The meat sizzled on the small fire that Aiden managed to ignite. Its aroma made his mouth water, and even Bamba, who Aiden expected to be herbivorous, eyed the meat with hunger.
"There is enough meat to last us for a few days," Aiden reassured the giant elgorn. "You will have your fill."
Once the meat turned a brownish color with fat dripping into the flames, Aiden pulled out the wooden skewer and placed it in front of Bamba. The elgorn began feasting on the meat, while Aiden stared at it with wariness.
"Am I really about to eat a hyena's meat?" he asked himself.
His stomach answered with a growl.
"I guess I am," Aiden said while picking up the skewer. His teeth dug into the flesh, and it melted in his mouth like butter. It turned into a stream of umami flavor traveling down his throat.
Aiden let out a satisfied groan.
The flavor of meat exploded in his mouth, but not to an overwhelming degree. It was a flavor that tickled his senses, taking him to a warm place of joy.
"This is… the best meal I ever had," Aiden muttered. "Does all meat in this world taste this good?"
Bamba finished his ration and turned to Aiden with sparkling eyes. Aiden laughed and threw another skewer toward the bird, which began to devour it with zeal.
"I don't think it's common," Aiden said while eating the rest of his meat.
As soon as he finished his portion and felt almost full, he heard rustling from the nearby bushes. Aiden summoned his blade, which had chips and cracks everywhere, as he prepared for a fight.
Three more hyenas appeared, drawn by the scent of their comrade's flesh. Their drool spilled on the ground, as the six heads stared with unbroken focus at the sizzling meat.
"Cannibalism is no joke," Aiden said with a smile as he rose. "But I can store a few containers of meat in my inventory."
The hyenas growled and leapt forward. Aiden used the fire as a shield as he circled around and struck the closest monster.
It whimpered as it failed to dodge his sneak attack, but Aiden chased after it. One of the others tried to sneak attack Aiden, but he kicked the soil to land on its face.
Then, he delivered a strike to its neck, ending its life.
[You have defeated Two-Headed Hyena.]
Instead of chasing after the wounded monster, Aiden turned toward the third.
He picked a flaming wood log from the fire and threw it in an arch. The monster retreated in fear, which gave Aiden enough time to run around and strike its leg, cutting it in half.
The monster turned and clawed at him, leaving three long gashes on Aiden's arm. Instead of retreating, Aiden pushed forward, shoving his blade into the monster's neck.
[You have defeated Two-Headed Hyena.]
As he pulled the blade out, it broke in half. Aiden looked at the half-blade and then at the remaining monster.
The moment he stepped forward, the monster fled.
"I should cover this first," Aiden muttered as he looked at his bleeding arm. "I don't think they have antibiotics in this world."
Aiden sat on the ground and tended to his wounds. Once he stopped the bleeding and bandaged them well, he turned toward the two corpses.
A bush rustled.
Bamba peeked its head out of the bushes, looking at the corpses with a piece of meat still in its mouth.
"When did you even flee?" Aiden muttered with a little chuckle. Then, he touched the two corpses and looted them as well.
The two monsters dissolved, leaving the horrifying stench behind. They were replaced by a few more coins, two containers of meat, and two gems—one red and the other green.
Aiden picked up the loot, happier with the meat than the coins. However, after doing a quick count, he found that each hyena gave him two-to-four copper coins each time.
"Jack rented a room for one copper coin," Aiden muttered. "Hunting is some luxurious business. I wonder if all seekers are this well-rewarded?"
After finishing his interrupted meal, Aiden turned his attention to the four gems he had in his inventory.
One of them belonged to the Hungerborn of Rise, Elias Mourne. This one was bigger than the rest, and Aiden noticed it had magical symbols engraved on it.
The other three had two red gems and one green. Aiden tried to do something with them, but couldn't learn anything. In the end, he stored them in his inventory.
At the moment, the containers of meat were the grand prize. Aiden had secured enough food for the next few days in a day's worth of hunting.
The two of them were soon back on the road, traveling in the same direction that Jack had pointed. They ascended the mountain until the road began turning from uphill to downhill.
Giant trees blocked their sight of what lay beyond them, but Aiden was wiser than to go into the forest where more monsters should be lurking.
After another hour, the trees cleared, and Aiden finally caught a glimpse of his destination. He pulled Bamba's reins to a halt.
"That should be… a city," Aiden muttered.
Beyond the trees was a city with high towering walls surrounding it, an infinite number of buildings mottling it, and a giant gem floating above it.
Even from this distance, Aiden could see creatures flying above the city, some big enough to be ships. In the center of the city was a giant palace of blue and gold, its spires almost touching the floating gem above it.
Bamba let out a chirp, which brought Aiden back to his senses. His gaze turned to the roads connecting to the city, and he realized that numerous carriages were heading toward it.
"We will be meeting people soon," Aiden realized. "I hope that doesn't trigger a wish to be registered in the system."
Aiden dreaded having to save a damsel in distress or having to help an orphan find their parents. If he could, he would turn a blind eye to their distress and hope the system doesn't enslave him into fulfilling their wishes.
Bamba was also excited, as it ran faster than before. At first, Aiden thought it was the sight of the city. However, he soon realized that their meal hadn't only filled their bellies but also strengthened them.
Even after a few hours of travel, Bamba was still far from tired, and so was Aiden. He met a few monsters down the road, but Bamba didn't even stop for them.
The bird ran down the road without stopping until they finally met another group of people. It was a long line of carriages and people traveling on foot.
They stared at Aiden with confusion, seeing that he was alone. Aiden tried to pass them, but he was soon joined by a man riding a giant creature that resembled a scaled horse.
"Are you traveling to Argan, friend?" the man asked.
Aiden glanced at him, noticing his armor and the crest on his chest.
"If that's the name of the city ahead, then yes," Aiden answered. "Can I help you?"
"Maybe we can help you. I see that you aren't carrying much," the man said. "We have some extra luggage to carry into the city, but our scalons are getting tired."
"And what do I get from that?"
"How about five coppers for this short distance?" the man offered with a grin. "I doubt you can make such a sum over an entire trip."
Aiden didn't answer.
He had no idea what this world's economy was like, nor did he understand the value of five coppers.
The armored man shouldn't know about Aiden's lack of knowledge, and therefore shouldn't trick him. If anything, Aiden felt that the man was offering too much money for a simple job.
"What am I transporting?" Aiden questioned.
"A few bags," the man said, vaguely.
The man thought that Aiden wouldn't notice how he didn't answer the question. A moment passed, where the two parties stared at each other.
"A gold coin would be my price," Aiden said with a smile.
"A gold coin?!" the man asked in shock. "Have you gone completely mad?!"
"You asked for a service, and I would provide it," Aiden said with a smile. "Don't come calling me names just because you can't afford it."
"You dare—" the man pulled out his sword, and Aiden's expression crumbled. However, before he could attack, a bell rang from ahead.
The two turned their heads.
The bell was attached to a luxurious carriage. It was golden, and its chimes could reach the farthest ears. Aiden was confused, while the armored man panicked and ran ahead toward the carriage.
Aiden saw the window open, and the armored man talked with utmost respect to the person inside. He pointed at Aiden and then carried an expression of shock. Then, he turned and came back.
"My master wishes to meet you."
"And if I don't wish to meet them?" Aiden asked, his eyes squinting.
"Then you will meet your ancestors," the man answered with his hand on the hilt. "Choose wisely."