I have been running for hours. Through forest and plains, through lakes and rivers. Sometimes there were tall mountains but going around them was too much of a pain, so I directly scaled them.
And now, I'm in a bad state.
'You were too excited Gobuda.'
"Shut it. Aren't you flexing your strength all the same?"
Lir, who was admonishing me through my unconscious body, rubbed salt on my wounds. I got too excited and I didn't look after the mana consumption of each spell. I didn't measure Lily's mana and used a few more True Words, then I had to strain my spirit and mind to compensate the mana for the last word, then almost fainted.
In conclusion, I am in a state of lethargy as if I've pulled three all-nighters in a row which makes no sense since I've pulled 700 years of all-nighters so adding three days should only be a drop of water in the ocean.
Kidding. Though I am feeling greatly burdened.
'It was more dangerous than that! The underground flow of mana went berserk for a second, I thought everything was going to collapse!'
"I spent too many years on that for it to break just from that. I've added so many functions and upgrades so it can whether this level of accidents and more."
I stop by a city on the way and entered after being identified as a wanderer. My appearance caused a lot of commotion initially since I am a monster, but a smart guard quickly inspected me and let me in.
The first thing I did was to find an inn, but…
'Hahahaha! You have no money!'
Right, I have no money on me. I packed everything for Lily except money, and that was because I had no money. None that I can use here anyways, because the free cities at the World's Edge allows bartering, I do that all the time. It is possible thanks to the slightly primitive culture from being isolated from countries.
"Looks like I need to sell off some stuff."
I walk around the city looking for a place to sell materials. The quickest way is to sell them at the market, to anyone who needs the materials. There are places dealing with potions, herbs and weapons that are permanently in demand for materials that I can try… and I got rejected. Can't trust my abilities? You did not even see what I'm selling yet!
They normally source their materials through various guilds that is based in their city, and perhaps some trusted merchant troupe for foreign items. These caravans would be affiliated with the merchant guild so I am now looking for one.
"Dammit! What is with this city, it has nothing!"
Each city should have a small merchant guild stationed inside at least. They do local businesses that spans only a few town to keep the goods circulating, that is true even if the land has no specialities. Are we still too far from the center of civilisation, or is the economy is just that bad?
The hunters guild can't be found either, but that is normal. I don't see any dangerous zones or dangerous species breeding around here, so they have nothing to earn their keep.
"Do I really have to go there? That place filled with low level ruffians and drunkards day and night. The hellhole of society, the landfill of misfits!"
'Just call it the Adventurer's Guild. And it is not like they all adventurers are like that.'
"But the select few competent ones are always busy on a quest, while the wastrels are living on their fame even though they have no power to back it up."
'Then can't you just return while Lily plays around in the forest nearby? She can travel by herself too.'
Lir's words struck at the core of the problem. I could have terminated the soul link between me and Lily then come back again when I'm well rested.
"…But I can't do that."
'Why?'
"…I'm not really confident in re-establish the link. Lily is too far away and… the magic circle might have endured some damage."
'Didn't you say it can weather that level of accidents?!'
"It did! Just not perfectly…"
'Gobuda---!!'
"Maybe I should camp outside the city. A forest, plain or on the side of the road, I'm a professional hunter so I'm experienced in long hunting expeditions."
'Stop making excuses and go.'
"Lir, haven't you changed too much. Just before you were crying to me you know."
'Go.'
"Yes…"
It has been a long day of pointless searching. If I continue procrastinating it would be evening, and I will be sleeping out on the streets. I just want to find an inn and rest for a night.
I quickly enter the adventurers guild, a large building beside a tavern. Ignoring the people within, I walk right up to an empty reception to finish what I came for.
"I would like to sell some monster materials."
"Of course, what would you like to sell?"
"These."
I sink my hand into the desk, specifically my shadow cast under my hands, and take out a batch of golden Thunderhawk feathers. They are monsters living up the mountains back in the city, B-rank and can use the lightning magic to a degree. I shoot down any of them that inadvertently flies over the city and keep their feathers as they are good alchemical materials. They also make good quills for lightning inscriptions.
"… Yes, I will process it immediately."
She turns around to process the exchange.
Rather than the feathers, she seems more interested in the storage method I used. The place I brought them out from is the [Shadow Storage], an ability Lily learned in her time as a Shadow Slime. The space was closely bound to Lily so it's not affected by the current special interference, and from the receptionist's reaction, it's probably a pretty rare ability.
I waited silently in front of the desk.
… I don't want to jinx it, but things are going too well for today.
'Hey Lir, help me check my surrounding.' I mutter in my mind.
'You're too paranoid, Gobuda.'
'Just do it, I have a bad feeling for today.'
'Fine~… Hmm?'
After going quiet for a while, she returns with an unsettling sound.
'What's wrong?'
'There is a party returning to the guild right now, and among them is an… elf?'
'Is that a question? Can't you recognise an elf?'
A Seer that can't identify someone's race? Then why are you a Seer!
'No, that girl is definitely an elf, but she has breasts!'
'What!!'
I almost shout out loud.
An elf with breasts? Blasphemous, that doesn't exist. Elves are all flat as metal boards!
'It's real, Gobuda! Not just the chest, she even has curves at other places!'
'Impossible, that must be a Doppelganger! Did some demon remnants escape from 700 years ago? If some powerful ones survived, it's not weird for them to plot an uprising just when their strength is recovering.'
'But for one to deceive even my senses, it must be an exceedingly powerful one. How did we miss it? There's no time to discuss, they're coming. Be careful Gobuda.'
She ends her words while I stay in place, acting as if nothing happened. Soon, I hear the door opening behind me as adventurer parties starts returning from their work. I turn around like a normally curious guy to not arouse suspicion, and to take a peek at the demon-
"Huh?"
"Eh?"