Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend, Suella Henderberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Warrior
“Thank you.”
Having finished expressing my gratitude to the shop that had provided me with a tantalizing meal that played with my senses of taste and sight, I brought the interaction to a close with the staff’s greeting. Normally, I would have wanted to smoke a cigarette after this, but my choice of tobacco was too conspicuous in both smell and appearance, so I had to forgo it.
“Shall we head there then?”
“Yeah.”
With a hint of loneliness at the corner of my mouth, I left the quiet cafe and stepped back into the bustling streets, following Memoria. We navigated through the chaotic crowds, occasionally fending off pickpockets drawn by the disarray. After a few minutes, Memoria stopped in front of what appeared to be our destination: a bar.
I naturally fell into step beside her. At first glance, it might seem ordinary, but based on my knowledge, it was a perfectly fitting fantasy-esque bar.
“It’s closed, but are we going in through the back entrance?”
It was less disappointing and more obvious; a bar open during the day wouldn’t be unusual, and a “Closed” sign hung on the door.
“No, there won’t be a problem.”
“It’s not locked then?”
Ignoring that, Memoria placed her hand on the door and entered the establishment without hesitation.
“We’re not open yet.”
“We’re not customers, so there’s no problem.”
“What, it’s you.”
The man’s voice from inside was a natural response from the establishment’s perspective. However, upon seeing Memoria’s figure answering him, the man put down the glass he was polishing and emerged from behind the counter. He was a middle-aged man who would blend in seamlessly on the path we had just taken – an ordinary-looking person. His demeanor was similar, but…
“Is this the weirdo you were talking about?”
“Yes, he is.”
“We’re greeted as weirdos as soon as we arrive, both of us.”
“In this world, a human being seen with a demon race is considered suspicious enough to warrant serious doubt, and most would end up on the gallows.”
“That’s a rather grim thought.”
My intuition tells me there’s more to this than meets the eye. The man glanced at me briefly, then turned to Memoria as if to confirm something. With a wry smile, he posed his question, and I could only respond with a wry smile of my own.
“Tanaka, no, Jiro Tanaka. Here, I’m known as the mercenary Giro. I’ll be staying for a while.”
“Bass. I’m the shopkeeper and liaison here.”
When I extended my right hand, he gripped it firmly, with more strength than I expected. This confirmed my intuition was not mistaken. And then…
“I apologize for the immediate request, but I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”
“Is there a problem?”
Here we go again. Ever since arriving in this world, nothing has gone smoothly. Bass’s expression shifted from his usual relaxed demeanor to a serious one as he asked us, “Ah, there’s been some unsettling talk coming from the Kingdom lately, and in response, all the surrounding countries are on edge.”
His tone was solemn.
“What kind of talk?”
“I don’t have the details. But, judging by the flow of supplies, they are definitely preparing for war. On top of that, there’s talk of Tris being involved in the shadows.”
“…This will disrupt our plans, Jiro-san.”
“It seems so. It looks like we’ll have to abandon our sightseeing plans sooner than expected. Disaster after disaster since coming here.”
The information Bass provided, which he described with annoyance, was enough to force a major deviation from our original plans. I, for one, just want things to proceed smoothly without any more trouble, following our initial, leisurely schedule… With news of the country preparing for war, that’s obviously impossible.
“Is that all the bad news?”
“No, and there are Inquisitors going around. The rumor about Tris being in the shadows earlier was because there was information that they were working with people from the Kingdom.”
“That’s the worst.”
This is unusual. Memoria rarely expresses such strong disgust. This implies that these Inquisitors are indeed problematic.
“Are they dangerous?”
“Yes, the mere rumor of one of them entering a town causes the entire municipality to become suspicious. They are the worst kind of beings.”
“What kind of people are they?”
“They are special operatives who combine Tris’s espionage and execution functions. They wear multiple masks, infiltrate people’s minds, manipulate them, and then judge them with the authority granted by the kingdom. They are executioners.”
“Are they some kind of parasites?”
That’s awful. For all I know, the person drinking next to me could be the Grim Reaper with a scythe. Just knowing this information would make it impossible to trust anyone. It’s similar to the fungi called Ophiocordyceps.
“Those parasites are skilled, which makes them even worse. You two really came here at the worst possible time.”
“You can say that again.”
Honestly, I can only conclude I’ve been cursed lately. It’s been one disaster after another since arriving here.
“Do you know why they’re moving?”
“Who knows? When Inquisitors are active, it’s safe to assume the higher-ups in Tris are doing something. However, their organization is notoriously secretive; it’s impossible to get information easily.”
Dealing with the hidden dealings of a nation’s leadership is becoming increasingly troublesome with every piece of information I hear. Based on what I’ve heard, they sound like a small, elite assassination unit that eliminates inconvenient beings who defy their doctrines. Hearing that such an organization is active makes it impossible to remain unconcerned. It may be fortunate that we even received information about the Inquisitors.
“So, what’s the good news?”
From now on, I need to be careful and avoid drawing attention. At the very least, to prevent things from getting any gloomier, I should listen to this “good news.”
“How about the fact that the food here is delicious?”
“That’s a relief. Eating only bad food would really get me down. It would be even better if the alcohol is good too.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got that covered.”
“That’s excellent. We’ll have to try it today.”
“Yeah, make sure you spend your money well.”
“…The atmosphere seems to have lightened up a bit. May we move on to the main topic now?”
It’s helpful when someone can lighten the mood with such lighthearted jokes. The brief exchange of banter has lifted my spirits enough to look forward to tonight’s drinks.
“What are you talking about? We’re just getting to the good part of the evening’s conversation.”
“Are you going to spit that out?”
“Oh, how scary. You’re quite brave to put up with her, young man.”
“I fell for her charm. That’s my loss.”
Bass shrugged, saying it was a joke, as Memoria shot him a disdainful look, but he didn’t stop talking. Did he find out about me and Memoria being together, or did he just sense the dynamic and atmosphere? Bass looked at me, as if to tease further, but I knew that showing embarrassment would only make it worse, so I shrugged to show I was unfazed and handled it with composure.
“You’re quite lovey-dovey, but very well. The good news is that a new ruin has been discovered by the Beastkin Federation. There are said to be quite a few treasures there.”
Thanks to that, the conversation moved on without further probing. The content was quite favorable to us, truly the kind of thing one would expect in another world. Well, for me, it’s a familiar workplace, but it’s a good opportunity to gather information from this side.
“Is it okay for a human like me to go? It’s land ruled by beastkin, isn’t it, Memoria?”
“There shouldn’t be any problem. We have exchanges, and adventurers and mercenaries, by their very nature, don’t always settle down. Merchants, of course, will go anywhere for profit. The Beastkin Federation is no exception.”
“Naturally, there are exceptions.”
“Exceptions?”
“Slave traders and criminals.”
“Ah.”
Indeed, not just beastkin, but those would be wary. Unlike Japan, where there’s public safety, here it’s a commonplace sight.
“The Beastkin Federation is a country without slavery, so slave traders are not allowed to enter. However, there are those who want beastkin slaves and try to infiltrate.”
“That’s a common enough story.”
“Huh, does that happen in every world?”
The “common story” refers to those who have such knowledge in Japan, but Bass, on his own, concluded that such things happen on Earth as well. In fact, if one delves into history, such stories do exist, so he wasn’t entirely wrong. It would be too much trouble to correct him, so I decided to let him continue.
“By the way, what about the preparation of identification and securing transportation?”
“Ah, your Merchant Guild’s Guild Card and Jiro’s Mercenary Guild’s Guild Card are ready. The carriage will arrive tomorrow, and we’ll be able to use it the day after tomorrow after resting the horses.”
“I see. In that case, we’ll make our preparations to match that schedule. The room is ready, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s the usual detached room in the back. I’ve cleaned it thoroughly.”
“Then this is for the payment, the Spriteberries.”
“Let me check.”
“There shouldn’t be any problems, but don’t skip out on the payment.”
“I wouldn’t dare. My head would be on the line.”
Memoria took out a black opaque bottle from her bag and handed it to Bass. These were Spriteberries prepared before we passed them to Isal. While they are indeed high-value items, their price is far from enough to cover the cost of a carriage and the issuance of identity papers. Naturally, the real prize was something else. Bass, seeming to understand this, skillfully turned the bottom of the black opaque bottle, revealing the true item he was after. A white, silvery ore tumbled out from the double bottom. Bass picked it up and examined it intently… A few seconds later, a smile formed on his lips.
“Indeed, I have received payment.”
“Then I’ll take the room key.”
“Here. Please don’t lose it.”
“Yes, let’s go, Jiro-san.”
“The walls are thick, but make sure to soundproof it if you’re going to do it!!”
“That’s none of your business!!”
Having confirmed the item, Bass grinned and plucked a key from his large keyring, tossing it to Memoria. Without missing a beat, Memoria caught it smoothly. Memoria seemed to know the location of the room and disappeared into the depths of the bar without hesitation. After giving the lecherous innkeeper a middle finger as he watched her go, I followed Memoria.
“Is she always like that?”
“Yes, it seems she hasn’t changed. And this will be our base.”
A short walk from the back entrance led us to a single-story detached house located behind the bar. Upon unlocking the door and entering, I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation of surprise.
“It’s surprisingly spacious. Is it about a 1LDK?”
“It’s a place for beings like us, so the facilities are well-equipped. Now, Jiro-san, regarding our future plans…”
“Yeah.”
“Shall we use it right away?”
“Not that way, you pervert!?”
I was delighted by the room, which turned out to be better than I had imagined. I thought we would discuss the new travel plans right after putting our luggage on the shelf, but the direction Memoria was pointing was towards the bedroom. I could clearly understand what she implied.
“Why are you and Suella so eager?”
“Since our species has difficulty reproducing, we don’t miss opportunities.”
Thinking back, Suella was also quite proactive in such matters. While I didn’t sigh, I did make a movement as if trying to suppress a headache.
“Please, can we postpone that until nighttime?”
“Understood. Then, let’s discuss our travel plans.”
“I wish we could have started with that from the beginning.”
“Even I get jealous. You’ve been doting on Suella-san a lot lately, and I heard about the summer festival.”
“Ah, I’ll give it my all tonight.”
“I’ve got your word. Then, to make the evening more enjoyable, let’s finish our work quickly.”
With that said, as a man, I had no choice but to raise the white flag. Memoria, having secured my promise, smiled contentedly and moved on to the next action. With the evening’s plans decided, we finally proceeded to determine our travel itinerary, moving to a room in the living area. There, we spread out a map on the table. Looking at it, this continent is vast. It seems to have an area comparable to the Asian continent. The trading city on the map is located somewhat to the east, but generally in the central region. While it’s on the outskirts from the surrounding countries, its location is conveniently central. This country could be the first to suffer if any of the neighboring countries go to war, but it maintains a delicate balance of deterrence among nations, leading to profits. I can’t fathom the mind of the person who decided to build this city. It’s like hiding gunpowder in a fire, or a tree in a forest. I imagine it’s someone who gambles to make a profit in a blank space surrounded by flames. Memoria’s white finger traced across the map.
“Our initial plan was to use this city as a base and head to the Kingdom, the Empire, or the Federation, but that’s no longer possible. Therefore, as Bass said, heading to the Federation in the south would be the safest choice.”
“Indeed. If safety is the priority, then it makes sense.”
Her finger pointed to Sakaru, then smoothly moved to the Federation located to the south. With that, we could execute our plans without significant deviation. In other words, this is the limit of what I, lacking local knowledge, can determine by integrating the available information.
“However, it is still possible to visit other countries.”
“Is it possible?”
“Yes, the border crossings haven’t been sealed yet. While there’s a risk, it’s still a matter of possibility, not impossibility.”
“It’s likely an order to avoid unnecessary risks. I can’t bear to think of the consequences if something happens because I break that order out of curiosity.”
However, Memoria didn’t stop there and, as if presenting a new criterion for judgment, slid her finger around the map, indicating the remaining three countries. But I couldn’t agree with that. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t interested, but if asked if I wanted to pursue it at the risk of disobeying orders, the answer would be no.
“Then, let’s proceed as planned.”
I was about to say, “Let’s go south.” But before I could finish, I felt an overwhelming, chilling surge of magic power that prevented me from continuing. It was an instinctive reaction. I reached for the hilt of my Ore Tree and scanned my surroundings. There were no enemies, no magic beasts had appeared, and the Inquisitors we had heard about hadn’t shown themselves. The room was perfectly calm, just as it was moments before, and there was no sign of anything unusual outside. Then, what was that magic power I felt, however fleetingly?
“Memoria?”
“No way.”
While I was on guard, I noticed Memoria staring intently in one direction. Sensing that the source of the magic power was there, I asked her, still with my hand on the Ore Tree’s hilt, but she didn’t answer. Her eyes narrowed as if she had glimpsed something impossibly possible, and she uttered a different word.
“Sck!”
“Memoria!”
This might be the first time I’ve seen her lose her composure. Without a word, Memoria set her jaw and rushed out of the room in a panic. The unusually strong footsteps echoed on the stone pavement as she tried to regain her composure.
“…”
I could only follow her silently. Even if I wanted to question her, I had no idea what was happening. Memoria, who seemed to have thought of something, was not in a mood to be asked about it. In such a situation, all I could do was think. A wave of immense magic power, immense… What could be inferred from just feeling that? Think. Has there been a similar phenomenon? What could cause such a massive magical reaction? Since it was only felt for a moment, was it an attack spell? It’s peculiar that I didn’t hear any explosion or shockwave. Did it happen so far away that I couldn’t hear it? Something feels different.
“Bass.”
“Well, you felt it too, huh?”
While still lost in thought, I returned to the bar we had just left. Unlike before, there were other people present now besides Bass. It seemed they had all felt the abnormal magic power and gathered. Several of them didn’t look like employees; their attire was different.
“So, it’s really…”
“At this stage, it’s just a possibility, but there’s no other logical explanation. We’ve contacted the Underworld Guild and are getting information.”
Among them, was I the only one who hadn’t realized? The conversation was moving rapidly.
“Memoria, sorry, but what’s going on?”
“Ah, right. It’s your first time, isn’t it, Jiro-san?”
I decided I couldn’t remain silent any longer and interjected. It felt like the right moment. Memoria’s words, as if realizing my ignorance, suggested that this event, while rare, was a plausible occurrence.
“There’s a possibility that a Hero has been summoned.”
And that was a possibility that, once heard, made sense. And if possible, a word I would rather not have heard.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend, Suella Henderberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Warrior
Today’s Message:
“Why now of all times?”
This concludes the chapter. We hope you will continue to enjoy this work.
