Chapter 66
Ch 66 -- The Guild Master's Requests
After I put the sacks full of gold coins into my Item Box we discussed the requests the Guild Master was wanting to offer to us .
"Well, we've got two outstanding high-ranked subjugation requests we'd like to offer you . The first is to subjugate a Metal Lizard and the other is the subjugation of a herd of Bloody Horn Bulls . "
OK, I understand what he means by Metal Lizard since we just sold one to the Adventurers Guild but what sort of monster is a Bloody Horn Bull? 'Horns dripping with blood' doesn't sound particularly gentle or meek to me . It's called a 'Bull', does that mean it's something like a cow? 'Blood dripping cow' . . . that's an ominous name to give to a monster .
"The first request is a Metal Lizard . Its territory is at the foot of Pasquale Mountain, about two days carriage ride from here . It was probably attracted by the minerals located there but we've not been able to survey the area properly so we're not sure . " The Guild Master explained . "There are mines near this location but since the Lizard moved in they've been temporarily abandoned as the danger it poses is too great . The mine owners have requested the Metal Lizard subjugation . It is worth 238 gold coins . " He shrugged . "I have been asking for this request to be dealt with for some time now . No Adventurers of suitable rank were available or they've been busy with other things . I even tried getting the reward increased but there still have been no takers . "
A Metal Lizard shouldn't be a problem for us . Fer didn't have any difficulty dealing with the previous one after all . Fer is Da Man .
"The second request concerns a herd of Bloody Horn Bulls which have moved into the grasslands to the west of the city and settled down there . That area was a common monster hunting ground for lower-ranking Adventurers and losing access to it means a lot of them can't easily fulfil their own requests . They've been pushing for the Guild to do something about the herd but our subjugation request still hasn't been accepted by anyone . The reward for hunting them is 324 gold coins . "
According to the Guild master a Bloody Horn Bull is about the size of a wild cow with a temperament to match . As their name suggests they gore anyone who approaches the herd with their horns resulting in a bloodbath . A single Bloody Horn Bull is only a B-rank monster but it usually takes four parties of A and B rank Adventurers to subjugate a herd of them since they are very aggressive and act in unison . Truly, herds of other-world cows that stab people with their horns are scary!
"So can you accept these two requests?" the Guild Master finished . Well, he asked me but it wasn't really for me to decide .
"Hey Fer, you heard all that? What do you think, should we accept both of the requests?"
"Of course . I can do both of them easy . " Yeah, I guessed you'd say that . I told the Guild Master we'd accept both requests .
"Wonderful . I'm so pleased . " he said .
"Bloody Horn Bull? That meat is delicious . I'll go do that request right away . " Fer interjected, drooling . It seemed Fer was keen to get started . So he reckons Bloody Horn Bull meat is delicious, is it? I guess if it looks like a cow then it's probably something like beef . I hope so, Orc meat is really tasty and so is the Rock Bird but it's been a while since I ate any beef .
"Ah, can I ask that you deal with the Metal Lizard first, please?" the Guild Master said .
"Huh . . . " Fer grumped . Hey, the Guild Master asked nicely .
"Let's do the Metal Lizard request first like the Guild Master wants, hey?" I said . "The Bloody Horn Bull herd is living on the grasslands, they're not going anywhere in a hurry . Better to have some fun later . " I teased .
"What sort of fun?" Fer asked, intrigued in spite of himself .
"Grilling Bloody Horn Bull steaks, that sort of fun . Interested?" Fer's head came up . "Oh, that . . . ohhh . . . " Fer's drool was now puddling on the floor of the Guild Master's office .
"That's right, you know I can grill meat just the way you like . " I'd have to restock on sauces and seasonings from the Net Super beforehand, of course .
"Fuuu, it sounds delicious . . . " Heh, Fer's love of steak made him easy to manipulate .
"Ah, the Guild will purchase Bloody Horn Bulls, won't you?" I asked .
"Of course we would . " the Guild Master confirmed . "As we agreed the meat from any subjugation requests belongs to Fenrir-sama but Bloody Horn Bull meat is premium grade, very tasty and in great demand . The Guild would be happy to buy half of the meat from you at a good price if that's agreeable . "
Half of the herd for the Guild, half for us, that sounds reasonable . I don't know how big the herd is but it's got to be more than just a few individuals . Each one's pretty big too so keeping just half of them, that's a lot of meat .
"Right then . " said Fer . "Let's go and deal with that Metal Lizard . "
"Hang on," I interrupted as Fer rose to his feet and turned towards the office door . "I know you're in a hurry but if we head out now we won't be back before midnight . The city gates will be closed and we won't be able to get back in . " Fer stopped and looked over his shoulder . "Let's wait until tomorrow morning then we're sure to be back before nightfall . " I explained .
"Nuu, you think so?"
"Yeah I think so . Guild Master, is it OK if we delay subjugating the Metal Lizard until tomorrow?"
The Guild Master looked surprised . "I suppose it's OK but will it only take you a day to do the job?"
"If it's two days carriage ride to Pasquale Mountain then it'll only take Fer and me a few hours to get there . Subjugating the Metal Lizard shouldn't take very long . . . Hey Fer, how long does it take you to defeat a Metal Lizard?"
"Hmmph, I can deal with mere reptiles like that no problem . "
"So- so that's how it is . . . Fenrir-sama treats an A-ranked monster like it was a common lizard . " The Guild master was amazed . "That confidence simply demonstrates his overwhelming and unfathomable power yet again . Our King was wise to extend a hand of friendship to such a being . "
Hey Guild Master you wouldn't say things like that so easily if you had to live with him all the time like I do .
"Right then, we'll head off and subjugate the Metal Lizard first thing in the morning . "
"Thanks . Please return to the Guild as soon as you've finished the request . " the Guild Master said .
"If you'll excuse us . . . " We left his office and headed downstairs to the Guild's warehouse . Fer would never forgive me if I forgot to collect the meat waiting for us there . Johan had it all ready and I packed an incredible amount of meat into my Item Box before we left the Guild . "Hey Fer, we've still got time, do you want to stop by Lambert-san's store?"
"Is it that merchant's place?"
"We've got money now and I'd like to replace Sui's bag . " I patted the cloth bag Sui was in .
"It's really dirty-looking . " Fer acknowledged .
"Well the bag was second-hand to start with and Sui's been living in it for weeks now . It's worn out and dirty so I've decided she deserves a new bag . Lambert-san told us his shop sells leather goods so we'll take Sui along to check out what he's got and we'll buy her the one she finds most comfortable . Even if it's expensive that won't be a problem . " Anything for Sui-chan, I won't compromise . "Oh, Fer, if there's anything you want there just say the word . "
"The only thing I want is delicious meals, nothing else matters to me . " Fer is remarkably easy to please in some ways .
"So you wouldn't like a nice collar then?"
"Grrrr, I'll bite you if you try and put a collar on me . . . "
"Don't worry, no way I'd even consider doing something like that . Just kidding . " Stop growling at me . Can't you take a joke?