For the next three days, I maintained my routine. Each time I went hunting, I kept watch for high quality hides. The forests within the Walls were rich with wildlife, yet most of the creatures I encountered were small or mid sized. I had not seen any truly large beasts. Perhaps that was why Hank felt at ease allowing me to hunt alone.
Mikasa liked red. I intended to use the hide of a red fox to craft a scarf for her.
Over the past few days, I had placed Detection Talisman Cards across several areas. The feedback suggested there was a fox den beyond the Freshwater Lake and over a small hill. That would be my destination today.
I picked up my bow and arrows, slung the quiver over my back, and secured my dagger into the sheath attached to my self made Demon Hunter belt. After bidding Hank and Yato farewell, I set out in search of the fox.
On the way, I gathered several useful herbs. When I reached the lakeside, I took out the wooden container I had carved two days earlier. I arranged the herbs carefully inside and crushed them with the hilt of my dagger until they formed a thick paste. After rinsing the blade in the lake, I cut across the palm of my left hand.
Bright red blood flowed from the wound, faintly shimmering with multicolored flecks of light. It dripped into the wooden container.
The moment my blood touched the herbs, the paste dissolved rapidly, as though frost meeting flame. The liquid darkened to a deep gray. I dropped a small pebble into it, and black flames instantly ignited across its surface. I nodded in quiet approval.
I then placed two prepared sheets of stiff paper into the mixture. The liquid seeped into the fibers as if alive, staining them dark gray. A strange symbol gradually surfaced on each sheet.
The Concealment Talisman Card was complete.
Among Demon Hunters, the Concealment Talisman Card was one of the most practical tools. It proved invaluable in hunting, retreating, and avoiding unwanted attention. Those affected would subconsciously overlook the user. The effect could last for roughly half a year, depending on the strength of its creator. It could also be activated or withdrawn at will.
With it, my chances of successfully hunting the fox improved considerably.
I slid the talisman into the reserved slot in my belt, returned the wooden container to its hiding place, and watched as the cut on my palm slowly sealed itself. Once finished, I retrieved my bow and moved on.
Three hours later, my arrow pierced through the chest of a bright red fox, pinning it to the ground. The rest of the foxes scattered in panic.
I approached the fallen animal, studying it with satisfaction. I had waited for one hour and seventeen minutes for that shot. It had been clean and precise, lethal without damaging the hide. Exactly what I needed.
I hoisted the fox carcass over my shoulder and left at once. The scent of blood would draw predators, and I had no desire for unnecessary conflict. I needed to process the hide by the lake before anything else.
Crafting a scarf by ordinary means would take far too long. I would rely on magic to hasten the process. Though there was no spell designed specifically for making garments, several auxiliary spells could achieve remarkable results. The procedure was complex, but the final product would surpass any ordinary scarf.
And for Mikasa, only the best would do.
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