Kays Translations

Volume 2: Several Faces and Statuses

Chapter 17

After finishing breakfast, Melt and I headed toward the commercial district.

By the way, as Melt wished, we managed to have breakfast at a restaurant that serves vegetables and fruits, but I’ll just say that the customers were mostly women, and it was a bit uncomfortable.

“I’m pretty sure it was down that street. It’s still before noon, but the crowd is huge…”

“As expected of a street full of merchants, huh? I’ve only bought things from traveling vendors before, but the shops here seem to sell all sorts of things, right?”

“That should be the case. Since we’re going to make a living as adventurers, I should prepare some equipment for you, Melt… hmm.”

Wouldn’t it be easier to just give her some of my spare equipment?

But what happens to these kinds of items when given to someone else?

I understand weapons, but armor has size issues…

In a game, size wouldn’t matter, but this is reality.

Once equipped, the gear might be fixed to the user’s size.

So what happens if a female character’s armor is taken out by another female character? I’ll have to check if there’s a character with a similar build to Melt.

“That’s right, having armor would make me feel more secure. I brought a knife from home, but it’s not really a weapon, so it’s probably about to break soon.”

“Ah, I have an idea about equipment. Let’s buy it another time. How about we buy things you need for everyday life, like clothes?”

“Ah, that makes more sense. I only have three pairs of underwear, so I wash and rotate them every day, but they’re getting worn out. I want clothes too — the ones I fixed myself aren’t very durable.”

This is urgent. Underwear worn so much it’s see-through is not good.

Mainly for my own peace of mind. She has almost no experience living with someone of the opposite sex, so she just starts undressing in the same room.

I have to buy clothes by the end of the day. Also, I need to teach her some modesty.

“Oh, the commercial district must be around here. I think the merchant guild is tucked away somewhere deeper because this area is packed with shops.”

“Wow! Amazing! That’s the shop, right? So many glass windows!”

It seems glass making technology is developed enough for display windows to be common.

Is this world more developed than I thought?

Hmm… there are mannequins too, and the shop structures and displays look quite modern.

Maybe people summoned from Earth, like us, have been here before.

Or maybe magic has accelerated industrial technology faster than cultural development?

Well, as long as it’s a comfortable world to live in, it doesn’t matter.

“Wow… They dress wooden dolls to showcase clothes? …Cute clothes.”

“Yes. I wonder if this is a one-piece dress. Do you like long skirt styles like this?”

“I do — they look mature and I admire them! But as an adventurer, they’d be hard to move in.”

“Then that’s for citywear, like for holidays.”

“I see… fancy! When I save up money, I’ll indulge myself! Me!”

Yeah, Melt’s reactions are always entertaining.

But actually, owning multiple sets of clothes might be a luxury in this world.

“When we’re done here, let’s go back to that clothing store and buy some changes.”

“Really? I can’t pay you back yet.”

“When you start earning, you can buy ingredients and I’ll cook.”

“That’s a good idea! I’ll buy you lots of expensive stuff if you make tasty food.”

Leave it to me.

We enjoyed a bit of window shopping and moved deeper toward what looked like the merchant guild buildings—larger structures distinct from the usual shops, with signs bearing text.

“Hmm… This says ‘Circland Merchant Guild’. Over there… ‘Radiant Merchant Guild’ and ‘Curseface Merchant Guild’. I bet Curseface is the one controlling this area!”

“Why do you think that?”

Melt, who was checking each sign, suddenly asserted this.

“First, their building is the biggest. It’s visible from the adjacent street, which is one floor higher. The sign is positioned to be seen from there, so they must be on good terms with the higher-ups. I’ve heard that in big cities, higher places are where important people live. Also… their windows are clearly made with better glass, there are more people inside, and among them are people ‘definitely stronger than me’. They’re much stronger than anyone else around. Holding strong armed power is a sign of strength.”

“…Could you stop being so suddenly sharp sometimes?”

“But it’s true! Other buildings only have the presence of ordinary people. That place is on another level.”

That’s quite a gap. Her mix of knowledge and instinct is scary.

If Melt’s right, this is the most powerful place around here.

Better not to provoke them.

“So, have you found the Pigeon Merchant Guild yet?”

“Not yet. Hmm, I wonder why?”

“Maybe we took the wrong street…”

Just as I thought that and turned to go back, a large group of men appeared out of nowhere, blocking the way to the main street.

These must be people from one of the merchant guilds nearby, right?

“Excuse me, can I help you?”

“Hey, kid, we want to have a little chat.”

“You’ve been pretty rude, miss.”

…Um, could it be that this street, even though it’s called the merchant guild street, is actually where the ‘people with a Y’ (likely yakuza or shady characters) show their public faces!?

“Sorry, this is actually my first time visiting this city today. My companion didn’t mean to be rude!”

“Huh? Did I say something bad? I’m sorry…”

“No need to apologize. For now, leave the girl here and you can go home.”

“I’m staying? Is apologizing not enough?”

The atmosphere turns ominous.

“She’s young, but a fine catch. That rare hair color will sell well, including the fur.”

“I’m not selling my fur! I take good care of my hair and tail’s fur!”

Alright, let’s run. I almost wanted to say “kill them,” but that would definitely be more dangerous.

“Melt, can we get away?”

“Yeah, no problem. No one can chase us onto the roofs.”

“You can get onto roofs?”

“Easy!”

Seriously… Melt’s physical ability is definitely beyond normal.

“Well then, I’ll go straight through the front. Melt, run ahead. Let’s meet up at some store on the main street… maybe that clothing shop from earlier.”

“Got it. Then… here I go!”

At that moment, Melt jumped up, kicked off a nearby building wall, planted her foot on the next building’s window frame, and swiftly climbed onto the roof, disappearing from sight.

Is she really a ninja!? The men around us stared in amazement at her agility.

Well then, I guess I’ll…

“So, with that said, may I take my leave as well?”

“…First, we need to see if you’re going to become a hostage or not.”

“Oh, so that’s the flow… then I’ll just kill you.”

Even if the fault lies with us, if they respond with retaliation that exceeds that, with malice directed at us—

If our lives are in danger, we will respond with justifiable anger and violence.

This time, I firmly grasp the one-handed sword hanging at my waist.

I plan my movements, how to fight. In my mind, how to battle in a situation like this, how to kill.

My knowledge and experience from Same (a persona or code name) are alive within me. I judge that I can kill all of them without issue.

…It might cause trouble, but if I kill them all, there will be no problem.

No, can I really resolve this by letting them live? They’re probably people from the underworld, too.

If I show them the difference in skill, they’ll back down—at least for now.

Then, another day… instead of Same, as Silent, I’ll slaughter them all.

“…Hey, you! Who the hell are you?!”

“You don’t need to know. We already apologized, yet you continued to threaten us. So—”

I put strength into drawing my sword from its sheath. The men’s faces blanch slightly.

Is my killing intent, my intimidation, showing?

For these thugs, that kind of presence is enough to make them falter.

“…Stop it, all of you. I’ve been listening to everything. That girl’s statements are all true. To attack ordinary people who tell the truth without challenging Curseface is disgraceful. And that girl didn’t look down on your group either. Have some shame.”

At that moment, a man quietly appeared from the largest guild that Melt had mentioned.

This time, everyone visibly trembled. Could this be the ‘person obviously stronger than me’ Melt was talking about?

“But that girl who spoke so loudly without thinking is also partly at fault. Please remind her later.”

“Of course. I never imagined this street was such a place. We were just looking for the guild.”

“I see. Hey, you all, return to your groups. Understand?”

“Y-Yes!!! We are sorry! We have no intention to cause trouble with you!”

After the man quietly said this, those who seemed to be bodyguards or employees of the surrounding guilds all fled at once.

There’s no doubt this man is a powerful one.

“…The number of hot-blooded people is increasing. That goes for you too.”

“Ah… you understand?”

“Yes, I do. If I hadn’t stopped you, you would have killed them all, wouldn’t you?”

“Well, I reconsidered halfway through.”

“Heh, but I won’t deny it was possible… Did you think you could kill us all, including me?”

“No, I didn’t notice you were here.”

“I see. That girl seemed to notice, though.”

This person is probably scary, but doesn’t seem to be a bad person.

“That girl probably has an extraordinary ability to sense presence. We’ve only known each other for a short time. Still, she’s a rare talent with a sharp mind, keen observation, and a strong body.”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t know what your relationship is, but make sure she walks the right path. Don’t let her become a bodyguard in this world like me.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

After saying that last thing, the man quietly returned to the office of the Curseface Merchant Guild to which he belonged.

…He’s strong. Somehow, from Same’s experience and knowledge, I can feel the strength of an underworld figure firsthand.

Clearly, a powerful person. Someone who gave off a presence obviously stronger than Same.

“…This city really does have all kinds of people… I need to remember that.”

With that, we hurried back to the clothing store on the main street from earlier.

“Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Oh, Same! Are you okay?”

“As you can see.”

“No, the others. If you had done a massacre in that place, it would’ve been a huge problem.”

“…I didn’t lay a hand on anyone!”

“Really?”

“Really. Well, someone who Melt called ‘obviously stronger than me’ came and scolded them, settling the situation.”

“I see… Maybe we should go thank that person sometime?”

“No, let’s not go near there.”

“Really? Yeah, that’s probably best. Well then… this time, let’s go find the Pigeon Merchant Guild for sure?”

This time, having found the street lined with guilds that do legitimate business, we were finally able to locate the Pigeon Merchant Guild.

“Hmmm… I see. So the Pigeon Guild is just about mid-tier, maybe one step below? Judging from the size of the building and its location—”

“Stop that already.”

I’ll have to explain a lot to this girl later!

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