After returning to Azka Village and spending a busy day, including preparations for departure and a farewell party in the village, Orasio embarked on his journey. He left Azka Village with a fire magic device hanging around his neck and wearing the new shoes I bought him.
That day, I visited many stores and all I bought was a sturdy backpack with many pockets and a file for sharpening my claws.
Although I gained a lot of wealth from selling Proni mushrooms, it was all prepared in advance for traveling out of the village in the future.
Although I was reincarnated into a magical world, I will never spend my life in a mountain village or stay still.
In this world, cat people have a very low status.
Although racial discrimination is prohibited by law, it still exists in practice.
Although many races exist, it is generally believed that the greater the magic, strength, intelligence, and evolution, the more superior they are.
Take werewolves, for example. The average height of adult males is about 180 centimeters. Their appearance and body hair growth pattern are similar to those of ordinary humans. They only have traces of wolves on the ears on their heads and on their tails.
As for us cat people, the average height of adult males is only about 120 centimeters, and they look like cats walking upright.
Cat-people are considered inferior to werewolves in all aspects, whether it's magic, physical strength, intelligence, or evolution.
Rabbits, foxes and other races that are physically similar to cat people also exist, but their appearance is closer to ordinary people, which is enough for cat people to be considered inferior to them.
But I don't think cat people are so disadvantaged.
Due to discrimination, many cat people are unable to go to school due to poverty and are forced to do housework and unable to go to school.
It's not about physical ability, it's about differences in educational opportunities.
"Grandma Carissa, I'm back after picking herbs."
"Welcome back, Brother Niyang. Have you encountered any monsters?"
"It's okay. It's just that Xixin doesn't look good."
"Ah, maybe it's because there is less rain in spring."
In the Kingdom of Slundol, from the time of the "Independence Ceremony" to the spring of the fifteenth year, it is the time to attend elementary school.
These five years are the period of preparation for adulthood, which is considered adulthood at the age of fifteen.
However, once you complete the "Independence Ceremony", you can register as a member of the Adventurer's Guild, so children from poor families usually do not go to school and go to work.
Among my brothers and sisters, the only one who actually goes to school is the second oldest brother.
The eldest brother will inherit the family's land, so he has been helping with farm work, while the older sister who will get married in the future is forced to do housework.
As for me, I will also be kicked out of my house in the future, so I have been coming to Grandma Carissa’s pharmacy since I was five years old to pick herbs and earn some pocket money.
Collecting herbs requires access to steep mountainous terrain and expertise.
I studied herbal medicine in my grandma’s pharmacy and told her that one day I would leave the village and live independently.
"Okay, all the herbs I want are here."
Pack a basket full of herbs and receive five copper coins as reward.
Working from morning to half day, in Chinese currency, the reward is about 500 Chinese currency.
The hourly wage seems to be less than one hundred Chinese coins, but for the children in Azka Village, this is a normal payment.
The village itself lacks foreign exchange-earning industries. Furs, textiles, medicinal materials, etc. are bought by merchants. Most of the money received is used to purchase items and returns to the hands of merchants.
Compared with Ibro City, life is poor, but the whole village is poor except for the village chief's family, so it does not feel particularly poor.
"Okay, I'm going to catch mice. If I catch them, I'll bring them back."
"Okay, looking forward to your return"
In addition to collecting herbs, I also have another job, which is to catch wild mice.
Wild mice are mice that live in forests, with a body length of about 15 cm and a tail of nearly 30 cm.
They feed mainly on grains and often eat crops and stored grains. After being caught, their tails must be cut off and handed over to the village chief's house. Five mice will receive a copper coin as a bonus.
Although there is a bonus, it is difficult to catch wild rats because they are very alert.
The purpose of catching wild mice is to practice empty attribute magic.
I came out of the pharmacy and walked towards the junction of fields and forests.
There are roads around the fields, about 5 meters of grass outside, and a forest beyond that.
This is designed to make it difficult for wary wild rats to enter the fields, and once they get a taste of the crops, they will invade again and again.
I sat on the grass and waited, and soon the wild mouse appeared.
The wild rat popped its head out from the edge of the grass. After standing upright, it began to carefully monitor its surroundings.
About 30 meters from my position, this is as close as I can get.
I'm sitting still now and haven't shown any signs of escaping, but if I move a little bit, it will definitely run away quickly.
Generally speaking, it cannot be approached within 30 meters, so basically it can only be caught with traps.
Since wild rats are wary, I used magic to catch them.
I used a magic trick called "Cage" to fix the air to a size that would hold the wild mouse, forming a basket.
The rest is just a matter of covering and holding with your hands, and the capture is complete.
As it rushed over, the wild rat squeaked and began digging frantically.
"knife"
While holding the vole-catching basket, secure the air into the shape of the knife.
A month ago, it was as strong as expanded polystyrene; now it is as strong as birch board.
I took aim and thrust the air fixed into the shape of a knife through the gap in the basket.
The knife penetrated the wild rat's neck, but it was not strong enough and the blade shattered into pieces.
The wild rat whose neck was severed screamed and shed blood everywhere, but soon became weak and finally stopped breathing.
Although it is a pest, it is still not used to the feeling of taking away lives.
I put the wild rat with its tail cut off into the bag and covered the surrounding blood with soil.
The place is filled with the screams of the companions and the smell of blood, and other wild rats will not come near here.
As I moved, I continued to use my magic.
To increase the scale of magic use, magic must be used continuously.
After using magic, I feel something flowing through my body.
According to people in this world, this is an organ called a demon vein, which allows magic elements to circulate.
While maximizing the use of magic, I am also increasing the thickness of the magic veins for stronger magic.
During the move, I kept using the magic of "boxes."
It's about fixing the air into a box that can hold the pouches of wild rats, enclosing them together.
In this way, the surrounding wild rats will not be alerted by the smell of blood.
I kept activating the "box" with the awareness of increasing its intensity.
Then, in different places, I captured five wild rats.
Before going to the village chief’s house, I went to the only shop in the village, Victor the Dogman’s shop.
"Brother, buy it!"
"Oh, how many are there today?"
The wild rat meat, which feeds on grains, is delicious, and the fur can also be used to make handicrafts. The tail is given to the village chief, and the body parts are purchased by Victor.
Each one has two copper coins. If you catch five and sell them, you can get one silver coin and a bonus copper coin.
"Three for sale."
"Okay, these are six copper coins. As long as you can catch them, I will buy them at any time."
"It's hard to catch many."
"Yes, then come on."
Victor was responsible for handling the wild rats I handed over, selling the meat or using it for meals for hotel guests.
After cutting off my tail, I went to the pharmacy of Grandma Carissa the Fox Man.
A wild mouse turned into five small potatoes and rock salt.
The remaining one will be enjoyed on our dining table.
After starting to capture wild mice, the food situation at home has improved, although there is only a small amount of savings.
It was a quiet day in Azka Village today.
