Our journey by carriage continued with occasional breaks for rest. As the sun began to set, the day neared its end—
Ten coins were spread out before me.
Specifically, I held three copper coins, three silver coins, and three gold coins in my hands. Each came in large, medium, and small sizes. The smallest was roughly the size of a one-yen coin, the next a hundred-yen coin, and the largest a five-hundred-yen coin. In addition to these nine, the Madam held a single white metal coin about the size of a one-yen coin for me to see.
"I don't have all of them on hand right now, but you have the copper, silver, and gold. Then there is the White Gold Coin I’m holding," Elise explained. "There are three sizes—small, medium, and large—for each of these four metals. These twelve coins represent the currency currently in circulation in this kingdom.
"As for their value, a Small Copper Coin is worth one suit. A Medium Copper Coin is ten times that, at ten suits. A Large Copper Coin is ten times more again, making it a hundred suits. The pattern changes slightly starting with the silver coins. A Small Silver Coin is worth five times a Large Copper Coin—five hundred suits. A Medium Silver Coin is double that, at one thousand suits. From there, it repeats the five-times then two-times pattern all the way up to the Large Gold Coin. The White Gold Coins, however, increase by factors of ten again."
To summarize, the values were as follows:
Small Copper Coin: 1 Medium Copper Coin: 10 Large Copper Coin: 100 Small Silver Coin: 500 Medium Silver Coin: 1,000 Large Silver Coin: 5,000 Small Gold Coin: 10,000 Medium Gold Coin: 50,000 Large Gold Coin: 100,000 Small White Gold Coin: 1,000,000 Medium White Gold Coin: 10,000,000 Large White Gold Coin: 100,000,000
"The daily living expenses for an average citizen hover around a hundred suits, so copper coins are the backbone of daily life," Sebas added. "Silver coins are typically used for savings or by merchants with modest shops. Gold coins are primarily the domain of the nobility or merchants with substantial businesses. As for the White Gold Coin in the Madam’s hand, even nobles rarely use those except for massive purchases or transactions between nations."
I nodded. The value of the coins and the cost of living matched the knowledge I had been given by the gods.
While we were cross-referencing my information, the coachman called out from the front.
"Everyone, the city of Keleban is in sight. We shall arrive shortly."
We had finally reached the waypoint city. I had fully expected us to camp out again tonight, but... wait. I didn't have any identification.
"Um..."
"Is something the matter?" Reinhardt asked.
"Identification... I... don't have... Is it... okay...?"
Calm down, me! I’d been making progress over the last two weeks, but as soon as I panicked, I went right back to my fragmented, stilted speech.
"Please, do not worry," Sebas reassured me. "Temporary permits are issued to those without identification. The screening is a simple formality; there will be no issues."
That was a relief, but I really wanted to fix the way I spoke soon. The thought made me let out an involuntary sigh, which caused Elise to look at me with concern.
"Are you alright? There's no need to be anxious. We will protect you no matter what happens. The city isn't a scary place, Ryoma-kun."
"Ah..."
She was misunderstanding my distress. I should probably correct her.
"That... just now... was different. It isn't... the city."
"Is that so? Then what is bothering you?"
"Actually... it's my words. It's strange, right? My... way of... speaking... right now..."
"Well..." She trailed off gently.
"For three years... I didn't speak with anyone... Two weeks ago... when Reinhardt-san came... I couldn't think... of the words well... Even I... was surprised... For the last two weeks... I've practiced... talking to slimes... and it's returned a little... But... it's still... strange. It won't quite fix—oof!"
The air was suddenly knocked out of me. The Madam had pulled me into a tight embrace.
"It’s alright, Ryoma-kun! We’ll fix it slowly, very slowly. Sniff... You aren’t alone anymore!"
She was crying! And when I looked around, it wasn't just Elise. Elia and even the men had watery eyes. Why...? Oh, right. From an objective perspective, I sounded like an incredibly tragic case. Someone who hadn't spoken to a soul for three years, and who had been so desperate to regain his speech that he practiced by talking to slimes...
"I'm fine! ...Choosing to live... in the forest... was my own decision..."
I spent the next several minutes insisting that I was perfectly fine and had only been a little down, but it had no effect. Elise kept me held in her arms until the very moment we reached the city gates.
Upon arrival, Sebas and Reinhardt stepped out of the carriage to speak with the gatekeepers. They apparently handled the matter of my temporary permit, because I was soon guided toward the gatehouse along with the Jamil family.
Normally, I would have gone alone, but the Madam insisted on coming along because she was worried about me. Her presence, however, made the guide and the duty officer stiffen with visible terror. I felt a pang of guilt for the nameless guards. Sorry for dragging you into this...
"N-n-n-now then, p-p-please touch this c-c-crystal."
The man’s voice cracked and stuttered as badly as mine. I suppose I wasn't one to talk.
"Okay."
I did as instructed and touched the crystal. It immediately emitted a brilliant blue light. The gatekeeper’s eyes darted frantically between the crystal and my face, his expression filled with shock.
"Y-you, come to the back for a moment."
Did something go wrong? I was fairly certain blue meant I didn't have a criminal record. Sebas and Elise stepped in before the guard could lead me away.
"Is there a problem?" Sebas asked coolly.
"The light was blue. That should mean there are no issues," Elise added.
"T-t-t-true, the light was blue! However, his record of rewards! There is a record of him suppressing a bandit with a bounty on his head! I need to verify the kill and process the reward payment!"
The two of them relaxed upon hearing that. However, they insisted that the verification and payment take place right here, under their watchful eyes.
"Now then, young man," the official began, trying to regain his composure. "You have defeated a bandit despite your age?"
"Yes."
"The crystal indicates that you suppressed Red Spear Merzen. Is that correct?"
I tilted my head. I had no idea who that was.
"I don't know... which one... had that name."
"He was said to carry a crimson spear and wear matching red armor. Do you have any memory of such a man?"
A face immediately came to mind. I remembered that spear—it looked valuable, so I had stashed it in my Item Box right away.
"I do. I have a spear... in my Item Box... Will that be proof?"
"If you have it, please show us."
I pulled the spear out of my Item Box and handed it to the official. He looked it over, then gripped the shaft and braced himself. The moment I felt him flow magic power into the weapon, a gout of red flame erupted from the tip.
Whoa. I didn't know the spear could do that. I wondered if I could make it work too? I’d have to try it later.
"No mistake. A magic weapon that shoots flames, matched with a crimson spear. This is Merzen’s. I shall prepare the bounty immediately."
The man barked orders at a soldier, who ran off into the back. While we waited, the official turned back to me.
"Still... to think you suppressed Merzen. That man has slipped through the fingers of adventurers and knight orders for years. He was the real deal. If you don't mind me asking, how did you take him down?"
He was looking at me with genuine curiosity, but... I hadn't really done anything impressive.
"The bandits attacked me... After I defeated them... before he died... he said his comrades betrayed him... so I searched the area... and found them having a party in a cave."
"And you raided them there?"
"No. I am a Tamer... I sent Poison Slimes... into their wine barrels."
"Ah... I see. Efficient. I understand perfectly. Thank you."
The soldier returned just then with the bounty. I received my temporary permit and the reward, tucked them both into my Item Box, and left the gatehouse. The Jamil family's guards had already been sent ahead to the inn, so it was just the five of us. It seemed we were going to walk the rest of the way so that Elia could see the city.
By the way, the bounty for Merzen was seven hundred Small Gold Coins. I had suddenly become incredibly wealthy. I had no idea what to do with that much money; after three years in the forest, I couldn't think of a single thing I needed to buy. For now, I turned to the group.
"Thank you very much. Everyone."
"Don't mention it, dear," Elise said with a smile.
"Still, to think you were the one who finished off that Merzen fellow," Reinhardt mused.
"Never mind that! Let's go into the city!" Elia cheered.
"Now, now, calm down, Elia," Reinhardt chuckled.
"But Father, this is my first time walking through such a large city!"
"Is it?" I asked.
"Yes! As I mentioned yesterday, this is my first long trip. I rarely have the chance to walk around like this even near home. Besides, this is the largest commercial city in the Jamil Territory. There aren't many places in the world with more people than this!"
"I see."
There certainly were a lot of people, but having known Tokyo in my past life, the crowd felt relatively thin. It was nothing compared to a major train station or a packed commuter train. Come to think of it, I wasn't as moved as I expected to be by my first fantasy city. The old-fashioned architecture was interesting, but not exactly mind-blowing, and I hadn't even seen any beastkin or elves yet.
"Wait, Young Lady, you're being too restless."
The crowd wasn't exactly a stampede, but Elia was already being swept away by the flow of people. It was painfully obvious she wasn't used to navigating a city. It looked dangerous, so I hurried after her.
"Young Lady, over here."
"Ah, thank you, Ryoma-san. There are so many people! I feel like I might bump into someone at any moment."
She had a habit of stopping dead in her tracks whenever something caught her eye. She was broadcasting her "sheltered noble" status so loudly that it didn't take long for trouble to find us. A woman was walking on a direct collision course with Elia’s left shoulder from behind. I reached out and pulled Elia’s arm, shifting her out of the way.
"Watch out."
"Oops... Tch."
The woman glanced at Elia, who hadn't been hit, and then shot a glare at me for moving her. She clicked her tongue and vanished into the crowd. Definitely a pickpocket.
"Oh, thank you. Wait, what is that over there?"
And again. This time, someone was waiting in the mouth of an alley up ahead. I caught Elia before she reached the opening, pulling her close to shield her.
"It's dangerous to run out."
"Eh!?"
"Whoa!?"
Because I had held Elia back, the man who had been timing his exit from the alley stumbled out into the open, having lost his mark.
"People... come out from alleys. Please be careful."
"Ah, thank you..."
I gave Elia a quick nod, then stepped toward the man.
"Are you alright? You aren't injured, are you...?"
"The hell is your problem, brat—!?"
The man lunged for my collar with his left hand. I used my right hand to lightly parry his arm upward while simultaneously seizing his wrist. In the same motion, I hooked my left hand behind his elbow, twisting his arm and forcing him off balance. I made sure to position my own body so that Elia couldn't see exactly what I was doing to him.
The man, stunned at having his balance stolen so easily, went silent. I caught him before he actually hit the ground, looked him in the eye, and asked again.
"You aren't injured, are you?"
"O-oh... Yeah. Sorry about that. Thanks for the hand..."
"Please take care."
Honestly, trying to pick a fight with a kid just because a scam failed... though I suppose I’m technically an old man on the inside. Lately, the line between "child" and "adult" was getting a bit blurry for me.
"Ryoma-san! Let's go over there next!"
We're still going? And how many more of you criminals are going to keep following us!?
For the next while, I was kept busy protecting the Young Lady from a revolving door of pickpockets, extortionists, and kidnappers. For some reason, even though the Duke and the others were clearly ready to intervene at any second, they seemed content to leave it all to me.
Seriously, does this city have a crime problem, or what?