Chapter 379
Chapter 379
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 379
Chapter Title: Colors from Outer Space
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"This way!"
Following the girl's guidance, I headed deeper into the stable.
"Just like I mentioned, if you pay the deposit of 5 silvers total, that's it! The daily rental for a pack quite is 25 coppers, so if you return it on the tenth day, we'll refund you the remaining 2 silvers and 50 coppers!"
A daily rental of 25 coppers seemed reasonable enough.
In the old days, I would've wailed something like, "Oh god, these damn beasts cost more in labor than people, what a shitty world!" But not anymore.
This meteorite was worth the investment.
"A new breed that's pricier than an E-rank adventurer, huh."
"Blacky, you seriously comparing it to them?"
"Of course not."
These things were far more reliable than those worthless, talentless losers.
Their capabilities were actually superior, too.
They lacked the versatility of humans in many ways, but for hauling cargo, nothing beat them. That's why they charged more.
This wasn't a place that valued unskilled people.
Quaaaack!
Gu-gok! Gu-ge-ge-gok!
Kyu-reeeek!!!
All that echoed from the stable were the pitiful cries of beasts—once monsters, now reduced to livestock. But could I really use creatures screeching like this?
"Here's the one."
The girl opened the door to one of the partitioned stalls and tugged on the line connected to the saddle of a quite sitting inside.
Queeack.
The quite blinked its eyes slowly and ambled out.
Indeed, a cockatrice subspecies.
Its legs, covered in brown feathers, looked sturdy as hell. For someone whose lower body had been wrecked like mine, this seemed plenty capable for pack duty.
It was on the docile side, not crying out much.
"Just pull on this line, and it'll follow nicely on its own. Go ahead, give it a feel."
The girl handed the line to Winia. Even when Winia tugged, it didn't act up, so it seemed pretty tame.
"It can carry about the weight of two adult women and walk for several hours. It's omnivorous, so feed it grass or meat from hunted monsters—bones and all. Its beak can crush bones."
A monster was still a monster, through and through.
"For grass, just let it graze on leaves or whatever in the hills?"
"Yes. If you're traveling, you won't need to worry about feed costs."
The girl kindly answered my question.
"But can it tell what's edible?"
"Of course. We feed them outside all the time, so they know what grass is safe. They won't eat anything unfamiliar. Still, watch out for poisonous plants or mushrooms by mistake. If it dies, you'll have to pay for it, so be careful."
A decent pack quite like this ran about 7 silvers.
Cheaper than a horse, but considering prices here, still pricey.
A low-rank adventurer scraping by spent 3-5 coppers a day. The poor got by on 1-2. By their standards, it was outrageous.
But they weren't breeding these for losers like that. Fair price.
"Got it. Here's the fee."
"Have a great trip!"
After paying, we stepped out of the stable and used the straps we'd bought yesterday to load our backpacks onto the quite's back.
It was trickier than expected, and I was struggling when Claudy stepped in with her expert touch, showing me how to pack a beast.
"Ooh, as expected of a desert dark elf."
"I've done plenty of caravan escort work. Now that I've shown you, you can do it too, right, Katt?"
"I'll try next time—check it for me then."
"Sure thing."
Living long came with experience, alright.
Queeack.
The quite was remarkably well-behaved, not fussing even while we loaded it up. Seeing this, Winia stroked its neck and said,
"Looks like we picked a good one—nice and calm. Let's head out."
Awkwardly, I reached out and tugged the strap linking the saddle to its beak. Sure enough, it stepped forward in response.
Thud, thud.
Docile and obedient.
The saying "beasts beat people" rang true. And this was my first time with something like this—pretty novel and exciting.
"Oh, hey, it's actually moving."
"Heh heh. What'd you expect? That's what it's for. Anyway, let's roll."
We entered through the inner gate and exited via the north gate.
Now the real meteor hunt began.
No clue how it'd turn out, but I had some hopes. This must be why all the adventurers rushed off chasing them.
People heading toward uncertain new lands with puffed-up dreams—wasn't that the essence of adventure?
Earth's explorers sailing off for gold or spices weren't much different. When big money's on the line, humans dive headfirst—that's our species.
Desire is humanity's fuel.
"Winia, the route?"
Winia pulled out the map and started explaining.
"Stick to this road for now, then veer off midway. No need to detour—we can cut straight through some mountains and make it in 5 days. Lucky, maybe 4."
"Sounds good. No sweat."
Queeack.
"This thing moves real nice."
The quite plodded along steadily, bearing our load without complaint. Decent speed, good stamina—no issues there.
And on two legs, it could go where wagons couldn't. Self-feeding? Solid utility.
We walked the road endlessly.
No packs meant pure walking—not tiring at all. Felt like a picnic, even fun.
Though other travelers or fellow adventurers heading the same way made me wary.
In this era, anyone you met on the road was a potential bandit.
"Oh, this is something I heard from Karin."
"From the Swordsman Guildmaster?"
Winia glanced at me as I brought it up.
She didn't particularly like Karin. She and Claudy were close enough to fool around physically, though.
"Winia, you dislike Karin?"
"Who said that? She's just... whatever. Haven't seen the guildmaster much. Sis and I go way back—she's like family now."
"Aw, Winia, so you finally see me that way?"
"I said something similar last time. Don't cling. Hey, I said don't cling."
Claudy latched onto Winia. She'd once implied she liked Winia because I loved her and she'd borne my child.
"Karin said she wants to see you sometime."
Anyway, I dropped the Karin topic to Winia.
"Her? Well, I wouldn't mind catching up once. Maybe swing by together after this."
"Sure."
"So, Blacky, what'd Karin tell you?"
"Right, so this is what Karin told me."
This was back when I was laid up with a busted arm and told her about fighting the troll.
"In some kingdom, squire hopefuls get basic training for nearly a year straight after enlisting."
"Obviously—they're knights."
"Hmm, knights."
Both Winia and Claudy perked up.
Makes sense—new enlistees need training.
"Lots drop out during basics, or get weeded out for lack of talent. By year's end, they're culled down."
To me, a conscript who'd mustered out as a private, it felt like some other unit's boot camp tales—familiar.
"Finish that year of basics, and you're in as a rookie knight. But there's one final hurdle."
What Karin shared was about that last test.
"Hunting a troll."
"A troll?"
"Oho?"
We'd just bagged one ourselves.
I kept going as we walked.
"After a year of grueling training, they take the candidates to some massive forest full of secret swamps managed by the kingdom. Trolls are thick there."
Like a survival challenge with a clear goal.
"They pair 'em up in teams of three and drop 'em in the woods."
"Hunt a troll to pass?"
"Exactly, Claudy."
Spot on.
"Bring back one troll head: pass. Quit or fail: fail. Die: fail. About half make it."
Harsh conditions.
"Tests combat prowess against trolls, wilderness survival, tracking, mission accomplishment, mental grit, teamwork—the works."
"A bit brutal, but makes sense. Practical, too."
Winia nodded.
I agreed.
Kingdom knights oughta handle that much.
"Neat story. So Katt soloing a troll means he's rookie knight level?"
"That's what Karin said."
I puffed out my chest like a mountain.
Karin had the same reaction as Claudy when I told her.
She'd shared this story with praise.
Kim Katt had grown strong enough to land a hit on a troll and drive it off. I brought it up to boast about matching those rookies.
"Fun tale. Which kingdom?"
"Didn't ask."
"Why not?"
Not important.
Anyway, we chatted away like that, marching steadily. Us, the pack-laden quite—no one was struggling.
Steps still light.
"Veer off here. Gotta climb a mountain."
"Good times over."
From early morn to afternoon—we were due to turn. Took the mountain path straight on.
Queeack, quack.
A bit worrisome, but the quite handled the hills fine.
No issues. At lunch, we unpacked loosely, and it grazed on leaves and brush on its own.
Poured water into its mouth, and it drank obediently.
Even sat and rested by itself.
"This thing's pretty useful."
"Yeah? Might use 'em more from now on."
Winia seemed pleased too. We climbed till late afternoon when a valley appeared.
Whoosh...
Winia checked the map—follow the valley path.
"But too late to push on. Time's short, and the quite needs rest for tomorrow. Camp here. Blacky, pull out the gear."
"That stuff, huh."
Tied the quite to a nearby tree, unpacked, and broke out the camping supplies: long poles, tent cloth, straps.
Perfect spot by the valley.
Pitch tent here.
We three teamed up quick. Primitive setup—straps on poles for frame, cloth over—but fine for three to sleep in.
Soon a campfire too.
Dinner, wash in the valley, night watch, sleep. Sun's setting soon.
"Water looks clean—nobody around?"
Winia said, shedding her outer clothes. No signs of people nearby.
"Wanna wash? I'll keep watch. With Claudy."
"That's the plan. Sis, join me. Blacky, grab underwear and towels."
"Gotcha."
Felt just like camping.
I took their clothes and folded them neatly.