After we left the sea of trees, we headed towards the nearest village.
Currently, we were crossing the deserted plain. Yue was sitting on Hajime's bike, and Shea was sitting on mine.
"Hey, Rihito what will you be doing in the human village ", Shea curiously asked.
"We will be staying there for a while to get some supplies for our journey, and most importantly. I WANT TO EAT SOMETHING OTHER THAN MONSTER MEAT! I am sick of eating monster meat every day", I disgruntled.
Hearing my yapping, from behind Hajime nodded.
"I see", Shea said with a wry smile, then she went back to hugging me.
Soon the village was visible, judging from a distance it was about 2 to 3 km ahead.
Shea Seeing the human village perked up, and said, "Woo~ it will be the first time for me to go to a human village". Hearing that I stopped my bike, "damn, I almost forgot".
Hajime also stopped his bike and asked, "What happened".
"We can't take Shea like this in the village, "In there, demihumans aren't allowed".
"That's easy to solve how about we put this on her", Hajime pulled out a metal collar from his treasure box—and then handed it to Shea.
"Put this on your neck. It's a look-alike slave collar", Hajime explains.
I look at Hajime with judging eyes. Hajime seeing my stares asked, "What".
"As I thought you were into kinky stuff after all", I nodded sagely.
Suddenly I heard 2 gunshots.
DOPANn!!DOPANn!!
Which I dodged easily.
"Hey don't point your gun at me, and don't worry I don't judge. Now put your gun down, or you will be only wasting your bullets", I said with a cheeky smile. Hajime clicked his tongue and sat on his bike.
"Hurry up, the sun will be setting soon, we need to get to the village before that", saying that he went ahead.
I looked at Shea who was fiddling with the fake slave collar, "what's wrong", I asked.
"Ah, nothing I was just observing this collar", she said with a frown.
After Shea put the collar on her neck, we then caught up with Hajime.
"..."
We stopped about 10 meters distance from the gate and put the bikes in our respective storage. From there we started to walk toward the village.
While walking I asked, "Hajime you called this a village, this place looked more like a small city than a village".
Hajime responded, "How would I know which is nearby a village or city, I know jack shit about this world. I was just guessing. It is only better for us if it is a city anyway". While walking I talked with Hajime, Shea and Yue were also discussing things, girl's things. Which Hajime and I both ignored. Then we finally reached the entrance.
There the guard stopped us and asked for our identification.
"..."
"..."
Hajime and I were trying to figure out what to do about that. I suggested I could hide everyone with illusion magic so we could get there sneakily, but Hajime rejected it. 'We might get caught later for that, so let's avoid doing that', Hajime said. Finding no other way. We then reluctantly show our status plate.
"..."
"WHAT THE HELL… all of them are over 10,000, and this one is over 20,000!!! And so many skills as well", the guard looked at us like we were some monsters. Before the situation got out of hand. We convinced the guards that we were new labyrinth explorers who were returning from a labyrinth, on our journey we fell into to pitfall trap where our companion the blond-haired and blue-haired girl had lost her status plate. Both my friend and my status plates had been damaged as well, so we now needed to replace them.
Hearing our reasoning guard gave a look of understanding, "Ah, I see so that's what happened. Then you should replace them as quickly as possible", saying he let us in.
"Wellcome to the city Brook".
We then finally entered the city.
"It's been a while since we came across such a bustling place", I said.
"Yeah, it's refreshing really", Hajime nodded.
Yue, "NN…".
I asked Hajime, "How long will we be staying here".
"Today and tomorrow, after that we need to get to Reisen Gorge, which is pretty near here", I nodded to that.
After confirming that, we then headed towards the adventurer guild.
The building was just like any RPG portrayed it, a building with people going in and out. On top of the entrance gate, there was a board with a giant sword symbol most likely the symbol of the guild.
We then entered the guild, just by entering the guild many people were eyeing us or should I say eyeing the girls with us, but the strange thing was none of the adventurers tried to harass us like the cliche in the mangas and animes.
I was disappointed, I wanted to do some face-slapping like that cultivation manwha.
Anyway, suppressing my disappointment we headed toward the reception. A plump lady with a good-natured smile was at the reception desk.
"Welcome to the adventure's guild of brook. What can I do for you", the reception lady greeted us.
Upon seeing us the reception lady reacted, "Oh my 2 handsome boys with pretty girls, it's rare to see a party like this".
"..."
Ignoring the first part, I asked, "I want to trade some materials".
The reception lady also followed along and responded, "ok, for selling right?".
"Yes", I nodded.
"Then please show me your Status plate", hearing her response Hajime asked from the side.
"Is that necessary for trading?"
"No, it's not necessary, but if you do you can sell 10% higher if you are confirmed to be an adventurer", The lady guessing something said, "Ah, are you guys' newbies".
Thinking for a moment I nodded, "Yes we are".
"Then you can register here as an adventurer. Do you want to do it together with the trade?", hearing the suggestion I looked at Hajime. He nodded back at me.
I responded back to the lady, "Please".
"Is trade also done here?" I asked.
"Yes, please take out your goods here", after getting the green light I took out a pouch from my belt and handed it to the lady.
The lady took the back and opened it, inside the bag were fangs, nails, bones, and furs. Seeing the quality of the item's lady was astonished, "These are from the monster from the sea of trees!".
Hajime asked, "Is that strange?".
In response, the lady said, "Of course, it is. A normal adventure could never get to the sea of trees, even if he/she trained for a lifetime".
"..."
The lady asked, "Are you guys sure you want to sell all this here? If you go to a large city, you will get a higher price than here".
"No, I appreciate your concern, but here is fine".
The reception lady just smiled and completed the trade, "Here you go. All of that earned you about 88700 Ruta. I have also registered you as an adventurer, and take this map of the village take it as a service".
We thanked the lady then we headed out.
Seeing us go the reception lady just smiled.
Outside we checked the map that the lady gave us. The detailed map highlighted where to purchase weapons and supplies, as well as recommended inns.
We decided to go to the recommended inn, which was conveniently located next to the guild.
We went into the inn, there was a girl in a Maid uniform clearing with the broom.
"Wellcome to the Masaka Inn", the girl who looked no more than the age of 14 greeted us.
"Hello there, we found this place in the guild book".
Upon seeing the parchment, the girl smiled, "I see, you were recommended by Catherine. How long will you be staying".
"2 days", I responded.
"Then should I prepare 2 double bedrooms for you", she said with a slight blush. Seeing both of the male guests have each girl beside them, the girl guessed they might be a couple.
Forrowing my brows I asked, "No, 1 double bedroom, and 2 single bedrooms".
The maid girl has an O shape on her face, just when the maid girl is about to agree. Shea spoke out, "Nooo!!!, I want to stay in the same room as Rihito".
"..."
"..."
"..."
Hearing Shea's words which were equivalent to a confession, I froze. I didn't know what to do at that moment. (I mean can you blame me, even in my past life I didn't have a girlfriend, and to top it off Shea Beauty was topnotch on par with Shizuku. Wait a moment why am I thinking about her in this moment?) Shaking my head. When I was about to speak, Shea took this chance to speak what was in her heart.
"Rihito, I like you, I want you, I I I AM IN LOVE WITH YOOOUUU!!!", Shea confessed blushing red to her ears.
"..."
"Noticing she still had more to say so I waited, "I've been thinking about this for a while now, and I have finally come to a conclusion, that I LOVE YOU".
Shea's straight confession had me speechless, (Shea is in love with me, but I don't remember raising any of her flags). Thinking that I looked at Shea.
Noticing my gaze Shea felt nervous.
Then I finally spoke, "Shea I am flattered hearing your confession, but I don't love you romantically".
Shea hearing my rejection instead of crying gave me a soft smile, and said, "I know, but I still want to tell you about my feelings, and now that you know. I will declare this I, Shea Haulia will not give up. I will make you fall in love with me, and this is my challenge to you."
Meanwhile, Hajime and Yue watched all this like a mellow drama.
Thud…
Suddenly someone's falling sound was heard, it came from the maid girl's direction. The maid girl fainted with a red face and rolling eyes. It seems the confession was too much to process for her.
"..."
"I think we should stop talking now", I spoke out, to which everyone nodded.
"But, how will we get the room keys", Yue asked.
Just then suddenly an older woman came from back, with a coy smile she handed us 3 keys and took the fainted girl to the back.
...
"Chapter end"
(a/n: sorry for the late chap, I have been having a few troubles and do not have enough time to write a chapter)