Chapter 36

As we walked through the town, the difficulty of the dungeon located at the far end of the town is considered to be mid-level. With our current strength, it seems we can clear it without much trouble.

As we moved eastward, the people we encountered were increasingly those who made a living from combat, such as apprentice swordsmen and archers, and those who supported them, like blacksmiths and apprentice alchemists. Using the job appraisal skill seems to help understand the characteristics of the area, which is quite convenient when visiting a new town.

"Wow..."

I turned around after seeing a well-dressed man pass by. His profession was surprising.

"What's the matter?"

"Well, the man we just saw is a playboy... I didn't expect someone to choose that as a profession."

It's a bit strange for me to say this, considering I'm unemployed by choice. Seeing him dressed so well, I wondered if being a playboy is a profitable job.

"He's probably heading to the casino."

"To the casino?"

"Playboys have higher luck values than other professions. Changing professions at the temple costs money, so people who enjoy the casino usually don't change their jobs. However, wealthy individuals like him change their profession to challenge the casino. Of course, only the wealthy can afford to become playboys."

Ah, to level up as a commoner, you need to pay high taxes while still being a commoner. Only the wealthy can afford to pay such high taxes, I guess.

Commoners aren't suited for combat, so hiring someone to level up for you also costs money.

"By the way, the idea that people with high luck values make more money in the casino is a myth."

"Right. It might have some effect, but the house usually has the advantage."

In games like pachinko or pachislot, which are controlled by computers, having a high luck value might help, but in games like roulette, cards, or dice, the dealer can manipulate the outcomes, making it impossible to win just by luck.

"Hey, they're selling fruit juice. Lady, two please."

Finding a sweet-smelling drink, I handed over 14 cents and bought two cups of juice. The lady scooped it from a barrel and served it in ceramic cups. The high cost is due to the ceramic cups. It seems that if you bring your own cup, it costs 2 cents per cup, so the cups must cost 5 cents each.

"Here, this is for Haru."

"Thank you, Master."

We moved along while drinking the juice, which tasted like lemonade. Instead of sugar, it seemed to be sweetened with honey, making it quite easy to drink. After finishing, we put the ceramic cups in our item bag.

We finally reached the Adventurer's Guild, a building with a sign of a sword and shield. Unlike the one in Floren, the door was closed.

When we opened the door, the first thing we noticed was the smell of alcohol. My first impression was that it looked like a bar.

Indeed, there was a bar attached, and I sighed when I saw a woman carrying drinks down the corridor. I didn't like the place.

It was still daytime, and they were already drinking.

If I said this, it would be a joke, but I still wanted to say it.

—Get to work, you guys.

Of course, some of them might have already finished their work. There was a counter at the back, and we headed there.

Behind the counter, a man was working on some documents. When he saw me approach, he glared and said, "I don't recognize you. What do you want?"

"On our way here, we hunted brown bears. Can we use a place to butcher them?"

"The actual bears are outside... There's an empty lot behind the guild. You can do it there... By the way, how many brown bears did you hunt?"

"Ten."

"I see... Do you have the Butchering skill?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever butchered a brown bear before?"

"I partially butchered one, but it's my first time."

Why is he asking these questions?

"Wait a moment."

The man went to a drawer in the back of the guild and brought out a short knife.

"It's a bear-cleaving knife. Use this... If you like it, you can buy it at the weapon shop next door. The old man will be happy."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

I had a bad impression of the Adventurer's Guild, but there are good people here too. Thinking this, I left the guild and went to the back.

I took the brown bears out of my item bag and started butchering them. Haru took care of the wolves.

Of course, Haru and I are set as hunters.

While butchering, I learned that the White Wolf Clan doesn't have a taboo against hunting wolves or any particular affection for them. I thought it might have been a mistake to have Haru kill the wolves, but it wasn't an issue.

It took 20 minutes to butcher one bear, so it took 3 hours to butcher nine. Haru, with her wolf butchering experience, could do it in half the time, but it still took a while.

Still, the Butchering skill is amazing. If I tried to butcher them normally, it would have taken much longer.

Butchering II [Hunter Lv15]

The steps for butchering are clear.

Butchering techniques, strength, speed, and finesse are significantly improved.

...

Thanks to this, I could work quickly, carefully, and efficiently.

During this time, my Hunter level increased by 3. I'm now level 29. I might learn a new skill when I reach level 30.

Butchering nine bears is equivalent to butchering 3,600 bears in terms of growth, so it's no wonder my level increased.

Honestly, butchering one bear is more tiring than killing one.

"Alright, we're done butchering. Let's take them in."

As I said this, five men approached.

"Sure enough, you're done butchering, bro."

"Really? This is lucky. Hey, kids, we're not asking for trouble, but can you give us those bears?"

"Come on, just give them to us out of the goodness of your hearts. You don't want to get hurt, do you?"

"We'll give you some bear meat as a thank you."

"Volunteer spirit is important, you know."

Trying to steal someone's catch in broad daylight.

They must have overheard our conversation at the guild.

"Wouldn't that make you thieves?"

"Hah, you only become a thief if you steal from someone or seriously injure them. We know the line between being a thief and not being one."

These men boasting about something they shouldn't be proud of.

...What are they saying? Are they... idiots?

～～Interlude: Meanwhile, who is the real idiot?～

The road connecting Floren and Velasra is a straight path, even with some mountain roads in between. Of course, there are logging trails for woodcutters and natural animal paths, but it's almost impossible to mistake them for the main road. There's no way to get lost, no one should get lost, but if someone does, it's undoubtedly—

"Velasra is really far, Elise."

"Velasra is far, Joffre."

Joffre and Elise were walking through a forest with no roads or animal paths, meaning they were completely lost. The two, who had been in Floren for a long time, understood that they were inexperienced travelers. So, they decided to rely on someone who looked like a professional traveler.

"Well, the centaur said this way, so it must be right."

"The centaur said he's been to Velasra many times."

The centaur, the donkey they bought, probably doesn't realize how much they rely on him. He's just walking toward where he wants to eat. He's just eating his way through the uncharted wilderness.

It will be a long time before these two reach Velasra.