Chapter 52: Not on Purpose
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Not on Purpose
“Going into the labyrinth this late?”
“No. I have some business at the workshop. Are you still working?”
“We’re a mid-sized clan. We have to work twenty-four-seven just to survive. But the Lizardmen you hunted should be long gone by now, sold off already.”
When I arrived at the guild, Katrina was attending to explorers in a very relaxed manner, her bare feet propped up on the table.
She was wiggling her toes inside her black stockings while munching on a raspberry pie she’d gotten from somewhere. I couldn't tell if I was talking to a person or a pair of feet.
Beside her, Dahlia was politely dealing with other explorers. I suppose veterans get to be comfortable wherever they go.
“I know, but is there anything I can have? Just a stray bone or something would be great.”
“A bone? Let’s see...”
Rattle—
Katrina pushed her chair back, grabbed a sheet of paper from behind her, slid the glasses resting on her forehead down to the bridge of her nose, and scanned the contents.
“Go to tables 27, 42, and 44.”
“Why? Is there something special about the monsters there?”
“Those weren't brought in by explorers; they were hunted by guild staff. Table 27 has a Blue-Horned Deer, and the other two have Wild Boars. You can buy them right now if you have the cash.”
“I see. Thanks.”
“Here, kiddo. Take this.”
Katrina handed a piece of candy to Ravi, who had been watching from the side.
“Ah, thank you...”
“Katrina, what about me?”
“What? This candy is only for cute little children.”
“Hey, I can be pretty cute too.”
“Is that so? Stop saying disgusting things and get going.”
“Fine, fine. I’m going.”
So you can’t even get candy if you’re not cute. This world really is rotten.
“Yu-Yoo Eon... would you like this...?”
“Really?”
Ravi held out the tiny candy on her palm. Just to see what would happen, I reached for it. As expected, her expression soured instantly. Her face was a busy map of emotions—turning gloomy whenever I moved to take it and brightening whenever I pulled my hand back.
“It’s okay. You eat it, Ravi.”
Taking candy from a kid is a bit much, even for me.
The guild workshop was a bit quieter than during the day, likely because it was night. Still, more than half the tables were occupied. I headed for the nearest one, table 27.
On it lay the carcass of a large Blue-Horned Deer, neatly butchered. The most striking feature was its massive antlers. The last one I caught sold for 35 silver coins.
Thinking back, that didn't seem like such a high price. Then again, considering the average monthly salary for an inn employee is about 40 silver coins, it felt quite expensive. 35 silver for a raw material that hadn't even been processed was a decent sum.
“Good evening. I heard the items on this table are available for immediate purchase.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. These were brought in by the guild staff during their rounds.”
“I’d like to buy the antlers. How much?”
“Give me 50 silver coins. These are from a very old specimen, so they’re worth quite a bit.”
“Hmm.”
The antlers of a Blue-Horned Deer are more valuable the older the animal is. I guess the one I sold before was a relatively young one. Well, the dismantlers aren't volunteers, so the markup was expected.
“Fine. Could you also cut the antlers according to my request?”
“Sure, how do you want them? Usually, we sell them as is, so there will be a small labor fee.”
I handed over an extra 2 silver coins and had the complex, branch-like antlers trimmed down into straight poles. Of course, I bought all the trimmed-off pieces as well.
Since the only stomach I currently had was from a Direwolf, the opening was small, and I had no choice. Most monster stomachs are discarded anyway, so I figured I could get a larger one if I went to the Lymain workshop tomorrow morning.
“Let’s go, Ravi.”
I returned to the appraisal office carrying the neatly trimmed Blue-Horned Deer antlers. I didn't mind doing this anywhere, but Ravi kept insisting that other people shouldn't see, so we headed back for now.
Usually, people who get good skills brag about them at the inn, but I hadn't really done that.
Anyway, it was time for the experiment. Ravi was bouncing around in excitement, urging me to start.
“This is going to be an incredible discovery...! Literally a discovery that will go down in history...!”
“Is it really that big of a deal?”
“W-Well, maybe not that big...”
Still, Ravi’s inquisitiveness was a huge help to me. Initially, I joined her research because I needed the money, but now I sought her out because I needed her expertise.
“Here goes.”
“Yes!”
I transformed my hand into the Lizardman Fly Swatter I’d made earlier. It was a frame made of thinly processed bone, roughly covered with leather to hide the bone. After manifesting the Direwolf stomach beneath it, I shoved the antler into the opening.
“Hmm.”
“Ooh...!”
About ten seconds after I dropped the antler fragment in, the stomach squirmed and shook. Then...
“Oh, it disappeared.”
“It worked...! My theory was right! Whether it was created by a skill or isn't your own biological organ, as long as it functions as a ‘stomach,’ it works!”
“Indeed. This really is a major discovery.”
“Yes, yes! Now you can eat various things much more easily!”
Since I wasn't using my mouth, I didn't have to taste anything. There was no risk of injuring my esophagus, and most importantly, the size limitation was gone.
Once I secured a large stomach tomorrow, I’d be able to sweep up carcasses like I had a dimensional pouch.
“Ah, Ravi. Do you have plans tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? Why?”
“Come with me to the Northwest.”
I thought having Ravi along might help me identify useful organs.
“The Northwest...! I’d love to!”
* * *
“Is she your companion?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. Please, come this way.”
It was the same beastkin guide from yesterday. I wondered if this person was a manager. It must be tough having high-ranking people visit so often.
“Basically, it is difficult for us to hand over rare materials or materials that are already under order. Lady Theodora asked for your understanding on this matter.”
“Yes, I heard.”
The parts I wanted weren't considered rare materials anyway. Of course, some rare materials might have functions that tempted me, but most materials were meant to be processed.
Besides, what I wanted were the "useless" bits like muscle and internal organs.
“Ravi, what’s with the bag?”
“Ah! This?”
Ravi was lugging a large backpack on her shoulders. It looked quite high-end, resembling an expensive schoolbag at first glance. With the bag, she really looked like a student.
She had even worn a wide-brimmed witch hat to dress up, but in my eyes, it just made her look incredibly goofy.
Inside were various books—monster encyclopedias detailing the characteristics, traits, and habits of monsters, similar to the ones I often saw at the appraisal office.
It certainly seemed like they would be helpful to have on hand.
“Ah, and Lady Theodora asked me to give you this.”
“This is?”
“It seems she has written down the details regarding your future schedule.”
“Ah, I see.”
I received a high-quality envelope, but I decided to check it later. For now, I wanted to look around the workshop.
“Aven, you’ve come.”
“Old man, good to see you again.”
“Ho ho, indeed. The young lady told me to assist you with whatever you’re doing today, so this old man has been waiting.”
“Should I have come a bit later so you could rest?”
“Not at all. Sitting around only makes one age faster. You have to keep moving to live long.”
Old Man Muto’s experience in the workshop was vast; he knew the price range of almost every material. He would be able to steer me away from materials that were in high demand.
It seemed I was meant to ask him whenever I needed to "bite off" something, but I didn't need to do that anymore.
“Old man, is a monster’s stomach used for anything?”
“A stomach... sometimes they are eaten. As stomach dishes, that is. Their value as a material isn't very high. They rot quickly and are less durable than leather.”
“So they’re mostly useless, then.”
“Precisely.”
“Which monster currently in the workshop has the largest stomach?”
“Hmm, would you like to follow me?”
“Yes.”
I followed Old Man Muto deeper into the workshop. I saw crane-like machines and massive non-human species professionally dismantling giant monsters.
A monster about eight meters long lay on a wide metal floor, its belly slit open as fresh organs were being pulled out.
“What is that?”
“That is a Titan Toad from the 3rd Stratum. It’s a massive toad monster. Its stomach is also quite large.”
“Whoa.”
What does the 3rd Stratum even look like for things like this to show up? Do people fight these things once they go above the 21st floor?
“Are you not using the stomach?”
“No, we aren't. If I ask, they’ll remove it cleanly for me. Please wait a moment.”
As Old Man Muto approached the site with a gentle smile, the workers treated him with great respect. He must be someone quite high up.
I looked over to see what Ravi was doing, and she was picking up books that had spilled out of her bag. The workshop was so noisy I hadn't noticed.
“Goodness, what are you doing?”
“The, the books fell...”
“I’ll pick them up, so stand up. You shouldn't crouch like that in a skirt.”
After picking up all the books, dusting them off, and putting them back in the bag, I carried it myself. Maybe because of all the books, it was heavier than I expected. It must have been a burden for Ravi.
In the distance, a monsterkin worker who looked to be five meters tall was following Old Man Muto. In his hand, he held a gruesome pink pouch dripping with crimson blood. That was likely the Titan Toad’s stomach.
“Could you... have the contents emptied out before bringing it?”
“Ah, right. I’ll tell him.”
Old Man Muto turned around and said something, and the worker immediately flipped the stomach inside out, dumping the contents.
“Ravi, eyes closed, nose pinched.”
“Ugh...”
Regardless, I succeeded in obtaining a massive stomach. Since the soft stomach was easily cut even with a butchering knife, I sliced it into a long strip and immediately stored it inside the Lizardman Fly Swatter.
“A different method than yesterday, I see.”
“Yes, I figured out a new way.”
“It is truly impressive to see you grow.”
“Haha, well. You’re the impressive one, Old Man Muto.”
And so, I obtained a massive dimensional pouch large enough to fit a whole person. It looked hideous, but if I squinted from a distance, it almost looked like Santa’s gift sack.
Of course, what went inside weren't gifts, but fodder for my skill.
“Ravi, I’ve got a giant stomach. Shall we take a look around now?”
“Okay! I’ll work hard to find some useful organs for you!”
Of course, Ravi never actually got to work hard at finding anything. Old Man Muto knew the workshop inside and out.
In the end, Ravi wasn't much help. It wasn't on purpose, but she did spend the whole day working hard to toughen up her weak stomach.