I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 14 Unnecessary Guilt
After speaking, DuPont realized he had misspoke and secretly blamed himself for his lack of composure. However, the barbarian butcher didn't take it seriously at all. He just glanced at DuPont's hand that was tightly gripping the hammer handle, and then understood and revealed a cruel smile.

"It's not quite the same. If you successfully launch a sneak attack and land this blow, very few novice adventurers below level 3 can withstand it. Even physically strong professionals like barbarians and warriors will be severely injured even if they don't die immediately, and they won't be able to fight back. On the other hand, if it's a tug-of-war, it will be much more difficult. If you both have weapons, it will take at least several tens of seconds to fight. There aren't many fools who will obediently put their foreheads there for you to hit."

Several farmers nearby heard this and quickly moved away.

"Is that so?" DuPont was silent for a few seconds, seemingly lost in thought, before asking, "You seem like a barbarian to me. At what age do children in your tribe typically start practicing slaughtering livestock and hunting?"

Hearing this question, the butcher took out a bottle of ale from his waist, uncorked it, took a swig, and his eyes showed a look of reminiscence: "Not necessarily, five or six, seven or eight years old? It mainly depends on whether the tribe is short of manpower. If they have a lot of prey and are in a hurry to migrate, the children will be taken by adults to practice skinning small animals with daggers, since they don't have the strength to butcher large prey. When they start hunting on their own, those with better talent awaken their professional abilities around 12 years old, since their bodies haven't fully developed and their muscles and bones are weak. For ordinary people, it's after 16 years old, after hunting a stag or a wolf, that they can declare themselves adults."

A strange look flickered in DuPont's eyes: "At what stage will they participate in tribal wars and fight with others?"

"That's not necessarily true. It mainly depends on whether the chief is planning to annex other tribes, or whether other tribes are preparing to attack us. In an emergency, even if you're not a professional, as long as you're an adult, you have to participate in the war. Your age doesn't matter." After the butcher finished speaking, he looked at DuPont with interest: "What's wrong? Feeling awkward killing an animal for the first time?"

DuPont nodded honestly: "I can't quite put my finger on it, it just feels a bit strange."

"Looks like you're probably a rich young master, that you'd actually get hung up on such a trivial matter." The butcher's tone wasn't great, but he still offered an explanation: "Guilt is mostly an unnecessary emotion that people have when they're full. You might feel strange now because you're killing less, but once you kill a few more times, you'll become indifferent to it."

DuPont's expression was quite interesting after hearing this: "Are you saying that's what those cold-blooded killers think too?"

"Of course! What's so special about killing people? Kobolds, goblins, and gnolls may be less intelligent, but they are still intelligent beings who can talk. Which famous adventurer hasn't stained their hands with the blood of hundreds of intelligent beings? They've even come up with the idea of ​​humanoid beings."

The butcher looked into DuPont's eyes as he spoke: "Killing is killing. Wild wolves will kill even newborn fawns that can't run yet without any pity, just to fill their stomachs. But these livestock are cared for from birth. They never have to struggle for food or worry about disease. When they are needed, they have to repay with their lives. Even those hateful druids won't say anything about it, because it is their fate."

DuPont nodded after hearing this. Although he still felt somewhat complicated, he no longer felt the sadness he had at the beginning.

Unlike swatting mosquitoes and flies, the ease with which he took the life of a large animal left him somewhat bewildered.

It was called a calf, but the cow actually weighed three or four hundred pounds, yet it died so easily, with just one blow.

Life is so fragile.
During his spare time, he glanced at the system panel, which displayed the information about this hunt.

You have accurately struck the calf's (creature level 1/8) weak point, dealing 16 damage. The calf has lost all its health and is dead.

You have gained 10 experience points.

After taking a few deep breaths, DuPont's hands finally stopped trembling. He returned the hammer to the butcher, picked up the slender pig-slaughtering knife beside him, and widened his eyes in surprise as he held it.

This is actually a magical weapon.

+1 Slaughter Blade
Type: Dagger

Material: Steel

Damage: 1D4+1
Damage types: piercing, slicing

Critical Hit Damage: x3
Enchantment: Enemy of the Beast, inflicts an additional 1D4 bleed damage when attacking beasts.
Value: 300 gold coins
Description: This simple and rugged dagger is exceptionally sharp and has clearly been carefully cared for. The specially lengthened handle was obviously designed to fit the owner's hand shape, making it more efficient when hunting animals.

The butcher saw DuPont's surprise and felt a little smug: "I didn't expect you to have such good taste. You didn't stay here for nothing."

DuPont nodded in agreement: "But with your physique and strength, you don't need such a powerful dagger to slaughter pigs, do you?"

Although slaughtering is a skilled job, it's something that ordinary people can do. Given how stingy the academy is, how much money could they possibly pay for it?

This barbarian's arms were almost as thick as his thighs, and when he laughed, he looked a bit like Zhang Fei from the TV series he used to see. Killing pigs or even wrestling with bears would be a piece of cake for him.

"I'm a retired adventurer, after all. Of course I have some savings. What's a little money for something I like?" The Butcher said, putting down his wine bottle. "Besides, the materials for the enchantment are my own, so they're free. The mage who did the enchantment is my former teammate, so there's no processing fee. Crafting this dagger at a good blacksmith would only cost about 5 gold coins. All things considered, it's basically free." DuPont was about to grab the dagger when the Butcher suddenly spoke up, "Wait, do you want to play something more interesting?"

"Interesting?" DuPont was a little puzzled. The butcher stepped forward and used his arms to hoist the big fat pig onto his shoulders. "Slaughtering the weak is not very interesting. I'll put this pig in the pigpen and untie it, then you can kill it."

"Hmm?" Before DuPont could speak, the butcher had already arrived and easily untied the rope from the pig's trotter: "Alright, try again. Remember to be clean and quick, and don't get the meat dirty."

DuPont glanced at the butcher, then at the pig, and quietly activated the system to use reconnaissance, cursing under his breath.

Domestic pigs (fat and robust)
Biological level: 1/4
Attributes: Strength 16, Agility 10, Constitution 15, Intelligence 2, Perception 8, Charisma 4
攻击方式：近战抵撞（1D6+2）撕咬（1D4）

Weakness: Timid

Treasure: 150 pounds or more of raw meat

Note: Domestic pigs are timid animals, but if they go berserk, even a level 1 non-combat adventurer with a weapon will have to exert considerable effort to defeat them; unarmed, they have virtually no chance of winning.

"Can I defeat this thing without using magic?" DuPont gestured with his biceps. "Without tools, even three or four farmers wouldn't be able to hold this pig down."

"Don't you have a knife?" The butcher said dismissively, having already returned to his position and picked up his wine. "Besides, domestic pigs aren't wild boars. They're not that hostile and are naturally timid. Once you're inside, you'll have plenty of time to get close to it and deliver a fatal blow. You could say they're fools who won't fight back."

DuPont keenly sensed the hidden meaning in the other person's words: "What if we don't kill it with one strike?"

"Then it might bite you." The butcher comforted DuPont, who looked troubled. "If you're really scared, you can put on a mage's armor. With that, it's unlikely it'll tear your robes. At most, it'll just knock you over a few times. Of course, if you really can't beat it, you can shamelessly use magic missiles on it. Anyway, this pig is going to be made into a dish today. Will anyone blame you for not having enough pork?"

DuPont thought to himself, "You said you're shameless to use Arcane Missiles, so how could I possibly use them? Besides, I don't even know how to use Arcane Missiles."
However, he couldn't say such things out loud. Looking at the domestic pig in the pigpen that was secretly looking around, DuPont took a deep breath to bolster his courage, picked up the dagger, and went inside.

Compared to the calf that was tied up and unable to resist before, killing this kind of prey that could fight back was much easier for him to bear.

This giant pig was stronger and more powerful than him, making it a formidable opponent for someone who lacked offensive magic.

Wait, is my thinking a bit masochistic? The easier it is to kill, the better, right?

Before DuPont could come up with a strategy, the pigpen cages were already closed, and the butcher's voice came from behind: "Don't be fooled by its fat appearance and stupid looks. It's actually quite muscular and very smart. If you get bitten, you might lose a chunk of flesh."

"Thanks for the reminder." DuPont responded verbally, but he just stood there and looked at the burly pig in front of him, his palms sweating.

His strength is only fourteen, and his body is still relatively weak recently. He definitely can't beat his opponent in a real strength contest.

Perhaps, as the barbarian said, he only had one perfect opportunity, and if he failed to kill his opponent, things could get complicated.

But can the attribute panel determine everything?

That's not necessarily true. Even when humans were still primitive, they were able to hunt saber-toothed tigers and mammoths. Their physical abilities were not necessarily stronger than those of modern humans.

So where does the difference lie?
Humans are intelligent and can use tools to make weapons. The butcher's teachings and the dagger in his hand gave him enough courage.

Although he was just a junior apprentice, it should be noted that being a butcher is a profession that any ordinary person can pursue, so there's no reason why he should be inferior to those ordinary people.

DuPont went up to him.

(End of this chapter)