Chapter 24 - Life in the Wild
Today, we start our hunting. Before we leave, we need to take care of some errands. Even though they are just errands, they are important matters.
First, we head to the administration office. Thanks to the groundwork laid by the Commerce Guild, our residency registration went surprisingly smoothly. This will make it easier to come and go from the city.
Before we set off, I checked with the Commerce Guild about selling and buying materials. They seemed to have high hopes for our monster hunting and material gathering. Especially for monster hunting, we were told that the materials we obtain will be bought at high prices. This boost in morale is a nice motivator.
I don’t know which materials will fetch a higher price, but Siegrune and Josephine should have a good idea. Still, that’s just a side benefit. My main focus is on training in the forest.
After quickly taking care of the necessary tasks in the city, we headed to the Northeast Forest in high spirits around midday. The journey to the forest is straightforward, and there were no significant issues along the way.
The area around Exembra is a well-known gathering spot, so there’s a good chance someone else is there for gathering or hunting. However, given the current situation, there’s no need to fight over prey. There’s plenty for everyone, so I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to steal from us.
We arrived at the edge of the forest and parked our vehicle, then split into groups. One group will actively hunt monsters, another will gather plant materials, and a third will guard the gatherers.
We strictly avoid solitary actions and ensure everyone carries recovery potions, just in case.
Apparently, there are some strong monsters deeper in the forest, but our combat unit should be able to escape if they encounter something too powerful.
So, everyone is free to act on their own until I signal it’s time to regroup.
Today, I’m in the guard unit, tasked with protecting Sophie-san and her team while keeping an eye on the surroundings. The forest feels pleasant, not at all gloomy. It’s an interesting experience to see the gathering process, as I don’t know exactly what they are collecting.
Sophie-san and Josephine take the lead, instructing Sarah-chan and the others to gather various plants and nuts. I’m curious and can’t help but ask questions.
"What’s all this for? You’re gathering a lot of stuff."
"A lot of these plants can be used in magic potions. Some might even be useful for magic tools. There’s a good variety to collect," Sophie-san explained with a contented smile. She mentioned that she used to gather materials in a nearby forest when she was a child.
"Interesting, magic potions, huh?"
Magic potions are a different branch from healing magic, which is a form of potion magic. While healing magic requires a specific aptitude, magic potions need both materials and the knowledge and skills to combine them, making it a more challenging field.
However, my aptitude for potion magic is quite versatile. I’ve experimented and found that I can cover a large portion of magic potions, though not all. It’s a specialized form of magic focused on potions.
Still, I’ve never seen or tried actual magic potions, and the potions I create are influenced by my imagination. They won’t be exactly the same as the ones in this world.
The gathering went smoothly, and they collected more than expected. The baskets filled up quickly, and I even had to lend my burlap sack. Sophie-san, the gathering queen, kept giving instructions and filling her own bag.
As a guard, I had a quiet time, and we didn’t encounter any monsters. We also didn’t run into anyone else, which was a bit surprising given the shortage of people. Oh well.
The sun was starting to set, so it was time to wrap up.
"Sophie-san, let’s call it a day. I’ll send the signal, so let’s start packing up."
"Sure, let’s do that."
I sent a magical signal flare, and after a while, the combat unit returned, looking quite pleased. They had a successful hunt.
"You guys really got a lot again."
"Yeah, the deeper we went, the more monsters we found. We carefully selected the best ones to bring back."
While it’s great to see them excited, the amount of loot is a bit overwhelming. We might not be able to fit everything in the jeep.
We don’t want to waste anything, so we’ll have to make it work. We packed the loot and gathered materials into the vehicle, and we returned to the city in a cramped but happy group.
Despite the gatekeepers’ bemused looks, we were thanked for our efforts. We then headed to the Commerce Guild to sell our haul. The city is apparently short on various materials, so our large collection was very welcome.
The transaction went smoothly, thanks to our prior arrangement. The results were even better than expected. I thought some items might be rejected or undervalued, but we got an unexpectedly high reward.
"Haha! I can’t stop laughing!"
"Right? We got a great price!"
The high volume of plant materials, in addition to the monster materials, contributed to the unexpectedly high reward. It’s a testament to everyone’s hard work.
At this rate, we could sustain ourselves with hunting and gathering alone. Of course, this is partly due to our combat skills and the current low traffic in the area, making it a bonus stage of sorts.
We divided the reward equally, and the night was open for free activities.
"Just be careful and avoid any trouble," I warned.
"Don’t worry, we’re just going for a bit of luxury," they replied.
"I get it! Just enjoy yourselves and don’t cause any trouble."
The former camp members headed to the tavern in high spirits. I hope they don’t get into any trouble. I really don’t need that.
Meanwhile, I, the moral compass of the Kikyo Society, went to a slightly upscale restaurant on the main street with Sophie, Sarah, Mary, Siegrune, and Valeria. The former villagers had changed out of their camp work clothes into regular town attire.
They seemed uncomfortable in the high-end setting, with Valeria and Sarah sitting like well-behaved cats.
"Don’t be so tense. It’s fine if you’re a bit messy; no one will scold you."
"It’s my first time in a place like this, Onee-sama."
"It’s a bit uncomfortable."
"Indeed, it’s not a relaxing environment."
"Ha ha, just be yourselves. You probably won’t understand the menu, so tell me what you want, and I’ll order for you."
Honestly, I didn’t understand the menu either, so I left the ordering to Siegrune.
We ordered a variety of dishes, and I dug into the food with enthusiasm. We finished one course after another and ended the meal with a dessert.
Conclusion: It’s worth the price.
Sophie and the others were so impressed by the food that they raved about how delicious it was. The half-human chef, clearly pleased, came to bid us farewell and even wrapped up some cookies for Sarah, who was delighted. We left the restaurant feeling very satisfied.
"Please come again. Thank you for your visit."
"Of course, we’ll be back."
"Thank you for the cookies, sir!"
The price was high, but the taste, chef’s personality, and after-service were more than worth it. I hope this place prospers.
The Commerce Guild’s receptionist recommended this place, so I’ll have to thank her with a gift sometime.
Some restaurants apparently turn away all-female groups, so it’s important to do your research to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
The next day, we were off to the forest again, full of enthusiasm.
Today, I joined the active combat unit instead of the guard unit. It’s a good opportunity to gain combat experience in the forest, even if it’s not strictly necessary. The environment is challenging with poor visibility and uneven terrain, but it’s a valuable learning experience.
I would have liked to hunt alone, but I’m the one who advised against solitary actions. To set an example, I had to team up with someone, and Valeria was my partner. I have no complaints about that.
After a while, I realized how beneficial it was to hunt with Valeria. As a wolf beastwoman, she excels in forest activities, with movements and senses that are far beyond my capabilities. Watching her in action was a great learning experience. She’s an excellent partner for a studious person like me.
"Valeria, I tried to mimic your movements. Is this close?"
"Of course, Onee-sama!"
She’s really enthusiastic, which is great. I’m enjoying it too.
I felt my skills improving in movement, awareness, and stealth as time went on. We just finished a successful ambush and took down a monster. Direct attacks are fun, but so are ranged attacks, like throwing objects and indirect shots.
Trying out different techniques increases the variety of what I can do. Hunting is such a thrilling activity.
We were so engrossed in our hunt that the guard unit’s signal to regroup caught us off guard. Time flies when you’re having fun.
"Onee-sama, it looks like it’s time to go."
Valeria seemed a bit disappointed, but I patted her on the head, assuring her I had a great time, and she perked up instantly.
"We’ll only take the best parts of the monsters we caught."
"Right, we might have overdone it a bit."
It’s a waste to leave anything behind, but we can’t carry everything. We carefully selected the most valuable parts and headed back to the rendezvous point.
When we arrived, we found everyone already there, waiting for us.
"Did you have any issues?"
"No, nothing special today. We saw a few other adventurers, but that’s all."
"Interesting. We didn’t see anyone."
"Unless there’s trouble, we avoid getting involved. If we hear battle sounds from Yuukari’s group, any sensible person would stay away."
"True. But if anyone causes problems, send a signal right away. Got it, everyone?"
We’re a group of women, so we need to be extra cautious. There could be troublemakers out there.
"Right, we’ll do that. Still, another successful day."
The other groups had also gathered a lot of materials and monsters, making loading everything into the vehicle a bit of a challenge.
Well, once we get back to the city, we’ll have another delicious meal.