Deer tribe

After a long journey, they reached the deer tribe.

The buzzing noise of the crowd gradually roused Keira from Arel's arms. Her eyes flickered a couple times before she turned to check the source of the noise.

When she saw the amount people in the tribe, her jaw dropped in shock. She mistakenly thought that beastmen lived in small communities or tribes, but upon seeing the sheer mass of beastmen here, she could nearly refer to it as a city.

It was so cramped that getting through the crowd without bumping elbows was next to impossible. Not only was the area filled with a large number of pedestrians, but there were also countless mud houses that represented the local population. No wonder Arel brought her here. Surely he must have known that there was a vast variety she could choose from.

Some beastmen were carrying a few bags on their shoulders, others were dragging large prey behind them, and still others were pushing carts loaded with large heaps of unidentifiable stuff.

Similarly to the direction Arel was strolling, Keira noticed that the majority of the carts were making their way toward the tribe center.

She remarked, "This tribe is so lively," as her bright eyes took in the scene. For a person from another world, it was a mind-blowing sight, proof that she had truly arrived in a new world, complete with a new society and a new way of life.

"Yes, the tribe chief was an excellent trader. He has actively engaged in trade with neighboring tribes until his tribe has grown into a large trading hub," Arel explained, and he gently set Keira down on her feet.

But before she could explore the place, he put a hooded robe on her and made sure it fit her properly. "Put this on. It's dusty and crowded here"

Keira nodded. She tightened her robe and held Arel's hand, walking straight to the tribe center.

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The countless merchants' shacks crowded the tribe's center. Their wares were laid out in front on rows of wooden tables, and the loud noise of haggling over prices was everywhere. Several merchants were seen standing, others leaping, and still others screaming as they tried to get the attention of passers-by so they could check on their wares. Other smaller stores lacked the most basic furniture, such as tables, and instead sold wares on big pieces of animal hide spread out on the floor. While there were many items here that Keira was unfamiliar with, she did recognize a few.

They kept browsing through many stores, taking in the vibrant energy of this place.

Walking for an unknown time until Keira finally found what she wanted. With a quick grasp on Arel's hand, she hurried to a store carrying a wide variety of rock salts.

Upon seeing salt again after a dry spell of four months, she felt as though she might burst into tears, she asked, "How much is it?"

The merchant got up out of his chair and looked at the customer. When he first laid eyes on Keira, he was frozen in place. His pupils widened in awe as he gazed upon the exquisiteness before him.

Arel struck the table to shake the merchant out of his reverie after there was no sign of him stopping staring.

"Oh, oh .. yes?." A sharp smack on the table jolted him out of his reverie, and he squinted, adjusting to reality, as he focused on the furious male who stood beside his beautiful customer.

"My mate asked you how you sell it," Arel said harshly. His eyebrows tightened, hands loomed over the table, he was ready to strike at any moment.

"S..small rock salts cost forty white cubics and L..arge rock salts cost one blue cubic" he answered. shaking with terror at Arel's ominous presence.

Keira gazed to the hulking lump of salt. This rock salt, weighing roughly a kilogram, was quite pricey considering its size.

She asked Arel, "Can we buy it?" The salt was expensive, and she wasn't sure if Arel would approve.

He patted her head and turned to the merchant. "We'll take all of it."

The merchant's eyes expanded at what Arel just said. He had initially thought this golden male to be scary, but he just revealed that he was also rich. Rapidly nodding, The merchant accepted Arel's big bag and stuffed it full of salt rocks.

Keira was stunned by the massive quantity of sodium they had just bought, which would last them for decades. She cupped her hand around Arel's ear and murmured, "Arel, it's too much.."

"It's fine. Salt isn't always available for sale" he declared, snatched the bag from the merchant and slung it over his shoulder.

'Y..yes.. Salt was not always available for sale because it had to be brought from the tribes on the Ariaqua continent also with the hardships of transportation and the distance it takes for the ocean tribe to get here," the merchant declared.

Keira nodded, remembering the map and realizing how far away the Ariaqua continent was, she could see why it was so costly.

"Thanks for clarifying that." She gave the merchant a polite gesture, left the store, and kept looking around with Arel by her side.

They continued walking until Keira decided to visit a fabric store. A variety of animal hides and textiles, including the shining silk that Arel has tailored into a camisole dress for her, were spread out on the table.

However, the amount of shining silk on display in this store was too small for an outfit, so she turned to examine the other fabrics on the table.

Digging through the heap, she found a fabric she recognized.

Arel examined for quality by touching. "This fabric is strong but not soft enough to make clothes," he commented, and Keira agreed.

The fabric that she picked up was like sackcloth. Suitable for sewing into a sack for storing food and items. She told him to buy a few pieces of it and explained that it was more ventilated than traditional methods of storing food in animal hide bags.

While they were leaving the fabric stores, Keira turned to her mate and asked, "Arel, where did you get the fabric that you made into a dress?"

"It's from the capital city of beasts. Many high quality items were sold there," he explained.

"So you're saying there are more items that I haven't seen yet?"

Arel nodded.

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Strolling by the stores, they saw a wide variety of unusual items for sale. Until a sudden flash of red light emanating from a red stone caught Keira's attention, and she quickly made her way to the source.

"Don't get too close," Arel halted her arm, "it's a monster soul."

She faced him, questioning, "Monster soul?"

"The crystal bar is what's left after a high-level monster has been killed."

"Huh? Why are they selling it? Such a gross item."

"It's a useful item for someone who shares the element with the crystal. When they consume the crystal, it boosts their elemental strength"

"Holy cow! This's incredible. But then, why did you stop me from getting closer?"

"If someone whose elemental power is incompatible with the monster's soul comes into close contact with the crystal, it will pose a risk to that person."

"Ahh, I get it now. Can you get close to it?"

Without a word, Arel made his way to the red crystal.

"Blast!" At the very moment his palm made contact with the crystal, it burst into pieces.

Keira's jaw dropped impossibly wide, as though the world has stop doing it job, she was so far shocked at what she just witnessed, and the merchant whirled to look at them.

'What?! Did my husband smash someone's product?'

"Arel, why did you do that!"

"You asked me to get closer," he answered nonchalantly.

"I asked if you could get closer or not. You can just give me a simple yes or no. I didn't ask you to touch and destroy it."

"..."

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