kscans

Chapter 168 - Yuri's "Materials"

"So, Yuri-kun. About the thing I asked for…?"

"Ah, yes. I have prepared them."

At the welcome party that night, which was really just a rowdy celebration, Yuri read out a list of the things he had prepared in response to Adon’s request. Of course, he did not do something so foolish as to bring out the actual items. …How could he bring out something like the heartwood of a Rosewood that was over ten meters long to a banquet?

"Hmm… two Rosewood logs should be enough. The pencil samples… well, this should be enough."

"This time, they are just for submission as samples, right?"

"Yes. Once production is on track, we should be able to handle it from here on out. Well, let’s discuss that later. I also asked about the crops, didn’t I?"

"Ah, yes. Just like last time, four large jars each of wheat, naked barley, Soya Beans, and potatoes. One small jar of rock salt. For the dried meat, I prepared boar-type meat again this time. Also, the production of wood honey is low, so I could not prepare much."

Dona flinched at the mention of wood honey, but fortunately or unfortunately, neither Yuri nor Adon noticed.

"That is plenty. My family also likes your crops, Yuri-kun, because they are of good quality."

"I am happy to hear you say that."

He had been introduced to Adon’s wife and children during his last stay. They were a kind-hearted group, so if they were pleased, it was a producer’s greatest reward. …At that moment, Adon quickly glanced at Old Man Audel, but Yuri did not notice.

"And… what about the materials?"

In a sense, what Adon was most looking forward to, and at the same time most feared, were the "materials" that Yuri would bring. After all, Yuri’s home was the Salt-Sour Mountain. He would bring out all sorts of magnificent materials from there with great ease.

"No, there are no major highlights this time."

Yuri said apologetically, but Adon and the others did not believe him in the slightest. After all, this was the boy who had tried to use the bones of a Gambitgrizzly as an ingredient for soup. A gulf deeper than the canyons of the Salt-Sour Mountain lay between their respective sense of values.

"...Last time, you seemed to be interested in the bones of a Gambitgrizzly, so I brought the little that was left."

The part that was not "left" was probably made into soup and then sprinkled on the fields as bone meal. The bones this time were also on the verge of being made into fertilizer, but Old Man Audel decided to keep quiet about it for the sake of his friend Adon’s sanity. Incidentally, the high quality of Yuri’s crops might be due to the effect of such extravagant fertilizers. Unaware of such behind-the-scenes circumstances, Adon was gratefully inspecting the Gambitgrizzly bones that Yuri had taken out. Meanwhile, Nagara, who was seeing the "materials" provided by Yuri for the first time, had a twitching face. If a child who was not even of age casually brought out the bones of a magical beast like a Gambitgrizzly, it would be strange if he was not surprised. Kudol and the others looked at Nagara with lukewarm gazes, but their composure was also blown away by the "material" that Yuri brought out next.

"I do not think it will be a substitute for a Gambitgrizzly, but there was a bear-type magical beast called a Rigbear, so its bones… um… everyone, is something wrong?"

Seeing the group clutching their heads at the mention of a Rigbear, Yuri asked with a puzzled look. It was not as large as a Gambitgrizzly, and it was just as easy to deal with, being a muscle-brained creature. He had shot one with his rifle just the other day, but he was hesitant to bring the skull with a bullet hole in it, so the one he brought today was one he had hunted before with a pitfall and drowning combo.

"...Yuri-kun… the pelt… the pelt… is there any left…?"

Yuri stared back at Adon, who was questioning him in a raspy voice, with a puzzled look. A Rigbear pelt? It was bristly and not pleasant to the touch, so he had been thinking of using it to block the drafts in his hut…

"Are you kidding me!"

Adon cried out with an expression of unbearable indignation, and the other members nodded in agreement. This was why he could not take his eyes off Yuri. Kudol explained to the blank-faced Yuri with a tired expression and voice. He said that the Rigbear’s pelt was imbued with dark-attribute magical power and had resistance to magical attacks, making it a coveted material for armor.

"Is that so!?"

Yuri had used Appraisal on it, but since it was only displayed as having a dark attribute, he had not thought it had such an effect. Appraisal basically showed the characteristics of the creature, so the information on how humans used it was not necessarily complete.

"So, instead of selling it, I think it would be better to take it to a weapon shop or somewhere and have them make armor for you. As long as you are living in the Salt-Sour Mountain, you can never have enough armor, right?"

Adon had a somewhat grim look on his face, but he seemed to understand that what Kudol was saying was the right thing to do, and he did not seem to have any intention of opposing it. However, the one who casually kicked aside such considerations was the boy named Yuri…

"Ah, it’s alright. I still have the pelts of one or two more Rigbears."

Who could possibly blame the entire group for looking up at the heavens in unison?