I Wouldn't Eat It Even If I Starved

"Something smells good?"

Rhode sniffed the air too.

Yes, it smelled good.

It was the smell of roasted meat...

Who would be roasting meat here?

Then Rhode saw that Lilia had already run to the edge of the crater and picked up a huge spider leg.

Well, to be precise, she had hoisted it onto her shoulder.

The Giant Spider's legs were very long, with sharp barbs along the edges of their red, hard shells. They looked utterly fearsome.

Yet this very leg was giving off an enticing aroma of meat.

Lilia swallowed and said, "Rhode, can I eat this?"

Rhode's eyes widened. "Can... can you eat spider legs?"

Lilia nodded vigorously, looking as though she was about to drool. "I heard lots of hunters love eating roasted spider legs. They're delicious."

This little glutton wouldn't even pass up food that looked this terrifying.

"Hmph, country bumpkin. You've never even eaten spider legs..." Gixil said, swallowing as his eyes stayed fixed on the leg.

Rhode shook his head. "Hmph, I wouldn't eat spider legs even if I starved to death!"

Meanwhile, Lilia had already started prying apart the spider leg's shell without waiting for anyone else.

It seemed to have cooled down.

And after being roasted by the Great Fireball, the hard shell had probably become brittle. Lilia cracked it open without much effort, revealing the tender, pale golden meat inside.

Lilia pulled out a thin strip of meat and bit into it.

"It's delicious! Delicious! Even better than crab!" Lilia said indistinctly between hearty mouthfuls.

"Really? I don't believe you." Gixil came over too, tore off a piece, and popped it into his mouth. "Mmm... seems you're right."

Rhode couldn't resist either. He stepped forward and took a bite.

Mmm... delicious!

It looked like tonight's late-night snack was sorted.

And not just that.

Perhaps they could even bring the townspeople a delicious meal...

"That'll be six gold and fifty silver, please."

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Rhode tossed the enormous curved horn he had been carrying onto the ground and addressed Lieutenant Orinel inside the watchtower.

It was already very late when they returned to the watchtower.

But the place was still brightly lit. Many adventurers had simply found spots inside and outside the tower to make camp and lie down for a rest.

Of course, none of them were asleep yet. They were still chatting in little groups.

But when Rhode and the others entered the watchtower, everyone's attention settled on Rhode and the horn he had dropped.

At the sight of the horn, Lieutenant Orinel's eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"This really does look like Yetius's horn..." Lieutenant Orinel crouched to examine the curved horn carefully, muttering to himself.

Although Marshal Redpath had recommended Rhode, saying that this mage was powerful and could help kill Yetius, he had still harbored some doubts.

After all, Lieutenant Orinel knew just how powerful Yetius was. Otherwise, its bounty notice wouldn't have been hanging here for so long.

"Absolutely genuine. No tricks, no scams!" Rhode said with an easy smile.

Lilia declared loudly, "That's right! I killed it myself!"

The crowd could no longer hold back their comments.

"Looks like it's real. I've heard only Yetius has horns that big."

"Mages really are impressive."

"Don't overlook that little girl. She said she was the one who killed Yetius."

"Exactly. She may be small, but I've heard some gnome warriors are incredibly fierce."

"They're probably an adventuring duo, a warrior and a mage. That's an excellent combination!"

"If they added a healer, they'd be even more amazing."

"Do you think that Goblin might be a healer?"

"A Goblin healer? With his shock baton?..."

Lieutenant Orinel stood up, his tone now carrying a hint of respect as he addressed Rhode. "Mage, this is indeed Yetius's horn. However, the bounty is five gold, not six gold and fifty silver..."

"Oh, that's because we also took care of another bounty while we were at it."

Rhode opened his pack, pulled out a hairy spider leg, and tossed it onto the ground.

It was only a joint cut from a whole spider leg, making it easier to carry.

But the hard shell and its barbs were still clearly visible.

Along with...

The aroma of meat rising from the leg.

Everyone's eyes widened once again.

Legs like that were certainly uncommon among other creatures. There was a very good chance it really was a Giant Spider's leg.

But how had this mage even found the time to roast it before bringing it out?...

"Um, we didn't sign up for the Giant Spider job in our adventurer journals. Does that mean it doesn't count?" Rhode asked.

That did worry him a little.

He was afraid they wouldn't pay because he hadn't completed all the proper steps.

Sure enough, the clerk named Whitesteed said, "Technically, yes... those are the rules..."

But Lieutenant Orinel cut him off roughly. "Pay them, pay them! They killed Yetius, and we're going to quibble over this? We got two for the price of one!"

Then he glared at the clerk. "What are you waiting for? Stamp it and pay them!"

The clerk hurried into action.

First, he took Rhode's and Lilia's adventurer journals and added a job for the Giant Spider. Then he stamped both jobs with something along the lines of "Completed." Finally, he took out a coin pouch and paid Rhode.

Rhode accepted the pouch, opened it, and counted the coins, breaking into a delighted smile.

Six gold and fifty silver. All there.

My first paycheck as an adventurer!

As much as ten years of farming!

Why the hell would I keep farming?

"Congratulations, Abominable Snowman Bane," Lieutenant Orinel told Rhode sincerely. "And thank you. You've rid the people of the Hillsbrad Foothills of a terrible menace! No, two terrible menaces!"

Abominable Snowman Bane? Should I add Spider Terminator too?

Was that a title or a nickname?

Oh, speaking of yetis... there were still ten "little" yetis in that cave!

Rhode told Lieutenant Orinel about that as well.

The lieutenant nodded. "Thank you for the information. I'd also heard there were quite a few yetis over there, and now it's finally confirmed. But with their leader dead, the rest shouldn't pose much of a threat. I'll issue new bounties for them so we can wipe them out as soon as possible!"

Well, that more or less wrapped things up here.

Rhode prepared to take Lilia back to the Farm to rest, then head to Southshore tomorrow so everyone could taste the delicious spider legs.

As for Gixil...

He was putting his talent as a Goblin merchant to work, eagerly pitching his products to the adventurers in the watchtower:

"Care to hear about the Energy Orb? You didn't hear it from me, but he was wearing this very Energy Orb of mine when he killed that huge yeti."

"The Firemark Orb increases fire resistance! If you run into an enemy who throws fireballs, it could save your life!"

"Come take a look at these Enchanting Plans! Ten silver coins! At that price, you can't lose, and you can't get swindled..."

"Want a Goblin Saber? An essential tool for home and travel, murder and silencing witnesses..."