Searching for Something ①
Right, what should I actually do?
Normally, I’d head to the Dungeon’s Junkyard, but it’s closed off.
It’ll stay closed until Arifa-san’s younger brother, Mr. Agaro, subjugates the anomaly in the Dungeon.
I wonder how long that will take.
He’s probably drinking himself silly at the tavern again today.
He’s been like that ever since the closure.
According to Arifa-san, he’s waiting for companions to help subjugate the anomaly.
Even for a Tier II, taking on a Dungeon anomaly solo is extremely difficult.
The only ones likely capable of subjugating an anomaly alone…
are probably the Tier I Seekers, of which there are only twenty-seven in this entire world.
So he waits, doing nothing but getting drunk.
Honestly, it’s a sorry state.
Where did the cool Mr. Agaro from the day the Dungeon closed go?
Besides, not all the Dungeons around Hydrangea have been closed.
Only the central Dungeon within the city is sealed off.
So, for most Seekers involved in subjugation, it’s business as usual elsewhere.
The central Dungeon always had deep floors with many strong Monsters and didn’t offer much profit anyway.
That’s why mostly Tier IV or Tier III Seekers delve there. It’s rare to see Tier VI or Tier V.
But those other Dungeons don’t have Junkyards. Only the central one does.
Honestly, I understand the circumstances, but I really wish they’d reopen it soon.
For now, I can still manage for another two months.
Any longer than that will be tough.
I can’t make a living solely off the Witch’s requests.
Though, the Witch’s requests do pay extremely well.
I also know that if I consulted her, she’d probably help me get by somehow.
But the Witch is troublesome, so I don’t want to take her up on it.
She’s troublesome, like a walking landmine, and emotionally demanding.
“…Guess I have to go look for it after all.”
I sigh.
It’s not exactly a good method, and it’s dangerous.
But the potential profits outweigh those risks.
I look at the Crescent Vessel.
“………”
Depending on how it’s used, this vessel could generate an enormous amount of money.
It’s far too valuable to be a reward for a simple gathering request like that.
Besides, it’s Legendary, so that shouldn’t even be possible.
What is that Witch thinking?
To skip the details, the Witch is the only person who found out about my [Vanish].
And [Danger Detection], too, I guess.
She doesn’t know about the [Wheel of Fortune] or my fourth Relic.
It’s better to assume she has some ulterior motive.
I don’t know what it is… but there’s no point dwelling on it.
She is the Witch, after all.
But this money-making method requires something specific—something I need to find.
I equipped my Knife and left the house.
What I’m looking for isn’t very common in this world.
It circulates, but it’s not popular, still considered rare.
But considering my previous life, the fact that it’s rare here makes me chuckle wryly.
Treating it as rare… it’s a matter of culture, or rather, education.
One reason is the low literacy rate.
This isn’t a world where everyone can receive an education.
So, not everyone can read and write.
I learned from my uncle, so I can read and write.
Though, my past life’s memories were helpful in improving.
I arrived at the general store. The things I’m looking for might be in one corner of this shop.
It’s a cramped space, with only about one shelf’s worth.
These rarely sell.
In fact, it’s good that they even stock them at all.
“‘Ey. How many ya buyin’?”
“‘Let’s see… Old man. Five Potions.'”
“‘Right. Thanks for your business.'”
“‘Aah, man, this is rough.'”
“‘It’s them, right? That Tier IV party, ‘Blue Bamboo Sword’?'”
The ones talking are Seekers.
The shopkeeper chimes in with some small talk.
“‘Did something happen? ‘Blue Bamboo Sword’ are good customers here, too.'”
“‘Ah, is that so? That’s too bad, old man. They… went into That Forest.'”
“‘Into that Forest!? Well, that’s…'”
“‘It’s been happening more lately. Seekers who usually stick to the city going into the Forest.'”
“‘Since the closure, there’s hardly any work.'”
“‘Plus, the other Dungeons are overcrowded.'”
“‘I hear stories like that too. But, I’ve been wondering for a while, how do you know they entered the Forest?'”
“‘Ah, apparently, there’s a Legendary Whistle kept at the Guild. They say when it sounds, it means someone entered the Forest.'”
“‘A Whistle?'”
“‘There are also reports of actually hearing a whistle near the Forest.'”
“‘Maybe there’s some connection.'”
“‘Is that so? Right. Here are your five Potions.'”
It seems the closure is causing various problems for the Seekers.
I feel sorry for them, but setting that aside, what I’m looking for is a book.
I was looking for an Herbal Encyclopedia and a Potion Dictionary.
Or a book close to those, or similar.
If they had either— Huh, unusual. Someone’s already here. A girl, too.
She’s in front of the bookshelf, staring intently at the top shelf, reaching for it.
But she can’t reach it. She jumps, but still can’t reach.
She’s swishing her two white tails, one long and one short, twisting them together looking annoyed.
“‘Nnngh.'”
“‘This one?'”
I easily plucked the fourth book from the right on the top shelf.
“‘Ah, yes. Thank you.'”
She looks up to thank me, and… huh? This girl.
She looks familiar somehow.
A beautiful Cat Beastman girl with light green hair and white streaks.
She’s wearing a black robe with the hood up, one eye hidden by her hair.
The hood is raised in the shape of cat ears.
She has a wooden staff hanging at her waist, and her two white tails, long and short, are swaying.
Ah, I remember now.
She’s a Tier III Seeker, same as Liv-san.
A member of the all-female Party, Torquetum.
But her name… I don’t know it.
“‘No problem, I needed something from this bookshelf too.'”
“‘Oh? You can read books?'”
“‘Yes, well…'”
“‘That’s admirable. Someone as young as you… Hmm? You. Haven’t we met somewhere before?'”
“‘Eh, I wonder?'”
I’ve definitely met her before.
But she was close to death back then, she shouldn’t remember me.
She tilts her head.
“‘Hmm? Perhaps I’m mistaken.'”
“‘Probably.'”
“‘…In that case, forgive me. That sounded rather like a clumsy attempt to hit on you.'”
“‘Huh? Come to think of it, I guess it did.'”
I give a wry smile. She startles and gets flustered.
“‘N-No, I assure you, I was certainly not hitting on you!'”
“‘Um, of course. I understand.'”
“‘W-Well, that’s good then. Farewell.'”
She hurriedly took the book and presumably headed for the counter.
With a sigh, I turned my attention back to the bookshelf.
I scanned it, searching… but the books I wanted weren’t there.
“‘Mostly stories and poetry books.'”
Most of the shelf space was taken up by entertainment.
Otherwise, there was just an old-covered Cookbook and a Travelogue in the corner.
Both were faded. They must have been here for years.
The Cookbook caught my interest. I picked it up to take a look.
“‘…There was a way to cook Pan Beans like this?'”
I might actually buy this.
How much is it, I wonder?
Books are expensive. They aren’t as widespread as scrolls.
But this is an old book. Maybe I can negotiate the price down… though I’m not good at haggling.
“‘It seems you found what you were looking for.'”
“‘Eh?'”
She was there. Her long and short white tails were swaying cheerfully.
What’s this about?