Chapter 30 : Predicament
Chapter 30: Predicament! The Blackwater Beast Calamity!
The experience gained from this sword technique was decreasing day by day.
Although those Knight’s Squires could still help Leo gain a bit of experience,
it was just like fitness training in his previous life—once one became familiar with a certain form of exercise,
the stimulation it provided would weaken.
To maintain efficiency, stronger stimulation was required.
With the strength of these Knight’s Squires, they could no longer provide Leo with sufficient stimulation.
“It seems that if I want to grind faster, I’ll have to go to the Knight Hall and find stronger opponents.”
However, the five knights were currently hunting outside the city.
He would have to wait until they returned before he could be officially conferred as a Quasi-Knight.
Only after becoming a Quasi-Knight could he enter the Knight Hall.
As Leo walked toward the outskirts of the city, he glanced at his attributes panel.
【Strength: 1.8 Agility: 1.1 Spirit: 1.4】
Although his progress in the Breathing Technique and swordsmanship had been increasing during this period,
his Strength had only increased by 0.1, and his Agility hadn’t changed at all.
The reason was simple—
his supply of Beastkin Meat had been cut off.
Relying solely on the meals provided by the castle was no longer enough to sustain such high-intensity training.
Last time, Leo had bought one pound of Level 1 Beastkin Meat, which only lasted him a little over half a month.
During the latter half of the month without Beastkin Meat, he could clearly feel his body weakening.
In other words, to maintain efficient energy supply,
one pound of dried Beastkin Meat was not enough.
At least one and a half pounds were needed—preferably two.
Of course, if he had the money, the more the better.
He could even use Level 2 or Level 3 Beastkin Meat.
“Money is the biggest problem right now.”
Leo walked along the road, calculating in his mind.
This month, he had saved a total of thirteen silver coins, almost all of which were won from Rog.
Later on, even Rog couldn’t afford his own living expenses, so that source of income was cut off.
Leo continued calculating the capital he would use for shopping at the merchant caravan.
Fortunately, the courier accompanying the Kingdom Merchant Caravan had delivered a letter from home on time.
Leo opened the letter.
Inside the wax-sealed envelope were, as usual, five silver coins.
As for the contents—
his father remained as sparing with words as ever, the message identical to the last one:
“Everything at home is well. Do not worry. —Rang Laide”
In Leo’s memory, this taciturn father was busy all year round.
Especially during the arrival of Deep Winter, he was at his busiest.
Sometimes, Leo wouldn’t see him for half a month.
ReinfBeastkining city defenses, setting traps, inspecting granaries—
the small Blackwater City carried all of his father’s effort and dedication.
Looking at the five silver coins in his hand, Leo clenched his fist.
“As long as everything is well, that’s enough.”
He thought about the day he would become a knight and return to his territory to share some of his father’s burden.
After putting the letter away, Leo arrived at the city gate with a total of eighteen silver coins in his pouch.
Today, outside Blackstone City, there was a rare sense of liveliness.
Even though the snow had reached knee height,
officers and squires still trudged through it to purchase supplies.
Leo shook the snow off his body and squeezed through the crowd.
Compared to the shivering passersby around him, Leo barely felt the cold.
It seemed to be the effect of practicing the Breathing Technique.
Now, he was almost immune to wind and chill.
Leo looked toward the group of Golden Knights at the front of the caravan.
At a glance, he could see what made them extraordinary.
Despite the heavy wind and snow, not a single snowflake touched them.
Each of those knights was like a blazing furnace—
the snowflakes vaporized before even landing on them.
Compared to himself, they were clearly far more powerful.
After sweeping his gaze across the knight order, Leo went to purchase his Beastkin Meat first.
Granny Gu glanced at Leo standing before her stall, her gaze pausing briefly.
“Kid, it’s you again.”
The old woman clearly remembered him.
Leo scratched his head. “Hello, Granny Gu.”
“Oh? Looks like you’ve been training well lately. How is it? My Beastkin Meat is good quality, isn’t it?”
Leo was slightly stunned.
This old woman could tell at a glance that his training had improved.
He didn’t dwell on it.
Instead, he looked at the goods before him.
This time, there were two additional types of Beastkin Meat.
“Let me introduce them.” Granny Gu pointed with her pipe. “These three you’ve seen before—Rock Gnome, Swamp Crocodileman, and Centaur.
As for this—fresh Blackwater Lizard meat. Level 2 Beastkin Meat. It hasn’t been fully dried yet. One pound of this is equivalent to three pounds of Level 1 Beastkin Meat. I’ll sell it to you for twenty silver coins.
And this one—Ogre meat, Level 4 Beastkin… one pound is… well…”
Granny Gu sized Leo up and clearly concluded he couldn’t afford it.
Leo looked at the five types of Beastkin Meat.
It seemed that with the arrival of Deep Winter, the war between Beastkins and Humans had intensified.
That was why there was so much fresh Beastkin Meat.
Suddenly, Leo frowned, as if realizing something.
“Blackwater Lizard?”
He looked at the sack of pale purple Beastkin Meat tinged with blood.
A trace of tension appeared in his eyes.
“Granny Gu, where did this come from?”
“Blackwater Lizard? Naturally from around the Blackwater River.”
Leo’s expression changed instantly.
“Blackwater River? The one near Blackwater City?”
He knew that near his hometown, Blackwater City, there was a great river by that name.
“Why are you asking so many questions? Are you buying or not? Blackwater River is obviously near Blackwater City—” Granny Gu paused as she noticed Leo’s expression. “Don’t tell me… you’re from Blackwater City?”
Leo nodded.
“I see…” Granny Gu looked at him with surprise. “No wonder… But I heard that during this beast calamity in Blackwater City, although people died, the city wasn’t breached.”
“The lord of Blackwater City even traveled dozens of miles to sell this Beastkin Meat. Looks like he’s short on money.”
Hearing this, Leo’s heart tightened.
“Kid, your father is fine,” Granny Gu reassured him, having realized his identity.
Then she sat back in her rocking chair, shaking her head.
“These beast calamities are happening more and more often. The kingdom really should do something.”
This time, Granny Gu did not urge Leo and let him browse quietly.
Leo’s heart felt heavy.
Even if his father was safe, who knew whether another beast calamity would strike?
People had died.
Blackwater City was small—he knew everyone.
Who had it been?
Leo looked at the silver coins in his hand.
Even after facing a beast calamity, his father had still sent him five silver coins as usual.
But there was nothing Leo could do about it now.
He steadied his emotions.
Even if he returned now, it would be useless.
The only thing he could do was find a way to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
With that thought, Leo picked up the piece of Level 2 Blackwater Lizard meat.
“Granny Gu, can this be a bit cheaper? This is all I have.”
He took out his pouch and emptied all his silver coins.
Eighteen in total.
“Cheaper? I, Granny Gu, never—” she started reflexively.
But after glancing at Leo, she swallowed her words.
“Fine, fine. Fresh meat doesn’t keep well anyway. I’ll cut you a pound—take it.”
Leo thanked her.
He glanced at the medicinal herbs on the side but felt too embarrassed to ask.
Granny Gu noticed his gaze, grabbed a bit of each herb, and tossed them into the bag.
“You want some of these too, don’t you? Take them, you damn poor kid.”