Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Daily Life

Where is the most challenging hunting ground in the world?

Some would say it's Aputuo, the renowned training grounds for high-ranking monsters. This place is home to the fiercest magical beasts in the realm, attracting thousands of monster groups each year who venture there to capture rare creatures, which are then sold to the wealthy, battle arenas, or dining tables.

Others might mention the Crimson Land, a mystical continent believed to border another realm. It's said to harbor unique magical beasts not found elsewhere. Few monsters that accidentally wander in survive to tell the tale, implying the tremendous difficulty of hunting there.

But—

"The prey here is easy to catch." Despite still having one arm in a sling, Little Grey managed to capture a substantial prey, much larger than any bones he'd hunted before.

"Plump and juicy." The young demon poked the potbellied creature, resembling an otter, watching its belly wobble in circles. He lifted his head, offering Ji Huan a small, triumphant smile.

"Oh! This is a Tazutan, small but incredibly swift, making it quite difficult to catch!" Nibro exclaimed, surprised.

The mere sight of Little Grey's prey was astonishing enough, but when he saw what Abu and the others had brought, his surprise turned into sheer astonishment!

Next, Ji Huan began the task of butchering the animals. Abu struck two stones together to create sparks, which were then used to ignite a pile of dry grass, turning them into a blazing fire. Naji chopped down a tree, selecting suitable branches, and with the help of the other young men, they collectively hoisted the prepared prey onto the bonfire.

It didn't matter that there were no spices; Abu found a beehive and smeared the honey on the prey. He didn't neglect the bee larvae inside, either. Little Grey picked them out one by one and placed them on a stone slab before pushing it into the fire. The prey on the rack was right above the slab, and when the fat dripped down, it landed precisely on the stone, causing sizzling sounds to emerge from the flames. Along with those sounds came an increasingly rich aroma!

All the demons stared intently at the roasting meat, whose fragrance had intensified. When Ji Huan announced that they could start eating, all their claws reached for the meat.

Nibro also got a piece of thigh meat.

There was no salt, but the honey-roasted meat tasted divine, especially the roasted bee larvae on the stone slab! Unfortunately, he only managed to eat three. By the time he reached for more, the slab was already empty.

-= Ye Falar's demons ate too quickly!

Fortunately, Ji Huan noticed Nibro's desire for more and deliberately saved some for him. Nibro felt a little embarrassed, but still accepted the bee larvae.

After finishing their "buffet," Nibro suggested treating everyone to a drink. He offered to pay, and this time, Abu and the others didn't decline.

Nibro led them to the city center, taking into consideration Abu's and his companions' tastes. They ended up in a ruggedly styled bar, where he ordered a table full of drinks and a large, brightly colored beverage for Little Grey.

However, Abu was very interested in that drink. He borrowed a sip from Little Grey, then another two, exchanging three sips from his own cup for it.

Little Grey furrowed his brow but still drank it down.

Nibro was a man of few words, often content to sit quietly in a corner and observe the interactions among these young people. Though he appeared nonchalant, his curiosity about their true identities only grew.

These individuals clearly didn't belong to the same social class as the boss; they were a mix of ages, and their appearances didn't suggest a familial connection. Yet, there was an uncanny similarity in their demeanor that made the situation peculiar.

Before leaving, the boss had instructed Nibro to take them out for a stroll without revealing their identities. Thus, Nibro immediately understood that their backgrounds were not meant for him to know.

His role was to follow their lead and treat them hospitably. The boss had even provided a card with an impressively high spending limit, which Nibro had noticed at once. As someone accustomed to dealing with finances, he could also tell that these people weren't financially well-off. Under such circumstances, their behavior typically fell into one of two categories: either they would splurge lavishly to enjoy themselves or be overly cautious and restrained.

Preparing for both scenarios, Nibro had devised two reception plans, but surprisingly, neither proved necessary.

The other party had actually gone out to hunt and grill the meat themselves!

He had even been treated to a barbecue by them!

They had hunted a large amount of game, and the leftovers were packed up – part of it was said to be for their master as a midnight snack, while the rest was intended to be sold.

At that moment, a few young monsters were discussing where to sell the meat.

"Dude, where's the marketplace around here?" the monster named Abu fixated his gaze on him.

This monster was rather carefree, likely the strongest one in the area. He loved to chat and laugh, and in principle, was quite approachable. However, whenever Nibro felt his gaze, he couldn't help but get an eerie feeling down his spine.

The creature wasn't as rough as he appeared. It was a meticulous monster, and remembering the shattered bones of its prey, Nibro felt even more chilled.

"Market?" Upon hearing this term, Nibro was momentarily taken aback.

He too hailed from a small village, but he had no recollection of such a concept.

"Ahh! I misspoke. Let me put it differently. We want to sell this meat. Do you know if any restaurants here would buy it? Or which ones might?" Although Naji had been taught before, Abu still often slipped up. Ye Falar's lifestyle was vastly different from the outside world, and since he rarely ventured out, he found it challenging to adjust quickly.

"Um... let me inquire." Nibro ate at restaurants daily, aware that food could be purchased there, but he had no clue where to sell it. In his most destitute times, he'd rather create forgeries than go hunting. This question posed quite a challenge for him.

Perhaps because they had become slightly more acquainted, Naji mustered the courage to speak, "U-uncle, y-you don't s-sell f-food... h-how do you l-live?"

To Nibro, Naji was a fluffy little monster.

The child was quiet, thin, and his hunting skills were average. Among the prey they had brought back earlier, his was the smallest and ugliest, a creature Nibro had never seen before. Thus, they decided not to eat it and planned to sell it instead.

Nibro held a favorable impression of the young monster. His similar physique reminded Nibro of his own youth.

It was precisely because of his frail body, preventing him from sustaining himself through hunting, that he embarked on the path of counterfeit creation.

Now, encountering a child in a similar situation as he once was, he was willing to offer some guidance.

So, Nibro, claiming to be a senior, poked his head out from the corner and began to speak:

"You can tell from my build that I'm not exactly physically strong!" he said, comparing his arm with Naji's. Oh dear! Naji's slender arms were even thinner than his!

Nibro promptly withdrew his arm.

Naji was slow to react, taking a moment before he let out an "Ah," then continued, "Th-Then how did you s-survive... u-until now..."

Nibro: This kid really doesn't know how to talk.

Nonetheless, this revealed that apart from his poor physical condition, the child also stuttered, intensifying Nibro's compassion:

"I started creating counterfeits."

"I camped outside a shop selling Gabu fabric for three days. I scavenged a few metal cans from a garbage pile, selected suitable materials, crafted three counterfeits, and then bought a piece of Gabu fabric."

Nibro was reluctant to revisit his past, for it held no pleasant memories. But seeing this young and seemingly simple-minded monster, he couldn't help but share those old stories.

This reminiscence carried a positive tone, erasing the pain of their former hunger and cold, leaving only the lingering aroma of that first piece of gubu.

Nibro licked his lips. "That gubu was truly delicious."

Naji's own mouth watered at the thought.

"Broken... broken potshards... can... can turn into money? I... I don't believe it."

The little one didn't think so, huh?

Nibro suddenly felt intrigued.

Peeking around surreptitiously, he took Adan's empty wine jar and selected a dinner knife and spoon from the table. He began tracing lines on the jar.

Nibro sliced off a circular metal piece from the jar, then several more, with the last one being larger than the rest. Mashing the metal pieces together, he attached the largest circle to the outside, its excess forming a rim. Using the dinner knife, he meticulously carved lines onto the metal, and eventually, a coin-like shape emerged!

"A gold coin!" Naji managed to speak without stuttering, a rare occurrence.

Observing Nibro's eagerness to show off, the counterfeit was promptly handed over. Naji examined it carefully, not only keeping it to himself but also passing it on to Ji Huan, Little Grey, Abu, and Adan.

Adan nonchalantly slipped the fake into his money pouch, his eyelids drooping slightly.

"It was made from my original ale jug," he declared openly, without a hint of guilt.

"Doesn't matter, doesn't matter. As long as you don't try to spend it. After all, it's a fake," Nibro waved dismissively.

"Forging is still not a good thing. It's been centuries since I last made a counterfeit," he added.

"That, that means you can't afford Gebu now?" Naji clearly cared deeply about the matter of sustenance.

Seizing the opportunity, a slight curve formed at the corner of Nibro's mouth as he smoothly said what he had been wanting to express.

"I am currently working for Mr. Felzahar, and my monthly wage is this much." He held up five fingers.

"5, 500 Bone Coins?" Naji stammered, knowing Ji Huan's salary of 600 Bone Coins per month, which he envied greatly.

"Bone Coins?" Nibro was clearly unfamiliar with this currency circulating only within Ye Falar. Instead, he gave the direct equivalent, "I now earn 5,000 Golden Combs per month."

The young creatures were stunned.

"It doesn't matter if you're not physically strong. With hard work, you can still earn a great deal in a bureaucratic position." Nibro's encouraging gaze swept across Naji, Ji Huan, and the little grey demon.

Lost in the satisfaction of guiding more young monsters onto the path to success, Nibro didn't come back to his senses until they passed by a combat arena, where Naji pulled out a golden card from his pocket. The little demon stammered, regretting that he didn't have any exchanged currency in his account.

"Some cards are accepted in combat arenas. I'm not too familiar with it, but we can go in and inquire."

And so, he led the group into a nearby combat arena.