Chapter 12

The appraisal of the Red-Horned Rabbit was to be done not by Jill, but by a specialist.

When Jill rang the bell, an old man came from a room in the back.

He had long, completely white hair. It was tied up in a bun on top of his head, but the rest flowed freely.

His mustache and beard were connected, forming a mass of white hair around his neck.

He was about 150 centimeters tall, about half a head shorter than Hikaru.

"Norm...?"

Hikaru muttered, and Jill whispered from the side.

"They're a Mannorm race. Don't touch around there or they'll get angry."

"Hmm."

Thinking it was another troublesome person, Hikaru followed as the old man said,

"Jill! What are you doing at such a busy time? Guests from the capital are coming soon."

"I know. But isn't it Unken? You insisted on appraising the Red-Horned Rabbit yourself if we caught one."

"Hmm?"

Only then did Unken's gaze turn to Hikaru.

"Hmm."

After carefully examining Hikaru's entire body, he turned around and walked back.

"Go through this corridor, and there's a separate building. That's the dissection area. Follow Unken."

Jill patted Hikaru's shoulder and returned to the counter. The adventurers who saw this familiar gesture became hostile.

"...I told you to stop that..."

Feeling a bit deflated, Hikaru followed Unken.

The dissection area was a building that would make you think, "This is quite a large garage" if you saw it in Japan.

Despite being made of wood, the beams were well-constructed, allowing for this vast space.

Hooks attached to chains hung from the exposed beams, making it possible to hang large animals for dissection.

"Show it to me."

Hikaru placed the bag on a stone table. Unken took out the Red-Horned Rabbit and inspected it.

"..."

During this time, Hikaru called up Unken's Soul Board.

He was curious about the cautious demeanor.

【Soul Board】Unken = Fi = Balzak

Age 211, Rank 51

47

【Vitality】

【Natural Recovery】2

【Stamina】5

【Immunity】

【Magic Resistance】1

【Keen Perception】

【Smell】1

【Taste】2

【Magic Power】

【Magic Power】6

【Strength】

【Strength】9

【Weapon Proficiency】

【Short Sword】6

【Bow】3

【Throwing】4

【Armor】2

【Agility】

【Stealth】

【Life Concealment】2

【Magic Concealment】2

【Perception Concealment】2

【Group Concealment】1

【Dexterity】

【Dexterity】3

【Tool Proficiency】

【Alchemy Tools】2

【Mental Strength】

【Mental Strength】3

【Intuition】

【Intuition】4

【Detection】

【Life Detection】1

"Huh?"

Hikaru couldn't help but let out a sound.

"—What's with the 'Huh'?"

"Ah, no, nothing."

"..."

Unken looked at him suspiciously but returned his gaze to the Red-Horned Rabbit.

(No, no, no, this old man is something else. He even has higher-level 'Stealth' skills that I don't have. The points are 1... Wait, hold on—aren't the remaining points off?)

Hikaru calculated carefully.

Unken's used points were "74." The remaining points were "47." The total was 121.

His rank was impressive, but his age of 211 was even more striking. If he gained 1 point per year, the remaining points would be off.

(...1/3. 211 divided by 3 is about 70. Age '70' points, rank '51' points, totaling 121 points. The calculation matches. ...There are various long-lived and short-lived races. The timing of point allocation must be different.)

It seemed the balance was maintained in a strange way.

(Still, 'Group Concealment.' Probably the conditions are 'Life Concealment,' 'Magic Concealment,' and 'Perception Concealment' at 2 each. And this person... has a similar skill set to me. A rogue type, maybe...)

What Hikaru wanted to know was how highly regarded Unken was as a skilled individual.

While his specialized skills were lower than Hikaru's, he seemed to have developed essential skills for a rogue type.

If Hikaru knew how skilled Unken was, it would serve as a benchmark for his self-evaluation.

"Boy"

"Yes"

"Is it interesting to stare at me?"

Hikaru was startled.

(He has 'Intuition' 4... He can't possibly think I'm looking at his Soul Board.)

"I was just thinking you weren't at the Adventurer's Guild before."

"...Yeah."

"What do you usually do?"

"It's none of your business."

"From Jill's attitude, are you the Guild Master or something?"

"...Just an appraiser."

Hikaru's deflection seemed to work; Unken didn't like being probed.

"Now, about the appraisal of the Red-Horned Rabbit... You've never dissected before, right?"

"...Yes."

"Your cutting technique is poor. What did you use?"

When Hikaru took out the "Short Blade of Strength," Unken sighed after examining the blade.

"...Fool. Don't use a weapon designed for killing to dissect. Use a specialized tool. When removing the organs, you damaged the skin and the blade went into the meat. Here. If blood soaks in, it ruins the taste."

"That's true."

"Your method of splitting the belly is also unattractive. If you could return in 2-3 hours, it would be better to transport it without dissecting to maintain its value—"

While saying this, Unken glanced at Hikaru.

"—But with those muscles, you can't carry it."

"Well... that's true."

"I'd suggest forming a party, but that would negate your strengths. You seem to excel at acting without being noticed."

"..."

"However, it's strange. The Red-Horned Rabbit has very keen senses. Your equipment... is Night Wolf, right? You should be noticed with Night Wolf equipment."

He had seen through it completely.

"...The rabbit tripped on a tree stump and fell."

"What?"

"That's why I could kill it."

Hikaru told a lie that could be interpreted in multiple ways.

There was no phrase like "waiting for a rabbit to run into a stump" in this world. It could be like the lyrics of "Waiting for a Rabbit."

"Hmph. You're just saying it was luck, right?"

"Even if it wasn't, isn't it inappropriate to pry into an adventurer's special skills? Or do you, as a Guild Master, need to know such things?"

"...Are you trying to provoke me?"

Caught. As expected of a 211-year-old.

Hikaru stuck out his tongue inwardly.

"The appraisal price... The value of the meat from the right hind leg is reduced due to the damage. What a waste. It's the most delicious part. So, I'll buy the meat for 7,000 Gil."

"Understood."

"...Hmm? You're quite honest."

Hikaru had expected it to be around that much.

After all, it was a dissection by an amateur.

"It would be a waste of time to argue here. Time is money."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"If I could live as long as a Mannorm, my perspective might change."

"..."

Unken glared at him again.

Hikaru thought he might have said too much.

"...For a rabbit that tripped, its body is quite clean. Don't you want to know the value of the fur?"

He was retaliating.

Hikaru's lie had been seen through long ago.

"Doesn't rabbit fur have much value?"

"Well, not really... about 500 Gil. I'll add it on."

"Alright, then?"

"Alright, then?"

"The value of the horns."

For the first time, Unken smiled.

It was just a slight twist of the lips.

"Of course, you'd figure that out."

"I read about it in the archives. A Red-Horned Rabbit with intact horns is rare. The horns have medicinal properties."

"I thought you were just a troublesome, arrogant brat, but you're diligent. Don't you think studying is a waste of time?"

"I don't dislike studying. If you think a studious brat is arrogant, you're spitting on the benefits of civilization's development."

"That's what I mean by arrogance. Hahaha!"

Unken laughed out loud.

"I could teach you dissection when I'm free."

"—That would be perfect. Is it okay?"

"Come at dusk tomorrow."

"Sure. Thank you."

"Alright. See you then."

Unken raised his hand to leave.

"—Wait a moment. The appraisal of the horns is still pending."

"What? I thought I could fool you."

This damn old man... Hikaru's cheek twitched.

But Unken looked at the horns and hummed.

"An individual with such intact horns is rare. There's no fixed market price. I need to check with the Alchemy Guild and the Apothecary Guild. In any case, I'll know by dusk tomorrow. I'll give you the money then."

"Understood. ...Damn, don't try to fool me."

Unken said to the grumbling Hikaru,

"I don't need to hear that from someone who brought up an old proverb like 'waiting for a rabbit.'"

Hikaru wanted to ask Jill about Unken, but adventurers still surrounded her.

He wouldn't rush to her.

Instead, Gloria noticed Hikaru and started to move towards him, so he left the guild as if fleeing.

Knowing the phrase "waiting for a rabbit" was a shock to Hikaru.

Of course, the kanji wasn't passed down. But Unken used a phrase very close to "waiting for a rabbit."

If Hikaru asked Unken about it, he would only say, "I think the village elders used it," and that he heard it as a child.

(...There might be other reincarnated people besides me.)

This was surprising, but on the other hand, he thought, "It's only natural."

Hikaru was brought here by Roland, a genius boy. The method he used was close to magic but not quite, a "technique to cross worlds."

If such a thing could be "studied," there would be materials about other worlds.

(But, there's no need to look for other reincarnated people.)

It was unlikely that anyone else could use the same "Soul Board" as Hikaru. After all, Hikaru obtained his "Soul Board" by chance, by stealing a "torn bag with light spilling out" just before the Heavenly Realm.

Even if other reincarnated people had such items, it was unlikely they would obtain the same "Soul Board." Roland had mentioned "unique magic, special skills, and abilities."

"Well, what should I do?"

He had no intention of leaving the city today.

He sat in a resting area near the main street, eating a sandwich.

Others were also there, like housewives chatting while shopping and a man dozing off on an errand.

"I want to learn more about this world... Roland's knowledge is biased towards the nobility. But before that..."

Pushing the last piece of the sandwich into his mouth, he stood up.

"I'll change inns."

He was missing a proper futon.

A cozy inn run by the innkeeper, his wife, and a signboard girl was also appealing, but Hikaru thought he wouldn't stay in the city for long.

Deepening relationships would make parting difficult and cloud his judgment. He had already built a deep (and one-sided) relationship with Jill, but he had to accept it as part of the Adventurer's Guild.

So, he came to a "business hotel."

A building like a matchbox. Five stories high, all rooms the same layout, private rooms only.

In this world, a "five-story building" was already considered luxurious. Moreover, "private rooms." There was even a steam sauna, a shared facility. It cost 1,000 Gil per night. Compared to 100 Gil per night for a basic inn for beginner adventurers, it was ten times more expensive.

"Are you really staying here?"

At the counter on the first floor, a front desk clerk in a uniform that fit the part was there.

She looked at Hikaru with interest, rather than suspicion. She had cat ears on her head.

Her light green hair was soft and tied back in a ponytail.

"1,000 Gil per night, right? I'll take three nights."

Hikaru handed over 3,000 Gil.

The cat-eared front desk clerk took it, her eyes wide. Her ears also twitched.

(I've read this in novels. The protagonist in another world is obsessed with cat ears. Why are they so obsessed? Have they never touched a real cat?)

"You're rich, sir. You're wearing nice clothes, too."

Her speech was very relaxed.

"Is that so? I'm glad you like my equipment."

Dodorono, the high-class dwarf, would be pleased.

"Here, the important points of our hotel. Since it's a private room and the soundproofing is decent, you can invite girls, but they can't stay overnight."

"...What did you just say?"

"Ah, sorry. Do you invite boys instead?"

"No."

Why did Jill and the cat-eared front desk clerk make such assumptions?

"Ah, does this hotel... have a lot of guests who do that?"

"Isn't that usual?"

"......I don't understand the (world's) usual."

"I get invited by guests too."

"Eh!?"

(Really? You can call the cat-eared front desk clerk!?)

His heart suddenly started racing.

It was a far cry from his earlier thoughts about why people were obsessed with cat ears.

(I, I'm a guy, after all, yeah.)

He justified it to himself.

"Of course, I'd decline if called—ahaha!"

"...That's true."

"Are you flustered?"

"I'm not flustered."

Hikaru's heart calmed down.

(That's right. It's not good to solve things with money. It's definitely not. And for the first time, it's better if the other person is also a first-timer... yeah, not because of a lack of knowledge or anything. Really. That's better, I think.)

"Ah, but..."

Leaning in, the cat-eared front desk clerk whispered,

"If you called me, I might be happy..."

Hikaru almost offered his wallet.

Remaining: 1,830 ( +7,500 +α)

5/25 Corrected Unken's points as they were off.