âSo that means you came to rescue me right away?â (Rebecca)
I should apologize here.
âYeah, but Rebecca, itâs a fact that you were kidnapped, because I was involved with a dark guild. Sorry.â (Shuuya)
Rebecca shakes her head, showing her disagreement with my claim.
ââ No, thatâs not it. Shuuya, you came to rescue me. Thank you. Iâm very grateful right now, okay?â (Rebecca)
Rebeccaâs face is blooming with a bright smile.
âAnyway, Iâm glad that you survived.â (Shuuya)
While addressing her with a smile of my own, I look at the Thinking Steel Cloth of Darkness at her feet.
Other, similar items probably exist, so I have to be careful next time.
âYeah, but you knowâŠlearning that a dark guild did it, I was terrified.â (Rebecca)
Rebecca turns her gaze to the corpse of the dark guild leader while smiling stiffly with a short, nervous laugh.
As sheâs laughing, she wraps her arms around herself as if feeling cold.
Is she trembling?
I have to give her some peace of mindâŠ
ââŠThe people, who attacked us this time will never bother me again, let alone harm you, Rebecca.â (Shuuya)
Relieved by my words, Rebecca nods with a weak grin.
âOki, understood. I donât want to stay here any longer, not with the corpse; so letâs head out. I was in the middle of taking you to the market.â (Rebecca)
Rebecca heads towards the stairs after a quick brush down of her knees.
Taking Viine with me, we descend from the Japanese-styled houseâs second floor to the first.
Rebecca leaves the house and examines the surroundings.
âI guess weâre in the part of the slum quarters that connects to the warehouse district⊠Itâs a nasty place. Câmon, letâs get out of here.â (Rebecca)
Iâm surprised she could identify where we are.
As expected of someone living in this city for a long time.
While Iâm looking at Rebeccaâs state, Rollo becomes big with a puff of smoke and transforms into a Horse Lion.
ââWhoaa, Rollo-chan. Amazing. No matter how often I witness it, your instant transformation is really cool. You have become more mature and your nose bridge has extended in length, but rather than the face of a cat, itâs, hmm~, that of a black panther or a lion. Your eyes are still red, cute, and stylish though.â (Rebecca)
Rebecca, caresses, hugs, and rubs her face against the grown RollodeenHorse Lionâs face and nape as if to check the quality of her fur.
Even while having her body touched by Rebecca, Rollo entwines a tentacle around the waists of Viine and me and lifts us up.
Just like that, we are moved to the top of her big back.
ââ Come on, Rebecca! Get on instead of caressing Rolloâs fur. Ah, which reminds me, will it be alright with all three of us riding you, Rollo?â (Shuuya)
âNn, nyaon.â
Rollo answers with a determined voice giving off the feeling of âLeave it to me.â
Itâs a voice that truly overflows with the confidence of someone who would be alright even if a hundred people were riding her.
Iâm pretty sure that itâs not a manner of saying âUwaaaaaaaaah.â
âI will ride behind Shuuya, rig-kyaaââ (Rebecca)
âNya.â
In the middle of talking, a tentacle wraps around Rebeccaâs waist, lifts her up without effort, then places her right behind me.
âRollo-chan, thatâs too sudden.â (Rebecca)
Rebecca complains, but she properly wraps both her arms around my waist.
I donât feel the pressure of her breasts on my back.
Viine, who was glued to me before, has overwhelming marshmallow-like proportions.
I mean, Rebecca is a flat-chest-chan after all.
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âWait a moment? You canât be thinking about something rude by chance, are you?â (Rebecca)
Rebecca says over my shoulder. Uah, how perceptive.
Are you Eva-san with her mind-reading?
Since I canât say that, I answer while giving a laugh,
â⊠Haha, just what are you talking about? Letâs go.â (Shuuya)
I deceive her with an unconcerned expression.
That means itâs time to depart.
RollodeenHorse Lion travels through the city with the three of us on her back.
She reaches the speed of an average horse without too much accelerating.
Traveling through alleys and coming out at a main street by Rebeccaâs guidance, we arrive at the market which is overflowing with liveliness, as its name ăFree Marketă suggests.
âWe are hereââ (Rebecca)
Rebecca flicks an arm towards the crowded market and gets off RollodeenHorse Lion
Since sheâs small, she has to jump off.
âMy home is close by. I often work at Betty-sanâs place.â (Rebecca)
âBetty-san?â (Shuuya)
âThe tea seller Betty. Itâs a fairly well-known name in the free market.â (Rebecca)
âLetâs see. I guess I want to have a look then.â (Shuuya)
âAlright. Itâs this way.â (Rebecca)
The place Rebecca led me to is a shop specialized in teas.
Various tea leaves, from green to roasted light brown, are sold as loose leaves and kept in open bags.
The leaves in the open bags have an extremely cheap price.
Itâs a price around that of an ice pop.1 The expensive tea leaves are in closed bags.
â⊠Oh, Rebecca, is that the magic spear user, you mentioned, the one whose party you joined recently?â (Betty)
Inside, the elderly woman with slanted eyes chats us up.
It looks like she has been told Iâm a magic spear user.
Although she seems like a strong-willed old woman; I suppose I will greet her first.
âYes, Iâm called Shuuya Kagari. I formed a party with Rebecca.â (Shuuya)
âI see, I see. Please take care of Rebecca.â (Betty)
The grey-haired woman grins.
âYes.â (Shuuya)
âWell then, Betty-san. I will guide him towards the market, okay?â (Rebecca)
âBe on your way then. And make him properly yours.â (Betty)
Make me hers? Is she telling Rebecca and me to get married?
Well, Rebecca is cute, so sheâs one of the women I would want to get married to.
Leaving the tea shop and the old woman with her self-satisfied expression, we head towards the market.
When Iâm listening to Rebeccaâs lecture about the deliciousness of melon-like fruit candies that are sold at a little water fountain, a man with a sturdy build and a frog face approaches.
Heâs glaring at us while radiating hatred.
âAinât that Rebecca? Leading a man around, what are you up to? No way, is he your boyfriend?â
âShut up. Donât come over here!â (Rebecca)
âHey, hey, thatâs rude. So, who is this guy?â
The frogman points one of his fat fingers at me.
âThat has nothing to do with you. Go somewhere else and get lost.â (Rebecca)
Rebecca bluntly rejects him.
âTsk, a man, ehâŠ? Even though I had my eyes on you first. You over there, just what are you!? Get away from Rebecca!â
And just who are you?
Trying to pick a fight all of a sudden, huh?
âThose arenât the words you use after appearing suddenly, are they? What is your relationship to Rebecca?â (Shuuya)
âIâm Rebeccaâs man.â
ââ Thatâs a lie! Shuuya, help me.â (Rebecca)
Itâs the first time for me to see Rebecca show such disgust on her face.
I guess this frogman is a type of stalker.
I recall the horseman from sometime ago, who followed around Quiche.
ââŠDonât worry, I will. Hey Frogman, you seem to be unwanted here. Itâs no good to be conceited, you know?â (Shuuya)
âThatâs a fucked up line. Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t! Dunâ act like an ikemen when you have such a flat face thatâs spouting such crapââ
The frogman curses.
And of all things, he draws a dagger and runs at me, slashing, from the distance.
âMaster, shall I squash that frog?â (Viine)
ăYour Excellence, please leave the divine punishment of that frog to me. Through his buttâs rear gateâŠă (Helme)
ăâŠUnnecessary.ă (Shuuya)
While talking telepathically with Helme, I also say to Viine,
âNo, I will deal with him.â (Shuuya)
I spread my overcoat, stretch out my hand, and summon the Magic Halberd.
I head towards the frogman approaching me and have his nether region eat the Magic Dragon Gem by drawing an arc from below as if scooping with the butt of the spear.
A dull, smashing sound reverberates.
âAhyaaah!â
The frogman leaks a weird voice.
The Magic Dragon Gem looks like it has blood and an odd juice from his nether region coating it; looks smelly.
Having his crotch completely destroyed, the frogman squats on the ground and faints.
I have to disinfect the filth. I pull back the Magic Halberd and make mana seep into the Magic Halberd to get rid of the stains on the Magic Dragon Gem.
I grow the ice sword from the Magic Dragon Gem and stab the frogâs knee, then slice the other knee. Itâs not an arrow, but Iâve made him bear a knee wound.
Iâm kind, am I not?
âGyaaaaa!â
He woke up from his unconsciousness, huh?
Itâs at the point of him being one step short of having his leg amputated.
Unless he immediately heals this with a potion, he will die.
Due to the spectacle and since itâs next to the market, curious onlookers are drawn in.
I guess I will stop around here. I store the Magic Halberd away.
âRebecca, did I go too farâŠ?â (Shuuya)
âNo, thank you for saving me. Itâs fine. I donât think that anyone will help him. After all, he was always bragging about being the guy who took control of a part of this area.â (Rebecca)
âI see. Then letâs leave him be.â (Shuuya)
âYeah.â (Rebecca)
I pull myself together and have Rebecca guide me to the free market.
âThe real market starts here. As you can see, various things are up for sale. But, since there are many people, make sure to not have your luggage stolen. Be cautious of pickpockets.â (Rebecca)
âPickpockets, eh? Got it. Rather than that, was it really okay to leave the guy just now lying there?â (Shuuya)
Iâm a bit worried.
I bend down to match Rebeccaâs small build and bring my face close to her.
â⊠Itâs alright. Thanksââ (Rebecca)
Eh? I got kissed.
âThis is your reward. You donât have to protect me so excessivelyââ (Rebecca)
Rebecca clasps her hands behind her back, the wand still between them.
âWell then, my guidance stops here. Shuuya, Viine, see ya~.â (Rebecca)
She says while bowing her head to bid farewell.
Thereâs an adorable smile thatâs full of vitality plastered on her face.
âYeah, see you again.â (Shuuya)
âYes.â
âAh, make sure to call me when you are going after the map, okay? I will also check the guild every day after tomorrow.â (Rebecca)
âGot it.â (Shuuya)
Rebecca looks at me with a gentle smile that she hasnât shown until now and nods.
For an instant, I became startled and was almost sucked into her blue eyes.
Cute⊠Next time I definitely want to kiss those small lips.
She goes back in the direction of the tea sellerâs shop.
Now then, guess itâs time to check out the market.
We blend in with the people going back and forth, starting our inspection of the stalls.
They are lined up on both sides of the market, all the way down the street. There are many stands that have been made out of simple wooden frameworks and normal tent curtains.
Their weathered conditions are conspicuous.
A great variety of races are rummaging through the merchandise sold at those stalls while jumbled together in a crowd.
Voices of excited merchants, who are pacing around, hit oneâs ears.
The road is wide and yet it feels narrow.
I stroll around aimlessly, wondering whether thereâs something like a lumber shop.
Be cautious of pickpockets is what Rebecca said.
Thatâs why Iâm keeping a watchful eye on the congested vicinity while I walk around.
Certainly, thereâs a group of thieves that seems to be doing just that.
Theyâre a mix of races, but all the perpetrators are children.
There are adults donning the appearances of merchants and adventurers with the role of supporters.
By cooperating, they steal bags out of backpacks, pouches out of pockets, and rings from hands without the targets noticing.
I suppose each of them has their respective role to play.
They look like a fairly skilled group.
Itâs amazing how their targets donât even realize.
Misdirection.
Itâs the technique of inducing oneâs gaze or turning the targetâs attention elsewhere.
âMaster, what are you looking for?â (Viine)
Viine asks while I was admiring the techniques of the pickpocket group.
I suppose my first goal is a lumber shop since I want to create chopsticks.
âFirst up is to find some wood. Since itâs fine for them to be as small as an evergreen oak or a cypress, Iâd like to get durable, tough wood. I want some olive oil as well. After that, let me thinkâŠI guess Iâd like to properly check out various ingredients. Besides, we will also need to buy your daily essentials, Viine.â (Shuuya)
âAh, donât worry. The basic things are inside this backpack.â (Viine)
Viine says while showing her back, butâŠ
To me, it doesnât look like there are too many items in her backpack.
âSince your bag is small, even if the basics are in there, everyday clothes or voluminous leather clothes are not, right?â (Shuuya)
âYes. There is a spare set of armor and arrows in there though.â (Viine)
âArmor and arrows, eh? Although armor is important, casual wear is too, right? Well then, as we are going to buy clothesâŠletâs first look at the foodstuff since there are many shops selling those things around here.â (Shuuya)
While restlessly checking the surroundings, trying to avoid the pickpocket group, I talk to the silver-haired Viine.
âOf course.â (Viine)
She shows an expression of approval and bows her head.
Like that we start walking while I let my gaze wander across the shops in the vicinity.
All of the products are clean and proper.
Similar to the foodstuffs sold at supermarkets, wooden blocks serving as price tags have been attached to the merchandise with the prices noted on them.
There are many shops selling vegetables, meat, and fruits.
Even pulse2 is sold.
There seem to be beans called Quali and Lelme, albeit they arenât referred to as soya beans.
Even peanuts with the name of Pesoto are sold.
These are slightly expensive.
Ah, that reminds me, I ate that kind of bean once, didnât I?
I remember. Itâs the stuff I ate together with Melissa in the high-class restaurant.
Melissa, I wonder howâs she doingâŠ?
Oh, the seeds of olives are sold nearby as well.
It looks like thereâs oil too. Several jars filled with the oil have been lined up.
Many various sizes of jars are being sold.
And, only the sellers around here have put up extravagant decorations and clean tent curtains.
Even the shopkeepers wear turbans and silk clothes, making them look like plump, rich people.
However, I wonât buy yet.
I pass through without stopping, returning to the vegetable shops.
All the vegetables seem to be fresh.
It makes me want to snack on them.
Thereâs plenty I want to buy, but I suppose I will start by adopting a wait-and-see approach while also buying little-by-little.
Having become sleepy at that point, Rollo leaves my shoulder and dives into my hood.
Oh well, shopping is free time for her after all. I will let her rest.
Without minding it, I pick out some vegetables and buy enough for about two days.
Something long, similar to a cucumber, with green, thick, fresh leaves.
Something resembling the union of a head of lettuce, a tomato, and an eggplant.
I also choose some cheap fava bean-lookalikes.
As for fruits, I bought several yellow, round fruits resembling kiwis or avocados.
After the vegetables, meatâs up next.
I move towards the shops with different curtains; theyâre located on the other side of the street.
They appear to be split into wild birds, processed meat, precooked meat, and monster meat.
I buy lean meat that seems to be some kind of pork at a butcher stall.
I put all the foodstuff I bought until now into one bag and put it into my item box.
At last, I get some olive oil jars at the shops with the clean tent curtains I passed through before.
Those three purchases go into my item box as well.
âWell then, next we will look for clothes and lumber shops.â (Shuuya)
âOkay.â (Viine)
While avoiding the pickpocket group, we search for a clothes shop.
As we walk, we move from the fresh food section at the east end towards the west end, where the merchandise changes into dry provisions and spices.
The dried items hang down from the ceiling supports. Open jute bags are lined up in great numbers right below.
Each and every bag is stuffed to the brim with various kinds of powders and grains.
⊠They are expensive as well.
There are price tags with silver, gold and platinum coin values written on them.
What scent is that, cumin? Cinnamon?
It appears there are spices I have seen on Earth and also some that are unique to this different world.
Maybe they can even produce curry or such? However, they are all red.
Naturally, I donât know any of their names either.
Suddenly I stumble upon a place with smoke rising from a corner.
How suspicious. I wonder what it is?
Since it piqued my curiosity, I approach the smoky area.
Over there I find tobacco and herb sellers.
Cigars that look high-class have been put into boxes. Cigars made out of parchment. Herbs that are bundled together. In addition, solid-looking stones are being sold as well.
Next to the store, thereâs a smoking area-like space where customers gather. Over there customers are chatting leisurely while breathing out smoke from their noses and mouths as they smoke cigars.
So I guess this is the smoke I saw earlier.
One of the customers is hitting stones against each other, trying to ignite his cigar with the flint-like stones.
As Iâm observing that, a voice is hurled at me.
âCustomer, what kind of cigars are you looking for?â
Iâm addressed with a shrill tone by a peculiar human shopkeeper who has a long beard thatâs tied at the chin like that of a hippy.
Are there various kinds? My interest wells up a bit.
â⊠What kind of cigars do you have?â (Shuuya)
âCigars made out of Engil Grass, which temporarily boosts oneâs physical strength, are popular. Although it causes a bit of intoxication, it has a slightly aromatic taste. And, the Magoma Grass over here is popular as well. It temporarily increases your mana and has a refreshing taste for the throat and head.â
Come again?
There are cigars with such effects?
My physical strength and mana will go up with those cigars?
âIâm sorry, but is tobacco good for the body?â (Shuuya)
I ask plainly.
âHaa? Isnât that only natural?â
The shopkeeper looks at me with an expression as if asking âWhatâs wrong with this guy?â
It seems to be the truth.
I wonder whether there isnât anything such as tar lungs or lung cancer?
âYou never heard about lung diseases or such?â (Shuuya)
âHaa? Thereâs nothing like that. Arenât you misunderstanding these for those shady magic drugs?â
âN-No.â (Shuuya)
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âGood griefâŠplease stop saying weird stuff. You are aware of the effect of the common healing tobacco called Luin Grass?â
Is it common knowledge? Healing tobacco Luin GrassâŠ
Um, I donât know it. It has turned into an atmosphere where I canât say that (with a smile).
â⊠Iâm sorry. I guess my questions were kind of odd. Please give me one box of those cigars made out of Magoma Grass and a set of magic fire stones to ignite it.â (Shuuya)
âEh? Understood, yes. Iâm happy to sell them to you. One box of Magoma cigars and firestones. That costs one silver coin and two large copper coins.â
I buy a box.
While showing a passable smile I put on quickly, I hand the money to the shopkeeper.
My set of flint stones and cigars were then placed in a box.
âThank you for your patronage~.â
The shopkeeper does a complete switch from an irritated expression to one of being pleased with himself.
While holding the box with the cigars and magic fire stones, I leave the shop.
âMaster, are you going to raise your mana?â (Viine)
Viine asks while standing next to me and looking at the box with the cigars.
âYeah, well, I guess soâŠâ (Shuuya)
I trail off while answering since I canât tell her that I bought it on impulse.
Even if Iâm going to smoke a cigar right now, it will be fine now.
For the time being, I put the box into the item box.
Once we pass through the tobacco sellers, shops selling ironware increase.
Passing them, Iâm finally able to find a place selling wood.
âYay, there it is.â (Shuuya)
âYes. They are also selling small pieces of wood.â (Viine)
âLetâs have a look.â (Shuuya)
The open-air, curtained display hasnât changed, but I can see raw timber that has been only cut, greenish wood, faintly black wood that gives off a high-grade feeling, and wood with a beautiful, reddish tinge have been placed on wooden shelves. Long, thin, processed lumber is displayed as well.
Moreover many idols made out of those types of wood are lined up.
The workmanship of the figures is magnificentâŠ
âOoh, you two there, making one feel as if you are Donarque & Sieglan of the Fujique Federation. Welcome. What kind of wood do you wish to buy?â
We are cordially addressed in such manner by the tiger race shopkeeper who is wearing Asia-styled clothes.
To begin with, Donarque & Sieglan refers to me and Viine?
Saying it in terms of my previous life, itâs Bonnie and Clyde?
Oh well, whatever. First I will praise the statues without listening to the other stuff.
âDid you make these figures?â (Shuuya)
âOh, you have a discerning eye. Those are wood figures my masters and I created using half of our lives while struggling through wind and rain. Did you take a fancy to them?â
I guess they continued making them on rainy and windy days.
âIndeed. Those are magnificent wood statues, but this time Iâm looking for small pieces of wood thatâs slightly tough.â (Shuuya)
âThen, this is the one for you. Itâs lumber originating from Fujique, which I bought from an acquaintance of the Golmog Merchant Group. Itâs lumber made out of pulpwood by someone possessing a chock wood and the lumber master skill. Itâs essential for a novice magician. Itâs a firm wood with normal mana conductivity. That means a short wand will be plenty.â
Itâs lumber with tawny-colored wood grains.
Though I donât intend to make a wand out of it. Oh well.
âHow much does it cost?â (Shuuya)
âItâs one silver coin.â
Thatâs how it is, I suppose.
Just in case I look at Viine.
âMaster, around that much is considered normal for a chock wood.â (Viine)
Although I made eye contact with Viine wondering whether she might know âsomethingâ about it, she certainly lives up to my expectations.
ăSheâs well-informed.ă (Helme)
ăIndeed.ă (Shuuya)
As Helme says, she isnât just putting up an expression overflowing with intelligence for show.
Iâm astonished that she also checked the market price of such wood.
It was spot on for Chianelas to have her learn various things to raise her value.
Her beauty and excellence are wonderful.
She seems to be hostile towards me, but I want to somehow gain her trust starting now.
Well then, the wood is decided with this.
Letâs buy it. Later I might make something else with it as well, soâŠletâs buy the large piece leaning against the tent curtain.
ââŠUnderstood. Shopkeeper, how much for this chock wood and the thick board leaning against the wall over there?â (Shuuya)
âSolnut Wood, eh? Three silver coins.â
âSold.â (Shuuya)
I have Viine temporarily hold the light brown wood and take out the necessary coins out of my item box.
I pass the money to the shopkeeper.
âThank you for your patronage~.â
Receiving the chock wood for the chopsticks and the thick Solnut Wood from Viine, I put them into my item box.
Alright. I guess next is a clothes shop.
Leaving the lumber shop with the tiger-faced shopkeeper, we look for a place seeming to be a clothes vendor.
Once we walk for a bit, we find a simple cloth and clothes shop at the edge of the market.
Given that the shop over here is also a curtained street stall, itâs far off from a boutique of the modern era, but there are a plethora of items. Not one piece of clothing is the same.
All of the items give off the feeling of having been handmade, but well, I guess thatâs only natural.
I think there are skills for tailoring, but thereâs no way for modern factories to exist.
The clothes for sale, such as chemise-like clothes worn by commoner women, blazers, outer garments of the body type worn by high-class prostitutes, beautiful woolen caftans, camisoles with a wide, frilly neckline have been decorated and put on mannequins.
ăYour Excellency, there are no clothes containing mana here.ă (Helme)
ăWell, that makes sense. After all, itâs a simple clothes store.ă (Shuuya)
Well then, since itâs the clothes worn by Viine, letâs have her show me what kind of aesthetic sense dark elves possess.
I look at Viine with a feeling of a masked Sanbai-san from somewhere.
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