"Eh! Young master, w-what are you doing?" Jia asked as she saw him kneel beside a tree, digging at the roots with the handle of his small axe.
Daemon didn’t look up. "I need this ingredient to lure the boar to the trap. I’d rather not get covered in blood dragging it back to the village."
Jia squatted beside him, curious. "But what are you looking for exactly?"
He handed her a dirt-covered lump before digging in another spot. "These."
"Hmm…" She sniffed. "Ew! They stink! What are these?" She gagged, tossed it aside, and scrubbed her hands on the tree trunk before crushing a few fragrant leaves to rub on her fingers.
"So kind of fungus these boars love—truffles. Explains why they sll so awful even from a distance. I can’t imagine how people eat them."
"Hehe… Maybe because doing gross things can be kinda exciting sotis."
"Subtle," Daemon shot her a side-glance and kept digging.
Jia’s cheeks flushed—he’d seen right through her teasing. What are you thinking, idiot? Not the ti or place to flirt! She pulled up her sleeves, snapped a branch off a nearby bush, and joined him in the search.
"Found one!"
"Good job. Looks like looking mysteriously attractive while working isn’t just for us n, huh?"
She blushed deeper at the rare complint and giggled. Daemon imdiately stepped back when she leaned in for a hug. "Not a good ti for that—unless you want to sll like truffles for a week."
She bit her lip in embarrassnt but laughed anyway. This little hunt was turning out to be fun.
They dug under the right trees until they had enough, then retraced their steps to the boar’s clearing. Daemon set up a sturdy snare with the thickest rope he had, baited it with a pile of truffles, and waited.
Sure enough, the biggest boar couldn’t resist. It grunted happily, pushing aside the younger ones to feast alone.
Daemon’s eyes narrowed. He activated Asura’s Buff and yanked the rope hard. The boar squealed in shock as it flipped and dangled upside down, legs flailing in midair. Its confused offspring watched for a mont—then forgot all about it when they saw the truffles still on the ground.
Daemon secured the rope to the tree, canceled the Buff, and let the piglets finish eating. He signaled Jia forward.
She stepped into the clearing. When the remaining boars turned to charge her with sharp tusks ready, she simply conjured a fla in her palm. The boars squealed and bolted into the underbrush like startled thieves.
The big one was still squealing.
"Quiet it down. Don’t get it bloody," Daemon ordered.
Jia nodded and tied a leather pouch tightly over its snout. It thrashed, then quieted.
Daemon covered his mouth and nose with two layers of cloth, activated Asura’s Buff again, and hoisted the massive boar over his shoulder. He burst into a run, the Rush Skill carrying him swiftly toward the village.
Jia followed, grinning at the sight of her young master carrying the huge beast like it weighed nothing.
Unlike the day before, Daemon didn’t linger in the village streets. The stench was ruining the image he’d worked so hard to build.
"Out of the way! Move it! Lady, I’ll run you over! Old man—your face is about to kiss this boar’s behind if you don’t scram! You two! No ti for romance in the middle of the street—move!"
He felt like a carriage stuck in traffic, restraining the urge to shove slow pedestrians aside. Nobody seed to mind his rude shouting—so even laughed, amused by the spectacle.
Bang!
"Old man Lou! From now on, you pay extra for animals that sll this bad." He dumped the boar at the shop entrance and barged inside to wash his hands. He sniffed his sleeves to make sure none of the stench clung to him—he’d kept his arms raised the entire way, but still felt soiled.
Old man Lou just nodded, eyes gleaming with profit. Yesterday’s elk had earned him fifty Silver Coins after selling most of it—plus gifts to Fan’s house, Qiu’s stall, and the Qi residence to stay neutral. The antlers and hide would fetch even more when the rchant caravans arrived.
"Of course, of course!" Lou circled the carcass, noting its pristine hide. "Hey! Stop standing around! Get to work on this one!" he barked at his staff, who groaned inwardly.
Yesterday they’d worked late into the night—today would be no different, thanks to this boy.
Daemon washed his hands again and again while Jia fetched fresh water from a barrel and brought him sun-dried cloths. Lou’s workers watched, gritting their teeth. Wasting our water, our towels… Maybe take a bath while you’re at it, young master!
Yet when Jia gently wiped Daemon’s arms and face, they could only hold their breath and sigh.
Dragging the huge carcass inside, they cursed under their breath—he could’ve at least dropped it inside instead of right at the door!
Old man Lou just smiled, bowing politely as Daemon and Jia left. Mystery surrounded this boy—questions buzzed in Lou’s mind, but he’d never dare ask. So things were better left unspoken when profit was this good.
Here's a link to my discord server if you want to talk - .gg/HwHHR6Hds
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