Chapter 57

After making a promise to return with Rorolf, Thor and the others retreated to the riverbank where their tents were set up. Since Yuril's permission to stay was only until the next day, they were determined to earn as much as possible.

Thor and the others had a simple lunch of bread, dried meat, and tea, then began hunting red poison frogs and blood-spewing fish. Using the method they were taught, Sora and Muu distracted the fish while Yuril immobilized the frogs, which Thor then cut down. Yuril's <Ice Bed> was used to finish off the immobilized fish.

Since the frog swarms only appeared once an hour and the fish didn't always show up, their six-hour effort resulted in the extermination of thirty-two frogs and five fish. Red poison frogs were worth five skill points each, and blood-spewing fish were worth fifteen points. As each swarm was separate, each person earned five points from the frogs and three points from the fish per battle. The total skill points earned were fifty-five, and with Yuril's <Growth Promotion> giving a fivefold bonus, it amounted to 275 points.

As for the rewards, it was almost impossible to sell the frog corpses covered in large amounts of poison, so they decided to dispose of them by letting them flow down the river. The fish would spoil by the next day, so they cut off the dorsal fins and let them flow down the river as well. Before settling the accounts, combined with yesterday's earnings, they made two silver coins and eight large copper coins.

"Compared to the goblin cave, it's clearly less profitable."

"Is it about half?"

"It's less than that. Probably around thirty percent."

Walking around in the pitch-black passages and fighting was more tiring, but waiting by the river was much easier. However, it was only natural that the rewards would be less.

"I wish we could go back to the cave."

"If we could, we would. It's too late to complain now."

In fact, the goblin cave was a place where adventurers could earn a lot. Although the time was limited, it could be monopolized, and the monsters were densely packed, making hunting easy and regenerating quickly. It was a popular hunting ground, and only two or three parties could challenge it per month.

However, once it was conquered, the party would be promoted to the Red Iron Rank, and hunting in the goblin forest area would be prohibited. This meant they would end up at the Blood-Flowing River, where their earnings would drop significantly.

According to Dyalgo, Thor and the others' approach of conquering the cave in one go was very unwise. The usual strategy was to challenge it several times over a few months while collecting iron ore, and to wait until they had a full set of cast iron weapons and armor.

"I'm sorry. I might have rushed you."

"Don't worry about it. Enjoying the current inconvenience is also part of the adventure."

"Thor, are you saying that again? Are you not hungry?"

"Sorry, Muu. Please bear with it."

Dinner was cold bread and dried meat, the same menu as lunch. The only way to warm up was with herbal tea made from boiling water on the heat plate. Thor didn't mind much, but the children, whose palates had become more refined recently, found it difficult to eat only preserved food.

"By the way, there's also this problem."

"Hmm, we've used a lot of it. There might not be much left."

Sora's worried gaze fell on Muu's favorite sled, which was leaning against the riverbank. This referred to the magic stones used in items like the heat plate and repulsion plate. They were very convenient, but using them required magic stones.

However, only sub-humans and spirits dropped magic stones. This meant that Thor and the others, who could no longer hunt goblins, could no longer easily obtain them. They could buy them from the Adventurer's Guild, but the price was three times the buyback price. While it wasn't an unaffordable price, it was still a bit reluctant since they used to pick them up for free.

Dyalgo also pointed out that magic stones were not something to sell unless they were in dire need of money. They needed to stock up as much as possible during the goblin forest days to last until the Wasteland of Broken Winds. This was a habit Thor, who had not owned magic stone items for a long time, had not considered, and now it was too late to do anything about it. However, there might be a way to get some help.

"There are many other problems too."

"Yes, having plenty of water but not being able to drink it is a tough situation."

"That red water, it wouldn't be so bad if it didn't have a strange smell."

They had brought a considerable number of leather bags filled with drinking water, but they were almost out after two days. The reddish water from the river could be boiled and drunk, but it left a very iron-like taste that lingered on the tongue. Using it for washing also left a unique smell. Moreover, there was a high risk of being ambushed by monsters while fetching water.

"Also, we need to hurry and build a toilet."

"Please make it a top priority."

"Muu can go anywhere!"

Unlike the forest with its green foliage that provided cover, this area was nothing but brown hills as far as the eye could see. Using an exposed area was not well-received by the female members of the party, except for one. However, the fact that the succulent grass absorbed and decomposed waste, eliminating the need for cleaning, was a relief.

"Also, Muu needs new shoes. Yuril, maybe a staff?"

The poor ground conditions were causing problems for Muu and Yuril's mobility, which needed to be addressed. Sora suddenly seemed to have an idea and asked Yuril, the senior magic user.

"Um, do you need a staff to use magic techniques?"

"Oh? Well, I haven't been taught about that."

As Thor interjected, the silver-haired beauty's eyes sparkled a bit. Her former teacher's blood seemed to be stirring.

"Well, why did you think I needed one?"

"Um, because you look like a magic user?"

"Oh, that's correct. Well done, Sora."

Surprised by the correct answer and the praise, the girl blushed and smiled. Yuril, narrowing her eyes slightly, gave a brief explanation.

Originally, the staff was carried by the priests who served in the temples of the Six Gods. They created the custom of carrying wooden staffs to symbolize the branches of the skill tree granted to their souls, and this gradually spread to people who used magic techniques. Priest staffs were adorned with gems and beads that indicated the color of the gods they served, making it easy to identify who they served.

"Wait, so it doesn't really matter if you don't have a staff?"

"With a young sapling staff, it only slightly replenishes magic power, but it's more of a placebo effect."

"Really... I thought it was weird to be the only one with a staff, but I didn't need it."

"Well, it makes walking easier and helps when setting a target. By the way, don't you have a priest staff, Yuril?"

"......I do, but..."

"But?"

"Because it's too conspicuous, and besides, if I have a staff, I might look like an old lady, right?"

Yuril, blushing at the tips of her long ears, asked with a sidelong glance. Her adorable expression, which had no trace of an old lady, made Thor and the others laugh, shaking their heads.

While laughing, Thor remembered Dyalgo's complaint from the previous night. Parties that conquered the goblin cave without much thought would get stuck at this river. The drop in earnings and the inconvenience would make them tense, and the monotonous and unexciting hunting would continue. It was inevitable that some would quit or leave.

The young man of the tea-horned race, being shy and reserved, said he was left behind. When they conquered the goblin cave together, he felt that this party was the only one, but it turned out to be a fleeting illusion.

Thor scratched under his chin and looked around at his three companions, savoring the joy of meeting them.