Chapter 62
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Welcome to Riyaaya
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“Hungry Slayer 62”
“Kreptonos is as popular as ever,” Bankers said, watching the delighted hunters and merchants.
“No bones to deal with, and the recipes are simple. It’s definitely a great monster for folks new to beast meat,” River added.
As if to prove her point, Priscilla was too busy stuffing her face with all sorts of Kreptonos dishes to pay attention to anything else.
Having a popular, easy-to-handle beast like that was a good thing. That was exactly what they’d aimed for back in Mekardo.
“Finding more beasts like Kreptonos on the road wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“Yeah, but in the long run, it’d be better if people’s butchering skills improved quickly.” Dane started, then continued.
“Yadus Butcher Shop can’t just stop at storing and selling the beasts we butcher. It needs to act as a middleman for meat that people butcher and debone themselves.”
“That’s the reason you mentioned before. As others’ skills rise, monopolizing meat gets harder, but it’ll mean access to even more meat,” Bankers said, and River chimed in with her thoughts.
“It won’t be easy. It might work in cold places like Leighton or Harac Bar, but in hot spots like the delta, no one but Dane could manage it.”
Dane felt a bit embarrassed.
Just as River said, butchering and deboning fresh kills in this climate wasn’t easy.
Beyond being easy to handle, the best thing about Kreptonos was that they could be traded live.
‘If we could capture beasts alive and butcher them inside the Yadus trailer, that’d be perfect. It’d cover up to medium-sized ones.’
With that additional hope in mind, they spent the day, and Kreya’s merchant ship headed to the next stop, the village of Kapindo.
Even en route to the next village, aquatic beasts kept attacking.
“Mind if we hunt?”
Rolland just nodded at Dane’s question.
The other hunters, spurred by Dane, stepped up to catch one or two, but none dared jump into the water.
With no large beasts around, Dane didn’t bother tying a rope to his ankle. Bankers looked extremely disappointed.
“There are still plenty we haven’t tried,” Dane said. Unable to ignore new beasts, he teamed up with the other hunters to net and harpoon them.
After catching and eating through half a day, they arrived at the village of Kapindo.
The Kapindo branch manager of Kreya Trading Company was a gloomy-looking man.
Dark circles under his eyes were especially prominent, and his cracked voice suggested it had been a while since he’d spoken.
“We got word from headquarters, but I’m not sure what we can do for you. Kapindo’s just a stopover—no other functions,” he said. The terrain seemed to play a big role.
Dane spoke up.
“The map shows a country called Riyaaya northwest of here. We’d have to pass through it to hunt up north, right?” The already dour branch manager’s face turned ashen.
“Do we really have to go?”
“Is there a problem?”
“You seem like an important client for headquarters, so I’m worried you won’t come back.” With that, he began telling them about Riyaaya.
“When merchants from the Fold and Morph regions first tried setting up a stopover village here in Kapindo, people from Riyaaya showed up. We didn’t even know the place existed until then. The path there was so treacherous, no one had bothered going deep.”
The branch manager added that they’d made a pact not to interfere with each other.
“That sounds just like us Krukushu folk,” Bankers said, and the branch manager nodded.
“All the delta nations are like that. Outsiders call them barbarians, but they were here first, so you can’t help but respect them.”
Bankers liked the branch manager’s attitude and slapped his back, laughing heartily.
Dane asked,
“So what do you mean they don’t come back?”
“There was a butcher squad like yours that insisted on going to Riyaaya, but none of them ever returned.”
“……Why?”
“No idea. Even the ones who went looking didn’t come back.”
“Didn’t Kapindo try to investigate?”
“We made a pact not to. They haven’t come down to Kapindo once since then—not under my predecessor or their predecessor. If they’re keeping the pact, we can’t break it.”
The party waited for their captain’s decision. As expected, the branch manager’s words only piqued Dane’s interest further.
The butcher squad told the cruise captain to keep the ship docked until they returned and set off for Riyaaya.
“For once, let’s play economic envoys.” No merchants or other hunters joined them.
* * *
Consulting the crude map from the branch manager, Dane’s butcher squad set out, exhausted by the humid heat and relentless swarms of bugs.
Dane, River, and Priscilla couldn’t bring themselves to leave the carriage. It contrasted sharply with Bankers and Dink, who were in top form.
Dink munched on grass while carving paths where none existed.
“Hunting here would be a nightmare in itself.”
Dane wiped himself down with a towel chilled in the Yadus storage.
In this environment, they had to avoid wandering the jungle searching for beasts. Short moves and quick grabs of worthwhile ones—that was the hunting style needed.
They could only hope to find a good hunting guide in Riyaaya.
Fortunately, perhaps.
Dane’s group encountered no beasts en route. Even Dane, finely sensing beast auras from inside the carriage, felt no thrill.
“It’s uphill all the way.”
“Yeah. Dink doesn’t seem bothered at all.”
River and Dane lounged back, worrying idly.
The carriage, tilted slightly backward at some point, stayed that way for a long stretch. They guessed they were at quite the elevation. Time passed.
“Everyone out! It’s livable now.” At Bankers’ shout, they opened the door and found it much more pleasant than the jungle fringe. Yellow flowers bloomed vibrantly around them, releasing a cool, mint-like scent.
It made the path under the carriage feel even more established. And moreover.
“The bugs have thinned out a lot?” River said happily, halting Dink briefly.
She examined the roadside flowers and grasses, plucking and tasting bits.
“This yellow flower’s leaves seem to be the source. Some kind of herb—strong flavor, refreshing. Good for cooking.” She gathered armfuls of leaves for the carriage.
The flowery path grew more splendid, as if welcoming Dane’s butcher squad.
Savoring the fresh scent from atop the carriage, Dane spotted an odd structure. Just then, Bankers shouted.
“Hey, folks! Up ahead… looks like we’re almost at Riyaaya.”
A massive arch-shaped stone pillar on the road looked like an entrance to Riyaaya. Yellow flowers climbed and blanketed it—a giant yellow flower gate.
“Ha ha, this doesn’t feel like some barbarian land at all.”
“Somehow, it already feels peaceful.”
Bankers and River shared their impressions. Dane glanced at Priscilla, who sat on the roof with them, wide-eyed and looking around.
“You’ve never been to Riyaaya either?”
“No.”
She’d come close but never entered. Traveling the continent alone to study roots and beasts, she had to be cautious about other races’ territories.
It was possible only with Dane’s group. Priscilla felt excitement tinged with a touch of fear.
“Bankers, hold up!”
Shortly after passing the gate, people stood in a line, waiting for Dane’s group.
How did they know?
All in pristine white clothes, they greeted Dane’s party with bright smiles. These must be the people of the small eastern delta nation, Riyaaya.
The butcher squad dismounted and walked toward them.
Riyaaya folk looked like ordinary humans. Their uniform attire felt off, but there was no hostility.
Dane stepped forward with a greeting.
“We’re Dane’s Butcher Squad from the Fold region. We’ve come to seek exchange with Riyaaya.”
In response, a kindly-faced elder took a step forward.
“I am Gurbannan, priest of Riyaaya. We bless the visitors’ arrival.” As Gurbannan finished, young men and women approached Dane’s group, placing wreaths of yellow flowers on their heads.
Dane’s party awkwardly accepted and donned them.
Women for the men, men for the women. Before Bankers, a pair fumbled awkwardly, and he knelt to receive from both.
Each added thanks for coming, meeting eyes with pure, innocent smiles. The rumors of their reclusiveness seemed unfounded.
Dane’s group laughed at each other’s flowercrowned looks.
“Captain, it suits you.”
“You pull off yellow better than I thought.”
Priscilla felt Gurbannan’s piercing gaze and pulled her hood down. The wreath atop it looked amusing.
Dane asked abruptly.
“You seemed to know we were coming.”
“When the Nepeta flowers bloom fully, Riyaaya holds a festival. And precious guests always arrive.”
“So those yellow blooms are Nepeta flowers.”
Gurbannan smiled as if closing his eyes.
“I can’t remember the last time they bloomed so vibrantly. We prepared excitedly to welcome you. Please, come inside.”
They’d only come to request hunting conveniences nearby. They hadn’t expected guest treatment and festival participation.
His comrades looked to Dane, silently asking what to do.
Dane recalled an old memory.
That’s how horror movies usually went. Young folks visit a strange village or country, receive warm welcomes from secretive locals, and end up with a horrific experience.
Dane said quietly.
“Let’s go in for now. We were headed there anyway.” That alone wasn’t reason to turn back. He didn’t think his squad would end up as sacrifices.
* * *
Dane’s group drew fervent attention from the Riyaaya folk.
Women surrounded Dane, flashing coy smiles, while men vied desperately for River and Priscilla’s glances.
Even Bankers and Dink were swarmed with popularity. Children crowded around, making movement difficult.
They finally reached a well-kept expansive meadow. Jagged cliffs rose distantly, but otherwise it opened wide.
A highland meadow in the heart of tropical jungle was astonishing.
Scattered Riyaaya folk applauded their arrival.
Clear flute melodies filled the air from all sides. Free-roaming cattle, sheep, and dogs mingled, with children darting and laughing among them.
The pastoral, peaceful vibe eased tensions.
Dane’s group couldn’t help smiling at the welcomers’ bright grins.
Dink seemed taken with the meadow too, following without resistance and grazing eagerly amid the strangers.
“Ha ha, this place feels free of worldly worries. Hard to believe it’s the delta.”
The squad nodded at Bankers’ words.
‘Maybe it’s so nice they never want to leave.’ Even Dane entertained the thought briefly.
Scattered large wooden buildings dotted the meadow, and far off on the cliffs stood a stone structure blanketed in yellow flowers.
The building resembled low-stacked square boulders. Given Gurbannan’s introduction, it was likely a temple.
“That is the sanctuary of the sacred Avaris,” Gurbannan said, walking beside and reading Dane’s gaze.
“The god of Riyaaya?”
“Prosperity and peace both come from Avaris.” Gurbannan gazed at the temple solemnly for a moment.
Following his gaze, Dane sensed a faint meat alarm.