I receive a caravan guard request headings towards ăMagic Steel City Holkerbamă, but I have yet to arrive at the meeting place.
Iâm leaving the city, so I need to prepare to travel.
There are still the hotpot meals, but Iâll start with food.
I leave the overcoatâs front open while ridding Popobumu, leaving my purple armor exposed.
On top of Popobumuâs head, Rollo extends her feelers to cover his eyes, playing a trick.
âRollo, thatâs dangerous, stop.â
âNn, nya.â
Rollo retracts her feelers then angrily bends over backward, looking at me upside down.
It looks like sheâs going to lay on her backâŚeven if she looks at me with those cute eyes I wonât be scared.
After a while, we arrive at the market. Every race is mixed together here.
I get down from Popobumu and guide him with the reins while searching street stalls.
Thereupon, not a street stall, but something like a flea market with a big carpet spreads out in front of me.
Iâm a little curious, so I approach.
In addition to the thick carpet, there are also plenty of flat porcelain pots.
Oi, these are all small.
A tiger beastman wearing a turban is sitting cross-legged on the carpet.
The aura around this beastman makes me feel like heâll remove a flute and have a snake dance out of a pot.
âWelcome, these bottles are made of fujiku-â
âTheyâre little, I see.â
âOu, we canât compete will the selection of the Gaumonku Firm, but even though what I carry looks this way, people will still buy.â
Without playing the flute, the tiger beastman shopkeeper energetically recommends his wares.
I can make water, is this porcelain container helpful? If the price is reasonable, I may buy it.
I purchase all the shallow jars.
I stack them together and place them in the item box.
âThank you, Iâm from the Fujiku Union, (Note: Something about showing oneâs face in public) Purple Knight-san, thank you.â
Tears gather in the corner of the tiger beastman merchantâs eyes, but a smile stretches across his whole face.
âNo, no, well then.â
I depart with a smile on my own face.
Next is there.
The street stall Iâve liked recently catches my eye.
A simple store with curtains.
However, itâs a nameless shop that serves delicious hot pots in secret.
I order multiple meals and replenish my stock.
What shall I buy next?
After all, I should get bread.
There are various foods lined up to be sold in bakeries.
This bakes has a few types of bread lined up on his shelves. There are hard rye brown breads lined up. Thereâs also a round brown bread, but all of them look similar and hard.
It will be hard even if I slice it, but I may be able to use it for a sandwich, so I buy some.
Then, I find some seasonings, cheese, a ham-like meat, and Lunga meat. I can use them in dishes sometimes.
I also need vegetables and mushrooms.
Moving to the next shop, I buy lettuce, a vegetable similar to paprika, and put it all in one bag with the meat. Then, I store the big bag in my item box.
This much food should be enough.
I check the small items I placed in my chest belt pockets.
Magic bottle, a magic bag with pocket change, everyday leather clothes, hide cloth, various potions in a small strong box. A wooden toothbrush is also in one of my pockets.
These items are some of the things I bought.
At any rateâŚthis earthen magic bottle is great.
Kunaâs notes said it was made from an ore only produced in the labyrinth city.
Itâs perfect for preserving water and blood, so itâs something Iâll need when traveling.
I open then close the magic bottle before storing it.
Ah, I need to get soap, Iâve already used up my Gyuza Grass.
Soap is a luxury item.
Babon didnât have any for sale, there seems to be a shop that sells soap⌠I might have to go to the noble district to find some.
I mount Popobumu and leave the market, heading to the noble district.
After a short time, the appearance of the people walking along the street becomes improved.
They are probably nobles and merchants.
Popobumuâs weight causes his feet to create a scaled mosaic where he steps.
The ground is white too, so it gives off a high-class air.
The number of shops along the street increase as well.
There is a signboard with cheerful decorations on it.
ăShuhareru General Goodsă
âShuhareru works with thirty high-class craftsmen. Quality is guaranteed.â
ăKira Joselie Fortune Teller. Guidance from Ashura-kami, God of Destinyă
âMadame Kazane wonât lose. Cheapest fee south of Manheim.â
ăJillâs Magic Gold Shopă
âRings for those who travel the world.â
âFirst Place in Osberia Kingdomâs 589th Art Competition, Nominate Accessories on Display.â
This is the equivalent of Ginza in Japan or Parisâ Eight Avenue. Whatâs it called?
Among the high-end shops, I stop Popobumu in front of Shahareruâs General Goods shop where many customers are coming and going from.
I donât need to find parking on the street.
I get down from Popobumu and approach the shop on the pretty tiled ground. Pushing open the door with a glass window, I enter the store.
A pleasant smell comes over me. The inside of the store is overflowing with smells.
The aromas give this shop a sense of cleanliness.
I begin searching right away.
The items being sold in the General Goods shop is an assortment of clothes, cloth, and small articles.
Oh, thereâs also a pocket-size brush that looks high-class.
Iâll buy this for Rollo.
I pick a brush up.
I look at the other shelves.
Heh, thereâs a wide variety.
Metal hair clips, a medicinal ointment for skin, etchi shaped sticks, small whips, back scratchers, leather straps, incenses and fragrant flowers, there are even incense pots for sale.
It smells nice.
Rollo seems to be interested in the smell. Her nose twitches as she sniffs.
âRollo, behave yourself, ah, Iâll buy this too.â
âNnn.â
Her only reply is a purr.
It seems like sheâs saying ăNyunderstoodă
I grab a back scratcher with a leather wrist strap and continue my search for soap.
Soap, soap, aha!
In the area soap is being sold, there are a noble woman and a maid browsing.
It seems noble women buy soap as well.
This one is assessing its quality.
The woman has a purse dangling from her chest.
The woman picks up one of the soaps and hands it to her maid.
That purse around her neck looks like Borsa from the middle ages.
Iâm not sure what itâs called here- while having such thoughts, I pick up a bar of soap.
The only kinds of soap here are enormous ones the size of tofu.
The only colors are green and white.
I might as well buy a lot of it.
I pick up a crate containing ten bars.
âWelcome. -Ma, youâre buying this much. Thank you. Wooden stick, leather strap, five large copper coins, the brush is one silver coin, the soap comes to ten silver coins.â
The stick and leather strap is five large copper coins, the brush is one silver.
Well, the wood grain of the stick looks good, and there are silver fittings, itâs also really smooth. Itâs high quality.
I can see the effort the craftsman put into this.
However, the brush and soap are each a silver coin.
Isnât it more expensive than one night in a luxury inn?
âSilver coin?â
The words slip out accidentally.
I remove the silver coins from the item box.
âHai, certainly. Then, Iâll give you a service, three leather clothes from the country of Samaria called âMermaid Leather.'â
Uh, service is good, but mermaid? Skin?
âMermaidâŚâ
âHai. Itâs the skin of a monster that is only found on the shores of Samaria.â
Oh, good. Itâs a monster. Is it some kind of rhinoceros or alligator?
I recall hearing that those in Samaria eat mermaids, for a moment, I wonder if the owner of this mermaid skin was beautiful.
âWill you take this?â
âAh, un. This is fine-â
Saying that I place the box with the cloth and soaps in my item box.
I put the brush in one of my chest pockets.
When the saleswoman sees me use my item box, her eyes brighten, and her mouth drops open in surprise.
This young sales clerk, her hand moves to cover her open mouth. Her conduct is refined. The way she moves has a sense of elegance.
âWell then.â
I leave the high-class shop and mount Popobumu.
Next, then. From the boxâŚI remove the evil dragon kingâs blue eye.
The surface of the gem is smooth and comfortable.
I place it in a pocket of the belt strapped across my chest.
Once I have time, Iâd like to test out what kind of magic this eye can use.
Its power should be lower than the ice magic from the dragon magic stone on the magic spearâŚ
After I check my belongings, I urge Popobumu forward.
I cross the drawbridge entrance of Hector.
Then, I pass through the poor district of New Town on my way to the harbor.
Iâm a little worried as I do.
The presence is still following behind me.
For the time being, I continue forward while shoulder the magic spear, being wary of my back.
The magic essence behind me moves expertly, neither too close or too far behind.
The person who has been tailing me recently is the same personâŚtheyâre skilled.
However, if theyâre willing to follow me even once Iâve left the city⌠how convenient.
If the foot traffic dies down, Iâll be able to get a look at themâŚ
Iâm worried about the person following me, but I end up reaching the port without incident.
The view isnât much different than my first time here.
Goods are being loaded onto boats with pulleys, a large gangway is lowered to the shore, people are coming down into Hector.
If the ship is being used to that extent, it is probably a large scale maritime trading company.
Now then, rather than the ship, Iâm looking for a group of wagons.
On the request notice, I was told to look for a flag with the âCrest of a horse and sword on a green and black flag.â
-There are flags of various trading firms flapping in the wind.
A yellow tiger symbol, a red and white spade flag, a white flag with slanting green lines, a green turtle insignia, an ivory star, a maiden symbol bordered in crimsonâŚ
I can also see the figure of adventurers mingling with the trading caravans.
Oh, there it is.
Two covered wagons and three regular carts.
There is a green and black flag with a horse and sword standing on one of them.
Many adventurers are standing around it.
Only ten-ish people are here.
Goods are being loaded onto the wagons one after another.
It seems there precious metals, fruits, and vegetables. Items made from gold and silver reflect the sunlight. Valuable looking minerals are being loaded too.
Minerals, gold, vegetables, fruit. Their cargo is all over the placeâŚ
There are also wooden barrels being carried into the covered wagons.
I slowly approach on Popobumu while investigating, then stand where the adventurers are gathering for several minutes.
Before long, the presence that was following me has disappeared.
Instead, adventurers wearing black overcoats and dark brown hoods are appearing, seeming to be here for the same request.
Iâm a little suspiciousâŚBut they join the group of adventurers waiting, perhaps theyâre typical adventurers.
Once the adventurers are gathered, a merchant wearing a turban appears from the covered wagons.
Once the merchant checks over the adventurers, he gets down from his wagon and opens his mouth.
ââŚI am Tajiki of the Luxor Trading Firm. I am in charge of this caravan. All you adventurers should have received the request. Please work as our body guards. As for who will be leading and other things, please decide that amongst yourselves. Weâll follow your directions, so-â
His name is Tajiki. His manner of speech gives me a good impression of him.
His large brown turban is worn naturally.
It makes it easy for him to move.
Ma, weâll be traveling, so they are probably focused on wearing clothes that are easy to move in.
On that big turban of his looks expensive, it appears to be packed with something.
A brooch covered with jewels in displayed.
Maybe, that turban is full of candyâŚ
While Iâm having strange delusions, Taijiki returns to the carriage and says something to the coachman.
Then, several people appear in front of the waiting adventurers.
Gesturing with his hands, a person with a loud voice speaks.
â-Iâm the leader of the C rank adventurer clan ăTwilight Roadă, Kens Ritomanen. We have eight other members.â
Kens-san is wearing chain mail under soft leather armor. Heâs taller than me and has a feather sticking out of his hat.
There is a long sword sheathed at his waist and a circular shield on his arm.
Orthodox equipment.
The representative of different adventurers steps forward then.
âIâm from the D rank adventurer clan ăFadykeâs Fangă. We have five members. My name is Rize Dozetti.â
The man who calls himself Rize has a spear.
The blue leather armor he is wearing looks easy to move in.
ââŚIâm the B ranked adventurer, Fran, Iâm participating solo.â
The adventurer who called themselves Fran.
While speaking, they remove the hood attached to their black cloak, exposing their face.
The people begin to chatter noisily.
It seems to be unusual for a high ranking solo adventurer to be a woman.
A woman. Aside from that, what isâŚthatâŚ
Something strange is happening around Franâs shoulder.
Itâs the body of a semi-transparent hawk?
Rather than transparent, it gives off a slight fluorescent color.
N, iya, itâs fluorescent when I use magic observing eyes, but without them itâs invisible. There are moments when light refracts, showing something is there, but if Iâm not paying attention, I miss it.
âŚIs it some kind of magic beast Familiar?
ââŚIâm the leader of the C rank clan ăFist of Godă, Gomez Delon. There are four members including me.â
While I was staring at the strange creature, the next adventurer identified themselves.
Gomez Delon.
His entire body is round, his neck thick with muscles.
He is wearing metal vambraces on his thick hands, each one has three sharpened metal shafts on the knuckles.
Are those pile bunkers? Only for use in close combat.
Theyâre cool. They arenât covered with soot or the smell of dead flesh.
These people including Gomez are the only few who can use Fighting Moji, although none of them can use observing eyes.
No one else notices the invisible hawk of Franâs shoulder.
âC ranked adventurerâŚThomas Guraser. Solo adventurer.â
The one who identifies himself as Thomas has his face covered by a dark brown hood, his equipment canât be seen.
âC rank, solo, Rocha.â
Theyâre wearing the same dark brown mantle.
Their face is also covered by their hood.
All the members identify themselves, aside from me.
This is a C rank request, so we donât need to give our rank, but it seems everyone is doing it.
I take a step forward and briefly introduce myself.
C rank adventurer, Shuya Kagari.â
After I speak, Kens-san of ăTwilightâs Roadă begins to speak again while making sweeping gestures.
ââŚEveryone has introduced themselves, right? Well then, the leader should be the highest rank, Fran-â
âIya, Iâm a solo participant. It will be better if I follow. Iâll obey instructions.â
Lifting an arm to stop Kens-san, the woman with the strange creature on her shoulder named Fran interrupts.
Her hair is red, almost crimson. Her eyes are brown.
Her cheeks are spotted with freckles.
I canât see what equipment she has become of the cloak, but I can two sword hilt on her back.
Mysterious, who is this adventurer?
She is wearing a belt similar to mine.
It is likely attached to the swords on her back.
The mana circulation of her fighting moji is also smooth. The B ranking isnât for show.
The invisible hawk on her shoulder sits still.
âUnderstood. Then, Iâd like to choose one of the higher C ranks, any opinions?â
No one says anything.
âIâll take your silence as acceptance. Then, as the leader of ăTwilightâs Roadă, I would like to take charge of the guard request. -Is everyone okay with that?â
Itâs admirable for him to take on the role.
His name, Ritomanen, feels like the name of an old soccer player.
âRize of ăFadykeâs Fangă. No objections.â
âThomas, solo. Itâs fine.â
âFran declined already. Of course, I approve.â
âGomez from ăFist of Godă. I donât mind either.â
âRocha. Iâm a solo participant, but I approve.â
âUm, Iâm Shuya, a solo. I approve.â
We approve one after another.
âUnderstood. Then, Iâll take charge. ăFadykeâs Fangă will be middle guard, ăFist of Godă will be rear guard, as for the rest of you, get your favorite position. Then, letâs go.â
ââOu!ââ
Carefree, everyone consents to the agreement.
They shout their reply.
The adventurers from the large clan ăTwilight Roadă begin advancing.
The leader, Kens goes to the lead wagons and speaks with the coachman.
Then, Kens-san raises and arm and starts directing energetically.
Following the covered wagon the merchants ride in, the horses neigh, and the caravan starts advancing.
The adventurers move to enclose the wagons.
A large numbers horse and magic beasts stir.
Their heavy foot steps blend together loudly.
Most of the adventurers are using horses, but there are a few riding magic beasts.
Including me, there are four people.
Two of the people wearing dark brown cloaks.
Rocha and Thomas.
Theyâre solo participants, but they each are riding two legged dinosaur-like magic beasts, so they seem to be acquainted.
They donât speak to one another, but their clothing and mounts are the same.
The other is Fran, the high ranking adventurer.
Sheâs is riding a magic beast similar to Popobumu.
Pubooo, it makes a call like that.
However, when I look closely, I can see itâs different from popobumu is coloring and form.
It seems to be the same family though.
The invisible hawk on her Flanâs shoulder flies away, it disappears for a moment, but after searching, I can see it flying low alongside Fran, following.
The clan members entrusted with vanguard advance.
The highway in this area is maintained, so weâre able to make good time.
The caravan protected by so many adventurers advances, kicking up a cloud of dust.
I look back.
The high walls of the fortress look small. Theyâre already far away.
-Good bye, Hector.
-Goodbye, Quiche.
-Goodbye, Rocket Breasts. I smile translucently.
Also, everyone from Crimson Tiger, Oppai receptionist-san, Marquess Chardonnay, Rubia, Cecily from the Griffon Corps.
Every one of them, beautiful women.
Their smiling faces are preserved in my memories.
Still, we may meet again.
The first day passes while I have such thoughts.
The caravan advancing on the highway until evening, only once night falls does the leader stop.
Kens-san seems to be good at his job. His casual gestures make him look like a cool leader.
I want to try making those gestures. So, as Iâm thinking, Kens-san rides his horse in my direction.
âWeâll stop and rest here. The clans can take the watch, solo adventurers can decide on their own. Weâll leave tomorrow morning.â
How carefree.
Everyone spends their time freely.
However, they still gather around the wagons, it seems to be their role as guards.
At any rate, this is my first guard request.
I donât know what to do, so I try to match everyoneâs atmosphere.
The clans gather together the solo adventurers share campfires.
However, everyone has been quiet since we stopped.
So, I spend my time alone.
The attitude is completely different from the adventurers I took the last request withâŚ
I watch the members who continue silently.
Without removing the swords from her back, Fran carefully eats a biscuit.
Time passes in the silence.
The adventurers on guard are dozing, falling asleep.
Then, movement late at nightâŚ
Fran, originally near a campfire, sneaks away from the wagons.
What is she doing, While wondering, I return to the area where Popobumu is waiting.
âRollo, Iâm going to use Hidden Body for a while. Stay here and keep watch.â
âNn, nya.â
Rollo has already curled up in a ball on Popobumuâs head, mewing a reply with a slap of her tail.
Rollo looks really sleepy.
Well then, Iâll chase after Fran.
Thinking something may be wrong with the redheaded woman, I leave Popobumu and case after Fran.
Moving with <Hidden Body> and <Night Vision>.
I can see Franâs back.
She keeps her head on a swivel, walking cautiously.
I follow her far from the caravan.
Once she reaches a place where the grass grows waist high, she stops and looks around again.
Wait, is she going to pee?
My <Hidden Body> skill eludes Franâs perception, sheâs not aware of me.
Thereâs good affinity between the <Darkness Adaptation> Permanent Skill and he <Hidden Body> skill.
Darkness is my home. However, it feels like Iâm becoming a pervert.
N, I donât actually feel it, pervert,âŚWhile Iâm considering such a thingâŚOh, good, she moves her arm.
Sheâs not peeing.
Am I regretting it? âŚI have a strange thought.
Fran is writing something on a small piece of paper?
Furthermore, after rolling up the slip of paper, she opens a tube attached to the invisible hawk on her shoulder.
Is the hawk for communication?
After stroking the invisible hawkâs head, it screeches.
The fluorescent bird spreads its wings and flies into the night sky.
The red haired woman named Fran, is she working as something other than an adventurer?
Is she a spy for a dark guild?
Perhaps, is she the one who was following me?
After seeing the hawk off, Fran returns from the brush.
Should I show myself and question her?
Should I ignore her and continue the request?
Even if I question her, sheâll just feign ignorance.
-Iâve decided.
Iâll see how things are. Itâs still the first day.
I creep.
Unnoticed, I return to Popobumu and Rollo.
None of the other adventurers are behaving suspiciously aside from Fran.
Ma, thatâs naturalâŚ
Theyâre supposed to be working as guards for the merchants.
I may be the only one who needs to mind their surroundings.
I make out Popobumuâs face.
Now, I can cancel <Hidden Body>
Popobumu has folded up his legs and gone to sleep.
When I return, he stretches his neck and looks at me with his small eyes.
âDid I wake you? Donât worry, get some rest.â
âBubo.â
Times passes while I sit next to Popobumu. After all, sitting cross-legged is easiest. I place both arms behind my head and look up.
Dark blue like an eggplant. White clouds drift through the sky.
The clear night sky is beautiful compared to the sky during the day.
-The stars are beautiful.
The colorful stars are sprinkled across the dark blue sky.
I wonder if somewhere out there is a solar system with a third planet named earth.
Iya, there shouldnât. When I first transmigrated, I came to another dimension, an entirely different space, so there shouldnât be.
Inflation, background space radiation, the amount and expansion rate of dark matter.
The Higgs Boson particle should also be different.
There are gods connected to the stars, unknown space creatures living on satellite planets, around some start there might be an advanced civilization.
Ha, I let my mind wander.
The night sky is too beautifulâŚ
I, who transmigrated, even though Iâve grown, am still a trifling existence in comparison to the endless stars. The world is wide.
While I stare into the endless night sky, I donât neglect to observe my surroundings.
While Iâm contemplating, Rollo gets up.
With sleepy eyes, he climbs on my thigh.
The one is adorable.
I stop looking at the sky and enjoy stroking Rolloâs fur.
I brush her obsidian coat with the expensive brush.
A beautiful, happy purr comes from her.
Brushing the cute Rollo is fun.
Ah, I take out the back scratcher and leather straps for Rollo.
I can make something with this.
Like a Pythagora Switch
while humming the song from the construction show for childrenâŚI tie a strap to the wooden stick first, and my simple foxtail is complete!
To take out the Cat Robot from the four dimensions futuristic magic bag, I raise the homemade foxtail to the sky.
Rollo immediately looks up, surprised by the string swinging from the stick.
Yosh- weâll play with the homemade foxtail.
âNnnn.â
Rollo purrs without gathering herself, following the string with her head.
Haha, sheâs totally entranced by the string, trying to bite it, she jumps up.
Ah- she cut the string.
Right as I pulled the string, she caught with a claw and tore it off.
However, as for this, Iâll make a new foxtail.
âHaha, Rollo.â
âNya, Nyaon, Nya.â
She runs around in circles after the new Foxtail.
Rollo chases quickly after the new foxtail.
Iâm a Rusivaul, because my body has the abilities of a vampire, I can compete with Rollo who is also faster than she should be, although Iâm a hundred times faster, probably because I turned the foxtail Rolloâs attention turns and she begins walking in a strange direction.
Itâs like the fairy tail blackening.
âSorry.â
âNyao.â
As soon as I slow down, Rollo jumps on the string.
She recovered quickly. In no time the leather strap is merely a bundle of fibersâŚ
When I let go of the foxtail Rollo also bites the wooden rod, holding it her mouth a swiping.
And, after a satisfying kick, she puts it in her mouth and places it on my knee.
In front of me, Rollo gathers her feet together like a doll and stares at me with crimson eyes.
Is she asking for something?
âYou still want to play?â
âNyaon, nya.â
It seems she wants to play.
Thus, although the fog thickened, I continue playing with Rollo through the night.
ââââ
The morning sun. The milky white fog is still here, but there is enough light to see the highway. The way ahead is brightly lit.
The Wind is picking up too, so the fog is split.
The scenery of the fog mixing with the morning light is beautiful.
Fantastic and pure. A pleasant side wind is blowing.
Itâs probably the wind blowing from the Haym river.
Iâd like to stay at a calm pension with such a view, I take deep breathsâŚIt feels nice. I wish all morning were like this.
The other adventurers enjoy the pleasant morning with me, quickly finishing breakfast and departing.
I follow the caravan from the back on Popobumu.
Itâs only noon. The sunlight is dazzling. The period of broad daylight.
When we pass an area with large gray rocks on either side, the voices of the adventurers in the vanguard reach me.
Screaming.
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