When I arrived at Camelot, I gather information as efficiently as I could. I found out that there are different races across the world, it is mainly humans, beastskins, dwarves, elves, and demons.
"What is the difference between a demon and devils?"
"I don't know!" The man in blacksmith replied to me proudly while pounding my new sword
I bought materials using the money Reese gave me and ask a blacksmith to forge something for me. A product created in front of you is better than a product that you don't know. I also learned about currency, 10 bronze coins = 1 silver coin, 100 silver coins = 1 gold coin, and 100 gold coins = 1 lotus coin. It seems every race uses the same currency but with a different economy.
"Master is there a library available in this country?" I asked
"Witches govern libraries that hold magic books and history around the world. You are lucky if you can find one. It is said that they use barriers to isolate themselves from people. If you want a storybook you can go to that bookstore over there" He pointed at the shop across the street.
After my sword is finished. I go towards the guild where quests are available. Master told me that being an adventurer can be quite profitable if you have a huge rank. By the way, Master has a name, Robert. I just called him Master because he teaches me the basics of blacksmithing. He said while laughing hard "You are strong, but I guess being a blacksmith is not a job for you! Be an adventurer instead". Art is never been my forte. My hands are trained to measure chemicals not to draw lines or create stuff. On earth, we have engineers and architects that is why when I decide to create something, I just leave them the designing and stuff.
When I arrive at the guild, I immediately register as an adventurer. They gave me a crystal ball and told me to put my hand into it. I thought they will measure my magic power but they only get my identity. It seems I am registered into this world even though I'm not part of it. While I am registering every people inside the guild glaring at me. It seems they don't like the idea of me adventuring. Then someone approaches me. A macho-man that looks like in his 30s, he is estimated 2 meters tall.
"Hey kid, do you have a death wish?! Being an adventurer means you will sacrifice your life! This is not a game you know?!" The macho-man yelled at me
"I don't have money right now and I don't even have a job. I need to be an adventurer to gain money or else I won't keep on living" I replied
"Go back to your place, don't waste your life! If not I will force you to quit being an adventurer!"
As I read his expression, I realize he doesn't want to hurt me. "He seems a good guy for me, he must have a terrible past.,... but" I muttered silently
"Sorry you can't make me quit" I smiled
"Then I'll use force!" He punches me, not with the intent to kill but just to decapitate me.
As the fist closes into me, someone catches it for me. A handsome man in his 20s, with a knight's armor. 'Geh! He is shining gold aura' I speak inside my brain.
"You shouldn't bully weak people especially your own kind!" The knight yelled
"I'm so sorry Arthur-sama" The macho-man replied while trembling
All of the people inside the guild are bowing in front of this man. Then the knight turned to me
"Are you ok? Don't fear because I am here! My name is Arthur Pendragon a knight!"
As I look into his eyes I can see it clearly. He is looking down on me, pitying me.
"Thank you, I am okay. I am busy so I'll take my leave now"
I walk towards the quest section and get a random quest. I never get to choose one and just get anything posted on the board because of hatred. 'There are 3 things I cannot stand, people who are drunk by desires, people who don't know their own place, and people who want to betray me.' I speak inside my brain. "Well, I'll just forget this happened. For now, let's avoid killing someone since I don't want to stand out. I have a world to explore after all" I muttered silently and smiled
I exited the guild while holding the quest. I read the content, it is to "Subdue 10 Horned wolves, Reward, 10 silver coin, The materials are yours". "It seems profitable considering the materials are mine. I go inside the deep forest to find the horned wolves. "I guess I can just gather them and use an AoE skill" (AOE=Area of Effect or skills that affect many individuals) My gamer spirit is rising up. "Considering this is a real-life scenario, wolves will hunt in a pack so gathering them will be easy." In-game, usually "Tanker" or someone who has a large defense and vitality will lure the mobs. "I really am treating this as a game aren't I Hahahahaha" I laugh
"HELP ME!" A figure of a girl running towards me
'I smell trouble' I muttered silently. As the girl drew closer I take a good look at her face. A beautiful elf with her long braided blonde hair. She is wearing a leather dress and shorts the same as a normal adventurer. 'a big butt and I think that's F-cup. It's bigger than Reese. Yes, I am looking at her face, AT HER FACE!'.
"You are heavily wounded what happened?" I asked her while casting healing magic towards her
"I am walking then a pack of 100 horned wolves suddenly came attacking me. I tried to fight back but they are too many. They even know synchronized attack!" She talks while suffering in pain
"I see" I speak. 'Lucky~! I smell the money!'
"You need to run! You can't handle them. Even though you can cast high-tier healing magic we can't handle them both!"
She seemed worried
I show her my guild card proudly "I'm Kamiya Rei, you can call me Rei. I'll assist you! can you still fight?"
"F-rank?! Are you kidding me? Why does an F-rank taking B-rank quests?! Well since you healed me I'll help you." She sighed
"Don't worry be happy" I smiled. My brain immediately calculated the money if we sell all the materials. My brain is screaming 'Money $$$!'
I realize that I can't use AOE magic since it can damage the materials. So my plan to lure them failed.
"So how will we fight them? Do you have a plan" She asks
"I don't have a plan just don't damage their fur!" I replied excitedly
"You are a reckless guy! thinking about money in this situation. You can only live once so you better cherish your life!"
"Don't worry about me! Hahahaha" I laugh towards her
"Let's defend each other back! Keep up with me and don't break the formation!" She told me
"Roger that!"
We defended each other back. All of the wolves surrounded us, there is no chance to run away all we can do is fight, they keep jumping towards us looking for an opening but our defense didn't falter. We are whittling them down fast but the only problem is the stamina of this elf, it seems healing magic didn't replenish her lost stamina.
"If we don't finish them fast, we will be eaten!" She yelled at me
"I guess I don't have a choice" I replied sadly
"What are you being sad about bring out your trump card!"
This is not a trump card but a martial art that Reese told me about, Dance of the Death God it's a martial art that uses scythe that culls everything but I only have a sword. I rework the martial art combining the Dance of the death god and Kendo.
"Jump as high as you could," I told her
As she jumps higher I focus all of my magic on the sword and my strength in my arm.
"Dance of the Death God Renewed: Fleeting Slash!"A black mist appeared from my body while I created a 360 pattern with my sword and exploded, creating a circle, culling the remaining wolves' heads in a blink of an eye.
"Aahh my sword broke! It's worth 1 gold but it didn't even last for 1 day" I look down and complained
"What the hell was that?! I didn't even saw it, are you sure you are an F-rank?" The elf asks
"F-rank? Is there a ranking system in being an adventurer?"
"You didn't even know that?" The elf sighed "Adventurers are ranked base on their contribution, F-rank if copper, D-rank if bronze, C-rank if iron, B-rank if platinum, A-rank for gold, and S rank for obsidian. You can determine it by the material or color of a plate. You can also get titles like dragon slayer or demon slayer." She explained
By plate, I think she means the ID
"I see" I replied. "By the way who are you?"
"Oh sorry for the late introduction!" She showed me her plate, a gold plate. "I am Autumn Ashel Leaflet an A-rank adventurer, you can call me Autumn, nice to meet you!"
'She looks dejected, Is she sad because I don't know her? I just met her.' I thought
"For now can you help me dismantle the fur? Even if they are destroyed they still worth a lot"
"Sure! Let's half the price ok?!" She asks me excitedly while we dismantle the wolves' fur
"20%!" I replied
"Half"
"30%"
"Half"
"Last deal, 40%! Take it or leave it"
"Ahhh half!!!" She asks while punching me lightly
"You are getting stubborn I need the money to travel and explore the world!" I yelled at her
"Really?! Then let's travel together!" She proposed an idea.
'It might be a good idea to travel with an A-rank adventurer but still...' I looked at her face 'she looks like an airhead' I sighed.
"What's with that reaction?! I am strong you know" She pouted while flexing her muscles.
'She really is cute...' I thought. "No, being with me is boring for you, and also exploring the world will be dangerous" I replied
"I will force myself in!!!" She yelled while pouting
"You really are a stubborn lady" I sighed "Ok, ok, you're in, just don't make unnecessary trouble in our journey. If you will" I glared at her "I'll cast a sleeping magic to you and make you float across the ocean"
I am not mad, it's just a small threat. Hehehehe a small threat!
"Eeeek you are a scary guy!" She replied
After we finished dismantling the furs. We exited the forest.
While walking I ask "By the way, where is your weapon?"
"Uhmm" while rubbing her palms embarrassed "I lost it when I'm running away from the wolves!"
'There is no way an A-rank adventurer will lose a sword.' I thought
"Are you perhaps an airhead?!" I ask
She pouted and bite me.
ðŸ’
When we arrive at the guild with Autumn, we are drawing attention, as we carry the head of the subjugated horned wolf.
"Oy is that the sword maiden?"
"What the hell is she doing with that brat?!"
"Is that the newbie adventurer earlier?!"
It seems Autumn has a title so I asked her.
"What is a Sword Maiden?"
"It is a title that can be given to someone who mastered the art of a sword! It is the same as the Sword King title" She explains proudly
"I see" I replied
"What's with that reaction again! Are you not proud of me?!" She punches me lightly
"Yeah, Yeah I'm proud of you of course" I replied
"Grrrrrr" she pouted and bit me again
As we arrive at the counter, the guild receptionist greeted us. Autumn pulled the other 9 heads of the subjugated wolves from her storage. 'Space magic is really convenient. I must force her to teach me that'
"Did he help you subjugate all of this?" The guild receptionist ask Autumn
"No, it's the opposite, he subjugated the most and I just helped him" Autumn replied
We created attention from the crowd again
"F-rank adventurer subjugated a B-rank monster?!"
"The sword maiden is lying! She must feel pity to this poor boy!"
"Yes! There is no way that brat manage to kill those by himself!"
Autumn is raging because of the comments towards me.
I patted her head and told her "Thank you for worrying about me, but you can take all the credits. I just wanted the money" I smiled at her
"But?! You will only be promoted to D-rank" She looks sad
"It is okay Hahahahaha" I laugh at her
"For completing the quest you will be promoted from F-rank to D-rank!" The guild receptionist told me and then look at Autumn "Here is your reward Sword Maiden-sama"
We exited the guild to buy materials to prepare for our next journey. Autumn approaches me looking sad
"Why did you deny all the credits? You can leap from F to C-rank without any sweat. With that, you have many privileges when traveling especially when you reach A-rank and S-rank" She explained to me sadly.
"Really? Well, it is a waste but no one will believe me anyway Hahahahahaha!" I laugh
"But?!"
"Listen to me" I pat her head "You can't force someone to change their way of thinking towards a person, if they have that kind of opinion about you, just accept it and smile" I smiled
"You really are a nice guy" She smiled towards me.
I got mesmerized by her smile. "If God is a poet, you are the most beautiful poem that was created" those words slip from my mouth.
"What?" She blushed.
I know she heard it. "Nevermind" I smiled towards her
ðŸ’
After 2 days of staying in Camelot, taking in quests, saving money, buying materials needed, and getting a new weapon, we are ready to depart towards the next town where beastkins and humans reside. Autumn bought a wagon where 8 people can fit, including the coachman
"Why the hell did you bought that expensive-looking wagon?!" I yelled at her
"I'm sorry, I thought you will be happy if I bought it" She sobs
"Of course I am not! There are only 2 of us and you bought a big wagon that can fit 8 people!"
"I'm sorry"
"How much is it?"
"1 lotus coin" She cried
"That is pretty much our income!" I scratch my head, I forgot this girl is an airhead "Well, what done is done, just forget about it. I'm not really mad, but if you will do it again. I will be!" I patted her head
"You're really a nice guy!" She wipes her tears and smiled
ðŸ’
It is afternoon and we are planning to camp in the middle of a forest with a river. I test the river if it is clean and check the surroundings. Since Autumn used mostly our income, we need to secure more food to survive for 4 days to arrive at the City of Fableis that separates the human kingdom and the beast kingdom. When I'm hunting for food and Autumn are setting up the campfire, I felt a presence that is following me. 'I think it is a bandit' I thought. I returned with the food. After that, we cook the food under the starry night sitting in a log.
"This is really a beautiful world isn't it?" Autumn talks to me with a lonely expression
"Yes, but the food is disgusting" I replied
"Hahahahaha of course it is disgusting, there are not many spices that are discovered in this world compared to our world"
I realize something. She used 'our world' so I asked her. "Our world? Are you from another world?"
She flustered "Ooops it slipped Tee-hee"
"No wonder your sword arts is the same as mine. you use kendo don't you?"
"You're really a dense man Rei, you don't even realize it yet?" She pouted
"Realize what?"
She looks up at the starry sky and said "Do you believe in a world of a happy ending?"
At that moment I don't even know what expression I'm making. My eyes suddenly burst into tears, my heart, aches. I don't know this feeling, I never felt this way before. It seems my emotion started to overflow.
I said in a low voice "Yasuda Aki?"
As she smiled towards me while her eyes were covered in tears "We meet again Rei" She showed an expression of loneliness being quench. She must have been lonely when she arrived in this world.
I hug her and ask her "Are you happy in this world?"
"All I can say is I'm thankful for this new life I'm living" She replied to me while crying
"That's all I need to know! I'm glad to meet you again. I wanted to say sorry for not saving you!"
"No, it's not your fault" She sobs "It is my fault for being a coward"
"I see. To think I get to reunite with you in this world. This kismet's a dance" I smiled while I hug her tighter this time and release her.
"I'm also glad!" She wipes her tears "Did you die on earth?"
"No, I got summoned by something and arrived in this world"
"You see, when I died on earth, I reincarnated in this world as an elf, I thought I will have another shitty life but everyone in my family, in the elf kingdom, is nice. I learned the language being used in this world and trained my body to become strong. I work so hard you know!"
"I'm glad. I don't know how I can understand the language in this world and how they can understand me. I didn't take even a single lesson" I smiled at her
"Well it is the normal isekai plot in Anime in Japan" She laughs and continues to explain "A mysterious voice spoke to me, she said "Go to Camelot", then I have an urge that something is big in Camelot so I obeyed. When I arrive in the forest, I was chased by the pack of wolves and then I met you. You have now a younger face and body, yet my heart still remembers you. My real name is Ashel Leaflet, I just put "Autumn" hoping that you will remember me"
'What a terrible pun hahaha.' I laugh 'It must be the same voice that talks to me.' I thought but never questioned her to not kill the mood
"No wonder you are so attached to me, you even force yourself in my journey," I said teasingly
"You're a dense man Rei! Bleh!" She's making fun of me
"How can I know if you have a different face and voice, you airhead!" I sighed
She pouted and bite me. When we are laughing an arrow almost hits the nape of Aki, gladly I catch it before it hits. I throw a light ball not to attack but to illuminate the forest. When it illuminated I found a group of 20 bandits surrounding us.
"Don't worry Aki, I mean Autumn, I will protect you" I throw a fireball exploding inside the forest. It almost wipes the forest along with the bandits but 3 of them escapes. I mark their souls using "Soul Mark" which Reese teach me.
"You really don't know how to hold back, don't you? This is clearly deforestation. and also you can just call me Aki" She laughs
"Hold back? I did hold back. That's just a normal fireball" I replied
"Really?!" She is shocked "Well you're really strong in this world Rei! I'm counting on you!"
"I'm just an average human"
"Let's leave it like that!" She smiled
I reflect must on my action, I should really lower the magic power I throw. If another person will see it, they probably will have a wrong idea about me and I will stand out. When morning arrives, I told Aki that I will be tracking down the bandits who escaped last night.
"How did you track them?" Aki asks
"Soul tracking. If I concentrated, I can sense a thread of light towards the people I mark" I replied
"You really have convenient skills, where did you learn spells like that?"
"Let's continue this later in our trip, follow me, I don't like the idea of letting the bandits go. They might kill someone later if we let them live"
"Ok!" Aki replied
As we jump from trees to trees, we arrive at the bandit hideout and saw something horrible. I found a fox beastwoman imprisoned.
"It seemed like illegal slave trading to me," Aki told me
"So there is slavery in this world?" I ask
"Yes, those people who don't have enough money and cannot sustain their family or their own life, will be forced into slavery. For that girl's case, she might have captured by the bandits and will be sold to those filthy pigs"
Aki is showing an angry expression. She must really hate slavery. In this world without human rights, slavery is normal but for us from a world with human rights, that is really a filthy sight to behold.
"Filthy pigs? you mean those nobles?" I ask
"Yes, some nobles tend to buy slaves for their own desires. Even a child will be forced into labor, what's worst is that they will be forced to become a sex doll. That is why bandits will gain their income by capturing helpless women and child"
"That's really bad. Thinking about it, I'm glad you're safe Aki" I smiled
She blushed "Well, I'm strong you know!"
We raided the bandit's hideout. I didn't use magic because it might endanger the life of that fox beastwoman so I only use a sword. Aki will handle the left, while I handle the right where the fox beastwoman is imprisoned. They were caught off guard so they didn't react in time. Before they can begin their counter-attack, We already finish all of them without leaving a single one alive. I release the fox beastwoman, who seemed to be a teenager, malnourished and full of bruises. She has long black silky hair with a collar on her neck. She has the trait of a beastkins and has fox ears in her head and dark blue eyes. Her clothes are ragged and destroyed.
"Are you okay? Did they do anything bad to you?" I ask then cast a healing magic
"Nothi-" The fox beastwoman collapsed from hunger
I carry her with Aki towards our camp and cooked food for her. When she wakes up, she was scared and surprised. She jumps and does a fighting pose. When she realized her body is able to move lightly, she looks at her body. "All the bruises are gone" She muttered but she is still malnourished.
Aki approaches her slowly "Don't worry, we are not the bad guys, you are safe now. Do you remember your name? My name is Ashel Leaflet, I'm an adventurer" Aki showed her guild plate
While bringing the food portion for her I also introduce myself. "I am Kamiya Rei, also an adventurer"
"Kamiya Rei? You have a weird name. My name is Casandra Fislow"
Her voice is really heartwarming
"Casandra Fislow? Are you perhaps the daughter of the demon lord Aishalem Fislow? How did the bandits catch you?" Aki asks
"Yes, my mother is indeed a demon lord but still she is the kindest and the prettiest person in this world!" She proudly describes her mother
When I look at her in her eyes, I could tell she is not lying 'What the hell is the daughter of the last boss doing here?' I muttered silently
She continues to explain "When I and my mother was enjoying the scenery, we got separated because of an ambush by unknown people. I got lost in the forest, and those bandits found me. They thought they will help me but suddenly someone cast sleeping magic on me and put on this collar." she cried and continued the story while tears are flowing in her eyes "When I wake up I found myself locked up in a room with someone, we kill time by talking together but one day some bandits do bad things to her in front of me and drag her outside the room. She never came back. As I think that I could be next, I keep crying but then you save me" She smiled with tears
I comforted her, that is all I could do for this poor girl. "Some humans really are the worst existence" I muttered
When I turned at Aki, she is full of tears flowing in her eyes, even her nose is full of snot "You have it hard. You've done a good job surviving!"
I give Aki a piece of cloth "Wipe your face, you airhead!"
"Shut up!" Aki replied while crying
I turned to Casandra and ask "Can I call you Casandra? You can call me Rei and you call her Aki. So what do you plan right now? Do you want to go back to your mother?"
"Yes, I want to gack to my mother! I'm begging you, help me please!" she cried again while grabbing my shirt
I look at Aki and she nodded. I cannot let her be since I don't like the idea of a rampaging demon lord because of her missing daughter. It seems we will have a clear destination this time. I gave Casandra the map and ask her the place where they live.
"Here! I remember it well! This is the place, please help me!" She pointed out a place on the map.
"The capital of the Beast kingdom, The City of Animalia, I see. After we arrive at the border city of Flabeis we will go southwest, we will avoid this huge mountain and go north from there. Animalia is located in the centermost part of the kingdom. This may take longer but this is the most efficient" I explained the route and added "I promise to take you home Casandra" and smiled at her
She blushed "T-Thank you very much Rei-san!" and smiled
'Who is the scums that abuses this poor girl, I'll kill them 100 times!!!' I thought and look at Aki. She is pouting.
"What is wrong with you? Are you ok?" I ask her
"Nothing! You idiot!" She pouts and averts her eyes
'What the hell is wrong with this girl I cannot read her expression at all!' I thought and sighed
"Ok, Let's start our journey tomorrow, sleep well!" I said
"Ok!" They both agreed
When morning came we continued our journey while killing magic beasts, collecting their materials and meat. I ask Casandra how to remove the collar but she doesn't know, even Aki doesn't know.
"I don't know how to remove a slave collar but there is a way to remove it. We must gather information" Aki added
Aki teaches Casandra martial arts while I teach her some basic magic to protect herself. After 2 days we arrive at the border City of Fableis in the early morning where beastkin and humans reside. We gather information on how to remove the slave collar but we didn't get a single piece of information. Then a voice suddenly appeared
"It's almost time we meet Rei, you already have a touching reunion with your beloved. Go to the south of Fableis, follow the river and you will arrive at my place. I'm excited to see you Rei!" The voice said teasingly
It seems Aki heard it too, but not Casandra
"We will have a little detour," I said
"You want to follow that voice? It seems like a trap. A honey trap" She pouted
"What the hell are you talking about"
"What is a honey trap?" Casandra ask
"You don't need to know" I replied
It seems I'm finally meeting that mysterious voice of a woman. All of my curiosity will be answered by that woman. "I'm looking forward to it" I muttered silently