A Middle-Aged Man Becomes the Strongest in Another World: The Physical Specialized Awakener - Chapter 19

“Oh wow, that’s a Moon Wolf, isn’t it? So that’s what’s been causing trouble?”

The next morning, when I showed them the corpse of the Night Wolf, Gashi, the beastkin, looked surprised.

“Yeah, this was the one I fought. So it’s called a Moon Wolf?”

“They say it’s a rare variant of the Night Wolf. Its pelt should fetch a pretty high price but moving it like this would be a pain. Can you do the dismantling yourself, Soushi?”

“Not really… I only know how to extract magic stones.”

“If you don’t mind, I can take care of it. I won’t charge you or anything.”

“Sure, that’d be a big help.”

So I left it to him. Gashi got started with expert precision, turns out dismantling is part of his trade, too. In a world like this, having a skill like that really matters.

While he worked, I called the village chief over, explained the situation, got thanked, and received a reward. Apparently, wolf meat isn’t exactly tasty, but it is edible, and for the village, a valuable source of protein. So I donated the carcass to them.

“Hey Soushi, you’re in luck! Looks like this one had an orb!”

“An orb?”

What Gashi handed me wasn’t a magic stone, but a crystal sphere that shimmered with a rainbow glow. It gave off a strange, powerful feeling. Maybe rare monsters drop special stones like this?

“You don’t know about orbs? That’s a skill orb. If you use it, it gives you a new skill. Super rare stuff. You can sell it to the guild for a ton.”

“Huh…” That wasn’t in the guidebook. But if it grants a skill, I’d rather use it myself than sell it. “I can use this myself, right?”

“Yeah, anything you get from a monster you defeat is yours by right. As long as you’re not trading illegally, nobody’ll complain.”

“Okay, but… how do you even use it?” Out of curiosity, I squeezed the orb tightly. I immediately felt something flow into my palm. A faint sense of knowledge filled my mind.

It was a skill called ‘Reversal,’ it lets the user break the laws of inertia and move unpredictably. Must’ve been the move that Moon Wolf used during the fight. This could be a powerful tool if I use it right.

“Oh, did you just use it?”

“Yeah, I guess I did. It gave me a pretty cool skill.”

“Good for you. Still, taking that thing down solo? Soushi, you’re stronger than you look.”

“Eh, it was just one enemy. And in close combat, strength makes all the difference.”

“Hah! Fair point. Well, the skin’s all done now, so take it with you. We’ll be heading out soon, are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s make it to Euron before nightfall.”

And with that, thanks to whatever strange luck I have, I ended up gaining a new skill. I kept calm during my first real battle against a rare monster. I feel like I’m actually getting stronger.

After leaving the village, we didn’t run into any more trouble, and by evening, we could finally see the city of Euron.

In the distance, rising behind the road, stood a walled city, it looked like a proper fortress town. From this distance, only the rooftops of tall buildings were visible, but it was clearly densely packed. At the highest point in the center stood a grand mansion. That must be the residence of Viscount Barrius, the region’s lord.

Outside the walls, a mess of homes and shacks sprawled haphazardly, creating a slum-like vibe. Gashi explained that these were where the poor and those with criminal records lived, people not allowed inside the city. In this country, they call it “Outside the Walls.”

Viscount Barrius runs a tight ship, so those folks rarely cause trouble in broad daylight, but you’re warned to be careful at night. “Then again,” Gashi added, “only a real idiot would mess with an adventurer.”

“Finally made it. Soushi, you were a huge help.”

“No worries, I was just doing my job.”

“Still, arriving on time is a big deal for us. I’ll make sure to thank you properly.”

We chatted like that while passing through the slums, heading toward the city gate. About 40 people were lined up for inspection. Adventurer-looking folks had a separate line to go through their own checkpoint.

While we waited, Gashi shared some tips about good inns. When our turn came, I showed my adventurer card, and Gashi and his wife showed their merchant guild IDs. That was enough to get us through without hassle. Being part of a guild really carries weight here.

Euron was a far cry from Tolson. The street we were on now was the main road, and it was packed with shops and houses on both sides. The buildings were better built, with fancy signs and even glass windows, something you didn’t see much of in Tolson.

The city was way too big to take in all at once. Without a guide, you could easily get lost. But for now, we had to take the cart to the merchant guild’s warehouse, so I tagged along a bit longer.

We turned off the main street, and before long, a large, plain-looking three-story building came into view. Must be the warehouse. The big doors were wide open, with merchants and porters coming and going. We brought the cart just inside the entrance, which was apparently where my job ended.

“Hey, come with me for a sec.”

I followed Gashi into what looked like the office area. He spoke to a middle-aged man, seemed to be the office manager, who then came over to me.

“Ah, hello! I’m Paolo from the Merchant Guild. I hear you helped out some of our people, thanks for that. You’re an adventurer, right?”

“Yes, I’m Soushi, E-Rank. I happened to be passing by and saw Gashi and his wife in trouble, so I helped them out.” Maybe it was my polite tone, but Paolo looked slightly taken aback.

“I see. Normally, we’d thank you through the Adventurer’s Guild, but if you’re okay with it, we’d like to settle it privately to avoid the paperwork. Of course, we’ll pay you fairly.”

“That’s fine by me. Let’s just say I helped out as a favor.”

“Much appreciated. In that case… here you go.”

He handed me 80,000 Rom. I wasn’t sure if that was a lot, but considering E-Rank goblin hunts paid 50,000 a day, this amount for two days’ work didn’t seem off. “I’ve received the payment. Do you need a receipt or anything?”

“Nope, this is all unofficial. No need.” Paolo gave me a polite smile.

“Alright then, I’ll take my leave.”

As I turned to go, Gashi rushed over.

“You really saved us this time. Once you settle in, let’s grab a drink together.”

Even if it was just a polite gesture, I appreciated it. Having a friendly face in a brand-new city might turn out to be a real blessing. With that in mind, I headed back toward the main street to find a place to stay.