Episode 62: The Protagonist of the Capture System (2)
The plundering ended in abundance.
That night, the whole event ended with the selection of about a hundred kilograms of the finest parts of Oxbear meat.
The people of Balak sorted out the best of the meat and put it on a tall tree quite far from the village.
Iyen explained to Bikir, who was making a puzzled expression.
“I’m making a sacrifice to ‘Madame Eight Legs’.”
Bikir nodded slightly.
Madam Eight Legs had met once before in the darkness of the jungle.
An unprecedented gigantic monster. The fear of flood damage that you will never be able to survive if you encounter it.
The savages of Balak seemed to use parts of their dead game, or the corpses of prisoners of war, threaded into tall trees as sacrifices.
Surprisingly, none of the creatures showed interest in the meat that Balak’s people hung from the trees.
Hyenas, eagles, and at least not even insects were attracted to this meat.
It seemed that he did not dare to touch it because he knew who the owner of the meat was.
‘Did the warriors of the Baskervilles and the Morgues who died in the past become sacrifices to Madame Eight Legs?’
Given the culture of Balak, which does not eat cannibals, it seemed highly likely.
* * *
the next morning.
Bikir got out of bed early and walked out of the tent.
Halfway through, I saw the drunken warriors of Balak asleep in the morning dew.
Bikir moved carefully so as not to step on them and then walked out of the village.
The body was recovering rapidly day by day.
And for a faster recovery, more food is needed.
The meat, blood, and intestines of the Oxbears he received earlier were not enough, so Bikir went out of town to find food himself.
Since he was a slave, he wondered if he could go outside the village, but the guards standing at the entrance of the village were surprisingly willing to let Bikir out.
“What is a slave? Are you wandering around by yourself just because you made some balls in the hunt?”
The sentry chief, Ahhun, looked at Bikir and frowned arrogantly, but did not particularly restrain him.
“Just because you caught a dying bear doesn’t mean you are afraid of the jungle. Kek, hurry up and die.”
Bikir left behind Ahhun’s farewell and walked out into the jungle alone.
After a long time passed, Bikir reached the high tree where the offerings were hung last night.
“… … !”
Bikir’s eyes widened slightly.
Indeed, the 100-kilogram worth of meat that had been hung on a tall tree had disappeared.
Even though wild beasts, flying beasts, and insects roaming nearby did not dare to approach, the disappearance of the meat means that the owner came and went.
All around was white dried mucus and burnt, dead grass.
“… … It’s an unpleasant monster.”
Bikir headed to the stream a little further away from the spot.
A river with muddy water.
There is no boundary separating water and land.
Only tall vines and thorny leaves covered the border of the river.
Bikir climbed a high branch and stretched a rope.
One of the longest and strongest strands of Oxbear hair is pulled out and used as a fishing line.
At the end of it was a fishing hook carved from an oxbear’s scrap bone.
Bikir lightly bit off the tip of his finger, drawing blood and splashing it into the river.
Reactions started coming in right away.
bubbling bubbling… …
Looking at the bubbles bubbling up on the yellowish-brown surface of the water, it seemed that they had succeeded in catching them.
Bikir hooked a frog that had roamed nearby and threw it into the center of the bubble.
The bite came right away.
… Chew!
A fish with saw-sharp teeth is caught on a fishing line.
<Pirania Nateri>
Risk level (single object): D
Hazard level (colony): A
Size: 30cm
Discovery Location: Red and Black Mountains 6th Ridge
– Live in herds of at least a few thousand.
When alone, they are timid and shy, but when in a group, they attack even huge enemies without hesitation.
Sensitive to the smell of blood, it swims in groups in deep puddles in the riverbed.
The frog used as bait was shredded, but the hair and bones of the oxbear used as fishing line and hook were intact.
A fish with a red belly and a dark blue body.
As soon as Bikir caught it, he threaded it into a pointed branch.
For the next bait, I used a little bit of flesh from the fish I just caught.
When the meat of the same people is used as bait, Nateri becomes even more enthusiastic.
one two three four… … Fish were still being caught.
Occasionally, individuals over 70 cm tall, black or white with red eyes were caught.
“Originally, these are difficult fish to catch.”
Bikir murmured, looking down at the natheri, whose gills were entangled in long reeds.
These are monsters that originally only react sensitively to human blood and the meat of their own kind.
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In particular, the blood of a person whose mana has been melted to some extent is truly crazy and rushes.
Balak’s hunters didn’t seem to be aware of this, so Vikir just silently piled up food alone.
Before long, Bikir caught and roasted the natheri on a low fire made by collecting fallen leaves and gum fire.
Some were eaten and some were smoked to make fish shells.
By the time the freshwater crabs and turtles crawling along the riverbank had been caught and food was ample, the sun rose in the morning.
“… … ?”
When they returned to the village with food in sacks made of leaves, they saw a strange sight.
In the center of the village, people were standing in a long line in front of Aquila’s barracks.
‘what?’
Bikir tilted his head.
In front of the chieftain’s barracks, there were more than thirty people lined up in a row.
What was unusual was that all thirty of them were young women.
‘Is this a ritual or something?’
To get to the barracks, you have to cross this line anyway.
Unaware that Bikir is approaching from behind, the young women huddle among themselves and chatter.
“I’ve been standing in line since dawn. I’m glad I’m in the front row.”
“I stayed up all night here!”
“it’s a shame. I should wake up a little earlier.”
Bikir listened, wondering what was going on.
However, there is something strange about their conversation.
“If you look at yesterday’s performance in the loot system, there’s a high probability you’ll be exonerated, right?”
“Then are you sure you’re going to welcome a woman in the village as your maid?”
“I’ll tell the chief and I’ll be the first to apply.”
“When I saw him trimming the meat yesterday, he looked very reliable.”
“You must be strong enough to hunt Oxbear, right?”
“How did it come about?”
Bikir slowly backed away.
‘???’
Before I can understand the situation in detail, I feel a visceral sense of alertness.
The moment Bikir is about to leave.
“These are real!”
A loud cry was heard.
Thirty women startled and backed away.
Where their eyes were directed, Iyen stood there with burning eyes.
When did he catch it? Iyan brought three deer on his back.
She tossed her game on the ground and proclaimed to the village women.
“I cooked that soup (?) yesterday, and what nonsense are you talking about now! Where are these going to steal someone else’s at the last minute!”
Then, a woman shouted with courage.
“Then write(?) first and hand it over!”
“shut up! What kind of nonsense is this for a child who will no longer be a slave!”
“Monopolies are petty!”
“If you feel unfair, take a noose and go out and catch it!”
“I’ve been out a few times, but there’s no kid like that!”
“How far have you been?”
“Imperial border!”
“If you go all the way to hell, you might find it!”
Ayen shouted as she drew the dagger from the inside of her thigh.
Then the women who were standing in a line quietly fall behind.
No matter how brazen the heroines of Balak are, Iyen, the hunting leader, looks scary.
Hey, it’s only natural that the fight with her doesn’t end with pulling out her hair and scratching with her fingernails.
Seeing the women slip away, Iyen snorted hard.
“Shit. If this happens, someone might pick it up while you wait for it to recover. You should be able to trust bitches like Sagal. I have to get well soon and give him a job as a man… … ”
She turned around muttering something to herself.
At that moment, Iyen and Bikir’s eyes met.
Unintentionally, Bikir, who was hiding behind the tent, was taken aback.
I didn’t do anything wrong, but it became like I was peeping.
However, it was Iyen who was more embarrassed than Bikir.
“… … uh. Look, did you see?”
“… … .”
“Hmm. no what.”
“… … .”
“… … Great.”
An awkward silence hangs between the two.
Before long, Iyen scratched his neck and strode forward.
She is almost a hand taller than Bikir.
Ayen came closer and looked down at Bikir.
When she opened her mouth, a sweet nutty scent mingled with her warm breath.
“My mother called a meeting of elders last night.”
“… … .”
“Among the many agendas, your story came up.”
As she had said before, it was traditionally customary to free from slavery whoever brought in the largest game in the scavenger hunt.
However, listening to it now, it seems that the benefit does not stop at just one cotton cloth.
“listen carefully. You can ask your mother for one thing. As the honorable hunter of yesterday’s loot.”
Ayen asked for trust in Bikir.
“Your mother will probably try to match you with a partner.”
A slave from an outsider who was clothed in cotton cloth.
The way to ensure that this useful talent is kept within the tribe is to find a partner to mate with.
‘… … Maybe that’s why the girls had been queuing up since morning?’
Bikir sighed lightly.
Meanwhile, Iyan asked in a quiet voice with her eyes narrowed.
“you. Does this tribe have any other wives and wives in mind?”
… … There is no way.
His body was smashed to pieces, and he was drifting in the middle of the enemy camp on a creaking earth, but he had been fighting dangerous monsters ever since.
As Bikir shook his head resolutely, Ayen’s expression turned subtle.
It was an expression of anger and dejection, and luck and misfortune coexisting.
… chin!
Ayen placed his arms on Vikir’s shoulders.
The momentum was wild, but when she touched Vikir’s shoulder, she gently put her hand down.
Ayen spoke in a low voice as she pressed close to Bikir’s ear.
“I will decide in advance what you will ask of my mother when she calls you later.”
her eyes are shining bright
“What should I ask for… … ”
It looked like he was plotting some kind of cunning plan.
