Chapter 73: The Glue is Complete

Ren stared at the pot bubbling away, then shifted his gaze to the Small Box he was using for arrow shaft production.

“…Maybe I can make glue in the Small Box too…”

He placed the remaining magic fish bones that wouldn’t fit into the pot into a Small Box and poured in water using water magic. Then he created a double-layered Small Box and began heating the inner one containing the bones.

“…If this works, I might not need to come here anymore. But… I can’t exactly grill and eat magic fish in my room…”

He skewered a piece of fish meat onto a branch and sprinkled salt over it. He had bought the salt at the Adventurers’ Guild shop, wanting to try it. It came in a small portable bottle, likely meant for adventurers who often camped outdoors.

Using a branch taken from the glue fire, he started a second fire and grilled the fish meat.

A faint smile formed at the corner of Ren’s mouth.

“I hope this turns out tasty…”

Occasionally, he stirred the glue pot, adjusted the position of the fish roasting over the fire, and arranged finished arrow shafts on the cloth to cool.

While checking the fire, he also lined up materials: the red tail feather of the Mossred Cockatiel, deep green flight feathers, dark brown feathers from the Three-Eyed Eagle, and gray feathers from the Ashveil.

“Maybe I’ll just try everything I have. Ah… I should make quill pens too!”

He already had enough feathers to last a while, but he wanted to try making pens from the green feathers and red tail feathers of the Mossred Cockatiel as well.

Just then, the fish finished roasting. He dug into the sand beneath the fire and inserted green and red feathers to test them as well.

The roasted fish—taken from the same liquid that was still simmering in the glue pot—was unbelievably fragrant.

When he bit into it, the salt and fish flavor spread through his mouth.

“Wow, that’s good.”

Before he realized it, the sun had already shifted far into the sky. He looked back at the glue pot.

“…Still needs a bit longer…”

With each bursting bubble, the contents slowly thickened. He continued preparing by heating more arrow shafts and carving horned ferret horns into arrowheads.

Eventually, when he lifted some of the liquid with a branch, it clearly began to stretch into threads.

Carefully, he let it drip onto a prepared wooden board.

It spread slowly, holding its shape.

Ren stared at it quietly.

It didn’t harden immediately like he expected. But it felt like it was working.

“…Did it… work?”

He wasn’t confident. But he couldn’t call it a failure either.

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded slightly.

“Let’s try it for now.”

He originally planned to strain out bones and debris with cloth, but then had another idea. He poured the contents of the pot into the upper part of a split Small Box, letting only the liquid flow into the lower one. Bones and scraps remained above, which he buried in the sand.

He picked up the Small Box filled with the thick liquid. A strong smell rose from it, making him frown slightly as he closed it again and looked at it.

“It’s done… heh.”

He hadn’t even finished the arrows yet, but it still felt like progress. Boiling the glue had taken longer than expected, but he felt satisfied knowing it was nearing completion.

“…Maybe I should try using it.”

The book had said it would solidify when cooled or could be reheated, but he wondered if it might still work as-is.

He cut a slit into the end of an arrow shaft and inserted a sharpened horned ferret horn. Then he removed it again, dipped the tip of the shaft into the glue inside the Small Box, and reinserted the horn. He wiped off excess glue with cloth, then wrapped it tightly with thread. Finally, he applied more glue over the wrapped section using a stick.

He examined his work and nodded with satisfaction.

“Yeah, looks good! Now just the feathers…”

Looking up at the sky, he stored the assembled arrow into the Small Box.

“I need to head back soon or I won’t make it in time for dinner!”

To take the Mossred Cockatiel meat home, he would need to stop by the Adventurers’ Guild for processing. He quickly extinguished the fire and began cleaning up.

As expected, the guild’s reception area was starting to get busy at dusk—but since it was still slightly before peak time, he was able to retrieve his processed meat sooner than expected. Although he had already taken the main feathers, the meat seemed popular, and the remainder of his share was sold at a decent price.

After receiving his payment and heading toward the exit, he spotted a familiar group entering the guild.

They were carrying horned rabbits dangling upside down from their hands.

The boy adventurers.

“Ah.”

“Yo!”

When Ren and the group made eye contact, Victor raised a hand in greeting. The horned rabbit in his grip swung lightly.