From Gram, I learn that the party is constantly staying at inns and taverns in this city, and they don't have a permanent home anywhere anymore. They sold most of their possessions to begin the life of adventurers. I guess that comes with the occupation. No secure job means no stable income, so renting a place isn't an option. Well, considering one can just camp anywhere, I don't see a point in having a house. But I still want to get home to the demon castle. I actually don't know why I do, but I think it has to do with a warm bed, servants, and free food.

We walk around town and buy various items necessary for life on the road. Our conversation grows increasingly casual, although it's usually just him talking, telling me about the kingdom's history and other knowledge a traveler might enjoy. My setting is that I don't know much about where I'm from since I've only seen it through my window. That's so close to the truth, it hurts. I didn't get to see anything about the country I'm from in this world.

"This concludes our shopping trip. Is there anything you want, Miss Marcott?" Gram is so nice to me; I could fall for him. Actually, isn't this like a date right now? I'm a high school girl, and I'm on a date with a middle-aged man. Enjo kousai? Nothing of that sort is happening or going to happen! Hm, this might be an opportunity to get a map.

"I would like to taste the specialty of this town." Yep, my stomach is going to win over this. I have a map from my mother, so when I get the chance, I'll try it out. I learned the incantation from Rolan on our way. When I'm ever alone, I can see if that one is sufficient. And this is a date. No wait, it's not!

"As you wish." He complies with an exaggerated bow, but I don't mind at all. Ah, we could actually become friends...

The specialty of Hovsgaerden is a puff pastry called Cajin. It's filled with a red jam, but it doesn't taste like anything I've ever eaten before. Ah, this is the first time I'm eating something sweet here. It's pretty good, and I want more. But I can't just play on his goodwill and make him buy me several more servings. If I ever make money, I'll come and buy myself some. I should have gone with the bard; I wouldn't have had any reservations to ask him to buy me a heap of them. And I can picture him complying, too.

I slowly enjoy the Cajin while we make our way to the meeting point. Dancing Dragon, was it? This world has dragons, then. And that's one fantasy-sounding name again. This world is slapping its fantasy-ness into my face on every corner; I'll tire out if I comment on it each time. It's a typical tavern, as you'd expect from a world that seems like medieval Europe. Everything is made of wood, and it's quite dark despite it being the middle of the day. Don't tell me this is a shady place?

"Hey, there they are." It's Rolan who notices us and waves us over. The bard is already there. There are plenty of seats, but I sit down right next to the leader, just to mess with Luna. Ah, she's so cute when she looks frustrated.

"So, I found a request to escort a merchant to the capital." That's mighty convenient! Just where we wanted to go, and now there's even a quest for it. Is this world a game after all? Am I following the questline ever since coming to the Kingdom of Lares and meeting this party? "It's pretty good pay, but it seems the merchant has reason to believe that he'll be attacked along the way. Apparently, he's carrying some really important goods."

"Do you know what kind of goods these are? I do not want to become involved in something outside of the law." The bard is the voice of reason. If this were a game, I'd be careful about this quest, too. It would hide an event that requires a higher level than written on the surface. But here, I'm not the one deciding it.

"It's not disclosed, but we still have time to think it over, departure time is the morning of the day after tomorrow. The merchant wants five groups to guard his caravan since it'll be a total of ten carriages." Rolan grins. "But the bonus is that we'll be getting horses to ride on during the journey, and large tents will be provided for camping." I don't mind camping out in the open. "What do you think, big man?"

"I think it'd be best to find out a little more first." Gram is going about it the right way.

"Alright, then let's scatter and gather information about this merchant. His name is Sveinn Itkonen, and he seems to be pretty well known as someone buying things in large quantities at reasonable prices. We'll meet back here at nightfall." Rolan stands up and motions to leave, but then realizes something. "Oh, what do you want to do, Miss Chloe?" Ah, he actually called me that again in front of his sweetheart. Ohhh, she's glaring at his back.

"I think I'll go with Miss Luna." Let's have some girls talk. She's looking at me like I'm an alien. Close your mouth; it's unbecoming of a lady to make such an expression.

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"You alright with it, Runa?" This guy has the gall to ask her that. Of course it's not alright with her, but somehow she nods. Okay, I didn't expect that. Must be because she's still in shock and just answered without thinking. "Then let's go."

I depart with Luna, who has gathered her composure again and is stomping off quickly. She wants to lose me in this crowd, doesn't she? But I've thought of something interesting: Transforming only a part of my body. The interior of my nose changes into a Vularen's! It was pretty good that I was sent to the Dark Continent the first time. I gained a handy body template there. I can follow Luna's smell - it's quite sweet, and I could just eat her up - no, wait, there's something wrong with that... Ah, I also smell Rolan on her. As expected.

So, what are you going to do, now that you know you can't lose me? She gave up and is walking normally again. Let's see where you're going to gather information. We walk silently, but she steals glances at me from time to time. Is there something on my face? Don't tell me the Vularen nose is showing on the outside? That can't be, I can't be messing up something that important.

"Uhm..." She initiates a conversation with me? That's new. "Do you like Rolan?"

Woah?! Where did that come from? I've only known them all for three days. Ah, must be my fake advances on him, just to see her freak out. So that's the impression I gave her. Tell me you're a done deal and any sensible person would back off. But I know you can't just do that; you're too shy. Let's mess with her.

"Yes." Ah, that's a nice reaction. She's staring at me with her mouth hanging open again. "He was the one to talk to me when I had lost everything in my life. He gave me a meal and a warm place to be while I was starving and alone. Could anyone not fall for a man like that?" I think I just outdid myself there. Oh, there seems to be understanding in her expression. Is that how you react to your rival in love? Not that I really love him or anything.

"I... I see. But I won't lose!" In what? She doesn't explain further and continues walking. Ah, I wonder how old she is. She's like a kouhai having a misunderstanding about my relationship with her beloved senpai, who happens to be in my class and seems friendly with me.

"How old are you, Miss Luna?" I do want to know. From that I would be able to tell how old Rolan is.

"I've seen fifteen summers." That's young! She's two years younger than I? But aside from how she acts around her sweetheart, she has her act together. Now I'm depressed. She's much more mature than I am, even though I'm supposed to be the senpai. She also has experience in bed, while I haven't even kissed yet! There's something wrong with this world... it's not me; the world is at fault! "And you, Miss Marcott?"

Ahhh, don't ask a lady her age!

"We are the same age, then." Another bald-faced lie. Not like there's any way to check.

Hm, wait, while we were talking, we somehow walked into a shady area. It's the alleyways, and it's dark and dirty here... why did you bring me here, Luna? Do you want to get rid of me here?

"There it is." She points at an inconspicuous door. There's a wooden board with faded letters above it. That's a store, huh? So she didn't try to do something she would come to regret. Luna pushes open the door, and the smell of mold and decay waft into my face.

- Emergency shutdown of Vularen olfactory systems -

I thought I'd die! I still had the Vularen nose, with its enhanced smelling capabilities. Even for a human nose, this is unbearable. Where did you bring me? Is this the back of an abandoned slaughterhouse?

"Lady Nightwane, it's Runa." She announces herself. My night vision allows me to see in the dark and I notice that it's a place full of strange items, such as small wooden statuettes, dried pieces of roots and other unidentifiable things, and jars filled with liquids in various shades. Ah, there's one filled with eyeballs. There's one with a wrinkly hand. That's one with a fetus. What's this one? Looks like huge worms. Why am I reminded of that one time I transformed into the human king? Let's not think about it...

This is that, right? An occult store. Well, I guess in this world, it'd just be considered a store. Considering I have a mage standing right next to me who's able to conjure elemental attacks out of thin air, magic is very real. So using strange things as catalysts would not be that strange.

"It's as creepy as ever in here." Oi, don't deny my acceptance of these things so easily! "Why do dark elves like such things...? Lady Nightwane, where are you?"

Dark elf? So these exist in this world, too. It would explain why this place is so dark, I guess? But I can spot some hanging oil lamps, although they're out.

Alright, I just found the creepiest item in this place. There's a life-sized doll of a young girl sitting on a chair, and its pale skin is stitched up all over. But it's wearing a proper frilly dress, which makes it even creepier. Its eyes stare into space, but it's like I can feel life in them. Hah, the pattern would be that this doll is Lady Nightwane transformed, and she's preparing to scare the hell out of us.

"Hm, customers?" A male voice from the back of the store asks. That's certainly not Lady Nightwane. "What's our watchman doing?" And this sounds like trouble.

"Who is there?" Luna asks, her tone trembling a little. In response, two men come through the door that most likely leads into the storage room. They look like thugs. No, really, those are textbook thugs: Bandanna, a scar on the face, evil eyes, vests that were made by ripping off the sleeves to show off their tattooed arms. One of them even wields a wooden club. Yay, we stumbled upon an event!