Capítulo 37: Chapter 36: Gourmet in the Dark
SHIFF! SHIFF!!
I was frantically ransacking the contents of the wooden chest in search of an item.
"Where is it? Where is it?", I mumbled frenetically as my hands darted around the box.
Suddenly, my hand caught something.
"Ah! There it is."
I yelled with joy as I pulled out the object stuck in the chest.
"HRRNGH!"
I let out a slight groan before taking it out.
"Ha...finally.", I said in relief as I glanced at it.
It was a tool; a bizarre looking scalpel.
It seemed more like a Kriss to be exact.
Turning around with the strange object in hand, I approached my designated point.
The Inept Lantern was tied to a strand of my hair, which had grown surprisingly long and sturdy. It was still connected to my body so thus; it still emitted light and still gave me that irritation but I was more accustomed to it now.
An hour and a half had passed since my stomach clamored for hunger and during that time, I had been getting the necessary tools and materials to prepare the cockatrice.
The strange scalpel in my hand was the last one I needed.
"Alright...", I plopped down in front of the carcass of the cockatrice which was laying on the ground, covered in clotting blood and soot,
"It's time to skin the cockatrice!"
Now for starters, I had zero experience in skinning an animal.
I just had the theoretical knowledge from a couple of survival books I read but as much as I hate to admit, Knowledge isn't a perfect substitute for Experience.
Especially when it comes to practical things that involve human needs.
God...the last thing I need is to accidentally cut the bile duct...or gallbladder for that matter...
I was really hungry but that didn't mean I couldn't enjoy my food, at least.
I grimaced at the carcass of the cockatrice.
Water...
Water was a necessary requirement when skinning an animal. The soot, grime and blood had to be washed away and what other substance fits the criteria best other than good ol' water.
And luckily, I did indeed have that.
Inventory Open...!
[Equipped Item:] Stone Gallon (4)
A 2 ft tall gallon made of thick rock with a crude design on it manifested from a swirl of sparks.
THUMP!
The weighty object fell to the ground with a heavy sound.
I reached out to it with a smile on my face, turning it around to find a damaged part of it and the sound of liquid coming from within it.
While I was inspecting the items in the chest, there were a few I left off because I felt they would take two much time and energy to move around. The Stone Gallons happened to be one of them, four of them actually...
It turned out that these items that I had deemed merely blocks of stone were actually stores of water!
They looked just like blocks before so I hadn't noticed, it wasn't until I used Silver Lining to drive a hole through one of them had I discovered what they actually were.
I held the gallon and bent it slightly, while I summoned another item.
Inventory Open.
[Equipped Item:] Empty Goblet.
Holding the minimalist cup in hand, I poured water from the small hole into it.
TINKLE!
Water trickled into the plain yet tasteful glass, filling it to capacity.
TINK!
I raised it up, slightly hitting it against the gallon when suddenly I felt another irritating feeling.
BURBLE!
The water in the glass of the Empty Goblet suddenly began to fizzle before coming to a halt later. I stared at it for a moment before bringing it to my lips.
GULP!
I hastily gulped down the mass of liquid, the refreshing taste of the insipid liquid still a thing of longing despite the several shots-cough...I mean glasses of water I had taken earlier.
I looked around feigning nervousness before looking at the invisible camera.
"Don't do drugs."
Bro... that... was so out of pocket.
My inner voice spoke in a concerned tone.
I shrugged before checking out the description of the ashen Goblet.
Describe.
[Inventory:] Empty Goblet: Not my finest work. This Common Item has the Effect; Clear.
[Effect:] In exchange for a flux of the World Energy, this item can cleanse most substances stored in it.
I swear...this guy must have the worst first impressions...
I irked as I read the description once again before dismissing it.
Pouring another glass of water, I turned to the carcass.
Staring at it for a moment, I took a deep breath as I renewed my resolve before picking up the Kriss.
Holding the Empty Goblet in one hand while I held the Kriss in the other, I sat before the carcass and then poured the water in the Goblet on the body.
SPLASH!
I took more water and poured on it, cleaning it from the sooth and grim as well as the clotted blood.
Putting the Goblet away, I brought the Kriss to the carcass.
With a calm face, I grabbed hold of it and then plunged the twisty blade of the Kriss into the corner of the monster's eyelids. Plunging it deeper while also using it as a lever, with that motion I ruthlessly forced out it's left eyeball.
My face twitched slightly at the morbid scene, but I didn't lose composure. I picked up the stray eyeball and glanced at it, it had turned gray.
With a sigh, I threw it into the maws of the Worthless Bowl.
CLINK!
It struck it hard, performed a few revolutions before coming to rest at its epicenter.
[Inventory:] Worthless Bowl: Tasteless kitchenware. This Common Item has the Effect; Set.
[Effect:] In exchange for a flux of the World Energy, this item's contents cannot be spilled.
This is something...many will actually die for in the real world...
Who wouldn't want a bowl that won't spill food?
I proceeded to the other eye, pulling it out in a similar manner and then tossing it into the bowl.
Alright, that's one hurdle out of the way...now...
I glanced at the claws and spikes on the carcass, twitched slightly but then took an invigorating breath and proceeded to cut them out.
Hmm...you know these spikes may come in handy...
Meticulously, I uprooted the several spikes on its body, getting pricked occasionally by them which caused me to irk in dismay.
Even in death, you continue to torment me...
My eyes glinted with a cold light as I licked my lips.
"I will definitely savor you as a dish."
TINK! TINK!
I tossed the claws and spikes all into the Bowl before moving towards the next hurdle.
The flesh.
"First things first."
Inventory Open.
[Equipped Item:] Hunting Knife
A small dagger meant specifically for field dressing animals, weaved itself into my hand.
Grabbing it by its brown hilt, I swiftly brought it down to the cockatrice's neck, cutting the upper throat that connected the severed head to the body in one motion.
Good...that one's out...
I took away the severed part before tossing it into the Bowl. It was pretty large for a soup bowl, at least that was what I thought it was.
RIP!
I tore off the remaining parts of the cockatrice's long slender neck, placing them atop the Stone Gallon.
Moving on to the torso, I proceeded to its wings first.
SLICE!
I cut through the wings with thorough attention, making no mistakes.
A single bead of sweat fell down my forehead as I sliced through it. I felt the effect of all my several sword swinging practices accumulate into this careful process.
Combat Novice is indeed an achievement.
I nodded as I took out the prudently cut wings and placed them in the bowl.
"Phew..."
Wiping sweat off my forehead, I proceeded to the tail.
In a swift but careful motion, I cut the tail into five sections whilst removing the bones in them. Afterwards, I placed the meat slabs on the Stone Gallon.
After that, I moved on to the biggest hurdle.
The main body.
I gulped when I stared at the gruesomely severed carcass; its scaly skin being a veil for its messy innards.
"Surely...they wouldn't render the interiors realistically, right?", I spoke in a hopeful manner but deep down I knew I'd be disappointed.
Bringing the blade to the body, I dipped it into the skin slightly before sliding it down.
SPLIP!
Blood trickled slowly from the deep wound inflicted on the carcass and stained my hands, the stench of blood permeated the air as strands of flesh that kept the body bound snapped in a macabre fashion.
"Uegh...", I twitched as the torso fell apart, revealing the several organs housed within its icky orifices. All were rendered at full capacity, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Fuck you, H20 Software."
My face contorted into one of disgust but I simply grinned and bared it.
Consoling myself with the delicious meal on the line, I plunged into the depths.
With surgical precision and the hunting knife in hand, I began to sever the various organs of the cockatrice being careful not to sever the bile duct or overly damaged other organs.
"Hu..."
I cut out the spleen and took it out, before carefully taking out the bones imbedded in the flesh.
HA...! HA...!
I panted heavily as my eyes dilated. This work required extreme concentration and was incredibly taxing, even with my Level 5 brain, I still struggled with this.
But then again this was my first time gutting an animal and not just any animal...
A beast.
A mythical beast for that matter.
SPLICE!
After taking out the ribs, clavicle and coracoid bones, I carefully took out the crop after severing it from the proventriculus, moving next, I took out the gizzard.
Yes!
My eyes flashed as a smile made its way to my face.
Alright...now let's take out the intesti-
POP!
A greenish-yellow fluid was violently released from the gall bladder, infecting everything it touched with a perpetual bitter taste.
"NO! Shit!"
While trying to take out the duodenum, I had accidentally severed the biliary tract!
Damnit! The meat is ruined!
I grimaced before heaving a sigh and then taking away the gored carcass but suddenly, I frowned.
Was bile supposed to explode like that?
Surely, bile in chickens wasn't supposed to blast out from its sack so violently.
Hmm...maybe...it's the unique constitution of the cockatrice...or...
A manifestation of it's spite...
My eye narrowed at the carcass, flickering as I stared at it.
My intuition has dinged twice now...
My gaze hardened as my stance slowly became guarded, I opened my mouth and spoke,
"This thing...the cockatrice...is still alive..."
Blud how?!
My inner voice exclaimed in bewilderement.
My gaze was skeptical as I stared at it.
Am not sure...but you should no better...that my intuition is rarely wrong...
I gritted my teeth, "But...didn't the system announce it?"
I stared at the corpse and cursed, "Stubborn bastard!"
I raised the Hunting Knife and brought it down repeatedly, violently stabbing the carcass of the Profane Cockatrice.
DIE! DIE! DIE!
I stabbed the carcass several times before stumbling across something baffling.
Huh...? What is that?!
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
serverdaemon
serverdaemon Pretty long and intricate.
I like this chapter.
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