It wasn't really hieroglyphics.

By that, I mean it wasn't the Egyptian language brought over to another world.

But it was similar, in that many of the words look like pictures, rather than combinations of symbols (Ex. A-Z) that represent real objects.

It's a new language, that reminds me of hieroglyphics.

There are some glyphs that I can instantly figure out what they are, but more that I find vague or incomprehensible.

It doesn't look like a language too hard to learn, but I really don't want to learn it through deciphering, without anyone to tell me whether my self-made definitions are right or wrong, or even the proper ways to pronounce the glyphs. I'm not some genius that can do that in a short time.

Normally, babies start learning languages by mimicking sounds and associating them with sights, not by going straight to reading books.

"What language is this?"

"Of course, it's the most common language on the continent. Most sentient races know this language or a variation of it." Amfri said.

I know it's unlikely, but I'll try asking anyway, "Do you have any visual recordings (videos), the kind with audio explanations attached to them?"

A dumbfounded look appeared on Amfri's face. "...A mage can show you his memories using illusion magic... but there's no mage around here and you won't be able to afford a good one with so little to barter."

"Then forget it." It's not like learning the language is that high a priority for me right now. I'm not yet ready to enter society.

We talked for a bit more. I try to pry out some worldly knowledge from the silot merchant, but almost every piece of information that could come out of his mouth costs money, even things that should be common knowledge in any world, or even the nearest town. What a stingy egg.

I browsed through his wares, but in the end, what I wanted was set from the very beginning. Aside from the ability to cast magic, I want medicine for my wounds, since they are healing too slowly for my tastes, and a steel weapon for when I face that crowned ko-o warrior again.

"With your budget and circumstances, I suggest this powdered medicine usable by faux kats and this replacement hand sword." Out of Amfri's pouch popped out a small bag and something that reminds me of a pirate hook, a blade of a sword attached to an upside-down cup.

For all the stuff I'm trading him, these 2 items seem a little... small.

Reading the skeptical expression on my face, Amfri added with a smile, "I'll throw in this free wooden spoon to use for the medicine, since it seems like you don't have one."

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"Deal."

After I tried on the hand sword to make sure it fits and got instructions on the daily dose of medicine, Amfri took my stuff and said goodbye.

"I hope to do business with you again."

He turned around and floated away.

I narrowed my eyes to glare at his retreating back. Something I couldn't say while talking to the guy in question, is a thought that suddenly came to mind.

Those primitive apes shouldn't have had that steel sword. This talking egg travels around and does business here, accepting any type of currency. He sold me a steel weapon. Summing all that up, there is a chance that the weapon used to main my tentacle was sold by him.

Even so, I won't do anything to him. Not now, not when I know so little about magic and its dangers.

Days pass.

One scoop in the morning. One scoop at night. I took the medicine and in less than a week, my wounds stopped hurting enough for me to take off my silk bandages, making me no longer look like a mummified cat.

Looking into the murky pond that I usually go to bathe and catch meals, even though it isn't that good a mirror, I see that my cracks and wounds have closed, scars left in their places. A stump of meat could be seen at the cut section of my maimed tentacle, not unlike that of carbon-based lifeforms except that it's a pale gray color.

These days, awaiting recovery, I did the bare minimum of hunting and mostly either rested or practiced skills that require no intense movements, namely spitting, cooking, and fishing.

That's right. I got past the age where I jump into the waters to catch fish with my bare tentacles and am now using a rod, a strand of silk, and some small insects to catch fish.

It did not go too well at first. The rod kept snapping because the fish were too strong, so I had to use increasingly thicker rods. The silk from Number 1 and Number 2 had no problems as usual.

After the rod problem was solved, the fishing went much more smoothly. Monster fish are more aggressive than normal fish. Dangling what is clearly food above them, I didn't have to wait for long before one bites. Then I just pull it to land and beat it to death while it can do nothing but flounder in place.

Thanks to that, I easily acquired the fishing skill.

Sara, Number 1, and Number 2 are still like usual, the facis arbor trembling to get used to the weight above her branches, unable to even sleep due to the pressure, and the silkworms trying to escape every few hours only to get pulled back by Sara and spanked by me.

The little guys still spit out silk and try to make cocoons while I'm not looking, waiting for me to rip them out of their built cocoons before they can metamorphize into moths, a lot easier now that I have a sword hand.

Strangely enough, I feel that my most peaceful days in this world are when I am injured, resting, and recovering. On such days, I don't go out and take risks, aiming to get stronger.

Seated down and watching the grass swaying silently in the wind, I sometimes wonder if it'll be better to aim for a life like this.

But knowing that when I go out, I'd eventually run into danger, and that danger can eventually come to me, that thought quickly gets rejected. I have to become strong and remain strong. Such a peaceful life, I can settle into later, so long as I am still alive.

Excerpt from Aberna's Cyclopedia of Monster:

Siliwor - a stage 1 worm-type monster. It is often captured by clothing companies for its ability to produce durable silk that can be processed into quality clothing material. Its only defense against other monsters is its pain-inducing toxic blood making it terribly unpalatable unless cleanly drained. If you decide to keep one as a pet, do not allow it to evolve into a moth-type monster, for it will gain a much easier way to spread that toxin.