Chapter 9

We returned to the inn.

Leo and the others had reserved two rooms for three people. Since we only had one item pouch, we gathered in one room to discuss the next day’s plans. Those who wanted to take a bath could do so, and those who wanted to sleep could go to the next room and start sleeping. It was a room arrangement that allowed for individual actions. Some said it hadn’t been decided yet.

Today, we had been fighting all day, so we decided to stroll around the city and buy new weapons and armor when it got light tomorrow. We confirmed the rough layout of the city on the map and decided to go to the craftsmen’s district north of the east gate. Before that, we would visit the weapon and armor shops facing the fountain square to check the prices, and then we remembered something.

"By the way, I heard that there are retail stores and stalls selling tools, weapons, and armor behind the weapon and armor shops at the market stalls."

"Yeah, they mentioned it."

The plan was to visit the weapon and armor shops, go around the retail stores, and then head to the craftsmen’s district. If there was time, we decided to check out what was in the northwest area, which was still a mystery.

This was our exploration of the city, albeit a bit late.

But before that, we had to fight before dawn.

After deciding on the next day’s plans and settling the room charges, Leo and Kikuhime went to the bath. The room charge was 300 silver per person, which seemed expensive considering our initial funds! I was grateful to Ochazuke and Kikuhime for covering my share.

"Whoa! Another dimensional space!!"

We heard Leo’s shout from the bath. By the way, Kikuhime was in the bath in the next room.

"What’s up?"

"What could it be?"

"Odd behavior in the bath!"

"Hmm."

After that, it became quiet with only the sound of water, and when we were chatting, Leo came out. He had taken a crow bath.

"Come out with a towel!"

Ochazuke’s voice rang out, and Leo was still wearing a towel with a good smile on his face.

"Hey, hey. This is another dimensional space!"

Leo tried to lift his towel, but it was guarded so tightly that it wouldn’t budge, despite feeling soft.

"Don’t show it! Are you a kid!?"

Since this is an inn, let’s try to be quiet, Mr. Ochazuke?

After that, I also went to the bath.

In the changing room, I took off my clothes and changed into the towel provided. It seemed that I couldn’t be completely naked.

I thought it was a faucet, but it turned out to be a magic item. When I got into the empty bathtub, the water rose from the bottom of the tub in no time. It was quite comfortable.

And, I also experienced the other dimensional space.

There was a notice for adult content in the game, so I guess if I tweak the settings, I can take everything off, but for now, I have no plans to do so.

After everyone came out of the bath and went to bed, we had to sleep for about three hours in this world’s time, or we would lose a significant amount of our stats if we didn’t log out for 20 minutes in real time.

Incidentally, if you sleep properly at an inn, your drop rate will increase slightly for three hours after you wake up. It’s not much of a difference at our current low level, but it’s like the saying, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Although it’s not really related to getting up early.

It was 11 PM in real time. One day passes in three hours in this world. You can choose to log out normally, or you can set it to log out when you fall asleep in bed.

If your body in the real world sends a physiological signal, you will be forcibly logged out in five minutes.

I plan to log out before the forced logout happens. If you fall during a battle and rush to the toilet and come back, five minutes there is forty minutes here. Can’t this be fixed? Probably not.

While thinking about these things, my consciousness awakened in the real world. It seems I fall asleep easily in that world.

I took off the visor, went to the toilet, made some tea, and took a deep breath. After a light stretch, I put the visor back on.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

I reluctantly got up with the signs of Peter and Shin waking up in the next room. It was pitch dark outside, and with the senses being so well reproduced, it’s understandable to want to stay in bed. It’s strange that I’m not sleepy at all.

When I got up, my HP and MP were recovered, and my EP was reduced.

I also received a thank-you email from Galahad, which surprised me. It seems he sent it while drunk, and although some parts were hard to understand, it was probably something like that.

Alright! Breakfast time!

Since the inn is specialized for adventurers, guests can eat in the dining room at any time, even in the middle of the night. However, from noon to around 10 PM, it’s open to the general public, so it can get crowded like last night.

We joined up with the others and headed to the dining room.

Freshly baked round bread, bacon, three types of sausages, eggs, salad, onion soup or corn soup, and yogurt.

Shin and Leo were lamenting the lack of Japanese food, and I think the menu was chosen for ease of preparation. When you break the bread, it makes a crispy sound and steam rises, and the inside is soft. It’s so good with plenty of butter!

"Will natto ever be implemented?"

"Maybe if there’s a Japanese-themed village?"

Despite complaining about natto, both of them finished their meals and were satisfied.

When we went outside the inn, we could see the fountain square through the guild, and the main street with the inn and guild was lit by the orange glow of the street lamps. The shops facing the fountain square were brightly lit and open for business, so we stocked up on HP and MP potions at the shop run by the Alchemist Guild. Considering the snakes, we also bought some antidotes. We bought 50 MP potions. While there wasn’t much difference between using a staff or magic when the enemy and our levels were low, it’s now clearly visible, so running out of MP is bad.

To save on silver, I think I should take [Staff Mastery].

Even at this hour, there were people in the square and outside the gates. Although some had dispersed for production or rest, there were still many people because it was a Friday on the first day.

"There are still a lot of people, huh?"

"Want to go to the chicken area?"

Ochazuke suggested in response to Peter’s mutter. Compared to solo players, full parties like us were fewer during the day, and the chicken area was relatively empty, so it would probably be empty at night too.

"I wonder what enemies change between day and night. I saw someone fighting the snakes near the gate."

The area near the gate was overwhelmingly crowded with people, so even if I looked around, I couldn’t find the snakes.

"Yesterday, I used [Perception] to avoid them on the map, so I didn’t get close."

We should have checked what night enemies were out there, Peter said.

"Are they tougher than slimes?"

"I want to go after getting new weapons, but the shops are closed at night."

"Don’t worry! I don’t care!!"

We confirmed that we wouldn’t get close to the water at night and headed to the area where the chickens were during the day.

It seems everyone had [Night Vision]. I feel a bit guilty because I think I’m the only one with the initial equipment.

The night enemies were active, and as we were running, we got tangled up with snakes. Leo had properly used [Stealth] this time, so it was Shin who got tangled up.

"Ah! Sorry!"

"Stupid~!"

Kikuhime hurriedly hit the two snakes to take the target.

"It’s okay, don’t worry about it."

"Leo’s trap. Even though it was Shin who got tangled up, it feels like Leo set it up."

Shin also had [Night Vision], and the grassland was flat, so I think he could have avoided it visually even without [Perception] if there was no one in front. When Leo used [Stealth], the range where he avoided the snakes was where Shin ended up. It was too close to avoid, guide!

"Maybe I should take [Perception]? The quality of the guide is not reliable."

"[Stealth] is also good to take. If it’s available, it reduces enemy detection during battles."

"Hahaha"

Peter can also lead the way to avoid enemies, but since Leo was running at the front, he ended up following. Sadly, I’m a slow-moving magician with [Night Vision] and [Perception] but can’t lead.

If we scatter and get tangled up solo, it’s troublesome, so we’re moving together to ensure we can fight as a party. The guide leads the way to avoid enemies, and it’s understood that Leo or Peter, who have [Perception] and are fast, will do it.

I took [Stealth]. 3SP is a lot, but it’s much better than finely adjusting attacks to avoid being targeted by enemies in a party.

"Ah~ Poison~!"

Kikuhime screamed as her HP bar slowly decreased. It didn’t seem to be a strong poison, so I was relieved while hitting the snake with a Water Needle. If it gets dangerous, I’ll use a spell! I really mean it.

The poison status effect disappeared after the battle.

《Obtained 2 Brim Snake Skins》

《Obtained 2 Brim Snake Fangs》

《Obtained Brim Snake Venom》

《[Cooking] added to skill list》

Was it from yesterday?!!

"[Poison Resistance] came~"

"[Cooking]"

Peter said with a suppressed laugh.

"Why cooking!?"

"It’s definitely Homura’s fault."

Peter was laughed at for being too focused on food last night. By the way, before meeting up, Leo and Peter went to the market stalls, while the others shopped at the stores facing the square. Rather, it seems Leo and Peter hadn’t experienced the stores on the square, and they took turns waiting for me near the guild, so I’m sorry.

"Cooking is impossible for now, so let’s put it aside. [Poison Resistance] would be nice to have."

"Should we all get bitten?"

That’s how it turned out.

We successfully added [Poison Resistance] to everyone’s skill list. We talked about getting [Slime Resistance] when we level up and it becomes easier, and then we arrived at the chicken area. Instead of the chickens, there were big rats, Brim Rats, scattered around the grassland, contrary to our expectation that they would be in groups.

"Let’s start, shall we?"

"I’ll lure them!"

Leo ran out and brought a Brim Rat. Active enemies will chase you if you get within their attack range, so the fast Leo or Peter would bring them to where we were waiting, and Kikuhime would hit them to change the target and start the battle. It’s faster to have someone use themselves as bait to lure the enemy than to move to where the enemy is scattered.

It’s a set where Leo forgets to use [Stealth] and lures the enemy when he doesn’t need to.

"Rats, they’re disgusting~!"

With their red-black eyes, scaly tails, and hard fur, even I, who like hamsters, find them repulsive, especially the tail.

"「[Back Attack]」"

"「[Dragon] Thrust!」"

"「[Iron Ball]!」"

"「[Throw]!」"

"「[Slash]!」"

"「[Heaven] Crouch!」"

It’s our first time fighting this enemy, so we’re going all out.

《Obtained Brim Rat Skin》

《Obtained Brim Rat Tail》

《Obtained Brim Rat Venom》

It’s good that we can’t see it, that tail.

"We took it down easily~"

Shin said while looking at where the Brim Rat was.

"Ochazuke, how did you get [Throw]?"

"I just threw a stone I found."

It seems the thieves had it as an initial skill. I’ll add it to my list later.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Disgusting~"

Well, Shin and I threw stones, which didn’t do much damage, and if we hadn’t used [Back Attack], which consumes a lot of EP, we wouldn’t have been able to take down the Brim Rat in two turns.

It’s good that we could take it down, but it called for help! Two more rats joined, and we managed to take down the first one, but one was left, and it called for more. Rats, they multiply like rabbits!

In the end, we spent five turns and took down eleven Brim Rats. Is this efficient or not? Solo players are out of the question!

"Getting bitten by rats is a shock~"

They have poison, and Kikuhime is in a bad state.

"It might be tough, but should we go to Dodo’s place?"

"We have plenty of MP potions, so it’s fine."

"Same here."

Shin’s suggestion was accepted by me and Ochazuke. In the real world, Kikuhime is also afraid of rats.

"Sorry, can I take one more? I need ten tails, and I have nine now."

"Uu~ I’ll try my best."

"Ah, I’ll give you one of my tails."

I have twelve tails, even though I don’t like them. Rather, I have nine skins.

So, I exchanged tails and skins with Peter and moved on. We also exchanged with the others to have ten tails and skins each.

At Dodo’s place, there were red-spotted frogs croaking. From their color, I guessed they were poisonous, and it seems the night plains are full of poisonous enemies.

"Hey, does [Poison Resistance] only increase if you get poisoned