“Finally, we’ve arrived.”
“Gallons Pay. We’re here…”
On the journey so far.
I operated the cart with my magic power.
There were few people on the mountain road.
As we descended, we encountered more people.
By then, Fei and two women were in the cart.
They were surprised to see two naked women. But.
This country has slavery. Otherworld’s common occurrence, banzai!
Fei, as the owner, or rather, the master, managed to pull it off.
A wealthy-looking adventurer threatened me, demanding to buy the women.
Reluctantly, I used possession to make it look like an accident and sent him and his companions to the other world.
The witnesses did not have any good feelings towards the intimidator and his group.
Thanks to that, when I handed over the intimidator’s belongings, it was dismissed as an accidental death, however unnatural.
I also obtained information that our destination was close.
We turned off the main road onto a side road.
We had our last night with the golem horse, the cart, and the women.
At dawn, we continued on foot.
Equipped with the belongings of those who had met an unfortunate accidental death, we arrived at the entrance of the frontier city “Gallons Pay.”
“Fei, why are you so down?”
They didn’t ask for an entrance fee or the purpose of our visit.
The frontier is exposed to the threat of monsters.
Even if they can’t fight, they probably want to increase the population and maintain the city.
Having combat power would be even better, they must be thinking.
“…”
I pull Fei along.
From the outside, it looks like an adventurer bringing a rural child.
The great street is noisy with stall merchants calling out to customers.
The goods being sold range from things I recognize from Earth to similar but different items. It’s a feast for the eyes. Especially the women cooking food with sweat dripping down their faces! Tonight, I’ll raid them immediately… Nnff.
It’s for the Demon King route. Patience, patience.
We head to the job referral office to register as adventurers.
There are fewer people here than on the great street.
“Fei, you’re not deceiving me, are you?”
“Ah, ah. There’s no way I’d deceive you… right?”
If Fei isn’t deceiving me, my adventurer registration will go smoothly.
“Welcome to the Gallons Pay Adventurer’s Guild Branch.”
“I’ve come to register as an adventurer, miss ♪”
Otherworld’s common occurrence.
The rank of adventurer’s strength.
Rookie Stone Class. Rock Class, for those with half-baked experience in taking lives.
Iron Class, adventurers sufficient to be trusted with merchant escort.
Copper Class, adventurers specializing in one skill.
Silver Class, proficient in both magic and martial arts.
Gold Class, capable of being called magic swordsmen or magic warriors.
Magic Bronze Class, equivalent to ten to twenty people.
Magic Silver Class, equivalent to thirty to forty people.
Magic Gold Class, beings feared more than monsters.
The above are collectively adventurers.
The Scum Class is given to adventurers who fall into crime.
The method of judging how they fell into crime is apparently a secret of the Adventurer’s Guild indeed. Well, when I commit a crime, it will be with a different body.
If it’s found out, it’s a different body. It’s not a problem, so I won’t ask too deeply.
“Once more, your name, please.”
“McGillis.”
“Yes, here is your proof of being a Stone Class adventurer. If you wish to take on a request immediately, please choose one from the bulletin board over there.”
“Thank you.”
We did not accept any requests. Instead, we headed towards the area with many lodging facilities, looking for signs to find an inn for tonight. I still have money.
“Is this a cheap inn? Hey, Fei?”
“…Huh?! Yes.”
I leave the room reservation to Fei.
Since I’m just a child, I’ll play the part of a wide-eyed newcomer, looking around curiously.
“Is there a room for two available?”
“Yes, there is. Oh, an Iron Class adventurer! We’ll give you a discount.”
Adventurer’s Guild discount. It’s to secure combat power in case the town is attacked by monsters.
Discounts are applied to lodging facilities based on rank.
Iron Class… is it about a 20% discount?
To save money, Fei will negotiate for an even further discount.
He makes it seem like we’re monopolizing the room until our funds are depleted.
Well then, this inn’s room will be our base.
This way, we can avoid the hassle of checking room availability one by one.
Now, our funds are completely empty.
“Shall we work tomorrow?”
“Yes, that would be good.”
The two-person room is a small space with two beds.
The furniture consists of a three-drawer chest for small items. Two chairs without backrests.
A square table.
I sit on the bed by the window and tell him my plans for tomorrow.
Fei sits on a chair and talks with me.
I give Fei free time until lunch.
I lock the room and hand over the key at reception before parting ways.
What will I do, you ask? I’m going to see the town’s dark side… the slums! I want to know if women sell their bodies. I want to know if it’s okay for people to disappear from the slums.
***
After registering as an adventurer with the monster, McGillis, we immediately went to get a two-person room at the inn that will be our base in this town.
McGillis, who killed the ill-behaved adventurers before we arrived at “Gallons Pay,” making them appear as accidental deaths.
Even the witnesses thought it was excessive. But he’s a monster. Just because he accepted a little money doesn’t mean it’s over!
It’s your fault we arrived in this town… Damn it!
McGillis said he would work tomorrow to earn money once he entered the room.
Since I decided to stay at the inn long-term, I have no cash left. I absolutely have to do something outside of town.
And so, I was given free time until noon.
Within the time I can part with McGillis for now.
Tomorrow, I will cooperate with other adventurers…
“Will it work out…?”
Even if they were ill-behaved.
He caused the accidental deaths of those with quite good equipment.
I think it’s unreasonable for the witnesses to dismiss it as karmic retribution, but McGillis did nothing at that time. He just watched the exchange between me and them from the horse-drawn cart. If anything, the suspicion would fall on me.
“K-McGillis.”
Absolutely. Don’t cause any trouble, okay?
I was so preoccupied with figuring out how to deal with McGillis that I returned to the inn without enjoying myself.
“Oh, you’re late ♪”
McGillis was in the room. He was in a good mood.
I can’t shake off this bad feeling.
“Ah, a new iron sword arrived at the town’s weapon shop.”
“Oh.”
I’m not interested in weapons. As expected of a monster.
He must have that kind of reaction because he has a special ability he was born with.
“McGillis, where did you go?”
“Me? I was just wandering around the slums ♪”
“Slums…!?”
If only I could shout, “What did you do in the slums!!!” to feel relieved.
He said the residents who live or wander in the slums are incredibly interesting. Where is the interesting part? What about those who can barely get enough food to survive today? Did he find it interesting that wealthy people sometimes drop leftovers on the street to savor their sense of superiority? This is bad. I’ve realized his thinking is even more wicked, and my life is in danger. I don’t want to end up as Scum Class.
I will become a Magic Gold Class.
And then I will meet the fated woman and live happily ever after in a place free from monsters and bandits. He must absolutely not drag me into crime.
Knock, knock.
“I’ve brought lunch.”
Lunch is bread and pickles. Water is an extra charge, or you can draw it from the inn’s shared well.
“So sour…”
The salt content is terrible.
The vinegar makes my tongue tingle.
“Fei.”
“McGillis.”
We dash outside and rinse our mouths at the well.
We didn’t lock the room.
Even if our luggage were stolen, it wouldn’t be a problem.
In fact, it would be easier if it were stolen.
I might be able to pretend to look for my luggage with McGillis and then disappear.
“Tch.”
No one tried to steal anything.
We decided to act separately again until dinner and parted ways.
How can I escape from McGillis?
Even if I escape at this moment.
I’m on foot. He has a cart made of a strange plant and earth magic synthesis.
I can only last half a day. If I’m caught, I’ll truly be killed.
The tragic end of the women. They had their bodies absorbed while alive. They were mummified, their body fluids and blood drained.
It’s scary. I don’t want to die like that.
In the end, I couldn’t think of anything.
When I returned to the inn, I deceived him with a lie that wouldn’t be easily exposed.
I ask McGillis where he went and what he did this time. He said he just observed, same as at lunch. Well, I was a little relieved to hear he went to an apothecary instead of the slums. However, I realized that the apothecary should have had poison for monsters. A chill ran down my spine. Could it be that he went to research poison that could kill him…? What should I do?
If this continues, he will anticipate all my countermeasures and I won’t be able to kill him.
Will I subtly tell someone in town about his true identity… Impossible. If it causes a disturbance, I’ll be the first one suspected! Damn it. Damn it.
Knock, knock.
Dinner arrived.
My consciousness returns to McGillis, who is tearing off a piece of bread and stuffing it into his mouth. I also start to nibble on the bread in the basket placed on the table.
Glad it wasn’t pickles, I ate the red fruit.
It’s so sour! What is this?! Hmm? McGillis isn’t trying to eat it. Did he know? Was it at the apothecary? Or did he hear it from someone in the slums at noon? This is bad. He’s absorbing human knowledge more and more.
“Munch, munch. Gulp. That’s sour, isn’t it ♪”
“Ah, ah. I think it’s more sour than the pickles I ate at noon… Do you know what this is?”
“Ah, it’s an umeboshi. Ah, I don’t know if it’s ume. I’ve eaten something similar.”
“Fu, fu~~…”
Before I was caught, you were in my belly, weren’t you?
Was the plant your main body? If so, this is a fragment.
The main body is near that village.
I can’t escape. At the very least, I understand I can’t return east by passing through the vicinity of that village.
On a plus-minus scale, it’s barely a plus.
We went to bed quickly to prepare for tomorrow’s work.
The inn offered to provide hot water for bathing in a bucket, but we declined, saying it would cost extra.
McGillis is the one holding the money right now.
“Bathing is fine, I don’t need it.”
If that’s the case, I have no choice but to refuse.
Ah, I learned many things today, and my head hurts.
I need to have a good dream or I won’t be able to stand it. Goddess of dreams, please grant me a peaceful and good dream.
“Grrr… Grrr…”
