After running for a few minutes, I've arrived at the nearby city of Koto.
I went to a secluded area in the treeline of the forest, away from potential prying eyes, and transformed back into an elf.
As always, the line to enter this city is long. Well, not for me, as my family and I are citizens that live outside the walls. I have a fast pass to the front of the line.
The visiting merchants, foreign adventurers, and immigrants gave me a glare. Whatever, not my fault I was responsible and gained a citizenship like a responsible person.
I make my way to the third guard posted outside the gate. The other two guards were busy inspecting the people in line.
Since this is the east, the guards look like cool armored samurais.
Valister: "Heya, Takeo-san! How's the family?"
Takeo is a man of average human height (5'8") and above average looks with black hair and kind green eyes
Takeo: "Oh, greetings Valister-san. Yes, my family is doing just fine! My little daughter just started to walk yesterday!"
Valister: "Heh, that's nice. I hope to someday experience the same thing with my future child."
I gave him a friendly smile, while patting his shoulder. What a good father.
Takeo: "Haha, your too young to think about that now 'Little Val'! You got to travel around while in your youth, and mess around a little! Otherwise you'll regret it when your old and weak."
'Little Val' is a nickname given to me by some of my mom's adventurer buddies. The only reason it stuck is because I was very short until last the year and a half ago. Let me tell you growing that quickly hurts your joints. I'm a Demigod though, so it didn't hurt as much as I thought.
Valister: "Hey, Im not little anymore, I'm taller than you."
Takeo: "Yes, you are. Much to the jealousy of almost every man in the city. As expected of an elf."
Valister: "Heh, well, I'm gonna head in and 'mess around' like you said. I gotta get home by sundown."
I hand Takeo-san my ID plate, say goodbye, and enter Koto City.
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The City of Koto is the second largest city located southwest of The Empire of Yami's capital, the City of Yamaha.
Koto is run by the Emperor's brother, Yami Setsuo no Taiyō.
Oddly enough, despite this empire being similar to... Japan I think it's called? This country uses traditionally western noble titles, like duke and baron.
(A/N: MC might not remember much, but he managed to retain some things that had left a large imprint in his mind, like anime, medieval history and Japan.)
Koto is most famous for its blacksmiths and ore deposits. That's why the lines are long with merchants looking for business, adventurers looking for good paying quests, and immigrants looking for job opportunities.
Mom told me to enjoy myself, but I came here with no plans in particular. I guess I'll just sight see a little.
Walking down the main street, I see alot of food stalls and other stalls selling trinkets to tourists. I'm not gonna eat too much as mom is cooking delicious cow beef and hunger will make it even more delicious.
I then spot a sign with a hammer and anvil sticking out from the wall of a building. A blacksmith shop. Maybe I'll spend a little time looking at weapons.
I enter the shop and I'm greeted by a pretty girl from behind the counter.
Clerk: "Hello and welcome to Arms and Armors! My name is Haruno Tsuyu, but you can just call me Yuuchan! If you have any questions or if you want recommendations, just ask me!"
Valister: "Ah, yes. Thank you."
I gave her a nod and smile in response to her enthusiasm.
*Sniff sniff*
She's letting off the peculiar scent. One that I'm all too familiar with. Lust. Only very slightly though. About the amount a girl would get seeing a some hot guy pass by. Like 'Jeez, he's hot' then she goes back to her business and forgets the next day. Basically just low level curiosity of a good looking stranger. I'm familiar with it since it has a similar scent to animals who are in heat. I especially smell it further north from where I am. It's probably the red light district.
....
Maybe I'll make my way there in the future. I wasn't given enough money for a round with a wench after all. Maybe enough for a blow, but I'd rather go all the way since I'm sure I wouldn't be satisfied. I should know. A growing teenager needs to let loose by himself sometimes.
And those times take nearly a fourth of a day. No way just one blow would do me any good.
Anyways, back to the weapons in the shop.
Not much other types of swords besides the broad sword I was trained with interest me. Maybe Katanas, but I've seen so many now, it's lost most of it's charm.
Blunt weapons as well. I can just use my enhanced strength and punch people with a metal gauntlet on.
I continue to look around until I spot it on the wall behind the counter.
Soft armor.
Yes it's called soft armor, but contrary to that name it's not at all soft. Depending on what material it's made of and what enchantments its endowed with, soft armor can be as hard as iron to as tough as orichalcum.
It can stretch pretty far and is mostly used by state mages (mages hired by the country) due to it's ease of movement and because they are rich enough to buy it. Not to say only state mages can buy them, since successful adventurers are seen wearing them, but because it requires some magic to make it work. Imbuing magic into it causes it to work as intended, a protective armor. Otherwise it's just a piece of cloth without magic. This particular armor looks similar to a wetsuit.
I was interested in the weapons and armor in this world so I read alot of books at home and in the city library when I would visit with my mom.
I walk up to Yuuchan and ask her about the armor.
Valister: "Hey, us that soft armor for sale?"
Yuuchan: "Huh? Ah, I apologize, dear customer, it's already been ordered by someone else. We are using it to advertise our line of soft armors, but since this one is the only one that's ready, it's still being displayed."
Valister: "Ah, it's fine... I guess. I'll just buy this then."
I show her a small copper necklace. I grabbed it while I was looking around. The label said it's a basic low defense charm. Since I don't have any armor, this is a start. I don't have much money after all.
Yuuchan: "Yes! That'll be 60 ryō."
I hand her the 60 ryō, and say goodbye with a smile to the pretty girl, and leave the shop. That scent became slightly stronger after I smiled. Maybe she won't forget this stranger after a day?
Ryō is the currency in this empire.
Basically, it consists of the basic copper, silver, and gold style with 1 ryō being one copper, 100 ryō is one silver, and 1000 ryō is one gold. One meal from a decent restaurant in this city costs 20 ryō.
(A/N: 1 ryō = 1 USD)
Making my way downtown, I wander aimlessly, pick up a meat skewer from a food stall, then sit down on a bench close to the Adventurer's Guild.
I like people watching. More specifically, adventurer watching.
Since this big city attracts lots of good quest alot of high ranking adventurers pass by. Alot of them look so cool. One group I can see has are largely built man wearing glorious full plate silver armor, a giant tower shield, and a large studded mace. His other buddies next to him are a rogue like person with a beautiful ornate dagger on his hip, a mage woman wearing a typical mage hat, and tight fitting soft armor in the shape of a leotard, and a priest looking girl wearing shrine maiden clothes while holding a skinny staff.
That sexy mage has lightning coming out of the amulet she's wearing. She's a lightning mage! Damn I want to learn lightning magic. I hope I have the potential to do so.
I've heard of them before. They're the top party in this town and the fifth overall in the Yami Empire.
Adventurers look as awesome as always. Well the male ones at least. Alot of the women ones wear clothes that are alot more sexier rather than awesome. It's not that they show alot of skin, but because most of them are wearing soft armor which shows off there curves.
I'm fine with that. I like my eye candy.
But enough of this. I should be going home now, the sun is starting to set.
I stand up and start to leave towards the gates.
What a boring day.