Chapter 2-2 : Pelts And Meat Ⅰ (part 1)
We have decided that we will fixー No. Make a new kitchen soon.
But before that, I have something to take care of.
Yes. The materials I got from the Hellfire Grizzlies we killed a few days ago.
I couldn’t move for a few days due to muscle pain, so I haven’t touched the materials since then.
Of course, I haven’t sold them either.
I need money to give to the Collectors who fought the bears as a reward, and I also want to give some to the villagers whose houses were destroyed.
I’ll feel bad for them if I don’t pay them soon.
Thus, I came to the village mayor’s house to ask him how we will distribute the reward money, but…
「ーーEh? They said they didn’t need the money from the materials!?」(Sarasa)
「Yes. So, Sarasa-chan, you can do whatever you like with the materials you have collected.」(village mayor)
I was surprised by what the mayor said.
「No one complained because you killed most of the bears. You even killed the boss bear, didn’t you? In exchange, we took the bears’ parts that you don’t need.」(village mayor)
「Ah, I don’t mind. But…」(Sarasa)
The remaining parts are meat, skin, bones, etc.
They’re not so valuable as alchemy materials.
There are parts that can be used depending on how you process them, but I don’t have time for that.
「You might not need them, but if we sell them, the money will be enough to pay the Collectors.」(village mayor)
「Is that so…?」(Sarasa)
I’m pretty sure there were more than twenty bears, but I don’t know exactly how many in total.
If we sell all their meat and pelts… Umm… Yeah, I think we can get quite a lot of money.
But, who will buy all of them?
The only merchant in this village is Lorea-chan’s father, Daruna-san, but…
「Are we having trouble selling them? If so, I can buy some of them.」(Sarasa)
「Hmm… Let’s see… The villagers are now salting the meat, but… I’m not sure if we can sell the pelts. Daruna doesn’t have many merchant connections after all.」(village mayor)
Daruna-san’s only business partners are a trader who purchases miscellaneous goods from the village and a trader who purchases agricultural products made in the village.
They will likely buy the meat because it’s food, but I don’t think they will buy the pelts.
「I’ll buy the pelts, then. We need cash so we can pay the Collectors as soon as possible, right?」(Sarasa)
「But, are you sure?」(village mayor)
「Yes. I think I can make something from the pelts.」(Sarasa)
Normally, the pelt needs to be tanned and processed into leather.
However, it can be tanned even better with alchemy, and I can even add special effects to it.
The cost will be a little higher than the normal tanning method, but I can sell them at a slightly higher price since they have special effects.
「Alright, then. It will help us a lot. We will take the pelts to your place later. You can pay the amount that you think is reasonable.」(village mayor)
「Understood.」(Sarasa)
◇ ◇ ◇
I left the village mayor’s house and took a short detour to look around the village.
I haven’t checked the village’s condition because I collapsed right after I collected materials from the bears, but thanks to Andre-san and his party members who came to the rescue after we heard the first whistle, there were not many houses that were destroyed.
The rental building for Collectors to live in has suffered considerable damage, but that property is jointly owned by the village, so it will be fixed with village funds.
Even though it was destroyed, most of the Collectors have left the village, so there won’t be a problem for a while.
The fences we made to trap the Hellfire Grizzlies had been removed, and the villagers have made short fences that separated the village from the forest using the remaining materials.
Maybe they have learned from this incident and made those short fences to prevent wild beasts from entering the village.
Well, beasts rarely attack villages… perhaps…
I’m still not familiar with the forest here, so I’m not really sure about that.
After checking the state of the village for a while, I decided to go home.
On my way home, many villagers called out to me.
「Sarasa-chan, thank you for saving this village!」(villager A)
「No, I didn’t fight alone. This village was saved because everyone fought bravely.」(Sarasa)
「Sarasa-chan, thanks to you my husband came back without any injuries! Here, take this!」(villager B)
「Th, Thank you very much.」(Sarasa)
「As expected from an alchemist-sama, you’re amazing. Ah, please take this too!」(villager C)
「Thank very much…」(Sarasa)
While I was walking, the villagers who saw me immediately came to greet me.
Some of them gave me various things like vegetables, eggs, meat, etc.
So this is the reward for my hard work?
I’m very happy, but… This is too much!
What should I do with all this food…?
Even though I was walking while carrying a lot of food, I managed to get home.
「I’m homeー!」(Sarasa)
I shouted in front of the door because I couldn’t grab the door knob.
And after a moment, Lorea-chan opened the door from the inside.
「Sarasa-san, welcome hoー Where did you get all that food!?」(Lorea)
She was surprised seeing me carrying a lot of food.
After we brought the food inside, I explained to Lorea-chan what happened.
「I see… Everyone is grateful to you. If you were not here, we would have abandoned this village.」(Lorea)
「I’m happy, but it’s kinda embarrassing to be thanked so many times.」(Sarasa)
I haven’t been involved with many people until now, so I’m not used to this kind of thing.
「Lorea-chan, can I leave all this food to you?」(Sarasa)
「Yes, of course. I will cook them in my house and bring the dishes later.」(Lorea)
「Thank you! I didn’t know what to do with the food that I can’t eat as it is since I still can’t cook here.」(Sarasa)
I can make baked sweet potatoes with the furnace in my workshop, but… nah…
I think leaving them to Lorea-chan will be better.
「But, Sarasa-san, please make the kitchen soon so I can cook here.」(Lorea)
「Roger!」(Sarasa)
I answered Lorea-chan with a salute.