Chapter 17

Because of the Rampant Earth Dog, Marcus decided to set out next day.

He rested while telling Liszt the important things about raising a monster.

“Monsters are dangerous even if they are tamable. They have no morals and they are temperamental. Once they are familiar with magic, they might hurt other people accidentally. Therefore, you have to guide and train it actively, my lord.”

“Like how the hounds in Tulip Castle are trained?”

“Yes, you must build up its obedience and make sure it listens to your commands. Also, you have to exhaust its magic power in training so that it won’t hurt other people. Rocky Spur of the Rampant Earth Dogs can be fatal.”

“How long will it take before the dog can release magic?”

“I’m not sure, but most monsters are weak before adulthood. So, you have probably a year and a half to tame it.”

“Very well, I’ll consider it part of my training and groom it as persistently as possible.”

Marcus was obviously in a good mood. After introducing the important things, he complimented, “Peanut insect, magic medicine, and a monster—everybody on Coral Island will be surprised, my lord.”

Liszt smiled.

More surprises were yet to come.

He asked, “How should I deal with the corpse of the female Rampant Earth Dog?”

“Perhaps you should ask Mr. Goltai. He used to run a market for the lord, and he knows the value of a monster best.”

“Mr. Carter, invite Mr. Goltai for me.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

Goltai came in a hurry. He exclaimed at the body of the dog. “Wow, what am I seeing? Isn’t this a Rampant Earth Dog? I’ve sensed the horrible air of a mid-level monster in it although it’s a low-level one. Marcus, I have to admit that you are one of the best knights on Coral Island.”

The strongest knight of Coral Island was undoubtedly Leewilliam Tulip, Liszt’s father. He was the only sky knight with advanced combat aura.

The rest of them were all earth knights.

As for the monsters on Coral Island, there was only one mid-level monster, named Purple Sand Crocodile. The other monsters were all low-level ones. The Rampant Earth Dog was one of the most powerful monsters in Thorn Hill.

“Mr. Goltai, how should I deal with this monster?” asked Liszt.

Goltai jabbed the body with his staff. The dog, which was the size of a calf, looked miserable with all the frozen blood. He observed, “The furs are ruined. They are the most precious part and worth at least twenty Neldas.”

Nelda was the name for gold coin in Archduchy Sapphire. It was given by Archduke Sapphire I in honor of his father.

“But they’re still valuable, right?”

“They can only be sold as random furs. I don’t think that they can be exchanged for more than ten Neldas.”

Goltai continued, “I think it weighs more than 300 kilograms. The market price for monster meat is two silver coins per kilogram. However, Liszt, you should probably keep it for yourself. You need to stabilize your combat aura.”

“Mr. Goltai is right. It’s not a bargain to sell the dog when we have to buy meat from outside,” Carter interjected. As a trusted butler, he was allowed to join the discussion.

“Other than furs and meat, the bones and guts can be sold to stealthy sorcerers. I know where to find them. They are always collecting monster entrails and mysterious plants, although it’s hard to say how much they will offer.”

Goltai suddenly chuckled. “It’s a pity that this is a female dog. If it were a male one, it would provide great nutrition.”

Liszt said, “Then let’s skin the dog and sell it later. The guts should be marinated, too. Mr. Goltai, are there any sorcerers on Coral Island?”

“I don’t think so.”

“In that case, let’s keep the guts to ourselves, too.”

“Haha. We will all be able to enjoy it then. Praise the generous Baron Liszt!”

…

At night, a minor barbecue party was held in the castle.

The servants, the squires, Liszt, and his teachers enjoyed the delicious meat and talked about the future.

Liszt was actually not into the festivities. He was a quiet person at heart.

However, such was the castle life. Everybody needed to vent their depression now and then, and a party was the best opportunity for that.

After everybody enjoyed enough, the servants cleaned up the forks and cups, and Liszt went upstairs to the abandoned entertainment room, which had been modified into a home for the little dog. The dog would be kept here until it opened its eyes to ensure that the first creature it saw was Liszt.

So, Liszt had to wash and feed it in person.

The little dog trembled all the time, so Liszt named it Dudderson.

“Hello, Dudderson, here’s your milk.” Liszt delivered milk to Dudderson. The bag of the milk had been specifically reshaped.

Smelling the milk, the dog’s desire for food eclipsed its fear of the strange environment. Dudderson crawled over and swallowed the milk hard.

Although it was only the size of a poodle, it gulped like a wolf.

In the blink of an eye, the milk was finished.

Thanks to the milk, Dudderson grew familiar with Liszt’s scent. Liszt was now about to touch it, and it did not back off at all. One might think that Liszt was only raising a common dog instead of a monster.

“When will you open your eyes?”

As if it understood what Liszt said, Dudderson groaned.

In a trance, Liszt saw mist again. It soon changed into some words. Mission accomplished. Reward: a baby Rampant Earth Dog.

So, Dudderson is the reward. I’ve figured out the mechanism of the misty missions.

As he considered, the misty Ophidian words changed.

Mission: As an earth knight, you have to lead the charge on horseback. Please practice techniques with intermediate combat aura and become a real knight capable of fighting. Reward: a meager dragon-bred horse.

A dragon-bred horse? Liszt’s eyes glittered.