Chapter 6

"Hey! You there?"

"Huh?"

I had fallen asleep while reading a book. Hearing the call "Hey!" again, I hurried to the front door and found Leonis there.

When I opened the door, it was already evening. The sky was tinged red, and the sun was setting behind the mountains to the west, making the surroundings gradually darker.

"What's up?"

"I've finished my guild work. I was worried about leaving you here without any explanation."

"Oh, thank you. I was just cleaning the house."

I smiled and led him inside, but the place was covered in dust everywhere. When Leonis ran his finger along a shelf, a line of dust appeared.

I knew what he was thinking. It was obvious I hadn't cleaned at all.

But the room wasn't the only one. The other rooms were clean... just one room.

"...Is this it?"

"I started with the bedroom! The upper floor is a bit better. I'll clean the rest bit by bit."

"Got it. Let me show you the market. We should get the necessary supplies. And, have you eaten yet?"

"Is that okay?"

I was grateful that he was taking care of me even after the training was over. I decided to take him up on his offer.

Yeah, he's a good person. Yeah.

Ulterior motives? No, no... well, sometimes he narrows his eyes as if reminiscing, so maybe there's something, but it doesn't seem to be romantic.

"Yeah. I couldn't leave you to cause trouble. I thought I should explain a bit more. Also, I have the contract for this house. I need to explain the contents. And, you won't know the prices without actually shopping, right?"

"Thank you. ...I'll definitely repay you. I'll work hard to return the favor. But... if you could wait until I get on track, that would be great."

"Alright, alright. Let's go."

"Yes, thank you."

I knew I was relying on him too much. I needed to find a way to repay him properly.

At the market, Leonis explained various items necessary for gathering as an adventurer, such as a small knife, a canteen, a magic bag (mini), a shovel, and pruning shears.

The most interesting item was a magic device that contained a magic stone instead of a clock. When the magic stone was placed inside, it would break over time. It turned out that one small magic stone breaking indicated about an hour had passed, similar to a clock. For a tiny magic stone, it was about one-tenth of that, probably around 5-6 minutes.

Actually, there were clocks... apparently. First, valuable treasure chests and artifacts had portable clocks that showed accurate time. While they hadn't been deciphered, large clocks had been recreated in the capital and major cities. "I don't really understand, but they're big and have become tourist attractions," he explained.

I thought it would be a hassle to break magic stones individually to check the time, but apparently, the town's bells rang at 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, and 6 PM to announce the time. By inserting a magic stone in sync with the bell, one could estimate the time. The most common device held 10 magic stones, but larger ones could hold 30.

He also recommended weapon and tailor shops. When I had more time, I should buy a pickaxe and an axe for gathering.

Incidentally, the blacksmith next door was a factory and didn't have products on display. The store was in the eastern district. They specialized in large swords and hammers, and their armor didn't fit me, so they weren't recommended. Still, since I had moved in next door, I should visit to introduce myself.

After shopping, we headed to Leonis's house. His wife, Diana, greeted us.

"Oh, you brought a cute kid."

"Yeah. It's related to today's work. A promising new adventurer."

"Um, I'm sorry for the intrusion. My name is Crein. I... received a lot of help from Leonis today at the guild."

"Hehe, no need to be so nervous. I'm Diana. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

Diana was a cool, stylish older sister type with a sharp expression, about a decade younger than Leonis. She was beautiful but had a slightly shadowed look.

It was our first meeting, so I didn't ask for details, but she might have her own story.

This beautiful woman was a former adventurer. She looked fit and well-trained. Leonis had recently retired, and they both seemed like they could still be active. However, they seemed more like comrades than a couple. They weren't unfriendly, but it didn't feel romantic.

"...So, you don't have to wait at the guild today?"

"Yeah, for now. There's no significant activity right now, so I left it to someone else today."

Waiting at the guild... did that mean he was on standby, maybe even staying overnight to handle newcomers?

Well, it was necessary for maintaining order. The guild had a strict system, and Leonis had been busy, unable to return home.

"Um... when did the newcomers start appearing?"

"Yesterday evening... four appeared initially, one entered the town and claimed to be a hero at the guild, causing trouble. Yesterday, about 7-8 more appeared sporadically. Today, there were around 20, and only one other person and a group entered the town besides you."

"...Since yesterday. ...I think the deadline is probably until the date changes today."

It was a hunch, but I thought the one hour in the white space was equivalent to one day here. I arrived on the third day, and with about 30 minutes to spare, I came here in the morning, so it seemed to match.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we were given a time limit to come to this world. I think the deadline is until the date changes today. The numbers increased today because the time was running out. The first ones probably rushed to get a head start..."

They wanted to get an advantage, but one ended up in jail, and it was a spectacular failure. Honestly, the low level of trust and high alert made the newcomers seem dangerous.

"You can't know the details about the newcomers, so don't worry. Tomorrow's training will have the old herbalist joining us to teach you about herbs and how to gather them."

"Really? Is that okay? I can't afford it."

The sudden change in topic was surprising, but if a real herbalist was teaching me, it would be incredibly helpful. Not just the types but also the proper way to gather them, which was crucial for quality. I really wanted to learn to earn money.

"Yeah, the old lady wants to teach you properly so that you don't gather herbs incorrectly. I'll be there to protect you, so don't worry."

"Um... I don't have the money for a bodyguard..."

"It's fine. I owe the old lady from my active days, so I can't refuse her. I'll guard you, so don't worry."

"Thank you."

Bodyguard... I might as well observe how it's done. It would take time to learn, but seeing an example would be beneficial for the future. Basically, it's about not exposing her to danger... for an older person, I need to be careful of their footing and pace.

"The old lady will also teach you the basics of alchemy. However, it might take more than three hours, so be prepared for tomorrow."

"...Can I pay later?"

"Huh? I think the old lady will have you supply herbs regularly. That's why she's teaching you."

"I see... I understand. I'll remember and repay her."

I see. If I can supply herbs directly, I won't be without work. The problem is... if Leonis used to supply them, it might mean gathering from dangerous places. Given my current abilities, I can't handle such dangerous areas.

"Um, about the training... what exactly do they teach?"

"Hmm... it depends on the instructor. Generally, guild staff are the instructors. For this trip, I got special permission to use my connections. Most training is for combat skills for aspiring adventurers. Some change their weapons and need training. For example, someone who used a sword might suddenly want to use a spear but not know how. They might eventually figure it out on their own, but it's better to learn from an instructor. Magic training is rare because the instructors don't visit the town often. Other topics include gathering, dissection, and appraisal. The training is for skills and abilities, but not everyone learns them. Even if you pay, you might not learn."

I understood, but not entirely. There are different types of training, and while you can learn non-combat skills, the success rate depends on the instructor and the individual's aptitude. Without the right aptitude, you might not learn at all. Aptitude is important, but there's no way to determine it. If you fail, you have to try again or give up. If you really want to learn, it's up to your personal effort.

"Will I learn gathering and alchemy tomorrow?"

"If there's time, we'll do alchemy, but probably just gathering. Don't worry, just try your best. I'll be there to help."

Indeed... having a strong person around when going out for the first time is reassuring. I won't be the one being protected, but it's comforting to have someone there as a safety measure. Adventurers are called to fight in emergencies by the lord's order, so they need to be strong. If I go solo, I need to learn combat skills when I can.

"Thank you."

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the adventurer's guild and take a herb-gathering quest. It involves delivering several herbs, but the types aren't fixed. After that, meet me at the west gate. The east gate might have newcomers, so we'll use the west gate. The meeting time is 10 AM."

"Got it."

We set the meeting time and received a brief explanation of the local geography and monsters. We were advised to actively eliminate monsters along the road to prevent them from becoming a threat. I was told that after leveling up a few times, I wouldn't lag behind the monsters near the town. Until then, I should approach with caution.

We also received training on monster characteristics, combat, and escape techniques. Running blindly and causing trouble for other adventurers could result in losing my license and job. The guild would expel me if I caused problems.

I thought it would have been better to receive this information during the training, but apparently, each adventurer has their own style, and much of the advice wouldn't be useful. I was told to take it as a reference and think for myself to survive long-term. The approach depends on the quest, and flexibility is key. If it doesn't suit you, you should retire to avoid losing your life. It's a harsh world.

Using your brain is also important. Few listen to advice, and many have bad habits... the last part sounded like a complaint, but it seemed the guild staff had a tough time managing adventurers.

"Are we done?"

"Yeah, if he understood everything."

"...I'm fine. I wish I could take notes... but paper is expensive."

"Hehe, you're serious. I think I have some paper. ...Here, take it."

"Really? Is that okay?"

I was given a stack of notebook-sized paper. Paper is expensive... I had given up on buying it earlier because of the cost. Was it really okay to take it?

"I don't use it. It's valuable, so I keep it. If you can use it, that's better."

"Thank you."

"Hehe, don't be so stiff. Adventurers are selfish, but if you take responsibility for your actions, they won't bother you. He's just worried about you."

"I'll do my best."

"Yeah, good luck."

After that, we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Diana. The seasoning was a bit simple... apparently, there are fewer seasonings in this world.

After eating, Diana gave me advice and necessary information from a woman's perspective. Properly handling toilet issues and concealing your figure were important. For solo adventurers, how to camp at night was also crucial. Being attacked while sleeping is no joke. A simple solution was to hire a companion from the Tamer's Guild for protection, but it was expensive. For now, day trips would suffice, and I should save money.

Diana also gave me a diary to record important information, my status, and what I learned to survive in this world.