"Please stay with us again tonight. I’ll have dinner prepared for you as well."
The Village Chief spoke to me as we ate breakfast.
The meal consisted of oatmeal, salad, and cheese. I wouldn't go so far as to call it delicious, but it wasn't particularly bad, either. If I could get food like this regularly, I could probably manage to survive in this world.
Besides, dinner would likely be a bit more extravagant. This was the Village Chief's house, after all, and he was hosting the hero who had saved his village. Even this was probably considered a fine spread by local standards.
Nothing was said about lunch. I recalled reading that even on Earth, the custom of eating three meals a day was a relatively recent development. Perhaps two meals were still the norm in this world.
"I’ll take you up on that offer," I replied.
"A merchant will be taking a carriage to Vale Town tomorrow. He’ll be leaving early. If you intend to travel with him, you should retire early tonight."
"How long does it take to reach Vale?"
"About three hours by carriage."
I wondered if a "hour" here matched its equivalent on Earth.
If we departed at eight, we would arrive at eleven. If the merchant intended to make a round trip in a single day, he would have to leave by fifteen o'clock to return by eighteen o'clock. That would give him only four hours in town.
He had mentioned doing some stocking as well, so that seemed like a tight window. If he meant an early departure, perhaps we would be leaving while it was still dark. I should be prepared as if I were going out for a pre-dawn fishing trip.
"Then I shall do so."
"I will inform the merchant."
Now then, what should I do until then?
"Are there any monsters in the vicinity of this village?"
"By that, do you mean... magical beasts?"
"Yeah. Those."
So they called them beasts. As I thought, they really did exist here.
"If you head deep into the forest, you will find Slow Rabbits."
"I’ve never fought those before."
It sounded like an incredibly weak name for a monster, but I decided to stick to gathering information. There was always the possibility that I'd encounter one and find it was unexpectedly lethal. It was better not to pretend I knew more than I did.
"Slow Rabbits do not charge at people, so they are relatively easy to combat."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Lucky me. It sounded like something I could handle. They were "slow" rabbits, after all.
It would be a good way to kill time. I might as well check them out. If I had nothing to do, I’d probably just end up moping about my inability to return to Japan. If worrying would change anything, I’d do it, but if I really couldn't go back, then agonizing over it was a waste of energy.
"As expected of an adventurer. Do you intend to hunt them?" The Village Chief lowered his voice.
Wait. Did I mess up my reaction again?
"I simply heard they were easy to fight."
"Indeed. Even a few of the village youths can defeat one if they work together. For someone like you, Michio-sama, it should be an effortless victory."
"I-I see."
Hold on. "A few people working hard together"? Just how strong were these things?
"If you defeat a Slow Rabbit, its pelt will remain behind."
So the Rabbit Pelt was a drop item. I didn't quite understand what he meant by "remain," but I’d find out soon enough.
"What do you think? Is there any issue with me hunting monsters?"
"There could be no possible problem with exterminating magical beasts."
I almost wished there was. If it was a creature that required several people to defeat, it might be dangerous.
However, if I was going to survive in this world, I would eventually have to hunt my first monster. There was no guarantee that anything else would be weaker than a Slow Rabbit. If I had to do it eventually, it was better to get it over with.
I didn't know if I could ever return to Earth, and it wasn't as if I was desperate to go back, anyway. Even if the worst happened and I left my bones in this soil, it couldn't be helped. Everyone dies eventually.
Come to think of it, my presence in this world started with a suicide site. There wasn't much difference between ending it myself and being trampled by some overwhelmingly powerful monster.
Now that I'd said I'd go, I was committed.
"Then, I think I'll head into the forest for a while before dinner."
I should be fine as long as I had Durandal. Even the Village Chief said it would be an easy win.
"Michio-sama. There are some among the village's youth who wish to try hunting Slow Rabbits themselves. If it's not too much trouble, could you take them along?"
"With me?"
"If they are with you, Michio-sama, they would surely gain valuable experience."
What should I do? Having companions would be safer, but...
"No. I'll pass this time. I've never fought a Slow Rabbit before. I don't know if I'd be able to protect them."
"You are exactly right. Forgive me; I spoke out of turn."
I declined with a plausible excuse. If it got out that I was actually weak, it would lead to trouble. Besides, I had just forced one of the villagers into slavery. I had to consider the possibility of retaliation from his family or friends. It was better not to get too close to the locals.
After finishing my meal, I left the bandits' Intelligence Cards behind, took my Copper Sword, and headed out.
I marched deeper and deeper into the forest. No matter how far I went, no monsters appeared. In games, you'd be surrounded the moment you stepped outside a village. But logically, if you built a village in such a dangerous place, you wouldn't be able to live in peace.
Now that I was alone, I decided to try something that had been bugging me.
"Intelligence Card, open."
...Nothing.
As expected, nothing happened. Well, I knew this would happen. The incantation was probably different, and I couldn't have memorized it after hearing it only once. I wondered if I even had an Intelligence Card of my own.
There was nothing for it, so I put it out of my mind and kept moving. After walking until I was slightly winded, I finally spotted a strange animal. It was a white, fur-covered creature about fifty centimeters long.
Is that a Slow Rabbit? I thought.
When I focused my mind on identifying it, information floated into my vision.
Slow Rabbit: Lv 1
Oh! So Appraisal worked on them. Wait, they actually had levels?
Thankfully, it was only Level 1. If I couldn't defeat a Level 1, I was as good as dead in this world.
Even so, I didn't know how much punch a Slow Rabbit packed. I decided to be cautious and use Durandal.
I thought "Character Reset" and pulled up the settings. I adjusted my points to Required XP 1/5 and 5x XP Gain, leaving 64 Bonus Points remaining. Then, I poured those points all the way into Weapon VI.
Weapon VI cost 63 points, leaving me with exactly 1. What should I use it on? Maybe I’d try a Bonus Spell.
Meteor Crash.
It sounded incredibly powerful. I selected it and finished the Character Reset. Instantly, the Holy Sword Durandal appeared in my left hand.
I considered that I might not even need the sword if I was using magic, but it wasn't guaranteed that I could kill it in one shot. I sheathed Durandal at my waist. Perhaps because I wasn't used to it, having two swords at my hip made it difficult to move. I leaned the Copper Sword against a nearby tree. I drew Durandal from its scabbard and gripped it firmly with both hands.
The Slow Rabbit didn't seem to have noticed me yet. I would launch a surprise attack from the shadows.
"Meteor Crash!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
...Nothing happened.
The only thing that moved was the wind blowing between me and the rabbit.
This would have been incredibly embarrassing if anyone had been watching. It was a good thing I was deep in the woods.
The incantation. It had to be the incantation. The words for Meteor Crash suddenly floated into my mind. I decided to try them.
"From the infinite reaches of the universe, the celestial will of annihilation—Obliterate! Meteor Crash!"
This time for sure!
...Or so I thought, but again, nothing happened.
It was my MP. It had to be. I'd eaten and rested, so the MP I spent on Flame Sword should have recovered by now. The fact that it wasn't working meant that a spell like Meteor Crash was simply too heavy for the MP pool of a mere Level 2 Villager.
Having no other choice, I raised Durandal and charged.
The Slow Rabbit stood up and turned toward me. The fact that it didn't flee in fear was proof enough that it was a monster. Since it supposedly took several villagers to defeat one, it had to be stronger than a normal human.
However, I had the Holy Sword Durandal. It was time for it to taste the edge of a legendary blade.
I closed the distance and swung down from an overhead position toward the monster's shoulder. Durandal gouged through the creature, slicing from its shoulder to its flank in a single, effortless stroke.
The Slow Rabbit collapsed instantly. One hit.
A small puff of green smoke billowed from its body. It vanished as if melting away. In the wake of the smoke, a small patch of white fur remained.
I appraised it: Rabbit Pelt. I see, so that was what the Village Chief meant.
Carrying the pelt, I returned to where I'd left the Copper Sword. I felt like Durandal was overkill, but I figured I'd hunt a few more just to be sure. It was possible that the first one had just been weak.
I placed the pelt next to the Copper Sword and moved on. I hunted two more Slow Rabbits, but Durandal was definitely too much for them. Both died in a single strike. That made three pelts.
Next, I'll try the Copper Sword.
I thought "Character Reset" to dismiss Durandal.
Wait. My Bonus Points had become 1. Did they increase at certain intervals?
For now, I removed Bonus Weapon VI and swapped in Required XP 1/20 and 10x XP Gain. That left me with 0 Bonus Points. Since Meteor Crash was still selected, my Bonus Point total was higher than before.
Having dismissed Durandal, I charged at the next Slow Rabbit with the Copper Sword.
My preemptive strike landed brilliantly on its shoulder. The sword sliced into the monster and... stopped.
It didn't go through at all. Far from slicing, it had barely wedged itself into the flesh. I immediately swung for a second strike, but it met the same resistance. It felt more like I was trying to hack through a thick tire.
The Slow Rabbit suddenly slammed its body into me.
"Whoa!"
I barely managed to dodge. I landed a blow in return, but it did nothing. I didn't feel like I was dealing any damage at all—maybe a sliver at most.
Keeping a close eye on its movements, I hammered away with the sword. The only saving grace was that it wasn't fast. It was a Slow Rabbit, after all.
Then the damn thing jumped.
I jerked my head back just in time, but I couldn't move my body fast enough and took the full force of the body slam.
"Gugh!"
The impact was staggering. This was bad. I felt like my ribs were going to shatter.
I swung the sword desperately. The Slow Rabbit shook its head to recover. I dodged its next move and swung down at its open shoulder. That one felt like it landed.
The rabbit jumped again, but I read the move this time. I dropped to the right and delivered a blow as it sailed past.
Damn it. Still not down?
I struck it two, three more times. Caught in the opening of my own attack, I took another body slam.
"Gwah!"
I was so focused on offense that I'd completely neglected my defense. If I took a few more hits, I was dead.
I dodged the next attack and regained my stance. I parried the rabbit's head with my blade and landed a heavy blow on its stomach. The tip of the sword finally sank in. I dodged another slam and struck again.
Is it ever going to die?
One more blow. Then another. And another. After stabbing it three or four more times, the creature finally collapsed.
It vanished into smoke, leaving a Rabbit Pelt behind.
"Haa... haa..."
I leaned over, breathing heavily. My whole body ached. Even taking a breath was a struggle.
That was too close. Was the difference between Durandal and a normal sword really this massive? Or was that particular rabbit just an elite? Come to think of it, I’d confirmed it was Level 1.
At any rate, I decided I was done with the Copper Sword. I had no idea how many more swings it would take to kill another one.
I recalled that Durandal had an HP Absorption skill. I wondered if it would heal this pain if I killed something with it. I left the Copper Sword and my pelts, brought out Durandal, and went hunting.
There was one. I appraised it: Level 1.
I jogged up to it and swung Durandal down. The rabbit vanished, leaving a pelt.
Instantly, the pain in my body eased. I must have absorbed some HP. I didn't think it was just a placebo effect. If I killed one or two more, I’d be fully recovered.
I returned to my stash to drop off the pelt and went out again.
The monsters weren't exactly crawling all over the place. I had to search for ten or twenty minutes just to find one. Then again, if the forest right outside the village were teeming with them, nobody could live there.
I wandered until past noon and managed to defeat about ten in total.
I returned to the Copper Sword and my pile of pelts. It wasn't dark yet, but the sun was starting to dip. I was in a forest I didn't know, so it was better to leave early.
I decided to call it a day. I’d learned that with Durandal, I could easily handle Level 1 monsters. That was a solid result.
I exhaled deeply, looked at my arm, and thought "Appraisal."
Michio Kaga <Male, 17 years old> Villager: Lv 3 / Hero: Lv 1 / Thief: Lv 3 Equipment: Durandal, Sandals
My levels had gone up.
As I suspected, hunting and earning experience was the fastest path. Wait, my Bonus Points had increased by 1 earlier. That must have happened when my level rose. I recalled the points increasing when I hit Level 2 as well.
If that was the case, I must have had leftover experience from defeating the bandits. I had enough to gain one level quickly, but then I'd hit a plateau even after a full day of hunting.
Well, if you could gain ten levels in a day, the villagers wouldn't be such low levels. This was probably the normal pace.
And the Bonus Point system seemed to reward level gains. I wondered how people without the Character Reset skill even utilized them.
Confirmed: it was a trash game. Then again, life itself was a trash game.
...That was a depressing thought.
I dismissed Durandal and started back toward the village. As I walked, it occurred to me that I didn't have to choose between Durandal and the Copper Sword; I could have tested Weapon V through Weapon I. But if I couldn't one-shot a monster, I risked taking damage. To heal, I needed Durandal’s lifesteal anyway. Sticking to Durandal was the most efficient choice.
I sheathed the Copper Sword and gathered the Rabbit Pelts. They were quite small. If I wanted to make a coat out of these, I’d probably need a hundred or two. The sell price likely wasn't very high.
Then again, they were monsters even a beginner could hunt—provided they had Durandal. I was truly grateful for that sword.
I passed through the forest and re-entered the village from the rear. A few houses before the Chief's place, I saw a three-story building with its entrance wide open. It was the merchant's house. I peered inside and saw him.
"Welcome," he said.
There was no merchandise on display, but it was clearly a shop.
"Pardon me," I said as I entered.
"Ah, Michio-sama. What can I do for you?"
"What do you sell here?"
"We are the only shop in the village. Primarily, we take orders for items, procure them at the town market, and deliver them to our customers."
So they didn't keep stock. How dismal. I suppose that was just the level of civilization here.
"Are there no shops that keep items on hand?"
"I believe the only merchants who do that are slave traders," he replied, sounding a bit suspicious.
I suppose you can't exactly "procure" a slave on short notice. That’s why they kept a stock. I wondered if he thought I was there to buy one.
"Sorry. I asked a strange question. I'm just a bumpkin from the deep countryside, you see," I said, trying to cover my tracks.
"If you're from the countryside, I would expect there to be no shops with stock at all."
"I heard stories that such shops exist in major towns."
"Is that so? Even in Vale, there are no such merchants. Perhaps in a much larger city."
"Maybe someone was just pulling my leg because I looked like a provincial. Don't mind me."
"In towns like Vale, peddlers come around regularly. They set up a market every five days. That just happens to be tomorrow."
So that was why he was going to sell the bandits' gear tomorrow. While listening to him, I thought "Character Reset."
I checked the box for Buyback Negotiation. It changed to "10% Purchase Price Increase."
It was that pattern again. The percentage climbed to fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, and finally 30% before the text became greyed out. It seemed it could be raised through six ranks, just like the equipment and experience skills. I wondered if it actually worked.
"More importantly, I'd like you to look at these Rabbit Pelts," I said, changing the subject.
"Rabbit Pelts? My... you certainly have a lot of them." The merchant looked genuinely surprised when I piled them on the counter.
"The Chief told me where to find them."
"No way..." He swallowed hard. Why was he so shocked?
"I didn't hear that they were particularly strong."
"For an adventurer, perhaps they are manageable. However, Michio-sama, it hasn't even been a full day since you arrived."
"I suppose not."
"A Slow Rabbit usually requires several villagers working together for hours to defeat. And after fighting one, they must wait to recover their strength. If anyone is injured, they need treatment. No one hunts them continuously."
"I see."
It was true that the Copper Sword made it a struggle. With Durandal, it was a single swing. If I'd used the Copper Sword, I would have taken those body slams repeatedly. And I’d relied on Durandal’s lifesteal to stay in the fight.
"You must be incredibly strong, Michio-sama. No one in this village could slay so many Slow Rabbits alone in such a short time."
Maybe it was just that tough for the locals. I’d go with that. It didn't feel bad to be called strong.
"Will you buy them here?" I asked.
"Michio-sama, have you not joined a guild?"
"I haven't." That was the truth.
"Usually, when you join a guild, you contract to sell all items—except equipment and perishables—exclusively to them. Trading profits are the guild's main income. Since you aren't a member, I would be delighted to buy them from you."
So there was a guild system. It sounded like it came with a lot of annoying red tape.
"Please do."
"The standard guild price for a Rabbit Pelt is ten Nahl."
"Understood." To be honest, ten Nahl didn't mean anything to me yet.
"You have ten pelts. Since you've chosen to do business with me, I’ll buy the lot for one hundred and thirty Nahl."
A perfect 30% increase. The Buyback Negotiation skill worked perfectly. I couldn't fathom the mechanics of how it influenced his pricing, but if he was paying more, I wasn't complaining.
The merchant placed a white coin and a pile of copper coins that looked like ten-yen pieces onto the counter. The white one was likely a Silver Coin, worth a hundred Nahl.
I counted the copper.
"...twenty-six, twenty-eight, thirty. Received."
One silver and thirty copper made exactly one hundred and thirty Nahl. I looked at the pile of thirty-one coins and realized I had no way to carry them.
"Um... if you like, would you care for this bag?"
Seeing me at a loss, the merchant handed me a small pouch with a drawstring. I accepted it gratefully and tucked the coins inside.
"Thanks. By the way... are you in a guild, Vikka-dono?"
I’d used Appraisal to confirm his name, but I kept that to myself. Appraisal really was a cheat.
"I am a merchant, so naturally I belong to the Merchant Guild. With some exceptions like the Adventurer Guild, joining is usually a requirement for changing into that job class."
So you had to join a guild to get a job.
"If I wanted to become a merchant, would I have to join?"
"Do you intend to become one, Michio-sama?"
"N-no. Just an example."
"As you may know, you can only belong to one guild at a time. And there are strict restrictions on quitting once you've joined."
"I see."
"If you aren't in any guild, becoming a merchant is relatively simple."
"I just register?"
"No matter the profession, you must be approved at a Guild Temple."
"Of course." I said it, but I had no idea what it actually meant. It sounded like a lot of paperwork.
"If you have enough experience, you can change jobs and join the Merchant Guild upon approval. There is also the Great Merchant Guild, but you need years of experience before the Temple will recognize you for that."
I assumed Great Merchant was an advanced class. I nodded along and let the details slide.
"I assume there are farmers here, too?"
"All the farmers in this area belong to the Farmer Guild."
So everyone was in a guild. It seemed most jobs were tied to them. Since I could have multiple jobs through my Bonus Skills, it wasn't an issue for me, but most people probably only had one. To use multiple jobs, I’d have to find exceptions like Villager, Hero, or Thief that didn't require a guild.
I could only join one. I had to choose carefully.
I returned to the Chief's house and ate dinner. Afterward, I went to bed early to prepare for the trip.
Tirihi-san did not visit that night.
...I knew she wouldn't. Of course I knew. Real life didn't work like a visual novel. Or maybe it was just a perk reserved for handsome guys.
I slept alone and woke up in the room off the dirt floor of the Chief's house. I felt like I’d been dreaming, but I couldn't remember what about. Part of me had hoped I’d wake up in my apartment in Tokyo, but no such luck.
By the way, any illusions of this being a virtual reality vanished the moment I used the bathroom. Unless I was in a hospital hooked up to a catheter, my real body would be in a disastrous state if this weren't reality. I’d rather not wake up to that.
This was the real world. I likely couldn't go back. I would live here.
"Nn..."
I stretched my arms while still in bed. The bed was just a mat and a blanket over some boards. It was crude, but I didn't know the standards of this world. This might actually be high-end treatment here.
"Excuse me," the Village Chief called out.
"Chief?"
"Are you awake? It is time to depart."
"Understood."
I gathered my things and stepped out. My belongings consisted of only the Copper Sword and the drawstring bag containing one hundred and thirty Nahl and the Intelligence Cards. It was my entire fortune.
"Good morning."
"Good morning. Here is the clothing you wore yesterday."
In the dim light, I saw my tracksuit on a stand near the door.
"Oh, right. The tracksuit."
I'd forgotten. The coins weren't my only assets. The room was still dark, and although the door was open, the sky was only just beginning to turn grey. I was still wearing the local clothes they'd lent me while they washed the blood out of my tracksuit. I wondered how I should carry it.
"This outfit appears to be made of a very rare fabric. It must be quite precious," the Chief remarked.
"Not really." It was a cheap tracksuit, but polyester probably didn't exist here.
"If you like, please use this." The Chief handed me a bag with shoulder straps. A backpack.
"Oh, thanks."
"And here is breakfast. You can eat it in the carriage."
"I appreciate everything."
I accepted the bag and the food. I tucked the tracksuit, the coin pouch, and the breakfast into the bag. It felt like a single loaf of bread. I wasn't in a position to be picky.
"And finally, a token of our gratitude for saving the village." The Chief handed me a pouch.
I accepted it and peeked inside. Coins. In the light, they would have glowed with the color of gold. Gold coins. There were more than ten.
"It is a paltry sum, and it pains me..."
I thought about it for a second and decided to take it.
"No, thank you. I gratefully accept."
"I apologize that we cannot offer more."
There was no downside to taking it. They had offered, so no one would call me greedy. There was no merit in declining, either; I didn't need a reputation for being a saint, and I had no reason to keep the village in my debt.
I slung the backpack over my shoulder and followed the Chief outside. At the edge of the village, Vikka was preparing the carriage.
"Good morning," I said.
"Good morning. We’ll leave as soon as the sun is up. Would you mind sitting up front by the driver's seat?"
"Not at all."
I climbed into the carriage. In the back, I saw the bandits' gear, Tirihi-san’s two swords, and a wooden cage that looked like a doghouse. It seemed she had decided to keep her husband's dagger as a memento after all.
Inside the cage was the man who had stolen the equipment yesterday.
"We are taking him to Vale to be sold to a slave trader," the Chief explained.
"I see."
"Half of the proceeds will be given to you as restitution."
"I got my gear back, so you don't really have to..."
"If we gave the money to his family, they could just buy him back immediately. That is no punishment. Please, accept it."
I see. It was a rational system in its own way. It wasn't my place to argue with the local laws. I nodded in agreement.
The thief was exchanging some words with a man who looked like a relative. I was glad there wasn't a little girl there crying for her father; even if I didn't know the language, the atmosphere would have been crushing. The relative seemed resigned, speaking in a calm, flat tone.
"Well then, it's light enough. Let us depart."
Vikka climbed up beside me. He snapped the reins, and the horse started forward. The sun wasn't quite up, and the ground was still dim, but he was on familiar territory.
"Thanks for the hospitality," I called back.
"No, thank you! Thank you for saving us!"
I waved goodbye to the Village Chief as the carriage rolled out of the village and onto the road.