Chapter 3

After the god disappeared, I left the room.

Then, I entered the bedroom, rummaged through the shelves, and found some clothes to change into. I couldn't stay naked forever.

In the game era, the homunculus was created by an alchemist who called himself a god. Upon waking, I was immediately given the identity of the alchemist's disciple and a small amount of money, and was told to set out on a journey.

According to the alchemist, to blend in with humans and live without any sense of discomfort, and to achieve great success, was the only way to accomplish the feat of creating a human with human hands.

Since I had done this many times, I knew where the alchemist kept his money.

"Alright, there's the safe."

I took out a large safe from the shelf, about the size of a hug. Then, I placed my hand on it and struck it with a wave of magic. The lock on this safe was magic-sensing. The alchemist always unlocked it by striking it with his own wavelength.

I remembered that wavelength. Ordinary humans couldn't convert magic wavelengths, but a homunculus's body could. The lock clicked and opened.

"Alright, alright. Even if the big money is in the bank, this should be enough."

The safe contained stacks of bills. This world had adopted a paper currency system a few years ago. While gold coins would have been more atmospheric, they were too heavy to carry. The amount in the safe was about 300,000 bal.

Since a loaf of bread costs 200 bal, the value wasn't much different from Japanese yen. It was enough to live on for about a month. And there was one more thing. It must have been stored for use as a catalyst. About 10 kg of mithril, or magic silver, was also inside.

"Good start. I didn't expect this to be stored here."

I searched my memory for the method to process mithril.

"【Magic Silver Alchemy: Ring】"

My brain ran the magical formula, and the magic was activated. The mithril turned from a solid to a liquid and wrapped around my upper arms and thighs. It then formed into rings and solidified again.

Magic silver can be liquefied by adding a specific wavelength and can be shaped arbitrarily by fluid manipulation.

"【Magic Silver Alchemy: First Form: Spear • Pierce】"

The magic was activated again. The rings on my arms turned to liquid and gathered in my palms, forming a 1.5-meter-long spear with a double-edged blade at the tip. I performed a light spear drill.

I had been using a spear as my main weapon for several decades, so I was quite skilled. However, my current initial body felt sluggish and awkward. After a thorough warm-up, I returned the magic silver to its ring form. It would be too cumbersome to carry it in the shape of a spear all the time.

Additionally, this form could be carried into places where weapons were restricted, and it had the secondary benefit of distributing the load across both hands and legs, making it easier to carry. I usually carried my main weapon in this form.

"Well, what should I do?"

I had three main options. The country I was in, the Kingdom of Coline, had several cities, and choosing which one to go to was important.

If I aimed for success as a merchant, I would head to the southern city with a port and a strong economy.

If I sought a stable life and safety, I would aim for the fortified city closest to the king.

And...

"If I seek to be the strongest, then the Sealed City of Erin is the only place to go."

That city was more vibrant, more full of dreams, more chaotic, and more filled with death than any other city. I decided to go there, found a sturdy travel bag in the house, and packed it with clothes and three days' worth of food and water before setting out.

If it was the same as the game era, there would be an event in the Sealed City in three days that would be the most convenient for me. ...Most importantly, Kuna would be there.

◇

I was running at high speed, enhancing my physical abilities with magic.

The path was a poorly maintained animal trail. The alchemist's house was in a remote area, so no one maintained the path.

It was quite difficult to run, but I dealt with it by thinly attaching the mithril I had to the soles of my shoes.

This allowed me to ignore small branches and stones. My current speed was about 40 km/h, which was my limit. It would take about five hours to reach the Sealed City.

Considering the depletion of my magic, I needed to take a one-hour break every two hours. I would arrive in about eight hours. Fortunately, I was called to this world early in the morning, so I wouldn't have to camp out.

"Is the path the same as in my memory?"

I had aimed for the Sealed City three times in my life. Thanks to that, I knew the path well. Even if I forgot the path, I had the map that players had mapped out in my head, so I wouldn't get lost. I put more strength into my legs.

◇

After a short break, I set out again.

As I got closer to the city, the path became better maintained, and my speed increased.

The bushes in the forest rustled. I stopped and hid behind a tree.

A giant deer, about 2 meters tall, emerged from the bushes. However, it was standing on two legs and holding a club in its hands.

"To see a monster outside the Sealed City, lucky me."

In the world of Ilrande, monsters existed. However, they rarely appeared outside the Sealed City. Or rather, it was thanks to the Sealed City that they didn't appear elsewhere.

I climbed a tree. At my current state, I would be instantly killed if the deer monster spotted me. It was a high-ranking monster, positioned at the top of Rank 1.

In Ilrande, there was a game-like element called Rank. Ranks were divided into six major levels, and the difference in rank meant an absolute difference in power. If the ranks were different, it was impossible to win unless a miracle occurred. If the ranks were the same, the outcome could vary depending on the approach.

"Ugh."

The deer monster made a silly sound and turned its head from side to side, looking for prey.

The biggest difference between monsters and animals was that they didn't need food to survive. They preyed on creatures with magic to become stronger.

It probably came out of the bushes because it smelled my magic. However, I had hidden my magic presence, so it had lost sight of me.

"【Magic Silver Alchemy: Third Form: Bow • Pierce】"

I activated the magic. I channeled magic into the mithril on my arms, eliminating all leaks to activate the magic without revealing my presence, a high-level technique.

The rings on my arms turned into a longbow in my right hand, and an arrow appeared in my left hand. I held the bow horizontally, following the proper form.

"【Automatic Aiming and Shooting】"

I activated a new magic. This magic was contained within my body and didn't leak out. It processed visual information, bow information, and the wind I felt on my skin to predict the trajectory of the shot. Based on this prediction, it automatically controlled my body to release the arrow, achieving a high hit rate.

I focused my gaze on the monster's eyes. This determined the target. The distance to the deer monster was 10 meters, a sure hit.

The silver arrow was released.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"

The arrow pierced the monster's eye. A situation that would instantly kill any animal. Despite this, the monster thrashed around, emitting a roar of anger.

"【Automatic Aiming and Shooting】"

I released the second arrow. This time, I aimed for the soft neck, as the line of sight to the eyes was blocked. It hit, but the arrow only scratched the skin and fell to the ground with a hard sound.

Aiming for soft vital points with this result... If this was the case, aiming for any part other than the eyes would be the same. The difference in existence was that great.

"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh