Chapter 71

"Leaving the corpse as it is will attract attention..."

The fox's body floated behind us as we walked towards the town, following us softly. In the forest, it wouldn't have mattered who saw it, but once we entered the town, it would undoubtedly attract attention.

Indeed, people working in the fields stopped their work and watched us from a distance.

Even though it would be evening soon and there would be fewer people around, I didn't feel like walking through the town like this.

Actually, I didn't feel like passing through the town gate like this.

"Should we cover it with some cloth or something..."

Tetra, looking apologetic, spoke up as I pondered.

"It's good to think, but it would be appreciated if you could hurry. To be honest, my magic is a bit..."

"Huh? We're still far from the time you mentioned earlier, right?"

I was sure she had said about two and a half hours ago. It hadn't even been an hour and a half yet, and she was already at her limit.

"I would have confidence in holding it under normal circumstances. Under normal circumstances."

"I'm just joking. You were really tired earlier. It's fine. I'll take over."

Magic is greatly influenced by mental fatigue. It was inevitable that her magic, which had been shaken up at high speed, would deplete faster than usual.

Using my fighting spirit, I lifted it.

A squishy sensation was transmitted to my hands. At the same time, it seemed the levitation magic had been canceled, and the fox's limbs hung limply.

It's hard to carry and should be wrapped in something.

I thought that, but neither I nor Tetra had anything like that.

Thinking about it, we might have found some cloth if we had searched the fort's warehouse. There would probably have been shovels and such as well. We should have searched more thoroughly.

It's no use regretting now. It would take time to go back, so we should make do with what we have.

In the end, I decided to wrap it in the robe I bought yesterday. I was worried if it would fit, but I managed to hide most of the body.

It's not its intended use, but if I sell the fox, I can get money. I can buy another one with that money.

Tetra was taken aback by my sudden undressing, but I ignored her.

We arrived at the guild, but then I was in a bind. The corpse was too big to fit through the guild's entrance.

What should we do in such a case? When I asked Tetra, she tilted her head, saying it was different from the magic guild.

"I'll go inside to consult. Can you keep an eye on this?"

It would be nice if I could call a staff member out.

"Sure, but in this situation?"

Looking around, there were quite a few onlookers. It seemed unusual to bring such a large corpse, and they were guessing what it was from a distance. This must be the place to make a name for myself.

The image of me telling an adventure tale in front of the fox's corpse came to mind.

"As the smoke appeared, it turned out to be not smoke but a transformed fox. On the hundredth year, I prepared my blade and glared at the fox, saying, 'Prepare yourself, transformed fox!' The fox came at me head-on, and I swung... "

...I'll stop. I realized it was impossible just by imagining it.

Besides, I've never seen an explorer who talks like that.

My face turned red just from imagining it. Why am I speaking in such an old-fashioned way in my imagination...

"What, what kind of corpse is that?"

Finally, one of the onlookers asked directly.

There's no need to hide it, so I answered normally.

"It's a fox's corpse. It's a bit big."

"Huh? A fox? Why are you bringing something like that to sell?"

The man, who seemed to be on his way home from work, rubbed his stubble and blinked.

"It's a monster, but it's rare, so I thought I could sell it."

When I said that, the man's eyes widened, and he burst out laughing.

"Haha! Don't be ridiculous! It's big, but it's not a monster. Or what? Did you pick up something someone else hunted?"

"...What do you mean?"

That's strange. It feels like he's picking a fight.

Looking around, there were people grinning at me and the man, and others leaving the crowd, looking exasperated.

Ah, this is the first time in a while.

The look of contempt. The baseless assumption that I can't do it.

Feeling that, I quickly ended the conversation.

"Without a doubt, it's a fox I hunted. ...Is it okay now? I want to sell it at the guild quickly."

"Ha! There's no way a shrimp like you could hunt a monster."

Laughter of ridicule echoed from the crowd. I hate that voice.

I saw Tetra's worried gesture at the corner of my eye but waved it off.

"Well, I guess it's understandable that it looks that way to ordinary people."

I said it with a hint of sarcasm, implying that he lacked the eye to see it.

When I was in the slums, I would have settled things quietly to avoid trouble.

But there's no point in doing that anymore.

At the same time, there's no need to deliberately cause a commotion.

"Whatever you say, this is a fox I hunted. I want to sell it quickly, so I'll save the fight for another time."

Leaving that behind, I ignored the man, who was about to say something, and went into the guild.

Looking back, I saw Tetra's worried face.

"Sorry, can you watch it for a bit?"

"Quickly."

Right. I need to sell it quickly and leave.

"I'd like to sell this."

At the material purchase counter, I showed my guild card and spoke. The receptionist gave a half-hearted response at first, but when she saw my badge, she immediately smiled. She's quick to change her attitude.

"Sure, what kind of material is it?"

"It's not exactly a material, but a monster's corpse... To be honest, I'm not sure if you'll buy it. I brought it whole on a friend's advice, but you can check the corpse outside if you like."

"An entire corpse... If it's a useful monster, we can buy it, but the price will be lower because it's not dissected."

"That's fine."

"Understood. A staff member will be with you shortly, so please wait outside."

She smiled and urged me. I don't really want to go out now, but there's no choice.

When I came out of the guild, the man from earlier was still there. Seeing him, I deliberately frowned.

Tetra looked at me, as if asking for help, and her mouth moved. She was probably saying, "Quickly."

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Is this the monster?"

I stopped involuntarily when I saw the man. The male staff member, who walked past me, looked at me and asked, pointing at the fox's corpse with a troubled smile.

"Yes, please. It's called a Full Seal, I think."

"Full Seal!!?"

The staff member's smile turned to shock.

What's going on? Is it that surprising?

The staff member rushed over and opened the robe. Seeing the headless corpse, the man who had confronted me earlier gasped and stepped back.

"A, ah, this is..."

The staff member swallowed hard. His hands were visibly trembling.

"I'm sorry, but could you please move this to the back of the guild? I can't make a judgment on my own."

Then he stood up and gestured for me to follow.

"Sure, but..."

It feels like it's becoming a big deal. The monster itself should be traded, so why is it causing such a commotion just because I brought in a fox?

The man who confronted me is stunned.

I just came to sell it, so I wish they would let me go smoothly.

I don't like these kinds of big deals; they're troublesome.

I picked up the fox and sighed deeply.