TN: Please read my translations only on my website nyx-translation.com since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi, and join our Patreon to read up to 12 chapters ahead for this novel!
Sponsored chapter by Patreon. Enjoy~
Chapter 317 – Steady Progress, Step by Step
While Loki discovered the stone statues, which caused a stir at their base, Quad faced significant struggles right from the procurement stage while preparing for a comeback.
In the Olan territory of southwestern Ortran, where Domia is located, farmers paid 70% of their harvest as land rent to the lord. However, farmers didn’t necessarily sell all their remaining crops to the commercial guild.
Many sought a higher income by selling directly from roadside stalls during fallow periods or by supplying well-known trading companies directly.
When Quad Trading Company was expanding smoothly, farmers flocked there to sell their crops, knowing that Quad paid higher prices than other companies.
That’s precisely why Quad was now rushing around trying to negotiate direct purchases with farmers they’d dealt with before.
“Don’t come here anymore! What if Baron Olan or the Kius Trading Company sets their sights on my place too?!”
“No, no! I’ll pay you right away, just like before!”
“I won’t get dragged into this! You’re a plague!”
“Ow!”
A stone thrown by a farmer hit Quad on the head, and blood stained the ground.
Nothing special.
Whenever Quad went to buy crops, two out of three times, he was met with shouts of abuse, and half the time, stones were thrown at him.
That’s how deeply the unfounded rumors about the Quad Trading Company had spread throughout the town.
However, since the commercial guilds were unable to secure sufficient supplies, buying directly from the farmers was the only remaining option.
This was especially true for Domia’s specialty: rice. The influential Kius Trading Company dominated its trade, leaving even the commercial guilds unable to hold large inventories.
Crops delivered to the lord went directly to the Kius Trading Company, which, along with several other large trading companies, restricted logistics.
Because of this, rice became an expensive food elsewhere, yet the people of Domia, who grew it, only saw it as a crop that barely made money and was sometimes used as animal feed.
This was because many people knew almost nothing about the outside world.
But Quad knew.
As an “outsider” from outside the region, he saw business opportunities in this land and charged ahead. The price he paid was becoming a mere shadow of his former self; he even had his shop sign torn down.
“Sigh. Even with all the money I have here, I can’t spend it easily…”
Quad sighed, gazing at the leather pouch containing five million Beeke sitting on his shopping cart.
That day, a mysterious youth—a hunter and a mercenary—suddenly appeared before him.
He had ignited Quad, who was rotting away and waiting to die. The next day, he left behind a staggering 150 million Beeke without so much as a flicker of emotion.
The job should have paid 15 million Beeke, yet he was left with ten times that amount.
But Quad had nothing of equal value to offer in return. What on earth was that boy thinking?
As a merchant, Quad could only tilt his head in confusion at this situation, which wasn’t even a proper transaction.
Nevertheless, Quad clenched his teeth and fixed his gaze ahead, determined to keep the “one promise.”
He would form a caravan to procure crops and transport them east.
The request wasn’t just for one wagon; it was on the same scale as before.
That meant preparing at least eight two-horse wagons and a corresponding cargo load.
“I can’t give up… This is the absolute last chance…”
Up until this very day, his resolve as a merchant had never wavered.
What he couldn’t bear was that, every time he prepared to act, he was left behind while his companions and the mercenaries who took on his requests disappeared.
But that boy—Loki—had said, “I’m confident no one will die.”
Even to Quad, the merchant, it didn’t seem like he was putting on a brave face.
He couldn’t stop here.
Resolved, Quad pulled the cart alone toward the next farmhouse.
▽ ▼ ▽ ▼ ▽
Before I knew it, I had finished mapping the southern half of Ortran and arrived at the third city, Antimoa, which was located in the northwest.
During that time, I visited Quad-san once every three days. Each time, he’d say, “Just one more push,” and it felt like he’d been saying the same thing for about ten days.
He’s sustained some minor injuries and looks worn out, but as long as his eyes aren’t dull, he’ll probably be fine.
I don’t think it’s my place to meddle in his business, so unless he asks for help, I’ll just provide funds and let him handle things his way.
I’ve got my own business to attend to.
After stopping by the Hunter Guild, I headed east with high hopes.
Preliminary intel mentioned a C-rank hunting ground, but the reference book said it was actually a combined C-D rank hunting ground.
The western grassland area (a C-rank hunting ground) and the eastern D-rank hunting ground (a near-wasteland with sparse grass) seemed to merge seamlessly; their boundary was indistinct.
A total of six monster types appeared in this composite hunting ground.
Four of them were new monsters, so I couldn’t help but get excited.
Eager to begin, I headed straight to the site and first checked the skills of each C-rank monster.
―Mind’s Eye―
Axe Beak: Charge Lv3, Swiftness Lv3, Axe Technique Lv3, Farsight Lv3
Rock Turtle: Earth Magic Lv.3, Earth Resistance Lv.2, Hardening Lv.3
Carnotaurus: Throwing Technique Lv.3, Range Increase Lv.2, Martial Arts Lv.3
(Hmm…only the kangaroo-like one seems somewhat promising.)
A large bird with an axe-like beak that gives off an ostrich-like vibe is the Axe Beak.
A turtle with a rock-like shell or rock growing out of it, camouflaged and motionless—the Rock Turtle.
Lastly, a kangaroo with a pouch that looks stuffed, an incredibly muscular body, and a handsome face: the Carnotaurus.
When I used Mind’s Eye to look at the three new monsters in the C-rank hunting grounds, I saw that they all had skills I already possessed.
But, hey, I’m used to this by now. After quickly comparing them to my own skill levels, I found that the Carnotaurus has Throwing Technique and Range Increase.
The Rock Turtle’s Earth Resistance is definitely a skill on which I can improve.
(Alright, alright. What matters is what I can improve. It’s what I can extend.)
I don’t know what the materials are good for, so I’ll hunt as I head east.
With that thought in mind, I sliced off the slender neck of the ostrich charging through the sandstorm.
I flipped over a turtle that was hurling massive stones from afar and plunged my sword into its belly.
I picked up the stones, stuffed them into my bag, and hurled them with a baseball player’s accuracy. I relentlessly continued this, working on counterattacking kangaroos that would punch me if I got close.
And so, the hunt continued into its third day.
Just as C-rank monsters like the Bay Blizzard and the Hydra Scorpion, which I had seen in Waltz, began appearing, I glanced at the description of a new monster species and found my gaze fixed on it.
(Huh… Transparency? Seriously, Transparency?)
It looked like a fairly large chameleon, likely nearly a meter in length.
Its skills included Mimicry. It clung to the ground, blending into the reddish-brown earth as if fused with it. It blended into the scenery so well that, without Investigation, I might have missed it entirely.
However, it was merely blending in; it wasn’t actually transparent.
If you strained your eyes, you could clearly make out its form.
The monster was described in the reference book as a Fisher Chameleon.
Fisher Chameleon: Camouflage Lv3, Bite Lv2, Transparency Lv1.
This is what it looks like when viewed through Mind’s Eye.
The Lv1 status is underwhelming, but the thrill I feel is unlike anything I’ve experienced while hunting in a C-rank area.
First off, can I use it?
And if so, what effect will it have?
As I approached the Fisher Chameleon, only its distinctive eyes glared at me menacingly.
Still, it didn’t move.
I’d have to get even closer.
Five meters, four meters, three meters… Got it!
Its blurred outline vanished completely.
Suddenly, it lunged from the side, gaping wide and flicking out its tongue.
Well, it is a D-rank monster, after all.
Its movement couldn’t exactly be called fast. I simply stepped on its extended tongue. “Kyug!” The chameleon before me let out an unfamiliar cry.
What about the hook-like barb at the tip of its tongue? Quite the monster-like feature.
It retracted its tongue as if pulling its body back, and I sliced right through its entire body. Normally, it would have lunged at me with its sharp teeth to bite and devour me.
“Fufu, it really vanished… No doubt about it; it vanished.”
Ah, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!
I need to check if I can use this skill too, right now!
That’s exactly why I can’t stop scouting hunting grounds, no matter how low-tier, and why I can’t stop hunting.
Anyway, the border between the D-rank and C-rank hunting grounds is a remote area. No one’s around.
As if it were my personal domain, I dashed straight toward the Fisher Chameleon.
‘You have acquired Transparency Lv1.’
The moment I heard that announcement, I immediately opened my status screen.
“Whoaaaaaaaaaa!”
At the sight of the white text, I screamed and trembled alone.
If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read up to 12 chapters ahead for this novel!