Chapter 23: Hunting the Entian!
Cao Tai POV
As we part from the city of Auburn we see stacks of smoke emerging from the city walls, it's pretty clear that they aren't from bandits.
Not really curious of why they are there, we continue down the path, with no real objective at all.
Walking down the roads of several suburbs and small hamlets all whispering of one thing or the other.
*
That night as I was looking looking for a tavern with a regular bed, Violet and Sasha were off looking for ways to earn money, I asked them to try to do it legally, but honestly, I wouldn't mind if they did it otherwise, just don't want them to be apprehended.
As I wander this decently sized hamlet the architecture is different from Auburns, not too different mind you, I wager all the designers came from Auburn or grew up viewing Auburns buildings with awe.
The roofs were using thatch but the materials of the houses were mostly wood and paper, with some exceptions, the town's guard center was a 1 story house made of stone with a wood roof.
This town was also whispering behind our backs before this time a little child runs up to me and tugs my shirt. [*Gasps* He ruined my SHIRT!!!! jk...]
I turn around and ask, "Can I help you?"
"Are you the Yatagarasu?"
What? Folklore at it's best, "What is a Yatagarusu? Also, does it look like I'm something funny?"
"A Yatagarusu is a three legged crow, the second in command of a Entians entourage of beasts! They can shift in between animals!"
'System, note this'
<Noted>
"And how can I be a Yatagarusu? Last I checked I'm not a crow, and did you say Entian?"
"Huh, so you are searching for a new master? Interesting..."
Stupid... why would I be a crow, he never gave me a reason.
"Hey is there a contract to kill this Scourge of the Woods?
"I've heard of one but I don't know what the price is..."
"Can you lead me to the elder of this village then?" I ask
He brings me to this middle-aged man, definitely not the kind of guy you would expect to be the village elder but then there must be a good reason.
I bow and put my left arm on the right side of my chest, something I saw in Auburn.
He nods and I straighten up, "Is there an offer for the Entians death? How much will the reward be?"
"If you bring us its body, we will give you 3 gold coins" The Elder said.
"I have 2 demands then, the first is that they are given in UNCHIPPED (Emphasis) silver coins, so 300 silver coins and 2, I get to keep the head."
"Well thats less than the whole thing, so 260 Silver Coins"
"270, but I'll get lodging for 3 days, and I also get a detailed map of the surrounding area."
"Agreed."
"Very well then, can you point where our lodging will be? Also, can you tell us the Witnesses, and roughly where it's located."
This is going to be tricky to do, I mean the only way for me to honestly kill it was with fire but they want a body, I mean, Foxen are good at illusions but are they good enough to convince a primal beast based on instinct?
And the only animal I can honestly test it on is probably ants... but that raises another question, are her illusions like.
Are they so real that if someone steps on the fire will they really die or just feel like they're dying to the point they pass out?
"Follow me, we do not have any witnesses but we do have a hunter, an odd fellow but he probably knows what the Entian is capable of, he will also show you where the woods are tomorrow, after all, its too dangerous to go out in the night lately."
As expected, the hunters hut was far off, near the woods, when we arrive we see a man dressed differently from the regular villagers on the ground tending to some trees before taking some bread and salt to the forest before being stopped by the village Elder. (Bread and Salt is a custom to do before a hunt for Leshy's in Slavic culture)
"Borik! This is the man who will fix our problem with the Entian!"
The hunter looks at me warily, "I will be the one to decide whether or not to let him pass into the woods, we don't want a son of a lord showing up looking for glory after all"
The Elder nods and looks at me, "I'll leave you two, I have several more duty's to handle"
He walks out and the Hunter strides up to me, "Okay 'Monster Hunter' lets see if your not a charlatan."
"How do you define a forest?" The hunter inquires.
"An Entians territory is a forest because of..."
He keeps asking questions like that, it was already covered by the basic information given by the excerpt, in 2 situations I didn't know the answer so I ended up asking system, losing 2 dollars.
<Remaining Balance: 1 Dollar and 13 Tokens>
When he was satisfied and showed me roughly where the Entian could be located, a very dense forest across a clearing, that's nice to know, maybe I'll be able to drag it out of the forest and fight it in the open, so I can see all his 'entourage' of beasts.
How am I ever going to be rich with this system store!? I doubt I'll be rich enough to do Gold Coin conversion...
*
When I arrive at the place where I promised I would meet Sasha & Violet, I see them already waiting for me. Pretty angry that they had to wait for me, not the other way around.
"Turns out we won't need that money for lodging, just curious how much did you get?"
"84 Silver coins, Master" I gawk, how did they get so much?!
"Not bad, but I did better, I have a plan to get us 270 Silver coins"
"As expected from Master..." Violet says
"AND I got us 3 days of lodging"
"Woaahhhhh..." Sasha eyes gleam.
We then make our way to the building that would be our home for the next three days.
As we arrive we see an old house, one that may be like the hunters house, but we couldn't know due to the rot and age it has. I sigh but enter, sleeping indoors is always better than outdoors.
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