Chapter 5

Today, as usual, I go hunting in the forest.

When I first came to the village, I had a hard time catching prey. Even when I tried to use magic to catch birds or small mice, it didn't work as I intended. So, I mostly ate fruits and insect larvae, and I think my diet was quite poor.

As my magic improved and my body grew a little, I finally managed to catch a bird for the first time. However, another problem arose then.

I didn't know how to prepare the meat. Of course, it was my first time preparing a bird. I had no choice but to peel the skin, remove what seemed to be the internal organs, and take out the bones, then I roasted the rest. I think I wasted a lot of meat when I removed the internal organs. Since my teeth hadn't fully grown, it was hard to chew. There was no seasoning, so the taste was bland, but it was full of wild flavor.

However, it was delicious, perhaps the first time in this world to eat animal fat and meat juice, and because it was my first prey. I still remember it clearly.

It has been more than two years since then. I have gotten used to hunting. I can catch a small bird within an hour of entering the forest. I also have a few sweet fruits.

I have managed to learn how to prepare the meat. I followed the hunters, watching them prepare the prey they caught. Sometimes I tried to do the same. As a result of wasting many lives, I finally learned how to prepare a bird. The hunters also caught other prey and prepared pigs they raised. However, since I couldn't prepare the same things, I put those skills on hold. I would like to eat animals like foxes or bears someday.

This time, I prepare the bird by the river. I use a small knife made of solidified water by magic. The blade is quite sharp.

Since it's already dead, I can't bleed it, but it doesn't matter for me to eat. I cut off the head, scald it in hot water, and pluck the feathers. I think I failed when I peeled the skin off my first prey.

I make a cut at the base of the thigh, lightly scrape the meat, and pull. With a tearing sensation, the thigh meat comes off. I do the same on the other side. I flap the wings a few times and make cuts at the base. Next is the breast meat. I cut along the bones and remove the wings and breast meat as I did before. Preparing the wings is troublesome, so I skip it.

Then, it's the internal organs. I honestly don't like them, but since I killed it, I don't want to leave them behind emotionally. I don't want to leave them, but the intestines are hard to eat, so I discard them. I will eat the ovaries and liver. As usual, I apologize to the bird for its small size.

Finally, I bury the bird, which is left with its head, bones, and a little internal organs. I wash my blood and mud-covered hands in the river, and it's finally time to eat.

I sprinkle the meat with salt I stole and roast it. Magic is convenient.

I bite into the well-roasted meat with my hands. The meat is hard and has a strong smell of blood. But it's delicious.

I am full with the meat and fruits.

As usual, I regret not dealing with the wing bones while eating.

Probably, I won't do it next time either.

"Good, good! You can't raise them anyway, and we can't eat them all! Hahaha!"

As I walk through the village, a cheerful voice echoes from a house.

The man with a constant smile is Inias, I think. He is pushing a basket of eggs on people.

"But, it's bad. You have a child, right? Feed your wife until she's full."

"If I fed her until she was full, she cried, 'I'm tired of eggs!' So, here, you and your wife, and two children, that's four, right? Here you go."

The brown egg is forcibly handed over. The man's face, even though he received it, didn't look displeased. Of course, the eggs are not bad, and it adds a dish to today's dinner or snack without much effort. Moreover, the frequency is not so much that it gets boring.

"Well, I'm really sorry. Hey, how about taking some vegetables from our field?"

"That's fine... No, but that's really bad! I'll bring them again!"

The man goes into the house and immediately comes out with purple leafy vegetables. It was a mountain of vegetables, more than Inias and his wife would need.

Then, Inias repeats the same kind of sharing at each house. However, after visiting three or so houses, the eggs are gone. In return, the mountain of vegetables and a bundle of wild birds he received are not in proportion to the eggs.

This is probably due to everyone's kindness for Inias's pregnant wife. But the main reason is that everyone knows Inias doesn't expect anything in return.

Inias's family grows vegetables and raises chickens.

When I say "raising chickens," they are a bit larger than chickens... I've seen them with their wings cut, so they are probably not chickens, but they are kept in an enclosure. Still, thanks to the fertile land of Nerg, there are plenty of worms and insects for feed, and all they need is to provide drinking water.

Every morning, eggs are laid in random places. After securing the portion for the village, the rest are eaten or sold.

The number of eggs sold varies. Even though the feed is abundant, it is limited, and the number of chickens that will soon be culled is considered, and the eggs are adjusted accordingly. The surplus is sold, but this time it seems to be a bit more.

The culled chickens are distributed to the neighborhood immediately if the peddler doesn't come, and even if the peddler does come, the eggs are distributed as seen just now.

However, Inias and his wife do not suffer from poverty.

If his farming tools break, they are probably repaired by the carpenter unconsciously with priority. If other families have a good harvest or a successful hunt, Inias is often the first to receive a share.

If you help someone, someone will help you.

He lives optimistically, relying on others and living in the moment. If you put it negatively, it might sound like that, but since he can live in this village, it must be one of the correct ways to live. That's what I felt.

And I am also part of this system, so I can't say anything bad.

When a large number of eggs are laid, I sometimes take one or two without being noticed. If I steal them before the morning count, there is no problem.

Occasionally, I take a share without permission. In return, I kill the bugs in his field.

I thought it was my duty, on my own.

Inias, who returned home, then puts the eggs back in the basket and takes them out of the house again.

By the way, today is the day the peddler comes. He will probably exchange them for something.

I don't have to do anything, but for some reason, I decided to go there.

The peddler's cart is not a cart. No, it is a cart, but what pulls it is not a horse.

While the peddler spreads his goods and does business, the beast is always tied to a nearby tree.

A white horse. At first glance, it looks like one. But there is a twisted horn on its forehead, and its teeth are not like a horse's molars. Instead, it has fangs like a carnivore, visible in its mouth with blood vessels on the gums.

I stare at the beast. It lies down, occasionally wagging its black tail, which is like a mane. It looks more like a tiger than a horse. Its feet are not hooves but those of a cat. It probably has claws, though it doesn't show them now.

A creature that looks like a cross between a horse and a tiger, something I've never seen in my previous world. It's a mysterious creature.

What is the name of this creature? I wonder. But no one mentions the name of this beast. Even the children who might learn it from someone, either the timing was bad or no one asks about this beast anymore.

A mysterious creature that comes regularly from the city. Not being able to ask anyone about this creature is very frustrating.

Turning my eyes to the peddler, Inias is making a deal.

"Thank you. Here, fifteen, for two copper coins."

The peddler holds the egg against the shell and checks it against the light to confirm there are no cracks and probably the state of the yolk.

Kilia, I think. The stout peddler puts the eggs in a box filled with sawdust and then hands the copper coins to Inias. The copper coins will probably be used immediately, but the action is necessary, like a ritual.

While handing them over, he adds a compliment.

"But, the eggs from Inias's place are of good quality. There are almost no cracks or deformities. Personally, I would like to buy them regularly and exclusively."

"Hahaha, I don't do anything! It must be the blessing of fairies."

"Fairies? That's good. They must have come out of a fairy tale."

"Yes, my wife said before... Oh, by the way."

As he starts to speak, Inias stops. He looks like he's debating whether to say it or not, but it seems he quickly makes up his mind.

Gripping the copper coins, Inias speaks to Kilia.

"Speaking of my wife, there's something I need to get, and it's urgent."

"What is it?"

"Xun grass... "

When he hears "Xun grass," Kilia turns to the side as if in thought. But it's only for a moment, and he quickly turns back to Inias, looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to say it's impossible, but... well..."

"Impossible...?"

"No, it has become a bit popular in the secondary capital recently and is starting to circulate. But the price has also gone up."

"Ah, I don't have the money, so it's a shame."

"Since it's a request from Inias, whom I've been taking care of, I would like to help, but..."

Kilia bows. But then, as if he has noticed something, he raises his head.

"Ah, but if you could get the help of Shium or Kasoku... or Denar..."

Suddenly, the creature in front of me stands up. It stretches and straightens its posture, looking very much like a cat. It's not hunched, but it's definitely alert.

Is it on guard? No, it doesn't feel like an enemy has come, and if it were, it would be a big problem.

I follow its gaze.

"What about me?"

There, reacting to his name being mentioned, is Kasoku. Pushing through the sparse crowd of the peddler's customers, he approaches Kilia.

"Kasoku, it's been a while."

"Hey. So, what about me?"

"Well, is there any way you could get some Xun grass...?"

"Xun grass...?"

Kasoku asks Inias, looking bothered. His stubble seems even thicker than usual.

"Xun grass, you know, the one that makes your skin beautiful when you drink it... for you