13 - forest days

Thor and Sora's commute to the kobold forest began.

The second day.

"When we find goblin footprints, the first thing we do is check the width.

"Do you measure the length of the foot?"

"No, we look at the width to see how many there are. They are always either in groups of two or three. If there are two, they are in front and behind, and if there are three, there is one in front and two behind.

As he explains, Thor points to the ground at his feet.

On the green moss, there were still some new, small footprints.

They are almost in a row, indicating that there are two goblins.

"The territory of the herd is usually within a hundred paces, and they basically move along the perimeter. So if you fight them as soon as you find them, you run the risk of being attacked by other goblins whose territory borders yours, depending on where you are.

"Wow, you must be very friendly."

"To avoid this, the trick is to fight them by pulling them slightly inside their territory. For example, this way--"

Thor takes out a finely coiled shell from his backpack and places it on the ground at equal intervals.

"Goblins have pretty good eyesight. They also have a good nose, but not as good as a dog's. If you have to run, use the trees instead of a straight line.

"Like this?"

Sola leaps lightly over a fallen tree with her hand and quickly lies down behind it.

Then he let out a small cry.

"Oh, mushrooms are growing, Thor!

"That's a white-spotted mushroom."

"Is it good?"

"Yeah, I heard it tastes good if you sprinkle salt on it and bake it. But it's just a poison powder, so the bureau will buy it from you.

"Mmm, that's delicious in a different way.

As she hurriedly picks mushrooms, Sola expresses her doubts.

"Are there poisonous snakes?"

I don't see them around here. Poison powder is used for skin rashes and itching. --Oh, there you are. Keep hiding, Sola."

The angry goblins, lured out by the empty shells, were easily turned back by the two.

The results of the day were 20 goblins, 15 magic stones, a pointed beak, and a forest slime.

There were twenty white-spotted mushrooms, but I decided to sell only fifteen. The price for five mushrooms was 40 copper coins.

Together, they made a profit of six large copper coins and ninety-seven copper coins.

However, the money I made was almost offset by the six large copper coins I made from a demolition knife with a sheath from Sora, a small digging spade for outdoor toilets, and two leather bags for collecting.

However, these items are essential if we are to continue our adventure, so there is no point in splurging on them.　

With the five mushrooms I brought back, I ask Yuril, my landlord, to make an antivenom powder.

She has a friend who is a very good potion-maker.　

I need some other ingredients, but I can make three bags of poison powder from five white-spotted mushrooms.

For the cost of the labor, one bag for Yuril and one for the medicine man, and Thor and the others will receive one bag each.

The third day.

"Hey, Thor, is this the bitterweed you were talking about yesterday?"

"Yes, that's right."

"We got the same kind of grass in the mountains, didn't we? You know, the kind you pick up and put on a wound and it stops the bleeding."

Maybe it's the same grass.

In the depths of the forest, where the miasma has thickened, the vegetation is affected by the miasma.

In the case of the bitter grass, as the name suggests, its bitterness has become stronger, but its hemostatic and analgesic effects have also become more potent.

This herb, which is used to make an ointment to stop bleeding, cannot be cultivated in the city, so it is sold for 40 copper coins for five bunches, the same price as for mushrooms.

Don't pull out the whole root. Cut it off at the top of the stem. It will grow back in about three days.

"Wow, you can take them as many times as you want. If you remember where they are, you can take as many as you want.

"Not this season. After the summer, the season will be over and you won't be able to pick any more.

The evergreen perennial bitterroot sprouts from early spring to the height of summer.

The white-spotted mushroom also disappears once the water god season is over, so it was common practice to gather as much as possible during this period and store it up to make medicines.

The results of the day were 15 goblins, 10 magic stones, and 2 horned moles.

I also got fifteen bundles of bitter weed, so I bought ten bundles to sell them off.

The total profit is five large copper coins and six copper coins.

The bitter herbs, like the mushrooms from the previous day, are to be made into a blood-preventive ointment via Euril.

And since I left early, I decided to go to the public bath today.

I have earned about a silver coin on the third day, so this is both a celebration and a consolation.

I've never been in a big bath before!

"Don't worry, I asked him to show you around."

"Thank you very much, Miss Sora."

It was impossible for Thor to accompany me inside, so I asked Yuril to go in with me.

The girl, her eyes swimming with anxiety, walked through the curtain as the old woman urged her to go in.

She was understandably nervous, since when she had lived in a mountain village, she had only bathed in the river or wiped herself with a wet cloth.

Thor had a hard time getting used to the idea of soaking in the hot water with a large group of people.

Thor was thirty minutes behind.

After taking a bath, Sola was in a very good mood for a change.

Her freshly washed black hair had not yet dried completely and was shining with a glossy sheen.

Her bare skin is like that of a raw egg, and its smoothness and softness seem to have been further polished.

Thor, who had been looking at the excited Sora with a little bit of dismay, is quietly overheard by Yuril.

"Mr. Thor. Well, Sora-san ......, it looks like you only have one pair of underwear."

Fourth day.

We decide to cancel the morning hunt and go to the fabric store with Ulil's guidance.

I told him to go with me and just give him the money, but for some reason we ended up buying Thor's underwear as well.

When I was told that Thora did not have any spare underwear, I told her that I had only one change of underwear, which seemed to have been a bad idea.

Here it is. Let me come in.

"Welcome. Hello, Mr. Euril.

The store to which Thor and his friends were taken was located on a corner of North Avenue, a street that is not often visited.

The area is home to many tanners and blacksmiths, and is full of stores selling their workshops and tools.

The store is not so large, but the small lighted windows allow us to see clearly into every corner.

The shelves are lined with colorful fabrics, and high-end fabrics hang from the walls.

The shopkeeper who greeted me was a slender woman with straight black hair and narrow eyes.

"What can I help you with today?"

"Well, yes. I need you to help me find a couple of pairs of underwear for these two."

Yes, sir.

The owner of the store brings out a tape measure and a string, and takes measurements of Thor and Sora.

"Have you decided on the fabric yet?"

"It's going to be hot from now on, so how about two flax weaves and one cotton weave?"

We have some good fabrics in the shop from Grand, if that is what you are looking for.

Thor, who did not even know what the difference was between the two, had no way to answer the question.

Sola was looking around the store with a twinkle in her eye and did not seem to be listening to what I had to say.

In the end, she leaves it up to him to choose from a modest budget and has the fabrics cut.

The owner of the store waved a small bell, and an elderly man came out from the back of the store.

He had no hair left on his head, a high eagle nose and needle-sharp eyes.

He looked somewhat like the owner, so I guessed they were father and son or close to it.

"Oh, welcome. Mr. Yuril.

It's been a while. They sent me here today to help them with some of their dresses."

Thank you very much. Hey, are you finished cutting?

Yes, this is it. How long is this going to take?

"I'm free right now, so three days for the women's. One day should be enough for the men's wear.

It seems that the mistress cuts the cloth and the men are in charge of tailoring.

So we agreed to pick it up in four days.

The total cost was two silver coins.

Since a normal jacket costs about the same price, it seems very cheap for nine pairs of underwear.

Later, we also stopped by a clothing store and bought a set of ready-made underwear and a pair of nightclothes for Sora.

This pair of underwear was made of linen, which is a cheap material, and cost the same two silver coins.

To tell the truth, this was an unplanned expense, but since Sola was so happy, Thor decided not to worry about it.

Besides, at the current pace, it would be easy to make it back in a week.

Sola suggested a food stall in the plaza for lunch, so the three of them went to the central plaza.

As Thor was watching the girl browsing the stalls with a little leap in her step, Yuril spoke to him with a narrow look in his eyes.

"You're looking much better."

"I don't know. He's always been like that."

"No, no, I'm talking about you, Thor."

He must have noticed that I use my left hand as a matter of course.

But Thor sensed that Yuril's words, smiling at him, meant something more than that.

"Yes, things have changed a bit recently.

"I see. But please don't take it too hard.

Yes, I will be careful.

"And ......."

Yuril's gaze shifts to Sola, who is returning with a steamed bun in her arms.

"Please take good care of her, no matter what happens.

The old woman's profile looked a little somber to Thor as she said this.

After lunch, they went out into the forest again to hunt for kobolds.

He spent the whole afternoon, and his results were eleven goblins and seven magic stones, which was not bad at all.

I have already harvested ten white-spotted mushrooms and five bunches of bitter grass.

Thor and the others returned just before sunset, as they had stayed up a little late.

As usual, they pass through the outer gate with one hand raised to listen to the young gatekeeper's lighthearted conversation.

Just as they were about to step into the square, their path was suddenly blocked.

Standing in front of Thor and Sora were a group of men in black uniforms.