Peter was slightly stunned upon finally encountering something he had long anticipated in this medieval-style world.
A horse-drawn wagon stood before him. He had only ever read about peddlers' wagons in novels, yet now he found himself face to face with one-- far sooner than expected.
Peter gave his cheeks a quick slap.
"This isn't the time for amazement or curiosity. Focus on what matters first," Peter reminded himself.
Peter walked toward the Eternal Forest. Once he reached the entrance, certain no one would see him, he opened a portal that led to the Livelihood Dungeon.
...
Peter had just left the tavern when Thomas began persuading Old Man John to cook the two ears of corn.
By now, the two of them were in the back of the tavern, where the old man prepared his dishes.
Old Man John was boiling two ears of corn in a pot. They had been staring at the boiling pot for two minutes.
"Is it done by now, Old John?" Thomas inquired.
"Take a look. It might be cooked," he urged the old tavern owner.
"Remove the lid, old man. Poke it so you can tell if it's ready to eat."
Old Man John had already shaken his head several times at Thomas's relentless nagging. Thomas was trying to get him to pick up an ear of corn and taste it. The peddlar was clearly eager to try the mysterious food.
Another two minutes passed before Old Man John turned off the fire beneath the pot that was boiling the two ears of corn. Five minutes-- that was Peter's instruction to the old man. The young merchant insisted that it should be exactly five minutes, or at least around that time. The old man was simply following the instruction of the person who was familiar with cooking corn.
As Old Man John lifted the lid of the pot, a rich aroma filled the air. The two of them swallowed instinctively as the scent reached them.
They took it out of the pot.
They each tried to take a bite of their ears of corn, but burned their lips. They blew on them, letting the corn cool slightly.
Thomas hurriedly wiped the saliva running from his mouth with his sleeve. Even the usually composed Old Man John couldn't help but behave like a child at the rich aroma filling the air.
When they noticed the corn was at the right temperature, they both grabbed it at the same time. Their eyes widened at the first bite.
The two of them closed their eyes, smiling as they savored the taste of the corn for the first time.
Their faces showed clear contentment.
"What is this? At first bite, you feel the hardness of the outside, but as soon as you bite into it, you taste the softness and sweetness inside. It is so delicious!" That was what ran through their minds as they thoroughly devoured the corn. You would think they were racing against time by how quickly they were munching on it.
"So delicious! I can't stop eating this!" said Thomas, his voice filled with delight.
...
Peter re-entered Old Man John's tavern carrying a bag full of corn.
Old Man John and the traveling peddler Thomas immediately turned their attention to his bag. Some corn stalks were clearly visible inside.
Peter placed the bag on one of John's tables. In doing so, some of the corn he had managed to fit into it earlier fell out.
The peddler stepped closer, his eyes now shining. "What you said is true, Peter," he said after discreetly counting the amount of corn.
"It's delicious. I don't regret eating it. Your corn will be a hit, that's for sure." Thomas gave Peter a thumbs-up. Peter, on the other hand, clenched his fists tightly at Thomas's verdict.
"Uhm... I'm sorry, Peter. I'll take back the price I offered you earlier," the traveling peddler said, avoiding Peter's gaze.
"Eh?" Peter said, surprised and confused.
"I thought he said the corn was delicious? Why would he change his mind, then? Is this guy fooling me? Is he like those cunning and deceitful merchants I've only read about?" Peter became alert to what the other man would say next.
"I'll take each piece for five silver Terragon coins!"
"Huh?" Peter, and even Old Man John, were surprised by what Thomas had just offered.
"The food you brought is more than I expected. It has great potential to be food for those of high status. I believe you deserve a fair price. What do you say? Do you accept my offer?" Thomas said nervously, inwardly fearing that Peter might change his mind.
In fact, it was the opposite of what he had initially thought. Peter stood there, confused by his sudden stroke of luck.
Upon recovering, a grin appeared on Peter's lips.
"I'll think about it first!" Peter said, shocking not only Thomas but also Old Man John.
"Why? We already have an agreement? Is my offer still not to your liking? But I think that's the most adequate price." Thomas vehemently protested.
"I was right. For some reason, Thomas really wants my corn. Only a fool would not take advantage of that. I need to use his strong desire for the corn as leverage in this deal." Peter was quietly convinced of his own plan.
"One piece of your Terragon gold coin for my twenty ears of corn? What do you think?" Peter probed.
"Are you out of your mind? You want me to pay you ten times what I'm offering you? A hundred pieces of silver is a lot of money. Do you know that a single piece of gold can buy a high-ranked adventurer slave? Even I, a merchant, would hesitate to spend that much," the traveling peddler said, talking non-stop and panting.
"Two hundred silver for the corn!" Thomas counter-offered.
"Why don't we do it like this? Let me look at the products you're carrying at your wagon outside. If I see something I like, we can just discuss the price," Peter suggest
Thomas thought for a moment before finally agreeing with Peter.
...
Peter inspected the belongings in Thomas's wagon one by one. Tools and equipment, including weaponry and shields, were piled up inside, but only one thing caught his attention.
"Where did you get those chickens?" Peter asked, pointing to the two chickens that were locked in small cages. The type of chicken was familiar to him.
"Ha! You have a keen eye for such things, haven't you? You immediately identified the most expensive of all my products. You really are a merchant like me," Thomas said, clearly impressed.
"No matter how impressed I am with you, I won't sell them to you. No-- scratch that. I can't sell them to you. I already have someone I promised those chickens to. I intend to sell them to this village's lord," Thomas revealed.
"Besides, the price of a pair of those chickens is three hundred silver. They are among the few that have just arrived in the Terragon Kingdom. Only high officials in the town of Seaham have bought them. Those chickens even travelled all the way from the east," Thomas boasted.
"When are you going back to this village again?" Peter abruptly changed the subject.
"Why did you ask?" Thomas asked, confused.
"Give me that pair of Silkies, and the next time you come back here I'll sell you even more corn. A lot more," Peter said, emphasizing the word 'more' as he tried to entice Thomas.
"You know these types of chickens?" Thomas said, surprised. "Ah! Yes, you do. You're from the east as well."
The peddler suddenly fell silent. Peter was a bit taken aback that Thomas knew he was from the east even though he had never told him, but he concluded that Old Man John must have informed him.
The peddler frowned for a while. He was clearly struggling internally, likely deciding on his offer.
"Why don't we do it my way? Sell me some of these corn seeds and teach me the correct way to plant them as well. I will not proceed with the transaction I have with the lord; I'll even consider this a great favor from you. Whenever you're in Seaham, I'll give you a hand because of this favor. What do you say-- do you agree?" Thomas proposed another counteroffer, confident it was enticing enough.
"No. I'm not stupid enough to sell you the source of my income." Peter decisively rejected the offer.
"The next time you come back here, I'll sell you more corn for five pieces of silver each. Take it or leave it," Peter said, issuing his ultimatum.
Thomas sighed, feeling defeated.
"Okay, I agree." At last, the intense bargaining between the two came to an end.
"But wait. Where will you plant them? You know that the Lord owns all the land in the Village of the Beginnings?" Thomas asked.
"Are you serious about your question? Of course, I won't answer. It's a trade secret," said Peter.
Thomas was confused, especially by Peter's strange way of speaking at times.
Thomas handed Peter the cages containing two Silkies, which the latter gladly accepted.
"Why don't you sell that unique outfit of yours?" Thomas asked.
"I'm not selling," he replied with a flat refusal.
Thomas just scratched his head. He didn't expect his fellow merchant to reject him outright.
Peter expressed his intention to leave. Thomas answered with a nod, while old man John secretly gave him a thumbs-up.
Peter halted his steps, looked Thomas straight in the eye, and said, "By the way, next time you see a rare type of chicken or any animal, if possible, just sell them to me."
"Noted," Thomas replied.
"Okay. Thank you," Peter said before disappearing from their sight.
...
Inside the Livelihood Dungeon!
Peter entered the dungeon restlessly, carefully carrying the two Silkies in cages as if they were newborn babies.
Peter first went inside his master's lodge, where he was greeted by his adorable dungeon guide, Peach.
"Master!" Peach said excitedly when she saw him enter.
Peter patted the dungeon guide's head. In turn, Peach's face turned red at her dungeon master's unexpected action, but she soon smiled happily after her initial embarrassment.
The dungeon guide's gaze soon locked onto the cages he was carrying.
"You've brought home new companions!" Peach said after recovering, giggling softly.
"Yeah. They're called Silkies. I was surprised when I first saw them. To think they also exist here in the Skylark Realm," Peter said as he lifted the cage.
"What do you plan to do with them? Are you going to keep them as pets too, like with Ichiro? Will they be part of our family as well?" Peach asked Peter.
"I'm still thinking about whether to make them my official pets or not," Peter began.
"Silkies are a cute type of chicken. Usually, chicken lovers on Earth keep them as pets. Although I'm still undecided whether to make them my pets or not, I'm certain of one thing: I'm going to breed them for their eggs too," he added.
...
After a brief visit with Peach at his house, Peter made his way to the left side of the Master's Lodge, where he began his plan.
"This will do," Peter said after estimating that he was now five meters away from the lodge.
With dexterous flicks of his delicate fingers, Peter opened his dungeon shop.
...
Chicken coops (Designable)
...
Peter clicked the chicken coops option.
...
Are you sure you want to purchase one chicken coop for 100 Dungeon Points?
Yes 👈 or No?
...
Of course, Peter chose yes. When he clicked, the same result occurred as when he had unlocked the gristmill for free.
A virtual image of a chicken coop appeared, aligned with the chosen location in the Livelihood Dungeon.
The only difference is that this situation is slightly different from the previous one: this time, the image of the chicken coop is blurry and still has no definite shape.
Peter noticed the design option and began the task at hand. Seriousness became evident in his eyes. With focus, he visualized a chicken coop design he had seen on Earth. The grandeur of that coop had left a long-lasting impression on him.
"It's lengthy-- about twenty feet long, twelve feet high if you include the roof. Its roof is adaptable to any type of temperature. The width should be about five feet." The dungeon master of the unique dungeon muttered in one breath. His gaze intensified. Little by little, the structure of the chicken coop in Peter's mind began to take shape.
"The fence of this chicken coop is made of glass that adapts to any type of temperature. It's transparent and serves as a strong barrier. It has a door, of course." He followed this by designing it in a manner that prioritizes durability and protection.
By this time, the chicken coop's image is becoming clearer.
Last but not least is the chicken coop's interior design.
"On both sides, the chickens have long perches that are sturdy yet comfortable. At the end of the chicken coop is a room where the hens can lay eggs. It has a door that the chickens can easily push through." Peter is almost finished with the the design.
"Oh! I almost forgot about that. There are three narrow, rectangular metal feeding and watering stations for the chickens positioned parallel to each other. With their luster, anyone from the modern world who sees them for the very first time would immediately think they are stainless steel. Their length is the same as the chicken coop. Two of them are attached to the transparent glass panel walls, while the remaining one is at the center of the coop," he said, smiling, while admiring his finished product.
Next, he positioned the chicken coop next to the Master's Lodge.
Just like with the gristmill, the ground shook as the chicken coop was being built.
Peter was startled when a message suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
...
Do you want to set this design as your default design?
Yes 👈 or No?
...
He clicked 'Yes'.
Soon, a sturdy and luxurious home for the pair of Silkies emerged.
"It's worth spending my Dungeon Points," Peter stated as he marvelled at the sight in front of him. With that purchase, Peter's hard-earned Dungeon Points were depleted just like that. From 100, his balance dropped back to zero.
He opened the door to the chicken coop and walked in with the two Silkies.
"The temperature is lukewarm," Peter observed. "Perfect for raising livestock."
Peter closed the chicken coop door, then released the pair of Silkies from their cages.
The two came out of the cages hesitantly. They looked at Peter and take a few steps backs which is the normal reaction of a chicken seeing its new owner for the first time. He shrugged and picked out a small amount of feed he had for the chickens. He placed it on the top of his palms and slowly reached out his hand to the pair of Silkie. They warily looked back and forth at Peter's face and outstretched hand before hesitatingly inching towards him really slowly.
One Silkie moved forward while hiding the other one on its back as if protecting it.
"That saves me the trouble of checking which one's the male out of the two, huh?" he smirked.
Once the pair arrived they took one last peek at Peter's face before they started pecking at his hand, slow at first but soon picked up in speed.
"Guess hunger won out."
He refilled the feed in his palm after seeing the eager look on their small, cute faces.
Peter's heart swelled with appreciation as they began to circle around him after the pair finished eating. He took turns picking them up to stroke them. The chickens were clearly satisfied with the attention the dungeon master of the Livelihood Dungeon was giving them.
"Eat and drink plenty. After that, bring me more Silkies," Peter said, his eyes shining.
He began by filling the water container from the magical fountain, then filled their feed station to the brim with the crushed barley Thomas had given him.
"I estimate that their feed will last for a week."
...
Peter looked at the Regeneration Slime with a complicated expression. In just two weeks, it had already surpassed him in terms of stats. At that moment, all four of its stats were at the D- level. Peter suspected that the baby Regeneration Slime's natural strengthening was not over yet.
...
Name : none
Race : Regeneration slime (infant)
Gender : genderless
Age : 25 days
Lifespan : 1-50 years
Stats.
Strength : D-
Resilience : D-
Agility : D-
Spirit : D-
Ability :
Self-regeneration (passive)
- Recovers a tenth of the user's health per second.
...
As he looked at the Regeneration Slime, Peter became determined to make it his officially recognized second companion.
Peter went to the Livelihood Shop and bought a Crest of Friendship for 10 Livelihood Points. His LP dropped from 580 to 570, which wasn't a big deal for him.
Peter extended the hand that was holding the Crest of Friendship.
Peter noticed the slime's ingenuity when it reached out and touched the crest on its own. It was as if the slime instantly understood his intention. Just like with Ichiro, the spot where the Regeneration Slime stood lit up at that instant. As the light faded, a mark appeared, sealing the companionship between Peter and the Regeneration Slime.
"Okay!" Peter shouted, punching the air in excitement. "I just caught a Regeneration Slime!"
The light green slime affectionately nuzzled against Peter's feet.
"You need a name. It wouldn't be fair if Ichiro were the only one with one." Peter paused briefly before saying, "Because you're so cute, you're now Kawaii-kun."
"Kyuuuu?!" He wasn't sure if he was just imagining things, but it seemed the tiny light green slime had turned a bit paler than usual. He gave a wry smile at its strong reaction, as if it was accusing him of giving it a repulsive name. It repeatedly shook its small body in protest.
"Okay, okay! I'll think of something better," he said, raising both hands as if in surrender.
Peter mulled over the naming matter long and hard.
"How about Iyashi?" asked the dungeon master-slash-monster tamer, addressing his newly acquired companion.
"Kyuuuu?" he's sure that the Regeneration Slime is happy but is still somehow skeptical.
"Iyashi has multiple meanings, such as heal, recover, and comfort. The bottom line is that its meaning has something to do with the recovery of the mind and/or the body," Peter reflexively explained, because even without being able to understand each other due to the language barrier, he could still somehow understand the meaning of the sounds the slime was making.
Peter's smile widened as the Regeneration Slime made a joyous sound, indicating that it was pleased with its new given name.
Scratch that. Saying it was just simply pleased with it's new given name is an understatement.
"Kyuuuu! Kyuuuu!" It love the meaning of its name. It's shaking as if it was dancing.
...
The following conversation took place after Peter left the tavern, having just completed a successful transaction.
"Old John, let's boil a few corn again," the traveling peddler said excitedly.
"Aren't you going to sell this bunch of corn to the influential people in your town?" Old Man John looked incredulously at the visibly excited peddler.
"Yes. But I'm the seller of this delicious product, so why wouldn't I take advantage of it? I'll only eat one piece, mind you," Thomas reasoned.
"You've got a point," agreed the old tavern owner.
"But I hope you haven't forgotten something. You ate one of my corn," Old John reminded Thomas.
"Of course. That's why I said a few corn earlier. I'll replace what I ate," he said, giving the old man a look.
"Look at you, old man. We've known each other for a long time, and you still don't trust me. You're hurting my feelings," Thomas said, shaking his head as if trying to guilt-trip him.
"Just making sure," the old man replied unwaveringly, shrugging his shoulders.
...
Peter heads to the Eternal Forest with his second official companion, repeatedly returning to the designated meeting place where he is meant to meet the wolf Ichiro. Restlessness begins to creep in. He is already growing worried. The sun is about to set, yet the first companion he had in this world still hasn't appeared, even though their meeting time had long since passed.
Peter and the Regeneration Slime named Iyashi turn at the sound of rustling from one side of the forest. When they do, the two of them are horrified by what they see.
Peter felt his heart stop beating for a moment. A heavily wounded Ichiro collapsed just a short distance in front of them.
"Ichiro!" Peter shouted in panic, rushing to where his first companion had fallen.
Peter knelt down in front of Ichiro. He was saddened to see the condition of his companion up close. The wolf's wounds were deep.
Peter forced back his tears. Crying would do nothing; it would only cloud his judgment.
"Don't panic, Peter. Think. Don't let your family member die," Peter thought.
Peter clicked his tongue in annoyance when he realized he couldn't find a solution to the situation at hand.
Peter was about to carry his companion back to the village when Iyashi moved toward the fatally injured Ichiro.
Peter no longer cared whether the villagers would discover Ichiro. He was desperate to save his first companion's life.
"Kyuu!!" the slime Iyashi cried out. Peter sensed it was desperately trying to communicate something. Peter nodded when he realized the second companion's intention.
Iyashi expanded its body and wrapped itself around Ichiro's gravely injured form.
Peter was surprised when Iyashi, still wrapped around Ichiro, began to glow with a green light.
After the light disappeared, Peter suddenly took a deep breath.
Iyashi got down and separated itself from the unconscious wolf.
As the Regeneration Slime withdrew its slimy body and the view of Ichiro was no longer obstructed, Peter realized that all of Ichiro's wounds had miraculously disappeared.
A few moments later, the wolf's tightly shut eyes slowly opened.
Ichiro struggled to his feet, and Peter immediately stepped in to support him.
"Are you okay, Ichiro?" Peter asked, looking at his companion in concern.
"Gru!" Ichiro replied, his voice still weak but steadying.
Peter sighed in relief as he opened the gate to his Livelihood Dungeon and stepped inside, carrying the still weak wolf. His new official companion, Iyashi, followed behind him.
"Thank you, Iyashi!" Peter said, his voice full of gratitude toward his new companion.
"Kyuu!" the Regeneration Slime chirped happily.
...