I gazed down at the lifeless body of the Devil creature sprawled on the ground, blood trickling from a deep stab wound.
To my surprise, the bleeding had inexplicably ceased mere minutes later. Taking a moment to steady myself, I carefully set my backpack down and began preparing for the task at hand.
"Stay vigilant, Johnsy," I called out to my trusty companion, a small creature who responded with a soft cry before taking flight and perching on the highest branch of a nearby tree, keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings.
With steady hands and determined focus, I drew my sword and meticulously skinned the Devil, making sure to minimize any additional damage to its already maimed form.
Slowly and skillfully, I removed the creature's core, heart, meat, and various other parts, each one holding its own unique value.
The core, an exceptionally rare and prized component, I swiftly tucked away in my pocket, knowing its worth far exceeded that of any other part.
As for the rest of the Devil's anatomy, I retrieved small preservation cubes from my pack, specifically designed to keep the meat fresh and protected.
One by one, I placed the cubes onto the heart and meat, watching as they dissolved upon contact and a thin, transparent film automatically enveloped the extracted parts. This specialized preservation process encased them securely, shielding them from decay and ensuring their longevity.
Satisfied with the completion of this delicate operation, I gathered my belongings, making certain everything was accounted for.
The Devil's remains now safely preserved, I could carry them without concern for spoilage or degradation. With a mix of relief and anticipation, I resumed my journey, knowing that the fruits of this encounter would prove valuable in more ways than one.
Devil's heart, skin, and nails, I stowed them away in my backpack, appreciating their relatively light weight.
As for the meat, which was considerably heavier, I made the decision to bury it securely in the ground, ensuring its preservation until my return journey to the city.
"Come on, Johnsy," I beckoned to my faithful companion as I ignited the waste material from the slain creature, ensuring that no trace of our encounter would be left behind. With a sense of purpose and accomplishment, we set off together, eagerly searching for our next prey.
This hunt had been undeniably successful, and I couldn't help but calculate the potential rewards awaiting us in the city. If I managed to transport everything back unscathed, a generous sum of eight thousand units could easily be obtained.
The day stretched out before us, only reaching late morning, leaving ample time to continue our pursuit. If luck was on my side and I stumbled upon one or more Specialist stage Devils, the rewards could soar to an impressive twenty to twenty-five thousand units.
The recent kill had filled me with a sense of triumph, and I relished in the glory of my achievement, reveling in the possibilities that awaited.
However, my euphoria was abruptly interrupted as a putrid stench assaulted my senses. Initially assuming it to be the odor of a decaying Devil, I considered walking away from the source.
But curiosity gnawed at me, urging me to investigate further. Tentatively, I approached the origin of the foul smell, my breath catching in my throat as I laid eyes on the source.
A gasp escaped my lips as I beheld a sight that left me momentarily stunned.
It was not the remains of a Devil, as I had initially assumed, but rather the half-rotten corpse of a human being.
The decaying flesh had withered away, revealing a skeletal half of the body, with broken bones protruding through the remnants of tissue. This was a grim reminder that danger in the world of adventurers did not only come from Devil creatures but also from our fellow humans.
The pitiful figure before me lacked any adornments or personal belongings, save for the tattered remnants of their clothes. It was evident that this person had met a violent end at the hands of others. However, what struck me with equal dismay was the lack of basic respect or decency shown towards the deceased.
The perpetrators, whoever they may be, had callously left the body to rot without offering it the dignity of a burial or even a simple cremation.
It was a stark reminder of the dark underbelly that existed within our society, where humanity could be just as ruthless and unforgiving as any Devil.
This sight stirred within me a somber reflection on the perils faced by solo adventurers. It was a widely known fact that only six out of ten individuals would survive their first year of venturing into the unknown.
Their struggles extended far beyond the physical dangers posed by Devil creatures. There was an inherent risk in trusting fellow humans, as they could prove to be just as treacherous, if not more so, than any supernatural threat.
As I stood there, contemplating the lifeless body before me, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of sadness, anger, and a renewed determination. This encounter served as a stark reminder of the darkness that existed in the world, but it also fueled my resolve to bring justice to those who had met such an unjust fate.
With Johnsy by my side, I silently vowed to continue my journey, not only as a hunter of Devils but also as a defender of humanity, seeking to tip the scales back towards compassion, decency, and the preservation of life.
Overcoming the repugnant odor that permeated the air, I resolutely approached the decaying body and conjured a fireball with a swift incantation. With a focused aim, I released the fiery projectile, watching as it engulfed the remains, gradually transforming them into ash.
It was a solemn act, my attempt to offer a final tribute to the deceased and grant them the dignity of a proper cremation.
To my surprise, the process took far longer than anticipated. Typically, a body in the early stages of decomposition would succumb to the flames within a minute, and even a Devil of specialist mark would be reduced to ashes within a few minutes.
However, this particular rotten body defied expectations, stubbornly resisting the fire's consuming embrace. It took nearly half an hour of relentless burning for the body to finally disintegrate completely, leaving behind only a mound of fine ash.
With patience as my ally, I bided my time, waiting until the cremation was thorough and every last trace of the body had been reduced to ash. Now, with the solemn task of burying the remains, I prepared a small hole adjacent to where the body had rested.
Taking caution and donning a pair of gloves, I ensured that I treated the ashes with the respect they deserved. Though I considered myself a person of compassion, I felt it necessary to shield my hands from the physical contact with the unknown individual's remains.
Gently cradling the mound of ash in my hands, I reverently placed it within the prepared hole, my every movement guided by a sense of empathy and reverence for the life that had been lost.
I covered the burial site with soil, I offered a silent prayer for the departed, hoping that their soul would find peace in the eternal embrace of the earth.