There was a lot to salvage from the Iron Wolf’s corpse.
Not only was the hide thick, covered in metallic fur, but its teeth and claws could be used for alchemical materials, and I heard the Mage Tower buys the heart.
Adding the magic stones, they say it could fetch around 80 copper?
“That’s a total steal!”
“Normally, you’d hunt in a party. After splitting the spoils, there’s barely anything left… but Jonah caught it alone. Hence, it’s a lot.”
“Wow! So, like, am I? This capable man here, yes?”
As I danced around the Iron Wolf’s corpse, Lydia turned her head and laughed.
“Pff.”
“Ah! Did you just laugh at me, Lady Lydia?!”
“Nope.”
“I clearly heard you just now! You laughed!”
“I did laugh, but it wasn’t at you. It was just…”
“Just?”
“You looked like a goblin who just succeeded in a hunt.”
“What?! Calling a magnificent pretty boy like me a goblin! Shouldn’t we be heading to the temple for my eyes to be healed, Lady Lydia?”
“You’re about the same height.”
“…….”
Touche.
Being in a male-dominated world, my youth and small stature are useful in various ways, but it still stings to be compared to a goblin.
Grumbling to myself, I pulled out my harvesting dagger. I hesitated before the Iron Wolf’s corpse.
“Lady Lydia. Lady Lydia.”
“What?”
“How do I strip the hide?”
So far, it was just byproducts like horns or wrists—things you could just chop or thump off.
But isn’t there a method to peel the hide separately? I wouldn’t know; I’ve never done it.
Lydia lifted her chin slightly and answered proudly, “I don’t know either.”
“? But they say the hide is the most expensive part of the Iron Wolf.”
“Yeah, but since I don’t know how to do it, I just took the teeth and claws.”
“Aren’t there monsters in different tiers that have valuable hides?”
“There are. But Benny took the hide.”
“…Who’s Benny?”
“My party member?”
Right. Lydia was looking after me while her original party member took a break.
Now that I think about it, she’d mentioned asking Benny to track her wallet. He was a comrade all along.
I understand why Lydia doesn’t know how to strip the hide, but still, it’s supposed to be the most valuable part, and I can’t just leave it behind.
“Can’t you at least share what you’ve seen?”
“That’s fine, but Jonah can’t do it. Benny’s method is unique to him.”
“Can’t you, like, strip it magically or something?”
“Yeah. You swallow the whole monster and just spit out the byproducts. And then you collect the magic stones later.”
“…….”
I had no idea you could peel it off with magic.
“Haah. Well, I guess there’s no choice. I’ll just have to tear it off somehow.”
“Hehe.”
“…Why are you laughing weirdly again?”
“It’s nothing.”
Lydia, grinning suspiciously, leaned her back against a tree with her arms crossed.
While the way her chest was accentuated on her arms was nice, her eager expression was distracting.
“Hmph. Fine. I’ll try to do it by myself, so just watch from there, Lydia.”
“I’ll do that.”
Lydia didn’t seem like she wanted to help at all. I stood alone, staring at the Iron Wolf’s belly skin.
I’m not exactly sure, but I think I saw on TV in my past life that for such large animals, you cut open the belly first and then slowly peel it from the back or legs. I’ll just have to give it a shot…
I aimed for a suitable spot and drove the harvesting dagger down.
Thud.
“???”
It sounded like I hit it with my fist instead of a knife. The hide didn’t even break—only the flesh quivered a bit.
“Wait a second. No way?”
Fearing the worst, I switched to a sharper and sturdier combat dagger instead of the harvesting one.
Swoosh!
The result was the same. The more force I applied, the more the flesh shook, yet the hide remained intact.
“…Lady Lydia. This knife isn’t going in.”
“Right. That’s why it’s expensive. You really think it’s just 80 copper for a first-floor monster for nothing?”
“If it’s this tough, who the heck manages to peel the hide off…?”
“Adventurers who qualify to go to the second floor but stick around on the first. Or people who were strong before entering the maze, or those who bought expensive harvesting daggers from the guild. And maybe geniuses who awaken their aura while looping on the first floor?”
“What can someone like me, who’s a face genius but can’t use aura, do?”
“Lowly Jonah can just pluck the teeth and claws. Give up on the magic stones and hide.”
“…How much can I sell those two for?”
“I don’t know. Just remember it’s a pittance.”
So it’s such a small amount that it’s called loose change, huh?
My spirits, which had been high seconds ago, suddenly plummeted. I poked at the gums and roots of the Iron Wolf’s claws with my dagger.
This was at least easier to take out. Hence, it must not be worth much.
For a while, I stared at the relatively intact corpse of the Iron Wolf, regretting that I couldn’t even recover the magic stones.
Then I heard Lydia’s subtle voice from behind me.
“Jonah. Did you know? I can use aura.”
“…What?”
“And it’s pretty strong. Ahem.”
Lydia exhaled through her nose, her expression unreadable. Her eyebrows and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, making it clear she was grinning.
“Of course, because it’s the ‘noble’ Lady Lydia. No surprise there… huh?”
Wait, what did Lydia just say? If she can handle aura, then she could slice the hide off, right?
“Lady Lydia.”
“Yes?”
“…What’s your motive?”
If she was going to help, she would have done it already. There was no reason for her to be leaning against a tree, watching me.
Was my intuition correct? Satisfaction spread across Lydia’s face.
“I like sharp-witted kiddos.”
“Kuh!”
Given her situation and wearing bikini armor, it wasn’t exactly off-putting… but it was annoyingly smug.
Lydia, elegantly nodding in front of my painstaking disassembly, looked at me with a haughty air.
“Try to persuade me.”
“Uh?”
“You know how Jonah usually does it with senior Ellie. Sweet-talk her into doing things. Do that with me.”
“Heh… So, Lady Lydia likes that sort of thing while pretending not to?”
“Just, nothing lewd.”
“……?”
“Even if it’s just with senior Ellie, Jonah has a tendency to rely too much on lewd appeals.”
That was true. I often made lewd jokes to Ellie in the past, and I’ve noticed I’ve been pushing the limits recently. However,
“Isn’t it Ellie’s fault for reacting that way?? When she responds so entertainingly, it makes me want to tease her!”
“She’s not a 7-year-old girl, so what are you saying…?”
Lydia facepalmed, clearly exasperated. It turned out I had been teasing her just for fun because I liked her, so I couldn’t really argue against it.
“Anyway. That’s what I mean. Jonah is too fixated on unhealthy ways of communication. If you don’t know any other methods, I suggest practicing on me.”
“Aha?”
I think I’m starting to get it.
Having been with Lydia, I’ve noticed something: she doesn’t seem very much like an adventurer.
Given the nature of their work, it’s rare to find grace in adventurers. Even Ellie, who’s a really good person, wouldn’t precisely fit the definition of refined.
But Lydia was different. Her posture alone was distinct.
She stands tall, shoulders back, and walks with confidence. Even though she’s short, she doesn’t appear fragile because of it.
Her eyes are free from shyness, her vocabulary is refined, and she seldom raises her voice in excitement.
In other words, she has presence.
Not quite like the genuine Eve, but enough to be called a standout among adventurers.
With her inherently virtuous nature and exemplary habits, it’s no wonder she carries the title of noble.
Of course, from Lydia’s perspective, she was just acting according to what she learned as a child or what knights should be like, but…
Anyway, that’s the gist of it. Lydia is a complete model of virtuous maidenhood.
“…Lady Lydia. You are a maiden, right?”
“…Don’t say that.”
Puffing her cheeks, Lydia scolded me. This must have been how this mysterious condition came about. I must seem like a foolish, outlandish orphan to her.
She probably thinks I’ve turned out this way because I never learned how to communicate properly.
In fact, she’s often given me bits of knowledge here and there or made sure I don’t overstress, expressing wishes for me to know a common happiness.
…Though I have no idea why she cares so much about me.
I shrugged with a grin.
“Well, fine. So, you’re telling me to try to seduce Lady Lydia in a healthy way?”
“That phrase is quite misleading, but sort of that feeling.”
“Oh, that’s totally my specialty!”
“…That’s not something to brag about.”
Lydia seemed fed up with me. I straightened my disheveled outfit in front of her.
There are various ways to persuade Lydia. One could pull out normal cuteness while bracing for a bit of shame, or logically explain what benefits there are in helping me with the Iron Wolf’s hide.
The important part is to ask Lydia for help in a sensible way.
But if I aim to find what would work best for Lydia, there’s only one method.
I straightened my back as if I had a sword stabbed into my spine, tilting my chin slightly upward to create a haughty atmosphere.
The key here is the gaze. I needed to look dignified without being arrogant as I gazed up at Lydia.
This was an entirely different version of me.
Picture an aristocrat in my mind.
“Lady Lydia.”
“……!”
Lydia’s half-open eyes widened in surprise.
