I had a few things to reflect on regarding today's hunt.
First, if I intended to stay out this long, I should have packed dinner alongside my lunch.
Then there was the matter of transport. Perhaps I had been a bit too eager since it had been a while, but dragging a trail of monster corpses behind me was hardly a dignified look. However, I had my doubts about the practicality of bringing a cart into the forest. In the end, if I was going to hunt alone, I just had to put in the manual labor.
Having reached that conclusion, I took stock of my results.
(Eight Mitsume and two Earthworms, huh?)
Earthworms were E-rank monsters—the same giant, soil-crawling insects Jelququ had used as familiars. They were far too heavy to carry, so I headed toward town while dragging them behind me. I didn't want to foul the main road, so I stuck to the dirt paths alongside it.
Even so, the adventurers I passed gave me looks that suggested they were seeing something truly bizarre. A boy my age dragging ten monsters was bound to turn heads. I had told Lezard that morning that I didn't plan to hunt much, but that hadn't turned out to be the case at all.
(Is it really okay for me to just walk through the city like this?)
Eventually, the gates of Clausel came into view. The entrance was wide enough for me to pass through easily, even with my bulky cargo. The real issue was how much I stood out.
"Well, well..."
Just as I expected, the knight on duty recognized me immediately. He let out a wry smile at the sight of my return.
"The Baron mentioned you’d started working outside the town, Master Ren—but you’ve brought quite a haul for your first day."
"Do other adventurers not usually bring this much back?"
"Most stick to smaller prey. As you know, transportation is the hardest part. Usually, they dismantle them on-site or only bring back the most valuable materials."
(Maybe I should start doing that too.)
"Earthworms are a rare catch," the knight continued. "Despite being E-rank, they’re difficult to hunt because of their ecology. Their carapaces fetch a high price since they have so many uses, yet few people go after them."
I was genuinely pleased to hear that. While my primary job was investigating monster activity, the income was a significant factor for me.
"Actually, I was heading to the Guild now. Is it alright to bring them through the streets like this?"
"Ye... yes. You aren't leaving a trail of blood or fluids, so it isn't a problem, but..." The knight paused. "If I may ask, did you bring these all the way here by yourself?"
"Yes. I’m not in a party, so I’ve been dragging them from the forest."
"I see... Very well."
The knight seemed worried about whether I could manage it, though it should have been obvious since I’d made it to the gates. Still, as I started walking again, he watched me go with a faint, incredulous laugh.
"Our hero might be even more incredible than I imagined."
He watched my receding figure while listening to the murmurs of surprise from the passing townspeople.
Meanwhile, I was busy celebrating a small victory of my own.
(Man, I'm glad the Guild is so close to the gate.)
I wondered if the location had been chosen specifically for monster transport. If so, it was a clever bit of urban planning.
"Now then."
I stood before the Guild entrance, feeling the weight of the crowd's gaze. I paused. There was no way I was fitting through the front door with this haul. Even if I forced it, I’d probably break the doorframe or walls, and dragging monster carcasses through the lobby seemed like a massive faux pas.
As I stood there looking lost, two voices called out.
"Whoa, look at that."
"Talk about a surprise."
It was the two adventurers I had spoken with yesterday. They looked stunned, but they were kind enough to answer my unspoken question.
"There's a loading dock on the side. You should head over there."
"Oh, they have one?"
"Of course. Anyone with a haul like yours has to use the dock. If you ever hunt something so big it won't fit there, you have to ask the Guild to send an appraiser outside."
(I really should have listened to the full explanation yesterday.)
I had rushed through the registration process thinking it would be just like the games, but this was a real world. I should have paid more attention. Cursing my own impatience, I thanked the pair and dragged my monsters around the corner.
A staff member was already waiting at the dock, looking quite startled.
"Will you be selling the entire lot?" the receptionist from yesterday asked.
"Yes, please."
I told them I had already removed the mana stones and watched as they began the appraisal. A crowd had already gathered around us. Since the townspeople knew me as the Hero of the Clausel Family, I suddenly worried if I was making a mistake by being so public.
(Should I have stayed undercover, like in a light novel?)
I wanted to avoid death flags, after all. But on second thought, it didn't really matter. Within Clausel, I was already a local celebrity. Word of my solo hunt of the Thief Wolfen had likely spread even to the former Given territory. It was far too late to be inconspicuous.
If I wanted to hide, I should have done it when I fought the Thief Wolfen. But back then, the village would have been destroyed if I hadn't stepped up. I couldn't abandon my family. Besides, being famous wasn't my primary concern—it was the specific actions that led to the bad ending.
The thought I had held since my birth in this world remained unchanged: I want to live in peace. I never want to be ordered by the Emperor to go on a subjugation mission.
The goal was to avoid the fate of the game's Ren Ashton. I just wanted to live an honest life.
(In the end,) I told myself, (bringing in a big haul doesn't trigger the ending.)
My true objective was to avoid killing Licia and the Academy Principal. The only reason the Emperor would ever order my execution was if I murdered them. Being famous wasn't the problem; being a killer was.
To avoid any waves at all, I would have had to stay cooped up in my village forever. But I already shared an inseparable bond with Licia, and after seeing how Given's conspiracy played out, I knew that hiding wouldn't necessarily keep me safe.
(What’s the right answer here?)
I worried that standing out would drag me into noble power struggles, but that ship had sailed the moment I brought back that Thief Wolfen in perfect condition. Even if I tried to live quietly, the world had no intention of overlooking me.
Still, not all of it was bad. Having the friendship of someone like Marquis Ignat meant other nobles couldn't touch me easily. This was a significant deviation from the game's story that worked in my favor.
(If I start worrying that protection will cause new problems, I'll never get anything done.)
I didn't regret today's haul. I wasn't sure what the "correct" path was anymore, but I felt no guilt in earning money for my home and family.
"The appraisal is finished," the receptionist said, breaking my train of thought.
It was surprisingly fast. When I asked why, she explained that they had standardized criteria for common monsters.
"I see. That makes sense."
"Here is the total. This is the amount after deducting the dismantling and processing fees. Is this acceptable?"
She handed me a slip of paper. I looked at the number and couldn't help but let out a gasp.
"I’m getting this much?"
In the game, I only sold specific drops, so I’d never seen a detailed invoice like this. The total was 600,000 G. Weiss had mentioned that a commoner’s daily wage was about 10,000 G, which meant I had just made sixty days' worth of pay in a single afternoon.
"Earthworms are valuable because they're hard to find. Even after the fees, the unit price is 250,000 G. The Mitsume are more common, so they're only 12,000 G each."
That didn't quite add up to 600,000 G, but she explained that a client was looking for Earthworm materials right now, so they had added a bonus to the price.
"I understand. That’s fine."
"Then please follow me inside for the payout."
I followed her to the counter and received six gold coins. I signed the receipt to confirm the transaction.
(Right—Gold is 100,000, Silver is 10,000, Copper is 1,000, and Iron is 100.)
I tucked the gold coins into my pocket and left the Guild, drawing eyes as I went. I gave a self-deprecating laugh at the clinking sound in my pocket.
"I really need to buy a wallet."
Since I was already in town, I figured I’d go look for one. I didn't know many shops, but I remembered the place Licia had taken me to recently. It was a high-end tailor, but I hoped they might have a sturdy wallet.
(I want something that will last.)
I wasn't looking for luxury, but I knew that shop handled quality goods. I walked up the hill toward the storefront. It was getting late, so I didn't want to waste time searching elsewhere.
The shop was still open, but as I reached the door, I hesitated. I had washed off the worst of the forest grime at a stream, but I was still far from presentable. I started to turn back toward the manor.
"Oh? Is that Master Ren?"
The shop owner opened the door and called out to me.
"Please, do come in."
He noticed my condition but didn't seem to mind at all. He insisted so warmly that I found myself walking back to the entrance.
"I’m sorry. I was going to head back and get cleaned up before coming by another day."
"Think nothing of it. Since it's you, Master Ren, and we have no other customers, it’s quite alright."
He placed a "Closed" sign in the window, effectively making me his private guest.
"But..."
"Please, allow me this honor. If I failed to welcome our hero, my predecessor would never let me hear the end of it."
The owner led me inside with a practiced smile.
(If they have a wallet, I’m definitely buying it here,) I thought, grateful for the hospitality.
I told him a little bit about my new job—how Lezard had me investigating the outskirts and how I’d be hunting more often. I also mentioned that I was keeping this a secret from Licia for now.
"So, I realized I needed a sturdy wallet."
"In that case, durability is key. We have several options over here; please, have a look."
He led me to a display of leather goods. They were magnificent—the tanning was perfect, and the stitching was precise. They were clearly expensive, and I wondered if I had enough on me.
(I can't judge prices by my old world's standards.)
Materials from monsters could drastically change the value of an item. I looked for price tags, but there were none. A bead of cold sweat rolled down my neck.
Then, my eyes drifted away from the wallets toward another corner of the shop.
(Wait... is that...?)
The section for women’s clothing had been rearranged since my last visit. My gaze was drawn to a dress meant for a young girl.
"Is something the matter?" the owner asked.
"Oh, uh... sorry. I was just looking."
"Hehe... I see."
Remembering the clothes Licia had given me, my feet moved on their own. The search for a wallet was instantly forgotten.
(That would look good on her.)
It was a white one-piece dress. It was simple, but its clean, elegant design seemed perfect for Licia.
"We can tailor that to the young lady's measurements," the owner said. He didn't pry, simply providing the information I needed.
"Is it okay even if she isn't here?"
"Yes. We keep her records on file here for her regular adjustments, so there's no need to worry."
In that case, I would buy it. I wasn't sure if she would like it, but I didn't like being on the receiving end of gifts without giving back. Since Licia had insisted her gifts were just that—gifts—it felt only right to return the favor.
"I'll take the dress."
"Very well. Let’s discuss the details at the counter."
As we walked over, I braced myself. "By the way, the price..."
"For this piece, including the tailoring, it will be this much."
He wrote a number on a slip of paper. I let out a breath of relief. It was well within my budget. It was an expensive first gift, but given she was a noble—and that I was still due two more outfits from her—I couldn't complain about the cost.
"I will deliver it to the manor addressed to you as soon as it's finished."
"Thank you. Please do."
"And what about the wallet?"
I realized I’d spent quite a bit of time talking about the dress.
"I'll come back for that another time when I'm more presentable. Licia and the others should be returning soon anyway."
"Understood. Then I will process the order for the young lady’s garment."
I hadn't gotten the wallet I came for, but the satisfaction of finally being able to give something back made my steps feel strangely light on the way home. Even the prospect of writing my report back at the manor couldn't dampen my mood.