a large bundle on his back.
In contrast, the men carried nothing but their swords.
The boy looked burdened and pained.
“Tch, at least do your job as a Baggage Carrier properly.”
“We’re feeding you when the Junkyard’s unusable. Make yourself useful.”
“Y-Yes. I’m sorry!”
“Anyway, when are they gonna subjugate this ‘anomaly’ or whatever?”
“Aren’t the Tier II guys gathered?”
“And they still haven’t done anything? Maybe it’s not actually that big a deal.”
“Maybe we’re stronger?”
“Hahahaha, could be. We’re Koon Hunt, after all!”
“Oi, stop lagging behind!”
“Y-Yes. I’m sorry!”
Those guys. Seekers from Koon Hunt, huh?
Judging by their attitude and words, their treatment of the Hired Pup couldn’t be called good.
It was like treating him as a slave.
“……”
It wasn’t an unusual sight.
Most people knew how the majority of Seekers treated their Hired Pups.
I felt sorry for him, but it was that boy who chose this path.
He was probably thinking something like this:
I had no choice.
There was no other choice.
No. I don’t think so.
There are other paths to choose.
“……”
But then I realize: isn’t that only because I have power?
If I didn’t have my memories from a past life and four Relics… could I have thought that way?
“…”
I’m just lucky.
Feeling uncomfortable, I quietly walked away.
I arrived back at my dwelling.
I’m tired. I wanted to crawl right into bed, but I was hungry.
Can’t be helped. I started cooking.
First, I fillet the fish into three pieces.
I hadn’t done this much even in my past life, so I only remembered vaguely.
Burns-san from the Cidre Tavern taught me the proper way.
Using my only Knife, the Elixir Knife, I fillet it into three… fillet… hmm?
“It’s not cutting?”
I pressed the blade against the fish and pulled, but it wouldn’t cut.
“…No way.”
Steeling myself, I touched the tip of the white blade with my finger.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
It didn’t cut at all. I was stunned.
Why…? Hah! Then I remembered.
“Come to think of it, weapons specialized against Undead couldn’t inflict physical damage.”
And the pinnacle of those, the Elixir Knife.
That meant it effectively had no cutting edge.
“Tch!”
I rushed out of the house in a panic.
Using a second-hand knife, I filleted the fish into three pieces, seasoned it with Salt and Pepper, and lightly pan-fried it in butter.
While it cooked, I sliced the bread and cheese I’d bought.
“Looks good.”
I took the cooked fish fillet out and placed it in the bread along with the cheese.
“Was this supposed to be a mackerel sandwich?”
I wasn’t even sure if the fish I bought was mackerel.
No, wait, mackerel don’t live in rivers, do they? Alright, let’s eat.
“Mmm, delicious!”
It had more flavor than I expected. Not bad.
The only drawback was the hard texture of the bread.
Soft bread is expensive.
But the best bread for a sandwich is somewhere between soft and hard.
The bread from my past life’s memories.
Right now, there’s only black and white bread available.
I hear there are various difficulties regarding fermentation.
I don’t know much about bread.
I’ve never made it. I’m out of my depth.
Well, I can endure that.
If I endure, I can make that.
“…I can even make the long-awaited Elvis sandwich.”
But it’s impossible right now. There are no bananas.
Without bananas, you can’t call it an Elvis sandwich.
Bananas and Bacon. That sweet and salty combination is essential.
There must be bananas somewhere.
Or a fruit similar to bananas. Until then, I’ll have to wait.
“Ah, I forgot to add the tomatoes.”
I realized after I finished eating.
Well, I’ll use them for dinner then.
My stomach full and satisfied, I washed my body.
Not a bath… exactly.
I filled a large wooden tub with water, got in, and wiped myself down with a towel.
Hydrangea has abundant water, and there are several bathhouses.
The style is different, but they’re like public baths.
However, they cost an average of 500 to 800 Oro, so going every day is impossible.
Even for me, with my currently flush pockets, it’s once every three days.
After washing, I changed clothes and sat on the bed.
I looked down and muttered.
“Another knife…”
Just when I’d finally gotten used to it, it ends like this.
And my money decreased again. This unexpected expense makes me want to cry.
I want to take good care of the next knife.
This time, I bought one with a simple construction and a thick blade.
It’s a bit heavy, which is a drawback, but that weight allows it to cut through tree branches.
Honestly, it doesn’t quite suit me right now.
Still, the reason I chose this knife is because it’s sturdy.
I don’t want to break another one.
“……A Baggage Carrier, huh.”
A Seeker and a Hired Pup.
After seeing something like that just now, it’s impossible not to feel uneasy.
Even if I become a Seeker, I have no intention of teaming up with anyone.
I’ll always be solo. There are various reasons for that.
I have always kept, and will always keep, a line drawn between myself and others, avoiding deep involvement.
That’s my My Life.