When I dispelled the dome by draining its mana, everyone was surprised, so I taught them how to do the same.
If an earth mage created shield after shield during practice and left them standing, the remains might attract attention and start rumors.
Lindy and her companions were astonished when the shields crumbled at the command “Release the mana,” but the explanation made sense to them.
Their earthen shields normally collapsed with time, yet traces remained for quite a while.
Earth mages employed in construction deliberately created structures meant to last, so their magic was presumably made denser and more permanent.
As we walked, Lindy occasionally created a shield and smiled with satisfaction whenever it collapsed after she released its mana.
I left Lindy’s protection to her companions and took the lead, keeping watch in every direction while searching for prey.
Jake and the others had followed me the previous day from near the limit of their scout’s Detection range, yet I had sensed them clearly the entire time. My range was probably wider than theirs; otherwise, they would have warned me whenever they detected beasts ahead.
Even so, Bulls, Earth’s Shield’s scout, said nothing as I led the way and merely watched as though testing what I could do.
I hunted the Red Chickens and Green Birds myself, while Jake’s party took the Horn Rabbits, Hedgehogs, and Elk whose locations I pointed out.
Remembering the request for Chikki-Chikki Birds, I concentrated our search along the forest’s edge.
If we went deeper, there’d be more of them—but Earth’s Shield wasn’t strong enough for that, and training magic took priority. No reason to push them.
Before choosing a campsite, we caught five Chikki-Chikki Birds, four Runner Birds, four Red Chickens, and three Green Birds.
At this rate, we would gather enough in another two or three days, and I might soon be able to afford a Rank 5 Magic Bag.
Once the camp was set up—including one for Jake’s group—I asked Lindy about her mana recovery.
“It’s not perfect, but I think it’s mostly restored.”
I had her make a shield. It formed faster than in the morning and had the right size and thickness I’d specified. I was impressed—clear, detailed instructions really sped up learning for someone who already knew magic.
I gave her a watch and told her to note the time when she exhausted her mana and again when she woke, allowing us to measure her recovery period.
Jake and the others were busy dragging in heavy barricades they’d built—looking completely at ease now that they had a secure camp.
While watching them prepare dinner, an idea came to me.
“Lindy, do you have anyone in your group who can butcher birds?”
“Sure. Actually, all of us can handle birds and small animals. Why?”
“Then please butcher and cook one Chikki-Chikki Bird. I haven’t eaten one in ages, and a single bird should be enough for everyone.”
“We’ve got no objections, but isn’t that bird worth a lot?”
“I was asked to deliver about twenty before the end of the month. At this rate, we’ll collect enough in four or five days. Besides, I want to learn how to butcher them.”
“Heh, wanting to eat a rare bird like that… you some noble’s kid or something?”
“Not at all. My mother works in a hotel kitchen. After becoming an adventurer, I sometimes brought home Runner Birds and Chikki-Chikki Birds for her to cook, although the hotel kept half.”
I had assumed that adventurers who carried frying pans would also know how to butcher their prey.
I didn’t even own a frying pan—or salt, for that matter.
Back when I could still live from home, I’d gotten spoiled by market food, but now I was sick of it. Might as well learn field cooking and butchering properly.
While they prepared the Chikki-Chikki Bird, I practiced on a Red Chicken.
I began by cutting its neck and draining the blood, which required more effort than I had expected.
Plucking the feathers, removing the organs, and dividing the meat into portions were no easier. The knife I had bought from an adventurers’ shop was terribly dull.
Their neatly butchered Chikki-Chikki Bird made my Red Chicken look pitiful by comparison.
Bulls and the others grinned as they watched my clumsy attempt.
It was the knife’s fault!
With one of the enchanted-steel blades Strongarm used… well, perhaps I would have done better.
Anyway, I set my Red Chicken aside for lunch tomorrow and focused on enjoying the sizzling aroma from their frying pan.
“I’ve never eaten Chikki-Chikki Bird before. It’s incredible!”
“No wonder nobles and wealthy people want it.”
“And this fellow cuts one up merely because he feels like eating it.”
“I want to become skilled enough to hunt Runner Birds someday.”
“We’ll shoot them for you with our bows.”
“Bulls wouldn’t even notice a Runner Bird hiding in the grass. I’ll find it and blast it out with Stone Bullet!”
“Oh? Lindy’s becoming a scout now?”
“You find them, and I’ll blast them.”
They bantered while I devoured my portion. The simply prepared meat, seasoned only with salt and an unfamiliar herb, tasted far better than the hotel version.
A week later, Lindy could create shields and shelters fairly quickly and even form a dome large enough for seven people.
The accuracy and speed of her Stone Lance still needed work. Accuracy required endless repetition, so I told her to practice every night.
I couldn’t teach speed by explanation alone. For that, we needed Strongarm’s powerful archers as a reference.
By then, we were catching more than three Chikki-Chikki Birds a day, so it was time to return to town.
We arrived early, and the Adventurers’ Guild dismantling hall was mostly empty.
The moment the dismantling clerk saw me, he rushed over and shouted, “Did you get the full number?” startling the few parties present.
“Yes, more than twenty. I also brought Earth’s Shield’s catches…”
“Good. Come with me.”
As we followed, the usual hecklers spoke up.
“Hey, old man, we were first!”
“You trying to cut in line? You know what happens, right?”
“Getting cocky because people call you ‘the Breeze,’ huh? Keep it up and you’ll get hurt sooner or later.”
“Shut up! He’s fulfilling a commission from the Marquis’s household. If the numbers come up short, I’ll make sure their representative hears that it was your fault!”
The butcher’s angry roar made the guys who’d been complaining instantly look away, pretending they had nothing to do with it.
“Come on. If those fools cause any trouble, tell me. I’ll make certain their evaluations receive the lowest possible rating.”
The old man made the frightening threat as casually as if discussing the weather, then pointed toward a corner of the dismantling hall. “Line them up over there.”
I began by arranging the twenty-six Chikki-Chikki Birds.
Chikki-Chikki Birds: 26
Runner Birds: 32
Red Chickens: 14
Green Birds: 17
Beside my rows of birds, Jake’s party laid out their catches. I included the non-bird prey I had taken among theirs.
Horn Rabbits: 18
Hedgehogs: 7
Small Horn Boar: 1
Medium Horn Boars: 2
Large Horn Boar: 1
Medium Elk: 2
Brown Sheep: 2
Prairie Sheep: 3
Fang Dogs: 8
Killer Dogs: 5
“That’s everything. All the non-bird prey belongs to Earth’s Shield.”
“Understood. With this many Chikki-Chikki Birds, once the Marquis’s quota is filled, the remainder can be sold to wealthy buyers for a good profit. Keep bringing them in.”
“Have you seen Olga and the rest of Strongarm recently?”
“About a week ago. They’ll probably be back within two or three days.”
“If you see them, tell them I’m looking for them.”
“Fine — but in return, make sure you keep those birds coming.”
After handing over Jake’s guild card and mine, we went to the dining hall. One of the men who had shouted earlier glared at me as we passed. Then I realized I recognized him.
He belonged to Black Whirlwind, the party I had encountered not long ago. No wonder his face seemed familiar.
I ignored him and enjoyed an ale with the others. Although many tables were empty, he deliberately walked past ours, bumped into me, and spilled ale all over me.
“Oops, sorry, friend. Ale suits you—it makes you look dashing.”
“Ale’s for drinking, not for pouring on your head.”
“I said sorry, didn’t I? No need to glare.”
He gave a smirking laugh and took a seat diagonally across from us.
“They’re the ones you drove away before, Leon. If you don’t intend to deal with them, we will.”
“No need. This level of nonsense isn’t worth worrying about.”
They snorted, but when one of the men raised his mug for a long drink, I whispered “[Whirlwind!],” created a tiny vortex inside his ale, and immediately cut off the mana.
The little vortex was more than enough to blast the entire mugful into his face.
Bwoooosh!
He screamed as ale drenched him from head to toe.
“Ah, I understand. When people say you drink boldly, they mean you pour it over your entire face,” I said flatly.
“You bastard! You did that on purpose!”
“Whatever do you mean? You merely drank with remarkable enthusiasm. If you’re trying to start a fight, I’ll accept—but not a mock battle. Let’s go outside the city and settle it for real.”
I had heard that only people who had survived genuine life-or-death battles could project killing intent. I tried it, but most of my fights depended on tricks with [Whirlwind!], so I apparently lacked the necessary experience. Nothing happened.
Words would have to provoke him instead. Once he accepted, I would give him a one-way journey through the sky.
“You mustn’t know this, but using magic inside the guild is forbidden. You’ll be expelled for this.”
He said it with a smug grin.
Too bad for him — he was about to be disappointed.
We don’t use ads!
If you enjoyed our translation, please consider buying us a cup…
Thanks!!!
Become a Patron!
We don’t use ads!
If you enjoyed our translation, please consider buying us a cup…
Thanks!!!
Become a Patron!