Volume 2 Chapter 4 The Adventurers Guild
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I finally made it through the forest and reached the streets of Grimm.
I managed to enter the town without a hitch, but the sanitary conditions were absolutely abysmal.
Horse manure and rotting garbage were scattered everywhere.
Naturally, flies were swarming all over the place.
And where there are flies, maggots follow.
I honestly wanted to pull someone aside and give them a lecture on Sanitation 101¹.
I couldn’t help but wonder if every other town in this world suffered from this same level of filth.
The town square had been converted into a market, bustling with stalls and a sea of customers.
It seemed they actually put some effort into cleaning the area around the square, at least.
It still smelled, though.
As I scanned the market, I caught sight of a white female slave being put up for sale.
I think human trafficking is a load of horseshit, but that’s as far as my feelings went.
It’s not like I was burning with some sense of righteous indignation to abolish slavery or “rescue” them.
This isn’t my world, after all.
They can do whatever they want.
I’m just here to play the hand I’m dealt.
I walked along the perimeter of the square, searching for the inn the gate guard had recommended.
He mentioned that any place facing the square was a safe bet.
I spotted a building with a sign depicting a house—the universal symbol for an inn, apparently.
All of them were three stories tall.
Not knowing which was better, I just picked one and stepped inside.
”Welcome,” a woman at the counter called out as I opened the door.
At first glance, she looked like the kind of middle-aged auntie you’d see in Indonesia.
”Hey. Is this an inn?” I asked.
”Yes, welcome to Bloom’s Inn,” the woman replied. “Are you staying the night? Or just here for a meal?”
”I’d like a room, please,” I said.
”In that case, it’s five Copper Coins including breakfast. If you want dinner, that’ll be an extra one Copper Coin,” the woman explained.
”I see. I’ll go with dinner, then,” I said.
”Is just one night alright?” said the woman.
Five Copper Coins would be 5,000 yen, so 6,000 yen with dinner.
That’s actually pretty steep.
I’ll stay for one night and see how it goes.
”Is it possible to extend my stay later?” I asked.
”As long as you let me know by the end of today. This is our last available room, you see,” the woman said.
”Got it. I’ll let you know early if I decide to stay,” I said.
”Very well. A water tub will be one Copper Coin. Would you like one?” the woman asked.
”A water tub? You mean drinking water?” I asked.
”Oh no, dear guest,” the woman laughed. “We can’t serve something as expensive as drinking water here. I’m talking about a tub of water to wash your body.”
”Ah, right. My bad. I’ll take it,” I said.
Drinking water is apparently so expensive that even a high-end inn can’t provide it.
Is water really that precious in this world?
I’d better make sure I don’t drink the water in that tub.
”I’ll have it brought to your room shortly. That will be seven Copper Coins in total,” the woman said.
”Is a Silver Coin alright?” I asked.
”That’s fine. Your change is three Copper Coins,” the woman said.
I see. One Silver Coin equals ten Copper Coins.
Converting that to Japanese Yen, one Silver Coin is 10,000 yen.
One night with two meals is 7,000 yen, so 30 nights would be 210,000 yen.
Damn, that’s expensive.
At my current rate, 30 nights is my absolute limit.
I wonder if this even counts as a “high-class” inn.
To a modern Japanese person like me, it feels like a cheap wooden apartment.
Though, I suppose the floor is actually well-cleaned.
It still smells, but it’s at a level where I can at least manage to breathe.
”The dining hall is on the first floor. Please come down when the 5 o’clock bell rings for dinner,” the woman said.
”Understood. Oh, by the way… what time is it now?” I asked.
”The 12 o’clock bell should be ringing any moment now,” the woman replied.
”I see. And when is breakfast?” I asked.
”Any time after the 6 o’clock bell rings in the morning is fine,” the woman said.
”Got it. Thanks,” I said.
”Your room is at the top of the stairs, at the end of the hall on the left. Here is your key. The latrine is out past the garden,” the woman said.
”Much appreciated,” I said.
So, the bell rings at 6, 12, and 5.
It seems the concept of time exists here just like back home.
I’m curious how many hours are in a day, but I can’t really ask something that basic.
More importantly, I need cash.
I should find out about work.
”One more thing. Is there a place in this town that handles job placements?” I asked.
”Eh? Ah, do you mean the Adventurers Guild?” the woman asked.
”Yeah, that’s the one. Where is it?” I asked.
”The Adventurers Guild is right across the square from here,” the woman said.
”I see. Thanks,” I said.
I nodded and headed up the stairs.
I unlocked the door to the room on the far left and stepped inside.
The room was a single six-mat space with one bed, one table, and two chairs.
There was also a three-tier wooden chest for clothes.
Everything was made of wood.
(Cramped. Feels like a studio apartment. Well, I can’t be picky. Compared to sleeping in a tree, having a private room is something to be grateful for.)
The room was dark because the window was so small.
There was no glass, either—just a wooden sliding board to block the elements.
On the table sat a candle holder and a stone.
A flint, maybe?
I have no idea how to use it.
I used magic to light the candle, and the room brightened with a soft flicker.
(Ugh, that stinks.)
It smelled like burning animal fat.
The candle must be made of tallow.
The smell was so bad I blew it out and used magic² to float a small, flickering flame in the center of the room for light.
Since magic flames stay lit until I let go of them, they make perfect lamps.
I unbuckled my belt, set my gear on the table, and flopped onto the bed.
The cushioning wasn’t terrible, but my back felt strangely itchy.
The sheets were scratchy, but that wasn’t the problem.
When I peeled them back, I saw the “mattress” was just a pile of straw.
(Not even a mattress, huh…?)
I wonder if bugs live in this stuff.
Just as I was worrying about that, there was a knock at the door.
”I’ve brought your water tub. I’ll leave it right here,” said a boy.
”Thanks,” I said.
A young boy from the inn set the tub in the corner.
It was tiny—about 20 centimeters high, barely big enough to fit a backpack if you stood it upright.
It was filled about seventy percent with water.
It looked clear and normal, but if it’s non-potable, it must be contaminated.
The sound of a bell drifted through the window.
It was noon.
I lay on the bed, staring at the floating flame, and began to think.
First things first: I’ve secured a safe place to sleep.
The door is wood, so an intruder could kick it in, but it’ll at least buy me time to react.
It seems that as long as I have money, I won’t starve in this town.
Now I just need a way to keep that money coming in.
I need to stabilize my life.
However, this world is even more dangerous than I anticipated.
Almost every man I passed in the street was armed with a sword or a knife.
Those who weren’t armed usually had guards nearby.
The only unarmed people were women, children, and slaves.
And the beggars, I suppose.
When everyone you pass is carrying a weapon, a sudden attack would be impossible to block.
My life would end in an instant.
Right now, I’m practically defenseless.
I need a way to protect myself.
Now that I have a place to sit and think, I need to understand what happened to me.
(Know thy enemy and know thyself, and you shall not be imperiled in a hundred battles.)
Three days ago, I was commuting home, fell asleep on the train, and woke up in another world.
I have no idea what happened.
I deeply regret that I was sleeping when it went down.
I didn’t see another soul from Earth in that forest.
I was likely the only one sent here.
But who did it? And why?
There was no one there when I woke up, but someone must have summoned me.
I currently have two clues for getting back to Japan.
The first is the clearing where I woke up in the forest.
But there were no traces or markings there at all.
The second is magic³.
There might be a spell out there that can send me back.
My goal is to find that magic.
I have to get back to my family.
* * *
After that, I spent some time experimenting with my magic and discovered a few things.
First: The “Magic Elements” filling the air… or maybe “Aether”?
Whatever it is, I can only sense it within a range of about three meters.
I know this because when I try to form an ice bullet using the furthest elements I can feel, that’s where the limit is.
The maximum distance I can keep an ice bullet hovering is also three meters.
Basically, I can only manifest magic within a three-meter radius of myself.
Second: I found out that the humans in this world have magic inside their bodies, too.
Since it’s internal, I’ll call that “Mana.”
Magic Elements in the air, Mana in the body.
It’s a bit confusing.
I discovered this while testing my sensory range; I felt a single source of Mana in the room to my right.
When I checked the people passing by outside, they all had it too.
It seems to be centered in the heart.
The amount is so incredibly small that you wouldn’t even notice it if you weren’t specifically looking for it.
Since I could feel it through the walls, it seems physical obstacles don’t block my “vision.”
I also learned that children don’t have Mana.
Adults all have roughly the same amount, but as I watched the crowd, I spotted one person with a slightly larger pool.
It was a woman walking behind a man who looked like a wealthy merchant.
It seems “High-Mana” individuals are a rarity.
I’ll need to train myself to keep this “vision” active at all times.
Right now, I have to focus hard just to see it.
Finally, I realized there is Mana in my own heart as well.
It’s significantly larger than anyone else I’ve seen so far.
I have no idea why.
Third: I can use multiple spells at once.
When I tested it with small ice bullets, I could maintain several as long as they stayed within my three-meter zone.
However, I can’t “cast” them all at once yet.
I have to create them one by one.
But once they’re formed, I can fire them all in a single volley.
Alright, time to head to the Adventurers Guild.
Finding a way to make money is the priority.
Adventurers usually mean rough-and-tumble types.
Back in Japan, I was a polite salaryman who used “desu” and “masu” with everyone, but that kind of talk will get me eaten alive here.
This is basically role-playing.
I just need to pretend I’m a tough-as-nails veteran.
(When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)
The inn seemed reliable enough, so I went back down to the front desk and paid for an additional five nights in advance.
I stepped outside and headed to the building across the way.
It bore a sign with a sword and shield.
When I pushed the door open, I found a reception desk straight ahead and a tavern to the right.
The place was a wall of noise.
I walked up to the reception desk and decided to check in with the girl working there.
She was a young woman with long brown hair, big eyes, and sharply defined eyebrows.
”Got a moment? This is the Adventurer’s Guild, right?” I asked.
”…Ah, yes. Is this your first time using the guild?” the receptionist replied.
”Yeah. Actually, it is,” I said.
”In that case, let me explain. To put it simply, the Adventurer’s Guild is a mutual aid organization for free citizens. Once you register as an adventurer, you can get introduced to various types of work. We have jobs within the city like cleaning or deliveries, of course, but we also handle requests for guards and mercenaries, as well as the purchase of magic stones and monster materials.”
The term “free citizen” caught my attention, but it seemed like common knowledge, so I kept my mouth shut.
”I see. Can anyone sign up?” I asked.
”Yes, it’s one Silver Coin. Once you register, we issue an adventurer plate, which you can use in other cities too. You’ll start with an Iron plate, and you can take on requests that match your rank!”
”So the plates have ranks?” I asked.
”That’s right. It goes Iron, Copper, Silver, and then Gold. The higher your rank, the more perks you get.”
”I see. Like what?”
”For Iron? Nothing, really. But once you hit Copper, your city entrance tolls are waived. And at Silver, you’re granted citizenship!”
”Waiving the tolls is huge. —Sorry, but do you mind if I ask what ‘citizenship’ actually gets you?” I asked.
”Well… once you’re a citizen, you can buy a house in the city. Isn’t that the dream? Owning your own place in town? I want to get there myself someday. Even if it comes with things like taxes and conscription.”
”Right. Makes sense,” I said.
(So I’m a “free citizen,” apparently. No house-buying for me yet.)
”So, would you like to register?” the receptionist asked.
”Yeah. Let’s do it,” I said.
”Then, please tell me your name and age.”
”Ryuichi. I’m forty.”
”WH—!? Forty?! You’re forty years old!?” the receptionist shouted.
”That’s what I said. Is there a problem?” I asked.
I snapped back at her. What is wrong with this girl? She just screamed my age for the whole world to hear. I glanced over at the tavern area; all the guys drinking there were staring right at me.
”Ah… no, sorry. Yes. Well then, please sign here. A symbol or mark is fine. We’ll engrave it onto the plate.”
”Is this okay?” I asked.
I took the pen she offered and wrote the character “Ryu” on the wooden board before handing it back.
”I’ve never seen this shape… is it a symbol?”
”Yeah. Just something I came up with,” I said.
”Understood. I’ll get started on your plate. We’ll keep the signature on file, so if you have the plate, we can use it for identity verification whenever you need.”
”Got it,” I said.
Since we were speaking normally, I thought the writing would be the same, but it looks like the written word doesn’t translate. In fact, the girl’s mouth movements and the words I was hearing didn’t match up at all. It felt exactly like watching a foreign movie dubbed into Japanese. (Is my brain just auto-translating everything?) The characters she was writing were completely alien to me. I couldn’t read a single word—this was bad. I was going to have to learn how to read and write all over again.
”Well then, I think it will be ready by 17:00. Please come back for it then.”
”I appreciate it. Also, you mentioned purchasing magic stones and materials. Where do I go for that?” I asked.
”Purchases! For that, go to the building in the guild’s backyard!” the receptionist replied.
”Right. Thanks,” I said.
In the backyard, I found a building that looked more like a shack with a massive wooden table inside. As I approached, a burly man in a blood-stained apron called out to me.
”Yeah? What is it?” Balan asked.
”Is this the place that buys monster parts?” I asked.
”That’s right. I take magic stones and monster materials,” Balan said.
”Okay. What kind of stuff are you looking for?”
”For monsters, the magic stone is the priority. As for materials, if it’s edible, I’ll buy the meat. I also take stuff that can be turned into gear or jewelry. Just bring whatever you’ve got and I’ll give you an appraisal.”
”Magic stones… huh. Uh, animals don’t have those, right?” I asked.
”Duh. The stone is what makes it a monster,” Balan said.
”Figures. What kind of monsters are in this area?”
”Ah, well, the Magic Forest has all sorts. In the shallow parts, it’s mostly Horn Rabbits, Slimes, and Goblins.”
”…I see. The usual suspects,” I said.
”If you go deeper, you’ll run into big game like Great Boars. They sell for a lot, but don’t go alone. You’ll die.”
(This guy is surprisingly nice for someone with such a terrifying face.)
”Got it. Then, let’s get to it. I took down a giant snake. You want to see it?” I asked.
”Sure. Bring it over. Name’s Balan,” Balan said.
”Yeah, I left it at the inn, so I’ll go grab it. I’m Ryuichi,” I replied.
There was no way I could pull it out of my Item Box right here. My power has to stay a secret. I left the guild and headed to a market stall, where I bought some rope and four large bags. It cost me five Copper Coins—a bit steep, but it’s a necessary business expense. I’ll probably need them again anyway.
Back in my room, I pulled the sliced-up segments of the giant snake out of my Item Box, stuffed them into the bags, and tied them shut with the rope. It took all four bags to fit the whole thing. It was incredibly heavy, but I managed to carry it. Ever since I arrived in this world, I’ve been in great shape. (It feels like my physical strength has been boosted.)
I lugged the bags back to the purchase counter and spread the giant snake out on the table.
Thud.
”Whoa!? Is this a Poison Snake!?” Balan shouted.
”Is that what it’s called? It’s poisonous?” I asked.
”Yeah, and it’s nasty stuff. If you don’t get to a church for treatment, you’re a dead man. How’d you manage to bag such a big one? You’re a lot tougher than you look, aren’t you?”
”Ah, well, I just got lucky,” I said.
(So it was highly venomous. I’m glad I wasn’t bitten.)
”The condition is great, so this should fetch a high price. You want the appraisal? You selling the magic stone too?”
”Yeah, tell me the price first. But people actually buy this if it’s poisonous?” I asked.
”Sure do. The poison goes away once you cook it. Poison Snake is delicious; the nobles love it,” Balan said.
”If you say so. I don’t really have the stomach for it. By the way, where is the magic stone?”
”A Poison Snake’s stone is usually right below the head.”
Schwing.
As he spoke, Balan plunged a large knife into the snake and began butchering it. Squish. He pulled out a pitch-black stone, about a centimeter wide, from inside the carcass.
”There. This is it.”
”I see. So that’s where they are,” I said.
”The stone is perfect. With the subjugation bounty included, the stone is worth two Silver Coins and five Copper Coins. The snake’s body… I’d put that at three Gold Coins,” Balan said.
”Whoa. That’s a pretty good price,” I said.
”Not many people can take one of these down. They don’t hit the market often, so they command a premium. You willing to sell for that?”
”Yeah, no problem,” I said.
”Appreciate it.”
”Tell me, what are magic stones actually used for?” I asked.
”Magic tools. Like the ones that produce water. Nobles and merchants use ’em. They’ve got nothing to do with common folk like us,” Balan said.
”I see.”
”Take this slip to the reception desk to get your coin. Bring me whatever else you find out there,” Balan said.
”Yeah. See ya,” I replied.
(So one Poison Snake is worth over 320,000 yen. That is some serious bank.) I headed back to the receptionist and handed her the slip.
”Got a slip for a payout here,” I said.
”Wait, WHAT!? …This is incredible. What did you bring in?”
”Something called a Poison Snake,” I said.
”WHAAAT!? A POISON SNAKE!?” the receptionist shouted.
”Hey. Do you mind? I’d rather not have a scene,” I said.
”Ah… I’m sorry. Here is your reward.”
”Thanks,” I said.
Apparently, bringing in a Poison Snake is a massive deal. Because the girl screamed it out, the guys in the tavern were staring at me again. I took the money and got out of there as fast as I could.
I grabbed a quick snack from a market stall to tide me over and took a nap back at the inn. I woke up at the 17:00 bell and went downstairs to grab some dinner.
”I’d like to eat,” I said.
”Coming! Would you like wine or ale with that?” the waitress asked.
”I’ll take an ale,” I said.
”You got it! Just a moment!”
An energetic waitress—maybe high school age—was working the floor. Probably the innkeeper’s daughter. A short while later, my meal arrived: hard bread, a soup packed with vegetables, and a lukewarm beer. The beer had almost no alcohol in it. The taste was weak, too. It was basically water. It wasn’t exactly delicious, but it filled me up. I headed back to the guild to pick up my Iron plate. The same receptionist was there.
”I’m here for the plate. Is it done?” I asked.
”Yes, I’ve been waiting for you! Here it is,” the receptionist said.
”Thanks. Oh, by the way. I want to check out some weapons and armor. Are there any shops nearby?”
”Oh, there are several right along the same street as the guild,” the receptionist said.
”Got it. Thanks,” I replied.
”No problem at all! Um… I’m sorry for shouting like that earlier today.”
”Ah, don’t worry about it. Just keep it down from now on, alright?” I asked.
”YES! ABSOLUTELY!!” the receptionist shouted.
”See you later,” I said.
(Unbelievable. She’s still loud.)
By the time I stepped outside, it was pitch black. I went back to my room and thought about my next move before bed. The fact that I can’t read is going to be a major hurdle. (If I want to get back to Earth, I’ll need to be able to read books on magic.) But before that, I need general common sense—I still don’t know anything about this world. I’ve got over four Gold Coins now. For now, I’ll focus on getting some gear. Hunting monsters in that forest seems like the fastest way to make a living.
—
Summary:
Moving from the forest into the filth-ridden town of Grimm, Ryuichi secures a room at Bloom’s Inn. He begins a methodical analysis of his magical range and the mana capacity of the locals. His focus shifts toward the Adventurers Guild as a means to achieve financial stability.
Ryuichi moves to register at the Adventurer’s Guild and discovers the shocking value of a Poison Snake. He successfully sells the creature and magic stone to the butcher Balan for a significant sum. The encounter leaves Ryuichi aware of the social classes and his own literacy barrier in this new world.
—
Trivia:
- The protagonist explicitly converts fantasy currency to Japanese Yen to gauge value
- Drinking water is treated as a high-value commodity, unavailable for common guests
- The protagonist uses magic to create a floating light source to avoid the smell of tallow candles
- The guild receptionist mentioned conscription as a downside to citizenship
- Balan mentions that the poison snake is a delicacy popular with nobles
- Ryuichi’s signature used Japanese characters which were unrecognizable to the locals
- Magic stones are specifically used to power magic tools like water producer
—
Character Insight:
Ryuichi is transitioning from a confused newcomer to a pragmatic earner, prioritizing financial security and information gathering over immediate heroics.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Grimm – The name of a large settlement and community located near the Forest of Magic. Grimm is a walled city featuring a bustling marketplace and diverse population, though it suffers from severe lack of sanitation and a legalized slave trade.
• Man – A roughneck wearing a hat who participated in a group assault. He suffers the loss of his right arm and later his left arm during an experiment by the protagonist before being stored.
• Ryuichi – A forty-year-old man who has recently arrived in a new world. He possesses a calm, somewhat skeptical demeanor and has noticed a significant boost in his physical strength and condition since his arrival. He keeps his unique ‘Item Box’ ability a secret from others.
• Balan – A burly man with a terrifying face who works at the guild’s purchase shack. He wears a blood-stained apron and possesses a surprisingly kind personality, offering advice to novice adventurers. He is an expert in butchering monsters and appraising materials.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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