Chapter 18

At the age of three, I finally learned to walk.

So, I decided to go out.

Actually, I had been able to walk for about half a year, but due to walking practice and the maid's nagging, it took until today. I hadn't even confirmed with Father or Mother.

"Father, may I go to the town? Can you give me permission?"

"Hmm? Hmm, well... Alright! I'll assign about ten knights to you."

(Do I need that many!)

"No, two would be enough. If I bring so many, we'll stand out more."

"But what if something happens to you?"

"It's fine, Father. Hardly anyone knows my face."

"But that's not the point..."

"?"

After a while, I finally understood what he was worried about.

(An assassination attempt from him?)

But I think it's too early for that. Even if it gets out that I've gone outside, I think it should be fine.

Father seemed to agree.

"Alright, I'll allow it on the condition that you take a maid and four knights. And don't go near places where the maid says not to. Promise not to go outside the surrounding walls."

"Yes! I understand! I'll be on my way."

"Be careful."

"Sure thing."

Creak

After giving a flippant response, I heard the sound of a chair being hastily pulled away from behind me.

So, I found myself at the front gate of the castle-like house.

And I was with one maid and four knights, who were dressed like knights. Actually, they were just ordinary human men, not women in disguise.

(Ah, I'm still nervous...

This is my first time outside. I'm excited too.

I have the map memorized. I remember where all the shops are!)

It's time to set off.

By the way, I firmly refused the carriage.

(No, that's not how I want to experience my first time outside.)

It would be like going on a Kyoto tour in a taxi.

While I don't deny that it might be useful, what I want to know is the town itself.

There are things you can't understand from books.

I think there's meaning in slowly exploring it on foot.

There was something I wanted to say when I first went outside.

It's just for show.

To boost my morale.

I want to do it.

To redo the life I messed up, failed, and gave up on in my previous life.

So I want to say this:

"Alright, let's start, my life."

I whispered this with all the hope I could muster.

---

I wandered around the town.

From the outside, it didn't look like much, but it's a lively and nice town, I think.

A white castle stands prominently in the center, surrounded by various colored roofs and brick buildings.

(Seeing this makes me feel like I was reborn in a different place.)

But it doesn't make me feel like I was reborn in another world.

There are many different races around.

The most common are humans, followed by beastmen, and then the dwarf-like coal miners. Elves rarely leave their villages, so they weren't there.

At first, I was excited, but gradually, the stares started to hurt.

"I guess I do stand out..."

The knights create a tense atmosphere around me, so I can't help but stand out.

I originally planned to walk alone, but the maid insisted on holding my hand, so she's walking slightly bent over next to me.

We went to a weapon shop.

"Ah, you must be the young master of a noble family!

Thank you for visiting our shop.

What kind of weapon are you looking for today?"

He spoke while looking at the maid.

(Ugh...)

I flinched a bit when he suddenly spoke to me.

Among the six of us, my silk clothing is clearly high-quality.

Even without that, the knights would suggest I'm at least a noble.

I told the maid to step back so I could look around slowly and carefully.

She seemed a bit surprised but quickly regained her composure.

"Understood! If you need anything, please let me know."

She stepped back.

My target was a bow.

I'd rather not engage in close combat with swords or spears.

So, it's either a bow or a staff.

Since staves are sold at magic item shops, I came here just for the bow.

Of course, I knew there wouldn't be any magical bows.

I received five gold coins (an amount that could feed a family of five for two months if saved) as pocket money from Father, so I could afford an iron bow.

But the castle already has such items in stock, so there's no need to buy them.

"Right."

I nodded and left the shop.

Next, I entered a magic item shop. (The owner greeted me, but I'll skip that part.)

I was prepared this time, so it was fine.

Everything was fine.

It's not true that I was gripping the maid's hand tightly.

Unlike the weapon shop, the items here were not from Earth, so my heart raced.

Especially with the Divine Eye skill, I could see the effects, making the value clear at a glance.

The prices were written on wooden tags, but they seemed variable, with signs of being erased and rewritten.

Generally, potions that instantly heal HP are quite expensive.

Gradual healing potions and herbs are about twice as expensive.

As for staves, the castle already has them in stock, so only substitutes were available.

I looked around, but there wasn't anything particularly interesting.

Well, there was a level 9 light magic spellbook displayed in the back of the store.

I want that.

But it costs five hundred large gold coins.

There's no way I can afford it.

Well, to be precise, if I really wanted to, I could buy it...

But I stopped because the maid was staring at me.

After that, I tried to enter the adventurers' guild but was stopped.

"This is a gathering of rough people. Please don't enter to avoid any trouble."

(I wanted to see what it was like inside...)

But it's not worth causing trouble, so I gave up.

Next, I went to the slave market.

I thought I might be stopped, but I wasn't.

Maybe it's part of social education?

(Oh man, I'm getting excited!!)

I entered the shop, feeling excited.

---

What was all that about?

→It's a prologue, what do you think?

So long!

→It's life, so m(_ _)m

10,000 copper coins → 1,000 large copper coins → 100 silver coins → 10 gold coins → 1 large gold coin