Chapter 2
"Bald Quest" is a relatively famous early-game money-making quest among FBO players.
In this world, the currency is universal and is called "zeni."
One zeni is roughly equivalent to 100 yen in Japanese currency.
It is also the currency used for trading with other players during cooperative play.
Although the game can be played offline, there are materials that can only be obtained through cooperative play, including rare materials, making money essential in this world.
For beginners in the early stages of the game, money is always tight because they need to buy equipment and consumables.
The initial amount of money given is a pittance, so it runs out quickly.
Players earn money by completing quests or selling materials they've obtained to other players, using the funds to upgrade their equipment and progress through the story.
The method I'm about to use is one that many players resort to, sacrificing their pride to earn money.
"Ugh, I thought the air was warm, but the water was cold."
After somehow managing to wash my hair in the cold water, I cleaned up a bit and shook my head vigorously to dry my hair.
This drained a lot of my remaining stamina, but I mustered my strength, believing that the money I would earn later would allow me to eat a full meal, and left the washing area.
"Okay, let's see. I need to head south from this washing area."
Relying on my distant memories, I was surprised at how much I still remembered as I walked, and soon I saw the sign I was looking for.
A sign with scissors and a rose drawn on it.
"Ah, just like I remembered."
The retro wooden sign uses pictures to indicate the location, as the literacy rate in this world isn't very high.
I felt relieved to have found my destination, but now the remaining challenge was...
I desperately reached out and pushed hard on the poorly fitted door, which slowly creaked open.
"Well, well, a visitor at this hour? What brings you here, kid?"
A woman's voice rang out after the sound of a bell.
A woman with red hair cut at shoulder length and freckles.
She gave off a lively, spirited impression, and compared to the women I knew, she seemed quite young. But since the original story starts about ten years from now, her youth makes sense.
"This is a place where young ladies come to beautify themselves, not a place for kids like you to beg for food."
In the game, if you were playing as a male character, the dialogue would have a slightly different nuance, but it would be similar.
If you don't trigger the event at the washing area, you'll just be kicked out, but if you wash your hair there, you get the option to sell your hair.
"Um, I'd like to sell my hair."
"Hmm."
This is the origin of the so-called "Bald Money-Making Method."
In this world, among the items that can be traded for money, wigs are one of the more valuable items.
Wigs are items that allow you to change your hairstyle when equipped, but when sold to NPCs, they can fetch between 5,000 to 10,000 zeni, equivalent to 500,000 to 1,000,000 yen in Japanese currency.
They are a high-value item that only NPCs can sell, as players cannot craft them.
They are purely cosmetic items used to change the hairstyles of the protagonist and party members.
This is one of the NPCs in the royal capital who sells wigs, and the only character in the early game who buys hair.
When you sell your hair, you gain the "Bald" status effect, which causes your avatar to be bald for about three months in-game time, regardless of gender.
In return, this quest is famous for offering a substantial reward in the early stages of the game.
It's a quest that those who care about their appearance avoid, but it's a go-to for those who want to breeze through the early game.
For me, with nothing to my name, this is the only safe way to earn money.
The female barber, realizing I had come not for a haircut but to sell my hair.
In the game, she was simply labeled as the "shop owner," but among players, she was known as the "Bald Queen," affectionately called "Hageko-san."
It was fine to rely on Hageko-san, but there's no guarantee that the same money-making method would work in reality.
After all, this world resembles the game, but it's still reality.
Even though I followed the event's flow, there's no guarantee the event would proceed as expected.
Hageko-san stared intently at my head.
"Well, your hair is somewhat long, and it looks like you've washed it. The quality isn't bad either. Come in."
Thank goodness.
It seems she'll buy it.
Hageko-san gestured to the chair with her chin.
If I were a girl, she might have been a bit kinder.
She's really harsh on guys.
With my wobbly body, I sat on the round chair and was wrapped in a cloth, turning into a makeshift "teru teru bozu."
Wait, since I'm about to become completely bald, is this the real "teru teru bozu"?
"Stay still, it'll be over soon."
Honestly, it's scary to see her smiling while holding a razor, but I've already resolved myself to go bald.
"Please take care of me."
This is my first time going completely bald, both in this life and my previous one.
In the game, the scene only lasted a few seconds, but in reality, it's not that simple.
With the sound of the razor scraping against my scalp, my head gradually became shinier, and Hageko-san, perhaps because she's used to this, finished quickly.
"Done."
In about ten minutes, my head felt much cooler.
I instinctively reached up to touch my head and felt the smooth surface.
In Hageko-san's hands was a bundle of my hair, wrapped in paper.
My brown hair was piled up, and I wondered if that would become the material for a wig.
"With this amount... let's say 150 zeni."
The quest reward depends on the quantity and quality of the hair.
The minimum is 50 zeni, and the maximum is 300 zeni.
This time, I got an intermediate amount.
Considering it's equivalent to 15,000 yen in Japanese currency, it's not bad.
"Here, one silver coin and five large copper coins. And this is a bonus."
For me, securing this budget means I can now afford a meal, so I gratefully accepted the coins with both hands.
In the game, the money was just displayed as numbers, but in reality, it's paid in physical currency.
This is my first quest reward in this world.
"A bonus?"
"Yeah, with that head of yours, you'll get cold. Here, wrap this around it."
In the game, your avatar would just become bald, and you'd receive the money, but here I also got an additional piece of equipment.
A worn-out but usable navy blue bandana.
She's blunt, but maybe she's kind to kids?
I accepted the bandana along with the silver and copper coins.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Come back when your hair grows out again."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
Could this bandana be a ticket for another round of the Bald Money-Making Method?
Despite my sincere thanks, her blunt attitude didn't change.
If she were a tsundere, her reaction would have been more obvious...
"Now, other customers might come, so hurry up and leave."
At least Hageko-san isn't a tsundere.
She shooed me away with a wave of her hand.
If I lingered in front of the shop, I might get salt thrown at me, so I dragged my wobbly body away to look for a food stall.
"Just a little more, and I can escape starvation."
I wrapped the money in the bandana, feeling a surge of energy from having earned some cash, and searched for a stall.
"Ah, there it is."
I thought the main street might be busy with a parade, so I looked for a place where stalls might be set up and found one surprisingly close.
There were quite a few people, but it wasn't too crowded to buy something.
"Sir, I'll take this."
"Huh? You got money?"
"Yes."
"How many meatballs do you want?"
"Three, please."
"That'll be 10 zeni."
"Here."
I found something resembling grilled chicken skewers with meatballs and ordered them. Meat might be heavy on an empty stomach, but I couldn't get soup without going into a restaurant.
A kid with money is an easy target for adults, so I handed over a large copper coin, received a sizable skewer, and quickly hid in a corner.
"Delicious, so delicious."
Hunger is the best spice. Once hidden, I couldn't hold back and devoured the skewer.
The taste of the meat, something I couldn't experience in the game, brought tears to my eyes.
I had no idea something this delicious existed in this world.
I was so moved by the meal, perhaps even more than in my previous life.
I chewed slowly to aid digestion, feeling the nutrients gradually nourishing my body.
I thought meat might be too heavy for my weakened stomach, but my survival instincts kicked in, urging me to absorb as much nutrition as possible.
The meatballs were large, but before I knew it, the last one was gone, leaving only the skewer in my hand.
With my stomach full, I decided to take a short break.
"Now, let's think about how to use the remaining money."
There's a lot to consider.
If this world is indeed the FBO world, then this money will determine my future living strategy.
"Well, I already know what to do, so it's not too confusing."
I have 140 zeni left.
It's not much, but it's enough to buy the bare minimum equipment.
"From the earlier quest, I learned that even with some differences, my knowledge is still useful. That means the methods to grow stronger in this world shouldn't be too different."
Regardless of whether I have the equipment or not, the energy from the meatballs has made my body feel much better than before.
I licked the sauce off my lips, looking a bit uncouth, but having decided on my next steps, I stood up and started walking.
Huh, just filling my stomach has made such a difference in my stamina.
I don't know if my malnourished body will recover so easily.
But if I slowly nourish it, it should return to normal.
"Now, my next destination... clothes and equipment, I guess."
No one pays attention to a bald kid.
As I walked out of the alley toward my next destination, I kept an eye on the streets and looked for anyone I might know.
Just by observing, I could tell how this world differs from the FBO world I know.
That road wasn't there, that road was inaccessible, that shop didn't exist, that shop did exist.
Just by walking around, I gathered a lot of information.
And the more I walked, the more I realized that while this world is similar to the game, it's not the same.
My knowledge can be applied, but I shouldn't overestimate it.
Overconfidence could lead to disaster.
There's a good chance my knowledge might become useless, but that could also lead to new discoveries, which might not be a bad thing.
I thought I'd feel anxious being suddenly thrown into another world, but it seems my personality is more resilient than I thought.
Despite being in a possibly familiar yet unknown world, I'm thinking positively, which is proof enough.
"If I remember correctly, it should be around this corner."
But I haven't forgotten my Japanese roots.
If there's a man with a sword at his waist next to me, I'd naturally keep my distance.
I'm still a powerless boy with no levels.
For now, safety comes first.
It doesn't hurt to be cautious.
As I walked through the town, relying on my memory while keeping an eye on my surroundings, I reached what looked like a shopping district.
This is where the protagonist first shops for basic equipment in this town.
It's off the main west street, but it's a fairly large road lined with shops.
The sight of the townscape, so similar to what I remember, made me smile unconsciously.