Chapter 5

"Shut up! Don't lecture me!"

Fujihira shouted at us with hostility.

"It's not a lecture. If you cause a commotion, we'll get burned too, so I'm trying to stop you."

Kou... It's as if he's saying, "A traveler's shame is to be cast aside." Don't you think you're mistaken about what you can do? We're in a mysterious world where we don't know what will happen tomorrow. It's surprising that we've made it this far in just one day. If you think about it, I haven't even been able to cope with the sudden situation myself.

"The reward is low, but you can take on small jobs even if you're not an adventurer."

The receptionist points to the bulletin board. This seems to be a job on the level of part-time work or something similar. I can't read it, though.

"Hmph! Just because I'm not an adventurer doesn't mean I can't survive in this world! I'll do what I want! Seriously, being exiled is so annoying..."

And he storms out of the Adventurer's Guild. He's setting up a death flag. In a mystery, he'd be dead in the next scene. But being exiled... Isn't it more like he's leaving on his own? It feels more like a grudge.

"Really... He's a complete mystery."

I can't help but complain as I watch Fujihira's back.

"He seems to have a tendency to steal, and I'm worried he might be charged with the dagger incident later."

Classmate Hino is worried about Fujihira. Shouldn't we report it?

"There's no point in worrying. I can't deal with his arrogant attitude anymore."

"Yeah, but..."

We can only think ourselves lucky to have distanced ourselves before we got involved.

"That's the end of the explanation. Fortunately, the Adventurer's Guild is currently recruiting soldiers. What do you think?"

"Wait a minute."

After saying that to the person in charge, I talk with the remaining classmates.

"What do you think? Should we join the military to become adventurers?"

"Does it make sense? We just want to know what this world is like, right?"

Indeed... To put it bluntly, there's a big difference between fighting as a soldier in a foreign world arranged by the country and joining the military to become an adventurer. Of course, as Fujihira said, there might be other options. We could find a live-in job somewhere and choose to live that way. But this is a different world, after all. Fujihira probably meant that. In other words, we're students who have ended up on the streets of a different world in just one day.

"Even if we put off making a decision, how can we learn more about this world? What exactly does the military do?"

In response to my question, the person in charge shows us more detailed materials with illustrations.

"First, we'll teach you emergency first aid and the basics of being a soldier, such as martial arts and field knowledge. If you aspire to be an adventurer, we'll teach you what you need to know as an adventurer, how to treat your companions, and countless other things. You'll also perform duties in various places as a soldier of the country."

"I see."

In terms of learning, the military might not be a bad choice. After all, obtaining qualifications means acquiring knowledge and culture. It's not easy to get a national qualification. In our world, in some countries, you can get a national qualification by serving in the military. When you think about it, it's not so strange. Since there are options for aspiring adventurers, there must be other options as well. The military service period might be longer, for example.

"And once you become an adventurer, you'll be issued an adventurer card as a qualification, and you'll be able to check your status without using the terminal."

"...Status?"

"Yes."

...The conversation between the person in charge and us comes to a halt. They know we are from a different world, but they explained it as if we were new wanderers from somewhere. It seems that the most fundamental common knowledge in this world is something we should know.

Status... Is it the status from games? Not the kind of status that evaluates appearance or something. Probably not. But I can't find a way to start the conversation. Alright, let's check out this terminal.

"Is this the terminal?"

I point to something that looks like a monolith floating in the guild. There were similar things in the castle's garden and near the town's fountain. It's like a save point in a game.

"Yes."

It seems I'm not mistaken. I approach the terminal and lightly touch it with my finger. A light appears, and then it floats up.

Usagi Yukichi Lv1 Erosion Rate 0.03%

Possessed Skills: Foreign World Language Understanding 1 No: L Charge

Skill Points: 10

Hmm... There are also gauges that look like health, stamina, and magic. If you have game experience, you can guess what they mean. ...What is this erosion rate? And is it eroding on its own? Is it some kind of status effect? I slowly run my finger over it and press the button to close it, and the light disappears.

"It's like a game."

Fujihira should have checked this place to understand better.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yes."

So, I talk with Hino and the other classmates again.

"It seems there are game-like elements in this world. There are statuses and levels."

"It sounds interesting and easy to understand."

"Basically, if your level is high, you'll be fine."

I don't deny it. It's a very straightforward element. The fact that foreigners can become strong and have a lot of initial skill points might be related. Maybe a ritual can make your status visible anywhere.

"However, there's an erosion rate and some strange skills."

"Huh? Is that so?"

The classmates confirm.

"Yeah. What's No: 5 Charge?"

"Huh? I have No: L Charge..."

Hino has No: 5 Charge, and I have No: L Charge... What's the difference?

"Maybe it's a personal difference. Anyway, what is this erosion rate?"

When I ask the person in charge, they tilt their head.

"What do you mean? If there's something abnormal, it's best to get treatment immediately."

They look genuinely unaware. If it started at zero and has increased slightly, what does it mean? Hmm... I don't understand, but it doesn't seem good.

"Maybe it's better to report it later?"

"Yeah."

"Still, what are we going to do from now on?"

"Hmm..."

Everyone is deep in thought. It might be good to complain about the system like Fujihira and start something. But since there are benefits for adventurers, such as higher buyback prices, it seems advantageous to have qualifications for transactions involving items.

"Still, we can observe for a few more days and look around, right?"

"Yeah!"

"Thank you for the talk."

"Not at all. It seems you're looking for a place to stay tonight. Would you like us to arrange a cheap inn for you?"

Oh, it feels like the arrangements from the castle are well-organized. So, we received an introduction letter from the person in charge of the Adventurer's Guild and stayed at a cheap inn for the night. We used the money we received to look around the town a bit and get a feel for the place. It was a good opportunity to learn about the daily life of this different world. We heard that monsters are quite common outside the town, and it's dangerous without proper equipment.

On the third day in this different world, we talked among ourselves and decided what to do next. We discussed in the square.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go back to the castle. I don't feel the need to join the military to become an adventurer, and if I have to fight, I think it's better to be a soldier in this different world under the protection of the country."

"Even if we don't fight, it's better to get job recommendations under the protection of the country. I agree."

"I might try the military for a bit. They said we can come back anytime."

"I've been walking around for the past three days and met an adventurer. I'll try being an apprentice for a bit."

Hino will be an apprentice under an adventurer... Everyone has been gathering information.

"Ah, I met the group that stayed at the castle yesterday. They checked their status too. The erosion rate is just because we're not used to the atmosphere of this different world. It's not that scary. If you're really worried, you can have a ritual to get rid of it."

"Wow, it's like a reaction to coming to this different world."

"They said the erosion rate item is gone."

It sounds plausible. But it feels a bit off, doesn't it? If it goes up to 30%, you might start feeling really heavy. If there's a way to get rid of it, I'd rather do it later. It feels like getting an injection at the hospital, which I don't like.

"What about Usagi?"

"I'm... I'm a bit scared of the ritual, so I think I'll try the military. I have the freedom to do what I want, and if it gets too hard, I can go back to the castle."

I'm not just saying it off the top of my head, but I'm a bit interested in the military. I'm not a military otaku, but I'm interested in ranks and the slightly privileged position. I was involuntarily summoned, after all. I don't want to encounter classmates who are still in a panic if I go back to the castle. I don't like hysterical voices. And I don't have any other plans or close friends, and I'm not particularly good at communication. I'll do it when I have to.

"Alright."

So, I went to the Adventurer's Guild and talked to the person in charge, whom I had spoken to three days ago.

"Um, I want to join the military..."

"Understood. Our Reralia country's Adventurer's Guild accepts anyone. We expect you to hone your skills as a soldier for the sake of the country, yourself, and peace."

I felt a slight resistance to the idea of service, but I became a soldier and went to the training school that day. By the way, the classmate who joined the military with me quit after three days and went back to the castle.