Chapter 9: An Unusual Encounter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9: An Unusual Encounter
Is this bastard actually dead?
"It's really wedged in there."
I put all my strength into wrenching the horn out of the tree. Only then did the creature's balance finally give way.
Thud...
The massive carcass tilted to the side and collapsed. Well, if it were still alive with a windpipe full of holes, it would have to be an undead.
"I actually took this thing down...?"
I’ve really become an explorer. Now the problem was how to carry it back.
"Hmm..."
The giant horn, glowing with a faint blue light, caught my eye. It was brimming with mana; if brewed, it would become a potent elixir, and if processed correctly, it could serve as material for a staff.
Rather than being broad like a palm, the horn looked more like thin, delicate tree branches.
Clang, clang—
Of course, it was incredibly hard. It made my iron sword ring. It was some damn fresh velvet antler. I knew it would be good for the body if I ate it, but...
The problem was how to eat it. My stamina was nearly at its limit after spending thirty minutes sprinting through the forest to wear the beast down.
I needed to recover my strength before moving on, but a Grain Cube wasn't going to cut it. Even if it could, I didn't exactly crave one. I wanted something that actually tasted good.
"I wonder if deer meat is any good..."
I figured deer would probably taste better than wolf. Since I’d be roasting it over a fire anyway, the comparison didn't matter much, but still.
As I spent a few minutes catching my breath and weighing my options—
A presence. It’s a person.
I felt someone nearby. They seemed to be hiding behind a tree. Am I screwed?
In situations like this, it’s best to tell them to come out immediately. If it can be solved with words, that’s the way to go.
"Who's there? Behind the tree."
The moment I spoke, the presence vanished instantly. They probably didn't expect me to be able to detect them so skillfully.
I kept my eyes fixed on the spot, and finally, they began to creep out, step by step.
Holy shit.
I could only see one foot at first, but that alone was enough to tell me this person was incredibly strong.
I mean, for god's sake, they were wearing metal greaves. To be able to mask one's presence so easily while wearing silver armor that covered the entire shin...
Wait, it’s a woman.
A woman with bright blonde hair tied up in a bun slowly emerged from behind the tree.
"I really didn't think you'd be able to catch it..."
She had a massive greatsword strapped to her back, which looked incredibly heavy even at a glance. The blade was as wide as her waist. Her lower body was dressed lightly, but... were those pauldrons even doing anything?
"Who are you? Hiding back there and watching like a criminal."
"I-It's not like that! I just... you looked like you were in danger...!"
"Then you should have come running out to help. Were you planning on just helping with my funeral after I died?"
"I'm sorry... I just had a feeling you could handle it on your own..."
"Hmm, well, that's true."
She doesn't seem to want to fight immediately. What's her angle? Is it the deer's loot after all?
"The battle is over. I'm the one who caught the deer."
"Huh? Oh, right..."
Even though I was making it very obvious that she should leave, she lingered, her footsteps halting. She definitely wanted something from me.
And if I had to guess, nine times out of ten, it was something bad.
"Are you after the horn?"
"N-No! I'm not that kind of person!"
"Then what kind of person are you?"
"Well, I... I'm Silver Grade..."
Silver Grade! That’s insane!
I’d probably have to die and come back to life again to reach that level. Not that it felt completely unattainable, though. After all, my body ended up like this precisely because I died once to a Direwolf and came back.
"What do you want? Just say it."
"I have a favor to ask!"
What kind of favor would a Silver Grade have for me? Is it a money issue? Because I caught the deer and could make a profit?
"What is it?"
The nameless woman kept fidgeting, her head spinning left, right, up, and down as her lips quivered.
"What?"
"The deer... are you going to eat it...?"
"Um, I think so."
"A-Are you... going to eat all of it...?"
"All of it?"
Even after removing the organs, bones, and other scraps, it was a hunk of meat weighing at least 100kg. There was no way I could eat it all.
"Of course not. I'm not a pig. How could I eat all that?"
"G-Gulp..."
"What the? What's wrong with her?"
Ah, this person is hungry.
"Come and eat with me. It's not that big of a deal."
"Really?! Is it really okay if I eat with you?!"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
* * *
Well, look at this pig.
"Seriously, are you even human? You ate all of this?"
"Thish ish..."
"Talk after you've finished what's in your mouth. You look ridiculous."
I had moved away from the tree, started a fire, and butchered the Blue-Horned Deer.
Rubica, the Silver-grade explorer. For a woman, she was a bit tall, and at a glance, she looked to be in peak physical condition.
Surprisingly, she had devoured over eighty percent of the Blue-Horned Deer's massive carcass by herself. I don't usually say things like this, but she literally just inhaled it. Like a dog. Holy shit. She can really pack it away. It was a legendary mukbang. Is she even human? She should really stop eating.
"It's the influence of my skill. I have the [Combustion Acceleration] skill. It makes me eat a bit more, but in exchange, I can exert great power."
"A bit more? You just ate two weeks' worth of food for a family of four in a single sitting."
"W-Well..."
I wondered how it all fit into that slender waist of hers. It was as if she had a four-dimensional pouch in her throat; the food that entered her mouth seemed to lose its volume and vanish into a subspace. She was nearing the end now, but her speed hadn't dropped since she started. She was just wolfing it down like a beast. Good grief.
"Impressive. How do you even afford your food expenses?"
"I-I eat what I hunt myself..."
"Just anything?"
"I don't eat just anything! I mainly hunt Wild Boars on the 8th Floor..."
She said the 8th Floor was her usual stomping ground. There were large monster pigs called Wild Boars there, and she caught and ate them frequently. I’d heard of them. Wasn't that meat commonly used in inns?
"Then why are you loitering around the 4th Floor right now?"
"I failed several hunts in a row. Eventually, I grew too weak to face the monsters on the 8th Floor."
She’s like a cheetah. If she fails a hunt, she starves and loses her strength. Leaving Rubica to her three-hour-long performance of deboning deer carcasses, I lay down on the ground to take a nap. I had eaten my fill and watched her for about ten minutes, but she was taking way too long.
While I slept, Rubica ate the four legs, the back ribs, the rump, the neck, and most of the miscellaneous bits that even a butcher shop wouldn't touch. Since there was so much to begin with, she did discard the parts that were truly inedible for a human, but even considering that, it seemed eighty percent of the beast had ended up inside her.
Look at that pile of bones next to her. It looks like a pack of scavengers passed through.
"Are you even full?"
"Mmm, it was a sufficient meal."
"I should hope so. Look at how much you ate."
"I-I suppose..."
The way she took out a handkerchief to wipe the grease from her mouth and hands gave her the air of a beautiful lady knight who would be respected anywhere. If only I hadn't seen her stuffing meat into both cheeks like a hamster just moments ago. Maybe I should have woken up a bit later.
Scattered around were the crudely skinned deer hide, blackened logs that looked like they’d been burning for a long time, and a mountain of bones. The parts she hadn't eaten had been tossed some distance away.
"What about you? Based on the direction you were heading, you were going toward the portal."
"I need to go to the 5th Floor. I'm aiming to promote to Lead Grade."
"What? You were still Brass Grade? You didn't seem like it at all."
"Things happened. I've gotten a bit stronger recently."
"I see."
Rubica stood up and strapped the greatsword she had set aside back onto her back.
"I was planning on returning to the surface now."
"Wait. You're just going to leave after eating all that meat?"
"U-Uh..."
As if. As a decent human being, if you eat 0.1 tons of meat, you have to pay your dues.
"Is there... something you want...?"
"Yes. There is."
"I will help you to the best of my ability..."
"You said you were heading back to the surface, right? Then take that horn over there and sell it for me."
I pointed toward the head of the Blue-Horned Deer. According to Rubica, selling the head as it was would be the best way to preserve its value.
"Will that be enough?"
"Oh, you have to give me the money from the sale. I think I'll be out a bit late, so, um... please leave it at the Mounted Goat Inn in southwest Calax. Give them my regards, too."
"Understood. What is your name?"
"It's Yoo Eon."
"A last will? Why so suddenly... were you planning on dying?"
"No. My name is Yoo Eon."
"That's... well, a pseudonym, I assume. Very well. I shall make sure the payment is delivered."
She was making the same misunderstanding, but I didn't bother explaining. It was easier to just let her think that.
"I'll be quite disappointed if you run off with it. Rumors might start spreading that a Silver-grade female explorer named Rubica polished off 0.1 tons of meat in one sitting."
"What do you take me for?! I would never do such a thing, so do not worry!"
"Yeah. You don't seem like the type."
After watching Rubica's beastly butchering show, I felt full myself. More accurately, I felt bloated just watching her, and my appetite had vanished.
I hope she doesn't end up clearing out the inn's food supply.
Then again, she ate that much meat, so she should be fine for a while.
"Ah, and... this is a personal token of my gratitude. You should find it useful."
"What's this?"
Rubica rummaged through her bag and handed me a small ring.
"It's an artifact. I obtained it on the 10th Floor. It's not of particularly high quality, but I have little use for it myself."
Following Rubica's instructions, I slipped the ring onto my left middle finger and channeled mana into it. A large round shield, big enough to cover my entire upper body, appeared. The sensation of the handle fitting perfectly into my grip was quite interesting.
"This is nice. I'll put it to good use."
"Good. I shall take my leave then. Thank you for the meal."
She walked toward the portal, and when she put strength into her step—
Boom!
With a loud sound, her body shot forward at an incredible speed. What amazing velocity. So that's a Silver Grade.
Combustion Acceleration, huh? It might be a good skill to have if you're rich.
The meat of the Blue-Horned Deer didn't smell particularly strong, but I couldn't say it was delicious either. I guess everything tastes good when you're starving. Since her skill must have made her incredibly hungry, it was understandable.
To move at that speed even with that massive greatsword on her back... I’d like to see her in a real fight sometime.
"Phew, time to head out."
I’d slept for about three hours. I could feel that my body had recovered.
"To the 5th Floor."