Chapter 150
(´・ω・｀) Celebration: 150 chapters reached!
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I decide on our plan of action going forward.
First, tomorrow I’ll talk with Koyan-san of the Konkon Company about the countries on the other continents.
That kind of information will be necessary when we travel to other nations in the future, and the culture of countries with many beastkins is surely something Melt would be interested in as well.
Next, I’ll inform everyone that Seimu will be returning first, then disappear from Izbel and go somewhere else… Yeah, the bus hidden underground will do. Inside it, I’ll transform into the blacksmith character, Shijima.
After that, I’ll return to Izbel, apply to participate in the tournament at the Blacksmith Guild, and rent a workshop.
Then all that’s left is to put everything I’ve got into forging twin daggers for Melt.
“So, that’s the plan, but do you think it’ll be okay?” (Shizuma)
“Mng…yeah! It’ll be fine!” (Melt) At a slightly upscale restaurant in Izbel.
We usually eat at casual diners or taverns, but for confidential discussions like this, it’s better to use a higher-end restaurant with proper private rooms.
And by the way, every dish was absolutely delicious. A full course using wild duck… It was incredible.
“Aah, so good… Duck meat is delicious! Back when I lived in the forest, I didn’t like it that much, but this is really good!” (Melt)
“I hear it has a strong flavor unless you prepare it properly by removing some of the blood and fat. They must be very skilled here.” (Shizuma)
Seira’s knowledge really is all-encompasing.
It was seriously delicious…
“I see… Meat needs a lot of preparation, but cooking itself needs care too.” (Melt)
“That’s right. Well then, shall we settle the bill soon?” (Shizuma)
“Yeah. Then do we go back to the bus? Or stop by somewhere else?” (Melt)
“Hmm… it’s still a bit early, but let’s head back first.” (Shizuma)
And so, having decided our future course of action, we returned to our secret base…the underground bus.
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The next day, I headed to Izbel’s Adventurer Guild at Melt’s urging. There, I gave a detailed report at the counter about the tactic I’d forgotten to report on the first day: the escort-forcing scheme by people believed to be bandits.
“…And that’s what happened. One individual was killed, and the rest were handed over to the Lindblum East Branch reception. There’s a chance similar incidents may occur again in the future. I think it would be best for the guild here as well to issue warnings, and to question merchant caravans that leave the city without escorts in detail.” (Shizuma)
“I see. Understood. Joining up with unregistered escorts outside the city… So that kind of pattern exists as well. At this point…we may need a large-scale operation to wipe out the bandits…”
Come to think of it, the road from Lindblum to Izbel is known for frequent bandit attacks…so why haven’t large-scale subjugation forces been organized until now?
Was there some special reason? I asked the receptionist, and…
“That’s actually unclear. No, subjugation forces have been formed many times, but we were never able to pin down the bandits’ ringleader or organizers as if they’d been tipped off. It’s possible that…there may be someone like a spy lurking in Izbel or Lindblum…”
“I see…” (Shizuma)
Those bandits must have some pretty serious backing.
After finishing my report, I looked for Melt and found her gazing with interest at the quest board, just like the one in Lindblum.
It seems there are quite a few adventurers who’ve come here from elsewhere, and many were examining the posted requests just like we were.
“Melt, did you find any interesting requests?” (Shizuma)
“Hmm, mostly patrol missions inside the mines and escort jobs for workers going out to gather resources! Around here, gathering quests aren’t for beginners…it looks like they’re for people in Topaz Rank or higher.” (Melt)
“I see… that means encounters with monsters are possible. Was there anything you wanted to take?” (Shizuma)
“Not really… Other adventurers invited me along, but once they saw my rank, they hesitated and backed off.” (Melt)
I see…Ruby Rank is pretty much the top tier. They probably feel awkward inviting someone like that along on gathering jobs.
That means quests expected of Ruby adventurers naturally tend to be high-risk subjugation missions…like the bandit hunt this time, or soloing tasks like the previous subjugation force formation.
“For this time, let’s focus on sightseeing and kill time until night.” (Shizuma)
“Yeah. I’m still not very familiar with this city either, so let’s do that.” (Melt)
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As we wandered through the various districts of the town, it became clear that the area near the entrance was full of shops and inns for outsiders. But if you went a little toward the mountains, it quickly shifted to districts lined with lodgings for craftsmen, workshops, rental forges, and taverns meant for the people working there.
“This area feels so lively! It’s winter, but it’s not cold at all!” (Melt)
“Maybe that’s exactly why they hold the blacksmith tournament this time of year.” (Shizuma)
The sound of metal being struck echoed all around us, while craftsmen on break raised cheerful voices from the taverns.
Seeing everyone in such high spirits even while the sun was still high made me feel excited too.
For the craftsmen, it must be both a serious competition and a kind of festival.
“The name Shijima sounds a lot like Shizuma, doesn’t it?” (Melt)
“That’s true. Shijima means ‘quiet.’ Funny, considering he pounds metal all day.” (Shizuma)
“Fufu, that’s interesting. I see… So Shizuma is the one who’ll forge my sword… A handmade present makes me really happy. And… thank you so much for trying to grant my selfish request too.” (Melt)
“Hey, if my family says they need something for medicine, of course I’ll help. You still can’t tell me what kind of medicine it is, right?” (Shizuma)
“Yeah…it’s kind of like an experiment. I don’t want to explain it too early and then disappoint you later… Sorry.” (Melt)
Hmm… Medicine that might disappoint me… I can’t really imagine it.
But if it becomes necessary, she’ll tell me.
I trust Melt.
And so we continued sightseeing until the time came, and we headed toward the inn where the Konkon Company was staying, Kinkon Inn, as the setting sun dyed everything crimson.
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“Kinkon Inn is such a funny name! It’s like Tonchin Inn** where I stayed!” (Melt)
“By the way, the inns we checked yesterday were called Tontenkan, Konamikan, and Ice-tei. There sure are a lot of oddly named inns around here.” (Shizuma)
Maybe they’re trying to leave a strong impression so people remember them?
…At the very least, I’ll never forget the name Tonchinkan.
When I asked at the reception whether Koyan-san, who was staying there, had returned, an employee immediately went to fetch him.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Seimu-san. Shall we go? Actually, I had a business meeting in the workshop district today, and there’s a tavern there with a great selection of drinks and snacks. Let’s talk there.” (Koyan)
“That sounds good. We were just looking around that area ourselves. Let’s go.” (Shizuma)
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The tavern we were led to was one of the largest in the workshop district. Even the terrace seats were open despite it still being a cold season, and nearly all of them were filled… It was doing booming business.
We were shown to the terrace as well, but even at night, the workshop district wasn’t very cold. As long as you were dressed for winter, it wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
“Let’s wait for the first drink before we talk. Apparently, this place is famous for serving a warmed drink made by fermenting milk and honey together, called Hot Spiced Milk Mead.” (Koyan)
“Wow, warm milk alcohol? They have things like that?” (Melt)
“It sounds perfect for this season.” (Shizuma)
Even just hearing the description made it sound delicious.
The drink arrived in thick ceramic mugs, filled generously. Milky white with a faint golden hue.
A sweet, gentle aroma rose up, mixed with hints of cinnamon and a sharp note of pepper.
“Then, a toast.” (Koyan)
“Cheers!” (Melt)
“Cheers!” (Shizuma)
Taking a sip, the fragrance and sweetness of milk and honey spread through my mouth, followed by the flavor of alcohol carried on spices.
I sensed a slight peculiarity for a moment, but before I could fully register it, the spices wiped it away.
In short…it was very sweet and very good.
“So good!” (Melt)
“Yes, it’s easy to drink but apparently fairly strong, so maybe we should focus on food after this.” (Koyan)
“That sounds good. Oh, there’s duck here too.” (Shizuma)
“Oh, you already had it? It seems this city has forests often used by ducks for overwintering, so it’s a local specialty.” (Koyan)
And so, Koyan-san began telling us about his homeland, the Shiju Federation, while enjoying sweet alcohol and smoky-flavored duck meat, and as a pleasant tipsiness set in.
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“The neighboring continent, my homeland, is called the Rise Ark Continent. Its area is probably the largest in the world, overwhelmingly vast compared to the others. Some say it’s four times the size of the Dusterfil Continent.” (Koyan)
“That’s…enormous. Is it a single country governing all of that?” (Shizuma)
“No. Rise Ark is governed by different countries in the east and west. The eastern half, which faces this continent, is ruled by the Consold Empire. I’m from the western side, from the Sekiryo Country of the Shiju Federation.” (Koyan)
A federation…like the United States on Earth, I guess?
There it’s divided into states, but here they’re still called countries while belonging to a federation.
“Sekiryo is mainly inhabited by foxkins and tanukins. The foxkins mostly engage in trade with the outside world, while the tanukikins tend to focus on domestic commerce.” (Koyan)
“Tanukins! I’ve seen them in picture books. It said they don’t get along with foxkins… Was that a lie?” (Melt)
“Yes, generally they get along just fine. Though neither side will concede when it comes to whose tail is better. Every year, they compete in a tail-fur contest.” (Koyan)
“A tail contest! I want to enter! I’d totally win!” (Melt)
“Fufu, indeed… Melt-san’s tail has an unparalleled, beautiful coat.” (Koyan)
That’s right. Our household fox’s tail is a bewitching tail.
Silky smooth to the touch, with fine fur that flows like water; supple and beautiful.
And yet warm, so being wrapped in it fills you with happiness.
“In the Shiju Federation, there are five countries: Dona, Sekiryo, Hachiu, Kouron, and Shiryu…and above them, as the federal head state, is Shiju itself. In other words, it’s a union of six countries.” (Koyan)
“Wow! That’s a lot of countries! Don’t they fight?” (Melt)
“Well, there are rivalries and some countries that don’t get along, but wars don’t happen. Shiju simply won’t allow it. That country is composed solely of what we beastkins call higher beastkins who have undergone ancestral reversion. The population is small, but their power is overwhelming in every respect. Under their protection and support, everyone lives peacefully and comfortably…so war just doesn’t happen.” (Koyan)
“Ancestral reversion…?” (Shizuma)
“Yes. Throughout beastkins history, special races known as high beastkins occasionally emerge, possessing extraordinary power. Many have disappeared over long history, but well-known examples include the Silver Fox, Phantom Wolf, Golden Wolf, Red Bear, White Lion, Black Dragon, Fire Mouse, and Ham Mouse.” (Koyan)
…Didn’t something strange slip in at the end?
Ham mouse… Like a hamster?
“Melt-san probably has a strong inheritance of Silver Fox blood. To be honest, when I first saw you, I almost knelt in surprise. Citizens of the Shiju Federal Head State all strongly inherit the blood of some higher beastkins.” (Koyan)
“Wow! That’s so interesting! I’d love to go someday!” (Melt)
“Yeah, I’d like to go too.” (Shizuma)
There might even be beastkins there who resemble Melt… She’d probably love it.
“In that case, people from outside the country would need to pass through the Empire and then cross the massive lake in the center of the continent, Lake Ham. In fact, there are no ships that travel directly from the Dusterfil Continent to the Shiju Federation. Of course, that doesn’t apply to Shiju merchants…they can come directly to this continent, like I did.” (Koyan)
“I see… That’s probably due to an agreement with the Empire?” (Shizuma)
“Correct. Impressive… You figured that out from just this much information.” (Koyan)
“Huh? What does that mean?” (Melt)
It’s probably to prevent war between the Federation and the Empire. By limiting direct exchanges, neither side can secretly amass forces or form alliances with neighboring continents.
Perhaps the continent beyond Rise Ark is also restricted from dealing directly with the Empire.
I explained my reasoning to Melt.
“I don’t really get it, but it means they’re keeping each other in check with promises, right?” (Melt)
“Exactly. Well, that’s about all I can tell you. I’m just a merchant, after all…I’m not well-versed in the finer points of national policy or detailed international relations.” (Koyan)
“No, no, thank you very much for such valuable and fascinating information.” (Shizuma)
This makes me look forward even more to someday traveling the Rise Ark Continent.
If only I could hear about the Empire side from someone too.
“Oh, right. Koyan-san, I’ll be leaving this city tomorrow morning and returning to Lindblum ahead of time. If anything comes up, please tell Melt.” (Shizuma)
“Oh, is that so? Well…even though it was a short time, thank you very much for everything, Seimu-san. Once we return home, we’ll inform our headquarters about you. If you ever visit Sekiryo in the future, please be sure to stop by our Konkon Company.” (Koyan)
“Yes, I’d be happy to.” (Shizuma)
And so, a fun and fascinating night passed.
Good drinks, good snacks, and interesting stories.
It was truly a fulfilling evening.
Afterward, we escorted Koyan-san back to his inn, then headed straight back to our secret base outside the city, the underground bus.
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“That was such an interesting story! Maybe there are still others of my kin, the Silver Foxes!” (Melt)
“Do you want to be with others of your kind?” (SHizuma)
“Hmm… I might want to meet them? But the ones I’m with are my family…Shizuma and everyone else, you know?” (Melt)
“That makes me really happy to hear. Well then, starting tomorrow…no, starting today, I’ll take on the blacksmith’s form, okay? I’m still me inside, so don’t worry, but it might feel a little strange since it’s the first time I’ll show you.” (Shizuma)
“Ooh! You’re becoming someone new! I’m excited!” (Melt)
“Alright, then…transformation starts now!” (Shizuma)
And with that, I operated the menu and moved the character cursor to [Shijima].
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