I worried about what food to get for Jena as hunger growled in our stomachs while we were already halfway to Mining City. Surprisingly, Jena didn't react much when I carried her on my back and ran at my current top speed. Despite her slowing me down slightly, she didn't show any signs of nausea from the speed.
"Don't tell me she was traumatized by the monster's attack?" I thought to myself.
Malevolent Bears were considered strong, but they weren't usually the type to cause trauma, unlike dragons whose very breath could wreak havoc in their vicinity. Or, people just had different tolerance to terror.
"Do you eat monster meat?" I asked, unintentionally sounding apathetic.
Honestly, I wanted to save the world, but these kinds of interactions tied knots in my stomach. It was hard to bear.
As soon as she heard what I said, she looked at me with lifeless eyes, her face pale and lips trembling, making it difficult for her to speak.
I chuckled softly. "Don't worry, it won't be poisonous or bad. Just trust me."
She didn't reply, but I took her silence as a reluctant agreement. I asked her not to move and cast a protective barrier around her just to be sure.
Initially, maintaining the invisible protective barrier was challenging. It's not easy to sustain a spell remotely, especially without using artifacts. Spells weren't blessings. But as I continued, it started to feel natural.
I hadn't tried this kind of spell before, despite my supporting role in the subjugation company. But I excelled at predicting attack patterns with the Cog of Eternity, which was already an achievement in itself.
Realizing what I had just accomplished, I understood that remotely controlling a humanoid metal wouldn't be as difficult as I had anticipated. With the right artifact, it would be quite manageable, especially since I excelled in using them.
Returning to this era seemed to have flourished my love for artifacts and talent in controlling them, to the point where one artifact, my current cultivation base, seemed to develop its own personality.
I didn't stray too far from Jena and soon sensed a horned rabbit nearby, which would make a decent meal. Horned rabbits were like regular rabbits but with core stones and horns.
Dispatching it with ease, I grabbed its ears and returned to where Jena remained still and silent. Brushing off her demeanor, I began preparing the meal.
The only issue was that it wouldn't be particularly flavorful. While I had said it wouldn't be bad, I hadn't promised it would be good either.
Preparing to cook, I used the dagger to skin the rabbit. Despite its dullness, it got the job done. I removed the horn and core stone, saving the stone for later use.
A smile spread across my face as I noticed the tender meat. Monsters were better than regular animals since animals didn't offer much nutrition. They tasted bland without seasoning, but monsters seemed naturally seasoned, possibly due to mana being their primary nourishment.
I lit a fire with nearby wood and began cooking. It didn't take long for it to become edible.
I divided the rabbit in half and gave one portion to Jena. Without waiting for her, I began eating, savoring every bite as the tender meat yielded to my teeth. It was so tender that a smile escaped me.
It tasted mildly seasoned even without putting on it, but it wasn't disappointing.
Seeing her hesitation to eat, I pointed to her stomach. "Your stomach has been growling for a while. It's better to eat than to grow weaker from hunger."
She sighed deeply and swallowed nervously. Her anxiety was palpable, her mouth hesitant to open and her teeth reluctant to touch the meat.
"I promise, it's safe to eat."
The thought of consuming monster meat would turn anyone's stomach, but when the disaster struck and dragons began to resurrect one by one, food scarcity became a pressing issue, leading us to eat monsters.
Initially repulsed by the idea, survival made me realize it wasn't so bad. If only a chef from this time had experimented with cooking monster meat, they could have made a fortune secretly. Ingredient-wise, it was even superior.
I chuckled as Jena continued eating, finally understanding that my words weren't just bland encouragement.
After our meal, we rested for a few minutes. Silence enveloped us, but I found comfort in it. It was peaceful this way.
"Alright, let's continue," I said, carrying Jena on my back the same way as before. She remained silent throughout the entire journey until we finally arrived at the gates of Mining City.
Finally, I had made it. Despite the dark sky scattered by small stars, I felt relieved knowing I could finally get some decent rest.
I didn't have any money, so I decided selling the core stones.
"Toll payment," a guard blocked my path as I walked, unaware of any toll.
"What toll? When did tolls become a thing in Mining City?" I asked, clearly showing my ignorance. The two guards exchanged smirks.
"Tolls have always been a thing, kid. If you didn't know, why did you even think of entering a commercial city?" one guard replied.
I was left speechless. It made sense that when we had arrived at Mining City before, it was amidst the disaster. They must have lifted this rule at that time, making it open to the public.
"Only residents are allowed to enter, and judging by your ignorance, you're clearly not one," the other guard scoffed as he walked away, amused by my obliviousness.
With no other options, I reached into my side pocket for the core stone.
"Is it possible to pay with—" I began, but Jena cut me off with a soft voice.
"Excuse me... I am a resident here," she said, pulling out her identification card from her skirt.
No way... I would be stuck here. I considered asking her to sell the core stone but fear of her running it troubled me. But since I had saved her life, it seemed unlikely she would betray me.
"I will also pay for him," she said calmly, handing over five copper coins. That amount could buy a day's worth of decent food, yet she gave it away without hesitation and entered the city.
Following her, my steps felt heavy.
"Thank you," I said, showing my gratitude. "I suppose we have to part ways now."
She stopped walking once we were inside. The city was bustling with buildings made of large rocks and bricks, roads paved with cement, and lively crowds despite the late hour.
"Thank you very much for helping me," she said, offering me the pouch from which she had taken the money. I stared at it, understanding her unspoken offer.
'I'm not a beggar, but money would certainly help,' I grumbled inwardly, stopping myself from showing any signs of desperation. I could start by selling my core stones to earn money.
"Please take this. It was the young master's allowance, but he forgot I had it. You can use it here," Jena insisted, offering me the small pouch.
I simply shook my head at her. "Keep it. You need it more. Even though you're a resident with family support, you'll still need it. Your young master will be searching for you in this city."
Her face darkened as she looked down. "You're right and wrong... He brought me along because I'm from here. He'd search for me if he knew I survived, but he'd assume I was dead," she said, her eyes still holding a fierce determination.
I sighed and shook my head again. "Keep it. You deserve to keep it after enduring your young master's cruel treatment. How could he use you as bait?"
Not waiting for her response, I turned and walked away. I knew she would insist on giving it to me.
Ignoring Jena, I entered a shop that traded in core stones. I sold all of mine, earning at least one silver coin. It was enough for three days' board at an inn and some inexpensive weapons.
After securing the money, I found an inn and finally lay down to rest.
At last, a moment of peace had arrived. Tomorrow, I would begin preparing to enter the mine.