Journal from Another World

アマランテでの一日と別れの夜

After our excursion from the dungeon, we finally found ourselves at the exit. But an event started without our knowing. At the entrance of the Dark Forest Dungeon, a gallery had formed. I guessed 7 days just to map the 1^st floor was over kill for any standard, they were probably worried that something had happened to us. Not that we had done exactly that though... With the twin’s enthusiasm, the mapping of the first floor was finished on the first day alone. Well, we will have a lot of explaining to do. But for now…

“Ran! Len!” Lady Anna who was clearly worried ran towards the twins. She starts to look for obvious wounds and instantly hugged them.

“Ace.” Sir Heid was also there. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Sir Anna. Sir Heid. Sorry for the wait, they are now fully back on their feet.”

“Thank you.” To my surprise, I also received a hug from Lady Anna and a sincere pat from Sir Heid. While embarrassing, I wholeheartedly received it as it reminded me the family I have in the previous world.

“So, how far did you go?” an unknown female voice full of excitement made a query. “Oh, I am Dina Folbes, leader of the Freedom Wings Party.”

It would seem that the newly installed Hunters were worried that a civilian and a two fresh Iron Ranked were tasked with the mapping of a dungeon was a feat only done by sir Heid. Apparently, he will have a lot of explaining and earful backlash in the future. As it turns out, Lower Rank Hunters are not allowed to accept Mapping Quest, they can only be done by Silver or Higher Rank Hunters.

Thankfully, Sir Heid’s Guild Overseer inauguration has yet taken place so will not receive punishment... He will get an earful from the Old Regional Overseer though, which is more than enough punishment if you ask me.

On the way to the town, the twins told their parents about our weeklong excursion to the 30 floors of the Dark Forest Dungeon showcasing their growth as individuals and as Hunters.

While heading to town, The Romaria’s also introduced us to the initial Hunters for Hunter Guild Amarante Branch – the Freedom Wings.

Ruby Rank Hunter Dina Folbes who leads the Freedom Wings Party, apparently she used to be a Nomad Hunter, who wanders from town to town doing Hunter Work and has decided to cast away that nomadic life to live in Amarante for good.

Together with her are her party members, which includes two veteran Silver Ranked Hunters Melna Armas and Tiel Rymes. The party also included rookie three hunters Iron Ranked Cassandra Flin, Glen Ardross and Miles Rock.

While not present in our little entourage, Dina Folbes husband who will act as the Branch’s Appraiser will be settling in Amarante making seven people as initial dispatch from the Hunter Guild Regional Office.

As initial Hunters for the newly formed Guild, the Freedom Wings is tasked with many things. This includes surveying Amarante’s Immediate Area and its Monster Ecology. Escorting civilian and merchants in monster-filled areas. Taking in Monster related Quest. Mapping the Dungeon. Lastly, training the future newbie Hunters.

Looks like it will be very lively here in Amarante, it would be nice to stay here for good but…

*****

After our weeklong excursion at the Dark Forest Dungeon, the twins decided to help with the operations of the Lover’s Nest. They have completely discarded the dangerous training regime, instead went for the slow and steady training curriculum. They have now focus on becoming strong not just physically but mentally as well.

While helping in the diner, the two had become celebrities. “OH! The first to map and study the Ecology of the Dark Forest Dungeon is serving us!” Because of the twins becoming famous, the whole diner became more bustling than ever.

With the news about the newly found dungeon and the establishment of the Hunters Guild branch, more and more people have come to celebrate. The Lumberjack Department was one of the few who are delighted with the news, now that they can ask for the Guild to escort their woodcutters or have them thin monster population of the Dark Forest. They can now safely cut trees not only at the edge but deeper as well.

Lisa Salsa, as head of the Water Department of Amarante, is also be able to commission the Hunter Guild to purify the water source, which they have been doing themselves due to the lack of help from the former Elder.

Speaking of the former Elder, Molba Mesner is currently under house arrest, and could not go out without approval from the Interim Government of Amrante (I.G.A.). His wife is handling his daily necessities. His Daughter, the current Elder of the Amarante is also not living in his Mansion.

“We have a cute maid here too!” Alma Mesner, current Elder of Amarante gave them a lively smile and waited for them energetically. After her studies both academic and bureaucracy, she also joins the twins and serve at the Diner. At first, she was quite reluctant, but with the kindness of the Romarias, she was able to do the things she could not do when her father was still Town Elder.

While we are still on the subject, the four orphanages are now under the rulings of the Church headed by Sister Feyth Romlis. One of her edicts, is to allow children who have been used for wrong doings to work in different fields. Some of them were working in the Water Department, others in the Lumberjack Department, a few of them are also working in the diner. While it is a form of punishment for the crimes they have done, it was really to help the children mesh back to society.

I.G.A Council and other Departments also walks in and out the diner not only for food but to meet and greet the couple. Making the Lover’s Nest an almost a Government Agency.

*****

As for me, I had nothing to do.

Training servers for the diner used to be my job, but Len took over as soon as he became proficient in teaching others. He now teaches the new recruits how to bus the tables and wait on customers. Ran while still rough, was also able to teach the recruits how to clean dining hall and its vicinities. The two also started to do other functional and administrative stuff like cooking and cashier duties.

With nothing to do in the diner or the guild operations I was given a day off.

Since there is nothing much I can do about not having any job. I decided to loiter at the town and while at it, making sure to visit the places that had provided me knowledge on how to surviving in this world.

“Hagel.” This buff-bald person is the man who taught me the basics of BLACKSMITH CRAFT skill, an advance METAL CRAFT skill that focuses more on detailed metal crafts. “I would like to show you some metals we got from the Dark Forest Dungeon?”

“Let’m see here?” Although, I did want to learn from him some more on metal crafting, I am actually here to advertise the spoils found in Dark Forest Dungeon. “What the…”

According to what Len has read on the book about Dungeon Classification, The Dark Forest Dungeon is a mine type dungeon. As the name suggest, different metals, minerals and ores are in every corner of the dungeon. In fact, one of the few loots we had stashed in our backpacks were samples of these metals, minerals and ores.

As expected, a dungeon is pretty much treasure trove not only for the Hunter’s Guild but also for metal crafters. The old craftsman was eyeing the metal I had brought him with an expert eye. I had to listen to him for half an hour the processes he would do to this piece of metal. I sure was not complaining, as I was gaining knowledge by just listening to him. As to be expected, there should be more work for hunters in the coming of days.

Although Resmere looks like a medieval period in my previous world, I have the inclination that this world slightly advanced in comparison. For one, although they are still using swords and all, their technique in tempering steel is done with a combination of mechanical and manual tempering the same way in which modern-day blacksmith processes are done on my previous world. If I had to compare, this world, which has magic added to their process is more advance.

I have also visited and started to advertise the dungeon to my other mentors, like the eccentric librarian – Amanda Feyda, was so ecstatic to learn more about the monster ecology of the dungeon and would probably bring monster study quests. I am slightly anxious when she told me she would visit their alone, so I aggressively chastised her and told her to at least hire guards from the Hunter’s Guild. It won’t be a joke if she found herself dead after going to the dungeon without guard escorts.

Looks like the Amarante Hunters Guild will be needing more Hunters soon. Hopefully, Sir Heid’s request for more Ranked Hunters will get favorable response from the Regional Overseer, and fast too.

*****

“Ara…” while deep on my though, Lady Anna’s voice pulled me back. “I thought you were visiting some acquaintances.”

“I was…” just when I was about to reply to Lady Anna. Something caught my eye, a woman with an object held something close to her ear.

“Hmmm.” Lady Anna traced my line of sight and immediately tells me about the object in question. “That must be the SMART STONES which are quite popular in the Capital. Get this it has the ability to call anyone from a far.”

Right when I looked at the woman with an item, rectangular in shape slab of white stone placed closely on her ears as if using a communication device, I immediately recalled the concept of a Smart Phones.

Apparently, in a faraway Queendon - the Queendom of Alexandria also known as the Queendom of Knowledge, had designed it last year. This year, these Smart Stones are mass produced in selected areas. While smart phones in the previous world relay on lithium batteries, SMART STONES here rely on mana to function. At first, I was a bit sad when I heard it needed MANA to function, but I was told that it just needs a small amount that even people with MIS will be able to use it, if they use miniscule MANA Fragments to power it.

“Heheheh.” Looks like Lady Anna and company might be getting this one too, judging from her attitude. “Look forward to getting home.”

At the Lover’s Nest a diner and Guild house, the Ranked Hunters have gathered to commemorate the official opening of the Amarante Hunter’s Guild branch.

Kurt Folbes husband of the Freedom Wings Party leader Dina Folbes will act as appraiser and is currently installing the ‘Blank Slate’ that is used to appraisal Hunters. He is also making sure to hook it up with the SMART STONE that functions as a communication device to other Hunter Guild Offices. With this, if ever there are problems, Amarante can request support from surrounding Guild Hunters.

The Romarias had insisted that all members of the Freedom Wings could make use of the empty rooms in the mansion. The hunter-appraiser couple however, had decided to settle down and instead build a house here in Amarante. The other members, who had been nomads up until now, also done the same thing. But, since all of them are practically present here in the Guild house all the time it became a trivial matter.

The celebration to commemorate the opening of the town’s Hunter Guild became festive as the whole town joined in. The joyous occasion was at its peak as the sun went down and more people joined the merry making. Beer, wine, and the delectable foods made it harder to stop the festivity. Among the celebrants, one did not join the festive mood, however…

“So you are finally leaving?” Sir Heid who could not erase his presence did not even bother to sneak at my back.

“Yes…” Right, I have decided to leave Amarante. The reason is simple. My existence is somewhat an anomaly to the peace in this town.

Monopolizing MAGIC Cores will be bad for the newly founded Guild House and its overseer so… “It will be bad if trouble finds its way here, now that it has become so peaceful.” I said to myself.

“You’re not going to say your goodbyes to those two?” Lady Anna with a gentle tone stood beside her husband. They probably learned about me leaving and purposefully gave me that day off to tread some unfinished businesses. Unfortunately, I could not say anything to the twins. “Just never forget, you have a place here in Amarante.”

“Thank you.” and with our final words, Lady Anna gave me a motherly hug and knew how blessed I was for having met these two as my first otherworldly people.

One day I will back, with so many tales to tell…