Fortunately, while dealing with the Cockatrice's corpse, he had kept his Witcher Senses active to stay alert, allowing him to clearly sense some powerful monster approaching from several hundred meters behind him.
Judging by what he had just seen, it was probably a high-tier monster such as a Leshen.
Leshens loved nature and peace, ordinarily keeping to their own little patches of territory.
It seemed his fight with the monster had inadvertently disturbed this powerful creature.
"All right, let's head back. Huh? How did you get the Cockatrice's head out?" Dick looked at Banyang beside him in delighted surprise.
"I don't know. I just grabbed it on the way. We can't eat this thing, so should we throw it away?"
"No need." Dick smiled. "This is good stuff. It'll fetch a good price. By the way, are there any big merchants in Odinburg?"
"Hmm? Master, why do you ask?"
"Because this head is something we obtained together. Once we sell it, we'll split the money equally."
The two returned to Odinburg and went to the market.
Banyan had mentioned on the way that a gnome jeweler had recently been passing through, and he would probably be interested in the Cockatrice's head as a collectible.
The surrounding vendors looked astonished to see the woodcutter entering the market with the witcher.
One of the bolder vendors called out, "Banyan, where did you go last night? Why are you with Master Dick?"
"Oh, I went to the Black Forest to cut firewood." Banyan stopped, and the witcher stopped with him.
Then Banyan said loudly, "I ran into a monster. Fortunately, my boy was clever enough to fetch Master Dick the witcher, who saved my life. Otherwise, I'd have ended up as a snack to go with that monster's drink."
"Is that true?"
"Of course it is." Banyan put his hands on his hips. "Take a look at Master Dick." He pointed at Dick's body. "See that wound showing through the front of his leather armor?
"A monster called a Cockatrice did that. He only got hurt because he was saving me."
"Is that really true? You're not making this up, are you, Banyan?"
The vendor's voice grew quieter toward the end, because he felt those words might offend the witcher.
Given the witcher's past temperament, he would have taught him a lesson. Unexpectedly, Dick did nothing of the sort. He simply opened the bag containing the Cockatrice's head and showed it around to everyone.
The vendors cried out in surprise, and some customers buying food gathered around as well.
"What a huge chicken head! So this is a Cockatrice?"
Dick said in a low voice, "Banyan and I hunted it down together."
"What? Even Banyan could help?"
Dick gave a slight nod.
"Of course I could help. I didn't do much, but I still helped Master Dick," Banyan said smugly.
Just then, the crowd stirred. Two tall, strong guards cleared a path, and a lavishly dressed gnome wearing jeweled rings emerged through it.
Gnomes were also one of the races in this world.
This world had humans, gnomes, dwarves, and elves, though humans predominated.
"It really is a Cockatrice's head. Name your price, witcher. I, Val, will take it."
"You're the great jeweler Val?"
"That's right. To think good fortune would still come my way. I've been wanting to find some monsters for my collection lately, and I came here and ran into you. Isn't that fate?"
"Fifty Kelang, and this Cockatrice's head is yours?"
"Deal."
Val waved a hand generously, while Dick inwardly clicked his tongue:
Damn, I didn't expect this merchant to be so generous. I should have asked for more. I can't help feeling I lost out a little.
Of course, Dick had not lost out. Val simply happened not to care how much this collectible cost.
After accepting a money pouch, Val added, "Witcher, your name is Dick, isn't it? I know your reputation. Although..."
He laughed a few times. "But seeing is believing. I can tell you're an excellent witcher.
"If you get any more giant monsters' heads in the future, you can still come to me.
"Of course, I may not be in Odinburg, but my men will be stationed here long-term.
"Don't worry. You can hand them over to my men. The address is..."
He then gave the address of his jewelry shop here.
"Understood. Goodbye, then, Val."
"Goodbye, Dick."
Val waved and left under the protection of his attendants, while the people around them buzzed with discussion:
"Wow, fifty Kelang! Fifty Kelang in one go! I couldn't earn that much in half a year!"
"Half a year? I couldn't earn that much in a whole year."
"But he's a witcher with real skills, after all."
Then a faint voice spoke up. "Didn't this Dick used to like bullying us?
"Why would he risk his life to save a woodcutter now? Has he really changed?"
Their surroundings were noisy. Without his keen Witcher Senses, Dick really would not have heard it.
Another faint voice sounded nearby. "Keep your voice down. Don't let Dick hear you.
"I'm telling you, he really has changed. He's been eating breakfast at my place these past few days, and he's paid every time.
"They say a prodigal's return is worth more than gold. Doesn't he prove it?"
Hearing that voice, Dick knew it belonged to the owner of the place where he always ate breakfast.
He smiled slightly, then looked at Banyan. "Come with me."
The two then found a corner, and Dick handed Banyan twenty-five Kelang. "Count it."
"Master Dick, I trust your word."
Banyan laughed heartily and took the pouch. Then, reluctant and hesitant, he loosened his grip and held it back out.
"What do you mean by this?"
"I just feel I don't deserve this much money. I didn't do much."
Dick was about to persuade him. He really did not want someone whose life he had saved to be shortchanged, though they had effectively saved each other, and he had done more of the work.
Just then, a boy's voice rang out behind them. "Banyan, you damned old man! You're finally back."
Banyan immediately turned around, his face full of delighted surprise. "George, you little bastard!"
Night had fallen, and Dick was eating in a family's small house in Odinburg.
They were eating meat stewed from two chickens, mixed with some other unknown plants, and biting into soft white flatbread.
Dick held out his cup and clinked it against the woodcutter's across from him.
Beside them, young George silently gnawed on the chicken leg in his bowl, devoting all his attention to the delicious food on the table.
Banyang laughed heartily. "Master Dick, I never expected that merchant to pay so much for that monster's head. And you actually gave me half. Honestly, I still feel I shouldn't take this money."