Chapter 67

"Is Lind around?"

After hunting two Rouvalchers for the purpose of raising funds and bringing meat, I came to the mutual aid society I belong to, "Apple House," only to find that Oyaji had a visitor.

Recently, when I don't have any work from the knights, I've been going out to the Eastern Rune Plain to hunt, especially focusing on hunting vultures.

By the way, I'm still at the E rank as an explorer.

If the timing works out, I team up with Amour and Roy, or with Al and Coco, to take on D to F rank jobs, but to avoid meeting the promotion criteria to D rank, I always take on jobs as part of a party and never as the leader.

I'm actually using the promotion criteria, which requires showing D rank equivalent achievements as a solo or party leader, to my advantage.

There is a concern that if a Grithesnake-class monster appears, but I have confidence that I can escape if I'm alone. Just in case, I have two very expensive arrows with iron shafts and tips made of Mackagate, a mineral from the Marat Mountains, in my quiver.

Each one costs 2,000 reals, but after consulting with Rouge at the armory, I learned that these arrows can pierce even a Grithesnake with my Rige, so they serve as insurance in case of an emergency.

They are so expensive that I don't even want to test them...

The enhanced hearing spell, which I once detested, has been very useful in hunting.

After understanding that training in detection magic directly contributes to my wind magic training, I've been putting more effort into it.

However, doing it in the city or dormitory can be noisy and can pick up conversations that shouldn't be heard, so hunting on the vast plain is perfect for training.

I leave the path at a suitable spot, walk through the plain while detecting, and hunt wild animals or monsters with my bow.

If I leave the prey and focus on hunting another, vultures quickly come down.

With my enhanced hearing, I can't clearly detect the sound of them coming down, but I can clearly hear them flapping their wings when they try to lift the prey, so I aim for that moment.

By repeating this twice, I can hunt two vultures in less than 30 minutes.

Since I can't carry more than that, I usually stop after hunting two.

"Rin, good work!

Are you hunting vultures again today?

We have plenty of space in our cart, so if you want, we can carry them for you!"

Lately, I've been approached by young explorers from other mutual aid societies quite often.

I've witnessed them being attacked by monsters several times or almost having their prey stolen by vultures, and since it's not right to ignore them even if they're from other societies, I've been helping them, and as a result, they've become quite fond of me.

Some of them are older, which can be a bit awkward, but it's often convenient when they help carry the prey.

"Thanks, I appreciate it.

It's not much of a thank you, but if you want, you can take the Meadow Mares and Jumpers lying over there."

"Really?! Thank you! Hey, you guys, load them up!"

Well, I couldn't carry them back alone anyway, and I was planning to return them to the Circle of Life, as they have low value as materials.

Even if I left them, they would just become food for vultures and other wild animals.

"I'm from Round Piece. I'm Zess, E rank, and these two are F rank!"

"I'm Rin from Apple House. I'm still a beginner, but nice to meet you."

When I politely greeted them, the two people behind them whispered:

"Is this guy really 'Mad Dog,' Zess? I could easily beat him..."

"Shut up!

You know the story of how Shu and the rat Bensa were beaten up! Do you think we can handle him?

Rin, I'm sorry! I'll make sure to talk to these guys later!"

Shu?

Ah, that's the guy who tried to take the vulture I hunted, claiming it was his prey, and tried to take it with four others. When I politely apologized and said, "Please," they tried to take another one without any reason, so I had to teach them a lesson.

"Hehe. I often get called weak. I don't get angry over such things, so it's fine. How is that red-haired guy? I accidentally broke his ribs, so I was worried."

It's not recommended to heal broken bones with healing potions, as they can heal improperly and make it difficult to fix.

"Yes!

Shu has already returned to work! Our leaders also said that even though we caused trouble, Rin went through the necessary channels and made the maximum concessions, which is impressive for someone so young!"

I beat up three of the four who approached me, but the one I left behind was weaker than I thought, and I couldn't get the others to the city before dark.

So, I guided them to the Round Piece meeting place and pulled the cart myself.

When I explained the situation to the experienced explorers who came out from the meeting place, they apologized and let me go.

Since they were reasonable, I don't have a bad impression of Round Piece.

Because of this, I've become more familiar with people recently.

I parted ways with them after they helped me transport the vultures to Apple House.

As usual, I asked the children of Apple House to process and sell the prey.

I take the feathers, and the meat is paid as a reward to the children.

Oyaji didn't like the high reward, but I insisted that it was important for me to ask them to do this, as I don't want to go to the delivery office myself and risk getting my rank raised.

I only go to the delivery office myself when I've hunted a high-value monster that isn't part of a regular request.

The children work diligently to process the meat to get the best price.

While watching them work in the yard, a tough-looking man with a shaved head and a scar on his cheek came to visit Oyaji.

"Is Lind around?"

Unfortunately, Oyaji was out.

"Oyaji is out today. He's picking up orphans from the church. Who are you?"

"Whoa, what a clean kid, doesn't fit this house...

I'm Shell. I grew up with Lind at the orphanage that used to be here, like brothers."

Ah, one of the drinking buddies Oyaji mentioned. He looks like a typical outlaw explorer.

Since he's Oyaji's brother, he's like an uncle to me.

"Ah, Oyaji mentioned Uncle Shell. I'm Rin, and I've been staying at Apple House since spring. I've also been helped by Saki at the delivery office. If you have any messages, I can pass them on."

"Uncle?... Well, it's fine. No, it's not a big deal. There's a monster that's a bit troublesome to hunt alone. It's not urgent, but it would be better to take care of it sooner. If Lind is free, I thought I'd ask for his help and go for a drink...

Did you hunt those vultures?"

"Drinking again, bald guy!

Rin's bow is amazing! He hits Rouvalchers with perfect accuracy!"

I gave Po a knuckle to the head for some reason.

"Hey!

Don't call Oyaji's guests 'bald guy!' Use proper words when talking to others!"

"Alright, alright, I got it, Rin..."

Po pouted and returned to the processing work.

Then, Uncle Shell stepped closer to Po, emitting a killing aura.

It was an overwhelming presence, not something to direct at a powerless child.

Po crumpled to the ground.

I quickly stepped between Po and Uncle Shell.

"I understand that I was rude, but he's just a child. That's not right, Uncle Shell."

"I'm not going to kill him, but kids like him need to learn the hard way. Move, kid."

I sighed and took a step to the side.

Pretending to do so, I quickly picked up an iron pipe with protruding nails from the ground and swung it hard at the bald man's stomach.

The bald man blocked it with his arm.

There was a metallic sound, like metal clashing. So hard! Is this bald guy a cyborg?

He immediately grabbed the pipe and pulled me towards him.

I let go of the pipe as I was pulled, but a perfectly timed punch came just as I was lifted off the ground.

When an unavoidable, unblockable hit comes, you shouldn't brace yourself. I relaxed my body, using body enhancement to protect my face, and was thrown back dramatically.

I crashed into a pile of scrap, using body enhancement to protect the landing spots.

"Rin!"

Po and the others screamed. I stood up smoothly and smiled to reassure them.

"I'm going to talk to this bald guy, so you guys go inside for now."

I picked up a crowbar from the scrap pile and slung it over my shoulder, not forgetting to hide a nail in my hand.

Then, the bald guy started laughing, his killing aura dissipating.

"Hehehe. That was just to make you bleed from the nose.

Hey, you're Rin, right? You're quite experienced in fighting. Your stomach is tough, and it seems Saki is taking good care of you. Are you free after this?"

...This bald guy was testing me?

"...I'm super busy."