Chapter 51: Rumors
Hirokun and Ellie, huh? Two of the six thugs from back then were calling each other Hiro-kun and Eri, if I recall.
All the more reason I can’t accept a Designated Request. If it’s them, they’d have to offer a proper reward, and I’d need to prepare.
Still, this town of Zandra really has a knack for pushing troublesome things onto me.
I was planning to just pass through, but because I helped someone, I ended up getting involved.
“I thought they might be acquaintances, but the names are different. In any case, if it’s a Designated Request, I’m declining.”
With just that, I left the Guild Master’s office, picked up my Guild Card at the reception, and had my balance checked at the payment counter.
The lady at the counter looked it over three times, but there’s no mistake.
On the paper handed to me were the characters: 10,165,000 Dahla.
I have about 9,000,000 Dahla on me, so I can buy magically enchanted clothes.
I checked if I could transfer 10,000,000 Dahla to the Commerce Guild, showed my Commerce Guild card, and had it moved.
A handling fee of 100,000 Dahla. They ripped me off for one Gold Coin.
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Every time, I get suspicious looks until I present my Guild Card, so I thought maybe I should get some slightly better town clothes this time, and stood before the deposit clerk.
I took out 50 Gold Coins from my Magic Pouch, deposited them, and requested a balance check.
After confirming a balance of 22,500,000 Dahla, I told them I wanted to have clothes made that could be magically enchanted.
With a truly wonderful smile, they said, “I’ll call a staff member for you,” and guided me to a consultation room.
I’d just had my balance confirmed, a customer they wouldn’t fail to get payment from; of course they’d be smiling.
The staff member who came was surprised to see an Adventurer like me, but being a merchant, their expression instantly changed to a smile. They listened to my requests, took out a roll of cloth, and explained it to me.
According to them, it was fabric woven from the silk of weaver spiders found deep in the hinterlands, and enchantments apparently take to it very well.
However, because they are special spiders and a great deal of effort is required to collect the silk and make it into fabric, I was told, “It is quite expensive.”
Hearing that the enchantments available were Magic Defense, cut resistance, impact resistance, and body temperature regulation, I decided to have the clothes made.
A tailor was called, and after taking my measurements, they listened to my requests and drew diagrams showing the position of hidden pockets and the shape of the collar with a folded-in hood.
I also decided on moss green, a color that wouldn’t stand out in Grasslands or forests.
Separately from the clothes, I ordered two pairs of gloves and requested enchantments for these as well.
The Adventurer’s outfit (top and bottom) including gloves came to 15,500,000 Dahla. The cost for enchanting them was 2,000,000 Dahla, for a total of 17,500,000 Dahla.
If I buy boots and have them enchanted, my savings will be almost gone.
When asked where to send them for the fitting, I was quite troubled.
I specified the Horard Hotel on Orandal Street, where I had stayed before.
I’m rarely in town, but I decided to stay at the hotel until I picked up the clothes.
Hearing the fitting would be in two weeks, I asked for a shop that could make custom boots and left the Commerce Guild.
The Bellone Leather Shop on Sullingal Street. Leather goods like bags and saddles were lined up, and several pairs of boots were also on display.
“Welco…”
I knew what came next, so I silently handed over the letter of introduction.
The moment they saw the letter of introduction, which bore the Commerce Guild’s mark of a bag of Gold Coins, they must have realized I was an easy mark, as their face broke into a wide smile.
Well, call me an easy mark if you like, but as long as they make me a solid pair of boots, I have no complaints.
I told them I wanted something that could be enchanted, had my measurements taken, paid 1,600,000 Dahla for the boots and enchantment fee, and was told they would be ready in ten days, after which I left the shop.
All that’s left is the Short Spear. I went to the blacksmith who made one for me before and ordered a new Short Spear.
I specified the spearhead to be about 7cm wide, 1.5cm thick, and 1m long, with a shaft length of 1.8m, all made of Demon Steel.
“Young man, that’s going to be considerably heavy. Can you handle it?”
Well, looking at my physique, I can understand why he’d say that.
“Is there something I can swing around?”
Where I pointed, several iron bars, 1.5m long and 5-6cm thick, were propped up.
I took one in each hand, swung them lightly, made sure not to hit anything nearby, and then swung them with full force.
The master blacksmith looked satisfied watching the iron bars whistle through the air. Since he seemed to understand I could handle them, I stopped swinging.
“I see you can handle it, but what do you plan to hunt with something like that?”
“Previously, I whacked an Orc King with a Short Spear, but it only staggered a bit, so I figured I needed more weight. Beast subjugation isn’t my main job, but I thought I’d need a weapon I can fight with if I encounter one. A friend of mine once defeated a Brown Bear with a Stone Lance, and I knew it wouldn’t have pierced without sufficient weight.”
“True enough. If you’re not a Magician, a powerful weapon is essential. Though, in this country, it’s mostly Beastmen who come looking to buy powerful weapons. Do you have some Dragonkin blood in you?”
Dragonkin again, huh? I just shrugged silently, neither confirming nor denying.
I paid 1,800,000 Dahla as a deposit and arranged to pick it up in 15 days, but the money I’d deposited vanished in the blink of an eye.
It looks like I’ll need to earn some money and warm my pockets before I pick up my orders.
Since I’d finished placing the necessary orders, I left town to earn some immediate funds.
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My targets are Chiki-Chiki Birds and Red Chickens. After that, I’ll hunt whatever else I come across.
Bee-chan and the others will find the bird-type monsters, and Mii-chan will hunt them.
Bee-chan also tells me the location of Hedgehogs, and since they give them a sting as well, I finish them off with my shortbow from close range.
If I were to dominate even the small fry and herbivores, other Adventurers wouldn’t be able to earn anything, which would be bad, so I’m holding back. Still, I reflect that I might be hunting too much.
I kept a room at the Horard Hotel and returned to town once every two days. I sold my hauls twice, receiving a little over 800,000 Dahla and 900,000 Dahla respectively, so my finances are secure.
Ten days later, I went to the Bellone Leather Shop and picked up my boots.
Being custom-made and expensive, they were incredibly comfortable. ♪
I was told that because they’re enchanted, they won’t get cut and will resist impacts, but I should be careful because they could still be crushed if something heavy is dropped on them.
True, even with Magic Defense, cut resistance, impact resistance, and body temperature regulation, they’re not safety boots. They might absorb impact, but they can’t withstand sheer weight, huh?
Naturally, the clothes I ordered will be the same, so I’ll need to be careful about that.
After receiving all my items, I decided to head to the town of Holm for some reconnaissance.
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I headed towards Holm along the Tanzas Highway, but spent most of the journey walking through the Grasslands and forests alongside the road.
Thanks to that, I had accumulated a considerable amount of game in my Magic Bag, so as soon as I arrived in Holm, I headed to the Adventurers Guild, partly to gather information.
Upon entering the Guild, I first went to the dining hall to gather information and sat down next to a drunkard holding an ale.
An unfamiliar face, solo, and with a cat – a drunkard who took an interest would surely strike up a conversation.
“Hey, young man. Haven’t seen your face around. First time in Holm?”
“Well, close to it, I guess.”
“Close to it, what’s that supposed to mean? You’ve got a cat with you, are you a Tamer?”
“That’s right. My cute Mii-chan is registered as a Tamed Beast.”
“M-Mii-chan!”
He seemed to have hit his funny bone. The drunkard, seized by a fit of laughter, must have stood out, as some men from a distant table came over carrying ales.
“It was Shinya, right? Business in Holm?”
“Yes, I heard an interesting story, so I came to check it out. Thanks for your help back then.”
“No, no, the main target got away, after all.”
“That’s right, even though you caught his underlings for us.”
“We went on a trip, just roughed them up a bit, but it still paid off.”
“I caught the Guild Master who ran away.”
“Really?!”
“Where?”
“You caught a wanted man?! When?”
“A little over a month ago. In a town called Kantas, two days south of Zandra. I ran into him by chance where I was visiting, and it caused quite a commotion.”
“So then, with Killer Bees, huh?”
“Yes. More importantly, I heard that a stingy Earl and some Adventurers are having a dispute, and it sounded interesting, so I came to see.”
“A stingy Earl, huh? That’s a good one.”
“Back then, too, it was a life-threatening job, and he offered just 10 Gold Coins for two people. When I flatly refused, the Guild said they’d match it, so I reluctantly accepted. Thanks to that, I got shot with an arrow and had to drink a nasty Potion. Hearing that stingy guy is having trouble, I had a good laugh.”
“That story, huh? Sounds like they’re some pretty wild folks. Apparently, they’ve come here to sell their game a few times.”
“What kind of people are they? If that stingy guy is having trouble with them, they must be skilled, right?”
“Two Magicians and five hangers-on, they say.”
“They seem to be formidable Magicians.”
“The game they bring in seems to be killed with Earth Magic or Ice Magic; it’s said to have holes in it.”
“Rumor has it the woman can use Healing Magic, and apparently, the Earl-sama summoning her is what started the trouble.”
“Oh really? She can use Healing Magic but she’s working as an Adventurer?”
“Well, the rumor is she shows off her legs more flamboyantly than a barmaid and laughs mockingly at people.”
“They say the guys who see her legs are all drooling.”
“She’s always with a man, and this man is supposedly a skilled Magician.”
“But the story is that our common sense doesn’t apply to them.”
“Exactly! Apparently, they can use Teleportation Magic, and because of that, even the Earl-sama can’t do anything about them.”
“Well, as long as they’re giving those arrogant knights and the Earl a good thrashing, it’s an interesting spectacle.”
“No doubt about it.”
“So, Shinya, are you planning to earn some money in this town?”
“I was summoned by the madam of the Moran Trading Company, and I’m on my way to the Royal Capital, but it’s not an urgent journey.”
“The madam of the Moran Trading Company, huh? You’ve caught yourself a good patron.”
“Having the backing of a rich madam, I’m jealous.”
“Any Adventurer would want the backing of someone wealthy.”
“For that, I can’t count how many times I was almost killed. Even the first time I went to the Moran Trading Company, after being beaten and yelled at, I was almost made into a criminal slave.”
I placed a few silver coins on the table, told them to drink as they pleased, and excused myself from the circle of idle chatter.