Ackster used a small stick he sharpened with the teeth of the rock lizard to pick his teeth as he patted his bulging belly. With how injured he had been from the fight and how much energy he had lost trying to regenerate those injuries, Ackster barely had to injure himself further to stuff himself with the entirety of the rock lizard's edible parts.
He had managed to clean the skeleton of most of the meat, which meant it was practically ready for sale. He had also let the flayed skin hang to dry so it wasn't as bloody. Ackster was practically ready to walk back to Ilto. He had even had time to feed Mio a little.
However, he was still taking a slight break to digest his food.
The rock lizard wasn't that much bigger than him, but it was pretty long, especially with its tail. And without the meat and tendons and whatever to hold the skeleton together, it tended to fall apart.
So, he was thinking about how he was going to carry it all back to the city. Eventually, he decided to just cram the skeleton inside a large makeshift bag made from the scale-covered skin.
In reality, he had waited since it was going to be excruciatingly heavy to walk all the way to Ilto with such a weight. It was almost harder to endure and force himself to work while exhausted than it was to endure pain by now since he was so used to pain and had Pain Tolerance C.
But he couldn't afford to be lazy. It would also be a good time to try out Iron Will and also get it some experience.
So, after a while, Ackster began walking through the field and back to the main road, Mio in his bag resting against Ackster's chest and the large makeshift sack slung over his shoulder. It was large enough that Ackster was dragging it more than he was carrying it, which was a slight relief.
But the scales, regardless of direction, weren't exactly made for smoothness, and it felt like Ackster was plowing the ground behind him. And when he looked, he confirmed that it wouldn't be impossible to use this method when preparing a field.
He just hoped the farmers wouldn't be too upset, considering he had subjugated the rock lizard for them. And he didn't have to walk through too much of the field before he reached the road and ruined that instead.
The thought of trudging all the way back to Ilto while dragging the rock lizard's remains behind him was exhausting enough. But doing it was even more so. But eventually, Ackster arrived at the city gates.
He was worried that he would attract attention, more attention than he wanted.
But it wasn't strange for adventurers to come back with loot from prey bigger than themselves. It was actually very common since very few had upgraded their Nomis to have inventories.
What was surprising was the rumors around Ackster and the fact that he had defeated and carried back a rock lizard all on his own. Fortunately, only Jim and the guard captain had put any thought into Ackster. The other guards had just heard that there was an adventurer with brackets around their profession, which didn't happen a lot.
But after letting Ackster through the gates, no one thought much more about it.
Walking through the streets with the rock lizard's remains scraping behind him did get Ackster a lot of stares, but he ignored it all until a Guild employee got wind of a newbie dragging more than they could carry and came over to help.
"Hey there. Need a hand?"
Ackster didn't recognize the man, but he did recognize the Guild employee outfit from the other Guild employees he had seen. And since he was dripping with sweat enough to create a puddle when he stood still, he nodded in between heavy breaths.
Refusing help would be weird, even if he wanted to train more, which he didn't at the moment. He would gain more by selling the skeleton, getting paid, and commissioning an outfit of the rock lizard's armor and using that to train instead.
Ackster nodded.
"Yes, please."
The employee smiled and went over to the bundle. And then, after reaching his thin arms around it, he raised the bundle into the air. He almost brought Ackster along with it.
Ackster let go of the bundle, realizing he would be more of a hindrance than of help to the deceptively strong guild employee.
"Oop, sorry. Startled you there, didn't I."
The employee smiled as he walked up next to Ackster, carrying the rock lizard remains with ease.
"...Yeah. You're stronger than you look."
Ackster swallowed his disappointment at his own weakness and did his best to transform it into further motivation to work harder.
"Haha. I might not look it, but I was an adventurer back in my day."
Ackster looked at the man with skeptical eyes. He didn't look a day older than thirty.
"I'm Tosh, by the way. You?"
"I'm Dean. Thanks for the help, Tosh."
"This is the rock lizard that just cropped up out in the fields, right? In that case, you have my thanks. My sister-in-law works in the fields. I wouldn't want her to go out there with this thing around."
"As an adventurer?"
"No. Farmer. She makes the greatest bread with the wheat she grows, you know."
"I see."
"Have you ever been to the market after harvest season?"
"No. I just got here, to Ilto, I mean."
"Oh, really? Well, I hope you enjoy your stay."
"Thanks."
They arrived at the Guild without incident, and Tosh helped Ackster drop off the rock lizard remains at a desk meant for evaluating and receiving larger hauls, such as the one Ackster had brought back.
"Wilma!"
Much to Ackster's satisfaction, the capable receptionist Wilma was in charge.
"Dean, right? It's nice to see you back in one piece. Seems like you've been working hard."
Wilma was slightly surprised that Ackster remembered her since most adventurers, especially ones she had only met once and who were coming back from a serious adventure, usually didn't remember the receptionists' names. Only regulars and veterans did that.
But she didn't mind. If anything, the young man's vigor was uplifting enough to put a smile on her face.
"A rock lizard, huh? That's certainly more than enough to pay for borrowing a room last night."
"That's good. Oh, I'm not seeling the skin and armor, by the way, just the skeleton."
Wilma looked at Ackster with a raised eyebrow.
"They're not worth as much as the skeleton, but you can still fetch a pretty penny for them. Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Since Ackster was adamant, Wilma didn't press further. Instead, she asked a nearby worker for help unraveling the bundle and inspecting the skeleton.
"A single injury to the head. That's good. You'll easily get more than the market value for the entire skeleton."
She made a few notes on her notepad before looking at Ackster.
"Does fifty silver dragr sound good?"
Ackster scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"This is actually my first time selling a rock lizard. But I trust your judgment. Fifty sounds good."
Wilma had a slightly gentle smile as she retrieved and handed over a small pouch containing the currency controlled, regulated, minted, and issued by the Guild to Ackster. When Ackster took it, she winked as she leaned in a little.
"Wise choice. It's a very good deal, considering the age of this thing. Our little secret."
Ackster nodded with a surprised but happy smile.
"Thank you, Wilma. You guys get a commission from the adventurers you help, right?"
"Yep. But that's not why I'm doing this. I just wanted to help you get back on your feet."
Wilma worried that Ackster might have gotten the wrong idea, so she hurried to correct it.
Ackster smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I'm just going to repay this kindness. I'll make sure to bring back the good stuff when you're working."
"Really now? And how do you know when I'm working?"
"I don't. I'm hoping you will tell me."
Ackster flashed a bright smile that he hoped fully brought out the natural charm his face objectively possessed.
"Alright. I get off at ten."
'What?'
Before Ackster could voice his question about the way Wilma had phrased her answer, she had already turned around to get someone to pack up the rock lizard skeleton and leave the armor to Ackster.
She turned back to Ackster, but before he could raise his question, Wilma spoke.
"Since you're new here, I'll handle the details. Just show up in some nice clothes, alright?"
"...Alright."