Chapter 27: Winter at Age Seven

Winter has arrived, and soon I’ll be turning eight.

Last year was unusually cold, but this winter isn’t as harsh. Between brewing Horse King and exploring the dungeon, I also help take care of my adorable little brother, Siegvalt.

Ben and I have been progressing well in our explorations and have recently been exploring the fourth floor of the dungeon. Now, Sharmi has joined us, making us a team of three. Sharmi is skilled in light magic, which makes the dark dungeon much brighter and easier to navigate.

The number of adventurers active in the Ashud Dungeon has increased to over twenty teams. Kozmi’s team, the strongest with their five members all over level 200, is exploring as deep as the tenth floor.

Our domain’s soldiers—though there are only about thirty of them, so calling it an "army" might be a bit generous—also enter the dungeon, mainly the new recruits. Their goal is to level up and provide a steady meat supply. Thanks to this, fresh meat is widely available, much to the villagers' delight.

The influx of merchants has also lowered prices in Ashud. Previously, wheat and salt were monopolized by a single merchant, but with several merchants now stationed here, prices have dropped significantly.

Although perishable vegetables are still challenging to transport, we’ve started seeing carrots, pumpkins, onions, and even dried radishes. Apples, or "apou" as they’re called here, are also now available.

On the sales side, the prices of our traditional products, cheese and monster materials, have risen. They’re finally being sold at fair prices, as merchants who once took advantage of our isolation can’t do so anymore.

Demand for Ashud’s high-quality cheese has increased as well. An unused tunnel has been repurposed for cheese production to increase supply. The tunnel’s stable temperature is ideal for cheese aging, and with higher prices, producers are motivated, and Father is even offering subsidies to support cheese production.

Horse King sake production is also thriving. With Jin and Ram’s skills improving and more first-grade sake being produced, the Roxfall family’s revenue is increasing. Since the brewery is managed directly by the Roxfall family, the profits from increased production go directly to our household, minus initial investments, labor, and material costs. And since the main ingredient is horse barley, which grows naturally, it keeps replenishing on its own. Recently, though, we’ve even been using the horse’s feed barley for sake, causing some worry about the horses’ rations.

My premium-grade sake is becoming more valuable among the nobles, with prices continually rising. However, Father still sells it to merchants at a steady 6,000 G. The nobles are driving up the price themselves to obtain Horse King, allowing merchants to profit handsomely.

These days, merchants greet me with sycophantic hand rubs, and the ones who once tried to lowball me on monster materials bow deeply in apology.

For premium sake, we’re keeping half of it in storage, which helps maintain its value. Aging the sake enhances its flavor, and I wouldn’t pass up that opportunity. Aged for five or even ten years, it will only get better. By then, maybe I’ll be old enough to try some myself.

Meanwhile, Sharmi finished her incantation, and an arrow of light flew forward.

Our opponent was a Hands-Eye, a disturbing monster with a one-meter-wide eye surrounded by dozens of hands. However creepy it may look, its materials are valuable for crafting eye medicine, fetching a high price. It’s rare to encounter one, which likely drives up its value.

The Light Arrow struck the edge of the eye.

“Kyashasha!”

How does it even make a sound with just an eye? Anyway, Ben charges forward.

“Oryaa!”

“Kyashasha!”

Ben bashes into the Hands-Eye with his shield, causing it to recoil. That’s when my arrow hits.

“Kyashasha!”

The Hands-Eye tries to wrap its arms around Ben, but he smacks them away with his morning star.

“Kyashasha!”

The Hands-Eye begins to charge up, preparing to fire a heat ray from its eye.

“Kyashasha!”

“It’s going to fire a beam!”

“Got it!”

“Yes!”

At my shout, the others react quickly.

“Great God of Light, I offer my prayer. Light Barrier!”

Almost simultaneously, a barrier of light appears between us and the Hands-Eye. The Hands-Eye’s intense heat ray hurtles forward, hitting the Light Barrier and scattering into fragments. The surrounding air grows warmer, but Sharmi’s barrier successfully blocks the heat ray.

“Now!”

“On it!”

Ben and I leap forward.

Switching from my bow to my sword, I attack from the left, while Ben, wielding his flame-enchanted morning star, attacks from the right.

Ben’s blessing as a Warrior of Flame has allowed him to unlock the Enchant Fire skill as he’s leveled up. I can’t help but feel a bit envious since I don’t gain any new skills with each level.

The Hands-Eye is momentarily paralyzed after firing its heat ray. This is our chance to finish it!

I stab my sword into its eye, and Ben slams his morning star into it.

“Die, you creepy thing!”

“Kya…sha…”

The floating Hands-Eye drops to the ground, and the once vibrant blue and black around its eye turns cloudy and white.

“Yes, we got it!”

Now it’s a race against time. I pull out a dagger and start extracting the transparent central part of the eye.

The clouding spreads quickly and reaches the center in under three minutes, so we must harvest it immediately.

“Toma, here’s the bag.”

“Got it.”

I’m in charge of carrying our supplies. During battles, I drop the pack, and Sharmi takes care of it.

I carefully wrap the harvested eye material in cloth, place it in a burlap sack, and then tuck it into the pack.

The Hands-Eye’s transparent parts are delicate and easily damaged, so they require special handling.

Level Up!