After defeating the orc—a surprisingly strong opponent—I felt a surge of confidence in my own abilities. Once again, I realized just how useful the Skills I'd gained truly were.
"The things I can do now… it's all thanks to the Skills I received yesterday. I wonder how far I could go if I had even more."
The words slipped out of my mouth without me noticing.
I had also discovered something new: monsters had both Skills and Abilities. Obviously, I couldn't take the townspeople's Skills, but there was no reason to hold back when facing monsters. Steal their Skills, weaken them, and I could use the same powers to defeat them.
Hunting alone might be safe, but being an adventurer… that would expose me to far more variety. I'd encounter countless monsters, gather more Skills, and grow stronger. My plan to continue as a simple hunter suddenly wavered after taking down an orc. Perhaps becoming an adventurer wasn't just an option—it was the better path.
"For now, I should finish dismantling this orc," I muttered to myself. "If I don't hurry, the smell of blood will attract other monsters."
I worked quickly, using Cut to break the orc down. The total weight was close to a hundred kilograms, far more than my Storage Bag could hold. I discarded the rabbits I had previously collected, sorted out the parts worth selling, and filled the bag to capacity.
"…I really need a bigger bag."
With the spoils safely secured, I made my way back home. Even after venturing deep into the forest, Leg Strength Enhancement – Small and Swift Feet – Small made my return effortless. In the blink of an eye, I was at the town's back gate. Showing my proof of citizenship to the familiar gatekeeper, I entered the town.
I headed straight for the butcher's shop.
"Good afternoon, Uncle!" I greeted cheerfully.
"Oh? Did you bring a rabbit today, kid?" he asked, smiling.
"Ehehe… actually, it's amazing! Take a look at this!" I proudly laid the orc meat on the counter.
The butcher's eyes went wide. "Oi… kid, this… is orc meat!"
"Yes, that's right! With the Skills I received yesterday at the temple, I managed to defeat it!"
He shook his head in amazement. "You've grown up, kid. Defeating an orc… you truly have been blessed."
Of course, it was considered rude to openly ask about another person's Skills, and even when someone's abilities were obvious, people usually pretended not to notice. Except, of course, when publicity was the goal—like with the king.
"Yes, I'm very grateful," I replied, finishing sorting out all the parts to sell. The rest would go to the alchemist. Orc meat was particularly valuable, tasting richer than even wild boar, with high demand for its horns, hooves, and the rare demon core.
The butcher examined the meat. "You dismantled this very well… Eh? Where are the bones? They sell for a good price too."
"…I left them in the forest. My bag couldn't hold everything."
The orc had weighed a full hundred kilograms, but my Storage Bag could only hold fifty. Some sacrifices were inevitable.
"Alright, let's finalize this. Intestines for eight silver coins, testicles twenty, eyeballs four, and one gold coin for the Demon Gem."
I blinked. That was more than I'd expected. Normally, a rabbit only earned me a few copper coins. This one orc had netted me over three months' worth of typical income.
"From now on, remember: one kilogram of orc meat goes for three silver coins," he advised.
"I understand! Thank you, Uncle!"
Next, I made my way to the alchemist's shop.
"Good afternoon!" I called.
"Oh, Myne-kun! Good afternoon!" replied the husband, smiling warmly. The wife wasn't around today.
"I didn't bring herbs today… but raw orc materials!" I said proudly.
His smile faltered. "Myne… you defeated an orc?"
"Yes! Thanks to the Skills I received yesterday!"
He inspected the intestines, testicles, eyeballs, and the Demon Core I hadn't sold to the butcher. The core, a small magical stone inside a demon's heart, was highly valuable in alchemy and as a power source for magical tools.
"You dismantled all this so well… Eh? And the bones?"
"…Couldn't fit them in the bag," I said, shrugging.
He nodded knowingly. "That bag your father left you holds fifty kilograms, right?"
I confirmed. He thought for a moment, then smiled. "Let's finish the deal. Intestines, eight silver coins; testicles, twenty; eyeballs, four; and the Demon Gem, one gold coin."
I had made far more than I expected and felt grateful to him for his generosity.
"By the way, Myne-kun, how much money do you have now?"
"…From the butcher, one gold coin and twenty-three silver coins," I replied.
He calculated silently. "So that makes two gold coins and fifty-five silver coins. If you could hunt three more orcs, I could exchange your bag for a ten-ton Storage Bag."
A ten-ton bag would normally cost at least ten gold coins. Even if I hunted three more orcs, it wouldn't normally be enough—but he trusted me.
I realized why: solo hunting an orc was extremely dangerous without the strength of a Rank C adventurer. Larger groups meant sharing the spoils, making it less profitable for ordinary adventurers. But orc parts like testicles were always in demand, especially from nobles.
Since he had known me for a while, and to celebrate my coming of age, cooperation seemed natural.
"I understand! I'll hunt the orcs!" I said eagerly.
He handed me a small black bag. "Here, this should be enough for two orcs. You've accompanied your father before, so I trust you."
"Thank you very much! I'll be back as soon as I can!"
"Take care," he said with a smile, sending me off.