NOVEL WEB chapter 69
Chapter 69
The dinner at Fuuka-tei was exceptionally delicious.
They served sea urchin cream pasta. The rich flavor of sea urchin intertwined with an equally rich white cream sauce, creating a truly exquisite dish. However, I couldn’t help but think that if I’d eaten this in the real world, I might have suffered from indigestion afterward.
While I was quite satisfied with the taste, something felt… off. Perhaps I’ve grown too accustomed to Mungaga’s cooking, but I sensed a slight lack of something. Is this what they call having a refined palate? Or could it be some sort of addiction to toxic substances? I sincerely hope it’s not the latter!
Incidentally, Tsuna and I rented separate rooms. Due to game mechanics, it seems impossible to remove certain minimum clothing items, so there’s no risk of any “overnight mistakes.” I often use my Divine Artifact Creation skill discreetly, after all.
We didn’t even consider sharing a large room together.
The room at this inn is rather simple in design. It has the basic set: a desk, bed, chair, and closet.
Apparently, they intentionally keep the room furnishings modest to prevent theft. If you want luxurious accommodations, you’ll need to stay at a more expensive inn, according to Tsuna.
I was surprised to learn that Tsuna had stayed at high-end inns before, but it made sense when he explained that the food was his primary motivation.
Lying on the bed, I reflect on today’s events while editing and adding to my text log. This log includes information I purchased from the information broker, complete with firsthand accounts, making it quite valuable.
When I return to the Demon King’s realm, I might give this as a souvenir to Tatsu and others. I’ll keep adding lively, personal information in a diary-like format.
“So, Farland Kingdom has a strong bias against monster folk, huh?”
According to the information broker, this world has eight continents.
Five are ruled by human races.
One is governed by monster races.
One is controlled by dragons.
And one is under the domain of gods.
Farland Kingdom is apparently a fairly typical medieval fantasy-style human nation.
As for the other nations:
– Gartz Empire: Steampunk-inspired
– Meltica Theocracy: A religious state
– Rinm-Ranm Republic: An undeveloped land
– Yamato: Perpetually in the Warring States period
Each seems to have its own unique quirks.
Interestingly, Yamato has customs similar to Japan. They frequently export rice, soy sauce, and miso, which are sold at extremely high prices due to their rarity.
If you really want these items, you’d have to go to Yamato to buy them directly.
What’s that? Why don’t I just buy them at the high prices? No way, absolutely not.
Knowing the real-world prices of soy sauce, I can’t bring myself to pay such exorbitant amounts.
My body instinctively rejects the idea. Even if the rarity is different in-game, I can’t justify spending billions on something when I know its actual taste and value.
Well, I’m not sure if it actually costs billions, but still…
Now, about Farland, where I’m currently visiting.
It’s known as an agricultural powerhouse, famous for wheat and other crop production.
The information broker suggests that their agricultural development is partly due to the relatively weak monsters in the area.
However, the northern and southern edges of the continent are to be avoided. Powerful monsters roam there, and the environment is quite harsh.
The sudden increase in monster strength makes me wonder if there might be hidden areas or dungeons. Depending on the monster strength, it could be interesting to check out.
Farland has many towns and villages, but there are three main cities:
Firth, the starting city.
Second, the port town.
Third, the royal capital.
Very easy to remember!
I’m currently in Second, the port town.
Heading south from here leads to Firth, while going north takes you to Third, the royal capital.
I wanted to visit Third to broaden my horizons and search for Maris, but after hearing the stall owner’s story, it seems rather difficult to go there.
So, I’m considering heading to Firth first.
Firth is close to the southern forest, where monsters are stronger, and it seems to be a treasure trove of materials for Compounding and Alchemy.
Second offers seafood and imported goods from monster nations, which are novelties for human players. However, for monster race players like me, it doesn’t hold much appeal. We can get similar things in Forzyne.
Still, there are some materials unique to this area, so I’ll collect those before heading to Firth.
Regarding the Second Prince who dislikes monster races, I’ve gathered some information.
Apparently, while the current king is ill and recuperating, his three sons are engaged in a behind-the-scenes power struggle for the throne.
The First Prince is currently acting as regent, handling royal duties.
However, rumors suggest he’s quite the spendthrift, throwing lavish parties in the royal capital almost daily. He’s earned the nickname “The Wastrel Prince.” It doesn’t bode well for the kingdom’s future.
The Second Prince, known for his dislike of monster races, is the general of the royal army, as the stall owner mentioned. He’s on bad terms with the First Prince and seems to be quite the muscle-head. He constantly advocates for attacking the Demon King’s realm and is quite popular among knights and military personnel due to his martial prowess.
The Third Prince is somewhat younger than his brothers.
He’s reportedly quite talented, excelling in both literary and martial arts. However, his exceptional abilities seem to have made him unpopular, and he’s been sent away from the capital to oversee Firth.
Some speculate that he resents this exile and is secretly plotting to claim the throne.
It seems I’ve arrived in Farland Kingdom during a rather tense period.
Of the three, the Second Prince is probably the one to be most wary of.
A martial-minded individual who dislikes monster races is essentially our natural enemy.
I’d like to avoid any involvement with the Second Prince if possible.
Well, for now, it’s time to sleep.
Tomorrow, I’ll head to the Commerce Guild to submit the items I’ve collected and complete some quests.
■□■
It’s a beautiful, sunny day.
Come to think of it, does it ever rain in LIA? I haven’t experienced any rainfall so far, which makes me wonder if it’s just a game mechanic.
When I told Tsuna about my plans for today, he insisted on accompanying me to the Commerce Guild.
I thought he might be some kind of stalker, but then he explained:
“If you’re unfairly accused at the Commerce Guild, there’s a chance this town might be obliterated. I’m here as an external safety measure.”
Ah, so he’s not a stalker but a chaperone!
Sigh, I guess I’m not very trustworthy.
We asked for directions to the Commerce Guild at the inn and set off.
Along the way, we stopped at a food stall and enjoyed a gentle vegetable soup. Its comforting flavor seemed to soften my mood, making me feel like I could forgive any minor annoyances. It was a heartwarming taste.
However, it would have been perfect for winter! It’s not really suited for drinking under the blazing morning sun! Well, I finished it all anyway!
As Tsuna and I discussed our thoughts on the soup, we arrived at the Commerce Guild.
The guild building is painted in a refreshing lemon yellow, giving it quite a fancy appearance.
“It’s yellowed,” Tsuna remarked.
“…”
I’m beginning to think Tsuna lacks a certain delicacy these days.
Anyway, this is my first visit to a human Commerce Guild!
As we open the lemon-yellow doors, a wave of excitement rushes out from inside!
Wow, it’s so lively…
Forzyne had people too, but it was during that rare material monopoly incident, so the atmosphere was rather gloomy.
This place is different, though.
Production activities are in full swing!
People are exchanging materials, checking popular items, discussing the best locations for stalls, and trading crafted items. As someone who’s only ever sold items through the World Market, this direct trading is quite novel!
Amidst all this activity, a few people seemed to be keeping an eye on the entrance.
As soon as they noticed Tsuna—
Tsuna suddenly dashed forward.
He grabbed a man by the collar and lifted him off the ground with one hand.
Wow, he’s so strong—
Wait, no! What are you doing, Tsuna?!
“Hey, who said you could use [Appraisal] on me?”
Oh boy. Using [Appraisal] on Tsuna without permission is beyond reckless…
Doesn’t he know Tsuna can physically overturn [Status] effects?
Frankly, I think he has even more ridiculous stats than those top players called the “clearing group.”
I mean, the fact that he survived unscathed in the unexplored underwater fields is crazy in itself.
But to people unaware of the situation, it looks like Tsuna suddenly attacked someone for no reason. We’re drawing unwanted attention, and I can even hear mutterings like, “This is why monster races are…”
Hey, this has nothing to do with being a monster race! It’s a matter of player etiquette, isn’t it?
Well, I won’t stop Tsuna if he decides to rough up that guy. After all, that guy’s in the wrong.
Perhaps using [Appraisal] as a form of greeting is normal among human players?
But Aika never did anything like that. Maybe it’s a matter of upbringing?
As tension fills the Commerce Guild, I make my way to the reception desk to take care of my business.
What about Tsuna’s situation, you ask?
He can handle that himself.
By the way, it seems I wasn’t targeted by [Appraisal] thanks to my level 9 [Concealment] skill. They probably didn’t even notice my presence.
When I silently approached the reception desk and called out to the receptionist, she let out a short scream of surprise.
“Ah, sorry. I’d like to submit some quest items. Is that alright?”
“Eek! Y-yes… Which quest are you referring to…?”
“Oh, do I need to bring the quest documents?”
“Um, ah, yes… That’s usually how it’s done…”
It seems Milene was exceptionally efficient, processing everything with just a “Are these all okay for these quests?” when I brought only the items.
With no other choice, I shuffle over to the quest board in front of the receptionist.
As for Tsuna’s situation, it looks like the [Appraisal] guy’s friends have shown up.
A burly, bearded man is saying something like, “What are you doing to my buddy?!”
Ah, is that really necessary?
“Tsuna, should I come over there yelling ‘What are you doing to my buddy’ too?” I call out.
“Absolutely not! This won’t end peacefully if you do!”
Tsuna flat-out rejected me.
Though I’d argue it’s already far from peaceful at this point.