Chapter 45: The Beauty is Hungry!
Beast meat was tough and stringy, but they were apparently much more filling and could sate a person’s stomach for longer. They also had a higher chance of creating essence food. So, despite the not-so-good taste it was known for, Finn was eager to try it out.
Pang had been impressed with him making borderline-buff food with dormant-level meat, he was kind of excited about what he’d do with legitimate beast meat.
"I’ll help you get them in," she said, looking at the carcasses that littered the ground outside the barrier. Interestingly, while they were asleep, some monsters that had died while piled up had rolled over into the barrier. As long as the monsters weren’t alive, it seemed like the barrier wouldn’t bother with them.
Finn watched as Syl walked to the edge. Finn couldn’t help but blink. "They’re a bit heavy—"
Finn’s voice died down as ice appeared behind the pile of monsters and they literally pushed a few more into the barrier like a bulldozer.
"..."
He felt useless, but well.
He just thought this was the beginning of his weak-to-strong story. He had been here for less than twodays. No need to feel bad.
Syl pushed the nearest two awakened monsters and also the bigger monster. "Do you need more?"
He looked at the small hill of meat. These should be enough to feed the three of them for several days.
"This is more than enough, thank you," he said, kneeling down next to one of the monsters—a brindlejaw—raising the kitchen knife he kept in his space. The carcass’s state had been battered from the floating ice shards last night, so he wondered if his kitchen knife would suffice.
Stab!
As expected, slicing through most parts of the skin with the knife was no good and too much effort. It took him a few minutes of stabbing to slice a few centimeters. He didn’t have to look at his stats to know he also lost a few stamina points from that.
His face was a bit red like his hair, partly from the labor and also from embarrassment.
"That is your weapon?" she asked, a little startled. She was expecting him to do something else after the first minute.
He gave an awkward smile. "...yes, sadly. It’s the best blade I have right now."
The elf looked at him for a moment and then took out a dagger from her space (he also really wanted to ask about that). "Use this."
His eyebrows rose when he saw how intricate the sheath was. There were intricate gold patterns embossed on it, and he knew it was important.
"..." Now, Finn wasn’t averse to holding expensive things, but...it looked like a family heirloom or something. "Can I use this?"
She nodded. "Its purpose is to cut, and that is what you need."
Fair point.
Syl saw him stare at it for a while and took out a tool. It was like a metallic calling card. She then placed it over the blade, and text appeared on it.
"This is an appraisal tool," Syl said, and didn’t explain anymore. Did she think he was questioning the dagger’s functionality?
Anyway, Finn decided to take a look at the card anyway.
[Millenium Twin Dagger]
[Rank: B
Special Effects: Has 30% Chance of increasing penetration effects. Cauterizing with this dagger is 100% more effective (Effect decreases below Fortified/Blessed level).
Affinity: Wind
Durability: 9270/10000]
"..."
Finn felt a bit awkward, while Pang toddled over to see. "Nice weapon, la. You can use it as a weapon. You really need one, la.
"Weapons don’t have user caps, nor do they have set damage. It’s up to the person wielding it to maximize it anyway," he said. "Of course, if the weapon has special abilities, it might be locked depending on the handler’s level and affinity."
Pang was talking as if he owned the dagger. Fortunately, Syl couldn’t understand him. In the end, he just smiled gratefully at her.
"It’ll borrow it just to get the meat," he said, and stabbed the monster to get this over with.
His eyes widened a bit, surprised at how the blade easily buried into the hard meat. Before, it was like he was using a bread knife to cut wood, now it literally felt like he was cutting through cheese.
So this was how a ranked weapon—a superior one—felt like. It really was a world of difference.
That said, he felt bad to use such a regal-looking knife to get meat.
Thinking of this, he hurried to work and made sure his movements were as efficient as possible so he could return it.
He studied the brindlejaw carcass’ form and decided to go for the shoulder first. He opened it up and saw that the meat—versatile and marbled—really did seem okay to eat (other than the fact that they seemed gamier than the dormant types).
He chose the parts he was planning on using first. He went to the loin or the backstrap, which was tender and lean. He didn’t forget the ribs for slow cooking. Then he continued to cut through to the thighs.
The meat was definitely tougher there. He didn’t know yet how to handle the gamey meat here, so this one would end up in stew.
Of course, he also got part of the belly. It had a bit of fat. Fat was where the flavor was, and he could also use it for cooking and making lard.
He was satisfied after setting aside several kilograms of meat. He looked at the dagger and then at Syl. "Let me clean it up first."
Syl looked at it. "You can keep it," she said.
"Pardon?"
She proceeded to take out a similar knife from her space.
So that was what the ’twin’ in the name was for.
"You don’t have a proper tool," she said, a straight expression on her face. "And I have a few."
"..."
His lips twitched upwards. It was a bit embarrassing to receive too much, but he really couldn’t decline the offer. It could mean life or death to him, after all.
He grinned. "Then I’ll cook you a nice meal. "I’ll make food that’d be worth such a good dagger."