Chapter 8 – Strange Beasts (1)

After that Lia collected the snow spider’s silk. The group followed the traces of the fight to return to the place where they found the giant boar initially.

Looking around, Aiden walked to the place where the boar was digging when they came.

Extending his hand inside the hole, Aiden searched carefully before grabbing something.

Taking the thing out with his hands, Aiden looked at it curiously. The object inside was a strange mushroom-like plant. Different from a normal mushroom, the cap of the one in Aiden’s hands had a strange pair of translucent leaves protruding from it. The leaves, same as the cap, had a beautiful emerald color with a sweet fragrance being emitted from them.

Observing the plant, Aiden could not help but frown deeply.

“It is a jade mushroom, a kind of spiritual plant. It looks like the giant boar was interested in it, but...”

Seeing the frowning expression on Aiden’s face, Lia put a doubtful expression before speaking.

“What is the problem young master? It is normal for a beast to be attracted to spiritual objects is it not?”

“Yes, what is strange is the effort the boar put in getting the mushroom.”

Hearing Aiden’s answer, Lia tilted her head even more confused.

“What is wrong with it young master?”

Putting a serious expression, Aiden spoke while thinking about the possible causes of the problem.

“You see, jade mushrooms tend to grow underground, far from the reach of many beasts. Normally, even if a giant boar smells a spirit plant like it, it will ignore it due to the difficulty of digging it. However, this boar was strangely interested in the mushroom, at the point where it looked desperate to get it. I could not think of any reason for it.”

Putting a thinking expression, Lia pondered about the possible cause without success. Failing to find any reason, she spoke with a pondering tone.

“… Perhaps it was injured and planned to use it to recover from its injuries?”

“… It’s possible, though I didn't notice any injuries, and this kind of beast shouldn’t be smart enough to do something like it.”

Aiden spoke using a doubtful expression.

Though it was normal for a beast to be interested in objects with spiritual qualities, normally only beast with a certain level of intelligence searched actively for them. It was normal for a powerful demonic beast to guard a spiritual plant for many years waiting for it to mature. However, normally beast with a low level of intelligence only saw spirit herbs like a convenient and delicious snack. Due to it, they tend to eat it if they can, but if the difficulty to obtain it is too great, it is normal for a low-level beast to ignore it.

That is the reason because the boar’s behavior was strange to Aiden. Normally, a beast like the giant boar would have ignored such a difficult to obtain plant like the jade mushroom.

Thinking about it for a bit more without finding any answer, Aiden opted to put it in the back of his mind before speaking to Lia.

“Perhaps you are right. I’m a bit nervous after hearing that old man, so maybe I’m overthinking things. Let’s go, we must collect the body of the boar and take the proof of killing it.”

“Yes, young master.”

After taking the mushroom and keeping it in the pouch on his belt, Aiden and Lia returned to the place where the boar was killed.

Looking the boar’s corpse sprawled on the ground, Aiden took a knife from the pouch and used it to tear the tusks from the beast’s mouth.

One of the requirements to complete this kind of commission is normally to bring proof of killing the target. Normally, the proof consists of a part of the beast like the ears, fangs or tusks, with the only requirement being to maintain constancy in the parts used. For giant boars, the part normally used like proof were the tusks, meaning that if Aiden wants to get a reward for every beast killed, he must hand the tusks of beasts to the town hall.

After tearing the tusks of the boar, Aiden opened the pouch and guarded them inside. Once he did it, Aiden took out a shining sphere from his clothes and put it against the mouth of the pouch before touching the boar with his other hand.

Unexpectedly, after touching it with his hand, the corpse of the boar disappeared inside the pouch.

Not looking surprised for it, Aiden closed the mouth of the pouch and put it in his belt again. Then, standing up, Aiden signaled at Lia to continue with their mission.

Between the things that Aiden brought out from his home when he escaped the most valuable was probably his saber. But if there was something which can be compared on value, then it is the pouch in his belt.

That pouch was made using various precious materials together with a mineral known as spatial stone. Spatial stones appear naturally in some parts of the world and are considered a valuable resource fought for the different powers in the surroundings once a vein is detected.

This mineral normally appears like a normal stone, but once it is stimulated with energy, a spatial distortion is formed in the insides, allowing for the owner to keep a great number of objects inside regardless the size.

Of course, though Aiden’s pouch was made with spatial stones, the amount used in its construction was pitifully small, only generating a space of a few cubic meters inside; and due to Aiden’s low cultivation impeding him of supplying the energy necessary to the artifact, it is needed to use a demonic core to supply energy to guard and take out objects of a certain size. Of course, even with all that limitations, the pouch had made Aiden’s life very convenient in many forms.

On the other hand, because of its high value, Aiden only use it to guard small objects in the presence of other people. After all, this is well known that treasures can be causes of calamities, so to avoid others of having thoughts about it, Aiden is used to disguise it like a normal pouch.

Walking side by side, Aiden and Lia continued searching for traces of giant boars through the lost forest. But with only a few minutes of having started, the next boar made its presence known.

*ROAR*

Hearing the angry bellows of another beast coming toward them, Aiden and Lia paused briefly before furrowing their brows.

“Young master, is that beast coming for us?”

“Looks like it… Perhaps it was attracted by the cries of the one you killed?”

Looking in the direction of the roar, Aiden spoke to himself before prompting Lia to advance towards it. Running for a few minutes, the pair reached to a clearing in the forest. There, the boar was standing as if waiting for them appear.

Lookin at the beast before them, Aiden frowned deeply and spoke.

“Looks like this one is around the late core forming stage. Do you want to do it for yourself?”

Looking to the beast, Lia thought for a moment before opening her mouth, only to be interrupted for another roar coming from behind them.

*ROARRR*

Hearing the roar of the second beast, Aiden could not help but put a grave expression.

“Strange, from the strength of the roar, that boar is at least so strong like this one. How is it possible for such strong beasts to cooperate so easily? Is there a stronger beast acting like the leader?”

Seeing the situation developing in a dangerous direction, Aiden unsheathed his saber before taking a hacking posture. Breathing deeply, Aiden communicated his intentions to Lia.

“Lia, I will be the main fighter in this battle. Stay behind me and use your threads to support me if necessary.”

“Okay, young master. Be careful.”

Smiling briefly, Aiden spoke with confidence.

“Don’t worry, they need more than two idiotic pigs if they want to deal with me.”