"Hey kid! what kind of things are you looking for?"
an old man with a wrinkle on his face holding a knife in his right hand and a fish in the other hand called for Anon who is walking down the market.
"Here, young man, take a free taste of this."
"Maybe you want some of this."
"Come here man, take a look at this."
"Check this out."
"I got here a...."
Anon was mobbed by the vendors and quickly moved out of the place.
he was walking while sightseeing when a young girl suddenly bumped into his shoulder, He quickly apologized. seeing the girl in front of him, something snaps from his mind.
That's right, I don't have enough knowledge of this world. I think I should start from the beginning. I must find an academy, but is there even a school in this world? maybe I should find a way to know the history of this world, I need to adapt to the norm.
After a long awkward silence, the girl also apologizes to Anon.
while the girl was turning around and putting back her hood he grabbed her arm, the young girl was surprised.
"U-Uhm, you're beautiful." Anon pretended to be shy.
"....."
the girl didn't reply, she was obviously blushing while rubbing her thigh against her other thigh.
Anon noticed something, he was a little bit embarrassed.
"Uh, I'm sorry for taking some of your precious time, you may go now."
'surely, she is about to pee herself.'
"Thank you."
Anon face palmed himself. it was awkward. he was planning to talk with the girl to ask for information regarding the academy, but it turns out to be an embarrassing moment.
he then continued his walk until he got to a place with more crowds present.
it was a huge area
'this must be the center of the town.'
Anon was amazed, he may have seen a place like this from the fantasy game overlord but he never experienced it as lively as it is right now.
This place is full of life, it hypes him up. he played the Overlord from the day it got released because he once dreamed of being in a place like this.
he was genuinely happy.
"Hey, man."
a young man that looks about 18 of age, cuts off his moment.
"It seems like you are new to this place."
Anon saw a guy that with tattered shirt, greasy pants and messy hair.
"I can show you around if you like."
"Sorry but, I don't have money to pay.."
the guy cut him in before he can finish his words.
"Don't worry, you don't have to pay me, you just need to follow me."
there is no reason to refuse the offer so Anon willingly followed his tour guide.
_ _ _ _ _
"Then this is the place where the noble family of this town lives."
'You can really say that this is a noble's residence, there are lots of guards from the gate.'
the guy named Ricky Astoley brought Anon to different places, they walked around the town until dusk.
"There is one more question I wanted to ask Ricky."
"Sure, feel free to ask."
"Is there an academy in this town?"
"Academy? ahh, the place where the nobles study and learn swordsmanship and magic?"
"Yes but, what do you mean by the nobles?"
"Well people say that it is hard to get into the academy if you are not a noble or from a rich family. but they say that anyone can enter the academy if the person is talented."
"Where can I find this academy?"
"Ah that... I cannot answer. all I know is that there is no academy in this town."
"Oh don't worry yourself, thank you for your assistance today."
"haha, No problem."
"By the way, why did you give me a free tour around the town?"
"Uhm,..I-uh, I just want to make some friends."
"But why?"
"You see, being from the slums makes us looks dirty and filthy."
"So you don't have many friends?"
"It's not like that, the truth is, I don't have any friends."
"So you're always alone when walking down these streets?"
"Yes, then I saw you earlier so I thought you will accept my offer."
"What if I didn't take your offer?"
"Well that's sad but I understand that no one wants to get acquainted with someone like me."
'This is sad, he is living a lonely life.'
"Can you bring me to a weapon shop?" Anon tries to change the topic.
"Yeah sure, sometimes when I get bored I go to that place, and there, I sit and watch the mercenaries who passes by."
'that was smooth.'
Ricky continued his stories until they arrived at the entrance of the district.
"Here we are, the weaponry district."
"Woah."
"Pretty cool right?"
ABSOLUTELY!!
is what Anon wants to say.
'This place is like the scene from the Isekai anime that I love.'
The stunning scenery was laid in the eyes of Anon.
people with swords, staffs, and other kinds of weapons are walking down the road that was under the sunset. there are lanterns across the street as a streetlight, busy people are looking for weapons and a group of people communicating on the side of the road.
"Anon?" Ricky thought that Anon was acting like a child.
Anon was awestricken by the view
"I'm sorry Ricky, I got amazed."
He feels like he's dreaming.
after coming to this world all of a sudden, he never felt it this real.
but right now...
"You seem to be very happy Anon."
"Yeah, I am Ricky, thank you for bringing me here."
"No, you don't have to thank me, I just brought you here because you asked me to."
"Well, before I forget, can you show me the most famous shop here?"
"Yeah come with me."
after a while, they arrived at the front door of a shop called Glenis.
"Can you wait for me here Ricky?"
"Sure." after looking for a spot, Ricky pointed at it, "I'll be there after you're done."
"Okay."
Anon entered the shop...
then after some moments...
"Sorry to say this now Ricky but I got to go, here take this."
Anon threw a sock of coins towards Ricky.
"What is this?"
"That's your reward for being such a nice guy."
Ricky checked what was inside the sock.
"But... "
without giving Ricky the chance to say thank you, Anon left the crowded place without Ricky noticing...
_ _ _ _ _
Inside the Glenis shop.
"Father! father! where are you, father?"
"Hey, hey, what's the fuss?"
"Take a look at this orb father, Hurry!" the young man that made the deal with Anon was so excited to show his father the orb that he just got.
His father, Glenis was confused about his actions right now.
the young man handed over the orb to his father.
"Quickly appraise it, father."
[item appraisal] is a skill used by businessmen to check information about an item.
Glenis, who just used [item appraisal] on the orb that was handed to him by his son was astonished.
"Where in the pits of hell did you get this?"
"It was sold to me by a man with brown leather clothes just now."
"Where is he, bring me to him, NOW!"
"But he already left after I paid him."
"Let's just go!"
they both rushed outside the shop but, they cannot see the man around. so they just go inside again.
"How much did you buy this?"
"50 golds"
"He sold this for 50 golds?"
"Yes he said he has no idea of its value, so I assumed he just wanted to hand it over to someone."
"Good lord! we can sell this and double the price, this is worth a fortune for us."
50 golds are by no means a small amount of money, you can live a luxurious life for a whole year with it.
_ _ _ _ _
'is it enough? maybe I should have given him 5 more golds.'
Anon was walking towards the gate to the north part of the maple town. when suddenly, one of the three men guarding the gate blocked his way.
"Where are you headed to?"
"I am heading to the city of Farmas." Anon replied.
"With just yourself, tonight?"
"Yes."
"Without any protection."
"Yes. is there something wrong?"
"Lemme tell you this, kid, not because you will be traveling inside the border of the empire means that you are safe everywhere, there are a lot of bandits outside of the city that is in hiding, so if you wish to go to another city or town, I suggest that you find a way to protect yourself, or hire a group of mercenary to escort you."
"But if I insist on leaving the town right now, will you let me go?"
"Of course, it is still your choice, we just wanted to make sure that you can reach your destination as safe as you can be."
"Thank you for your concern sir, I'll be on my way now."
"Wait!"
A voice of a girl suddenly came out of nowhere.
Anon turned around to see where the voice came from, then the town guards bowed their heads to greet the person who is coming out from a fanciful carriage.
He saw the same girl that bumped into him this morning.
"Are you really going to the city of farmas?" the girl spoke first
"Yes."
then the guard cuts in to their conversation even before they could start.
"Sorry for the interruption lady Lilia, but, are you acquainted with this man?"
"Yes, he is a friend."
"A friend?" Anon unconsciously asked out of confusion.
Lilia grabbed his hand and pulled him into the carriage,
"Come with me then."
Inside the carriage.
"Why did you pull me inside?"
"I didn't have the chance to properly thank you for your compliment earlier."
"Huh? is it just because of that?"
"Yes, and of course, because I saw you walking towards the gate when the guards blocked your way."
"So you were spying on me?"
"N-no I didn't mean to overhear your conversation, b-but, anyway, hey you're going to the farmas city right? just treat this as a token of appreciation for your compliment earlier this morning."
Lilia awkwardly changed the topic.
"So you're the type of girl that likes compliments huh?"
"U-uh, of course not! haha, it just happen that I like you... no I mean it just happens that I uh, I'm in a good mood when you tell me that kind of thing.. yes that's right, that is what happened."
"Mhm, so tell me, who are you exactly? the guards called you lady Lilia but I have no idea about you."
"I am Lilia Cour de Vou, the daughter of the great Earl Lilo."
"Hoh, so you're a noble of the empire?"
"Yes, and normally I.."
Anon didn't let her finish her words,
"You're a noble, so why are you outside earlier without any bodyguard?"
"I-its because uh-."
"Perhaps, you're a rebellious type of daughter?"
"NOO! it is just that, how should I start? wait, you haven't told me your name yet."
"My name is Anon."
"Aaand?"
"And what?"
"Nothing, I'll just start my story."
And the story of Lilia Cour de Vou, of the maple town, has started...