Chapter 2.2: The Foreigner, Can’t Explore the Dungeon I - (2) (1/2)

It was a medieval city built of stone. It looked like a fortress surrounded by sturdy walls.

I entered the city gates and the liveliness of the city overflowed.

A stream of carriages carrying large luggages for various races filled the wide cobbled streets. Bustling street stalls, blacksmiths hammering iron vigorously, beautiful beastkin attracting people to the store. I wondered if the people who stopped their feet in front of the store with many resplendent weapons were adventurers. A beautiful person of a different race caught my eye. With porcelain white skin with golden blond hair, it was a tall and beautiful elf. A woman, who wasn't stingy about showing her skin and scales, had a tail and red hair like a raging fire. A glamorous woman, holding a staff taller than herself, had curling horns and fluffy white wool. I was touched to see a fully armored female knight, just like the ones seen in games. Given the chance, I would love to have her join as a party member.

The smell of exotic spices, the nauseating smell of medicine, the beguiling perfume of passersby, the sound of exploding iron and fire, the edges of the flowing crowds of people, the furtive peeks into the narrow back alleys and the feel of violent presences.

There was no feeling of alienation that foreigners typically felt in a foreign country. A multitude of races and faces, colors of all kinds, spirits and demons from legend, there was a chaotic mix, and everywhere my eyes turned, there was something strange-looking. There were far too many weird beings but they were all walking around naturally.

I was worried that I would stand out, but it looks like my fears were unfounded.

Compared to those with brillantly colored wings on their backs or people with a third eye, a Japanese like me was very plain. I would disappear into the crowd even if I had a topknot, wore a kimono and equipped a katana.

The river that Geto-san had disappeared into was flowing into the city. There seemed to be other water sources, and according to Makina’s investigation, a simple water and sewage system was installed throughout the city. And there were bath-like facilities built all over the place which meant that there was a wealth of flammable resources.

The way to the dungeon was straightforward, so there was no need to use my device’s locator. Or rather, the destination was so big that it was impossible to get lost.

We arrived in front of the dungeon after about a 20-minute walk

Yeah, it’s big.

Its extreme size really hit me now that I was this close. According to Makina's structural calculations, it seemed that even the upper portion alone couldn’t be reproduced using any modern materials. It looked similar to ivory, but I should take a sample just in case. As a last resort, there was a plan to make holes using TNT explosives in order to descend, so I had to make sure that it was destructible.

Following the crowd, I found the entrance quickly. But rather than calling it an entrance, it was just a hole that had been broken by something.

The entire floor inside was in use.

The smell of alcohol and meat. The huge bar inside was filled with a bunch of drunk people even though the sun was still high in the sky. Adults who became stupid with alcohol were the same in every world. There was a big, long board that had pieces of paper randomly pinned on it. Perhaps they were requests?

And I was surprised. There was a line of portals that adventurers were entering and exiting from.

『The field is stable. Very interesting』

「Is that this side’s technology?」

Makina was also surprised.

I found what looked like the reception desk. Ladies that dressed like clerks were dealing with the adventurers. There were many counters and I wondered which one I should line up at.

「Makina, is it possible to analyze the language?」

『In progress. It should be faster to ask the locals though』

「Yes」

That’s certainly true.

There happened to be a person holding a bunch of documents walking by, so I asked her.

「Um, This is my first time here. Where should I line up?」

「Okay, new adventurer registration and the examination for issuing the dungeon exploration permit is at the first counter on the right」

The lady with scales and a tail told me with a beaming smile.

Luckily, there was no one in line so I took a seat at the counter. There was an expressionless woman with two horns on the other side of the counter. Her long silver hair was lovely.

「………………What?」

She said in a very chilly voice.

「Um, I want to explore the dungeon. I heard that I can do the paperwork for that here」

「I see. You should have said so earlier」

「I’m sorry」

This receptionist is scary. Or rather, her pressure is amazing. It feels like I’m dealing with a ferocious animal.

「Then please fill in the required documents」

A parchment-like piece of paper, an inkwell and a pen was proffered to me. I had no idea what I was supposed to write.

「E, excuse me. I don’t know the language here yet」

「I see. I'll tell you upfront that if you want me to write it for you, I’ll have to ask you questions verbally」

「Okay, thank you」

「It’s my job」

The proffered piece of paper was turned around.

「Are you registered with the Adventurers' Guild anywhere else?」

「No」

「Then you’re new. Name and place of birth」

「Souya from Japan」

「Japan? It’s a place I’ve never heard of before, are you from the left continent?」

「From the outside, or rather from an alternate world」

I regretted it the instant the words left my mouth. Oh no. Should I have kept it a secret? We had not done a single thing worthy of praise to these people in the past. Would I be chased out? Ah, another basic issue. Was the fact that we had come here in the past being kept secret?

Then Makina whispered.

『It was ultimately just what was reported by the media. Makina will sneak drones in to rectify or incinerate anything if it is determined that there is danger. As it will be unpleasant if you are viewed with suspicion because of superficial lies, it’s the correct decision to tell the truth』

Understood.

「Oh, so you’re a foreigner. It’s quite rare these days」

She wrote it in without incident.

「What’s your purpose for visiting this dungeon?」

「It’s money」

「Money, I see. There is one important caveat. As a rule of this dungeon, if you get more than 50 gold coins in one exploration, please be sure to pay 10% to the Kingdom of Lemuria. Payments can be made in gold coins, center continent’s money notes, or even materials from the dungeons. The due date for the payment is 7 days after the merchant company determines the value. If the materials’ value is misrepresented or payment is delayed, all equipment will be confiscated. If you don't want to be stripped and dumped in the sewer, don't do anything stupid」

「Okay」

Scary.

「Any anomalies with your mind or body? Also, do you have any magic-related illnesses, or have anyone cursed within your lineage and bloodline, or have any relatives with contagious diseases?」

「Not at all」

The only good thing about me was my health.

「Do you hold any hatred, repulsion, or hostility towards any particular race, religion, or country? Also, are any of those feelings directed at others?」

「No」

I replied quickly, but the affair with the advance troops crossed my mind. I was in a tough spot. There was a tendency to lump together those from an unfamiliar culture from other places. It was possible that no one would listen even if I screamed that I had nothing to do with it.

「What?」

「There might be some people who resent me」

The lady returned me a sharp gaze.

「If it's not clear then I won't write it in. It's probably nothing you need to worry about. Exploring the dungeon is something you definitely can't do alone. If you get party members, you'll make enemies at the same time. If you gain fame, you'll create double the envy and resentment. What's essential is whether you have the resolve to not get crushed」

「Then, there's no problem」

Well, I'm someone who has his back against the wall. I'll use the negative emotions of others as fuel.

「I'm continuing. What's your previous profession?」

「Mercenary」

It wasn't correct but I thought of it as something like that.

「Do you follow any particular religion?」

Um, I only followed Shin Buddhism a little. Oh but broadly speaking, for a Japanese it should be,

「It's Shinto」

「Shinto, you said? I don't know it. Can you please give a simple explanation on it?」

「It's a polytheistic religion that generously accepts gods from other religions. There are no clear precepts, but we appreciate life and nature, and especially when we eat, we are deeply grateful for the food. We act with the mental attitude of behaving in a proper manner as a person, and feel shame at anything that deviates from that. It feels like a collection of fluffy values, but it's Japanese-like? It's that kind of vibe」

The more I spoke, the less I understood what I was saying.

「Polytheistic, not fussy about other religions. No precepts. Eats food deliciously. Values unique to the Japanese race」

I think that's about right.

「Next, tell me the name of the god you're contracted to」

「Eh?」

「The name of the god you're contracted to」

I drew a blank.

I didn't particularly doubt the modern gods, but the gods on my side were just worshipped figures or drawings, and while they were prayed to, there was no relationship with them. Hence, there's no such thing as a contract.

「The best would be the gods in this world, but there are no problems with gods from other worlds. There must have been such a precedent before」

「Um, I don't have one. A contract」

「I see」

「Is that bad?」

The lady's expression didn't change at my question.

「I think it’s unusual. However, there are some people who break their contract with their god on their own initiative, while others fell out of favor with their god and had the contract dissolved. Some people were also born with bloodlines that reject the blessings. If I had to say whether it was bad or not, then it isn’t bad. There are many people who are more unfortunate and more pitiful」

「That’s good」

I was relieved.

「But, you can’t explore the dungeon」

Even when people felt depressed, were driven to desperation, and felt like crying, they would still feel hungry.

When you were in a city, you could satisfy your hunger without much trouble.

But that’s only if you had money.

If I had no money, I might seriously have been in despair.

Relying on the map I was given by the receptionist, I arrived at the pawnshop.

The pawnshop was a distance away from the main street and the hustle and bustle sounded far away. When I opened the anti-thief metal door, the young-looking shopkeeper faced me with a business smile.

「Welcome, what can I do for you do today?」

In contrast to the bright voice, the room was dark. It had a Middle Eastern-like design, and scales of all sizes were placed all over. Near the shopkeeper’s counter was a strong man carrying a scimitar who seemed to be a bouncer. After I entered the room, a man lurking beside the entrance stood behind me.

「I want you to change this into the money that is used here」

I put a gold bar on the counter.

It was from a container that was meant for procuring funds. It was damaged so I only had three and a half bars.

「Please wait a moment」

The shopkeeper wiped the bar with a cloth, then looked over every inch of it at different angles.

「Dear customer, did you scrape off the engraved mark?」

「No. I carelessly dropped it. It was an accident」

「Hahaha, well, things like that can happen」

He had a pregnant smile on his face. The gold bar was placed on a scale and sand-filled bags were placed on the other side until the scales were balanced. The bags were then put onto a different scale and this time, round pieces of metal were put on the other side until it was balanced again.

「40 gold coins and 8 silver coins. This is a strict and fair assessment by the Zavua Night Owl company. Do you wish to assess it at other companies?」

It was five gold coins more than Makina's estimate.