Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2: Trying to learn from kids

The capital is a city like medieval Europe.

I first started by calling out to the street children that were gathering at the place.

“Do you have some time to spare? I just came from the countryside and I am quite unfamiliar with this country.  I’ll treat you to that meat skewer from the food stand if you could teach me.”

At first they were a bit doubtful, but they eventually gave in to their appet.i.tes and gave me an OK.

I gave the kids 2 skewers each and listened to the information they provided.

First and foremost is the value of currency which is very very v-very important. And no, this is not an overstatement.

1 piece of iron coin = 10 Yen

1 piece of copper coin = 100 Yen

1 piece of silver coin = 1,000 Yen

1 piece of gold coin = 10,000 Yen

1 piece of big gold coin = 100,000 Yen

1 piece of platinum coin = 1,000,000 Yen

After listening for a while, I deduced that the currency value is something like that.

The skewers that I treated the kids with cost 5 iron coins per stick.

It seems that a family of 4 would spend a minimum of 6 gold coins per month.

Also, there are adventurer guilds and merchant guilds that are independent of the country (this is a staple of the fantasy genre in light novels right?). By being affiliated to either one, travelling between country to country and city to city will be smoother.

The main point is that it seems that it’s not expensive to join them.

Excluding people with identification papers such as guild cards from either merchant or adventurer guilds, people without identification papers (ruralites or the street children, like me, do not have identification papers) would need to pay taxes while entering the country or cities.

This place here is an example.

And then, I heard more about this country.

It appears that the conflict with the demon race is true, but it seems that this country was the one trying to pick a fight.

It was said that the reason for destroying the demon race was for revenge. Still, at the end of the day, it looks like the real aim is to conquer the demon race’s territory.

The neighbouring states that are governed by the human race are expected to go to war (TN: Raws says キナ臭いことになっていて = “expected to have burning smell”, which to me means “expected to burn”, and after inferring means “go to war”), and people are slowly starting to escape from this country, so I heard.

They said they were orphans that lost their parents from the war.

These kids are surprisingly well-informed.

They said they have been taking up odd jobs, earning money to survive, and in the process, gained experience.

These children have strong wills.

Anyways, I would be staying at this inn tonight and by tomorrow, I will leave the capital.

Hearing from the kids, there is a stagecoach (TN: horse-driven carriage) operating daily from the capital all the way to Kiers (TN: Kiirusu; raws: キールス), a neighbouring state near the borders, and I could ride on it to reach the borders.

After that, I would walk to the neighbouring country, and decide what to do next when I’m there.

In any case, leaving the Reijseger capital is the number 1 priority.

In order to do so, I require some cash. Therefore, I need to consider how to obtain it.

Hmm, but I was supplied with 20 gold coins. (TN: 200,000 Yen worth)

For one person, it may seem quite generous, but considering that we were sort of abducted through the summoning and the cash is for the apology, this is to some extent reasonable.

In my opinion, it is a good start for me to have received that much from such a dubious country.

Anyways, let’s try to survive for the time being.

I went to a clothing shop that the kids recommended for its reasonable prices.

Right now, I am still wearing the suit that I had on before the summoning and it cannot be helped that I stand out too much.

I bought a dull-coloured s.h.i.+rt and a light brown pants that resemble what people walking around the streets wear.

The clothes cost 7 silver coins in total, much more than I expected, but the shopkeeper also bought my suit, business s.h.i.+rt and business bag for 3 gold coins, so I gained a net total of 2 gold coins and 3 silver coins.

I was thinking of putting the small and portable objects like my smart phone, writing stationery and doc.u.ments, which were originally in my business bag, in the item box but I do not know how the item box is treated in this world, (TN: the MC does not know how rare item boxes are) so it is better if I do not go around showing it too easily.

Well, it is a common trend in light novels for item boxes to be considered as precious skills.

Thankfully, the shopkeeper gave me a cloth-made shoulder bag as a freebie, so I am able to put my stuff in there.

As for my leather shoes, it should be fine to leave it as it is.

Before leaving the clothing shop, I asked if there is an affordable inn nearby.

The shopkeeper recommended the inn 3 houses away, and so I headed towards the inn.

One night at the inn including meals would cost 4 silver coins.

After dinner, I retreated back to my room and verified what I had to do.

Firstly ……

[Status open]

[Name]               Tsuyos.h.i.+ Mukouda

[Age]                   27

[Occupation]     Person from other world who got involved

[Level]                1