Chapter 43: Luggage Carrier ④

I had hoped to relax with some fishing, but the unexpected encounter left me even more drained. I didn’t expect to feel more exhausted after trying to unwind.

Still, to think such creatures exist…

That salamander was undoubtedly a silver-ranked monster.

The threat level of monsters is categorized as Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gemstone, and Treasure.

Each category is further divided into lower, middle, and upper ranks.

A monster’s threat level changes significantly depending on whether it possesses relics.

Having just one relic makes it a lower-tier silver-ranked monster.

With two relics, it’s mid-tier silver. Three relics make it upper-tier silver.

Four relics elevate it to lower-tier gold rank.

Gold-ranked monsters at the lower or middle tiers are difficult even for 4th grade or 3rd grade am explorers to defeat.

An upper-grade gold-ranked monster requires a team effort, even for 2nd-grade explorers.

It’s hard to believe, but that salamander was on that level.

Yet, speaking so fluently threw me off.

It was intelligent, and it seemed clear it had no intention of being hostile.

Because of my ethics from my previous life, I didn’t immediately consider it an enemy.

Repayment for a favor? Well, I won’t hold my breath.

On the way home, I stopped to buy some fish, bread, tomatoes, cheese, root vegetables, and juice.

I had them pour the juice into my canteen and the crescent-shaped flask I had emptied earlier.

Suddenly, I heard someone yelling.

“Hey! Get moving!”

“Hurry up, you useless brat!”

I turned to look and saw a group of rough-looking men shouting at a child in a narrow alley.

“Y-yes, I’m sorry.”

The boy, about my age or perhaps a bit younger, had a large pack strapped to his back.

The men, on the other hand, carried nothing except swords.

The boy’s face was strained as he struggled with the weight.

“Tch, at least do your job as a luggage Carrier properly.”

“We’re feeding you even though you’re garbage. Make yourself useful.”

“Y-yes, I’m sorry!”

“By the way, when are they finally going to deal with that anomaly? Isn’t the 2nd-grade team already gathered?”

“They haven’t done anything yet? Maybe it’s not such a big deal after all.”

“Maybe we’re stronger than them?”

“Hah! Wouldn’t surprise me—we’re Coon Hunt after all.”

“Stop dawdling, you idiot!”

“Y-yes, I’m sorry!”

Those guys are adventurers from Coon Hunt.

Judging by their demeanor and behavior, they weren’t treating their hired hand well. It was closer to slavery.

It’s not an uncommon sight.

Most people know how adventurers treat their hired hands.

I felt sorry for the boy, but it was his choice.

He probably thought something like this:

There was no other choice.

But I disagreed.

There are always other paths to take.

Still, I couldn’t ignore the thought that maybe I could see things this way only because I had power.

What if I didn’t have my memories of my previous life or my four relics? Would I still think the same?

I was just lucky.

Unable to bear it any longer, I quietly walked away.

When I reached home, I was exhausted.

I wanted to collapse into bed, but I was starving. I had no choice but to start cooking.

First, I began filleting the fish.

I hadn’t done this much in my previous life and only vaguely remembered how.

Fortunately, Barnes from the Cider Inn had taught me the proper way.

Using my only knife, an Elixir Knife, I started filleting… but something felt off.

“It’s not cutting?”

I pressed the blade to the fish and tried to slice, but it wouldn’t cut through.

“…No way.”

I touched the edge of the white blade with my finger.

“This can’t be happening.”

It wouldn’t cut. I was stunned.

Why? Suddenly, I remembered.

“Oh, right… weapons specialized for undead can’t perform physical attacks.”

The Elixir Knife, the pinnacle of such tools, essentially wasn’t even a real blade.

“Tch!”

Panicking, I dashed out of the house.

Using a secondhand knife, I filleted the fish, seasoned it with salt and pepper, and sautéed it lightly in butter.

While cooking, I sliced the bread and cheese I’d bought earlier.

“Looks good.”

I placed the grilled fish between the bread, along with the cheese.

“A mackerel sandwich, huh?”

Not that I’m sure the fish I bought was actually mackerel.

Then again, mackerel wouldn’t be in a river, would it? Oh well—time to eat.

“W-Wow, this is good!”

It turned out tastier than I expected. Not bad at all.

The only downside was the bread—it was too hard.

Soft bread is expensive here.

The ideal bread for sandwiches is somewhere between soft and firm—like the bread I remember from my previous life.

Right now, there are only two kinds of bread available: black or white.

I’ve heard that fermentation techniques here are still quite limited.

I don’t know much about bread myself and certainly have never baked any. I wouldn’t know where to start.

Still, I can tolerate it.

If I’m patient, I might be able to recreate that sandwich.

“…The Elvis Sandwich.”

But not yet. I need bananas.

Without bananas, it’s not an Elvis Sandwich.

Bananas and bacon—that sweet-and-savory combo is essential.

Surely there must be bananas somewhere.

Or at least a banana-like fruit. Until then, it’ll have to wait.

“Oh, I forgot the tomato.”

I realized this after finishing my meal.

I’ll just use it for dinner instead.

Satisfied and full, I washed up.

Not in a proper bath—just a large wooden tub filled with water, where I cleaned myself with a towel.

Hydrangea, the city, has abundant water and plenty of bathhouses.

The setup is different, but they’re like public baths back in my previous world.

The average cost is 500 to 800 oro, so going daily isn’t feasible.

Even with my current financial cushion, I can only afford to go every three days.

After washing up, I changed into clean clothes and sat on the bed, muttering to myself.

“Another knife… gone.”

Just as I was getting used to it, this had to happen.

And my money has taken another hit. This unexpected expense makes me want to cry.

I’ll have to be more careful with my next knife.

This time, I bought one with a simple design and a thick blade.

It’s a bit heavy, but that weight allows it to cut through branches as well.

Honestly, it doesn’t quite suit me.

Still, I chose it because it’s durable.

I don’t want to break another one.

“…A luggage carrier, huh?”

The relationship between explorers and their hired hands…

After seeing what I did earlier, how could I not feel uneasy?

Even if I become an explorer, I have no intention of forming a team.

I’ll go solo—always have, always will.

There are plenty of reasons for that.

I’ve kept my distance from others until now, and I’ll keep doing so in the future.

That’s my life.

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