Chapter 18

"Phew... This should last for a while."

After a big deal of 210,000 yen, I let out a big sigh.

I'm sitting by the Liber River now.

Part of the reason is that I was told by Miss Cherina, but I also wanted to get to know the town a bit.

When I passed through the slums, I got a bit scared, but the area around the apartment I lived in also had pretty bad security, so I was relatively used to that kind of atmosphere.

The trick when walking through such places is never to hunch your back and look nervous. I walk while projecting that I'm strong. Most of the time, this works.

When it doesn't, I run with all my might.

Current funds: 213,249 yen.

When I was thrown into this world, I didn't know what would happen, but it seems I can manage to survive.

Should I become a PET bottle seller?

Well, I shouldn't waste money, but I should go buy shoes as promised. To be honest, sandals are really painful.

Small stones get in easily, and they're only slightly better than being barefoot, which is very troublesome.

"…Are you back again?"

The shoe shop owner looks up curiously.

"Yeah, I don't want to go through that troublesome negotiation again, just sell me these."

I threw down 14,000 yen, one gold coin and four silver coins.

"Huh? Your attitude is quite different from before."

"Before, I came here as a merchant. Now, I'm just a customer."

I was also tired of the business smile.

Thinking about it, I needed the merchant's face for transactions with the guild, but I didn't need to be a merchant to buy shoes.

"It's not enough... You need two more silver coins..."

"I said I don't want to go through the trouble, didn't I?"

The owner sighs.

"Then, give me the broken shoes you were wearing before for trade-in. Then, this price is fine."

Shoes? Oh, the synthetic leather ones.

I reach into my bag and pull them out from the container. I had put them away just in case.

"Hmm, strange leather? Well, it's fine. Show me your feet, I'll fit them for you."

When I put my feet out, he skillfully fits the short boots.

"Tie the leather laces here to keep sand out of the shoes. Extra laces are sold separately."

I buy two for 300 yen.

Remaining funds: 198,949 yen.

"Thank you."

I didn't put any feeling into it.

Maybe I really did bargain too much?

I put away the sandals and leather laces I was wearing and start to stroll around town.

By the way, I open the SHOP list and notice new items have been added.

[Bark Sandals = 400 yen]

[Leather Cord (60cm) = 70 yen]

[Medium Hemp Bag = 850 yen]

I was probably overcharged!

I wanted to shout at the sky.

---

After such a mistake, I started to think that maybe I don't need to shop in this world.

"By the way, my divinity level also went up, and by two levels at once."

Then, maybe I can handle more items.

"Right... hiking shoes."

[Approval granted. SHOP items have been added.]

I didn't expect it to be approved, but it seems it was.

Looking at the list, it's indeed been added.

[Hiking Shoes = 19,820 yen]

Oh... I should have gone for these from the start.

Actually, the short boots I bought from the street vendor weren't that comfortable either. They were much better than sandals, but it felt like wearing a bag rather than shoes.

It's a bit wasteful, but...

I hide in a corner and buy the hiking shoes and socks.

Remaining funds: 178,829 yen.

I'll keep the short boots as a spare.

Yeah, the comfort level is completely different.

At first, I thought I needed to match the world's attire, but the shoes in this world are impractical.

The jackets and such are probably stiff and uncomfortable too.

And every time I buy one, I have to go through a negotiation level of conversation... I can't keep getting overcharged because I don't know the market prices.

Well, I can stand out a bit. I don't care.

I stand up, a bit recklessly, and start walking to find the church.

Of course, I didn't notice the shadow watching me.

---

Listening to people at street stalls, it seems there's only one church in this country. I need to go to three.

Hmm, what was it again? I'll remember when I get there.

Without thinking too deeply, I go to the place I was told about.

It was in the middle of the southern residential area.

The church was much more modest than I imagined, only slightly sturdier than the surrounding apartments.

At the entrance, there was a stone carving of a goddess holding a sphere, and below it, "Mother Earth Goddess Aigas Church" was written.

Still in Japanese.

"Oh, right, it was Aigas, I think."

My memory isn't great, but the name was impactful enough to remember.

A quest event entrusted to a newbie god.

Hmm? What was the god's name again?

I've never even thought about it?

[Registered as the God of Commerce, Melhes.]

Huh?

I almost jump at the sudden mechanical voice.

Can you give me more details, please?

My soul's cry was ignored as usual, and silence continued. It seems they have no intention of telling me more.

More passersby started to look at me suspiciously, so I cleared my throat and stepped into the church.

It was different from the solemn atmosphere of churches in Japan.

"Visiting at this hour?"

A young woman in a green, loose-fitting priestess robe came out from the back.

She was a bit younger than me.

She was tall and slender, with a figure that could be mistaken for a man if her face was hidden. Her hair was long and chestnut-colored, tied in a ponytail at the back of her neck, a down-tail.

Her skin was naturally very pale but tanned healthily.

Her eyes were large and had a strong, determined look.

Of course, she was very beautiful. No, maybe cute?

"Ah, um..."

I came here on a whim, but what should I say?

"If you have any troubles, would you like to talk about them? Sometimes just expressing your feelings to a god can make you feel better."

Her voice was gentle.

After a moment's hesitation, I decided to be honest.

"Ah, actually, I was asked to bring something to the church. So, I came here."

I regret speaking in the local language but it's too late now. I'll just go with it.

"An offering, I see. I'll accept it. Can you give it to me today?"

"Ah, here it is."

I reach into my bag and hurriedly purchase the symbol. The name on the list had slightly changed to [Symbol (God of Commerce Melhes) = 100 yen].

Remaining funds: 178,729 yen.

"Here... What is this?"

The beautiful priestess picks up the symbol, which looks like a circle on top of the kanji for "earth" or the kanji for "picture," and examines it closely.

Beautiful people look good doing anything. Yeah.

"Ah, I was asked by the God of Commerce Melhes. This is the symbol of that god."

"…Symbol… God… Melhes?"

I nod.

"Um, could you wait a moment?"

"Sure, no problem."

She quickly retreats to the back of the room and returns after a while with a book.

"I'm sorry for the wait. I'm still in training and haven't memorized all the gods, so I had to look it up. However, there's no mention of Melhes in the church's dictionary of gods..."

The book she held seemed to list the names of various gods.

"Ah, that's right. In this world, I'm still a probationary god. To be recognized as a proper god, I need to place this symbol in three... ah, pillars of churches."

The priestess is speechless.

Did I say something that strange?

"Hey, priestess!"

"Ah, I'm sorry... So, who exactly asked you to do this?"

"Huh? Melhes himself, of course."

The priestess faints.

---

I pour water from the PET bottle into my mouth.

"Are you okay, really?"

The priestess, who had dramatically collapsed on the ground, got up after a few seconds.

I was honestly scared. I thought she might have died.

She's tougher than she looks, thank goodness...

"I'm... I'm fine."

Her face was pale, and she didn't look fine at all.

But she bravely got up and sat on a nearby bench.

"Please excuse my posture."

"No, no, don't push yourself. It's not at all rude. Here, have some water."

"Thank you."

The priestess slowly drank the water, and her color returned a bit.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes."

"That's good. Well, I'll be going then."

"Wait a moment!"

I was about to leave since my business was done and she seemed fine, but she clung to me and stopped me.

My pants are going to fall down, let go!

I pushed her away with a wry smile.

"We can't accept this symbol here."

"Huh? Why?"

It was an unexpected response.

"First, this church is at the westernmost edge and is a small place in name only. For an offering from a new god, it needs to be handled by a cathedral... probably the main cathedral. This place, which is just a converted bar, and a newly ordained priestess like me, can't handle it!"

"Seriously...?"

In a country where even the three pillars aren't complete, to be turned down by the only existing church...

This is going to be a hassle. A big one.

"I'll contact a nearby high priest immediately. Could you wait for a while?"

"How long... exactly?"

"Well... it will probably go all the way to headquarters... so, at least a month."

"Seriously?"

I'm stunned. I can wait, but my money will run out first.

"Ah! We'll cover your stay, and if you don't have a place to stay, you can stay at this church!"

She must have sensed my worry and clung to me. Being clung to by a slender beauty isn't bad, and more importantly, her desperation is palpable.

"Alright! Alright! But please hurry!"

"Understood. I'll write a letter immediately. Could I have your name and where you're staying?"

"Hmm? I'm Akira, and I'm staying at the Whale Inn."

"My name is Mutton Leitia. Nice to meet you."

I shook hands with Leitia.

...

At that moment, I didn't notice.

The shadow watching the scene.