Chapter 95

And so, with my level reaching 45, the deadline arrived, and I decided to return for a while.

Continuing to hunt like this would be fine, but everyone with jobs in the town below would start to have issues if they all took time off, so we all decided to return together.

I also have to unload various items to the nobles, and according to Ito, we've secured a job to go and defeat another suitable monster, so there's no problem.

"Wow, that was fun. We got to go to the beach, play around, level up, and gain new abilities. It was a great time."

Hagizawa was holding something that looked like a gem, with a satisfied smile on his face.

Is that the item he was aiming for?

"Growl?"

I should consider whether to branch out into kickboxing, but for now, let's return.

I need to search for more detailed distributions.

I don't think it's a good idea to search blindly.

"Alright everyone, let's return using the crystal ball."

"Okay!"

With that, the training camp ended without any major issues.

A few days later, we heard that the inn where we stayed had become one of the most comfortable places for adventurers to stay.

The next day, there were no significant changes...

"Hanehashi, where are we going hunting next?"

Ito started inviting me to go hunting.

I guess it's because our equipment is more or less complete and our levels have risen.

Still, I don't want to hinder Ito's level-up, so it will be another expedition.

Well, I can always return to Mochinobu's workshop whenever I want.

"Koichi, can you transfer the enchantment to this weapon?"

"Sure thing."

In any case, I'm helping Mochinobu with his work.

It's been quite busy.

"Since we just went hunting the other day... Can we take a break for a while? If Ito levels up during that time, we can level up more efficiently. I'll check in from time to time using visual transfer."

"Got it. When you're staying in a village near the hunting grounds, come over via transfer if you have some free time."

Ito said this and left the shop in a friendly manner.

Yeah, it's important for me to get stronger, but it's also important for Ito and the others to get stronger.

We're a team, so we all need to get stronger.

I feel like I'm starting to grasp that.

"Koichi, having the transfer ability is really convenient."

"Yeah, I think it's a good position to be in."

While Ito and the others are heading to the hunting grounds, I can help Mochinobu and everyone else with their businesses, and when I go hunting with them, I can get some experience points.

...Our equipment is pretty much complete, so it's just a matter of leveling up to be able to equip even stronger gear.

Thinking about this, I see Ramures playing with the game console Mochinobu gave him to pass the time while on guard duty.

He noticed my gaze.

"Wow, this game that the people from the other world own is really interesting."

Since he can't read the text, Mochinobu is having Ramures play an action game with a plumber character.

It's the DSP version that came out a while ago.

"By the way, Ramures, there are quite a few of your colleagues here, aren't there?"

In Mochinobu's workshop, four knights are gathered, watching Ramures play the game.

Actually, they seem to be taking turns playing.

It's like when a new game is released, and everyone gathers at the house of the person who has it.

"Ah? Oh... Hehe... I'm sorry."

I knew the otherworldly people's entertainment was interesting to them from the trip to the beach.

It seems my intuition was right.

"Among the knights of the country, guarding Sakaeda's workshop is very popular. I'm the dedicated guard, and the other knights are envious."

"So, different knights come to guard Mochinobu and Hagizawa on a daily basis."

Ramures nodded apologetically.

"Also, there's a high demand for guarding the homes of Yorifugi and Kuromoto."

Ito and Kuromoto's homes?

They're hardly ever there, right?

Ito is always out hunting and usually away from home, and Kuromoto's place feels more like a library.

Kuromoto is often searching for materials in the national archives and sometimes goes hunting with Ito, carrying magic books.

"Their homes have a collection of manga from the other world, and Kuromoto translates them for the knights to enjoy."

I see.

So Ito and Kuromoto's homes have become a manga library and a place of relaxation for the knights?

By the way, does the concept of manga exist in this world?

...Now that I think about it, this is a world where people from the other world occasionally visit.

It wouldn't be strange if someone brought manga from Japan.

"The large influx of manga is thanks to Hanebashi, and as a result, more guards have been assigned."

"It looks like they're using it as an excuse to play games."

The knights all chuckled at Hagizawa's comment.

No, you should deny that, not laugh.

"By the way, I hear that the nobles are also interested in these game consoles. They're becoming a topic of conversation."

"Ah... Koichi, I smell business."

"Still, the power supply at my place is starting to run out."

I'm ordering a lot of generators online, but I need to figure out how to get fuel.

I'll have to test if there are any substitutes in this world.

Right now, my room in Japan... the power cords for the game consoles of my classmates are all tangled up, and there's no space to walk.

When I got home, my mother scolded me for causing another power outage.

It wasn't the first time, but... sometimes things just don't add up.

"The national library is considering adding Kuromoto's manga collection. They're thinking about charging points or money for viewing."

"That's something to discuss with Kuromoto. I can't just order more manga since I don't understand the language here."

Still, it seems that subculture has become popular through word of mouth.

If we can get regular points, it wouldn't be a bad deal.

"Since the people from the other world were seen enjoying games and manga with countless citizens and adventurers during the beach trip, there's a lot of interest."

"It seems like it could be a good source of income."

"We'll have to discuss it with Kuromoto."

In the end, Kuromoto agreed, and I had the manga I bought translated and added to the library.

During the beach training camp, Kuromoto apparently gained the ability to translate text, making it easy for people in this world to read books.

...It took a lot of courage to buy a large number of manga from Japanese bookstores.

When the general public access to the library was made available for a fee, both adventurers and citizens flocked to it.

While manga does exist in this world, the scale is different.

The paper quality is poor, but there are publishers, and they've received many offers to produce spin-offs.

I don't know how many points or money we've earned in total, but at least it's equivalent to 4 million points, which is half the monthly usage fee for the library.

The usage fee itself was set relatively low.

Still, when I saw the long line of people heading to the library, I was surprised.

I'm aware that obtaining copyright for Japanese works in another world is probably illegal, but I don't know how to apply for rights in Japan.

Selling rights and paying a percentage of royalties to the authors in another world... it's difficult to prove the existence of another world.

I'm not recognized as being in another world.

Meanwhile, the popularity of the games has increased, and more people are asking Mochinobu's workshop and the country for help.

"It feels like we're earning points in units that aren't even spices..."

Looking at the points we've earned, we started a night meeting with the class.

Many of us are still out hunting, though.

"Isn't that good, Hanehashi?"

The class representative smiled as if it were his own success.

"Everyone is succeeding in their businesses. Some are doing well without Hanehashi's help."

He's talking about classmates with skills like sewing.

She doesn't need to fetch items from Japan and is doing well, rivaling Mochinobu's workshop by working with adventurers and nobles.

Creating clothes and armor is essential for battling monsters, so they don't skimp on money.

She's also gaining abilities similar to Mochinobu's.

Adventurers who prefer light armor are going to her instead of Mochinobu.

She also has an advantage because she can take orders for pajamas and tents.