Chapter 47

7/19 This is the second post of the day.

Hm.

In the morning, lying in bed, I nodded and came to a conclusion.

In the end, I intentionally triggered the forced sleep due to insufficient magic power again yesterday.

The magic power increase from the short sword is 50.

If the magic power is less than 50 when I let go of the weapon, I fall into a deep sleep with a strong sense of fatigue.

The duration is about the same as normal sleep, and for now, I wake up to the sound of the morning bell as usual.

I can't easily test what happens if the magic power goes into the negative range alone, but from the fact that the magic power recovers to its maximum after forced sleep, I can estimate that about 150 magic power naturally recovers in about 8 hours of sleep.

Of course, I take off my leather armor when I sleep, so if I'm in hunting mode with the increased natural magic recovery from the leather armor, the recovery speed would be even faster.

And the range of the enchantment effect, which I didn't fully understand before.

When I hold the weapon, the enchantment effect activates, and when I let go, it deactivates.

I knew that much, but yesterday I tried it with the sword hanging from the sword belt I bought with the short sword.

Even in that state, the enchantment activated, and when I took off the sword belt, a strong drowsiness hit me, so I learned that I don't necessarily have to hold the sword to keep the enchantment active, which is a significant discovery.

After all, when using the stone pillar for fixed-point hunting, I have to lift my body with the stone pillar when I need to use the basket.

Yesterday, I was holding the leather bag full of materials in one hand while holding the sword in the other, and I was barely supporting my body with one hand, so if I lost my balance and let go of the sword, I would fall into a deep sleep depending on my magic power.

Falling from a height while sleeping and dying.

Even if not, there was a possibility of being eaten by a Poison Mouse while sleeping.

Thinking that I can avoid this, I can say that this experiment was quite meaningful.

Well, let's go after breakfast.

Today, I'll first collect the weapons and armor confiscated from the Adepts yesterday.

They are being kept at the guild, so I'll collect them and visit Paiser to sell them.

After that, I'll stop by the church to meet the remaining goddesses.

If I don't hurry, I might miss lunch, so I'll try to get through my schedule quickly.

---

"Good morning, Amanda. I'm here to collect the weapons and armor from yesterday."

"Oh, good morning. I thought it was your day off, but you're early. They're still in the room, so feel free to take them."

In the morning, near the hunter guild reception.

Even though it's a bit later than usual, the request board is still bustling with hunters, and I pass by it to greet Amanda.

I haven't visited the hunter guild without my own equipment and almost empty-handed in a long time.

When I enter the negotiation room used yesterday, there are three sets of used leather armor, a long sword, and a spear.

There are also three knives that were likely used for disassembly, and a small mace that the porter was carrying for some reason.

(This is too much to carry at once...)

Before entering the guild, I told Paiser at the weapon shop in front that I wanted to sell some used equipment.

He didn't seem to fully understand, but he said he would appraise it if I brought it over, so all I have to do is carry it over.

Holding the armor in my right hand, the weapons in my left, and the knives between my fingers if I have the strength...

Carrying the equipment instead of wearing it is a sight rarely seen in the guild, so I'll definitely stand out, but since the rumors are already spreading, I decided not to worry about it.

"Hey... That's the guy who got the Adepts permanently banned as hunters and even plucked the hair from their butts..."

"Seriously? So the stuff he's holding is theirs? What's he going to do with it?"

"Looks like he's still a kid... What are they doing?"

"Idiot... They were almost reduced to debt slaves because they underestimated him."

"If you think he's just a kid, you're in for a rough time. He brings back an unusual amount of materials despite acting alone."

They're probably trying to whisper, but hunters, who are disproportionately likely to be barbaric and rough, can't suppress their voices properly.

The atmosphere in the hunter guild is completely different from the town, as if it's another country.

Of course, there are many normal people, but it seems that many hunters are boastful of their skills and don't want to or can't take up a normal job.

So, they can't have a proper conversation in a low voice...

Every time the door opens, I hear the rumors.

(Whether to see this as an advantage or a disadvantage... well, it is what it is.)

I think, but I have no other choice.

Worrying about rumors and holding back is the height of foolishness.

When life was all about games, I saw many players quit because of being criticized on a certain bulletin board, and I felt it was a waste.

The passion, time, and effort they invested were nullified by mere rumors and a level of malice that didn't even cause guilt.

It was their chosen path.

I didn't try to stop or discourage their decisions...

If they were going to quit over such things, it would be better to keep cutting them down and make them quit instead.

In a game, that's possible—only in a game.

I don't know who the malicious people are. In a world where envy and jealousy spread, one becomes suspicious.

The wider one's social circle, the more such worries one might have... but being alone means no such worries.

That's why being alone is comfortable.

You only need to cut down those you can clearly identify as enemies.

(Did I become mentally tough enough to do sales despite having no sense? I wonder...)

While overlaying the game world with the present, I silently carried the confiscated equipment to Paiser.

---

"That's all!"

"One after another... This looks like three people's worth. What are you going to do with this?"

"Hehe... There was a bit of trouble. The guild mediated, and I confiscated this equipment as an apology."

"It's rare for the guild to mediate... Well, it's none of my business. Are you not going to use any of it?"

"No, I don't need any. I have custom-made weapons and armor for my son. They're great! I can use magic now, so they're a big help!"

"Hahaha! That's great news!"

At first, I thought the enchantments were useless, but the stone pillar creation with [Divine Power] and [Earth Magic] is much more convenient with this equipment.

Without this equipment, I wouldn't be able to achieve the current efficiency and daily income.

I'm very grateful to Paiser.

"By the way, the enchantments [Increase Maximum Magic Power] and [Increase Automatic Magic Recovery] are both skills, right? Did you enchant them with your own skills?"

"Yeah, that's right. There are two ways to enchant, but the ones on this equipment are skills."

"Wow, Paiser is strong with magic-related skills."

"Of course not! Using a lot of magic makes it likely to naturally acquire these skills. I didn't consciously try to get them, but I realized I had them at some point."

"Ho-ho... I didn't think a weapon merchant would use so much magic."

"Idiot! Just selling equipment doesn't use any magic! Even [Smithing] and [Body Strengthening] only use magic if you go that far, and I don't handle that level of materials."

"Really? Then when do you use it? When you sleep at night?"

"Hmph! I used to be a hunter. I got these skills back then."

"Really! Paiser was a senior hunter!"

"Yep! A senior, so give me a bit of a discount. Though my rank was only C."

"Wow! I'm still F rank. With C rank, you can hunt many monsters, right? Dragons?"

"Idiot! If you encounter a dragon at C rank, you'll be turned to ashes in an instant, leaving no bones behind!"

While drinking the tea Paiser served at the counter, we had a rather pointless conversation.

I wouldn't dare ask why he quit being a hunter.

The reason for quitting is never a good one.

If I were to dig up old wounds, there's no need to force the issue.

I already failed once with the issue of his son.

However...

At first, I was openly suspicious and haggling, but the store has become quite comfortable.

Paiser is so engrossed in the conversation that he's not even appraising the equipment.

The equipment is still sitting on the corner of the counter.

Is that okay, Paiser...

Well, it's fine.

It's only around 8 in the morning.

As long as I meet the goddesses at the church by noon, I can take it easy since it's my day off and follow Paiser's pace.

Paiser seems to be having fun, after all.