Chapter 5: 5
Missed my self-imposed deadline . . . But now we're halfway through volume 1 of the web novel!
I finally got to Seryuu city .
Let's strip it naked with [All Map Exploration]!
The population is around 120,000 . It's a remote region within Shiga Kingdom ruled by an earl . 95% are from the human tribes, the other 5% are beast tribes, scale tribes and fairy tribes . Average level is 2-3 . Highest level is an old man magician who is 48 . The knights range from 5-20 with most of them on 8-12 . Normal soldiers are around 5-7 . There are a lot of bows as a dragon countermeasure . Male to female ratio is 5:6 with lots of females . It's unknown whether it's because of difference in birth rate or because of a high male mortality rate .
Unexpectedly, townspeople only have a few skills . Most of them have 1-3 skills, some even none . Having 20 or so skills may be the exception rather than the rule .
Only a few magicians exist . There are only around 2000 people with magic skills . 90% of them have Livelihood magic while the remaining 10% seem to belong to the country's army .
It's as expected in a way, but level 310 is truly extraordinary . In addition, I got carried away and learned a lot of useless skills which would make me conspicuous .
The map could show the name of the streets and merchant's houses to some degree . Even though it could not tell you what kind of item they're selling or their reputation, it's still quite useful for a first look of the town . Unfortunately, the search function only works for people, I could not find shops with it .
Seen from reduced scale, the town is shaped like a 6 Km diameter oval, along with two 3 Km long [??] shaped, bowing daruma-like objects attached on each side .
I enlarge the map and confirm each area . . .
First, closest to the gate, there seems to be a general residential area . Beside the gate are stables and inns . Joining them, the local lord's castle is located in the center of the neighborhood . Something like a temple or magic-something is at the center of the city . Far from the gate, the lord's mansion stands . And a cafeteria that looks too small for city use, but too big as an exclusive for the local lord .
When I tried to search for people with [Adventurer] as job, I got nothing . There was no [Librarian] either, which probably mean there's no library . However, there were some [Slaves] . . .
After checking so many things, I've arrived at the front of the gate . Showing up together with the sun in the horizon, perfect timing! Though the gate is closed at this time .
I thought that there would be other people in front of the gate but there was actually no one .
It would be nice if there are some villagers who are going to sell their vegetables in the morning .
Is it only in my dream that stores don't open until 10 in the morning?!
Wearing a polo shirt and chinos pant might be too noticeable . I searched the storage, found several robes and took out the only non worn-out dark green robe to wear . The remaining robes are magic tools but they're too worn-out, I can't bring myself to wear them . This robe smells a bit like mold .
My body looks like the time when I was 15 with its small stature . The robe is too long and is dragging a little on the floor . Thanks to that, the sneakers are hidden . My mustache didn't even grow after one week . I was so happy and showed it off when it grew during the freshman period of university life . Though, I shaved it immediately when I got a girlfriend . . .
While having a recollection of the past, I continue to wait for the gate to open .
◇
「●●! ●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●!!」
When I got near the gate an uncle soldier came out while saying some unknown words .
The long awaited conversation featuring a mysterious language!!
>Shiga Language Skill Acquired!
I love Easy Mode!
God hasn’t forsaken me!!
I operated the menu and acquired the Shiga language skills extremely fast! Overenthusiastically allocated 10 skill points with glee .
"What's wrong kiddo? Do you have a stomachache?"
A bearded soldier follows suit . I don't think calling a man in the latter half of his twenty, "kiddo", is right . . . Oh that's right, my outer appearance is that of 15 years old .
"Good morning . Yes, I'm fine . "
I replied amiably with a vague smile, trademark of Japanese people . Even if the partner is a middle aged uncle, it's a human after a long time . A smile is only 0 Yen!
The heavy gate opened behind us during the conversation .
"Kiddo, show me your identification per the rules . If you don't have one, pay the 1 copper coin tax . "
What--! ID in a dream!
I thought of showing the driver license from my wallet but it looked like it'd be troublesome so I stopped .
"I'm sorry, I don't have an ID card . "
I honestly say it . If I got refused then I could just stealthily go in, if I got caught then I'd just run . I'm seriously acting self-important inside this dream! Yes, a dream! This is a dream!
"Did you lose it? We could issue a new one but that'd be 1 silver coin, ya okay with that?"
Oi oi, can you so easily issue a new one?
There are some Shiga silver coins in the storage if I'm not mistaken .
"Please allow me to get a new one! My horse, surprised by the loud roar 8 days ago, escaped while carrying my luggage . If I haven't got beef jerky in my pocket and didn't find some spring water on the way here, I would have been dead!
I'm a smooth talker if I do say myself~ I may truly have a talent for swindling .
As if responding to my inner monologue :
>[Excuse Skill Acquired]
>[Deception Skill Acquired]
>[Negotiation Skill Acquired]
Cheap skills!!!
"Come here kiddo!"
Uncle soldier beckon me to the guard station located besides the gate .
Even after telling excuses with great pain, uncle soldier just ignored it . His ignorability power-level is too high!
"Just in case, you're not on some wanted list or a thief, right?"
"Yes, of course . "
I'm a member of general public unrelated to crime~
"Then, put both of your hands on top of this Yamato stone and speak your name . "
Uncle guided me to the place with a 20" wide LCD display inside the guard station . Where in Yamato this Yamato stone can take me? Can it goes to space?
<TLN: Yamato in yamato, not sure what the heck he's talking about here beside the reference to Space Battleship Yamato series . >
For name, it should be character name right~
"Satou . "
Right after I spoke my character name . The lithograph started to dimly shine with blue light, and some words appeared .
It's the same letter as the one on the guidepost earlier . I could properly read it thanks to Shiga language skill . I want an English language skill!
"Kiddo, it's fine to release your hand now . "
On the lithograph, [Race: Human],[Level: 1],[Class: Commoner],[Affiliation: None],[Occupation Type: Management],[Title: None],[Skill:None],[Reward and Punishment: None] are written .
Eh, isn't the level different?
Leaving me puzzled, uncle soldier smoothly wrote the displayed writing from the lithograph onto a paper using a quill . Finally, he stamped the entry form, [Person Approving: Retainer of Earl Souryuu, Knight Soun], with his ring on the place where his name is written .
"Here, don't lose it next time . "
Uncle soldier passes me the certificate while I give him a silver coin and one big copper coin taken from my pocket .
"What, you can properly put money on pocket . Aren't you quite watchful! Keep your ID safe from now on . ”
“Also, don't forget this . Residence permit is only for 10 days . If you want to stay longer, apply your request here or at the ward in the town hall . Wherever it is, the procedure costs 3 copper coin . "
"If you're caught in town with an expired permit during homeless hunt, the penalty will be 1 silver coin . If you can't pay it, you'll be forced to become a slave . "
The explanation flowed smoothly, as if he's always doing it .
Let's be careful not to forget it .
Falling from vagrant to slave is severe! I wonder if it's the same with homeless hunting during Edo period?
"Thank you very much . "
"Ou, you're welcome to the guard station for consultation if there's any trouble . Don't mind about the fee . "
I've heard something good . Thank you, knight Soun .
I go out of the guard station with a polite farewell .
I took quite a bit of time inside the station, that the main road from before to inside the gate is now filled with people with an exotic feel .
◇
There's a semicircular space with a radius of about 20m between the gate and the town . Whether it is there to prevent confusion or for war, I don't know .
The certificate is made with material resembling Japanese paper . Even though the cityscape is in western style, the parchment is . . . Is it the limit of a dream?
I fold it carefully into my pocket . Of course, I put it directly into the Favorite folder inside my pocket .
Let's look for a change of clothes while strolling the main street for now! Even after many washings, it's painful to only wear one set of clothes .
"I want to take a bath before changing clothes . . . "
I tried to search for a bathhouse attendant, but it was not applicable . I'm wondering if I got the occupation name wrong or if there are no bathhouses in the first place . If it's the latter then I have no choice but to get hot water and take a bath inside my room in the inn later .
"You there! If you haven't decided on an inn then come to ours! I'll give you some service~!"
"Wh-What . . . "
"It's fine, it's fine, it's cheaper than all the others-- Not, but it is filled with a devotion to delicious food and clean bedding!"
When I was thinking about how to get into a bath, someone suddenly pulled my arm and my consciousness came back . A random high tension girl embraced my arm while pulling it . I wonder if she's a barker, it's a scene you usually see in a campus festival in modern Japan .
I'm dragged to a store that looks like a bar while thoroughly enjoying the soft feeling wrapped around my arm . Because I entered from the main street it feels dim .
"Mom! Mom! I brought a guest!"
Out of consideration for the softness transmitted to my arm, I have no more hesitation in deciding to stay in this inn . Yep, poyopoyo is justice!
"It's the first customer since the stars fell, isn't it . . . Hm? He doesn't have any luggage, is he really a guest?"
An aunty with a big body came out of the bars counter-like place . Contrary to her figure, she's a beautiful woman with a face filled with dignity . I think she's about 30? I'm sorry for calling you aunty .
However, even though these mother-daughter pair are natural beauties, why are they fat! Lose 10, no 20 Kg, and they would be in my strike zone!!
Though I'm out if she's a married woman . An affair will only make everyone involved unhappy!
"Because of that, er, starfall? My luggage ran out with my horse due to the uproar . . . Fortunately my wallet is safe, and I somehow got into this city~"
"That's a disaster . Our inn charges 1 big copper coin for one night . If you're fine with sleeping together with other guests in a big room then it'd be 2 copper coin . Meal is served at this bar for one serving . It's the limited service for an accommodation . ”
Fumu, I don't know the market price, so let's investigate the value of big copper coin and silver coin by paying for 10 days .
The landlady has arithmetic and cleaning skill so there won't be any mistake with calculation .
"Then, it's for 10 days please . "
"Okay, it's exactly 2 silver coins then . "
I take out 2 silver coins and pass it to the landlady .
It seems that 5 big copper coins equal 1 silver . It doesn't seem like she miscalculated either .
"Landlady, could I have my meal now? If possible a light one . "
"If it's something like oatmeal, black bread, or vegetables then I could get it out right now . And I'm sorry but meat hasn't appeared in the market, so there's none of that . "
"Then black bread and a stew please . "
"Okay, I'll bring it immediately, so just sit there . Martha, write the guest book for our customer here . "
The landlady goes to a place that looks like a kitchen, and in her place, a poster girl who looks like a head clerk from a historical drama holding a notebook tied up with string, Martha-chan, skips here .
She's cute but she looks around a high schooler's age? A bit too young for me .
"Ye~s, I'm writing for you so can you give me your name?"
"It's Satou . "
"Okay Satou . Your occupation and age please . "
I almost said 29 year old programmer . According to Status screen, it should be 15 years old .
"A peddler, 15 years old . "
Martha-chan smoothly fills the notebook . It looks to use yellow papers like the one used on Japanese calligraphy .
When Martha attempted to chat after writing the inn registry, the landlady came out and told her to clean the 2nd floor .
The crystal clear stew with consomme-like soup, cabbage and carrot-like vegetables, and as announced before, without meat, is more delicious than I expected . There are 3 slices of about 2 cm thick black bread . It's harder than what I've heard, but feels about as hard as senbei . It looks like it would fill your stomach . I bite it full of curiosity . It feels like a meal full of strange SFX .
Feeling satisfied for a meal after a long while, I pay the price . 1 copper coin . Usually it's prepaid .
Come to think of it, Martha and the landlady use loanwords like service and oatmeal normally, but when I observed their lips, I know that they're speaking different words . I wonder if it's an appropriation of the Shiga language words .
>[Lip Reading Skill Acquired]
. . . Ya~y, I can become a spy or a detective~ orz .
Or rather,
"Landlady-san, I intend to buy some groceries and a change of clothes, do you know any good places?"
Although I know stores location from the map, there are too many of them, I don't feel like going around all of them .
"If you want something with high quality material, then the tailor on the city center would be the best . For something reasonable then the east is good, and if you want it cheap then the west . If you have money in excess then you could tailor it on the high class shop at the inner wall, but you'd need gold coin . General good stores usually open near clothing stores, so please plan your budget carefully . "
"Thank you very much . I'll go to the east street since tailoring seems that it would take some time . "
"Okay, although the public order is good on the east, be careful of pickpockets . Since sometimes there are migrant workers from the west there . "
"Yes, I will be careful . "
I leave the inn while thanking the landlady for the advice .
It's starting to get hard to say that this is a dream . But I will work hard!
TLN: Since the next few chapters are quite slow paced, I will hold off on releasing a chapter a day and will release only after I've finished translating up to chapter 8 . Please understand . ;)
Edited by : Fate Trooper
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc . . ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible .
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