The early morning breeze drifted through the small house tucked away in the forest outside Orleaf. Rays of sunlight cut through the wooden shutters, landing on the simple table at the center of the room.
Yoshiya yawned as he rose from his bedroll, rubbing his eyes. His gaze fell on Omina, who was already awake, sitting at the table with a furrowed brow. Three silver coins lay neatly in front of her, their faint glint betraying her frustration.
> "Three silver… That's not enough," she muttered under her breath.
Yoshiya stretched and walked over. "Still thinking about the funds?"
Omina nodded. "We've got horns, hides, and materials, but if we don't liquidate some of it, we'll run out of coin fast. Travel, food, repairs… it adds up."
Yoshiya didn't argue. They had plans — big ones — but coin was still the blood of their survival.
They ate a modest breakfast together, finishing the last of their smoked meat, and shared scraps with the two boars, who were already eagerly stomping their hooves for food.
On the side table lay their current loot:
2 Alpha Taurox Horns
4 Large Horns
2 Small Horns
2 Bundles of Taurox Hide
A jar of Taurox Blood Powder, a Horn Catalyst, and two Evolution Draughts Omina brought back from Mira.
The rest of the monster organs had been preserved at Mira's shop for future use.
After breakfast, Omina retrieved the two vials of Evolution Draught and set them down on the floor in front of the boars.
> "You two earned this," she said firmly, kneeling before them.
She poured the draughts into wooden bowls and added a measured pinch of blood powder to each. The boars sniffed, then drank greedily.
Moments later, their bodies began to tremble. A low rumble emanated from deep within their chests. Their fur bristled, and faint steam rose from their backs. Muscles thickened, bones creaked, and their forms expanded — their frames growing broader and taller.
> "Here it comes," Yoshiya muttered, stepping back.
A warm glow spread beneath their hides as the potion worked its magic. Their skin darkened and hardened, gaining the rugged, leathery texture Mira had described. When the light finally faded, the two beasts stood nearly waist-high, their tusks sharper, their eyes gleaming with intelligence and power.
> "They're… bigger," Yoshiya whispered, awestruck.
"And tougher," Omina confirmed, running her palm along one boar's flank. It felt like warm stone covered in muscle.
The boars let out deep, resonant snorts, stamping their hooves with newfound vigor.
> "Once we fix the sled, we'll test them out," Yoshiya said with a grin.
Omina smiled faintly, proud of their progress.
Outside, the sled awaited. It had taken a beating during their last hunt — some boards were loose, and the runners were worn. Yoshiya got to work, replacing the old wooden wheels with the new ones he'd crafted from Taurox bone, fitting them snugly onto the horn axle he'd forged earlier.
When he finally lowered the sled back onto the ground, it looked sturdier and more balanced, with a more professional finish than their earlier makeshift rig.
Omina's eyes lit up. "This is… actually impressive."
"Of course," Yoshiya replied, puffing his chest a little.
Once everything was secured, they hitched the two newly evolved boars to the sled. Their larger bodies pulled against the harnesses with ease, their strength immediately apparent.
They took the sled out onto a dirt path nearby for a test run. Yoshiya walked alongside to observe, while Omina rode on the sled, holding the reins. The boars trotted forward steadily, their movements smoother than before.
When Omina gave a sharp whistle, they burst into a sprint, the sled gliding effortlessly over the ground. Yoshiya whistled back in surprise.
> "They're fast!"
"And stable!" Omina shouted, grinning from ear to ear as the forest rushed by.
After several rounds, they returned home just as the sun began to dip. Exhausted but satisfied, they cooked a horned rabbit for dinner. The warm aroma filled their small home as the two boars lay content nearby, their bellies full and their bodies still humming with fresh strength.
Yoshiya leaned back, watching the fire crackle. The new wheels, the upgraded sled, the evolved boars — it all pointed to something bigger on the horizon.
> "Step by step," he murmured.
> "Step by step," Omina echoed, raising her cup of warm broth.