Chapter 74

The next morning, as soon as it was bright, we started the dismantling work.

We packed up and transported the meat, and if there were any game left, we would hunt them on the way back.

"Mongrel, what are you doing?"

"It's a balance pole. I cut some suitable thin branches and make grooves at both ends. Then I make a depression in the middle for the shoulder. With this pole, you can hang your load. By adjusting the position of the grooves, you can carry loads of different weights, which is very convenient."

"Oh, so that's how it works."

"Have you never seen one before?"

"Occasionally in the city? I never really thought about it much."

When you think of a balance pole, many people might imagine vegetable vendors from Edo-era dramas.

But it's a tool invented in various countries around the world, not limited to Asia.

The advantage of this pole is that you can hang bloody game without getting your clothes dirty. You can walk while draining the blood, which is quite convenient.

I often make such a balance pole when my load increases after a hunt.

It's easy to make on-site. When you don't need it anymore, you can sell it or burn it, making it a handy tool.

"Sorry, I ended up carrying everything... I wanted to practice archery on the way back..."

"It's fine. My role is as a swordsman. I need to carry the load and be ready for close combat in case of emergencies, or Shina will get mad."

"Ahaha, Shina gets scary when she's angry."

"Even when she's normal, her eyes look angry."

"If you say that, she'll get even angrier, so don't."

"I won't, I won't, except at drinking parties."

On the way back, we don't need to explore, so we can walk straight back.

Along the way, Ulrika shot birds from the trees, and each time, I added them to my balance pole. They weren't heavy, but I was worried about the dripping blood hitting the ground.

"Hey, Mongrel, can I bury this here? It's a pretty good path, so I want to bury this."

"This? What is it, a stone? Or iron ore?"

"No, it's slag. I sometimes get pieces from the blacksmith."

"What do you do with it?"

Slag is a block of impurities produced during iron smelting. It has a texture like a mix of stone and metal. As far as I know, it has almost no practical use...

"If you bury it in the ground, monsters will be wary of the metallic smell. Especially the keen-nosed Crazy Boars."

"Monsters that have lived a long time might understand that swords and arrows are dangerous. Does burying the slag with a metallic smell have any benefits?"

"It makes them more likely to fall into traps. See, official traps have metal parts, and the smell is quite noticeable. If you set them up normally, the Crazy Boars will skillfully avoid them."

"Do monsters really recognize the smell of metal?"

"It seems so. But without metal parts, the traps lack strength. So, by getting them used to the smell... and setting the traps on another day! That's the idea."

"Ah... setting traps is a patient process."

"Traps are all about preparation. But thanks to them, you can take down big game with minimal effort. This is part of the preparation."

Ulrika smiled as she stomped the ground with her boots after burying the slag.

"Gradually getting them used to the smell, making them familiar... and then catching them off guard. This is the wisdom of a hunter, Mongrel."

"Wow, hunters are amazing."

Lina was also quite knowledgeable, but Ulrika, as her senior, had a wealth of dense knowledge.

...But when it came to teaching archery, Lina was better! Ulrika's advice was often more sensory and hard to understand. She's more of a sensory type, I guess.

We shared the meat, but since Ulrika did all the hunting, she got a larger share.

This time, my role was mainly helping with setup and dismantling, and carrying the load. Being a close-combat specialist, that's a typical role, but I felt a bit unsatisfied not having taken down any game. At least if I had taken down one with my bow...

"Welcome back, Ulrika. Ah, Mongrel too. ...It was a big hunt!"

"Yeah, I brought the meat while escorting Ulrika. Her archery was amazing."

"Absolutely. I admire her."

"Ah? Stop it, both of you..."

We handed over the meat at the clan house and said goodbye to Ulrika.

It was a fruitful camp. Every time something like this happens, I realize that modern knowledge isn't so easily applied.

"See you again, teach me archery next time. I'll buy the drinks."

"Sure! Then I'll have to work on my teaching!"

"See you, Mongrel. Let's do this again."

And so, my camping trip ended.

...Now I need to sell the meat somewhere. Without a refrigerator, this part is tough.

"......Ah, baths are great..."

In the evening, taking a bath to wash off the day's dirt, heated by Nastasha, has become a daily routine.

Ah, I went camping with Mongrel yesterday, so it's two days' worth of dirt.

...It feels a bit guilty to take a bath when Mongrel can't, but I don't want to skip it.

This is the last bath of the day, so I can soak in it leisurely. It's the best...

"......His body was so rugged..."

I recall the time we slept together in the tent... Mongrel's sturdy body.

I've been dressed as a woman all this time, and since joining Artemis, I haven't touched many men's bodies.

In that sense, Mongrel might be the closest man to me.

It's the same for Lina... Yeah. When I first met him, I thought he was a bad guy trying to get close to Lina, but after talking to him, I quickly realized he was kind, and now I really like him.

His archery skills are poor, but he's a good cook and knows a lot about things I didn't know.

His hands were bony, unlike mine...

"Hmm..."

Mongrel... He said he's almost 30, but he doesn't look it at all...

Compared to other guild members, he's clean, kind, and not at all lecherous.

Lina, you have to be careful. If you don't watch him, someone might take him away.

If you don't hurry, someone really might...

"..."

Ugh, no... I can't stay in the bath any longer... I'll get dizzy.

I hurriedly stood up from the bath, and the water flowed down my body.

I used to dislike my flat body because it didn't look feminine, but recently, I've started to like it.

"......I can't help but think of Mongrel..."

This camping trip was a success.

I hope we can go together again next time...

Ah, no. I'm getting dizzy again...