Chapter 5

The next morning, after finishing his work and having lunch, Ricardo returned to the attic and sat on the bed, deep in thought. With just one silver coin, he could only buy cheap charcoal as a catalyst. Moreover, he wanted not only fire-type catalysts but also catalysts of other types.

There was a way to obtain catalysts. There were monsters in the nearby mountains. He could hunt them and obtain catalysts. Selling the materials from the monsters would also bring in money.

The problem was that the monsters were dangerous. If he encountered a strong monster, he could be killed. Various monsters lived in the mountains around the capital city of Delb, and most of them were beast-type monsters.

Among them, the representative of the weaker monsters was the Oni-faced Rat. It was a large rat with a scary face like a rakshasa, with a body size comparable to a cat and teeth like knives. Its teeth could serve as an earth-type catalyst.

Ricardo had not learned earth-type magic, but there were basic spells like "Flying Pebble," which could throw small stones, and "Flying Spear," which could throw stone spears.

There was also the Headbutt Rabbit. It was a black rabbit that attacked with headbutts, with well-developed hind legs that allowed it to deliver powerful headbutts. On its forehead was a white, scale-like substance that could serve as an earth-type catalyst.

If he could defeat one of these, it would be a good start. He had heard that Nightingale Birds, which could serve as wind-type catalysts, were often seen, but they were difficult to catch, even for skilled archers.

There were also professional monster hunters who specialized in hunting monsters. They sold the meat of the monsters to butchers and the materials that could serve as catalysts to catalyst shops to make a living.

While there were no guilds or associations specifically for monster hunters, some groups of ten to several dozen hunters operated mutual aid societies. These societies might eventually develop into guilds in the future.

By the way, there was also a Magician's Association. It was an organization similar to a research society where magicians presented their research findings and were awarded titles based on their achievements.

The most important job of the Magician's Association was to certify magicians. Only those recognized by the association could officially call themselves magicians. Without certification, even if one could perform amazing magic, they would still be considered an amateur magician.

Massimo had taken the exam twice at the headquarters of the Magician's Association in the capital city but had not passed and was not yet a certified magician. To be certified, one had to score an average of 70 points or higher on both the written and practical exams, or have their magical research recognized.

The conversation had strayed a bit.

To obtain catalysts, he needed to defeat monsters. The magic he had was "Flame Soaring Bullet" and "Molten Flame Bullet," which he had developed himself. He could probably defeat an Oni-faced Rat or a Headbutt Rabbit with "Flame Soaring Bullet."

However, to use magic, he needed a catalyst.

...Damn, this is a vicious cycle. He needed to defeat monsters without relying on magic. He could only use magic to defeat monsters that left valuable materials.

When it came to monsters that left valuable materials, there were the Elbir Tree and the Armored Bear, but he didn't think he could defeat them.

Reluctantly, he started thinking about how to defeat monsters without using magic. Setting traps was difficult for him since he didn't know the terrain. The only option left was to prepare armor and weapons and defeat them.

He remembered a game he used to play as a child. It was a game where the hero, equipped with a cypress stick and a pot lid, went to defeat monsters.

He lacked information for everything. He decided to visit someone who might know.

Ricardo went to the catalyst shop in town. He chose this shop because the owner, Mrs. Marta, was knowledgeable and the most talkative person in town.

"Mrs. Marta... Are you here?"

He opened the door of the catalyst shop and called out.

"Hmm... Who is it? Oh, it's you, Ricardo."

Mrs. Marta was not there, and her son Diego was manning the shop. Diego was a middle-aged man of average build with no distinctive features, and his left hand seemed a bit weak.

"Where is Mrs. Marta?"

"Who knows. She's probably wandering around town. What do you need?"

"Are you familiar with monsters, Diego?"

Diego, who was sitting behind the counter, smiled wryly and nodded.

"I used to be a monster hunter, you know."

Ricardo was surprised. He had always thought of Diego as a businessman.

Ricardo decided to ask boldly.

"Do you know how to defeat Oni-faced Rats and Headbutt Rabbits?"

"Planning to become a monster hunter?"

"No, I just need catalysts."

"Figures. You've become Alessandro's apprentice, haven't you? I've heard the rumors."

News spread quickly in the small town, and as a merchant, he might have access to information about magicians.

"Yes, I've become his apprentice and will be going on a mission to hunt the Elbir Tree."

"Good luck, I guess."

"If you feel sorry for me, please help me."

"Alright. You want to know about Oni-faced Rats and Headbutt Rabbits, right?"

According to Diego, these two types of monsters were often targeted by novice monster hunters. They could be hunted without much trouble if one had trained with a sword or spear.

"Since you're a magician, why don't you use magic to defeat them?"

"Using magic consumes catalysts. If I use the catalysts to hunt, it wouldn't make sense."

"I see... By the way, can you use magic yet?"

Diego must have been worried about him since he had just become an apprentice.

"I can use 'Flame Soaring Bullet.' It can be activated with cheap charcoal."

"Hmm... You seem to have a talent for magic."

Diego could tell that Ricardo had never trained in martial arts, judging by his thin, malnourished body from years of poverty.

"Wait a moment."

Diego went to the back, and Ricardo could hear him rummaging around.

"Ah, here it is."

When Diego returned, he was holding a pickaxe-like weapon and a round shield.

"These are the weapon and shield I used when I first became a monster hunter. They're cheap but useful. I'll give them to you."

"Really, can I have them?"

Ricardo thanked him and took the shield, which looked like a buckler, and the pickaxe-like weapon, which was a war pick.

"If you're going to hunt the Elbir Tree, it's better to get used to monsters first."

Ricardo tilted his head.

"I thought you would tell me to stop doing dangerous things."

Diego chuckled.

"I became a monster hunter when I was a bit older than you. I don't have the right to stop you."

Then, Diego told him about the locations where Oni-faced Rats and Headbutt Rabbits appeared, the dangerous areas, and the precautions to take.

Finally, Diego said something strange.

"When you defeat a monster for the first time, you receive a message from the gods. Do you know about this?"

"Wh-What? From the gods?"

Diego's words surprised him, and he realized he must have looked foolish.

"From the look on your face, you don't know. Humans have only one chance in their lifetime to hear the words of the gods."

Diego's serious expression made Ricardo feel that this was not a joke.

"The gods grant a blessing when a human defeats a monster."

"A blessing?"

"Yes, there are several types of blessings, and when you defeat a monster for the first time, you are asked which blessing you want."

Ricardo was surprised by this unexpected information.

"There are said to be five types of blessings. The first one enhances strength."

According to Diego, the five types were "Strength Enhancement," "Agility Enhancement," "Sensory Control," "Memory Improvement," and "Magic Power Enhancement." However, the last one, "Magic Power Enhancement," was not an option for those without magical talent.

Choosing one of these would gradually increase the selected ability each time a monster was defeated.

"Remember the order of the blessings. The gods will present the options in divine words that humans cannot understand."

"Really? What did you choose, Diego?"

"I chose the first one because I was a monster hunter."

If his strength increased each time he defeated a monster, it would be advantageous for a monster hunter. The call from the gods, known as the "Blessing Choice," was considered important.

For Ricardo, who came from a modern society where the concept of gods was no longer real, this sounded dubious, but he remembered the order of the blessings.

The hunting ground for Oni-faced Rats was a mixed forest near the East Gate of the capital city of Delb. It was known as a hunting ground for novice monster hunters.

The forest was dense with trees similar to oak and chestnut. The paths, slightly wider than animal trails, spread out like a web, possibly trodden by monster hunters.

Ricardo held the buckler in his left hand and the war pick in his right, advancing cautiously. He could hear birds chirping overhead and, in the distance, what sounded like monkeys.

The air was still and muggy, making him feel uncomfortable. As he walked, the sun was obscured by the branches and leaves, and the temperature seemed to drop.

The undergrowth was sparse, making it easy to walk. He heard a crunching sound, as if something was gnawing on something.

In the next moment, he saw his first monster. He had a vague memory of seeing monsters in his hometown village, but it was not a real memory, and this was his first real encounter.

The Oni-faced Rat appeared, a monstrous rat about the size of a cat.

Seeing a live monster for the first time, he was genuinely scared. He faced the Oni-faced Rat with his buckler, but his legs were trembling. Sensing this, the Oni-faced Rat lunged at him with a terrifying face.

"Ah!"

He blocked the Oni-faced Rat with his buckler. The heavy impact on his left arm almost made him stagger. He gathered all his strength and pushed the Oni-faced Rat back.

The Oni-faced Rat, after a mid-air spin, landed and lunged at him again. It bared its long, sharp teeth and charged. He quickly pulled his buckler to guard.

Ricardo dodged the attack and tried to counter with the war pick, but the Oni-faced Rat quickly jumped back.

He tried to attack several times, but each time it escaped, and he missed his chance. He was barely able to block or dodge the Oni-faced Rat's quick attacks with his shield.

"Ha... ha... How do I attack?"

For a man who had lived a peaceful life in Japan, fighting a monster, even one the size of a cat, was too difficult.

He couldn't find the right moment to attack the monster.

...How can I... Ah, I need to create my own opportunity.

There were moments when the Oni-faced Rat stopped moving. When he blocked an attack with his buckler, the enemy was always within reach, and their relative position was fixed.

Ricardo waited for the Oni-faced Rat to attack. It circled around him and lunged at his neck. He blocked the attack with his buckler and immediately swung the war pick. The sharp, iron-tipped blade pierced the Oni-faced Rat's back, impaling its heart.

The Oni-faced Rat spat blood and fell to the ground.

"Ha... ha... ha... Finally, one down. Being a monster hunter is tough."

At that moment, a voice sounded in his head.

'Caution: Intelligent Entity Ricardo Matou. Combat has ended. Reward Points: 2. Which ability would you like to enhance?'

A sharp pain shot through his head, and a strange list of about six items, written in an unreadable script, appeared in his mind.

[#$&&#￥$][※$%&!][&&!￥#￥]...

...What is this... Is this the voice of the gods? But the script is incomprehensible. And why is it 'Ricardo Matou'?

'Which ability would you like to enhance?'

The strange voice repeated itself, insisting on a choice.

"I can't read the script, so could you explain it to me?"

The strange voice ignored his request.

'Which ability would you like to enhance?'

There were supposed to be only five options, as Diego had said, but there were six. He thought he should choose the fifth one, "Magic Power Enhancement," since he planned to live as a magician, but the sixth one intrigued him.

"Please, the sixth one."

After making his choice, he immediately regretted it, but it was too late.

'Choice confirmed.'

In the next moment, a sharp pain shot through Ricardo's head. In the depths of his mind, a small, pitch-black disc was born, though he did not notice it.

"What was that?"

When he searched his memory, he realized that this world was not Earth but another world. He didn't know if it was another planet or a parallel world, but the presence of a voice guide was unique.

The strange voice did not answer his questions.

Regaining his composure, Ricardo removed the teeth, which served as catalysts, from the dead Oni-faced Rat. He had bought a set of tools for this purpose from the catalyst shop, including a dissection knife, pliers, a hammer, and a chisel.

He also bought a backpack to store the teeth, and most of the silver coin he had been given to buy catalysts was spent.

He encountered the second Oni-faced Rat about twenty minutes later. Knowing how to defeat it, he fought cautiously and waited for the right moment to finish it off.

He expected to hear the mysterious voice in his head again when he defeated it, but nothing happened. However, the small, pitch-black disc in the depths of his mind grew slightly, though he did not notice.

By the time he encountered the third Oni-faced Rat, he had learned its attack patterns. He deliberately showed a weakness to lure it into an attack and quickly finished it off.

He collected the teeth from the dead Oni-faced Rat. The process of pulling the teeth out of the corpse was gruesome and difficult.

That day, he defeated six Oni-faced Rats. He received minor scratches from their claws but was otherwise unharmed.

As the sun began to set, he headed back. He showed the identity card he had been given when he became Alessandro's apprentice to enter through the East Gate. The identity card was issued by the city office with Alessandro as the guarantor.

Back in town, he visited the catalyst shop. When catalysts were hard materials like teeth or horns, they needed to be ground into powder. The shop had a dedicated grinding machine, and for a fee, they would grind the materials into powder.

He handed the Oni-faced Rat's teeth to Diego, who was manning the shop, and asked him to grind them into powder.

"It seems to have gone well."

"Thanks to you, Diego."

Diego took the teeth to the back and made a grinding sound. When he returned, he handed Ricardo a white powder. The amount was enough for twelve uses of a lower-level basic spell or six uses of a higher-level basic spell.

2017/4/30 Changed the name of the bird-type monster to 'Nightingale Bird'