Chapter 14: Quest 7: Stay at an Inn [Part 1]
“Wake up. Weâre almost there.”
Makoto opened his eyes at Christineâs voice.
Christine sat in front of him, Yuka beside him.
The light streaming through the window had a faint yellow tint.
It seemed he had fallen asleep while riding in the carriage.
“You sleep well, donât you?”
“Iâm a salaryman. Weâre trained to sleep anywhere.”
“Is that really how it works?”
“Thatâs how it works.”
Yuka nodded without much interest.
“What will you do once we reach town?”
“First the Church. Then eat a lot and sleep a lot. Iâll think after that.”
“I see.”
Christine nodded reluctantly.
Her face practically said she wanted his help.
But Makoto did not want to get dragged into trouble carelessly.
“Donât make that face. Iâm thinking of staying active in Rockwell for a while.”
“I-I see.”
“Wait, youâre not going to the capital?”
“No reason to.”
“If you cooperate with us, you might return to our world.”
“Our world, huh. I donât really have a reason to go back.”
Makoto scratched his head.
He did not particularly want to see his family.
He had no lover.
And he did not care about his old company.
“…If you have no reason, you could help us.”
“For now, I want to work alone.”
Yuka pouted, but Makoto deflected her.
His reason was the same as Christineâs.
If anything, judging from her, he did not trust the king or that Kouki guy.
As he thought that, the view darkened.
“No need to worry. It is just the city walls.”
“So itâs a fortified city?”
“Yes. The outside is dangerous. Even frontier villages have fences.”
“A frontier village, huh.”
A slow life in a quiet countryside town would not be bad.
The view went completely dark.
They were passing through the gate.
Soon light returned.
Stone buildings filled the view outside.
Because of the enclosing walls, land was limited.
Many buildings were multi-story.
Three or four floors seemed common.
The town was lively.
Humans walked alongside elves with pointed ears, dwarves with barrel-like builds, and beastfolk with ears and tails.
Most wore ordinary clothes, though some wore armor.
“…Medieval Europe?”
“This clearly goes beyond the Middle Ages.”
“How so?”
“There werenât glass windows in the Middle Ages.”
Yuka sounded smug.
Indeed, every building had glass windows.
“Still, it doesnât feel beyond medieval.”
“Then call it medieval European-style fantasy.”
She ended the discussion decisively.
She had started it.
He wished she would humor him properly.
“At least theyâre not dumping waste out the windows.”
“W-What kind of barbaric place is that?”
“I read online that medieval Europe was a dark age where people dumped waste out windows, ate with their hands, and didnât bathe.”
“H-How terrifying. Your world must be a dark age.”
Christineâs voice trembled.
“So hygiene is developed here.”
“Explain that it was centuries ago first.”
“Was it centuries ago?”
“I canât say exactly how many.”
Christine sighed in relief.
The carriage slowed.
They must be close.
“It is regrettable, but this is farewell.”
“Youâre supposed to say âSee you.â”
“S-See you⌠then!”
She said it shyly as the carriage stopped before a large buildingâlikely the Church.
When the door opened, warm air flowed in.
The scent of food drifted in.
It was near dinner time.
Makoto stepped down.
Yuka followed.
“Lord Makoto!”
Laura approached and stopped before him.
She offered him a finely crafted dagger.
“Please take this.”
“Iâll get a bounty, so I donât need it.”
She did not lower her hand.
“What should I do?” he muttered.
“Just take it.”
“Isnât it important?”
“If you donât, sheâll stand there forever.”
“…Fine.”
He accepted it.
“Thank you!”
“No, thatâs my line. I wonât sell it. If you ever want it back, find me.”
“Of course!”
Laura bowed deeply and returned to the carriage.
Soon it departed.
Christine watched through the window until it disappeared.
Makoto sighed.
“Think thereâs meaning to this dagger?”
“She fell for you. Probably some forbidden love thing.”
“…Seriously?”
He stared at the dagger.
It felt heavier somehow.
He tucked it into his belt and looked up at the Church.
“Impressive.”
“Your vocabulary is as poor as ever.”
“Shut up.”
It looked more like a cathedral.
Symmetrical spires flanked it.
The doors were open.
“Letâs go.”
“No point standing around.”
Inside was a reception desk and a bulletin board.
Notices covered in unfamiliar script were posted.
Unfamiliarâyet readable.
“Escort? Herb gathering? Why can I read this?”
“The Messenger made sure we wouldnât be inconvenienced.”
“Iâm grateful, but…”
He appreciated the communication cheat, but a better tutorial would have been nice.
“No use complaining.”
“Right.”
“How do we claim the bounty?”
“The priest handles that.”
The answer came from a girl in a robe.
“Where is the priest?”
“Over there.”
She gestured to the altar.
A simple circle-cross holy symbol stood there.
A woman stood before it.
Makoto approached.
“Welcome, wielder of the Seven Sins.”
Her soft alto voice carried a sensual undertone.
“Seven Sins?”
“We call the spirits governing the mind that.”
“Sounds cool, but worrying.”
He shrugged.
Being called evil by a global organization was unsettling.
She covered her mouth and chuckled.
“No need to worry. Though powerful, the Seven Sins can be controlled.”
“So it depends on me. Thatâs not reassuring.”
“As long as you lack confidence, you are safe.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
Her calm confidence was strangely convincing.
Yuka tapped his arm.
“The bounty for undead.”
“Please extend your left hand.”
He did.
She placed her hand over it.
“O Periolis beyond the infinite.”
A sharp pain shot through his hand.
Then vanished.
“Your account is created. The bounty has been deposited.”
“…Account. Deposit.”
He wished for more fantasy-like terminology.
“How do I check balance?”
“Touch your left hand and say âDisplay.â”
“Display.”
A window appeared.
“Balance: 100,000 A.”
“A is the currency. Brass 1 A, copper 10 A, silver 100 A, gold 1,000 A.”
“How much is that worth?”
“A skilled craftsman earns about 100 A a day.”
So about ten million yen.
Reassuring.
“Any other questions?”
“How to use bonus points.”
“You may spend them to expand functions.”
“What functions?”
She clasped her hands.
A window appeared between them.
Fantasy yet sci-fi.
“Thatâs a lot.”
“…I want an account too.”
“Of course.”
The window slid aside.
“Mostly passive skills.”
Around forty total.
Mostly resistances and stat boosts.
Only one clear active skill: Appraisal.
Others were things like Mindâs Eye, Insight, Night Vision, Presence Detection, Presence Concealment.
State Abnormality Resistance was oddly separate from Poison, Paralysis, Confusion, Fear Resistance.
Suspicious.
“…No Soul Heal.”
It seemed skills here were extensions of human capability.
“Iâll take State Abnormality Resistance, Physical Resistance, Magic Resistance, Night Vision, Presence Detection, Healing Boost, Appraisal. Thatâs seventy.”
He selected them.
“What next?”
[Acquire skills?]
“…Yes.”
A bell rang.
His body tingled.
[70 points consumed. Skills acquired. 30 remaining. Continue?]
“For now, thatâs fine.”
The window vanished.
“…Hope that wasnât a mistake.”
He remembered RPG regret after balanced builds.
“Hey!”
“What?”
“I only got 50,000 A!”
“Skeleton Lord split?”
“I helped!”
Makoto sighed.
“Fine. Split evenly.”
“Are you sure?”
“Her argumentâs fair.”
The priest touched their hands.
75,000 A each.
“Any inns nearby?”
“Please ask at reception.”
“Got it.”
He turned, then paused.
“Thanks.”
“It is my duty.”
She smiled beautifully.