Chapter 8

At the gate, I showed my guild card and finally entered the town, where my tension eased.

The town, being a world where monsters roam, is surrounded by high walls, and entry and exit are only possible through three gates: south, east, and west. There are no gates on the north side because the lord's mansion and the knights' residences are located there. Upon entering through the south gate, you immediately reach the fountain square where you log in. In the evening, the main gates close, and thereafter, entry and exit are only possible through smaller side gates. During the night, carts and other vehicles cannot enter or exit, and only those who show their identification can pass through.

The opening and closing of the main gates are signaled by the temple's time bell. The "hour bell" rings several times at dawn, noon, and dusk, and the "warning bell" rings just before it. If you act upon hearing the warning bell, you can make it in time for the hour bell. The warning bell rings once at midnight without any prior notice.

The length of a day is the same as in the real world, twenty-four hours, but the duration of each hour is based on sunrise and sunset, so there is a slight difference.

The square is not as crowded as during the day, but there are still many people, and the sound of string instruments can be heard from somewhere. Since this is a fantasy world, it's probably the sound of a lute or a harp.

Many residents are hurrying home, and I wonder if following someone who looks like they live alone might lead me to a hidden gem of a store.

"The inn is next to the guild, but what about dinner? The inn has a cafeteria, but I haven't made any reservations."

Leo, who is good at making plans despite his combat skills, suggested this.

"Let's check out the cafeteria. If it's crowded, we can go to the street stalls for some skewers."

On our way to the inn, we passed a restaurant on the east side of the fountain square, where a long line of people was waiting. Ochazuke proposed this idea as we glanced at the line.

The inn's cafeteria was also full. It seemed that the inn was fully booked, and at the counter, they were guiding adventurers to the guild's simple lodging facilities.

Even though the unpleasant sensations like pain are significantly reduced, considering how well the senses are reproduced, I want to stay at a good place. Specifically, I want to avoid the simple lodging facilities that lack baths and partitions.

"Good thing we made a reservation, Leo, thank you!"

"Great."

"Thanks."

"Thank you, it's good, it's good."

"Thanks!"

"Thank you!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha! It's perfect!"

When I expressed my gratitude, the others also thanked Leo.

We informed the counter that we would be staying for the following days and went out to look for food. Since the inn recommends logging out, it seems that as long as you don't leave the inn, the next reservation won't be made. At least for a certain period, until the EP runs out and you are sent to the temple, you are safe. If you log in and find someone else in your bed, it would be more of an incident than an accident.

I was a bit worried that the residents might not like having strangers stay, but apparently, the lodging fee plus a little extra is left on the bed when you are sent to the temple, so the inn doesn't lose money.

While sleeping, the EP decreases more slowly, but if you log out while hungry, the EP will be followed by MP, and then HP, making it extremely dangerous. If you don't log in for a long time, you will log in at the temple, just like when you become unable to fight.

After walking about a hundred meters down the street between the guild and the inn, the guild's simple lodging facility appeared on the right. According to Ochazuke, there is a street of stalls behind it. As we entered the narrow alley, the sound of people could be heard. It was like a festival.

"If we get separated, let's meet back here, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Got it."

"Leo and Kikuhime, don't get stepped on!"

"I'll try not to get separated."

Before entering the alley, I decided on a solution to prevent getting lost. A hand-holding event with six people is impossible, and it would look like a group of guys!

Anyway, since our EP is low, let's eat something. The smell made me feel like my EP gauge dropped.

The stalls are mainly food vendors, but there are also small shops selling miscellaneous items. The alley is lined with shops selling small, ready-to-eat foods and shops selling ingredients.

I immediately got separated! Leo and Shin went ahead, and when I thought Ochazuke and Kikuhime were looking at a stall making flowers out of colored candy, they were nowhere to be seen. I gave up on staying together with all six and searched for something delicious with Petros, who was with me. He was interested in a shop that makes sandwiches with bread and meat, so we looked for it while avoiding bumping into people.

When we finally reached the shop, it turned out to be a place that makes sandwiches with bread and vegetables.

Apparently, they sold out of meat because many customers asked for extra meat. The meat sizzling on the iron plate was the last of it for the people in line. I didn't expect the resident's shop to run out of stock.

"Sorry, come back another time!"

"Aw, that's a shame."

Petros gave up quickly.

"Hey, can you put some vegetables in and grill the meat I have?"

Petros was saying something next to me, but I ignored it! I was already set on having a meat sandwich for dinner. I have meat, raw meat, but I have it.

"Hey, you have meat! You can grill it however you like, so can you sell me some of the meat you have?"

A buyback offer came! But I don't know the market price! The guild quests I'm on are 90 silver for six flying rabbit meats and 80 silver for four wild chicken meats, which is 15 silver and 20 silver each. I checked the prices from the quests and did some quick math. I wish I had a calculator.

But for the flying rabbit quest, I need six meats, and I only have eight!

"I can offer 51 silver for the wild chicken."

"Deal!"

He seemed to have added a little color, and I sold it for 1,071 silver. He also bought 26 wild chicken meats and 100 horn rabbit meats from me at a fair price plus a little extra, which amounted to 3,776 silver. Petros' meat was also bought, and the stall owner was happy that he could still do business. Apparently, one piece of meat can make three dishes.

"Alright, I'll show you how to grill it, so give it a try."

The customers in line had left, and the stall owner was preparing to start selling again.

"Thanks, by the way, what's your name?"

"Yeah, me? I'm Joss. I always set up my stall here, so come back often! I also buy meat."

He smiled, and it turned out he was the one who had posted the flying rabbit meat quest at the guild. He had given me an extra silver.

I took out the Chototsu meat from my item pouch.

"Homura, Chototsu meat? I'll put out some horn rabbit meat and split it, how about that?"

"Sounds good! I want to try both."

We grilled the meat while following Joss' advice. The sound of the meat sizzling and the smell of the fat burning stimulated our appetite. Next to us, Joss was steaming the wild chicken meat, and the steam rose dramatically as he added water, making it look delicious.

While the meat was grilling, Joss handed us bread, and we started putting in vegetables and meat as we liked. I had forgotten to ask, but we made three sandwiches! The Chototsu meat, with its fat and juices, was very tasty when mixed with the vegetables. I put it on a piece of paper to make it easier to hold, and it was complete!

Petros' horn rabbit meat was crispy on the outside and looked delicious.

I exchanged one with Petros and bought three wild chicken and three Dodo breads from Joss, giving one of each to Petros as a thank you for the skewers earlier. I learned that if I keep them in my item pouch, I can serve them fresh. I quickly put away the best ones. The chicken was 20 silver, the Dodo was 25 silver, and you could add more meat for an extra 5 silver. The bread and vegetables were free.

When the meat was done, we left Joss' shop, which had become crowded again, and ate by the side of the road.

It was incredibly delicious!!!!

After that, we bought berry juice from a stall that squeezed it on the spot, and while drinking, we browsed the shops, occasionally buying things that tempted us, using the excuse that we needed them for tomorrow. Petros was also buying things.

Stalls can be quite expensive in the real world too, so be careful.

I wanted tea, but I could only find a shop selling tea leaves, so I got a free cup to try. There was a man drinking beer next to me!

After eating, the wrapping paper and dishes turned into dull particles of light and disappeared. It felt strange but was convenient. Since you can't eat when your EP is 100%, I used "Perception" to check the surroundings and "Appraisal" on the players in the street. As a result, my "Perception" stayed the same, but my "Animal Monster Appraisal" level went up.

"There's a bookshop. Maybe there's a hidden gem?"

In a narrower shop than the surrounding stalls, there were items of unknown use on a rug, and bunches of chili peppers hung from flimsy poles supporting a sunshade. Among them, only the books were recognizable as books.

The seller was an old man who didn't seem to want to sell. While other shops were noisy with calls and orders, he was reading a book without speaking to customers. Are the books not for sale? In front of the shop, people who weren't customers were chatting and eating things they had bought from other stalls.

"You found it well."

The space in front of the shop was limited due to the crowd, and only the sunshade was visible.

"We're stealthy."

Petros smiled.

"Where did the archer go!"

We squeezed through the crowd to the front of the shop. The old man glanced at us but returned to his book. He seemed tough.

"Hello, can I look at these books?"

I tried with a Japanese smile.

The old man sighed and looked at me. He didn't seem friendly.

"I don't sell to outsiders, go to another shop."

I got a standard rejection.

"True, I don't live in this town, but I am registered with the guild."

Petros was strong!

"Hmph, adventurers come and go. At least make a friend before coming back."

Is this a flag?

"I know a resident."

I showed my guild card as proof. I had only talked to them for about 20 minutes, but my relationship with Joss was longer.

"Hmph."

He sniffed and looked at me and the card suspiciously. I think the suspicious one is the shop owner.

"These aren't for sale."

No luck.

"I don't want them to get dirty, so I put them away. I run an old bookshop in a back alley near