NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Cloaks, Coins, and Complications
City Streets – A Little Later
Rikuya stepped out of a modest-looking clothing store, his old uniform tucked into a small bundle under his arm.
Now, he wore an outfit more fitting for the world around him—a dark gray tunic made of thick, sturdy fabric, lined with faint silver stitching along the cuffs.
A black leather belt cinched the tunic at his waist, holding up dark, reinforced trousers tucked into a pair of rugged brown boots with iron buckles.
Over it all, he wore a black cloak with a deep hood, draping down to his knees, giving him a faintly mysterious, traveler-like vibe.
He tugged at the collar, adjusting it with a sigh. "All of this cost me three gold coins. Three."
Pulling the small pouch from his belt, he peered inside. "The king only gave me twenty. And judging by the economy here, that's probably—" He paused, doing some quick mental gymnastics. "—like, what? Maybe 30,000 yen for this whole outfit?"
『Incorrect.』
The sudden mechanical voice echoed in his head again, making him flinch slightly.
『Based on the materials—reinforced monster hide for the boots, enchanted threading for durability, and premium shadow-weave cloth for the cloak—the actual modern equivalent would be approximately 150,000 yen.』
Rikuya squinted at his cloak, pinching the fabric between his fingers. "...I never asked."
He stuffed the pouch back onto his belt with an annoyed grunt. "Great. Not only am I stuck in fantasy land, but I've got a backseat financial advisor living rent-free in my head."
As Rikuya continued walking, weaving through the bustling crowd, the system's voice echoed again, this time sharper, as if… It was mildly offended.
『Correction. I am not a financial advisor.』
Rikuya groaned, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, I figured. You're more of an annoying pop-up ad that I can't close."
Ignoring his remark, the system spoke again.
『I am G.U.A.R.D.I.A.N. — Guidance Unit for Autonomous Regulation, Defense, Intervention, and Necessary-oversight.』
Rikuya stopped mid-step, blinking. "Wait, hold up. Did you really just backronym yourself into sounding important?"
『My responsibility is to ensure you properly perform your duties as this world's deterrent force against threats. I will provide tactical data, threat analysis, and intervention protocols as needed, as well as making adjustments to the host when necessary. Noncompliance may result in system override.』
Rikuya stared blankly at nothing, letting the words sink in. "System override? What, you gonna hack my brain and force me to play hero if I decide to slack off?"
『Affirmative.』
He let out an exaggerated sigh, throwing his arms up slightly. "Fantastic. I got isekai'd and drafted."
Shaking his head, he pulled the hood of his black cloak over his head, muttering under his breath, "At least the cloak's cool, though. Guess that's worth 150,000 yen of my imaginary fantasy money."
As Rikuya strolled through the bustling streets, his boots tapping lightly against the cobblestone, curiosity gnawed at him.
He sighed, tilting his head slightly as if speaking to the sky.
"Hey, G.U.A.R.D.I.A.N., since you're clearly some overpowered walking tutorial, mind explaining something?"
『Inquiry acknowledged. Proceed.』
Rikuya smirked. "If you're so advanced—some 'deterrent force' system packed with tactical data and override protocols—then why the hell is my class ranked as FFF? Shouldn't I be rocking some OP title like 'Legendary Hero' or 'Godslayer Supreme' or something?"
There was a brief pause, then it responded.
『Your current class rating of FFF is accurate based on your existing parameters.』
Rikuya's smirk faded slightly. "Wow. No hesitation, huh? Just straight-up confirmed it like I'm garbage tier."
『Affirmative. Your current stats—physical strength, magical aptitude, cognitive processing, and combat proficiency—are significantly below average.』
Rikuya's eyebrow twitched. "Gee, thanks for the confidence boost."
『However, this low baseline is advantageous.』
Rikuya blinked. "…How? Explain that one, Einstein."
『Because your foundational stats are minimal, system adjustments and enhancements can be applied with maximum efficiency. Lower base parameters allow for swift recalibration, optimized growth acceleration, and easier adaptability to external modifiers.』
Rikuya stared blankly for a moment. "So what you're saying is… I'm weak on purpose because it makes it easier for you to 'upgrade' me like some character in a gacha game?"
『Correct. Your current status allows for flexible development pathways with minimal interference. This ensures rapid adaptability and system efficiency.』
Rikuya ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. "Fantastic. I'm basically a customizable tutorial NPC."
"Fuck."
…
...
The sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows across the streets as Rikuya finally made his way toward the eastern gate.
The city faded the closer he got—stone-paved roads gave way to dirt paths riddled with wagon tracks, and the scent of spices and baked bread was replaced by the less-than-charming aroma of livestock and dust.
Ahead, a modest cart station stood, a series of wooden carriages lined up haphazardly with their oxen lazily chewing on hay.
Drivers lounged nearby, some sipping from water bags, others half-asleep under the shade of worn-out canopies.
Merchants shouted deals, travelers haggled over fares, and the occasional guard passed by with little more than a glance.
Rikuya paused, adjusting the black cloak draped over his shoulders, its edges fluttering slightly with the breeze.
His gaze swept over the crowd, narrowing slightly.
"Alright, time to find this Lindor guy," he said, then casually approached a stocky man loading sacks onto a cart.
The man had thick arms, a scruffy beard, and an expression that screamed, 'I'm too old for this.'
Rikuya cleared his throat. "Yo, you wouldn't happen to know a guy named Lindor, would you?"
The man squinted, eyeing Rikuya from head to toe, likely noting his mismatched attire—practical but clearly not from around here.
"Lindor, huh?" He scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Yeah, I know 'im. Runs the bigger carts over by the east post. Look for the one with the faded blue tarp—can't miss it."
Rikuya gave a casual nod. "Appreciate it."
Making his way further down the station, he soon spotted the cart in question.
It was larger than the others, its frame sturdier, though the blue tarp covering its goods had clearly seen better days—frayed at the edges and sun-bleached to the point it was more gray than blue.
Standing beside it was a tall, wiry man with dark brown hair and sharp green eyes that flicked between potential customers.
His posture was relaxed, but something about him felt… calculated, like he was always assessing risks, even while doing something as mundane as checking the harness on his oxen.
Rikuya approached, hands tucked casually into his cloak.
"You Lindor?"
The man glanced at him, his sharp gaze lingering just a second longer than usual before he responded, "Depends on who's asking."
Rikuya smirked. "Eldrin sent me. Said you could hook me up with a cart ride for five silvers instead of one gold."
Lindor raised an eyebrow, then chuckled dryly. "That old fox still sending strays my way, huh? Guess I owe him a favor or two."
He gave the harness one final tug before straightening up. "Yeah, I'm Lindor. If you've got five silvers, I've got a spot on the cart."
"So, where you headed?"
Rikuya blinked, glancing out toward the open road beyond the gates. The rolling hills and distant treetops didn't exactly offer much direction.
He scratched the back of his head, shrugging. "Honestly? No idea. Just looking for a nice place to settle down for a while. Somewhere quiet where this gold can stretch a bit, y'know?"
Lindor chuckled, adjusting his wide-brimmed hat to shield his eyes from the sun.
"Hah, you and half the people I haul around. Everyone's running from something—or trying to find something." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, but before he could offer any suggestions, Rikuya's vision buzzed faintly.
BUZZZZ
『Analyzing criteria… optimal settlement based on Host's financial limitations and desire for sustainability: "Arden Hollow" suggested.』
Rikuya's brow twitched slightly, annoyed by the sudden interruption.
'Of course, you are a glorified GPS as well.'
But, curiosity piqued, he tilted his head toward Lindor.
"Hey, what do you know about a place called Arden Hollow?"
Lindor's brows rose slightly, a knowing smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Arden Hollow, huh? Not a bad choice. It's a small village tucked near the outskirts of the Greystone Woods. Peaceful enough, good farmland, simple folk. Your gold'll last longer there than in the city, that's for sure."
He paused, his expression darkening just a shade. "But… you won't get there directly. The main road's been a mess since the last border skirmish. Bandits took advantage of the chaos, set up camp along the trade routes. Guards clear them out every now and then, but they keep crawling back like roaches. Plus, there've been… rumors."
"Rumors?" Rikuya arched an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Folks say strange things have been happening around Greystone Woods. Disappearances. Travelers gone missing without a trace. Some claim it's beasts, others swear it's something worse—magic gone sour or cursed grounds. You know how superstitious people get." Lindor waved it off with a shrug, as if trying not to make it sound too serious.
"Right," Rikuya muttered, clearly unimpressed. "So… I'm guessing you're not driving straight there?"
"Exactly," Lindor nodded. "But I can drop you off at a fork near the old Milestone Post. From there, it's just an hour or two on foot through a forest path. Safer than the main roads, if you don't mind a little walking."
Rikuya considered it for a moment, then shrugged. "Eh, sounds like an adventure." He reached into his pouch, pulling out a gold coin and placing it in Lindor's hand, exchanging it for five silvers.
[A/N: a gold coin is ten silver coins.]
Lindor chuckled, accepting the coins. "Pleasure doing business with you."
As Rikuya climbed onto the cart, he glanced toward the horizon. Bandits, cursed woods, and mysterious disappearances?
"Could be worse," he muttered. "Could still be stuck with Renji's smug face."
The cart creaked, wheels rumbling softly as they set out toward whatever the road—and fate—had in store.
The capital was already becoming a memory, and whatever lay ahead was still a mystery.
And honestly? That suited him just fine.