The Black Iron Glory
Perfect reason

Chapter 36

Perfect Reason

When Welikro heard gunshots coming from the rubble, he was confronted by two dead goats on the riverbank. Wild goats are quite common in the three southwestern prefectures and they like to eat moss and shrub leaves that grow in mountainous areas. At the same time, they can also effectively avoid their natural predators because most carnivorous creatures are not good at climbing rocky areas. All they could do was watch as delicious food jumped through the air near the mountain slope.

However, it never occurred to the goats that humans could shoot down from the slopes. The goats were the perfect target for Welikro. The goats did not even panic as the three of them approached the rocky slope. Perhaps they were already used to being hunted by ferocious beasts that always ended up suffering bloody falls in an attempt to chase the goats on that slope. Humans by comparison no longer appear to threaten the animals.

Welikro raised his weapon slowly, aiming, and shooting. One of the goats fell off the slope, but the others were still unaware of the danger before them. The shot just sounded like a thunderbolt to them, and they probably thought their friend had fallen because his leg slipped. So, all they do is stop eating and bleating, before taking a more careful step on the slopes.

Welikro and the others saw that the goats did not try to escape and were overjoyed. They hurriedly cleaned the barrel, poured gunpowder, put in a bullet and lit a slow match before Welikro took aim once more.

Another loud explosion saw the next goat fall from the slope. This time, the last surviving goat finally realized the true threat posed by the three bipedal creatures. They held strange-looking sticks that let out loud noises and puffs of smoke that caused his companions to fall. It didn't take long before the remaining goats ran up the slope to higher ground and disappeared on the other side.

Welikro and the other two filled up the gun before going to check on the prey they got. No one said whether there were other carnivores hiding on the side and waiting to feed the dead goats, so all three must be vigilant against attacks from other animals when they go to take their catch. The Arbalest and Eorkson's hunting bow from Borkal were not enough to ensure everyone's safety.

They were rather lucky and did not find any other animals. Welikro said that the most dangerous predator on the Egret was the panther. It was the king of the forest. Each panther is about the size of a young bull and has very acute senses. Any experienced hunter would not dare to challenge the panther unprepared because it was an act of suicide.

Goats that fall from the slopes due to gunfire are easy to find. They fell somewhere on the slope itself, not far from the three boys. But when Borkal saw their two trophies, he could not hold his breath and complained.

The two goats were really fat. Borkal was heartbroken because of their skin that had been torn and scratched from the rocky surface of the slopes during their harsh fall.

Welikro leather sold to Wakri previously also came from goats like this. Even though they were old, at least they were relatively complete. But the skin on the two goats they had just hunted was torn.

"This one can only sell about two riyases at its best. This one looks a little better, maybe three riyases. Only Wakri's shop will give us that price. Normal leather shops will refuse to buy this at all," Borkal's assessment is based on the breadth of experience.

"Help me and stop saying useless things," said Eriksson disgruntledly, "We'll both bring one and Wero will bring the other. We'll skin it first by the river. Don't care how much they "Will be sold for and skin them as usual. We still don't know exactly how much this is worth. I don't think your eyesight is good enough to judge this. You can't even shoot a turkey that's so close to you and throw away those bolts! "

"You dare complain about me? Aren't you the same for not being able to even graze those two rabbits?" borkal snapped back with dissatisfaction when he held the goat with his front legs and took it to the river with Eriksson's help.

"I'm just not used to it, okay? It's a hunting bow, not the kind of training bow we use in school. I still don't understand the tension. If I could use that short barrel. With my gun, I must have long since shot the two horses dead. "Eriksson is still trying to find a reason for his shortcomings.

"Har. Two rabbits? With a firing range like your short barrel gun? Are you trying to shoot rabbits when they dig their holes? Even I can do that, not to mention you."

The two fought all the way until they reached the river. When they saw Welikro busy working on the two goats, they continued their argument.

Just when Welikro finished cutting the goats into eight large chunks, they heard gunshots coming from the direction of the ruins.

Welikro stood up. "Did you two hear gunshots too?"

Borkal. "Yes. It was a shot, no doubt."

Borkal. "Yes. It was a shot, no doubt."

Eriksson looked a bit worried. "Did something happen to Claude?"

Welikro looked at the messy ground and made a decision. "Bring the goats with us and the four thighs. We'll leave the rest here and be right back."

Forty minutes after the sound of gunfire rang out, the three of them rushed back to the ruins and the first thing they saw was Claude lying on the ground with mud all over his body.

Frightened, they dropped everything they held and ran for their friend as they shouted his name in panic.

Claude looked up from the ground and forced a smile. "You are here .. I am fine ... just .. a little tired …"

Welikro reached where Claude was and knelt down to check on him. Seeing that there were no obvious signs of injury, he heaved a sigh of relief and helped him stand up. In earnest, he asked, "What's going on now? Why are you all covered in mud? Ack, you're all dirty and smelly …"

Claude pointed into the ruins and said, "I went into the basement for a bit and killed the big black python there. Take a look and bring me the carcass while you're there …"

"A big python?" Welikro pondered in shock as he stood up. "Boa, Eyke, let's go down and check."

He actually did not need to tell them that when the mud trail headed to the entrance told them what they needed to know. After a while, Borkal returned. . "Damn, Claude! You actually killed that huge python all by yourself! Do you know how surprised we are to see something that big? We were afraid it was alive and Eyke even wanted Wero to try it to make sure it was dead. "

"Did you shoot him?" ask Claude. I didn't hear the gunshots. Even though it's underground, I should be able to hear something when I'm this close.

"No," said Borkal, shaking his head, "Wero said that the python was dead. Otherwise, it will move when we are the first to descend. Oh, and I came here to pick up some more firewood. The fire there will burn soon. "

"No," said Borkal, shaking his head, "Wero said that the python was dead. Otherwise, it will move when we are the first to descend. Oh, and I came here to pick up some more firewood. The fire there will burn soon. "

Borkal went and hurried to get some.

Half an hour later, Claude stood back up. That should be enough acting. Even if I am really tired, I should ask for a little after a lot of rest.

He walked to the entrance of the basement and saw the three of them dragging the python out. Although Claude did not really notice him when he was fighting in the mud, he only noticed how big it was when he looked at it up close. His body that was nearly four meters long was truly terrifying. Even Claude could not help but feel fear for his near brush now.

If the python doesn't bite the gun and get my face instead. . . Claude let out a cold sweat at that thought. Very close to death.

"This Python could sell at least three thales in the city." Borkal sought to show off his professional judgment skills once again.

"Regarding the skin, don't forget that python tendons are worth a lot of money" Eriksson added.

"That's enough! Don't just keep going about the money all day!" Welikro said with a somber look, "I don't understand, Claude. Why did you go to the basement alone? Didn't I already say that there was nothing else to notice there? You're lucky this time "If something happens to you back then, how are the three of us going to take it to your parents ?!"

Only then did Borkal and Eriksson flinch from their fantasies. The scenario that Welikro did made them cold. If Claude doesn't kill python and vice versa. . . The thought was so unbearable that they couldn't even finish it.

"Sorry," said Claude, "I just want to look down from the stone steps, so I threw some torches at it. Then, I found something shining bright gold next to the stairs. So, I made a rope ladder and threw some bushes and branches down to check what was shining so brightly. I didn't think that I would be attacked by such a large python … "

"Then do you know that golden thing?" Welikro looked at Claude doubtfully. The way he saw it, Claude was just making it up as an excuse for his little misfortune.

"I found this," Claude said as he stuffed his hand into his pocket and took it back. He opened it and the gold coin fell to the ground with a clear and audible twang.

"This ... this is shaliun!" Borkal picked one up and shouted, "Right! This is a coin from six centuries ago. I saw this engraving in the currency encyclopedia that I have at home. This is a cloaked magus. When the Amsra dynasty came to power, they abolished it. Too bad this isn't a magic shaliun gold coin. "

"I found this," Claude said as he stuffed his hand into his pocket and took it back. He opened it and the gold coin fell to the ground with a clear and audible twang.

"This ... this is shaliun!" Borkal picked one up and shouted, "Right! This is a coin from six centuries ago. I saw this engraving in the currency encyclopedia that I have at home. This is a cloaked magus. When the Amsra dynasty came to power, they abolished it. Too bad this isn't a magic shaliun gold coin. "

"I searched with all my might and found only five of them," Claude said, "They were all beside the stone stairs. I tried to look further, but the python chased after me."

Welikro's suspicions have been dispelled. There was no way Claude could take the gold coins from six centuries ago out of the air. For him it seemed like it was exactly as Claude explained. He threw a few torches down and found that something was reflecting the torch light. He then dropped some branches and bushes down and made a rope ladder. His preparations were supposed to be perfect, except for the huge black python he had not expected to be hiding there. It was an accident Claude didn't expect.

Eriksson took four other shaliuns off the ground. He didn't think too much like Welikro did. "Is this valuable?"

"I don't really know," said Borkal, "This can be considered an antique coin. After all, they have a 600-year history. However, they were not really antiques worth collecting as well since they had evil magi carvings on them. That is why they are banned in many countries in Freia. However, we can still take them to the bank to trade with normal currencies according to their gold content. In our kingdom, I believe that each can be traded for two kron of gold, about ten thales of silver basically. "

"Hehe, Claude, you're rich," said Eriksson enviously, "I didn't think you'd be the greatest on our way to Egret. Not only did you manage to kill such a huge python, you even took five of those gold coins. Bring it, it's yours. "

Claude waved their hands and did not take the gold coins Eriksson had given him. "Let Boa take care of them. Don't we agree that everything we find here will be equally divided among us? That goes for the gold coin as well."

"But .. This python was killed by yourself and you found your own coin. We didn't help in the least" Borkal said with a bitter smile.

Claude stood up smiling. "We came here together, so before coming home, we were on the same boat, figuratively speaking. I'm sure you'll share some of your catch today even though I'm not coming with you. Similarly, if I don't manage to kill a python and something happens to me, you will have to bear some responsibility as well and end up being punished when we return. So, both gold coins and pythons are ours to share. Wero, what do you think? "

"I think so," said Welikro desperately, "But when we hunt together, there are rules that we follow. The one who does most of the work gets a bigger share while the other gets a smaller share."

"Then everything's fine. I will take these two gold coins while each of you can have one. It's decided. Wero, take them to cut the python open. We ate python meat for dinner tonight," Claude decided without leaving room for negotiation.