Chapter 59
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After talking to the two for a while, I gave them some information about the rabbit that appeared as thanks.
To be precise… I actually guided them toward the rabbit using the reaction from the magic stone.
Most of the monsters that show up here seem to be rabbits, and since they can be caught in large numbers, they are sold at reasonable prices in the city shops.
It seems they are even shipped outside the city.
I already said my bag was full and let them have the chance to catch the rabbits, which resulted in Mard and Witt filling up their bags.
So, the two decided to go back to their base, the “Golden Lion,” to cash in their loot.
”Seems like there are a lot today. It’s good for money, but if there are too many, it gets hard to move and could be dangerous.”
”Yeah, let’s head back and cash in.”
”Right. But it’ll just turn into assessment tokens. The return trip is in 2 days, right?”
”Was it? I think the ‘Gem Snake’ is tomorrow.”
”That one pays a high price, so let’s just go with the ‘Golden Lion’ in 2 days.”
”Sounds good.”
I asked the two about the “return trip” that caught my interest.
”What’s the ‘return trip’?”
”Huh? Oh, if this is your first time here, you probably haven’t used it yet.”
”To put it simply, it’s like following a merchant caravan. When some big companies head back, you pay to go with them.”
”Wow, I didn’t know there was such a service.”
It seems there is indeed such a service.
The ones who accompany the caravan are also adventurers, and they should be helpful in battles, but… in the 3rd District, where there are many strong monsters, having a few powerful adventurers is better than just having a lot of them to minimize damage.
There were also wolves scattering electric shocks around.
So, the big companies that have a small number of high-powered elite members, like “Golden Lion,” seem to offer these kinds of services because it’s not good for them if the adventurers they deal with decrease unnecessarily.
It seems that the lack of such services on the way there is because they dislike having weak links, while on the way back, they probably think that anyone who can make it at least to the 4th District has enough strength.
”Gem Snake” also seems to offer services, but only if you pay a high fee, yet it looks like hardly anyone uses it.
As for “Silver Orchid,” they apparently don’t provide such services at all due to the nature of their company.
There are almost no women who can reach the 4th District on their own, and they probably don’t want to accept mixed-gender teams.
I told the two who were heading back to the base that I would “look around a bit more,” and I set off alone to explore the grasslands again.
My destination is… the entrance to the 5th District.
According to the map, the 4th District is a vast grassland, and since I could confirm that myself, I wanted to see what lay ahead.
There are no Gatekeepers here, and it seems there’s something similar to a gate found in cities or streets straight ahead from the path that leads into the 4th District.
Maybe that’s why the map of the 4th District is very simple, only showing the location of the base and the gate.
Isn’t 10,000 Oar a bit too much for this? I can’t help but think that… but if an adventurer can’t even pay this much, it means they don’t have the strength to reach that point.
In fact, it seems that you might not be able to buy the map for the next district unless you buy the map for the previous district first.
So… regardless of the area, even whether to buy a map or not, adventurers are being checked for their qualities.
The guild probably uses things like this to “filter” adventurers and avoid unnecessary losses.
As I followed the map toward the entrance to the 5th District, I could see something that looked like a gate in the distance.
I wanted to peek into the 5th District beyond the gate, but it seemed like there were people nearby, so I decided not to get any closer.
From the reactions of Mard and Witt, it seems like scouting the 4th District alone is okay… but going to sneak a look at the 5th District by myself would be strange.
As for invisibility… it seems that Ferris can sense me since I’m transparent and far from the “Silver Orchid” base, so I plan to be cautious and keep it sealed for now.
So, since I was able to confirm the gate to the 5th District, I decided to turn back and head to the square where the base is located.
Now that I’m back at the square, what should I do?
I had planned to float back during sunset, but I changed my mind and returned early, so I walked back normally.
The time was… when I made a clock to show the current time, it was around 3 PM.
It’s a bit early for sunset outside the dungeon.
Since I want to see what the night looks like anyway, and I might use it in the future, I want to check out the “Golden Lion” base, but… I wonder if I’ll be suspiciously investigated?
I’ve already seen people with what looked like passes going in, but I haven’t seen anyone using it for the first time, so I’m not sure what the procedures are.
Mald and Witt came with a group, but I pretended I was scouting alone. If I told the truth, it would seem strange since I actually came by myself.
Even if I said I had friends coming later… it might raise suspicions if I acted alone in the dangerous 3rd District and then no one showed up at the base afterward.
It’s obviously impossible to become invisible.
Since I returned to the square, I’m closer to the base than before, and Ferris, who seems to have returned to the base, will probably notice me.
Considering that, I can’t even observe the procedures to use the base while hiding.
…I guess I’ll head back today.
I want to confirm with Frederica about being part of “Mose” under “Hooters,” and it might be better to return early when there are fewer people around.
Having decided that, I start my return.
The path I took to the 4th District is inside a large rocky mountain, and the map shows that the entrance to the 3rd District is on the back side of this path.
It seems almost directly behind, but with the length of the path, it feels like it could be the same one. However, on the map, it shows as a single path that is cut off.
The destination is different, so I guess it’s treated as a separate path.
I look up at the rocky mountain that contains the path.
When I observed the “Golden Lion” base, it was floating about 10 meters high (≈ 32.8 feet), but this rocky mountain looks like it’s about 30 meters tall (≈ 98.4 feet), with a relatively flat top. It reminds me of the rocky mountains in the forest where I lived before coming to the city.
As long as no one sees me going up or down, it seems like I could set up a tent up there.
If that’s possible, I wouldn’t have to keep renting a room just to have a place to take a bath.
But since I was introduced, if I cancel the contract in a short time, it might be hard to rent again next time.
Thinking about that, I headed to the back of the rock mountain.
Now, considering the possibility of being seen by others, I pretended to look for rabbits as I arrived at the passage to the 3rd District and went in.
I probably wasn’t seen, but…
The passage to the 3rd District was just dark further in, so after going a bit, I used night vision goggles and invisibility to start my way back.
Even though the return route to the 3rd District is a different path, it just means I won’t go through the Gatekeeper’s room, and from a certain point, I’ll be going back the same way I came.
This is only if it’s the shortest route, but wouldn’t I run into other big companies transporting goods?
Ah… they must be planning to avoid that, so they’re changing the days to return to the city.
While making such guesses, I hunted the monsters attacking me with infrared from the night vision goggles and returned to the city.
* * *
Since it was early, there were no women ‘selling things’, and I smoothly left the square in front of the dungeon… hiding in the shadows, I became “Mose” and headed to the guild’s dismantling area.
Thinking about the future, it’s probably better to avoid meeting Frederica as “Koji” as much as possible.
When I entered the dismantling area, it was empty, and I headed to Frederica’s reception at the back.
Since it was empty, I stood out, so it was probably a good idea not to stay as “Koji.”
So, of course, Frederica was at the reception desk I was aiming for… She looked as bored as usual, but today she had a spaced-out expression.
*Knock, knock*
”!?”
*Thud! Swish, swish…*
When I lightly knocked on the desk, she noticed me, straightened her back, and quickly fixed her hair.
”Oh, what do you need today?”
”…”
She put on her usual composed face, but it had a slight blush to it.
I noticed small changes in her attitude towards me, and while I was thinking about how to react… Frederica, thinking I was being quiet because I was “Mose,” waved me over.
As I leaned over the counter, she also leaned in closer and lifted my helmet’s visor.
*Swish*
”…Hmm.”
*Kiss*
”Mmm… whoa, that was sudden.”
”Isn’t it fine? Just a little.”
Even though I mentioned the sudden kiss, Frederica replied with a smile.
Since we were talking in low voices, our faces were still close, so I decided to kiss her back.
”Mmm! …Lick.”
*Slurp…*
I suddenly wrapped my hand around the back of her head and kissed her, but she accepted it and intertwined her tongue with mine.
This counterattack seemed to only make her happy.
Realizing that, I released her head, but she maintained that position and didn’t pull away.
I took a breath and decided to talk about the original matter.
”What about the ‘Hooters’ thing?”
”Oh, I’ve already told Wendy. She hasn’t replied yet since it’s not something that can be decided easily, but if she accepts my proposal, then all you have to do is sign the contract.”
If you ask… sending a messenger at night is usually for urgent messages, so it seems they delivered this matter this morning.
”That was quick.”
”You might change your mind, right?”
”No, no. I don’t know if it’s a fee or a contract, but now that she has accepted it, I won’t go back on my word.”
At those words, Frederica smirks.
”That’s good to hear. I really put my body on the line, and it seems it worked.”
While saying that, she lifts her chest with her arms, but her line didn’t end there.
”As I said yesterday… this isn’t the end, okay?”
”Ah… you did say that.”
As expected, she seems to be looking forward to the next opportunity.
She seemed to enjoy herself yesterday, and that feels nice, but…
”You’re a lady from a good family, right?”
”In front of you, I’m just a woman~♪ Mwah.”
As Frederica leaned in again, I caught her with my lips, but she quickly pulled away, so I lowered my face and tried to leave the reception.
”Are you leaving already?”
”Just being with you is enough to stand out. I won’t be coming here often from now on.”
”Well, that’s probably for the best.”
She’s pretty casual considering her earlier attitude… but whatever.
”See you.”
As I said that and tried to leave the reception, she spoke to me.
”Oh, right. Stay in the room you borrowed tonight.”
”Wait? Are you planning to come?”
”Yes. Monoka is.”
As I leaned in again and asked quietly, Frederica smirked and replied.
I thought she was coming, but is Ms. Monoka planning to come?
She did say something about the next opportunity…
”Isn’t it too early for the ‘next opportunity’?”
”I heard that you’re going with one more person aside Iris, right?”
”Yeah.”
”Since you told me that, I thought you might realize that we can’t afford to waste time, especially since we’re already behind. I decided that on the spot.”
…
As I parted ways with Frederica and left the dismantling area, I started thinking about Ms. Monoka.
She had mentioned wanting to join next time, so I figured that opportunity might come eventually… but now I have plans to go back to my room.
Since she said she would come tonight, I assume she will, and I would feel guilty if something happened to her while I ignored it.
I could say that it’s not my fault since it was a plan made without my input, but if I heard she was coming, that means I had the means to prevent it.
I could just go to the orphanage and cancel it.
But… with Ferris and Taia’s situation today, to be honest, I really want some female company.
After my earlier conversation with Frederica, I didn’t think she was dissatisfied, but maybe she was feeling a bit unfulfilled?
So, I decided to look forward to my time with Ms. Monoka tonight and headed to “Hooters” to take care of my errands.
Since I was contracted as “Mose,” I arrived at the store in that form, but unlike last time, I was alone.
”Mose” is supposed to be unable to speak, so I would have to communicate through writing with Ms. Wendy.
That means there’s no one to prove that I am who I say I am, and if I keep my face hidden, she might not connect me with this merchant guild’s executive.
…It’s a hassle, but I guess I’ll have to bring Iris along.
As I decided that, I tried to walk away from the store.
”Welcome! We have great deals today too~♪”
The female staff from “Hooters” took my arm and was being really pushy to get me to come in.
”…”
*Pulled*
”…”
*Pulled, squished*
Since I can’t talk right now, I tried to pull my arm away, but she got closer, pressing her chest against me.
I activated the Magic Armor’s touch sensitivity, considering the possibility of being called over due to contact, like being tapped on the shoulder.
So, the soft feeling on my arm was nice, but… since I was trying to leave the store, it was a bit troublesome.
I wanted to refuse more strongly, but then the female staff, who was so close, whispered.
”Sir Mose, Mrs. Wendy is waiting for you.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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