However, even though I equipped it, the enemies on the sixth floor didn't drop any rare ingredients.
I'm not sure if olive oil, which the guild buys, is considered an ingredient, but it's probably not rare.
Even Minotaur doesn't drop anything.
It's a useless cow.
I decided to focus on advancing the exploration.
I had decided to only take a bath on special occasions because filling the bathtub was a hassle.
When we advanced to the next floor, it would be appropriate.
Thanks to this, the exploration of the sixth floor of Bael's Labyrinth progressed relatively quickly, either because I was motivated or because the boss room was nearby.
I thought it was counterproductive to work hard to achieve something I considered special, but I couldn't help it.
The combination of monsters and bosses is the same in every labyrinth, so I had experience defeating the boss on the sixth floor.
I cleared it without any problems.
Escape Goat Lv7
Escape Goat Lv7
The monsters on the seventh floor of Bael's Labyrinth seem to be these Escape Goats.
Two appeared, so I cast the first Firestorm.
"I've heard that Escape Goats run away. It might be better to defeat them with your sword rather than using magic," Roxanne warned me as the spell activated.
It's too late for that.
Are they goats that escape as their name suggests?
However, the Escape Goats didn't run away and came at us.
Roxanne stepped forward to face them.
I prepared Durandal in the meantime.
The Escape Goats don't look as aggressive as Cheap Sheep, but they are tough-looking goats.
They're not cute at all.
Their horns are larger than those of Cheap Sheep, curving gently upwards and looking ominous.
I circled around to the left and struck the goat with Durandal.
I slashed at its body, but it didn't fall.
At Lv7, it seems that even one magic spell plus one hit from Durandal isn't enough to defeat them.
The Escape Goat lowered its head.
I was on guard, and as expected, it charged.
I dodged by turning my body.
I could easily avoid this.
The goat passed between Roxanne and me.
But the monster didn't stop.
It ran through and dashed to the opposite side.
Damn.
The Escape Goat was going to run away.
I swung Durandal in a panic, but it was too late.
Since I couldn't catch up, I had no choice but to use magic.
I cast Firestorm.
Embers flew, and the second spell activated.
It also attacked the Escape Goat that was still visible and running away.
The monster was engulfed in flames and fell.
Good.
It seems that Durandal and magic had already dealt considerable damage.
The remaining one that Roxanne was facing didn't run away.
I struck it from the side with Durandal.
The monster fell and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I finished it off in one hit.
It seems that an Escape Goat Lv7 can be defeated with two magic spells and one hit from Durandal.
It's troublesome when they run away.
The next one Roxanne found was a Cheap Sheep Lv7.
I cast Fireball at the single one.
One, two, three. I watched Roxanne avoid the sheep's attacks from the front while I circled around and cast the fourth and fifth.
It took five hits to defeat it.
"As I feared, it takes five magic spells from Lv7 onwards."
"From the seventh floor, it seems to be the case."
She says it so easily.
If it takes time to defeat them, it means we have to face the monsters for a longer period.
The longer the battle, the more attacks we'll receive.
Roxanne would say to just dodge, but I can't do that.
It's best to proceed cautiously on the seventh floor.
I tried to intercept a single Escape Goat with magic.
It turned and ran away after the third hit.
It probably doesn't run away randomly but when it takes a certain amount of damage.
So, two magic spells are safe, but the third is not.
Its HP is probably similar to a Cheap Sheep Lv7, so it probably takes five magic spells to defeat.
When I hit it with the third spell, it was almost within sword range, so I could hit it twice before it escaped.
But the fifth Fireball was dodged.
Even though it was running away with its back turned.
It's troublesome if it runs away after the third hit.
Using a storm-type spell would be fine, though.
"Troublesome monsters."
"Should we try to avoid fighting them?"
"Yeah. Ideally, but let's not think about it too much. Only prioritize other monsters if the conditions are the same."
After casting two magic spells, I can also use Durandal to finish them off.
It's a matter of balancing MP and efficiency, but there's no need to avoid them specially.
It will put extra strain on Roxanne, but there's no choice.
Although they're troublesome, Escape Goats only run away.
We might be able to handle the seventh floor of Bael's Labyrinth.
I also moved to the seventh floor of Kooltar's Labyrinth.
The monsters on the seventh floor of Kooltar's Labyrinth are the nostalgic Slow Rabbits Lv7.
I fought Slow Rabbits in the forest behind the first village.
The presence of Slow Rabbits there suggests that there's a labyrinth somewhere in the forest, and the Slow Rabbits are the monsters on the first floor of that labyrinth.
There was no entrance, so it's a young labyrinth that hasn't reached fifty floors yet.
Slow Rabbits are very easy to fight because they move slowly, have no weapons, and only use body attacks.
We might be able to handle the seventh floor of Kooltar's Labyrinth.
The monsters spotted us and hopped over to approach.
They're not happy to see us after a long time.
Monsters in labyrinths actively attack people.
I burned them with five Fireballs.
It took five for the Slow Rabbit Lv7 as well.
Slow Rabbits drop rare ingredients, rabbit meat.
It's time for the Cook job to shine.
But the first thing it dropped was rabbit fur.
"Rabbit fur. Should we sell it to a merchant in that village?"
"Rabbit fur can be sold at a high-end clothing store in the capital."
Roxanne picked up the rabbit fur and handed it to me.
"Really?"
"Yes. It should be fine at a store like the one you saw the other day."
"Why do they only buy rabbit fur?"
Items dropped by low-level monsters can be obtained by many people themselves. They're not rare, and the guild has plenty in stock.
So, I heard that it's rare for there to be a special buyback request.
Why do they buy rabbit fur?
"Coats made from rabbit fur are excellent for keeping warm and are very popular among noblewomen. A lot of rabbit fur is needed to make a coat, so there's always a shortage."
"I see."
"High-end workshops and stores are always competing to create the latest fashionable coats. Since many small pieces of rabbit fur need to be sewn together, the labor costs are high, and the profit margin is large."
It seems that the fashion competition among women in this world is intense.
There's probably no no-fur movement here.
"Do you want a rabbit fur coat, Roxanne?"
"Not really. Werewolves are a cold-resistant race, and it's not something a slave should wear."
"You're cold-resistant."
"Yes."
In other words, you can wear thin clothes.
Thin clothes suit Roxanne.
I think clothes that expose a lot of skin and show the curve of the chest would suit her best.
After having fried rabbit meat for breakfast, we headed to the capital.
We went to a high-end boutique.
By the way, the remaining rabbit meat was bought by a butcher in Kooltar.
We hunted nearly forty Slow Rabbits, but only got four pieces of rabbit meat.
The Cook job's skill, Increased Rare Ingredient Drop Rate, doesn't seem to increase it that much.
"Welcome."
When Roxanne and I entered the high-end boutique in the capital, the clerk bowed deeply.
She bowed her head completely and was very polite.
It's fitting for a high-end store.
"Can we sell rabbit fur?"
"Please, this way."
We were led to where the cashier was.
It was the back wall to the left after entering the store.
"Welcome."
"Can we sell rabbit fur to you?"
The female clerk spoke to the male cashier and handed over the task.
"Please place the rabbit fur on the tray."
"Thank you."
I placed the rabbit fur on the tray the cashier provided.
When all were placed, the tray was pulled in.
"There are thirty-four pieces in total. Is that correct?"
The cashier inspected each piece and then announced.
I nodded, and he went to the back and returned with the tray.
The tray contained eight silver coins and a large number of copper coins.
Thirty-four pieces of rabbit fur at twenty nals each, with a thirty percent increase, totaled 884 nals.
There should be eighty-four copper coins.
I took them without counting.
This high-end store wouldn't try to cheat us.
"I have received them."
"Thank you. We look forward to your next visit."
The male cashier gave a deep bow.
It's polite even though we're not regular customers.
I don't think rough adventurers and explorers are often high-end customers of such stores.
Roxanne said that rabbit fur coats are popular among noblewomen, so the clientele of such a high-end store in the capital is probably mostly such women.
It feels a bit out of place, but I feel good about being treated well as I leave the store.