The sound of meat being sliced, bones being crushed, and chains dangling resonated within the village near Miruzo City. It was just a bunch of men butchering the carcasses of boars—nothing horrible, though the scene could have passed for something far grislier.
[That's a lot of meat] I muttered, surveying the carnage.
The boars I had subdued totaled ten, plus one alpha boar that had been especially tough. My body ached from the fight, and the lingering heat from the magic I had unleashed still buzzed faintly in my veins.
[Here are the tusks you need, and the portion of meat. There's also this—] (??)
The farmer, a wiry man with a steady hand, held up the massive tusks of the alpha boar. They gleamed in the dim light, their sharp curves a testament to the creature's ferocity. Several other villagers, their faces worn with years of toil, worked quickly to butcher the beasts.
They carved them up with practiced efficiency, piling the meat onto carts for preservation or sale. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, mixing with the earthiness of trampled grass.
[You've done more than we expected, and please take our thanks for saving our fields] (??) the farmer said, his voice gruff. There was a flicker of unease in his eyes as he glanced at me, though he tried to hide it.
I nodded, choosing my words carefully.
[It was just luck, but I will take your thanks~]
That wasn't entirely a lie. The fire I had unleashed wasn't something I could explain, even to myself. And judging by the way the farmer avoided my gaze, he had seen enough to know I wasn't a typical adventurer.
[Well, whatever it was, you saved our hides] (??) He admitted, though his voice wavered slightly.
One of the younger men nearby, barely out of his teens, approached me hesitantly. He held out a small bundle wrapped in cloth, his hands trembling slightly.
[This is… um, for you] (??) He said, avoiding eye contact.
I took the bundle and unwrapped it, revealing a polished boar tooth pendant strung on a simple leather cord.
[A token of thanks?]
The boy nodded quickly, his face flushing.
[It's nothing much, but it's… tradition. For hunters who take down an alpha] (??) The farmer replied.
Wow. This thing? But..is it just or that this thing is radiating some kind of magical energy?
[Thank you] I said, slipping the pendant into my pocket.
{YOU HAVE EARNED A TITLE!}
Huh? I'll check on that later.
As the villagers worked, my eyes wandered to the edge of the fields, where the remains of the battle lay scattered.
The charred earth where my magic had erupted was a stark contrast to the green, untouched fields around it. A shiver ran down my spine. The power that had come from within me—was raw and unrestrained. It wasn't the first time I'd felt that power, but it had never manifested so explosively before.
[What are you going to do next?] (??) The farmer asked.
[I'll head back to Miruzo City. The guild will want a report, and I need to restock my potion supplies]
The farmer nodded but said nothing more. His unease was palpable, and I couldn't blame him. Magic always made people nervous, especially when it came from someone like me—a relative stranger with an unpredictable streak. There's also the fact that the alpha boar is dead, suggesting that a new apex beast would come at a later date.
As I turned to leave, the pendant in my pocket felt heavier than it should have. It wasn't just a gift—it was a reminder of what I'd done and what I couldn't fully control.
...........
.......
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.....
.
The walk back to Miruzo City was uneventful, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant cry of a hawk. The path wound through rolling hills, dotted with wildflowers and the occasional cluster of trees. Normally, it would've been a peaceful journey, but my thoughts churned with unease.
The power. It had felt… alive. Like it had a will of its own, urging me to unleash it completely. If I hadn't stopped myself, what else could have burned or destroyed?
As the city gates came into view, the familiar bustle of Miruzo washed over me like a tide. Merchants haggled, children ran through the streets, and the scent of fresh bread mingled with the acrid tang of the nearby forge. It was a comforting chaos, grounding me in the here and now.
But as I approached the Adventurer's Guild, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me. I glanced over my shoulder, but the road behind me was the usual busy street. Still, the sensation lingered, prickling at the edges of my senses.
I glanced at the roof through the reflections at the windows, but nothing seems off.
This feeling is rubbing me completely off, but maybe I should be used to this because of my awakened power.
Haaaaaah. What a hassle.
Inside the guild, the familiar clamor of adventurers greeted me—boisterous laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the scrape of chairs on wooden floors. I made my way to the counter, where the guild receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman named Liora, the usual receptionist that I am used to interact, greeted me with a raised brow.
[Back already? You didn't burn down another field, did you?] (Liora) She asked, her tone teasing but her gaze sharp.
Her hair is a dark greenish in color, and her ears are longer than that of a human's suggesting she's elvish in origin.
[Very funny] I replied, dropping the alpha boar's tusks and the rest onto the counter with a satisfying thud. I also handed her my guild card.
[Mission complete?]
Liora's eyes widened slightly as she inspected the tusks.
[Impressive~ Right after a rank up, you took down an alpha monster? Impressive. I'll log this in and get your reward] (Liora)
As she turned away, I leaned on the counter, letting out a slow breath. The unease from earlier still clung to me, like a shadow I couldn't shake.
[Hey. You okay? You look… off] (Liora)
I hesitated before nodding.
[Yeah. Just tired]
She didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further. Instead, she handed me a pouch of coins and a slip of parchment—a receipt for the mission.
As I pocketed the reward, a thought struck me. The magic spell that I had casted earlier, that power.....It wasn't just a fluke, was it?
And if it wasn't… what was I going to do about it?
ARGHH!!!! What am I even stressing about!?