Part 1
Kelan City, nestled in the eastern side of the kingdom of Lorm, is one of its three major cities.
Expansive and sprawling, Kelan surpasses Axel in size threefold, with its diverse districts standing apart.
The district that was most sticking out was the northern district with a lush marvel, adorned with farms, dense forests, and serene landscapes.
In the center of the city, atop a lush hill sits a majestic fortress palace, a symbol of Kelan's storied past.
A winding river flows through the city like lifeblood, cradling boats that glide gracefully along its shimmering waters, infusing the city with vitality.
Among rooftops and bustling streets, an elegant clock tower stands tall, a graceful reminder of time amidst daily life.
From the city's fortified walls, vigilant guards share light-hearted banter, ensuring Kelan's safety.
The bustling entrance gate welcomes a steady stream of residents, each adding to the city's vibrant energy.
Adding to Kelan's charm are the eastern mountains, their protective peaks offering a serene backdrop to bustling streets and peaceful gardens.
Currently, Old-Will and I are carrying a number of stowaways, which consist of four people to the said city. Well, no they're not actually stowaways...
First, we got a guy with short red curly hair. However, his longer back hair extended into a downward ponytail. He appeared to be around my age, perhaps eighteen, though I couldn't be certain.
His name is Dino, the leader of their party, I think.
He's clad in a black jacket and a light red vest, with a chest protector strapped across his chest.
A small, round shield are strapped In his left hand. Dark red stains of blood marred his attire.
He was bound and leaning against the wall of the carriage, and at this time he was tapping his feet and bobbing his head, as if remembering a song in his head, seemingly helping to pass the time.
Next, there is Dale, the guy also as young as Dino and me, with short neat beige hair and a relatively large build.
His robust frame is encased in iron plate armor that spans his chest, arms, knees, shoulders, and neck.
It appears he's a knight assuming a tank role, lost in a daydream as he gazes to the back at the carriage, also bound.
His armor bore numerous dents, scratches, and traces of blood, clear signs of their involvement in a fierce battle.
On the female side, we had a girl who became increasingly irritated by the rhythmic sound of Dino's footsteps as time passed. Her sensitive temperament was evident in the twitching veins on her forehead.
Alia, a mage, looked youthful—older than Megumin, but maybe around fifteen. Her loose, purple hair flowed down to her shoulders, moving gently with every motion.
Unlike most mages who wear heavy cloaks or mantles, she sports a short black jacket barely reaching her buttocks.
Beneath, a collared blouse in white and purple patterns complements her short purple and black skirt.
Despite wearing torn, ripped black stockings that cover her legs, her skin shows signs of recent wounds and abrasions, which she diligently heals with Recovery spell.
Lastly, there's Lily, a priestess attired in blue and white simple ceremonial robes.
Her long, radiant blonde hair, typically gleaming under the sun, now bears traces of blood, partially veiling her face.
She's currently unconscious, swaying with the carriage's movements as it jolts along.
Right now, they look like shit, exhausted, their bodies marked with stains and bruises, their armor dented, and their weapons stained with blood. One of them even fainted and is unconscious.
'What a mess,' I thought to myself.
But I couldn't blame them. After running from almost a hundred goblins, their current state was understandable. The fact that they were still alive seemed nothing short of miraculous.
Their party was almost perfectly balanced: they had DPS, Tank, Mage, and Healer roles covered. However, they were lacking a Stealth class and Ranger, yet their composition remained balanced overall.
As we rode in silence, I couldn't shake off my restlessness. Naturally, I decided to bring up something that had been bothering me for a while. I also hoped to lighten the mood a bit.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you guys something." I managed to get their attention with my question. "How the hell did you guys end up in that situation?"
Dino furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Is he senile? "Goblins are not uncommon, but this is the largest horde I've ever seen. There must be a hundred of them, and I've never seen that many in one horde before, especially so close to a city."
Before Dino could respond, Dale eagerly interjected with his explanation. "It's because the Goblin King has emerged."
"Goblin King?" I repeated.
"It's exactly what it sounds like," Dale explained with a mix of drama and amazement in his voice. "Not only does he lead the horde, but he has also united all the goblin settlements under his rule."
Am I the only one who finds Dale's interest in goblins strange? Well, doesnt matter.
"Our mission is to gather information about this Goblin King. His strength, army, magic, anything useful." Dale's excitement seemed almost too enthusiastic, making me wonder if he was actually a spy for the Goblin King.
"Just scouting? Why not just kill him?" I asked bluntly.
At my question, Dino scoffed. "The Goblin King?" He looked at the ground as if mocking someone—maybe himself. "You think we haven't tried?"
"And that led us to this." Alia cut in, shooting a powerful glare at her leader.
Dino silently cleared his throat. "I'm sorry... It was... my fault," He admitted regretfully, looking at Alia who looked away in disappointment.
Oh, now he finally drop his tough act.
Even though I kind of dislike Dino, for some reason, looking at his pathetic expression, I felt compelled to defend him. "But you managed to kill the King eventually, right?" Okay, that was a ridiculous question, of course he didn't.
"Well... no, I don't think so." Dino answered, his gaze drifting off.
"I... see."
"I slashed his chest, but that's it. We did manage to gather some information, though." He said without much excitement.
No, you all did manage to get out of that abomination alive.
"You know you're reckless, right?" Alia gave him a disapproving side-eye.
"I... Can't... I really am sorry, but... The bounty is just too hard to ignore... " Dino confessed. Now, that's just irresponsible.
Naturally, prioritizing rewards over the safety of their friends was not what a leader should do. A decision not befitting of a leader.
At his comment, Alia turned her head sharply towards Dino and was about to say something, but she stopped herself and then hung her head in defeat.
What? Okay, that's just strange. I expected her to be angry, for your leader to recklessly put your friends and you in danger, but it seems it's not the case.
No, it seems like Alia's reaction has something more complex than just the eyes could see.
Even Dale just watched in silence, with a melancholic expression on his face, he hesitated to say something.
Looks like they somewhat understood Dino's reasoning, albeit begrudgingly.
Finally, Alia spoke up slowly, "You almost got us killed. You almost got Lily killed. And your mindset..." Her voice cracked with emotion. "How could you tell us to abandon you? Don't mess around with me! I've said it a thousand times. If you die, it's over!"
Oh, now it's happened.
She continued, "If you died... There's no meaning for our effort... Our struggles... You fucking kidding me." Alia's words seemed to hit Dino hard as he hung his head in shame
"I'm so sorry... It's my fault," Dino repeated, filled with regret.
Even though he was apologizing to her, Dino couldn't bring himself to look at Alia. Instead, he stared at the floor as if trying to escape from his own guilt.
And the next ten minutes, it's just Alia scolding Dino about his stubbornness over killing the Goblin King.
Basically, their primary objective was to gather information for the guild's plan to raid the Goblin King's stronghold.
However, they were presented with an opportunity to kill the King during their mission. Dino attempted to strike a fatal blow but failed miserably.
Even though their chance was lost, Dino was determined to press forward. But it was too late; he realized he wouldn't be able to land another hit.
And according to their conversation, in a selfless act of sacrifice, he offered to hold off the goblin horde while the rest of his party retreated.
He knew their chances of survival were slim, but he was determined to buy them time.
However, his companions refused to leave him behind and fought alongside him. This resulted in a chaotic chase, nearly causing Lily to lose her life.
As the horde somehow got split up into two groups, most of the goblins targeted Alia and Lily because they were female, and goblins had a preference for females. To make matters worse, Lily's flowery perfume seemed to attract even more attention from the horde.
And ending the story, the two, Dino and Dale once again thanked me, this time it was surprisingly sincere.
After some time passed and the tension dissipated, their group began chatting among themselves. While Lily still lay unconscious on the carriage walls.
I initially thought about asking Alia about her sorcerer class, but for some reason, I just wasn't interested at the moment. I was exhausted from our journey, and the sudden appearance of these people had disrupted my peaceful nap.
I can't relax myself right now, despite all the fatigue accumulated over the past eight days on the road. I forcedmyself to stay awake and alert.
The more reason I don't join their exchange is because the money I get from them is sort of their last spare money, I think.
Why did I know this, you may ask, is because Alia and Dale keep repeating the words 'money' and 'how do we' in their whispers and keep shooting an eyeful to me in each whisper.
Finally, after roughly twenty minutes of uneventful riding, we reached the city gates. Keeping my promise, I let them untie themselves.
Initially, I planned for Old-will to drop them off near the entrance gate, but Dino had a different idea; he wanted to be dropped off at the Adventurer's Guild.
Old-will and I didn't agree, of course, but after some explaining from Dino, he manages to convinced us to let usthem have their ride. According to them, the Merchant Guild, Old-will's destination, had one straight path with the Adventurer's Guild.
So, we agreed to give them a ride.
After what felt like an endless journey, we finally arrived at the towering gates of Kelan City. Two armored guards stood at attention, their weapons glinting in the sunlight as they watched our approach.
On each side of the gate flew a green flag with the main design being a white horse with a feathered neck like an eagle. Behind it was a whirlpool and three yellow stars surrounding the horse, with dozens of small stars scattered in the background.
The gate inspection went smoothly, with one guard politely asking and noting our motives and business in Kelan, and our names.
As we enter the city, I'm immediately enchanted by its lively atmosphere.
Pedestrians bustle along the sidewalks, their feet moving with their own purpose and destinations as they make their way through the winding streets.
The buildings here have a distinct medieval European style, with shades of grey, blue, and green dominating the entire town.
Even the stalls that line the streets are adorned in vibrant hues of blue and green, overflowing with an array of goods and wares. The air is filled with the sounds of merchants shouting prices and bargaining with customers.
In the distance, a giant clock tower stands tall and proud, as if trying to reach up and grasp the sky.
Children play happily in the cobblestone alley, their laughter like a symphony echoing through the city.
The sun casts a warm golden glow over everything, transforming even the most mundane objects into something magical. As we make our way towards the center of the city, we come upon a picturesque hill that supports a stunning green palace.
Continuing on our path, it leads us to a serene river flowing through the city. The crystal-clear waters sparkle under the midday sun, with small boats leisurely sailing along its surface. It's a peaceful contrast to the busy cityscape surrounding us.
Before we knew it, we reached our first destination, Adventurer's Guild.
Unlike Axel's guild adventurers, this one is much larger and grander. In fact, there is even a spacious courtyard in front of its entrance. The building itself resembles more of a luxurious hotel or mansion, rising up to five floors with windows perfectly aligned both vertically and horizontally.
"Once more, Kazuma-san and Merchant-san, allow me to express my gratitude. I cannot thank you enough. It is truly fortunate that the two of you came across our party at the right time. If it weren't for you two, I don't know what might have happened to us. Again, thank you." Dino expressed his gratitude one last time before helping Lily, who was still unconscious, onto Dale's back.
I observe them gathering their belongings and quickly exiting the carriage.
Dale, who carried Lily on his back, turned to me, gave a slight bow, and then headed towards the guild.
Dino also moderately bowed in my direction before following Dale.
Alia gave me a disgusted look, but then her expression softened as if she suddenly remembered something. She turned around to address her companions before turning back to me. "Kazuma-san... Can we please have some of our money—"
But before she could finish her sentence, Dino jumped in. "Alia! I told you we're fine." He halted and turned towards us.
Dale, hearing the commotion, also stopped and watched.
It was clear what was happening.
Alia shifted her gaze towards Dino, frustration evident in her furrowed brows. "No, we're not fine! That was our three hard—!"
Approaching his mage, Dino cut her words. "I said we're fine, please... We can manage on our own, in fact we all—" He replied stubbornly. It seemed like his pride was getting in the way, not allowing him to admit defeat.
Though his demeanor is not as thick as when we first met, he still stands his ground as a leader, and I surprisingly respected that.
"I know! but it would reset our progress and—" Her voice trailed off as she tried to reason with Dino, leading them into another hushed argument.
From all that I know, After the exchange, Dino's pride and reputation were at stake. As a leader, it was crucial for him to maintain a strong image, a pride of his own.
However, I couldn't help but wonder how I would react if I were in their position. If I were alone, perhaps I would not let it go so easily like Alia did. I would fight for my unjustly taken money or seek some form of retribution.
But as a leader, the situation would be different. Dino had to consider his followers and the impact on their morale if he were to beg for mercy or restitution. It was only logical for him to repay his savior, whether it be with money or gratitude.
And in this case, the money I unjustly took from Dino was merely compensation for the debt he owed. If he were to ask for it back now, it would be like licking his own spit and admitting defeat.
As a former leader myself, I understand his feelings. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.
In conclusion, Dino could not afford to back down and appear weak in front of his party, especially after being saved by strangers on the brink of death. Or that's what I think should happen.
But to think they are this broke.
140,000 Eris may seem like a lot to them, but it paled in comparison to the amount I was about to receive from Old-Will.
Still, if it were their last bit of money, it would mean a lot even if it only extended their survival by three days.
Also, wouldn't they get paid for completing their quest about the Goblin King?
Or are they not?
At this point, I was too exhausted to care.
Reaching into my satchel, I searched through it unsteadily until I found the bag of coins given to me by Dino.
Despite their attempts to have a quiet conversation, I could still hear every word they spoke.
Not that I cared enough to listen.
"Hey purple!" Hearing me calling her, not only Alia but also Dino converted his attention to me.
"Here." I tossed the bag of coins back to them.
"He—ah?!" Alia caught it clumsily and looked at me in surprise. "What?"
Alia opened the bag, her eyes moved frantically over the contents before looking at me perplexed. "Why?"
She and Dino were both surprised by my sudden action.
On her question, I could've replied with a snarky remark like 'you mad broke' or 'that's a pity money' and such. But I didn't have the energy to engage in another argument right now, so I refrained from saying such lines.
Just hearing their voices bickering with each other was enough to stress me out.
"You don't want the money?" Instead, I tried to gaslight her a little.
"No-We need it, that—Yeah, I—We need the money... " She stuttered, struggling to put her thoughts into words but suddenly she give me a sharp bow.
"Thank you so much, we're grateful for your help." Her voice was hurried, almost panicked, as she thanked me profusely.
But quickly softened. "I know that I asked too much, it is just appropriate to repay you after you risked your lives to save me, my friends, and Lily. Even after you saved our lives, because this is our last spare bit of our money... We... I—"
She bowed deeply, searching for the right words. While Dino looked at her with a defeated expression. "Alia..."
Indeed, she had admitted that this is their last money... Well, can't blame you for acting tough back then, though, Dino guy...
With the softest tone she had ever spoken on the entire trip, she continued. "Even though we are strangers to you, thank you for helping us. We will never forget your kindness and will always be indebted to you... Thank you."
She then straightened her body, revealing a sweet smile on her face.
At her smile, I was taken aback. Never during the entire trip had I thought this girl would show me such a sincere smile.
When she smiles like that, she looks genuinely cute, to be honest.
She turned around and then walked past Dino, who was still speechless.
Dino stared at me for a while, with a solemn look on his face, before saying, "Thank you."
"Don't worry."
"I... Will forever be indebted to you." He then lent out a hand to me.
I looked at his hand and frowned, but then sighed at his gesture, reluctantly took his hand, giving him a handshake.
He smiled, a humble smile this time. Then he proceeded. "Thanks, that money might not be our last money, but it's our hard work for six entire days."
I don't know if he's telling the truth or he's just trying to cope with himself.
Six days and only one hundred Eris? Man you all better be a merchant instead at this point.
"I can't repay you right now, but if I ever see you around here, I'll make sure to get you a drink."
I was intrigued by his offer. "Sure, I'll hold you to that." I flatly replied.
Although his demeanor is not my favorite, not that I liked it in the first place.
It looks like he just wanted to show a sign of friendship between adventurers, no more and no less.
It's not like accepting his offer is a bad thing. Besides, I didn't have any expectations for them, as I planned to move into Alsforth as soon as possible.
Although I need to rest today, I have planned my next journey for tomorrow, if possible.
After their farewell, we continue to go to our next destination, Merchant Guild or Merchant Association Building, which is not that far, actually; it's just a block away from the Adventurer Guild.
After getting his money from the Merchant Guild, Old-Will will pay me in full gold coins.
I had a little bit of a chat with Old-Will before bidding my farewell to him, and then I went back to the Adventurer Guild.
Adventurer's Guild was not only the nearest place to stay, but it also doubled as a tavern, much like Axel's Adventurer's Guild.
The only noticeable difference was its size: this building resembled more of a grand hotel or casino than a simple guild headquarters.
The guild adventurer building's door is always wide open, just like we dropped Dino's party earlier.
When I stepped inside the building, the rich aroma of wood and ale greeted me.
I'm surprised by how big the main hall is, considering it's more like a hotel than a Guild. Well, it makes sense that they have such a spacious hall to accommodate all the adventurers in this city.
The hall was bustling with adventurers sharing tales of their latest quests, clinking tankards of ale, and occasional bursts of laughter. From the stage in the middle-back of the room, a trio performed a lively song, adding to the loud festive atmosphere.
From the looks of it, the guild hall was divided into two main areas: the tavern, where adventurers gathered to relax and socialize, and the business area, designated for filing quests and conducting official guild matters.
I made my way to one of the nearest counters, where the guild receptionist, a pointed-ear woman with long braided orange hair, acknowledged my presence with a nod.
From her appearance, I thought she was an elf, but her ears weren't that long, just pointed. Maybe half-elves? Yet, it's too short to be a half-elf or even an elf.
"Welcome," she greeted me with a warm smile. "How may I assist you today?"
Her voice is gentle yet commanding.
"I need a room for the night," I replied, my exhaustion evident in my voice. I glanced around the lively guild hall, taking in the sights and loud sounds of the adventurers recounting their tales of bravery and daring escapades.
Then I turned back to the receptionist with the most serious expression I could make. "A quiet one, if you have it."
The woman with pointed ears nodded understandingly. "Of course, we have a few rooms available. Let me arrange that for you."
The receptionist studied me for a moment before flipping through a ledger on the counter. "How many nights will you be staying?"
"Just one for now," I said, reaching into my coin pouch to pay for the lodging.
As I handed over a few silver coins, the receptionist's smile caught my attention. "You seem to have had quite the adventure recently," she commented.
I nodded, grateful for her understanding demeanor. "It's been a long journey. I could use a good night's rest." Despite the fact that it's only mid-day.
She handed me a key to my room and gestured towards the stairs. "Upstairs, the last door on your left. Enjoy your stay."
With a nod of thanks, I made my way upstairs.
On my way to my room, I found my stomach growling at me, reminding me that it was time for a meal.
However, I lose myself in the temptation to just collapse into the bed and release all the exhaustion that couldn't be resisted. Even I couldn't care less about the smell of sweat and dirt that clung to me right now.
The future me could deal with it; all I cared about was getting some much-needed rest.
As soon as I entered my room, I locked the door. My eyes searched for the bed, and I practically jumped onto it. Before fully settling in, I made sure to wiggle off my satchel and shoes before burying myself under the soft sheets.
With a content sigh, I closed my eyes. Embraced by soft and comforting sheets, I began my brand new journey into the realm of dreams.
Part 2
As I opened my eyes, the darkness of night surrounded me.
My body ached and protested as I sat up from the comfortable bed. It felt like I had been tossed around like a rag doll.
My throat felt dry. I swallowed hard, trying to rid myself of the sensation.
With a loud yawn and stretches that caused my joints to crack, I released some tension in my body.
Despite the haze in my mind, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of rejuvenation.
It was like being reborn, starting afresh with a brand new body and mind.
Damn, this feels good.
Once again, I let my body collapse into the bed.
Looking up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but reminisce about all the events that led me to this point.
Before I was accused of being a criminal, before I defeated The Destroyer, before I became an adventurer, before I was transported into this world, before I'm dead...
After everything that had happened, I couldn't help but question whether it was all real. I struggled to come to terms with my current situation and figure out what my next steps should be.
It had been a crazy week, getting falsely accused, traveling miles away, killing a bunch of monsters on the way, leaving my safe zone.
But even now - I still don't feel safe in this unfamiliar country.
Lost in thought, I stared up at the dark wooden ceiling for what seemed like hours. So many thoughts running through my mind—how did things end up like this? Why was I being accused of a crime after saving the town?
As much as I tried, I couldn't recall the face of the woman who had accused me. Accompanied by the guards, she forcibly arrested me.
She was the reason I was in this mess - she accused me of a crime without any evidence. If only I had known that helping save the town would lead to this, maybe I would have let the Destroyer destroy Axel.
I felt a surge of anger towards her. If I ever meet her again, somehow, I swear I will kill her.
But it quickly dissipated as fast as it spiraled.
I exhaled, relaxing my nerves.
Or maybe not, she was just doing what she was told... Then who should I blame?
That's right, there is one person left for me to blame - the noble who accused me. What was his name again? Albes? Almers? Albert?
I replayed the incident with Destroyer in my mind and finally remembered that it was because I teleported coronatite into his house. It was unfortunate - or maybe fortunate - that no one was there in the explosion. But at this point, I didn't care about their well-being.
It dawned on me that now the entire Belzerg nation could potentially see me as an enemy. Would they send guards to search for me? Hopefully not, considering how long it would take them to navigate through the monster-infested forest and reach this city.
Though I must expect the worst. We're dealing with Belzerg after all, the biggest nation on this world.
Of course, there were likely many fugitives with rewards on their heads. Surely they wouldn't be only after me, right?
In fact, back in Axel, I had seen numerous wanted posters at the Adventurer's Guild bulletin board. The bounties ranged from 100,000 Eris to a whopping 130,000,000 Eris.
I wondered if there was a bounty on my head now, after defeating Beldia for 300 million Eris. And after taking down the Destroyer, maybe an additional 100 million?
Considering I'm just a single-digit-level Adventurer back then, they likely only offer a measly 5 million on my head. Or maybe ten million?
Closing my eyes, I prayed to Eris for protection and hoped that any guards sent to hunt me would meet a slow and painful death.
When I opened my eyes, the dark wooden ceiling greeted me once again. My mind was still empty. What was I supposed to do now?
Aqua... Megumin... Darkness... Those three idiotic anomalies that betrayed me.
Those three have been on my mind for a while now. Honestly, I should've been mad and furious on how they dumped me, but in truth I kinda missed them and wonder how they are doing.
Is Aqua still racking up debt and crying while I'm gone?
Is Darkness still missing her swings? Maybe she left our party to follow her noble lineage?
And what about you, Megumin? Are you still unleashing your Explosion spell on Beldia's castle?
Though I can't really imagine they'd be taking care of themselves pretty well.
I can't help but think, why couldn't they help me that day? Just why...
It's not as if I didn't expect this outcome.
That three amoeba-for-a-brain would somehow or some way would bring unluck towards me sooner than later.
They're terrible, on their own they're incompetent. I wouldn't be surprised if they split up after I left.
A conceited Aqua, who is not only useless but does more harm than good, forces me to get into more debt and risk my life on dangerous quests that she chooses on a whim.
Megumin, who suffers from chuunibyou syndrome and completely refuses to grow as an adventurer and acquire useful skills in order to be even slightly useful in teamwork. Instead, she prefers to once again show off her AOE spell, reducing her benefit as a party member to almost zero after that.
Darkness, whose masochism is downright annoying. Even in the most tense and crucial moments, she cannot help but think about getting beatings from enemies because of her perverse whim, throwing all common sense away.
She's not capable of attacking, and the only plus from her is her protection, and even in extremely rare cases.
Darkness is a noble, so couldn't she have stopped the guards? But then again, are they even on my side now? If I were considered a criminal. As a fellow noble, she should have some obligation to arrest me.
Damnit... that could be the case. After failing to capture me, that Albert bastard may have turned his attention towards them.
They could be imprisoned or, worse, executed. I shake my head at the thought.
Or perhaps they were ordered to find me and bring me back to Belzerg by force...
That can also happen. If possible, I really don't want to fight them.
However, if the time comes, and the worst comes true, in this case, they will come to capture me.
Then, no matter my feelings, I'd confront them, defeat them and if the situation leaves me no choice, I may be forced to end their lives
Of course I don't want that to happen... Though, I've still had to be ready to be faced in such scenario.
When looking at it again, it looks like I was better on my own... not that I was overconfident with myself, the thing is I'm scared, I'm always scared. Though all I have to do is move forward. Do what I had to do, what I needed to do.
I need to become stronger, learn more skills, learn more magic. I must be ready for everything.
My thoughts were going around in circles until my empty stomach reminded me of its presence, bringing me back to reality once again.
The growling and occasional pain in my abdomen were hard to ignore.
With a loud sigh, I dragged myself out of bed, the cold floor shocking my bare feet. I stretched my body one more time, letting the airflow in my nose expand, giving me another relaxing sensation.
Not only the faint scent of the wood that greeted my nostrils, but also the reek of my sweaty body.
It's been days since I had a proper bath. And the makeshift cleaning with wet cloths at night wasn't cutting it anymore.
I'm glad I could finally take a real fresh bath. Assuming this Guild Building has a bathhouse or bathroom, that would be nice. I really hate to take a walk outside right now.
Looking outside the window, the sky was pitch black, the road was almost empty, having a few to none pedestrians walking on the side of the road. The clock tower with its lit display showed that it was almost eleven at night.
Shit, how long have I been asleep? Almost twelve hours?
With my mind made up, I undid my wrinkled grey mantle that I wore while sleeping, then folded it neatly on top of the bed.
After I finished my look and hid some of my belongings, I locked my door and went to the receptionist to ask if they had a bathroom in the adventurer guild.
The receptionist raised an eyebrow at my request, a small smile playing on her lips. "A bathroom? Well, aren't you in luck," she said, gesturing towards a door hidden behind a tapestry at the corner of the room. "Follow that hallway to the end, you'll find a surprise waiting for you."
What an unique phrasing I thought.
I thanked her and made my way towards the door she had indicated.
Right beside the door, there's what looks like a charity box with a tight opening above. There's an overwhelming writing that says "2 copper - thank you".
As simple as it looks, the dumbest of fools should understand what this box means. Honest-based entrance fee.
I'm not that petty to not spare my coins. It's just, right now I didn't have any copper coins on me, I only had silver and gold so I'm a bit hesitant to spare one.
Though, I eventually slid one silver coin, 10.000 Eris down.
It would be morally embarrassing if I don't spare my money for this. Even though no one sees me.
Pushing it open, I found myself in a narrow corridor lined with flickering torches that cast dancing shadows on the stone walls.
Along the right and left of the corridor, doors were lined up. When I took a look inside each door, one by one. It was all shower-based bathroom.
While a relaxing bath would have been preferred, beggars can't be choosers. So, I resigned myself to a cold shower.
And after finishing my shower, next, I made my way into the tavern area of the Guild.
In contrast to the business area of the guild, which was almost completely deserted, the tavern area is relatively occupied, even at this late hour.
Adventurers of all shapes and sizes filled the tables, eating, drinking, and chatting animatedly.
I decided that I'm going to sit down in one of the corners of the room, trying my best to be inconspicuous.
As soon as I took my seat, a waitress came up to me with a greeting smile. "Welcome To Adventurer's Tavern, May I take your order?" She asked politely.
"Uh, yeah, could I see the menu?"
"O-Of course." She stuttered, little bit surprised for no reason that I know of. But quickly, she handed me a brochure that she slipped in her sleeve. "Here."
"Thanks." My eyes scanned over the dishes and their prices.
Looking at the prices, money wasn't an issue for me, as I could afford every item on the menu. However, I was having trouble deciding what to order.
There were so many interesting options, from classic dishes like mashed potatoes and steak to more unique choices like skewers, and there are strange names such as Bard's Critique, Dragon Claw, No Sea Lands, or If Volcano Was Cold.
Despite their odd names, each dish had a description that sounded enticing.
They're not the worst, though, because there were more questionable choices of themes like Goblin's Sweat, Witch's Poisoned Flower, Decapitated Hand, Pallate Feline Fur.
like who in their right mind would want to order this kind of anomaly of a name? I know there's an explanation of the dish's name, but still, it's just an appetizer turn down.
Like this Goblin's Toe? Hell no. I wouldn't eat that even if they give me for free.
"If you've already decided, just raise your hand and I'll take your order." Seems like I'd been looking at the menu for too long.
"Y-Yeah."
"Well then, excuse me." She then strolled off to serve another customer.
Again, I continue to scan in the vast choice of dishes.
The thing is, after eating under-deserved quality of food in the journey.
After all the hardship and hunger that torment me in the journey, at least, I want to maximize the feeling of having my first meal after so long.
It's not about 'what do I get to eat.' It's more about 'what do I want to eat.'
Lost in thought, a voice suddenly interrupted my internal debate. "Looks like you're having some difficulty choosing."
Putting down the brochure, I lift my head to see where the voice came from.
When I looked across the table, I was speechless when I saw the person talking to me.
A pair of shiny blue eyes with caring emotion greeted me. A framing, innocent face that radiated elegance and tenderness. With a faint curve, a smile played on her lips.
Her shiny blonde hair, tied back in a casual ponytail, complemented her eyes perfectly, letting some layers of bangs roam free. Her hair shimmered under the soft lights.
Her appearance was stunning, and without meaning to, I found my gaze roaming over her body. She wore a short-sleeved white blouse that was neatly tucked in at her hips, inside her high-waisted brown skirt, revealing a nice curve.
If I were going to rate Darkness ten out of ten, only if she ever shut up, then this girl would be a nine out of ten. Her body proportion, face, hair, and breasts, maybe not as big as Darkness', but they still could satisfy a man. She is my type.
I unconsciously gulped. My heart raced and I felt my cheeks start burning.
"You are... Satou Kazuma-san right?" Realizing she was looking directly at me now, I mentally scolded myself for being so obvious. Snapping my wandering stare back into her eyes.
My mouths were open but nothing came out, my words seemed to get lost in my throat.
This was one of the downsides of being a shut-in otaku - when faced with a beautiful girl, all my social skills seemed to disappear.
I thought that after Darkness, Megumin and Aqua, the three of them ; a fine girls, I had already treats my anxiety to talks with beautiful girl, but seems like my symptoms is still there.
No, it's maybe because the three of them are not fine girls at all that they couldn't help my symptoms.
Doesn't getting an answer from me, she blushed and stammered out, "S-Seems like I've got a wrong person, I am so-sorry!" Her voice trembled in panic as she bowed deeply before abruptly turning to walk away, but I stopped her in her tracks.
My eyes widen before I call her. "Wait!" I stretch out my hand towards her.
"Y-Yeah!?" She spun her body and faced me stiffly. There was a slight fear and panic in her voice.
"N-No, you're not wrong I-I am Satou Kazuma." I explained, trying to hide any fluster in my voice, though it failed horribly as I stuttered my words.
"A-Are you?" When I take a good look at her again, somehow she looks familiar. Did we ever meet? Who is she?
"Yeah, I-" But before I finished my sentence, I stopped my words as a sense of unease washed over me.
How the hell does she know my name?
I quickly scanned the guild tavern, but my Enemy Detection skill didn't pick up any threats. So why did this stranger know my name?
"How do you know my name? Who are you?"
I almost stand up, but I refrain myself. Trying to get more information from her.
"Um... Actually, my name is Lily, Lily Lynette. You saved me earlier this morning, do you remember?" Her voice was hesitant.
"Ooah, that's you... R-Right... Of course!" My face grew warm as my voice trailed off. "I'm sorry, it's just that you look different."
How could I forget? She was the girl who had passed out on the carriage.
"Y-yeah I-I suppose. My clothes were all torn on the run... So I had to buy new ones, actually."
Without her priest attire and disheveled hair, she looked like a completely different person from the one I had rescued.
But now, dressed in clean clothes and fully conscious, she was undeniably beautiful.
"I wanted to thank you again for saving us, actually. If it weren't for you, we might not have made it out alive. I am truly grateful." She bowed to me once more.
"It was nothing, really. Don't worry about it." I waved her off and pretended to focus on the menu in my hand
"Please, don't downplay your bravery. You even returned the money we owe you... We're facing a bit of a crisis right now, so I wanted to express my gratitude once more." She bowed her head slightly once more.
"Umu y-yeah, just be careful next time." I said, a jitter was evident in my voice.
"I appreciate your kindness... Can I... sit here?" She gestured towards the seat across from me.
"S-Sure, go ahead." Make yourself comfortable, I wanted to say, but I don't want to be too familiar with her.
"Excuse me then." She took a seat across from me. "Have you decided what to order yet, Satou-san?"
"Satou... " I muttered. The way she said my name caught me off guard. No one in this world had ever called me by my last name before. "No, I... I don't know, all these dishes are new to me."
"I see... Maybe I could help you choose if you don't mind?" She smiled at me.
While she was undeniably beautiful, I found it difficult to meet her gaze.
"Sure, that'd be helpful. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Yes, actually. May I take a look at the menu?"
"Of course," I slide the menu to her. "Are you'll be ordering something as well?"
"Me? Yes, I'm going to order... Although, I'm not quite sure what to choose either, actually." Saying that, her eyes scan the menu.
"Let's see... My favorite dish would be Dablino with Enola mushroom spice porridge and Black-Neroid with ice... A nice combination, actually... " I don't know what the food she's saying but I just nodded silently at her.
"But, let's see, what do you prefer, Satou-san? A soup? A meat? Or bread and cheese, stuff like that?"
If you asked me what I want then what I really wanted was chūtoro, or maybe omurice but let's not say that.
Although I can explain it to her or request the waitress personally, it's just too complicated.
"I think any meat is fine." It's not any preference, I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"A meat... ? Let's see, I think... Oh, here, uh, well, it's a little expensive, actually." Maybe I just noticed, but she always puts 'actually' at the end of every sentence she says. Not that it bothers me.
If anything, it makes her sound cuter actually.
"Expensive? How much?" Not that I cannot afford it.
"It's thirty thousand Eris... Actually." She bitterly smiled.
Just thirty thousand?
I thought it would be on the hundred-thousand list. However, what a surprise. "What is that?"
She slid the menu to me, while pointing at the writing. "Cockatrice grilled meat, with uruf sauce. It comes with salad and black beans. The taste is kind of strong one but the black beans and salad will compensate it actually."
I studied the long-winded dish on the menu that Lily pointed out while she continued to explain. "Cockatrice meat is one of the best-tasted meats of all the meats on the menu, actually. And... Expensive, yeah, a little too expensive for me. The cockatrice itself is a rare monster after all." She was somewhat excited about the food even though she couldn't afford it.
"Have you ever tried it?"
"N-No it's a little too expensive for me, actually." she admitted with a low voice.
She forced herself to smile, then proceed. "But I can assure you it tastes good. When I was on a quest in the past, I tried some cockatrice meat and even with just salt and pepper, it had a great flavor actually..." Saying that, she looks into the space as if wondering how delicious this dish would be.
"Of course, if it's not up to your preference, I can recommend something else, actually." She nervously added.
"No." I briefly replied.
Cockatrice meat, huh? I've never had it myself. Back when I lived in Axel, they also served cockatrice dishes, but I could never afford them.
If I remember correctly, cockatrice meat used to cost around one hundred and fifty thousand Eris on Axel. Who would pay that much for food? So compared to that, this dish's price is nothing.
Okay, I've made up my mind. But before I agree to order it, an idea pops into my head. If possible, I'd like to treat her to this meal... However, I can't just blatantly say "Let me pay for your food..."
After finding the right words and gathering my courage, I tried to say:
"Would you like to try it?" The words flowed out more smoothly than I anticipated. It even surprised me. Even though I was keeping my composure, my heart was beating rapidly.
"W-What? Me? Oh, no, I don't have that kind of money with me right now actually. As much as I'd love to, I just can't afford it," she waves her hand in denial.
I know her party only has around one hundred thousand Eris, so it makes sense that she wouldn't want to spend a large portion on just one meal. But then why did she recommend this dish?
Okay Kazuma, the next sentence should be...
"Let me pay for you." It comes out easily too. So easily, in fact, that I almost pump my fist in victory but manage to stop myself.
"What? No, you really don't have to do that. I'll just stick with the Dablino mushroom so, please don't bother yourself," she looks sour.
"Come on, don't worry about it. Thirty thousand is nothing for me. I could eat this dish every day and not face any poverty for... I don't know, months?"
Sure, I could eat this every day for months, but I don't want to waste my money on the same food all the time, even if I'm staying here for a month.
But having this dish once or twice would be fine.
"No, Satou-san... It's too much for me," Lily scratches her neck and deliberately turns down my offer.
This isn't going well. We're never going to order if we keep going back and forth like this. I need to find a way to end this exchange...
"Lily... san, please don't reject my offer. In my home country, it's customary for a man to pay for his partner's food. And it'd truly hurt my pride if you turn down my offer. It feels like I'd been stripped of all my dignity."
That was a lie. Of course, there's no such custom in Japan. Even I may have exaggerated a bit. However, I can imagine it being expected of a man and a woman in a dating or romantic relationship.
Not that I've ever dated a girl myself. This is... This is not a date, though, is it?
No, If I remember correctly, this girl is dating that red guy, isn't it? I recall him mentioning it before.
"Ah-wh- no, I don't mean to insult you, but ahh... " She stumbles over her words.
"B-but we-we're just met! S-so it'd be an exception, yes-actually!?" That's a valid point. But my point still stands.
"Nevertheless, you're at my table and it's only fair for me to treat you as my guest. Please just let me pay for your meal." How does that sound? please just go with the flow...
I wanted to tell her how much money I have, so she shouldn't hold back, but that would come off as arrogant.
"Uh... " She scratched her cheek, letting out a strange noise.
"If... If you insist... it's fine then." Her shoulder slumped in defeat.
I nod and raise my hand to signal to the waiter that we're ready to order.
Part 3
At this hour, it's not surprising that the guild hall is relatively empty.
A band that was performing earlier in the day was nowhere to be seen right now.
A few adventurers are still lounging and chatting, but most have already retired for the night.
Right now, Lily and I are waiting for our food to arrive, passing the time with idle conversation.
"Are your friends not joining us?" I inquire, looking around as I said.
"Ah, No, they've already gone to sleep... It's hour eleven after all." Not that I didn't expect it though.
"I see... And what about you? Aren't you tired, too?"
"Well, about that, I just woke up an hour ago, actually."
"I see..." It makes sense assuming she was passed out since morning. "How about your wounds?"
"My wounds? They're completely healed thanks to Alia... " She said touching her shoulder where she was injured. "Thanks to you."
"That's good to hear." I nod silently and take a good look at her face. When our eyes meet, I quickly avert my gaze.
And soon our atmosphere became awkward once more.
Still, it's not like I have something to say. In fact, there's something I would like to know.
"Lily-san... " I started the conversation, my heart was pounding.
"Y-Yeah? Is something wrong?" She asked.
I shook my head "No but, I just wanted to ask." Before she could respond, I instantly asked.
"Tell me, how did you know it was me? I recall you were unconscious on the ride." I finally blurt out.
She tilts her head and thinks for a moment before answering.
"Well, that's because... your hair? I don't really know myself... My intuition? Instinct? I'm sorry, I'm just guessing, but somehow I just knew it was you. I... caught a glimpse of you back at the carriage, actually."
So she wasn't entirely unconscious during the journey. I can't remember much from this morning, it feels like a blur already. "I see... They told you about me then?"
"Yes, they described you, having black brown hair and tired green eyes."
"Tired?" I rub under my eyes to check for bags. "Am I really that tired-looking?"
"I don't really know. That's what Dino-kun said. But in my opinion... " She leans in and inspects my face closely.
I can feel my cheeks getting warm, so I look away.
"No, you actually look pretty normal, Satou-san." She said nodded to herself.
"Is that so... " I said, still looking away.
Why is she acting so familiar with me?
I thought she had a boyfriend already? Or she not?
But then again, if she's dating that Dino guy, why did he let her out at this hour?
So with that assumption, I concluded that Lily isn't dating anyone.
Well that just coping.
Regardless, I couldn't deny that she was beautiful, although I had no intention of having a relationship with Lily or something... It was just nice. Spending time with her was sure great.
Of course that's great. Who wouldn't want to spend time with a beautiful girl?
If only there were a succubus cafe in this city... now that would be truly wonderful.
Suddenly, our table shook violently. "Whoa, what do we have here?!"
A man appeared as if from nowhere, his hands planted on our table as he leaned forward.
He had blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and a quiver strapped to his back.
He wears a white-orange, light armor with his face completely red and reeks of alcohol.
At his unexpected arrival, I slightly widen my eyes, shocked.
How the hell did I not see him coming.
Where is he coming from? Not that it's because of my Enemy Detection, of course if he had no intention to be regarded as 'dangerous', it wouldn't set off my alarm.
More of the fact that I didn't see him walking to us here at all. I had a clear view of the entire guild tavern from where I was sitting. And yet, this man appeared out of nowhere without me noticing a thing... how.
Is he a Thief? Stalker? Dark Stalker? Rogue? Or even Assasin? Though he had quiver on his back, it doesn't mean he only had Archer skills.
"Lily and Di- no, not Dino! I've never seen you before, have I? Am I never seen you before!? Who the hell are you? You weren't here when the fight happened, were you? Are you new here!? Who are you!?" He frowned, inspected me from top to bottom as the words deftly came out of his alcohol-smelled mouth.
He is definitely drunk. He kind of gave Dust's vibe.
An incompetent blonde drunkards that would pick a fight with newbies.
I continued to closely watch his every move.
"He is Satou Kazuma-san, he's the one who saved my life and my party's life actually." Lily introduced me to him. Seems like they know each other.
His face lit up. "Woah—shit! really?" He shot his face at me.
I back away in reflex, his face is too close and his breath that had an alcohol smell didn't do better.
"And Satou-san, he's Francis-kun."
"Holy Shit! You really saved their lives man!? You're so cool, aren't you!? It's your first day in this city and you're already being a Hero and all. Shit man!" He took a seat next to me.
Excuse me, who told you to take a seat there?
I want to complain and get him away, but since Lily knew him, I decided not to make a fuss.
"You looks pretty reliable—Say, are you rich?" He said leaning to table.
"What?"
"How many gold do you have?"
"Why would I tell you that?"
"Just answer, okay? You're rich, right?"
"No. I'm not."
"But you had money, right?" He winked at me.
I quickly caught on to his intentions.
I sighed. "Sigh. Let me guess, Drink?"
"That's the hero! Rena-chan! One more, please!" He raised his hand and called over one of the waitresses from the main table.
"I'm not saying I'm gonna pay for you."
"Man... Come on, just this once, it won't hurt, you know, and in return, you're new here, right? I can give you some information you might want to know. I'm popular in this city, you know?" He slyly smiled.
At his proposal, I quickly huddled myself into his shoulder.
Ignoring his surprised face by my sudden action, I whispered to him, "Do you have any succubus cafe around here?"
"W-what?" He frowned, still confused.
"I said, does this city have succubi cafe, succubus dream therapy, or something like that?"
"Succubi? I don't understand." He seems genuinely confused by my question.
But I wasn't ready to give up yet. Maybe he was just trying to keep it a secret, since I was an outsider.
Yes, that had to be it.
"How familiar are you with this city?"
"I was born here, so I know it like the back of my hand." He grinned proudly.
I gulped, knowing this is 50/50 bet, I prayed for Eris half, no, third of my money if there's a succubus cafe in this city.
This is urgent. I mean, very urgent.
"Then let me ask you one more time. Do you know any succubus that provide 'sweet dreams' services in this city?"
"A succubus?" He pondered, looking up at the ceiling.
Please, I beg of you...
"Is that some kind of cake or parfait? I don't know, man. I've never heard of that food in my life." He replied with a genuine clueless eyebrows on his face.
"Ugh." With a sigh of disappointment, I released my grip on him.
How am I supposed to sleep now...
As I closed my eyes and massaged my forehead, I heard the sound of metal clinking next to me. Without even looking, I knew it was the drink Francis had ordered.
"Damn, about time! Thank you Rena-chan!" He reached for the metal tankard, but before taking a sip, he noticed my disappointment.
"Hey, what's with the long face now? Don't be like that. Maybe I don't know about this... subbucus thing, but maybe someone else has some knowledge of it."
After just watching our conversation for too long, "Subbucus?" Lily finally got involved and asked.
"Yeah, do you kn-"
Panicking, I quickly covered Francis's mouth with my hand.
"Whhht gh hhhl nn." His voice muffled inside my hand.
In any case! I couldn't let Lily know about this.
"Don't you tell anybody about this!" I shouted a whisper at him while glancing briefly at Lily, who tilted her head as if saying 'what are you guys talking about?'.
"Why not?" he muffled through my hand.
"Just don't let anybody know about this. I'll treat you one more drink okay." I knew I couldn't fully trust him to completely shut his mouth, but at least for now I needed to make sure Lily didn't find out about succubi or their nature. If she did, she would likely look at me in disgust.
Even though the chance of her knowing succubus were slim but not zero
He raised his brow, but nodded anyway.
Which then, I pull out my hand.
I shouldn't have asked about succubi cafe In the first place, but the cat was let out of the bag. There's nothing I could do about it right now.
"I understand, I understand, then, can you get out of me man I want to drink my beer, geez. Rena-chan! One more!"
He didn't even drink the first beer he had and yet he already ordered another.
"My bad." I said, backing off.
"Geez." He said before chugging his metal tankard.
As I got back into my seat, I quickly wiped my palms on the side of the wooden table. Cleaning it from the alcohol stench.
"Excuse me, here's your drink for now." A waitress arrived at our table and set two glass tankard in front of Lily and me. The liquid inside was a dark purple color, almost translucent.
"Thank you." Lily thanked the waitress, who nodded and then walked away.
Apparently this drink called Black-Neroid.
Lily seemed hesitant to touch hers, so I followed her lead and waited for our food.
"So, what's this subbucus about? Is that some kind of food or drink?" Lily asked.
Francis exchanged looks with me before answering. "I don't know, but don't worry, that was unimportant." He tried to brush it off.
Lily tilted her head, seeming to want to know more, but Francis quickly interrupted.
"More importantly! You! Tell me about yourself, Satou Kasuma!" Francis suddenly changed the topic, leaning into the wall, he took another chug of his beer before proceeded. "You look interesting. Your name and all sounds... I don't know, out of the world?"
"Out of the world... ?" I repeated, briefly widen my eyes at his unexpected guess.
That description was terrifyingly specific.
Does he know that I am a transported person from another world?
My closest assumption would be that there's some Japanese person in this city.
Is he being sent by another Japanese person? I glanced around to check my surroundings once again, but nothing seems out of the ordinary.
"Actually, I've heard your kind of name before, Kazuma-san." Lily interrupted.
"Oh yeah?" I replied.
"Y-Yeah, My friend. If I remember it was coming from a place named nihu? Nilo? Hihou? Inon? Ninnnnon?"
"Nihon." I corrected her. Nihon, Japan. A country where the sun rises.
"Nihon?" Francis repeated, also curious.
There's no mistaking it, so, there's a Japanese person out here.
"Oh yes, that! That's right, it's Nihon. My friend has the same name as you actually."
"I see..."
That's weird, a transported person? In this city? Far from the Demon King?
Why is a person transported here? Away from the Demon King's territory?
Transported or reincarnated person with cheat item supposedly participate to fight with the Demon King right?
I'm an exception of course, my case is entirely different. I'm not bringing any cheat weapons with me, the only cheat weapon that I bring to this world is my healthy normal mind complete with common sense.
But even that can't help me fight against the monsters of this world, let alone the Demon King's General.
What did you say? I don't remember having a blue pet that could heal me. What? Ressurect me?! No way! Is there even an animal that could ressurect me?
"If you don't mind, what is his name?" It's not that I really want to know, but whatever.
"It's a girl actually. Her name is Nanahoshi, Nanahoshi Sayaka."
Nanahoshi... I could say she had a beautiful name.
"I see..."
I wonder what could've driven her away from the Demon Territory.
"Perhaps you know her?"
I slightly tilted my head. "N-No, I don't think so."
"Eh... I'm sorry, it's just that I thought you knew each other because you came from the same kingdom, actually." Lily said in an apologetic tone.
"It's not a kingdom, actually." I corrected.
"Oi, you still haven't answered me!" Francis interrupted. "Where's this Nihon? I've never heard of it."
No, because there's no such place in this world. The place isn't in this world so there's no point in telling you to be honest.
"It's far far away from here... But I'm not actually coming from that place."
"Then, where are you come from?" Lily asked.
"I'm coming from... "At her question, I wanted to use any Kingdom but Belzerg, but none came to my mind besides Belzerg. Shit. "...Belzerg."
"Belzerg!?" The two of them exclaimed in unison as soon as I mentioned Belzerg.
Lily had an amazed look on her face, mouth slightly agape.
While Francis had a surprised melancholic face, a curve formed in his face, but his grin didn't reach his eyes.
What? That's normal, right? I mean, the only way to go west from this country is Belzerg, right?
I didn't understand their unnecessarily exaggerated reaction.
"What?" I looked at them back and forth.
"Say, which road did you take? Straight from the east or south?" Francis asked, leaning forward towards me.
His red eyes stared straight into my eyes. As if he was reading me.
For some reason, I wanted to answer with "south," but when I remembered the map from back then, there's no road to Belzerg on the south; only a mountain range that encapsulate Lorm from the rest of the central Continent.
That's why, I think south is a trick question.
"I came straight from the east." I briefly replied.
His grin widened before proceeded. "If that's true, then you must be go through the Death Forest, right?"
"Death forest?" I recalled, but I don't remember such a place exists.
Of course there were plenty of forests, but I didn't know their names. For example, there was the Inbetween Forest, which I hated the most, and it was filled with monsters.
"It's the forest between Belzerg Border and Lorm, the forest where the only road that connects Lorm and Belzerg is." Lily explained.
That sounds like Inbetween forest.
"You mean Inbetween forest?"
Lily and Francis briefly exchange looks, they still had that uneasy yet surprised expression. "What's wrong?"
"Inbetween forest huh... If that's what Belzerg people called it, then yes... " I wanted to say something, but I was afraid of choosing my words poorly. "Damn, did you go through it?"
I still didn't fully understand what they were so worried about. When finally, my dish of Cockatrice arrived. "Excuse me, here is your order."
"Thank you." Lily replied to the waitress, slightly lightening the mood.
"Yes, I go through it... So what?" Why were they overreacting?
And when the waitress had placed the food, we still stared at each other. Even though our food was already served, we still didn't touch it.
The aroma of the meat filled my nose, rich in spices and soft at the same time, but I didn't feel like eating it right now.
Francis is still staring at me. I feel like I've said the wrong thing. But what?
Is there a bandit over there?
Or something worse that I didn't know about that's somewhat taboo? Was being from Belzerg itself taboo?
I just couldn't understand
"I think it used to be called Dark Forest." Lily was the first to continue, while arranging the placement of her meal. Completely out of course.
"It was, back then, yeah, it's called Dark Forest." Francis proceeded. "Well, Kaz, it's just impressive. How?"
"What?" I don't understand.
"How do you go through it? That forest is full of monster, when I said full, it really is full." Francis clarified, exaggeration evident in his tone.
"I mean, yeah, of course, it's filled with monsters. So what?" I said, trying to shrug it off.
"No, like, do you realize that forest had a monster of monsters resided in it, right?"
Monster of monsters? Like, Spider Queen? Of course that thing is big, and that's the only thing that I'd want to avoid fighting at all costs.
However, Is there worse than Spider Queen that I didn't know of? Or more dangerous than that.
"Do you mean Spider Queen?"
"What? No-Yeah, one of the monsters is." Francis said.
"Is there any more dangerous creature out there?" I frowned.
"Duh! Do you know how dangerous that forest is?" he pressed.
I know it's dangerous; it's full of monsters, for crying out loud. You just asked the same fucking question.
I shook my head, slightly irritated.
Although there are many monsters in that forest ranging from goblins, undead, kobolds to giants animal-like creatures such as rabbits, ants, spiders, chickens you name it, and even chimeras, they're all could be found in that forest.
If anything, all of those monsters are more annoying than threatening.
Nevertheless, on the list of large monster species I have ever encountered, I couldn't find any, except for one monster that I really didn't want to fight, other than the Spider Queen and Skeleton Dragon, Skeleton Giant, or something which had no weakness that I couldn't destroy.
"Tell me." His face is serious. "Do you know Monster King Mammon is?" He asked with a serious expression.
Mammon what now? I've never heard of it. Old-Will and even John never mentioned it.
Yet, can he just tell me rather than ask me what this Mammon is.
"No, I do not know this Mammon. Can you just tell me about this... Mammon." I shook my head, answered truthfully.
"No shit! How the hell did you manage to go through that forest without knowing the Monster King Mammon!?" He retorted.
At his comment, I felt my brow twitch, Irritated by his comments.
Can't he just tell me who or what this Mammon is instead of going around in circles?
I feel more and more annoyed at him if he keeps passing the baton.
"Can you just tell me what Mammon is?" I asked, impatient.
"That's the Monster King, Mammon commands monsters." Ok, that's just not helpful at all.
It's like saying "Destroyer is Destroyer".
How dumb is that? Megumin's kind of dumb thing, of course.
And anyway, how many more King do I have to encounter? Demon King then Goblin King and now Mammon King? What's next? Orc King?
"Okay, then what? is that it?" I replied flatly.
"What!? Do you know what you just did?!" Okay, that's enough.
I'm done. That was the last straw. I couldn't take his beating around the bush any longer, and I didn't care about this Mammon or the forest anymore.
Instead of replying to him, I choose to pick up my fork and knife.
"Itadakimasu." With my knife, I start to cut a portion out of the meat.
Looking at my stance, Lily attempting to interrupt me. "Ka-"
But Francis quickly interrupted her instead. "Hey! Do you know how dangerou-"
"AAAAAAHHH!" I jolted my heads upward. "Shut the fuck up! NO! I don't know-and I don't care about that damned forest! I just wanted to eat my food in peace so PLEASE! just SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP-yes! How can I help you Lily?"
Without realizing it, I already climbed the chair and pointed my knife at Francis. While looking at Lily.
My breath was ragged, and everyone in the guild was now silently staring in our direction.
"A, ah, nothing, I-this! I just wanted to know that you-that I thank you!" Lily stuttered nervously.
Thank you for what? I thought. Looking back at my left. The person I was yelling at was now curled up with his back against the wall at the edge of the seat.
"Y-yes, of course, no problem." I said to Lily, quickly jumped down and sat back in my seat, trying to compose myself.
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, managing to calm myself.
When I looked at the other people in the guild, they quickly averted their gaze.
Turning to face Francis, who was still curled up in his chair, I spoke in a low tone, keeping my irritation contained. "I'm sorry, it's just that I don't know what this Mammon is, and I don't like how you keep asking the same question over and over even though I just asked. Basically, you just answer my question with another question."
He blinked twice before responding. "A-ah yeah, my bead, I should just explain to you what Mammon is, honestly." His words were a jumbled mess, but he genuinely apologized to me.
I sighed and went back to eating my meal. Even though Francis was still taken aback by my outburst, he kept looking at me while sipping his beer.
Slowly, the guild returned to its previous state before I had yelled at him.
I peacefully ate my food, savoring the deliciously sweet taste.
"I... I think that's actually impressive, Satou-san!" Lily is the one who broke the table's silence.
Swallowing my food before responding, I asked, "Impressive?"
She nodded excitedly. "The reason the forest is filled with monsters is because of Mammon the Monster King who resides there actually. He guards the forest and kills anyone who dares to enter with his monsters."
She paused briefly before continuing, her excitement growing. "For almost a year now If I remember what they say... no one has been able to pass through the forest, either entering or leaving. That's how dangerous it is... Even the strongest person in this guild won't go near it. Because of that, no one can travel between Belzerg and Lorm without going around the Dwarf mountain range in the north, which is impossible because of the climate, or going through the Death Forest, which is also dangerous..." She finished her explanation, exhaling.
She nodded to herself then proceeded. "Unfortunately, That is all I know actually."
If what she said was true, then I had just underestimated how lucky I was to make it through that forest alive.
How strong was this Monster King? If the strongest person here refused to even enter the forest...
How did I manage to make it through then? I couldn't chalk it up to luck, although I couldn't come up with any other explanation besides luck
Even bringing Old-Will and his entire carriage of goods unscathed through the forest was a miracle in itself at this point.
"So, we just—We didn't expect someone from Belzerg to make it through the Death Forest at this time. It's just really impressive actually!" Lily's eyes gleamed with admiration.
At her praise, I couldn't help but blush slightly. "I mean, we haven't met this Monster King, so... Thank you, I guess?"
"Well, as for the Monster King itself, nobody has ever seen it actually. No one has seen him or the one that still lived to tell the tale at least," She proceeded. "It's still impressive actually, The forest is filled with high-level monsters, so you must be pretty strong."
After saying that, she went back to eating her meal. Yes, the giant and chimera-like monsters were of medium level if I had to estimate.
"I see... " I had managed to defeat high-level monsters, but only on rare occasions.
Still, due to my adventurer class, it was difficult for me to level up. But in compensation, the skill points I gained from this class were considerable.
Not as much as a Wizard class, but I had acquired almost every skill available in my deck, and there were plenty more left for me to learn other skills.
After all, this adventurer class was meant to be a stepping stone for newbies before changing into another class after gaining experience and skills.
Of course, as an adventurer, I lacked the endurance and physical strength of a Warrior, the sense of a Thief, the mana capacity of a Mage, or the bow proficiency of an Archer. However, this class was highly versatile.
When I say versatile, it really is.
I could learn any skills and magic, making me highly adaptable.
Suddenly, Francis interrupted my thoughts with a loud clanking noise.
"So that's why..." he began.
"Mmm?" I responded tiredly while taking another bite of my food, raising a brow as if asking him what he wanted.
"Well, let me tell you. There's something a little odd when I look at you or when you look at me, that is." Even though I only glanced at him from the corner of my eye, he focused his eyes on mine.
"You mean?" I turned slightly towards him. I noticed that his tone is suddenly shifted, shedding the drunken slant he'd worn moments ago, taking on a more serious note.
"At first, I couldn't put my finger on it. But then it hit me - your eyes." His voice slithered forth with a slow, cunning cadence, reminiscent of a serpent poised to strike. Slowly, he closed the distance between us. "You always seem on edge, ready for a fight to break out at any moment."
"I don't understand." Although his statement was vague, I had a rough idea of what he meant.
He kept getting closer to me with each passing second; part of me wanted to push him away and eat my food in peace, but another part was curious about what he had noticed about me and his sudden shift in demeanor.
"You're restless...it's like an instinct. I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but your eyes are always moving." He said with a grin as he closed the gap between us. "Rapidly."
Basically, our faces were now only inches apart, our eyes locked in a tense gaze. His red eyes shone with something I couldn't describe, Gleaming with uncertain enthusiasm.
We stared at each other for several seconds, yet it felt like eternity.
His eyes were full of excitement, yet, unnaturally calm.
The more I see into his eyes, the more I feel his gaze going to enter my soul. As if his eyes are trying to reach me.
In the relatively quiet Guild Hall, Lily made a little worried shriek when she looked in our direction. The atmosphere grew tense around us.
Then, in a split second—
CATCH!
The movement was swift, almost too quick to comprehend. There was no killing intent, but somehow I managed to caught his hand.
His fingers clutched a small knife aimed with deadly precision at my abdomen from my blind spot. It was a precise strike, clearly intended to be deadly.
Yet I intercepted his hand, holding his wrist firmly.
KA-CHINK!
The knife that I dropped in order to catch his hand could be heard on the floor.
"Satou-san!" Lily's alarmed voice cut through the tension, prompting her to sit up abruptly from her seat.
His body and his other hand, which still clutch the beer tankard, remain steady, contrasting sharply with the hand holding the knife, demonstrating his improbable stability.
As Francis realized I had caught his hand, his grin widened, but any tension in his grip melted away, his intent lost.
"Hah! Just as I thought! Impressive!" His voice carried a cheerful tone, his grin unfaltering.
I tightened my hold on his hand and raised it, forcing him to release the knife.
It clattered loudly against the floorboards.
"Francis-kun! What are you doing!" Ignoring Lily's worried protests, I demanded another explanation from him.
"What are your intentions?" I asked, still staring into his eyes.
"I just wanted to prove my point. And I have. Done!" He maintained his smile, then with a serious tone, he proceeds. "You're aware."
I don't know if I should take his word as a compliment or an insult, nevertheless—"I don't appreciate the fact that you're trying to kill me."
"Hah! What are you saying!? You know that I know that I can't kill you." Saying that, he try to pull his arm out of my grasp. "-So if you mind? It hurts you know."
I reluctantly let go of his hand.
"Geez." He let go of his tankard and start to massage his wrist where I was holding him into.
At his comment, I just narrowed my eyes.
Aware huh? I don't really understand why he assumes that. Because if he just randomly swings a knife at every adventurer, any high-level adventurers would be able to dodge or catch his attack.
Or maybe there's something more on his gesture than just stabbing at point blank.
Nonetheless, I can't deny that this guy is dangerous. Not that I can't fight him.
My enemy detection doesn't get triggered. confirming my earlier suspicion if there was some trick up his sleeve-a skill or something similar.
Even though he had an quiver on his back, I'm not really sure If he was a pure Archer.
"Calm down, aren't you? Nothing's gonna hurt you here." He said, still smiling and leaning back against the wall, drinking his beer. He seemed entirely at ease, as if he hadn't just attempted to stab me moments ago.
He didn't even bother to retrieve the knife he had used.
Usually, every living being that somehow poses a threat or meets 'dangerous' criteria always gets alerted by my skill.
It doesn't matter if it's just a mere intention, my Enemy Detection still caught it.
While I'm pretty sure I've had my Detect Enemy active—no, my Enemy Detection is always active all the time.
It's just that he managed to somewhat hide his 'dangerous' state.
And the way his hand moves with such precision and steadiness. It intrigues me and terrifies me at the same time.
"It's rich coming from you." I said cynically as I retrieved the knife that I had dropped.
"Francis-kun... You should stop testing someone like that." It seems like this is some occasional thing that Francis did.
"Hehehe, it's fun, you know. You should try it sometimes, Lily-chan." He said, then he took a big sip from his tankard.
"There's actually no fun in harassing people." She replied.
"Sure, sure, whatever."
Honestly, even though his sudden action of trying to kill me, I'm actually not that mad.
If anything, it made me want to know how he managed to bypass my Enemy Detection.
The only conclusion I've come to is that he either has a skill or doesn't have the intention to kill me.
Though, the latter was unlikely, even a mosquito, bug, or even a child with a ball could be considered as 'enemy' if I'd classify them as dangerous.
Then that leaves out to his skill and his class.
"What is your class?" I asked him, grabbing one of the empty steel tankard. "[Create Water]."
While silently washing my dropped knife, I decided not to bother a waitress for my small inconvenience.
"Take a guess. It's pretty obvious." He said, slapping his palm onto the handle of his quiver, while drinking his beer.
If I had just met him and hadn't gotten involved with his shenanigans, then I would have assumed he's an archer.
However, the swift movement of his hand, executed with precision born of practice, combined with his ability to bypass my enemy detection...
Thieves couldn't completely hide their presence from Enemy Detection.
Rogues couldn't either.
Stalkers and Dark Stalkers could conceal their presence, but not effectively if they were attempting to kill someone. Stalking and reconnaissance were their specialties, not assassination.
So, by the process of elimination, the only answer would be "Assassin."
His brows behind the tankard were raised, though he seemed to have been expecting that I was going with this answer.
"As I thought, you don't disappoint, Hero-sama," he remarked, though his eyes widened briefly as he glanced at Lily. "B-But you're wrong!"
"Eh?! Assassin? You're an assassin!?" Lily asked, surprised.
"What are you talking about? I'm clearly an archer, can't you see?" Francis denied, his voice tinged with panic.
While it's strange on its own, I think he had his own reason to hide his identity.
"But Satou-san said you're an assassin, and you... Why did you applaud him then?" Lily tilted her head, puzzled.
"Jeez, I was just playing along, obviously lying," Francis dismissed casually.
Lily looked at me.
"What? I just thought it wouldn't be fun if I guessed correctly the first time." I replied.
"W-What? B-But he-you..." I'm sorry, Lily. Right now, I need to get on his good side.
"That's right! That's the Hero I know! You're really fun, aren't you! Say! Can I get another?" He winked, slyly grinning at me.
"Sure," I replied, though reluctantly. It wouldn't dent my wallet anyhow.
If anything, I'm curious, and if possible, I'd like to see his adventurer cards and check out his skills and attributes.
"Rena-chann!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.
Even though Lily likely realized we were downplaying the situation, she couldn't have been that oblivious.
"Y-You guys are weird... I don't understand guys at all... " She said, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head in disappointment.
We managed to brush it off eventually.