I direct my eyes to the floor to find the noise source, but I don't see anything; maybe I'm so nervous because of the recent battles that I'm starting to imagine things.

I'm about to convince myself that the noise was just something created by my subconscious when suddenly I hear that sound again.

*ki* *ki* *ki*

There it is; that sound is coming from here

I quickly stood up and carefully observed the tree and the stone; that sounds like a bird or a cat, but it could also be some insect because, if I remember correctly, some caterpillars let out screeches to ward off their predators.

I keep watching for a while until something starts to emerge from the space between the tree and the stone, which looks like a hedgehog.

It looks like a common ground hedgehog, but instead of having those tiny spines on its back, this one has a layer of dirt.

It looks like a hedgehog and an armadillo; it doesn't look like a threat.

Maybe that's why it was underground, but when I sat on the stone, this little guy felt the movement and alerted him to investigate.

Kiii!

The little hedgehog crouches down and adopts an attack posture, but due to its size of only 10 centimeters, it doesn't look like a threat, anyway.

Since it poses no danger to me, I decide to ignore it and go back to sitting on the rock.

Kiii!!!

The hedgehog moves away a bit but continues with his attack posture; the little guy keeps watching as if he is ready to bite me as soon as I make a move.

I sat down on the rock and took out the food packet again, the little guy kept watching for a few moments, but after the smell of the food seeped in, the little guy started to approach me slowly.

When he realizes that I am watching him, the little guy goes back to his attack stance.

Kiii!

And he growls at me again, gosh, I don't know if you are brave or stupid.

I take out one of the guava fruits I still have from the previous mission and pass it to the little hedgehog.

Here, eat and stop growling at me; I would have attacked you if it were someone else. .....ki?

The hedgehog looks confused; I guess he didn't expect me to give him some food.

Honestly, I wasn't planning on giving it any food either; I understand it's not good to feed wild animals.

Come to think of it, I always fed the animals I came across, especially when I went back to my apartment.

And if you look at it objectively, street animals are wild animals, but you'd have to be pretty technical to think that way.

While my thoughts were wandering, the hedgehog started eating the fruit, and he enjoyed it.

Seeing him brings me a bit of happiness, so I start eating in the company of this little guy.

After seeing that he had finished his meal, I put another fruit back, and he pounced on it.

Haha, easy, it's not going anywhere.

As soon as I put the fruit down, this little guy curls up on it like an otter guarding its babies.

I continued with my lunch for another 2 minutes, and he finished at the same time as this little guy; I can see he looks more energetic now, that's good.

I lift him off the rock, and the little guy is startled by my abrupt action, but this time he doesn't go into his battle stance; this time, he curls up into a ball, but because of the layer of dirt on his back he looks more like an armadillo than a hedgehog.

Well I have to go, thanks for the company, take care. ...ki?

I say goodbye to this little friend and start to walk away, but I barely take a few steps when I hear a loud sound behind me.

Kiiiiiii!!!!

The little hedgehog yells at me and runs towards me. What's wrong with him? Does he want another fruit to eat later?

What's the matter with you? Do you want some guava? Kiiiiii!!!

The little guy screams again, and it seems he wants; I'm about to pull out the last guava I have left when the little guy jumps toward me and starts climbing up my pants; he looks like a bit of a bit kitten climbing a tree.

He looks like he's going to fall at any moment, so I grab him with my hands and pull him closer to me. What's wrong with you? Do you want to follow me? Kiii! You know I'm an adventurer. Kii? That means I'll be in danger at any moment. Ki! Even knowing that, do you want to follow me? ...... Kii! Mmm, ok, you'll be my Pet on this journey from now on. Kiii!

I have a hedgehog as a pet now; the doubt I have in my mind is about what their food is on earth. They feed on insects, fruits, and vegetables.

But animals have other ways in this world, which implies different habits and feeding that I don't know.

Damn, I don't want to do it, but I will have to ask the receptionist about what this little guy eats, which I don't want to do today.

I was planning to wait one day, but it looks like it won't be possible; well, anyway, I will have to face the accusing look of the receptionist sooner or later. Unfortunately, I can no longer return the wooden swords I took from the training camp; it's not that I don't want to; it's just that one broke completely in another fight against a greenhorn deer.

Since the damage is done, there's no point crying over spilled milk, but let's keep hunting for now.

Little guy! Ki? Hold on tight; we're going hunting! Ki!

And so I continued hunting for another 5 hours; I decided to avoid the greenhorn deer because I would have to slide over their hooves to deliver a lethal blow, and I didn't want the hedgehog to get hurt could only hunt bunnies and more grasses.

It's about 5:00 PM, so it's back to town, but first, let's review what I got today:

[Bunny horn x 40]

[Green antler deer x 3]

[Sana Grass x 19]

[Hipos Grass x 3]

[Silora Grass x 20]

[Noda Grass x 2]

[Macha Grass x 1]

I think it's a great harvest; I don't know how other adventurers hunt; maybe they go for more extensive and valuable prey.

By the way, how much are the buckhorn horns sold for? The quest didn't say anything about the price, maybe it depends on the horn's quality, and that's why it doesn't specify the quantity required or the price.

Well, I will soon know the answer. Little hedgehog, we are going home. Ki? I mean your new home. Kiii

After a 20 minute walk, we arrived at the guild; I still feel a little guilty about what happened; let's try to make this quick.

Good afternoon, I would like to deliver the bunny horns mission. ....... Wow, that was exhausting. Sir, regarding the swords. Ah, look at a fly, how curious. .... *aff* sir, don't worry about the wooden swords, they are easy to replace, and we were doing the weekly inventory. Uff* thank goodness, I thought you would charge me for them. SO IT WAS YOU! uAAHHH!

Shit, it was a trap! I knew she wouldn't forgive me so quickly.

Sir! He has to replace those words, so he'll charge him ten copper coins for each one of them. ...ok

I feel like a kid caught by his parents doing something wrong; luckily, I only have to pay 50 copper coins.

Here are the 50 copper coins for the wooden swords. It's 60 What? But I only took five wooden swords. It's 60. 60, I SAID! That's why I say, here are the 60 copper ones.

I don't know if I'm being punished or extorted anymore, but I still pay the copper coins while bowing my head like a sorry dog.

Now, sir, tell me what's in it for you today!

I can't believe this receptionist's quick mood change; whoever said women are scary is right.

.... I want to deliver the bunny horn mission. Ok, please go to the room on the left to appraise its value.

The receptionist takes me to the room on the left; as I enter, there are two pieces of furniture and a coffee table, and on the other side, there is another door, which I believe is where they store and package all incoming items.

Please place the horns to assess their condition. Is something wrong? The thing is, I have both his horn and his body, so I thought maybe you guys buy the meat too. That depends; if his body is too cut up or destroyed, we can't buy his meat, as it loses its food value. No, actually, it is in good condition. What do you mean?

Seeing the receptionist's reaction, I proceed to take the bunny's body out of my inventory.

It is in this condition, just a little dirty, but there are no cuts anywhere, and its horn is still on its head. ..... and the rest is in the same condition as this specimen. Yes, well, actually, there is one that is badly bruised, but it still has its horn. ...I can tell how many specimens you have. If we count the one that is badly bruised and bloody, I have 40. 40! Please show me those!

Are bunnies hard to hunt? But I didn't feel that way, they are indeed agile, but if you look at them closely, you will notice that they follow the same attack pattern: to run in a straight line and jump at you while pointing their horn at you.

All I had to do was make a slight turn to the right or left to avoid it and then hit them sometimes, I had to make two hits because I missed aiming for the head, but that was it.

Here they are.

The 40 bodies of the bunnies appeared on the table, forming a small pile of white, but there were two that were severely injured.

Unbelievable, unlike those two bunnies, the others are in perfect condition! And they still have their horns. It's so weird that. Of course, it is! Due to their speed, the bunnies leap toward their enemies so fast that the horns smash into everything in front of them, causing them to get damaged or broken. Also, if you decide to attack them head-on, you may destroy the horn and their flesh in the process. So you have to attack them from the sides, but it is complicated to hit them thanks to their speed. And how much does all this cost? Because their horns can break in combat, their price is 40 copper coins, and their meat in good condition is about ten copper coins, but since you brought so many in perfect condition, I offer you 60, not 70 copper coins per specimen. Deal!

I hit the jackpot! I didn't think these bunnies would cost so much money; fortune is smiling on me today.

Doing a quick calculation, 40 bunnies x 70 copper coins gives 28 silver coins equal to 2800 copper coins.

By the way, I also got three green antler deer carcasses. Can I sell them? Of course, you can!

He pulled out the deer carcasses on the ground. Unfortunately, they are not as perfect as the bunnies.

Is his neck still connected to the body? You could say yes, but if there is a cut in the back, I could not cut his neck with the wooden sword, but I managed to cut the spine that connects to his brain with the Slash skill. That doesn't matter! The important thing is that his horns are still green; when green antler deer are wounded, they use the plants in their horns to heal their injuries, which causes them to turn brown, thus losing their healing properties, so it's a have to act fast. And how much do they cost? Easily about five silver coins per specimen. You got yourself a deal.

Another 1500 copper coins!

Four thousand three hundred copper coins, I got 4300 copper coins!!! I'm rich! hehehehehe, it's time for the poor man to kneel in my presence!!! muahahahahaha...

No! I have to calm down a bit. I have to consider some expenses I'll have to make in the future like equipment, weapons, consumables, lodging, food, etc.

Is there anything else you want to sell? Unfortunately, no, but there is one thing I would like to ask. Oh? And what is it?

I proceeded to pull out the little hedgehog that was in my pocket.

I found this little guy and would like to know what he eats. Is it a hedgehog? It looks like it; I found it while I was eating, and I want to keep it as my Pet, so I want to know if I have to do any paperwork or anything like that. You are saying that you want to make a Master-Pet contract, but are you sure that you can only have one Pet, and there is no way to have another one unless you become a monster tamer, do you agree?

The little hedgehog and I looked into each other's eyes and nodded.

I'm sure. Then, place a drop of your blood on the hedgehog's head and say contract; if the monster accepts, the Master-Pet contract will be formed.

I put the little hedgehog down and placed it next to me, took the knife out of the inventory to prick my hand, and a drop of blood gushed out of it.

I approach the little hedgehog, and the drop of blood from my hand falls on its head.

Contract

After I say those words, a light glows on the little hedgehog's head.

The glow dims after a few seconds, and the notifications appear before me.

[Congratulations, you have successfully contracted the monster: Floral Hedgehog].

[Your Pet can now communicate using emoticons].

[A new window has been added: Pet]

[Please select a name for your Pet].