NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4
Chapter 4: To the City ②
I lay low in the forest shade until nightfall, finalizing plans for infiltrating the city.
First, clothes. I’ll find a clothing store and “borrow” some attire. Starting off in another world with theft is pathetic, but it’s all the goddess’s fault.
Next, money. Nothing can be done without funds.
Then, language. Fortunately, all this world’s languages are in my head. This world has a common language for the continent and unique languages for demi-humans and other races, but I can speak and write them all. I’m grateful to the goddess for this. However, I’m unsure about pronunciation and intonation. Even with the same language, these might differ by region. In Japan, an Osaka native would quickly spot a Tokyoite by their speech. While that’s not an issue in Japan, I don’t know how it works here. The local reaction to being identified as a foreigner is unpredictable. In some remote parts of Africa, for instance, one might be killed just for being a different race. It’s dangerous to act based on advanced country ethics.
After obtaining clothes and money, the next step is identity and occupation. Given that I’m not from this country and have no background here, my job options are limited. I might find work by pleading with a shop, but I need to eventually reach the hero’s country or city, so I want to stay as mobile as possible.
Surprisingly, the goddess’s information included knowledge about occupations and social status, leading me to choose “adventurer” as the only option. It’s a familiar profession in fantasy stories. I would have preferred being a merchant, but that seems to require capital and credibility, so I gave up on that idea. Besides, I know nothing about this world’s distribution systems or product knowledge, so it would be impossible anyway.
“Adventurer” is a profession easily accessible to anyone from orphans to nobles, except criminals. With some achievements as an adventurer, one can freely move between countries. Considering the heroes might be in different countries, and even merchants find it difficult to move freely between nations, building a reputation as an adventurer seems the best choice.
That’s about all the knowledge I have about adventurers from my mental database; I’ll have to learn the rest on-site.
…
Before I knew it, night had fallen while I was practicing magic and referring to the goddess’s knowledge.
The city gates closed at sunset, and guards stood watch from atop the city walls.
Judging the time by the moon, I wait until midnight and apply the optical camouflage. Believing I’m invisible, I walk towards the city wall. As a precaution, I deliberately approach a watchful guard, but there’s no sign they’ve noticed me.
I reach the city wall undetected by the guards. The wall’s surface is uneven with many bumps and dips. Having learned bouldering skills in my previous life, thinking they might be useful for work, I can easily climb this.
I survey the city from atop the wall. The cityscape is indeed medieval European style. There are few lights, and the alleyways behind buildings are pitch dark. Street lights are scarce, only on main streets. They’re neither electric bulbs nor torches. Perhaps they’re magical tools?
I originally had good night vision, but it’s even better in this body, so the darkness isn’t a problem at all.
Most buildings seem closed, but there are places where I can hear the clamor of people. Taverns, perhaps? There’s hardly any foot traffic, but the occasional people I see have Western features. I don’t spot anyone who looks East Asian.
(However, quite a few of the people I see are armed)
The public safety doesn’t seem very good. Well, compared to Japan, nowhere is really safe. Japan is a rare country where you can walk around at night, and it’s the only country in the world where a woman can safely walk alone at night.
With few people around, I descend the wall and head towards the main street to look for a clothing store. Fortunately, stores have signs indicating their nature, so I quickly find one.
I’m surprised to see glass windows, but peering inside, it seems to be a secondhand clothing store. Perfect. I go around to the back of the building, looking for a possible entrance. I can’t break the front glass or door. There’s a plain door at the back, possibly for employees. Unlike the front entrance, it’s unremarkable. I quietly listen at the door for any signs of life inside. Confirming no one’s there, I use my enhanced strength to force the door open. I don’t like such brute force methods, but I have no tools, so there’s no choice.
Inside, I select clothes from similar styles. A plain-colored shirt, pants, belt, hooded cloak, and boots. Once fully dressed, I finally feel human again. Unfortunately, there was no money, so I leave through the back. When I can earn money, I’ll definitely shop here properly.
At first, I thought it was medieval Europe, but with street lamps and glass windows, it seems to have early modern civilization.
After leaving the store, I decide to wander for a while to familiarize myself with the city’s geography. I also want to know where the adventurers’ guild is located.
In a corner of an alley, two men are loitering. As I pass by, glancing sideways, they call out to me. I had dispelled the optical camouflage magic when leaving the store.
“Hey, brother, what are you doing out so late?”
Two men with the appearance of typical thugs. One is leering at me. They’re about ten centimeters taller than me, of average build. Unkempt beards and messy hair. There’s a smell of alcohol. They seem drunk. Both have large daggers at their waists.
I ignore them and walk on, but they speak again.
“Ignoring us isn’t nice~ Don’t you think so too?”
“That’s right~ Ignoring us ain’t good. Just hand over all your money for now.”
Saying this, the two thugs approached me.
Their straightforward demand makes me sigh. If they want money, they could just attack and search me. They’re being quite courteous by calling out first. In areas with poor public safety on Earth, they’d kill first and then loot the corpse.
(The public safety seems surprisingly good here)
I enter the alley, looking around to check if there’s anyone else nearby.
“There ain’t nobody here, you know?”
I instantly turn around and strike both of their chins with palm heel strikes.
Almost simultaneously, both men’s eyes roll back and they collapse to their knees.
“…Well, that’s good.”
I “borrow” some coins from the men’s pockets and leave the scene. I don’t take their weapons. Possessing weapons that might have been used in unknown crimes is too risky. I considered disposing of the men, but since my face was hidden by the hood and they seemed quite drunk, I left them as is. The borrowed coins consist of a few silver and copper pieces each.
In this world, the currency values differ in the order of platinum coins, gold coins, silver coins, large copper coins, and copper coins. The value ratio is: 1 platinum coin = 10 gold coins = 100 silver coins = 1,000 large copper coins = 10,000 copper coins.
Since I don’t know the prices of goods yet, I’m still unsure of how much each coin is worth.
(Come to think of it, I didn’t look at the price tags in the secondhand clothing store)
To avoid further troublesome encounters, I activate the optical camouflage and leave the city for now. I saw an inn, but unsure if I could afford it with my current funds, I decided to sleep outside for tonight.
(Really, on my first day of reincarnation, I’ve already committed illegal entry into the country, breaking and entering, theft, and robbery with injury… Well, it’s all the goddess’s fault)
The next morning, I drink water created by magic, thinking it would be nice to have a cup. Using optical camouflage like last night, I pass through the city gates. It seems I can sufficiently conceal myself even during the day. I then cancel the magic in a back alley while checking my surroundings, and head towards the adventurers’ guild I investigated last night.