Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 13
“Hamusutei…”
“Yeah, Hamusutei…”
“By the way, Melt, do you know what a hamster is?”
We had arrived. At the infamous inn called Hamusutei.
Despite the odd name, the building itself didn’t look particularly unusual compared to other inns—small, cozy, and somehow gave off a warm atmosphere.
It was a bit chilly this season, but I couldn’t help wondering if in the summer they might plant sunflowers in the flowerbed out front.
“A ‘hamster’ is a type of native spirit species unique to the independent nation Hamsterdam, which is located on an island floating in a giant lake in the inland region of the neighboring continent Lalaleia. They come in various sizes—some as small as a thumb, others as big as me. In Hamsterdam, they worship, revere, and live in harmony with hamsters.”
“…What?”
Apparently, this hamster has nothing to do with the one I know.
“Hello there~”
“Hi!”
We opened the door to Hamusutei and greeted the innkeeper. A woman at the front desk returned the greeting with a friendly smile.
“Just the two of you? One night is two silver coins. If you’re staying long term, it’s fifty silver per month. With meals, it’s three silver per night or seventy per month.”
Hmm, two silver coins. If one silver coin is worth about a thousand yen, then one night for 2,000 yen or 3,000 with meals is pretty cheap by Japanese standards.
Should I go for a long-term stay to establish a base and get used to life here?
“Th-then I’ll just stay one night… three silver coins, here.”
“Hm? It’s three silver for both of you, miss.”
“Oh… I see… then, um… one silver and five copper?”
Wait, why are we splitting the payment?
“Melt, I’ll pay. Excuse me, we’ll take one month without meals for two people. Here’s a large gold coin.”
“Alrighty. Don’t see large gold coins often.”
We took the key from the woman—presumably the innkeeper—and headed to our room for two. Surprisingly, the inn had three floors, and long-term guests apparently stayed on the third.
“Um… is it really okay? I was planning to earn some money after staying one night since I barely have any left…”
“No worries. I’m the one who brought you to this country. It’s only natural that I take care of things until you’re settled.”
“Th-thank you, Same… I’ll work hard to earn money. So… if I ever buy a house, I’ll pay rent, so… can we live together?”
“Of course.”
I didn’t need rent, but she seemed very dutiful and probably wouldn’t accept it otherwise. I figured it was better to just say yes.
“Okay, I promised to tell you about me, right? So here goes.”
“O-okay. The big secret of Same…”
Where should I start? I guess I’ll just give her a simple explanation…
“I was summoned from a place that’s not this world.”
“Yeah, and?”
“Eh!? That’s all!?”
“Well, I heard rumors that Golda summoned heroes from another world. You know, when I was tasked with searching for those kids in the canyon dungeon? I overheard soldiers gossiping—well, complaining—so I pieced it together.”
“I see… Yeah, I’m one of the people who got summoned.”
“I figured. But your race? Or species? Seems different, right?”
“Yeah, well… when I was summoned, the Dungeon Master of that mansion deep in the great forest gave me power.”
As I mentioned the Dungeon Master—someone who might be tied to her painful past—her ears twitched slightly.
“From the Dungeon Master… power…”
“So summoning happens inside a dungeon?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Offerings are made to the dungeon. The Dungeon Master accepts them and brings souls from the outside world… it’s more like a contract than a summoning. I’m considered a native that got trapped through that process. That’s why I instinctively understand what I am and how I’m treated.”
“I see. That Dungeon Master… I think his name was Grimm? He offered us all power. And so I… gained the ability to take on the form of a person sleeping within my soul.”
To make it easier to understand, I explained it as someone “sleeping in my soul.”
“What!? A person inside your soul… Is it like reincarnation? I’ve heard myths like that! Are you a god from another world, Same!?”
“No no, nothing like that. Just… I happened to be that kind of person, I guess.”
“O-oh… right, I guess in another world, strange people exist too, huh?”
“Exactly. That’s why I can change forms. And the reason others don’t recognize me is because I’m not in my original form.”
“Then that big scary man I saw at first—was that you?”
“No, that wasn’t it either. I was the same age as the rest of the others.”
“Th-then I wanna see your original form!”
Is that even possible…?
No, I can only switch between preset characters in the menu… Does that mean I can’t return to my original self anymore?
I mean, that body was the one I spent my whole life in, so I should be more attached, but…
Then again, I did wish to “become my MMO character,” so maybe I wasn’t that attached after all.
“Hmm…”
“Don’t want to show me? You don’t trust me?”
“No, it’s not that… I just don’t know how to go back.”
“Eh!? Is that… okay?”
What if I use the “Logout” option in the menu?
Would I return to normal? Might be worth trying…
“Alright. Melt, I’m going to run an experiment now. Can you hold on to this for me?”
I took a leather pouch filled with part of the large gold coins from the barrel in my menu and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
“I’m going to try and see if I can return to my original self. But if I disappear… that pouch is yours. Please use it to support your life from now on.”
“Eh!? Wait—hang on!!”
Someday, I was planning to experiment. If that’s the case, then at the very least, I wanted to try it while I could still leave something of value behind for someone.
I steeled myself and selected “Logout.”
And then—
“Huh… what just happened…?”
I thought I was momentarily wrapped in light. But now, there’s nothing.
Did my voice… change? I can’t really tell myself.
Is there a mirror in the room—?
“Same! Why did you do something so dangerous!? You said you might disappear—did that mean die!? This bag has money in it, a huge amount! Were you planning to die!?”
“Whoa!”
The next moment, Melt charged at me with a shout.
We tumbled onto the bed, and I kept taking damage to my chest from her relentless hits.
Ouch ouch ouch ouch! Stop hitting me!
“S-sorry, sorry… I just thought, maybe… I’d end up back in my original world.”
“Even if it means doing something that risky, I don’t need to see your original form… Please, never do that again.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry… By the way… did my appearance change?”
Yeah, sorry—this really wasn’t something I should’ve done lightly.
Logging out of life itself could’ve really happened.
And just handing her the money and possibly leaving her alone—that wasn’t right either.
“It changed, yeah. You look like a kid now.”
“A kid…? Well, I guess I’m shorter than Same was.”
I guess Asians are often seen as baby-faced?
“Is your name different too?”
“Each form has a different name, but… do you want to memorize them all?”
“T-that many…?”
“Just over twenty more.”
“Whaaat… What’s the name of your original form?”
“Shizuma. But for certain reasons, I tried not to show up in this form. You know, because I didn’t want to get involved with the other summoned guys.”
“I see. But if those kids are in Golda, I think it’ll be okay.”
“Hope so… But anyway, I’ve registered at both the inn and the guild as Same, so I’ll switch back.”
“Good idea. Hmm… so Same was actually a kid…”
“Hey, hey—calling me a kid… I’m seventeen this year, you know.”
“Eh!? No way, same as me! You totally don’t look it!”
“Damn… Do I really look that young?”
As I was thinking about how to switch back to Same, I found that I could still open the menu screen even in this form.
I quickly checked the options—
“Huh… even in this form, I can see my stats.”
HP: 120
Strength: 120
Magic: 70
Spirit: 90
Agility: 70
[Growth Rate: Max – Fully Reflected]
[High-Speed Movement]
[Throwing]
[Cooking Lv1]
[Crafting Lv1]
[Sewing Lv1]
[Swordsmanship Lv1]
[Thief’s Knowledge Lv1]
[Swordsman’s Knowledge Lv1]
[Warrior’s Knowledge Lv1]
[Mercenary’s Knowledge Lv1]
“What the heck is this?”
It seems like the skills I tried out with my past characters, the ones I used while fighting as Same, and even the skills I tested as Silent, and the default ones—they’re all reflected here too…
What’s going on? The skills from Silent weren’t carried over to Same… so why are they appearing now?
“…Needs further testing.”
For now, I return to Same’s form.
“Oh, you changed back. Hmm… you can stay as a kid if you want? It kind of feels comforting.”
“I’m the one who doesn’t feel comfortable. Besides, that form’s weaker.”
“Really? Then I guess there’s no helping it.”
Still, if the original form can inherit not just the crafting skills but all skills, then… wouldn’t the original form ultimately be the strongest?
Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to register as an adventurer under Shizuma at some point.
“Hmm… hey hey, what other forms can you become? Oh! But if there’s still a risk of disappearing, then don’t do it!”
“Oh, that’s already fine. I’ve confirmed there’s no risk anymore.”
“Oh, good, I’m glad…”
“Well then, how about I try turning into Silent, the big guy from the beginning?”
“That scary one? If I know it’s Same inside, I’ll be fine—go ahead and change.”
All right then, let’s go! My first character, Silent—come forth! …Well, it’s me turning into him, but still.
My line of sight suddenly rises, and the ceiling gets closer.
Looks like I’ve successfully transformed into Silent.
“Whoa… that’s some serious presence… You look really strong…”
“So I do look like that?”
“Eek! Even your voice is scary! You totally seem strong… Your aura feels like… like I’m facing a giant monster or something!”
“Well, among the forms I can transform into, Silent is one of the stronger ones… Oh, and ‘Silent’ is the name of this form, by the way.”
“Silent… got it, I’ll remember it.”
Her reactions were so fresh and fun, I happily kept switching characters.
Next up… I’ll switch into the crafting-type character I used at first to learn cooking as Same.
“Here we go.”
My line of sight drops drastically. Probably about the same height as Same, maybe a little taller?
“Wha!? You turned into a woman!? Your gender changes too!?”
“Yeah, it does. And by the way, this form is really good at cooking. Even Same’s cooking draws on a bit of this form’s abilities.”
“Wow!!! Then make something for me next time! …Oh! That reminds me—why did you rent the inn room without meals? If you go a whole month without food, you’ll die!”
“Oh, of course not. I plan to eat at different restaurants and places.”
Haha, did she really think I’d go a whole month without food or drink? I already scouted the area near the inn and found tons of restaurants and taverns.
And since I’ve got enough funds, I’ll go on a food tour to explore this world’s culinary scene.
I explained this to her.
“That’s wonderful! It sounds so luxurious, eating all around town. I wonder what kinds of dishes there are… I only really ate food back when my grandma was alive, and that one time you shared your food with me during our journey. So I don’t really know anything.”
“Huh!? Then what were you eating before?”
“I just boiled or roasted stuff and ate it with salt and herbs. That was good enough… but once I tasted your food, my world changed. It’s amazing. I look forward to meals now—they make the whole day more exciting.”
Ugh, so pitiful yet adorable! I’ll make sure you get to eat all sorts of food from now on!
I couldn’t help hugging her. I just felt overwhelmed by emotion.
What is this? Is this the character Sayla’s emotion bleeding through?
As for the name origin? Yeah, just take a guess based on “Same.”
“Gwah! Your boobs are squishing me!”
“Ah, sorry, sorry. Got carried away.”
“…You’re really pretty, huh? And you’ve got big boobs too.”
“Yeah… I guess you’re right.”
Let’s just say, after checking this form, my mental fortitude improved a lot overnight.
I had to rally all of my self-control, seriously.
By the way, this character has the jobs “Chef” and “Light Warrior.”
Her backstory? “A woman who set off on a journey to become a chef. Skilled in using daggers the size of kitchen knives for self-defense. Formerly served a noble household.” Something like that.
Incidentally, the reason I was able to raise so many characters was thanks to this one.
After all, leveling up characters takes money.
And for making money, the cook was a total MVP.
To be specific: “Dishes made by a master chef serve as powerful buff items,” and they sell like hotcakes on the market.
Not many users fully max out production-type classes, after all.
“Let’s call it a day for now. Once I switch back to Same, let’s go grab something to eat.”
“! Yeah, let’s go!”
Now then, let’s go enjoy the thing that’s become the highlight of Melt’s life—meals.