chapter 10

On a pleasant day, I set off towards the forest for a hunting expedition. As I strolled along, three individuals unexpectedly intercepted me. Among them were two young men in their teens, accompanied by a girl clutching a broken bow.

"Hey there, little brother. Do you happen to know any skilled bowsmith or someone selling bowstrings in this village? We're on a mission, and our archer's bowstring snapped," one of the young men inquired urgently.

Noticing the girl's bow, I responded, "I'm sorry, I don't know any bowsmiths, but I can guide you to a reputable smithy in our village."

Since I had some time, I led them to Brook's house and engaged in conversation along the way. They introduced themselves as a D-rank party from the capital, undertaking a mission for their academy.

Upon arriving at the smithy, they looked around while I explained their predicament to Brook. He promptly informed us that his aunt was a skilled bowsmith and called her over.

"Hello, how can I assist you?" greeted Brook's aunt.

"Hello, do you have a bowstring made from the tendons of a thunder-type monster that can withstand a 30kg pull?" inquired the girl from the party.

"Hmm, let me check," replied Brook's aunt, rummaging through compartments until she found two. "Yes, we have these. They're not from tendons but crafted from the web of an E-ranked thunder spider. We can sell you one as we have a pending order."

"I'll take it. How much?" the girl asked promptly.

"It's 5 copper coins," stated Brook's aunt firmly.

The girl attempted to negotiate, but Brook's aunt held firm, and eventually, the girl purchased it at the stated price.

"It seems like smithing is quite profitable. The potatoes from our farm only cost 2 copper per kilogram," I remarked casually.

"Thank you, Alex, for bringing them here," said Brook's aunt appreciatively.

"No problem, Auntie. Are you the sole smithy in this village?" I inquired curiously.

"No, there are other bowsmiths here. They may not have E-ranked bows, but they offer different types," she explained.

Considering my own bow, I realized its bowstring was also loose.

"Auntie, could you take a look at my bow?" I asked, handing it over.

Inspecting it closely, she noted, "Ah, this bow has seen its share of use. The string has been treated with tree sap, so it will hold up for a while, but it's already starting to slacken."

She tightened the bowstring and advised, "After replacing it, it'll handle about a 7kg pull weight."

"How much would that cost?" I inquired.

"Don't worry, consider it on the house," she insisted kindly.

Curious about swords, as I was learning to wield one in school, I ventured, "Auntie, what's the price of a steel blade?"

"It varies. A regular kitchen knife is 10 copper coins. For hunting purposes, it's 30 coins. Enchantments add to the cost, depending on your preference. A sword ranges from 70 to 150 coins, based on type and materials," she explained patiently.

Realizing I hadn't started earning yet, I refrained from further questions.

After testing my bow, I ventured into the forest with determination to start earning. Typically, I hunted two monsters per outing, but with the opportunity to capture a few more, I could sell them to the guild.

Deeper in the forest, I successfully hunted two horned rabbits with my bow. Over the years, I had honed my skill with it. While observing a butterfly, my attention was drawn to a black bird with a yellow belly devouring it before returning to its nest. Following its flight path, I stumbled upon a nest containing four eggs.

Identifying the bird as an E-ranked creature with a penchant for fire elements in combat, I knew direct confrontation was impractical due to its swift flight. Nearby, camouflaged among leaves, I spotted an E-ranked snake. It appeared green and seemed to be progressing towards a higher rank.

Seizing the moment, I aimed carefully at the snake and released my arrow. The noise attracted the bird's attention, prompting it to notice the snake just in time.