After caressing and hugging my crows for a minute or so, they no longer had any energy left to peck me.

But not long after, I was finally satisfied and let them go.

I look back and see the massive beast lying before me.

I ordered Cotton and Maggie to keep an eye out as I was about to try to skin this thing.

Mcfly on the other hand, I ordered to get my shirt back as It was really uncomfortable to be shirtless in the middle of a forest.

I stretch my body and soon started to skin its hide.

Even with aura, skinning this thing was going to be a challenge.

But before I could even cut a single patch of fur.

I hear Cotton and Maggie warn me about a pack of wolves coming in my direction.

A sigh left my mouth, these f*ckers really won't let me take a break.

Yet before I could even hide to try to assassinate them, they already arrived and were now surrounding me.

I was sweating bullets and was a bit anxious as I never fought this many wolves alone but I didn't dare to show it.

I coated my gun and dagger with aura and ordered Cotton and Maggie to distract them while I fight.

I stood there with my weapons raised, waiting for them to come.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Yet they never did.

They stood there and soon left.

One by one they disappeared into the trees.

And after my crows told me that they actually left and weren't staging an ambush.

I let out a sigh of relief and put my gun and dagger down.

It seems that the corpse of this scarlet beast scared them off.

Well, it appears that no one will bother me for a while.

I turn back to the lifeless corpse behind me ready to skin it once again.

30 minutes,

30 F*cking minutes, it took that long just to skin a patch of hide on this wolf.

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I check the time on my bracelet.

It was currently 3:PM

I don't have enough time to fully skin the hide of this wolf.

Well, the only thing I can do now is just trying to salvage what I can.

With that in mind, I started moving my dagger.

*****

The sun was now setting on the horizon.

It was now 5:PM and the forest was now getting darker.

I checked my bracelet.

2 Medium-Grade Potion

2 Beretta Magazine

1 Patch of Blue Hide

5 Patches of Red Hide

Well, this is the best that I can do.

If only I had a bigger spacial storage and more time, I could have gotten more.

What a waste.

I let out another sigh and with heavy heart, I left the corpse of the scarlet wolf with still a large part of its hide attached to its body.

After reaching the gate of the high walls once again, this time I ordered Cotton to create a distraction.

He soon went for the guards who were trying to eat a sandwich and grabbed it with his claws.

The guard soon chased after Cotton like a madman, and I was laughing my ass off at the scene.

After getting my bearings back, I was able to get through undetected thanks to Cotton.

I soon walked through the same rocky trail straight back to society.

After reaching the town of Santos De Ellen, I deactivated my [Discreet Steps]

My breathing and steps were now uttering a sound and after experiencing what it felt like to have been silent, let's just say that even the beating of my heart was now loud to me.

I soon tried to find a store to sell my hard-earned loot to.

And after walking for a while, I found a store that was called Hunters Haven.

From the name it seemed promising, and I made my way toward it.

As I enter the store, the stench of booze engulfed my nose, the squeaky floor made my ears a bit uncomfortable and the lack of customers made me rethink my decision.

As I look around the countless weapon displayed on the walls, a man presumably in his 40s walked out of the back door and greeted me.

"Oh! A customer, what can I do for ya?"

Well, I'm already here and I don't want to waste more time finding another store.

"I'm here to sell forest wolf hides," I say while reaching out into my bracelet.

"An academy student ey? pretty daring,'

I then put the blue hide on the table.

"For a student, being able to kill an E-ranked wolf, you're pretty talented, I'll give ya 10k bells for it,"

Damn, only 10k bells?

"How much for this then,"

As the scarlet hide hit the desk, the old man widened his eyes.

"I gotta say, killing an E-ranked wolf is one thing but a D-rank at your age, I commend you for it,"

"Thanks,"

"Although the skinning was sloppy, this red hide is still useful, I'll give you 15k bells for each of the red hides, 85k in total."

"Deal,"

As soon as I see the money enter my account, Inwardly I was screaming for joy.

My hard work paid off.

"Well then, pleasure dealing business with you, young man,"

I nod my head at him and made my way toward the exit.

But before I could go,

I saw a mask hanging from the wall.

It was a dark metal mask, and one of its eyeholes bore 3 small lenses.

It was very dusty which means this was put on display a very long time ago.

From a glance, it seems to be just an ordinary mask, yet as I look at it more and more, I strangely feel a familiar sensation, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to put my finger on it.

"How much is this mask?"

"Oh? that? It's been in this store for years, hmmm, you can have it for free, young man,"

I look at the man with a confused face.

"Really? You're just going to give it to me?"

"Yeap, consider it a freebie for being one of my new customers,"

"Huh, well thanks,"

I grabbed the mask from the wall and hurriedly stored it inside my bracelet.

I nod at the old man one last time and made my way out of the store.

*****

As I gulp a bottle of whiskey down my throat, I stare at the wall with one of its items missing.

I let out a sigh.

I pity that kid.

That mask of metal might not look anything from the ordinary but,

Only death and carnage followed those who bore that accursed mask.

I finish the entire bottle of whiskey in one go trying to keep my mind distracted.

But even after gulping the entire thing, my mind was still thinking about that student.

I felt kind of bad as I could've just told him that it wasn't for sale.

But,

A shiver went down my body.

I didn't want to get cursed by that mask.

Another sigh left my body.

May the God of Radiance bless you, kid.

I utter to myself while gulping another bottle of whiskey straight down the hatch.