The night was deep, and Yeats was just about to settle down in the carriage when the sounds of crackling fires reached his ears.
"Yeats, what just happened? Why are the trees around the camp blown over?"
"Snowy Owl learned a second-ring spell—Gale Force."
"What?!"
Despite Yeats' casual tone, the sudden appearance of Snowy Owl's newfound power had completely stunned both Gray and Frakas. In just one night, Snowy Owl's power ranking shot up drastically, now competing with Radish's strength!
After all, Radish had been pulling the carriage for nearly a week straight, and could already take on whole swarms of skeletons. His energy was on the verge of becoming a second-ring beast himself!
The carriage began to roll again, heading towards the merchant camp.
"Yesterday's knight mentioned a merchant convoy around here, didn't he?" Yeats asked.
"I believe so. We're headed there now," Frakas replied.
"Let's rest and eat before we move on."
The team set up camp, preparing to cook. Gray was particularly excited about today's lunch.
"Magmutton is definitely on the menu today, right?" Gray asked.
However, when Yeats started to take out ingredients, Gray froze.
"Aren't we eating mutton? Why the head of the sheep?"
Magmutton was enormous, with its two black horns curling menacingly, its eyes bulging out of its grotesque face. The sheer hideousness of the beast left an unsettling impression.
Yeats patted its head. "I'm trying to preserve the skin's quality for resale. This head is huge, though. One Magmutton head is enough to be the main dish."
Gray made a face. "But this thing's so scary, aren't we risking nightmares?"
Last night, Gray had dreamt of the crawling claws trying to drag her out of bed. Looking at the mutton head made her feel like she was in another nightmare.
"Don't worry. Once it's cooked, it won't be as terrifying," Yeats reassured.
The sun was beginning to set.
[Soul-Stirring Magmutton Head Stew: 2 Stars.]
Made from the head of Magmutton, with wild herbs, this dish is unique in appearance, gelatinous and rich in flavor. Eating it temporarily boosts second-ring spell power.**
Gray stared at the Magmutton head in front of her.
The ugly head, with its crooked teeth and unblinking eyes, gave off a demonic aura.
"..." Gray thought. "It's... even worse now!"
Frakas, who had seen many things, gulped, unsure of what to say.
"Yeats, are we really eating this?"
"I'm just going to drizzle it with my secret spicy seasoning first," Yeats said, sounding unusually casual.
He stirred a bowl of hot oil and spices, the liquid dark as night.
With a flourish, he poured the concoction over the mutton head.
"Let's spice this up..."
Yeats whispered, his voice echoing with a mischievous undertone.
The spicy oil sizzled over the mutton head, hissing menacingly.
Gray swallowed hard. I... I'm never eating this...!
Yeats removed a piece of meat from the top of the head and said, "Quick, Gray, open up!"
Gray hesitated, but couldn't resist the delicious aroma. Before she knew it, she'd swallowed the gelatinous mutton skin.
She froze, her eyes wide in shock.
"How does it taste?" Yeats asked.
"Hmm... it's not bad. Not hard to eat," Gray muttered, her face conflicted.
"Well, that's a win then?" Yeats grinned and took a bite himself, the savory fattiness mixing beautifully with the spices. The rich flavor hit his senses like a wave.
Yeats's eyes lit up, and he called out, "Frakas, Snowy Owl, you two should try this too!"
In no time, the mutton skin had been devoured.
Yeats then got to work, cracking open the Magmutton skull with his hands.
Crack!
The sound echoed through the camp, and Gray's face morphed into one of disbelief.
She had never seen Yeats so unrestrained before!
As Yeats expertly removed the meat from the skull, only the bones remained, and the group was served a hearty helping of Magmutton meat.
Gray, looking at the meat in her bowl, felt her resistance weaken. She picked up a piece and hesitated before biting into it, muttering, "So this is what Magmutton tastes like… It's actually not too bad."
"Yeats, you mentioned that spicing it up earlier... what was that exactly?" Frakas asked, still curious.
"It's a magical incantation that makes the mutton head more delicious," Yeats said nonchalantly.
"That sounds... even stranger," Frakas replied, shaking his head.
Yeats smiled knowingly.
But who knows, maybe there is some truth behind it!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After a satisfying meal, the group packed up to continue their journey.
"We're close to the merchant convoy, right?" Yeats asked.
"Yes, we're almost there," Frakas answered.
"I see their camp!" Gray announced excitedly. "And there's a dwarf guard! Their gear looks pretty top-notch."
The dwarf, fully armored and armed with a war hammer, gave a glance after questioning their intent. He waved his hand, signaling them to pass.
"You can head to our employer. She's in the main tent," the dwarf grunted.
"Where do we park the carriage?" Frakas asked.
"Anywhere. We're not picky," the dwarf answered before turning his attention elsewhere.
Gray whispered, "I heard dwarves are pretty cold to humans unless they're drunk."
"Is it true that dwarves are master blacksmiths?" Yeats asked.
"Yeah, but their services don't come cheap. We're not in a position to afford their work right now," Frakas replied.
Soon, Yeats was standing in front of the merchant leader of the Starlight Merchant Guild—Lena, an Ithu woman.
The Ithu people were known for their beast-like features, often having wolf ears, tails, and other animal traits.
"Ah, guests!" Lena smiled, her eyes gleaming with the sharpness of a seasoned merchant. "What goods are you looking for?"
Lena stood about 5'9", with striking red hair and wolf ears, dressed in fur armor that accentuated her athletic build.
Yeats considered her for a moment. "We'd like to trade items, if possible."
"Of course, what do you have to offer?"
"Magmutton materials, including a small piece of magic crystal."
Lena's eyes sparkled as she considered the offer. "I see... weapons, armor, and scrolls are all available. What interests you?"
"I'm looking for enchanted weapons," Yeats said. "And some cold-resistant seeds, the more the better."
"Follow me to our storage," Lena gestured, leading them towards the back of the camp.
As they walked, Yeats's curiosity was piqued. Suddenly, loud voices erupted from the center of the camp.
"Go, go!"
"You haven't had enough, have you?!"
In the center of the merchant camp, a circle of mercenaries had gathered, watching a fierce battle between a direwolf and a giant vulture.
The direwolf, a hulking beast known for its brutal nature, was overpowering the vulture, forcing it into submission.
Yeats's eyes widened in interest. "Do you participate in these battles often?"
Lena turned to him with a knowing smile. "Not often, but we do host beast fights for fun. Interested?"
Yeats wasn't one for PVP, but Lena's next offer intrigued him. "We also have special food made by expert chefs for magical creatures. And, you can participate in our animal fights. Win or lose, you'll get discounts. Victory brings gold."
Before Yeats could respond, the direwolf managed to overpower the vulture, letting out a triumphant howl that startled Snowy Owl, waking it from its sleep.
Snowy Owl's feathers fluffed up as it glared at the direwolf, clearly angry.
"Guu!" Snowy Owl squawked, clearly upset by the noise.
Yeats chuckled, "You've got a bit of a temper, huh?"
The battle between the creatures continued, while Yeats thought about Lena's offer. Perhaps this was a way to help Snowy Owl gain more experience...
With that thought, he turned to face the merchant leader, ready to discuss terms for trade.