Chapter 49: Ch:49 Hide and Slap

Daniel read the recipe once and studied the diagram thrice for clarity. This one was very different from the others he’d drawn.

A circular ring lined, twisted with thorned vines, spiraling like dragon curves (fractals), with a cross set at its center.

He closed the grimbook with a firm nod of resolve.

*Dhab*

’Hmm… a common hide, like cow skin? goat skin?’ he pondered, trying to decide which animal it meant.

Even though they were common animals, he felt uncertain.

Daniel stowed the grimbook, wooden box, and scroll inside his wardrobe, near his dolls. In total he had three used dolls and one unused doll, carefully hidden among his clothes.

“I’ve to craft this pouch items as soon as possible or…,” he whispered, glanced around.

’Even though this book is invisible to others, but I think anybody can see or touch the book print under a cloth,’ he whispered under his breath.

When Daniel entered his room, he saw his room, neat and clean—the bed made, the floor spotless, as if someone had just cleaned it.

If he wasn’t careful, sooner or later he’d be caught—just as he had been in his previous life.

He quickly changed into fresh clothes, slung his satchel over his shoulder, and headed out. Just as he reached for the iron gate, Marnie spotted him and called out.

“Son!,” she called, her voice calm and steady, “Where are you going now?”

Daniel turned with a smile. “I’m going for a quick stroll to the market. You want anything, Mom?”

Marnie stepped closer to him. “Umm… since you’re heading there, why not buy some lamb?”

She handed him seven silver coins. He accepted them and stepped outside.

As he made his way toward the market, his eyes lingered on a waggoner passing by, then drifted to the horse.

“Status,” he murmured.

——————

Name: Horse

Age: 22

Hp: 300/300

Standard: Common

Description: An animal of strength and speed, capable of crossing great distances in moments.

——————

Daniel narrowed his eyes, sucking his cheeks inward as he followed the horse with his gaze.

Then he turned his face toward the path.

…

The market hummed with life, merchants shouting, and people weaving through the stalls.

“Buy one get one free… yes, you heard it right, come buy one…”

“A kilo of chicken for ten coppers only!”

Daniel turned his eyes toward the chicken.

“Status”

——————

Name: Chicken

Age: 6

Hp: 60/60

Standard: Inferior

Description: A domesticated bird with feathers, a short beak, and a habit of pecking at the ground.

——————

He chuckled softly and made his way toward the meat section. “Haha… chickens are nothing but just food.”

Chickens were extremely common in this world. Merchants would set up makeshift stalls anywhere and start selling them.

As he walked through the meat section, the stalls were crammed together, voices overlapped, people pushed through the narrow paths, and pickpockets moved unnoticed in the crowd.

Daniel gripped his satchel tight and wove through.

“Fish! Fish! for seven coppers!”

“A kilo of pork for twenty two coppers!”

“A kilo of fresh lamb meat for eighteen coppers!”

He moved down the narrow path, jostled back and forth but didn’t let go of his satchel.

“Sir, Agh… a kilo of lamb, quick!” Daniel gasped.

“Haha… Coming right up, young man,” the man laughed, eyeing his strained face.

But as he raised his knife to the dangling mutton, Daniel stopped him.

“No, not that part, sir. Give me the legs!”

The man narrowed his eyes slightly, then grinned.

*Chop-Chop-Chop*

The butcher severed leg and loin equally, weighed them with stones, and diced into bite-sized chunks.

Daniel’s eyes followed the chopping knife, curiosity slowly taking hold of his thoughts.

“Sir, do you sell lamb skins?” said Daniel.

The man replied casually and directly. “It will be ten coppers a kilo, young man.”

Normally, people buy meat skins to eat, but only about one in ten does, and the demand is far lower than for the meat itself. For merchants, the skins are just a little extra profit.

“Can you show me, sir?” Daniel said.

“Yes, in a minute,” the man replied without looking at him.

*Chop-Chop*

After wrapping the lamb meat in a large petal leaf, the man reached into his sack and pulled out a lamb hide.

“Here…” he said, handing the skin to Daniel.

The hair on the skin was singed, and the hide felt firm to the touch, carrying the scent of charcoal and milk.

“Status,” he murmured, voice low.

Nothing appeared.

’What? Why isn’t it working?,’ he thought for a moment, then realised, ’ow… how can I forget that it only works on living beings, heh…”

“You want to buy? young man?” the man asked with a neutral expression.

Daniel paused for a moment and replied. “Sir, pack two hundred and fifty grams of it.”

The total bill was was twenty two copper coins, Daniel handed him two silvers and two coppers and then bolted from the congestion.

“Huuf… finally some fresh air…” he muttered, stepping out of the meat section.

Then his eyes settled on the man, barking orders at the crowd as he tried to sell his clothes.

“Buy one get one free, it’s a limited offer… buy one…”

But everyone knew it was just his usual spiel.

Suddenly, a sly, mischievous idea came to his mind. He made his way to the clothing shop and bought some clothes and a pair of scissors.

’Hehe… this is going to be fun…’ he smirked inwardly, eyeing his satchel.

But as he looked up, he saw Lady Elira leaning over a roadside stall, picking vegetables into her woven basket.

“Woah, what a coincidence. Let’s give her a surprise,” he murmured, making his way toward her.

Daniel crept forward slowly and silently, then stopped right behind her, waiting for her turn. His cock gave a slow, eager twitch while he waited patiently.

She turned with a warm smile, but the moment Elira saw his face, her hand shot out instinctively, and delivered a sharp slap across his face.

*SLAP!*

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep