As I pick up speed down the hell slide, I see a glimmer of light ahead. I approach and pass it, then I realize it's like a white neon ring around the inside of the chute. I continue accelerating down the chute and pass more white rings with greater and greater frequency, until they blend into a dull white light.
The light continues growing brighter until I am practically blinded, then I feel a deep pit in my stomach and a lurching sensation. The temperature drops precipitously, and I feel a strong breeze rushing over my body. I blink my eyes to try and recover from the blinding light earlier, and I notice faint white spots spinning around on a black background in front of me.
As I try to focus on the image in front of me, I feel the pit in my stomach intensify and the breeze transition into a full gale against my skin.
It's bone-chillingly cold now, and it snaps me back to my senses. Then, I make a horrifying realization…those white spots are stars, and I'm currently plummeting towards the planet.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!" (Mizuki)
I can't help it; a piercing cry escapes my throat as the gravity of my situation (no time for puns) sets in. Below me I can see faint textures begin to emerge in my field of view, and they are becoming more pronounced with every second. I'm approaching the ground at breakneck speed.
I can't die before I even touch grass on this planet, can I? That would make this the worst isekai experience ever – I never even got to assemble my harem! So unfair!
At this point, I'm what seems like seconds away from impact with the ground, and I curl up in a ball and pull my arms up to protect my face in a last-ditch effort. Oh god no, here it comes.
No sooner than I think this, I feel a hot sensation spread over my body. Is this the feeling of death's embrace? Instinctively, I relax my body to wait for the end. However, my arms fall away from my face, and I notice my current predicament. I seem to be hovering about a meter off the ground.
Before I can process my situation, the forgotten ring from Azazel on my left hand glows brightly and breaks, and I'm unceremoniously dropped the remaining distance to the ground.
My forehead smacks the dirt below, and a sharp pain spreads from the point of impact. Damn, that stings! Out of the corner of my eye, I see two books materialize in a flash of light. Oh yeah, I forgot about those.
Rubbing my throbbing head, I pick myself up off the ground and gather my belongings. What the hell was that about? It seems like that ring Azazel gave me saved my life, thankfully. I guess that means he knew I'd be skydiving without a parachute.
I'm reminded of his strange shift in behavior after making my final requests, and I have a sneaking suspicion he just wanted to torment me. I can't let my guard down around that guy. He may seem nicer than Dio, but it's obvious he can be every bit as twisted when he wants to be.
Looking at my surroundings, I notice a faint glow off in the distance. That must be the city that Azazel mentioned – Elmesia, right? Whelp, I'm no expert, but I do know that it's not safe for me to screw around in the wilderness of a fantasy land after dark – that's when the goblins come to claim you.
Guess I better start heading that way.
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Turns out the city was surprisingly far, so it takes me almost an hour to walk there.
As I get closer, I see an opening in the large stone walls that seem to fully encircle the massive city. That must be the entrance. As I make my approach, I hear a deep voice ring out threateningly.
"Halt! State your business stranger!"
I direct my gaze to the sound, and I notice that the entrance to the city is protected by a massive drop-down iron gate. Unfortunately, it's closed. Behind the gate, in a short torchlit corridor, two men in steel plate armor are staring at me expectantly. Those must be guards – I'm guessing one of them was the source of the voice I heard.
I make my way closer to the gate and offer them a response.
"Ah…uhm…yes, hello! I just turned eighteen and I was making my way here from my small village to register with the adventurer's guild." (Mizuki)
The first guard, presumably the one who called out to me, squints through the gate as if trying to discern my appearance. After a minute he closes his eyes and sighs deeply, as if exasperated.
"Kid, what the hell are you doing walking alone out there after dark? Putting aside the fact that it's a miracle you're still alive, don't you know that this city closes after dark to protect everyone inside – just what were you thinking?" (guard 1)
Uh oh, looks like this is not going as smoothly as I expected. Azazel didn't tell me that he'd be sending me here at night, or that they don't accept travelers after dark. Crap, what should I tell them?
Also, why is he calling me kid? Oh right, I had Azazel de-age me! That could work in my favor.
Putting on my most dejected attitude, like a child having been admonished, I cast an apologetic gaze back up at the guard.
"I'm really sorry, sir! My village is quite far, and this is my first time ever leaving it, so I really had no idea it'd take me so long to get here. Also, we didn't really have a gate like this or anyone strong enough to guard it for us back home, so I didn't think about how entering the city might be different here. I'm very sorry for my ignorance, and I hope I didn't cause too much trouble. I promise not to do it again…it's honestly pretty scary out here alone!" (Mizuki)
For my finisher move, I end my plea with a deep, apologetic bow. Heh heh, I definitely nailed that delivery. This guy would have to be a heartless monster to turn me away now.
Still in my bow, I sneak a glance towards the guards. The first guard is looking at the other guard with a conflicted expression that says, 'what do you think?', and the second guard just shrugs in response.
"I mean he still looks wet behind the ears to me. Look, he doesn't even have any gear, food, or water, just a couple books. He'll die before morning if we leave him out there. I don't see any reason to think he's lying, and he doesn't look like trouble." (Guard 2)
Seriously!? Should I be more scared? The first guard nods when hearing this, seemingly making up his mind.
"Hey there! Raise the gate, we've got a late arrival! No weapons or strange goods, he's all clear!" (Guard 1)
Aaaannnd, bingo. First skill-check complete.
The gate begins to raise with a cranking sound, and I pass through the entrance with an appreciative nod to the guards. The first guard then gives me directions to the adventurer's guild.
I also take the chance to ask him about currency in the city. Apparently almost every developed region on Azura uses the same currency system, so he got a little suspicious when I asked. I took a gamble and told him that I was poor and had only ever seen copper coins, since most isekai stories have those as the lowest form of currency.
It must have been the right choice, because he relaxed and explained that the currency system goes up from copper to silver, gold, and platinum coins, where each type of coin is worth twenty times the last. After that, he gave me two silver coins with a pitying look and said that it should be enough to get me meals and a room at a basic inn for a few days.
Man, what a sweet guy, I almost feel bad for being so manipulative. Almost. Well, when I manage to rack up some wealth using my otherworlder knowledge, I can come pay him back with interest.
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The walk to the guild ends up taking about twenty minutes. Fortunately, it seems like spring in this region of Azura, so the temperature is quite pleasant.
Given the level of technological advancement on Azura, I'm shocked by the sheer scope of Elmesia. I wonder how it compares to other major cities here.
The guard told me to stick to the main road to avoid any shady interactions, so my path follows a wide cobblestone road that's well-lit by magic-based streetlamps. He also mentioned that, if I ever needed to find something, it was almost certainly somewhere along this main road.
Given the late hour, I haven't passed many other people. Those I have come across have been mostly humans, and a couple of cat-type demi-humans.
Most of the shops seem to be closed already as well, so I'll have to check those out tomorrow. According to that guard, the only things open this late will be taverns, inns, and the adventurer's guild. However, I notice what seems to be a nice general store. I note its location for later.
Ahead on the left side of the street I spot a sign with the symbol of a sword and staff crossed behind a shield – the adventurer's guild. I make my way over and walk through the door.
The inside seems to be well lit by candlelight and a magic chandelier in the center of the room, so my eyes adjust rather quickly. It's certainly livelier here than outside, but the guild hall still seems only sparsely populated.
The half of the room closest to the door is lined with tables on both sides, and a couple adventuring parties are seated at them. They don't pay me any mind.
Towards the back left of the room is a staircase up to the second floor. In the back right corner of the room are several bulletin boards lining the walls – guild job postings, I'm guessing. In the back center of the room is a small reception desk, and I can see a young woman seated behind it.
I make my way over to the reception desk, but as I get close, I freeze in my tracks. The receptionist appears to be an early 20s woman of average height and a petite build, wearing brown pants and a black shirt that seems like a guild uniform. She has somewhat darker skin than my own, with long black hair and Azura's standard dark brown eyes, and she is cute by all accounts.
What makes me freeze is the pair of long white ears sticking from the top of her head…a bunny-type demi-human.
You've got to be kidding me. This is something I could never understand the appeal of, and to make matters worse, in anime these girls constantly make stupid puns about hopping, bunnies, and carrots. However, Azura has already walked over the graves of several isekai formulas, so I should probably be less prejudiced against her.
I finish walking over to the reception desk, and she rises to greet me. Looking me up and down, a puzzled expression forms on her face, but she quickly reverts to a more professional demeanor.
Yeahhh, I was worried about that. I'm still wearing my Earth clothes, and the lighting in here is better than when I met with the guards. I'll need to deal with my wardrobe soon before it causes problems.
"Hello there! I'm Melena, and I work the night shift here at the guild. Is there anything I can do to assist you?" (Melena)
She flashes me a warm smile as she says it, and there's not a hint of shenanigans in her behavior. Yup, looks like I was just making unfounded assumptions because she's a bunny girl. I'll have to watch my prejudices around here.
"Ah yes, thanks. My name's Mizuki. I just turned eighteen, and I'd like to register with the guild." (Mizuki)
I pair a polite smile with my response, then fix my gaze on her to see how she reacts to my name. She doesn't even bat an eye. I feel an immense relief wash over me. While I'm excited to acquire some magic powers, I don't particularly want to stand out everywhere I go. So, I'm glad that Azazel's prediction about my name not raising any eyebrows here was spot on.
"Oh, I see, how wonderful for you! Well, we could certainly start the process tonight if you want, but you'll have to come back tomorrow to finish the magic assessment. You see, our day shift receptionist is most qualified for that. So, it might even be best to just do the whole registration tomorrow with her, if that's okay?" (Melena)
Oh yeah, Azazel mentioned that magic assessments were a thing. I didn't expect to be doing it so soon, but I'm not going to complain! I would like to start honing my magic as soon as possible. If it has to wait until tomorrow to finish anyway, I might as well just come in the morning and do the whole registration.
"I understand, that's fine then. I'll come back first thing in the morning. Could you direct me to the nearest town inn? I'd like to get a room for a night or two." (Mizuki)
"Ah, yes, well there's an inn just across the street and to the left. However, I believe they're fully booked for the night. The guild keeps a few rooms on hand for just such occasions, and we still have a vacancy if you'd like it? The rooms aren't as nice as the inn, and we don't provide meals, but it's a little cheaper as a result." (Melena)
Well, that was a close call. I'm glad there is a room still available here. I doubt either room is as nice as modern Earth hotels, so I'm guessing I won't notice much of a difference between the two anyway. I just need somewhere to sleep safely and plan my next steps.
"That would be great, thank you! I'll take it, so how much is a room for two nights here? Also, does the guild have a current book that discusses the basic locations and histories of the different countries and territories of Azura? I've lived my whole life in a small village until now, you see, so I figured I should start learning more about the world if I'm going to be an adventurer." (Mizuki)
"Of course! That will be 7 coppers per night, so 14 coppers total. As for books…it's true that the guild allows adventurers to borrow books for research while they're here. However, you're not technically an adventurer, and you haven't paid your yearly guild fees. Hmmm…I'll tell you what, since you are staying here at the guild, and you'll be registering first thing in the morning, I'll let you borrow one book on that subject for the night so long as it doesn't leave your room." (Melena)
Wow, that's pretty kind of her, I'll have to remember to pay back her kindness somehow. I've been here less than an hour and I'm already accumulating debts.
"I really appreciate it. Here's one silver for the two nights then." (Mizuki)
I hand over the silver and she returns six coppers in change.
"Thank you for your patronage! Well then, wait here one moment and I'll hooopppp to it and grab your room key and book!" (Melena)
Nope, debt paid. Please kill me. Why'd you have to betray me like this, Melena? We had such a good thing going.
After grabbing my key and book from the betrayer bunny, I make my way up the stairs to my room. After entering, I lock the door behind me and sigh deeply – I can feel my exhaustion from the day setting in.
Looking around, it's a small room with only a chest, basic bed, and tiny bedside table. There's a small candle on the bedside table, but I have no way to light it. Fortunately, I don't plan on being awake long, and there's enough light coming in through the lone window of the room to see in front of me.
I place my books inside the chest, then sit down on the floor with my back against the bed. If I had to guess, I probably have nine or ten hours left until sunrise. I gleaned from Azazel that days are about twenty Earth hours long on Azura, years are about 400 days divided into ten equal months. Hours, minutes, and seconds exist here, but they don't have clocks.
I'm still wearing the athletic pants, t-shirt, and sneakers that I died in, which seem to have been returned to their pre-bus state along with my body. I'm lucky that nobody seemed to notice how different they were from the tunics, trousers, and leather boots here. The bunny girl did, but she didn't press me about it thankfully. Still, I know I can't keep wearing these clothes.
Also, it's pretty evident I'll be running low on money soon. It's hard to make accurate extrapolations, but I wouldn't be surprised if the two silver coins that guard gave me ere several days' worth of wages. Truly generous, so I'll need to repay him.
My first order of business is getting some less conspicuous clothes. If I'm lucky, a trading hub like Elmesia should have at least a couple large merchants I can get basic clothes from. In addition, I'm betting that my otherworlder clothes could go for a pretty penny. I won't be needing them after all. If I'm losing my pockets, though, I'll also want to get a coin purse.
Ideally, I'd like to learn that item box spell Azazel mentioned, but since it's a rare dark class spell, that seems unrealistic. After that, I should probably pick up a weapon for defense until I can learn magic. So, maybe I'll stop by a blacksmith after visiting a merchant and before returning for guild registration?
Mulling over tomorrows plans, I drag myself onto the bed and lay back heavily. A dreamless sleep comes for me just a few minutes later.
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The next morning, I am fortunately awoken by the sunrise through my room window. I've always been a light sleeper.
I check the state of my Earth clothes to make sure they are still clean and in relatively good condition, then I leave the guild quietly and walk down the street to the shop I noticed last night.
I walk into the shop and hear a bell ring above my head as I open the door. Looking around, the shop seems large and has a wide variety of items. Jackpot, a general store. A shorter portly man in his 40s comes out to greet me with a friendly but calculating smile.
"Good evening, sir. I'm the owner and part-time operator of this general store. Are you looking for anything in particular today?" (merchant)
He seems to wear an expression that's a mix of curiosity and confusion when assessing me.
"Ah yes, thank you for asking. I'm wondering if your establishment sells simple clothes. Nothing fancy, just a basic tunic, trousers, boots, and belt of moderate comfort. I'll also be needing a coin purse to accompany them, if possible." (Mizuki)
Since I'm sure I look quite young, and by extension perhaps poor and/or gullible, I try to put on the most professional attitude I can. Upon hearing my request, the merchant looks genuinely shocked, but he quickly hides it well.
"You came to the right place, sir. We do have just the kinds of attire you requested, and the coin purse as well. However, I must say that I'm a little surprised you'd be in the market for new clothes. As a merchant, your current clothes seem to be of significantly higher quality than anything sold in my shop. Would you tell me where you acquired them?" (merchant)
His voice and face appear calm and disinterested, but his eyes have been scanning me up and down with an alarming amount of focus. He's anything but indifferent.
Alright, so how should I play this? I obviously can't tell him where I got them, but I want him to buy them for a nice chunk of change without tipping my hand. If he found out that I'm virtually broke, I'd lose all the negotiation power here. Starting with a little offhand flattery never hurts.
"Oh, noticed, did you? I heard you were quite the reputable merchant. Indeed, there aren't other articles like them in this region of the world, and they would be quite difficult to come by. The production technique for them isn't known by humans, you see. Sadly, I acquired them through a somewhat fragile connection in another part of the world, and I gave my word I would not disclose where I acquired these items if they drew too much attention. As a merchant, I'm sure you can appreciate the importance of protecting your networks." (Mizuki)
The merchant seems a bit disappointed by my dodging his question.
"However…" (Mizuki)
His eyes widen in anticipation. This is too easy.
"I need to move on for another job soon, and I can't attract too much attention. As you've just pointed out, these clothes are anything but discreet. So, I can't wear them, and they'd just be along for the journey. While I'm prevented from revealing the source, I made no promise to my acquaintance that I wouldn't sell the clothes. So, if a skilled merchant such as yourself wanted to buy them off me and try to reproduce them, I couldn't be faulted for that. I don't mind parting with them for the right price." (Mizuki)
At the end, I flash him a knowing smile to emphasize that he'd have to make the price worth it. He goes stiff and acts like he's contemplating whether the purchase is worth it, but the greed in his eyes has already answered for him.
"Well, that's a very interesting offer. I'm taking quite a lot of risk with such a limited market, but in the interest of fostering our business relationship I'd be willing to make the investment. Would you be willing to part with the full set for 2 gold coins?" (merchant)
Holy shit, two gold coins!? That's way more than they're worth! Would I be a dirtbag for taking advantage of him like this? Eh, he can probably handle the loss. I'm in a tight spot right now, so sorry dude.
I glance back at him and notice he's staring at me nervously. What's that about? Oh, right, I bet haggling is still a thing in this world. I think he's wondering how much I'm going to try and raise the price. I'll be nice.
"Hmmm…two gold, huh? Well, you asked me at a good time since I need to travel light for the rest of my trip. I'll tell you what, if you throw in the items that I asked for, you've got a deal." (Mizuki)
He can barely contain his excitement. Poor guy.
After that, he manages to find a white tunic, brown trousers, brown belt, leather boots, and basic coin purse all in my size. I change in a room in the back and leave him the sneakers, athletic pants, and t-shirt. He hands me two gold coins as promised and thanks me for my business.
Before I leave, I ask him where the best blacksmith in town is.
"Ah, that'd be the dwarven blacksmith, Percivil. He has a shop down the street just past the adventurer's guild. Please tell him that Zevy sent you." (Zevy)
I thank him and make my way back towards the guild. The boots I obtained are surprisingly comfortable and much sturdier than my sneakers. Unfortunately, the tunic and trousers are kind of scratchy on my skin by comparison, but I can live with it. At least I blend in now. I'm glad I took care of this immediately.
The blacksmith that Zevy mentioned, which is evident from the sign with a hammer and anvil, is only a couple of minutes past the guild. I walk inside and it is a little darker than I am used to, and I am greeted by the vague smell of…blood? Iron? Gunpowder? I can't quite place it, but it definitely smells appropriate for a blacksmith.
"Hello? Anyone here? I'm seeking the dwarven blacksmith, Percivil. Zevy the merchant sent me." (Mizuki)
As I call out, a well-muscled dwarven man emerges from a room in the back while wiping his hands on a piece of cloth. I know dwarves tend to be longer lived than humans, though I'm not sure just how much that applies on Azura. If he had a human lifespan, I'd assume he's maybe 50s or 60s.
"I'm Percivil, the only one who works here. So, Zevy sent yah, aye? Can I assume yah also want my best work for robbery pricing?" (Percivil)
His words are harsh, but his face has a soft smirk and his voice the trace of a chuckle that suggests him and Zevy are on decent terms.
"I wouldn't dream of trying to insult a craftsman of your caliber by haggling. I'll be in your care for a weapon, so I do hope to pay you what you're worth." (Mizuki)
"Oh ho, just as much of a sweet talker as your patron merchant, I see. Well then, what can I do for yah young man?" (Percivil)
"Well, I'd like to purchase a dagger and a light weapon, complete with sheathe and scabbard for belt attachment. I'm just starting out, so I'd guess that your best weapons would be wasted on me. With that in mind, what would you recommend?" (Mizuki)
"Hmm…daggers are pretty straightforward if yah want it for the adventuring life. Yah just want it to be strong, easy to maintain, and I'd recommend a 20 cm dagger. For the light weapon, you'll probably want a mace, axe, or short sword. For either, there are varieties that have been enchanted with different permanent spells. However, if yah can use alteration class spells and do weapon enhancement yourself, or if yah need to learn the basics first, that's probably unnecessary." (Percivil)
Good to know, and he's being straightforward and immediately guessed what I want the items for. Not a hint of condescension towards a newb like me. Mace is definitely out, and I doubt that I'll do well with a small axe. So, maybe a short sword?
"Thank you for the insight, you're correct about me wanting to use the weapons for adventuring. I'm just starting out. Could I try a non-magic short sword? Whichever one you think best matches my build and experience level would be appreciated." (Mizuki)
"Sure thing, kid. I gotta say, you're a lot more deferential than most of the young bloods that come in here wanting to start adventuring. Here, try this out." (Percivil)
He hands me a plain short sword, and I pull it from its scabbard. There's nothing really striking about it, no dragon-slaying vibes, but it looks sturdy and sharp, and it feels well balanced. Just what a newb like me needs.
I grab the short sword in one hand and hold it fully stretched out in front of me, to get a sense for the weight and reach. I knew I'd need to start working out a bit more in this world of swords and sorcery, but I'm shocked by how hard it is to hold this 'light' weapon in this position. Hmm…will I be effective with this in combat?
I return the sword closer to my body and hold it like I'm in a fencing stance, but instead I feint sideways slashes with the sword. As I thought, my movements with the sword are quite sluggish one-handed, even within my reach. That's not good – it defeats the whole point of having a light weapon. I need to get stronger.
"Hmm…I think I might be quite lacking physically to wield this weapon properly. I'm sure it has nothing to do with your craftsmanship, though. Do you mind if we move on to daggers while I reflect on this a bit?" (Mizuki)
"Not at all, I think that's a good observation. Here, no question in my mind now that this should be the best dagger for yah." (Percivil)
I take the dagger from him and offer my thanks, then pull it out of the sheathe to inspect it. Once again, it's plain but well made.
However, the metal looks a bit different than the short sword. I had a chemistry professor bring a Damascus steel dagger to class one time to show us, and the metal looks kind of similar. I don't know much about it, but I don't think that would fit the other metal work in this world.
I move the dagger around in my hand and the action feels much more natural than the short sword. Nice. I place it back in its sheathe and attach it sideways on my belt behind my back. From my front, it'd be mostly obscured from view, but it's comfortable for me to grab and unsheathe it quickly.
In the opinion of this newb, Percivil really made an excellent recommendation.
"I greatly appreciate the advice. I think I'll take this one after all. Now about the main weapon…" (Mizuki)
As I'm about to question Percivil about short sword alternatives, something in the back of the room catches my eye. It's partially hidden from view, but the handle and curvature are unmistakable…no way.
I mutter 'katana' under my breath, and begin walking towards it, transfixed. A katana also seems out of place in this world, though?
"Hey, Percivil, could I try out that weapon behind the counter in the corner there?" (Mizuki)
I gesture towards the katana and look back over my shoulder at Percivil. He's stiff and pale, and he's focusing on me so hard I feel like I might combust. Jeez, does it have sentimental value or something? I don't want to offend him; I was just shocked.
After a few seconds, he recovers and walks towards me slowly. He looks at me for a second more, up close, then walks around the counter and grabs the katana. When he returns to me, his behavior is back to normal and he's wearing a light smile. He presents the katana to me.
"Here yah go, knock yourself out. Sorry, it's a lot different than what I normally sell, so I didn't think to mention it to yah." (Percivil)
I grab the sword from him and slide it from its scabbard for inspection. Now that I can see it more clearly, it doesn't look like a normal katana. It seems a bit shorter than what I recall from Earth, but it has a handle just long enough for two hands.
Actually, it resembles those second blades that some samurai would carry. I recall from some manga those are supposed to be for seppuku though. It also seems to have the same anomalous metal as the dagger.
I interrogate the weight and balance of the blade in my hand and make a few feint slashes. The handling is quite comfortable.
"Percivil, if it's for sale I think this is the blade for me. How much for this, the dagger, and a small travel pack if you have them?" (Mizuki)
Percivil seems eerily calm, and he has a somewhat wistful expression on his face.
"Aye, I don't normally sell packs, but I got an old one I've been meaning to get rid of that I can sell to yah. How does one gold coin for all three sound?" (Percivil)
That's sounds steep, but I'm not an expert, and this was the only katana I saw here. It's doable after my exchange with Zevy, so I think it's best to take his offer without haggling. I flash him an appreciative smile.
"Worth every copper, I'm sold!" (Mizuki)
Turns out the pack he was referring to was kind of like a simple, small leather backpack, so I was quite happy with it. When I inspected the inside, I also found a water canteen and a couple glass vials with red solution.
Percivil said that the red potions were for healing, and apparently, they don't expire for many years if kept sealed. He insisted that I could have them and the canteen with the backpack.
I don the backpack, attach the sheathed dagger to the back of my waist, and place the katana on my left hip. I'm feeling much more like an adventurer now!
I hand Percivil his gold coin, thank him for the fine service, and walk towards the door to leave. As I go to open the door, Percivil speaks out.
"Hey Mizuki, do you know how old dwarves live to be?" (Percivil)
Huh? I don't, but I was curious about that. Interpreting my silence, he continues.
"It's much longer than humans, about 500 years on average. I may not look it, but this old dwarf is pushing 400." (Percivil)
Damn, dude! That's even longer than I thought! Should I have been calling him 'sir' or something?
"About 300 years ago, when I was a young dwarf full of passion and recklessness, I had a habit of traveling around to improve my blacksmithing skills. I'm not exactly helpless, but I'm far from immune to the dangers of the world. Anyway, one day I got in over my head and found myself facing down the wrath of a minor fire dragon. When I thought I was about to be its dinner, this human flashed in out of nowhere and killed the thing with a single blow. The man saved my life. He was quite the odd one, yah see, and carried strange weapons I'd never seen before. A long, slender blade with slightly odd metal, which he called a katana, and another weapon of similar style that was shorter." (Percivil)
Ahh, so that's why katanas have been introduced into this world. That guy must have been a human transplant from a more advanced world. After 300 years or so the blacksmiths of this world can make katanas to some degree now, I guess. Maybe he didn't tell them what the shorter sword was for, and they made those too?
Still, why is it called a katana if he wasn't from Earth? Maybe this has to do with Azazel's weird auto-translation gift.
Percivil pauses his anecdote for a bit, and is staring at me intently, as if waiting for a reaction. Where's he going with this?
"Being what I am, I took a keen interest in his weapons. He explained to me that it was a weapon from his homeland, and he described how the metalwork involved repeatedly hammering the hot metal, folding it, and repeating this process to produce a blade of superior quality. As a parting gift, he gave me the shorter blade he carried. After all this time, I've never replicated that blade. Best I've been able to do is incorporate the superior metalworking he described into some other weapons, like the dagger I sold you." (Percivil)
Ah, that explains the strange look of the metal I was noticing. Why did he sell something to me that he can't reproduce then?
"Since I could never replicate the katana, I've never sold any. Thing is, I've never seen anyone else sell them, nor have I seen a single other person carrying such a weapon. I traveled all over Azura in search of the homeland he mentioned, hoping to learn about this mysterious weapon, and I never found such a place. In fact, in 300 years the only other time I've even heard the word 'katana' was when you muttered it earlier, before we even discussed it. I'm curious, Mizuki, how do you know about katanas?" (Percivil)
Crap crap crap crap crap. Percivil's glare has intensified, and the silence is deafening. I can't tell him the truth, though, it might put me in too much danger.
Would he even believe me if I told him? I know Azazel told species he transferred here about their situation, and I'm sure that knowledge spread across Azura over time, but the last species transplant was millennia ago.
As if sensing my hesitation, he steps a little closer and continues talking.
"There was one other thing about this man that I'll never forget – his eyes. Every human I've ever met has had brown eyes, but this man's eyes were a deep blue. I didn't notice at first, not until I saw yah up close, but yah have green eyes don't yah, Mizuki? After searching for that man's homeland all that time in vain, I began to think of the stories my mother used to tell me as a kid. Yah see, in the histories of Azura it's well known that the great god Azazel brought us to this world from beyond the stars countless millennia ago. I've wondered lately, could that man have been brought here alone from beyond the stars more recently? If so, it makes me sad to think about how lonely that kind man who saved my life must have been." (Percivil)
I can't breathe. The weight of his words is crushing, and it is crystal clear what he is asking as he looks at me with questioning eyes. He wants to know – am I like that man? Am I from another world?
It's also clear that he wants me to know that I can trust him. That, even if it's indirect repayment, he wants to help someone connected to the man who saved his life.
It sucks but, I don't know if I can trust him with something this big. Even if people accept it and don't jump to conclusions, it will make me an unprecedented center of attention. I can't see anything good coming of that for either of us. There has to be a reason all the other lone human transplants kept quiet, right?
Just when I think the stress of the decision will break me, Percivil's gaze softens, and he lets out a deep sigh.
"Well, anyway Mizuki, I just thought you'd find the history of that weapon interesting. So, I hope it serves you well and keeps you safe on your travels. Please do come back if there's anything I can help you with in the future." (Percivil)
As he says this, he returns to his normal smile. After, he turns around and walks into the back of the shop, and I can hear metal clanging again as I stand there with my thoughts still swimming. After a few minutes, I leave the shop and head towards the guild, feeling a little unsteady on my feet.