Chapter 19 (1/2)

(A rare species. In other words it appears rarely. There basically isn’t much material to strip off a Goblin, but what if it’s a rare species?　There may be usable parts. Fortunately, if I store it in the Misty Ring, time doesn’t flow and it won’t rot, I’ll store it in there for now. I’ll check if it can be used by listening around at the Adventurers Guild or searching at the library.)

Arriving at a conclusion, he touched the corpse to store it into the Misty Ring.

(Also, the right ear proof of subjugation, I’d better not submit it. If it gets known that I defeated a Goblin rare species I’ll be asked about the magic stone. Though I could make a temporary excuse and say the magic stone was destroyed when I defeated it, if the same excuse keeps getting used, it will become suspicious. In that case, I think it would be better if I just didn’t say I fought a rare species.)

「Guru~?」

As Rei was lost in thought, he looked at the surroundings while patting Set’s head.

The purpose of the request was to subjugate a minimum of 5 Goblins. Although he didn’t cut off the right ear of the rare species as proof of subjugation, the request had already been completed as he had secured 9 ears.

「And there’s still time left.」

He muttered as he looked at the sky, dimmed by the trees. The battle with the Goblins had taken a few minutes, the battle with the rare species had also taken a few minutes, Rei judged that there was still time before noon.

Though, for the time being, Rei had payed the inn for lunch, it was naturally only Rei’s share. Also, the amount of food was insufficient for Rei. Although he had a small body, it didn’t have a good energy efficiency.

「In that case, it’s necessary for me to hunt monsters for Set and my meals.」

「Gururu~」

Rei’s mutter might have been heard. That’s right, Set seemed to say as he gave a small cry.

「Right, then let’s search for monsters.」

「Gururu~!」

「……Can’t find anything.」

「Guru~」

To Rei’s words, Set gave a small, sad cry.

Though they had hunted for prey for about an hour after defeating the Goblin rare species, they had found nothing at all.

However, in a sense, that was natural. This forest was a forest next to the highway to Gilm, the guild regularly sent out subjugation quests to kill monsters so as to not hurt the travelers and merchants that pass through. The Goblins that Rei and Set defeated should originally have been defeated by those quests. However, the Goblins got a rare species leader and took shelter in the depths of the forest. According to the instructions of the leader, they concealed themselves attacked people passing through the highway before escaping.

(Come to think of it, I heard a story in the guild where a group of merchants and travelers were attacked……but isn’t it a bit strange that there was a rusty long sword? 　From the guild, only the rare species had a proper sword. ……Were they able to steal weapons?　Did they gather them somewhere and keep them or did they take weapons from the baggage?)

Though Rei though about it in his mind, he had no intention of looking for Goblin treasure as he had no money troubles.

As for Rei and Set right now, they would rather find a monster to eat than to find a silver coin.

Maybe their wish was heard, Set went in front of Rei, stopped and looked at the surroundings.

「Guru~」

From that appearance, Rei judged that it was a monster, set up the Death Scythe to attack and waited for it.

And the next moment.

「-!?」

Something small flew sharply out from the bushes nearby.

Rei reflexively cut at the flying object with the Death Scythe. The object that was cut flew through the sky and slammed into a tree trunk with a bichari~ sound.

Rei looked at the tree trunk in an instant to see what it was that attacked him, there was a long strip of flesh with a dark red colour.

「It is a kind of snake?」

Rei gave a small mutter, his doubt was settled by the existence that sprung out of a bush the next moment. A huge frog, up to Rei’s knees, appeared. It’s skin was covered in a dark red viscous liquid similar to the tongue Rei had cut, it looked at Rei and Set with an emotionless gaze.

(A frog in this forest……there was a F rank subjugation quest for Poison Frogs……is it this fellow?)

Rei didn’t sense it as he muttered in his mind, the next moment, the frog kicked against the ground and used its jumping ability to silently attack Rei.

But……

「Fool.」

Even if you said that the frog had a special jumping ability, it was still only a F rank monster. Rei calmly read the enemy’s attack path and moved the Death Scythe into the path, adding a little bit of magic power.

「Gero~!?」

Once it jumped into the air, the Poison Frog couldn’t change its trajectory. One strike and it landed in two halves. The upper half and lower half were split by the impact as they fell to the ground.

「Gururu~!」

Set barked sharply and tried to eat the corpse……

「Set!」

Set’s movement was stopped by the stationary Rei.

「Guru~?」

Why?　Set seemed to say as Rei took out the book Dismantling Monsters for Beginners that he had bought yesterday from the Misty Ring.

「Perhaps this is the Poison Frog, in other words, it probably has poison like its name says. You should be calm, it’s not good to eat the meat of a monster that has poison.」

「Guru~……」

Though he accepted Rei’s explanation, Set still looked at the Poison Frog regretfully.

The skin was covered in a dark red liquid, it was obviously poison. It seemed to be a strong one as well. Asking Set to watch the surroundings, he looked up the poison toad in the book.

(The material that can be taken are the tongue, a poison sac in the body and the two hind legs. But……)

He turned is eyes to the ground while comparing it to the book. The tongue had been cut my by the Death Scythe, the corpse of the Poison Frog was also split in 2. About the tongue, it wasn’t cut at the base since it hadn’t fully extended, however, it was still possible for Rei to collect it. The hind legs were good as they were completely untouched. However, the most valuable part, the poison sac, had been torn in two, it was impossible to collect. The poison from the torn sac had already overflowed into the internal organs of the Poison Frog.

「The tongue can be recovered later, first is the magic stone.」

Muttering, he took out the magic stone from the heart using the iron dagger, taking care not to touch the poison that had leaked out. It was somewhat larger than the ones from the normal Goblins. Similarly, he cut off the two rear legs.

To be accurate, it should be noted that the purchasing of the rear legs was for food rather than materials. The poison is removed by butchers who deal with monster meat and sold over the counter. It is possible to sell it at a surprisingly high price as it a expensive ingredient.

Although it was impossible to strip the poison sac, it could be used by pharmacists to create an antidote for the monster’s poison. The tongue is generally used as part of a bow.

Storing the magic stone and rear legs in the Misty Ring, he recovered the tongue that had fallen to the base of the tree.

In addition, the proof of subjugation was the webbed right fore foot. However, seeing the venom rotting it, Rei furrowed his eyes and gave up.