Chapter 4: To a New Town – 07
The next day, after a light workout to break a sweat, I headed to the Merchants’ Guild, where I found Gashi and Nari, the beastfolk couple, waiting for me. They seemed to be transporting daily necessities to Maneji, and their cart was filled to the brim with goods.
We joined forces and made our way outside the town of Euron, heading straight down the highway toward Maneji.
The area surrounding Euron was dotted with fields, creating a picturesque landscape that felt almost idyllic.
As we chatted about everyday matters while walking, we arrived at the waystation village just before sunset.
“I hope we don’t run into any Moon Wolves like last time,” Gashi remarked as we settled into a small traveler’s lodge on the outskirts of the village.
We had already indulged in a bit of drink. Nari was lying down, looking half-asleep.
“I glanced through the guild’s subjugation requests, but it seems there are none for this area,” I said.
“Is that so? Well, if there were any requests like that, I wouldn’t be able to come, that’s for sure.”
“So, if there’s a clear danger from monsters on the way, you wait for them to be dealt with, right?”
“Usually, yes. But in urgent cases, we sometimes hire adventurers for protection.”
“I see.”
I had heard that adventurers often took on such jobs in addition to subjugation requests, especially for noble escorts.
Of course, only those with connections or trust would be asked for such work.
“Maybe I’ll end up asking you for help someday, Soushi. When traveling far, having protection is a must.”
“I think I’m not suited for protection since I travel alone.”
“Of course, when traveling far, we form a caravan and hire multiple adventurers. Just having one who can take down a Moon Wolf makes a world of difference in terms of safety.”
“Is that so? Well, I’ll be counting on you when that time comes.”
I said this, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the Moon Wolf was really that formidable. The unfriendly receptionist hadn’t reacted much to it, and the guide didn’t have much information on rare monsters either.
Well, it seems that high-ranking monsters don’t usually appear along the highway unless something extraordinary happens, so perhaps that was enough to reassure us.
Taking on requests seemed interesting, and once I had a better grasp of the risks involved, I might give it a try.
With nothing happening, dawn broke, and we departed the village early in the morning.
As we continued down the highway, a large lake came into view around noon. On its shores, a small town appeared. Maneji seemed to be a town that primarily relied on the aquatic products harvested from the lake.
After walking for about another hour, we arrived at Maneji. The town was surrounded by a fence-like structure. The gate was sturdy, complete with doors, suggesting that field monsters might occasionally appear.
Upon passing through the gate, I parted ways with Gashi and Nari. They planned to reload their cart and return to Euron the next day.
I intended to explore both E and F-Class Dungeons, so I would be staying for at least four days.
After securing a room at the inn Gashi recommended, I headed to the Adventurers’ Guild.
The guild was about the same size as the one in Tolson, but there were fewer adventurers. This was likely due to the lack of dungeons in the area.
A male staff member was at the reception counter. I greeted him and requested permission to view the guides.
To my surprise, there was already someone in the resource room. A young woman—or rather, a girl. It wasn’t unusual for someone to be around 15 to 25 years old when they “Awaken,” but this girl looked like she hadn’t even reached 15 yet.
Well, “Awakened Ones” could differ in appearance and maturity, and if she was in a party, it might not be an issue, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she would be alright.
“Excuse me,” I said, approaching the girl who was intently studying a guide.
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s fine. You’re quite dedicated.”
When I said this, she looked up at me hesitantly.
That’s when I noticed how adorable she was. While blonde hair and blue eyes were somewhat common in this world, her hair, tied on both sides without any curls, was quite rare. Her features were well-defined, almost doll-like, and her timid eyes didn’t seem to belong to someone who would fight monsters as an adventurer.
She wore a simple dress primarily in white, topped with a thick vest, which could be mistaken for mage attire if one squinted.
Since she was looking at the guide, she might have just “Awakened,” but it felt a bit cruel to think that this girl, who looked like she came from a noble family, had just gone through the Awakening.
“…Yes, I didn’t know anything about adventurers until now.”
“May I ask, have you just ‘Awakened’?”
“Yes, two days ago.”
Ah, I thought so. It’s indeed a problem that someone like her could be randomly chosen.
“Then, do you not have a party… or companions yet?”
“No. I’ve heard that the guild is reaching out to me, but…”
I see, the guild wouldn’t just leave her to fend for herself. She was different from someone like me.
“Actually, I’ve only been an adventurer for a little over a month myself. It’s tough when you’re suddenly told to do something, isn’t it?”
“Is that so? Are you really on your own?”
“Yes, for now, I’m managing. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“That makes sense. I’ve never even thought about fighting monsters… I can’t imagine I could do it, and I don’t know what to do.”
She must have felt a lot of anxiety to share such thoughts with a stranger like me. If she looked as timid as she appeared, there was no way she could just dive into a dungeon and start fighting monsters.
Of course, there were many adventurers in their late teens, and perhaps they had walked a similar path.
“I understand how you feel scared or anxious. If you’d like, I could share some information about F-Class Dungeons? It might ease your mind a bit before you go in.”
“Oh, that would be… very helpful, but I don’t want to trouble you.”
“I understand how you feel since I’m also new to this. There are things in the guide that aren’t mentioned.”
Not wanting to treat her concerns lightly, I decided to share what I knew about F-Class Dungeons.
I thought that knowing some information might help her feel a bit more at ease, but judging by her reaction when I finished talking, it seemed I had only increased her anxiety.
“The more I hear, the more I feel like I can’t do it… I’m sorry for taking your time…”
“No, it’s actually normal to feel scared. But people eventually get used to things.”
I couldn’t say, “If you don’t get used to it, you won’t survive.” But that was the reality. Those who couldn’t survive would eventually perish somewhere along the way. I had already felt how harsh this world could be.
After that, the girl seemed to withdraw into herself again, focusing intently on the guide.
With no more words to share, I skimmed through the guide before leaving the guild.