The exiting process was as easy as described, instantaneously I was out of the [Tower of Gods]
'It's already night...'
[Mana Lamps] illuminated the place beautifully and many hunters were in and out of the tower.
Only a few moments, after I started walking the association's staff emerged and escorted me to the entrance of the association building.
"Mr Lucas, please head to the private room: 305. You will be personally issued Hunter's id by one of our staff after we analyze your combat effectiveness."
Of course, they weren't able to see what I had done inside the dungeon. After all things, without [Mana] are completely unusable inside the [Tower]
"Also, please submit the [Monster core]'s you have collected in the reception."
"Yes."
It was a good thing to be recognized as a powerful person, however. I didn't intend to be an 'attention whore'
'Even though I like being famous, I will also keep my own Trump cards...'
"There is a total of 56 monster cores. Is that all you had hunt?"
"Yes."
To newbie hunters [56 Monster Stones] this number itself is an astronomical one.
'However, I am the person who collected the least number of [Monster Stones] in the entire Flynn family...'
Nevertheless, I don't think it's worthwhile to prove myself here. My plan was also to prevent from becoming the stepping-stone for Kay Siegel.
"Please wait for a few seconds, A association staff will come by shortly."
The private room they mentioned, wasn't anything as I expected, it was a magical embodiment of [Mana].
'It's literally everywhere...'
I think even the bricks in these rooms must have been enclosed with [Mana stones].
Sighing I sat down on the fluffy sofa and plopped the next instant, when I was about to take a nap, the fish tank placed a few yards apart from me caught my eye.
'Oh, is it fish creatures from the tower?'
I concluded this assumption because no normal animal which has not been awakened can withstand the density of mana here.
Even though it was very low and even a normal human can withstand the magical energy, animals are much weaker than they seem in this world.
"Growl..."
My stomach let out a weird sound and a little embarrassment formed inside my heart.
'I am hungry...'
Almost 28 hours had passed since I ate, and it was obvious that even if I restored myself with [Fatigue potion] my energy level would have been greatly depleted.
My eyes fell on the fish swimming inside the pond. So, what I was about to do now would have been already guessed by you?
"Think I'll take out the middleman!" My fingers cut through the cool tank water like a hawk's talons, clutching themselves around a particularly fattened Koi.
Plucking that bad boy out of the water took more than a little shoulder strength—it had to be 14 pounds!
I was now dealing with a flopping, giant animal that was fighting for its life!
'As much as I hate to admit it...This wasn't my first time doing this kind of work...'
A 'Japanese hunter' as they call them Samurai would scorn me, but he'd be the first to ask for seconds once I grilled this carp. That summed up samurai and their bushidō code quite well, actually.
I was fairly certain I had hit the koi's brain with my initial stab, but I wedged it around inside there just to make sure.
After that was done and I proceeded to bleed out its main artery with a secondary cut, right where the neck meets the bottom.
Blood squirted out in a stream as I pulled the head back, the still-beating heart forcing the red liquid out in spurts.
This whole ordeal might've caused a weaker man to lose his appetite. As for me, I was coming down with a bad case of the munchies.
While I had done my best to make sure no one was around, there were always prying eyes in places like these you know.
"You!! How could you?!"
My hunch was right, the worst thing that wasn't supposed to occur had taken place.
Gazing in the direction of the voice I grasped the sight of the person yelling at me.
'A girl had bravely entered my private room...'
Anger erupted from the girl in a shriek, her eyes started watering as a tiny fist flew in my direction.
I was so surprised at this reaction that I didn't get the chance to dodge, especially not with a giant fish in my hands.
The kid could really use some work on her left hook, but I'd save my criticisms for later.
"Hey? Who are you kiddo?"
"You despicable Cannabali!! Why did you kill my bakman? My brother bakman!?"
Staring at the weeping kid I don't know whether to console her now or comfort her later by offering pieces of delicious grilled meat.
'Let's just eat first...'
Whatever gonna happen wasn't a current concern of mine, more than anything I just had the mood to grill this [Magical Koi].
"You are like a child!! If you were hungry. Why don't you make your damn way to the cafeteria!?"
What did it mean to be a child? I didn't actually know, so this was only a guess on my part.
When I was young we orphans had to keep one eye open as we slept for fear that the older boys would catch us unawares. Losing the handful of stuff or snacks or whatsoever you had was bad, but it could always be worse.
'You grow up fast when you're poor.'
"Hey, do you know where the fireplace is?"
"You!!"