Part 4
One week since they entered the Demon King territory and headed north.
They arrived at the foot of the mountains called 《Heavenly Mountain (Tenzan)》.
It had this kind of name, but it had no relation to the aircraft with cute legs.
The town at the foot of it, as if it were in the territory of the Races, had a peaceful atmosphere.
The figures of Adventurers and soldiers stood out more than they did in Faltra City, but the sadness and gloom that recluses seemed like they would gather couldn’t be felt.
In the town that was surrounded by a wall, stallholders were lined up on both sides of the main road.
An oyaji selling spit-roasted meat called out to them.
「Welcome! Welcome! It’s Giant Toad meat! It’s nice and tender!」
「……It looks delicious, doesn’t it, Diablo.」
「That is a frog monster, you know?」
「Diablo, they’re also selling fruits I’ve never seen before!」
「Are you sure they aren’t poisonous?」
Rem and Shera were festive in the town they’ve never been to before.
Although they had various reasons for it, these girls that chose the Adventurers’ way of life, they basically liked journeys.
The root of Diablo was a hikikomori. Being wary would take precedence for him.
──It was a village that was nothing but a recovery point with no peculiarities in the game though?
「It is quite lively, isn’t it.」
「……Intelligence gathering, Diablo. Let’s buy some skewers, and hear some talk from the stallholder.」
「If we’re buying, then fruits would be good too!」
「Do as you like.」
Since Diablo was bad at conversing with other people, he had Rem and Shera gather information.
After a while──
*Hagu hagu* Rem was munching on a skewer of what looked like chicken meat.
「……This town, 《Sodmas》[1], since it is said that the Master Swordsman is here, it seems that people with confidence in their own abilities gather here. There are also many people that have opened dojos.」
「So it is a town of Warriors.」
「……In the end, even famous blacksmiths and doctors came, and now, despite being in the Demon King territory, the fighting power has been well-regulated to the point that monsters won’t even get close to it.」
「So that is why it is this prosperous.」
「……It is because for Adventurers and merchants, a place where they can sleep with a peace of mind is important. It seems that there is also a large carriage shop.」
「Fumu, if the Master Swordsman’s location is nearby, I suppose we can deposit our carriage there.」
Shera, whose cheeks were stuffed with fruit, raised her hand.
「Nn! Nn!」
「Talk after you finish eating.」
「Ngu ngu! Puhah! Graham-san’s house, they said it’s on top of the mountain!」
Shera pointed at the Heavenly Mountain.
Diablo knitted his brows.
「So we’ll have to climb……」
With the angle steadily becoming steep after the gentle slope, the mountain summit reaches the clouds.
Diablo hated walking.
It would be possible to climb it with this level 150 body though.
「Ah, also, they were selling this.」
Shera held something out.
It was light brown, small, and round.
「What is it?」
「They said it was a 《Master Swordsman Manjuu》.」
「……I also saw something called a 《Master Swordsman Wooden Sword》.」
「Waー, that sounds fun!」
──Are these hot spring town souvenirs!?
He felt that the development of the MMORPG Cross Reverie, upon having full knowledge of this other world, had taken various considerations during the step of making it into a game.
If someone played for a long time and became level 80, they would no longer be a beginner.
In real time, that would be about two months.
If that Player were to find 《Master Swordsman Manjuu》 in a town they just arrived at, it would seriously dampen their excitement.
He wanted a more austere atmosphere.
In any case, if they were going to be mountain climbing from here on, they couldn’t use the carriage.
They decided to deposit it.
The carriage shop──
Close to the town’s outer wall, there was a large warehouse. There was also a grassland surrounded by a tall fence. Several horses were passing time as they liked.
The owner of the carriage shop was a hard-faced Dwarf who might have been a former Adventurer. They were a race that had dog like ears and tails.
Seeing their carriage, the Dwarf narrowed his eyes.
「That’s a nice carriage. Did you buy it at the royal capital?」
「……Yes. You could tell?」
The talking was left up to Rem. Negotiating with a merchant as the other party, it was too difficult for Diablo who was bad at conversing with people, and for Shera whose thoughts were gentle.
The Dwarven shopkeeper nodded.
「It’s the work of an acquaintance of mine. He seems to be in good health.」
His mouth was covered by his beard so they couldn’t tell what his expression was, but his voice sounded like he was feeling nostalgic for the past.
「……We have come to meet with the Master Swordsman. We would like to deposit our carriage here for a while but can we ask this of you?」
「With the Master Swordsman? So you’re gonna climb the Heavenly Mountain.」
「If we need to.」
The Dwarven shopkeeper looked at Rem, and then gazed at Diablo and Shera.
「It seems you have some confidence in your abilities, don’t cha? You did journey through the Demon King territory with a carriage and came to this town after all.」
「……Somewhat.」
「In that case, right now, it would be best if you don’t.」
They were told something strange.
Rem asked him about it.
「What do you mean by that?」
「There’s a thing called the 《Evil Monkey (Jyaen)》. I don’t know if it’s a Demonic Being or a wild animal, but it is an outrageous monster that has been appearing frequently since about half a year ago.」
「……Is that an unidentified monster?」
「According to the guys that fought it──it is a giant monkey densely covered in thick hair, and even though the words of the Races can’t get through to it, it seems to skilled in using the sword. And then, it seems that it targets Adventurers that have skill.」
「Eh? It purposely chooses strong looking Adventurers?」
「The story is that when each of them defeated a strong monster, they would suddenly get attacked by it.」
「……Could it be that it chose to attack when they were exhausted?」
「I wouldn’t understand the thoughts of a monster. I just warned you.」
「Yes, thank you very much.」
The Dwarf prompted them to put the carriage in the warehouse.
「I’ll take care of your carriage. I’ll go and make the contract for custody. That sort of thing needs to be done properly.」
Despite his hardy and rough outward appearance, he was the type to thoroughly do his job.
Doing just as she was told, Rem moved the carriage.
「I will put it in the warehouse.」
「Do it slowly. Oya, your horses are a bit thin. Aren’t you working them too hard?」
「……Since it was a long journey, they might be tired.」
「Want to try giving them a potion?」
「……What will the price be?」
Rem worked out the conditions with the shopkeeper. She is quite something. Even if she retires as an Adventurer, she seems like she’d do well as a merchant.
Diablo looked at the surroundings.
It was a carriage shop that could be found anywhere.
Being surrounded by the sturdy ramparts, it had a leisurely atmosphere that could make one forget that this was in the Demon King territory.
「Nn?」
Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a wagon that was in front of the warehouse. On the things that were loaded on it.
Diablo rushed over to it.
「This is!?」
With an outward appearance of a golden apple, its leaves had the shape of stars.
In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, there existed an item that closely resembled it.
──Could it be, isn’t this 《Gold Fruit》!?
When this was consumed, it would turn into experience points.
It was an item where one could gain experience points equivalent to several hours of leveling in the game.
Naturally, they wouldn’t normally be found in a huge mound like this.
It was an SSR item that would only be obtained at special times like accomplishing an event, subjugating a boss monster, or conquering a dungeon.
If put on sale at the market, it would be priced at a super-high amount, and all Players desired it.
If this Gold Fruit turned into experience points just like it did in the game, then it was something amazing. Several hours worth of experience point within the game, how many days worth would that equate to in this other world?
For there to be a whole wagon load of that here……
Could be a normal fruit that only has a similar appearance?
The Dwarven shopkeeper talked.
「Those are fruits that are collected on the Heavenly Mountain over there. The color isn’t bad, but at any rate, it tastes awful. It is called Gold Fruit though.」
──So it’s Gold Fruit as I thought!?
Shera took one of the fruits in hand.
「Heeー, even though it looks delicious?」
She bit it.
The moment she did, her expression dimmed, and she hurriedly spit it out.
「Ueeeh! Beh! Beh!」
The shopkeeper held his stomach and laughed.
「Wahaha! It’s an article that not even hungry wild animals would eat, you know? It’s bitter even if it’s boiled or grilled, and just no good.」
「Wh, why……was something like this gathered?」
「Gold Fruit is a variety of medicinal fruit, you see. When it is crushed and turned into fertilizer, the growth of vegetables is good. When scattered on grasslands, it becomes hard for insects to appear.」
──The taste huh.
In the game, since something like taste was unknown, there weren’t any Players that would hesitate in using it.
The Dwarf caressed an old scar.
「There were rumors that Warriors from long ago liked Gold Fruit but……Well, it isn’t something that people of the Races would eat.」
「My tongue, is tingling～」
With Shera still making a displeased looking face, the shopkeeper poured water into a cup.
「There are even stories of mice that ate that and died. It might be poisonous. That is why you shouldn’t put unfamiliar things in your mouth.」
「T, tell me that earlierー!?」
Diablo glared at the Gold Fruit with a serious expression.
──Poison?
Since Gold Fruit was a valuable article in the MMORPG Cross Reverie, there weren’t any Players that ingested a large quantity of them.
If it was life-threatening, it would be a problem.
There was no guarantee that it would turn into experience points even in this other world.
Rem, who had signed the agreement to deposit the carriage, pointed towards the main street.
「……Let’s forget that questionable fruit, and have a proper meal. Also, I believe it would be best to prepare some mountain climbing tools.」
「Yeah, yeah, I want to eat some delicious fruits!」
Shera raised both of her hands.
Diablo didn’t object to that.
Part 4
One week since they entered the Demon King territory and headed north.
They arrived at the foot of the mountains called 《Heavenly Mountain (Tenzan)》.
It had this kind of name, but it had no relation to the aircraft with cute legs.
The town at the foot of it, as if it were in the territory of the Races, had a peaceful atmosphere.
The figures of Adventurers and soldiers stood out more than they did in Faltra City, but the sadness and gloom that recluses seemed like they would gather couldn’t be felt.
In the town that was surrounded by a wall, stallholders were lined up on both sides of the main road.
An oyaji selling spit-roasted meat called out to them.
「Welcome! Welcome! It’s Giant Toad meat! It’s nice and tender!」
「……It looks delicious, doesn’t it, Diablo.」
「That is a frog monster, you know?」
「Diablo, they’re also selling fruits I’ve never seen before!」
「Are you sure they aren’t poisonous?」
Rem and Shera were festive in the town they’ve never been to before.
Although they had various reasons for it, these girls that chose the Adventurers’ way of life, they basically liked journeys.
The root of Diablo was a hikikomori. Being wary would take precedence for him.
──It was a village that was nothing but a recovery point with no peculiarities in the game though?
「It is quite lively, isn’t it.」
「……Intelligence gathering, Diablo. Let’s buy some skewers, and hear some talk from the stallholder.」
「If we’re buying, then fruits would be good too!」
「Do as you like.」
Since Diablo was bad at conversing with other people, he had Rem and Shera gather information.
After a while──
*Hagu hagu* Rem was munching on a skewer of what looked like chicken meat.
「……This town, 《Sodmas》[1], since it is said that the Master Swordsman is here, it seems that people with confidence in their own abilities gather here. There are also many people that have opened dojos.」
「So it is a town of Warriors.」
「……In the end, even famous blacksmiths and doctors came, and now, despite being in the Demon King territory, the fighting power has been well-regulated to the point that monsters won’t even get close to it.」
「So that is why it is this prosperous.」
「……It is because for Adventurers and merchants, a place where they can sleep with a peace of mind is important. It seems that there is also a large carriage shop.」
「Fumu, if the Master Swordsman’s location is nearby, I suppose we can deposit our carriage there.」
Shera, whose cheeks were stuffed with fruit, raised her hand.
「Nn! Nn!」
「Talk after you finish eating.」
「Ngu ngu! Puhah! Graham-san’s house, they said it’s on top of the mountain!」
Shera pointed at the Heavenly Mountain.
Diablo knitted his brows.
「So we’ll have to climb……」
With the angle steadily becoming steep after the gentle slope, the mountain summit reaches the clouds.
Diablo hated walking.
It would be possible to climb it with this level 150 body though.
「Ah, also, they were selling this.」
Shera held something out.
It was light brown, small, and round.
「What is it?」
「They said it was a 《Master Swordsman Manjuu》.」
「……I also saw something called a 《Master Swordsman Wooden Sword》.」
「Waー, that sounds fun!」
──Are these hot spring town souvenirs!?
He felt that the development of the MMORPG Cross Reverie, upon having full knowledge of this other world, had taken various considerations during the step of making it into a game.
If someone played for a long time and became level 80, they would no longer be a beginner.
In real time, that would be about two months.
If that Player were to find 《Master Swordsman Manjuu》 in a town they just arrived at, it would seriously dampen their excitement.
He wanted a more austere atmosphere.
In any case, if they were going to be mountain climbing from here on, they couldn’t use the carriage.
They decided to deposit it.
The carriage shop──
Close to the town’s outer wall, there was a large warehouse. There was also a grassland surrounded by a tall fence. Several horses were passing time as they liked.
The owner of the carriage shop was a hard-faced Dwarf who might have been a former Adventurer. They were a race that had dog like ears and tails.
Seeing their carriage, the Dwarf narrowed his eyes.
「That’s a nice carriage. Did you buy it at the royal capital?」
「……Yes. You could tell?」
The talking was left up to Rem. Negotiating with a merchant as the other party, it was too difficult for Diablo who was bad at conversing with people, and for Shera whose thoughts were gentle.
The Dwarven shopkeeper nodded.
「It’s the work of an acquaintance of mine. He seems to be in good health.」
His mouth was covered by his beard so they couldn’t tell what his expression was, but his voice sounded like he was feeling nostalgic for the past.
「……We have come to meet with the Master Swordsman. We would like to deposit our carriage here for a while but can we ask this of you?」
「With the Master Swordsman? So you’re gonna climb the Heavenly Mountain.」
「If we need to.」
The Dwarven shopkeeper looked at Rem, and then gazed at Diablo and Shera.
「It seems you have some confidence in your abilities, don’t cha? You did journey through the Demon King territory with a carriage and came to this town after all.」
「……Somewhat.」
「In that case, right now, it would be best if you don’t.」
They were told something strange.
Rem asked him about it.
「What do you mean by that?」
「There’s a thing called the 《Evil Monkey (Jyaen)》. I don’t know if it’s a Demonic Being or a wild animal, but it is an outrageous monster that has been appearing frequently since about half a year ago.」
「……Is that an unidentified monster?」
「According to the guys that fought it──it is a giant monkey densely covered in thick hair, and even though the words of the Races can’t get through to it, it seems to skilled in using the sword. And then, it seems that it targets Adventurers that have skill.」
「Eh? It purposely chooses strong looking Adventurers?」
「The story is that when each of them defeated a strong monster, they would suddenly get attacked by it.」
「……Could it be that it chose to attack when they were exhausted?」
「I wouldn’t understand the thoughts of a monster. I just warned you.」
「Yes, thank you very much.」
The Dwarf prompted them to put the carriage in the warehouse.
「I’ll take care of your carriage. I’ll go and make the contract for custody. That sort of thing needs to be done properly.」
Despite his hardy and rough outward appearance, he was the type to thoroughly do his job.
Doing just as she was told, Rem moved the carriage.
「I will put it in the warehouse.」
「Do it slowly. Oya, your horses are a bit thin. Aren’t you working them too hard?」
「……Since it was a long journey, they might be tired.」
「Want to try giving them a potion?」
「……What will the price be?」
Rem worked out the conditions with the shopkeeper. She is quite something. Even if she retires as an Adventurer, she seems like she’d do well as a merchant.
Diablo looked at the surroundings.
It was a carriage shop that could be found anywhere.
Being surrounded by the sturdy ramparts, it had a leisurely atmosphere that could make one forget that this was in the Demon King territory.
「Nn?」
Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a wagon that was in front of the warehouse. On the things that were loaded on it.
Diablo rushed over to it.
「This is!?」
With an outward appearance of a golden apple, its leaves had the shape of stars.
In the MMORPG Cross Reverie, there existed an item that closely resembled it.
──Could it be, isn’t this 《Gold Fruit》!?
When this was consumed, it would turn into experience points.
It was an item where one could gain experience points equivalent to several hours of leveling in the game.
Naturally, they wouldn’t normally be found in a huge mound like this.
It was an SSR item that would only be obtained at special times like accomplishing an event, subjugating a boss monster, or conquering a dungeon.
If put on sale at the market, it would be priced at a super-high amount, and all Players desired it.
If this Gold Fruit turned into experience points just like it did in the game, then it was something amazing. Several hours worth of experience point within the game, how many days worth would that equate to in this other world?
For there to be a whole wagon load of that here……
Could be a normal fruit that only has a similar appearance?
The Dwarven shopkeeper talked.
「Those are fruits that are collected on the Heavenly Mountain over there. The color isn’t bad, but at any rate, it tastes awful. It is called Gold Fruit though.」
──So it’s Gold Fruit as I thought!?
Shera took one of the fruits in hand.
「Heeー, even though it looks delicious?」
She bit it.
The moment she did, her expression dimmed, and she hurriedly spit it out.
「Ueeeh! Beh! Beh!」
The shopkeeper held his stomach and laughed.
「Wahaha! It’s an article that not even hungry wild animals would eat, you know? It’s bitter even if it’s boiled or grilled, and just no good.」
「Wh, why……was something like this gathered?」
「Gold Fruit is a variety of medicinal fruit, you see. When it is crushed and turned into fertilizer, the growth of vegetables is good. When scattered on grasslands, it becomes hard for insects to appear.」
──The taste huh.
In the game, since something like taste was unknown, there weren’t any Players that would hesitate in using it.
The Dwarf caressed an old scar.
「There were rumors that Warriors from long ago liked Gold Fruit but……Well, it isn’t something that people of the Races would eat.」
「My tongue, is tingling～」
With Shera still making a displeased looking face, the shopkeeper poured water into a cup.
「There are even stories of mice that ate that and died. It might be poisonous. That is why you shouldn’t put unfamiliar things in your mouth.」
「T, tell me that earlierー!?」
Diablo glared at the Gold Fruit with a serious expression.
──Poison?
Since Gold Fruit was a valuable article in the MMORPG Cross Reverie, there weren’t any Players that ingested a large quantity of them.
If it was life-threatening, it would be a problem.
There was no guarantee that it would turn into experience points even in this other world.
Rem, who had signed the agreement to deposit the carriage, pointed towards the main street.
「……Let’s forget that questionable fruit, and have a proper meal. Also, I believe it would be best to prepare some mountain climbing tools.」
「Yeah, yeah, I want to eat some delicious fruits!」
Shera raised both of her hands.
Diablo didn’t object to that.
