Chapter 18: Level 2 Quest Preparation (1/2)

After undertaking the level 2 quest I leave the adventurer guild.

Promptly, I go left towards the adventurer-guild-supported-tool-shop to buy the map and the antidote fruit.

As I was about to enter the tool shop I was greeted from behind.

“You, wait just a minute for me. Can we talk for a moment?”

“?”

When I looked behind me, there stood a boy about as tall as me, carrying a backpack.

Pickaxe, lanterns, sleeping bags, and bottles hung from the side of the backpack that he was carrying.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Raachi, of the Dwarf Race. I am a rootless merchant travelling from town to town without stopping at inns.”

Dwarf Race.

One of the fairy races that live in the interior of the Fairy Human Continent’s west side.

Even when full grown, their size is only about that of a human child.

Even this Raachi guy only looks like a human child at first glance.

If you look closely, he doesn’t have a child’s charm, but had the air of a little villain in some way.

Speaking in terms of my previous life, he is like a certain ghost mouse youngster.

“Thank you for the courtesy. I am Lute, a human.”

“Lute-bocchan is it? Nice name! Since you were going to enter a miscellany store, that means you’re looking for something, right? This might be some kind of fate, if you will. Would you like to look at my goods?”

I see, a high-pressure salesman.

I shouldn’t be dealing with the likes of these.

I am a Japanese person that can say “No!”, if only in spirit!

“I was going to buy them at the Guild support store so I’ll have to refuse.”

“Don’t say that! Just take a look! Just a look!”

“Even if you say that, you intend to make me buy. I’m not going to fall for that trick!”

“Really, I just want you to look! Also, my goods are cheaper than those at other tool shops! So just take a look for a little while!”

He caught my hand and persisted.

But if his stuff is really that cheap, I might even buy something.

“…… well then, I guess I’ll just take a look.”

“Yes yes, thank you very much! Then, what might you be looking for?”

“Antidote fruits and a map of the surrounding forest.”

“I see! Then I can offer you something cheap! Antidote fruits are 1 large copper coin at miscellany shops, but I’ll give it to you for 5 coppers! The map is 3 silvers but I’ll sell you for 1 silver!”

They’re certainly cheap.

Furthermore, the price of the map is just like the oneesan at the counter said earlier, strangely, this guy doesn’t lie.

If it’s like this, then I wonder if I should buy something.

“You’ll really sell them for 5 coppers and 1 silver?”

“Really, I will. There are nasty fellas who’d sell half a map for 1 silver, then make you buy the other half for 3 silvers, but I’m not one to do something like that. You can check the goods before you buy, if you want.”

Raachi declared, puffing his chest.

If he says that much, he might just be telling the truth.

“Got it. Then, antidote fruits and a map, please.”

“Thanks for the purchase!”

Raachi puts his backpack down and rummaged in it while humming.

Meanwhile, I prepared the money from my wallet.

“One silver coin, and 5 copper coins…. ah, I only have large copper coins, do you have change?”

“Of course. I’m not about to make a blunder like that.”

“Don’t cheat me on the change, okay.”

“Really, trust me. I won’t do that kind of underhanded scheme.”

Of course, I was joking about the change.

Raachi seems to understand, and replied rather theatrically.

“Oi.”

A large hand gripped Raachi’s head.

The one holding Raachi’s head was one of the three adventurers I met at the forest yesterday while I was in the middle of a quest―the man called Akent.

Behind Akent, the golden-haired popular-looking cat-eared man and the silver-haired demon-race girl were waving their hands at me while smiling.

Raachi looked up at Akent and forced a smile, turning blue in the face.

“W, well hello there. Ee… my luck today is……”

“Get lost.”

“E, excuse me!”

Raachi picked his backpack back up without closing it and ran towards the crowd in panic.

Soon, his figure could no longer be seen.

*girori*, Akent sent a piercing glance at me.

He scolded me with a menacingly low voice.

“That guy is well-known around here for being a two-bit peddler. He sells trashy tools and maps.”

“I, is that so?”

“He’s a little scoundrel who makes money tricking kids who don’t know how the world works, like you.”

“Thank you very much. You saved me there.”

I gave Akent a polite bow, but his crusty face didn’t change at all.

“For adventurers, our tools are directly related to our lives. While you’re a beginner you should buy things at stores with Adventurers’ Guild marks. Leave the roadside peddlers to your seniors. Beginner kids like you shouldn’t do that, even by accident.”

“I’m sorry……”

He gave a speech in a disinterested low voice.

I hung my head in shame and said my apologies.

“Stop the halfhearted sermon right there. Doesn’t he look completely scared? Didn’t he start becoming an adventurer just yesterday? And isn’t he still a kid? Getting so mad would have the opposite effect.”

The demon-race girl stopped Akent’s speech.

“Sorry, even though this guy is unsociable he likes children. He just can’t leave a little kid like you alone.”

The cat-eared ikemen followed up in a cheerful tone.

Akent turned away in silence, seems like what Cat-ears said is true.

Somehow his face turned red.

“But well, it’s good that you didn’t get tricked. I am Alcedo, of the cat-eared race. I am a level II adventurer. Nice to meet you.”

“Lute-kun of the human race. Level II adventurer. Truly, thank you very much for saving me.”