After walking half an hour, I reach the entrance of the town.
The entrance was guarded by a large gate about 3 meter tall. It's currently open and there are some guards in front. The town was enclosed by tall stone walls with a maximal height of 10 meters and towers. There are also some guards on top. It's exactly like a medieval fantasy town ...
On the way, I defeated a few more slimes, but I didn't level up and there were less and less encounters the more I approached the town. I also didn't meet anyone on the road, isn't that weird ? I think it is, although I don't know the population density in this area, the town seems large enough so there should be some traffic along the road.
Maybe the time is not right ? The sky is bright so it must be afternoon. I don't know what means of travel exists in this world. If horses are used, going out the morning would be more practical if you don't want to travel at night. Well, I have no way of verifying that right now, so forget it.
I also increased the level of the skills [Status Check], [Self Status] and [Item Appraisal] by using them continuously on everthing I could see, and the levels raised to level 3, level 4 and level 4 respectively. At some point, my head started to hurt a little. I am convinced that using these three skills too much caused this pain. It's similar to when you think too hard for a long period. Rather than pain, it would be closer to laziness instead ? Raising skill levels got kinda fun, so I ignored the discomfort and kept using the three skills.
Like this I also got two new skills : [Pain Resistance lv1] and [Parallel Thoughts lv1].
[Pain Tolerance] probably comes from enduring the slight headache. After obtaining it, the discomfort dissipated.
[Parallel Thoughts lv1] might be because I used all three skills at the same time. I needed a bit of effort to be able to use two or more skills at the same time.
But as I thought, level 1 to 4 must be really low if it's so easy to reach this point.
The level cap must be higher than 10 at least. Maybe there is no cap actually ?
Now, I see my own status like this :
- Self Status -
Sakuta - Level 3
Human
HP : 100%
There is a bar at bottom, beside the entry 'HP'. The bar is completely filled. Good to know that I am in full health huh~.
A slime's status looks like this :
- Status Appraisal -
Grass Slime - Level 1
Slime
'Grass Slime' must be a subspecie of slime, I guess.
Using [Item Appraisal], I get the following results :
On grass :
- Item Appraisal -
Grass
Alive
Normal
My equipment :
- Item Appraisal -
Iron Sword
Short Sword
Normal - State : good
- Item Appraisal -
Leather Chest Armor
Light Leather Armor
Normal - State : new
- Item Appraisal -
Leather Gloves
Light Leather Gloves
Normal - State : new
The results are a little different between living beings and equipment, even though it's the same [Item Appraisal] ... Yet there is also [Status Appraisal] and [Self Status]. I don't understand why there is three differents skills ... But whatever. It doesn't matter as long as it can be used, right ?
…
Returning to the present, I am in front of the opened town gate. There is a few peoples in metal armor, four, wielding spears. Some also have a sword at their waist. They stand next to a carriage pulled by horses going outside of the town.
(So there ARE peoples travelling out at this time, huh ? Hmm... As I thought, technology in this world is lower than my original world. They still use horses for transport. Well~ there might be some more advanced things here, depending on what they concentrate developpment efforts on. I just hope that it isn't because of monsters acting as natural disasters and slowing down the development of this world ...That would be scary.) (Sakuta)
I can see some peoples in the carriage, and the guards are talking to a man wearing some well colored clothes beside it.
(Is he a wealthy person or are colorants common ? Dyed clothes were expensive during Middle Ages.) (Sakuta)
After hesitating a bit, I approach the gate. I don't know if I need some kind of identification and I only have my adventurer card, but nothing good will comes out of staying in the wilderness forever. One of the guards has a different uniform than the others. He seems to be higher ranked and is talking to the merchant. I try listening to their conversation.
- Skill Enhanced Hearing acquired ! Current level : level 1 ! -
“... the capital, huh ? There will be a lot of peoples coming to watch the Hero Tournament. Guess it's a good opportunity for you merchants.” (Guard A)
(Eh ? Did I mishear ? 'Hero Selection' ? The skill [Improved Hearing] might be too low level... Come to think of it, how do I understand the language of this world ? There is no way this is coincidentaly the exact same language as in my world right ?) (Sakuta)
“Yes that's how it is. Though unfortunately, we missed the caravan moving out this morning. I am hoping to catch up before dusk.” (Merchant)
With this, the guards let the carriage pass. I step forward and the guards turn toward me.
(I feel a bit nervous now... What do I do if they ask where I came from ? Is the adventurer card enough as identification ? I have to keep calm.) (Sakuta)
The guard who was talking to the merchant before, walks up to me.
“Are you entering the town ? Your identification please.” (Higher ranked guard A)
“Yes. I am Sakuta, F rank adventurer.” (Sakuta)
I say, and show him my card.
“I see. By the way, what were you doing earlier ? Thrusting your hand in front of you and making weird movements while facing slimes ? We can't let suspicious individual through.” (Guard A)
“-!!” (Sakuta)
(Ehh?! He saw that ?! Moreover from this far ?! Argh !! What weird movements ? I was dodging the slimes attacks and training [Status Appraisal]– And what's that suspicious about ?! … Well I guess it was that weird... Sigh~ What do I answer ? 'I was trying to use magic randomly, but failed miserably since I don't even know how to begin~ Tehe~'... I can't say that...) (Sakuta)
“It's nothing... I was... training...” (Sakuta)
I say as I hang my head down.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
“... Training huh ? Well whatever. You can go. Welcome to Iskia Town.” (Guard A)
(I am so embarassed I want to hide in a hole...) (Sakuta)
“Thanks... Ah- could you tell me where is the adventurer guild ?” (Sakuta)
(I want to separate as fast as possible, but I have to ask or I will have to wander around randomly.) (Sakuta)
“... First time here ? The adventurer guild is straight ahead. Just walk straight along the main road and you will find it. Ah it's the big building you will see on the left.” (Guard A)
“Thank you very much” (Sakuta)
I quickly walk past the guard to hide my embarassement.
…
-Guard A's POV-
Haa~ we have a nice weather today.
I am a guard tasked with the duty of keeping watch at the south gate. We gate guards watch out for any suspicious peoples trying to get in or out of the town and arrest them, most of the time.
There are also time when a stray monster come and we subjugate it. Fortunately, most monsters in the vicinity are weak. These weak monsters usually don't approach the town since they know they will only get killed. Rarely though, there is a large amount of monsters, or strong ones which we can't handle that comes. In that case, we have to close the gate to buy time and request for renforcement.
Well, that's a very rare occurrence. Most of the times we take action is when we find a bandit and illegal goods smuggler trying to pass the gates.
This morning, we were 20 guard keeping the gate. Basically the maximum number we could have keeping watch since there was a need to take rests in rotation. Now we are four including me.
This morning was extremely busy because a lot of people left for the capital since there is the Hero Tournament. But now that it's afternoon, there isn't many people passing by since they would have left this morning. It's safer to travel with a lot of peoples after all.
“Huh-?” (Guard A)
Far in the plain, I see a person facing a slime. Another guard wouldn't be able to see what the person is fighting, but ! I possess the skill [Improved Eyesight lv 11] ! Thanks to this I am higher graded than the three others guard remaining on duty. By the way, I am usually keeping watch at the top of walls to make use of this.
I can even see his movements. Huh ? He trust his hand out... Nothing happens. What is he doing ? You will die if you do such careless moves in front of a monster you know ? Fortunately it's just a grass slime in front of you.
Hmm ? He made an avoiding move. And again. Hey why don't you just defeat it ? It can't be that hard to beat a slime no matter how weak someone is right ?
I use [Status Appraisal lv2] on him. Although it's considered rude, we guards, along with knights and anyone tasked with security related job are allowed to use appraisal. I won't be able to find out much at level 2 though ...
- Status Appraisal -
Human - Level 3
He is quite low leveled for a boy of his age travelling out. Well, even at level 1 it would be easy to defeat a slime. By the way, I am level 12. It's average among guards here.
The boy keeps avoiding without attacking. What a weirdo. I stop watching him and return to my duty.
There is still an hour before my shift. I patiently wait while I keep watch.
Moments laters, a carriage arrives from the town. I step forward to meet its owner.
It seems he is a merchant heading late to the capital. For now I check his identity and those of the adventurers escorting him. We compare with the list of wanted criminals.
After that, the carriage drives away, and a boy approach us. He is the weird boy from earlier. He has black eyes and hair and seems to be around 15 years old, which is quite young to be travelling alone.
“Are you entering the town ? Your identification please.” (Guard A)
“Yes. I am Sakuta, F rank adventurer.” (Sakuta).
(Rank F. Well at his level he couldn't be higher ranked except with backing. But aside from his black eyes and hair, he doesn't have any outstanding features. His equipment looks brand new but nothing expansive. Just common mass produced stuff.) (Guard A)
People with black eyes and hair are unusual in this country, but it's not like I never saw one until today. It seems these features are on contrary the most common in the countries far in the west, instead of the blond hair or light brown we usually see here.
“I see. By the way, what were you doing earlier ? Thrusting your hand in front of you and making weid movement against mere slimes ? We can't let suspicious individual through.” (Guard A)
“...” (Sakuta)
He says nothing for a few instants.
(Is he surprised I saw him from that far away ? Hehehe told you. My [Improved Eyesight lv 11] is quite something !) (Guard A)
I grin as I have these thoughts. But he can't see it since I have a helmet on.
“It's nothing... I was... training...” (Sakuta)
Ah he was just embarassed about doing weird things ? I should stop or it will looks like I am bullying him.
“... Training huh ? Well whatever. You can go. Welcome to Iskia Town.” (Guard A)
(I won't pry into this since I am a upright adult. He is not on the wanted list so I will let him through. I would remember it if he was since his features are unusual.) (Guard A)
“Thanks... Ah- could you tell me where is the adventurer guild ?” (Sakuta)
(Huh ? First time he comes here ? Where does he come from ? A weak young boy just reaching adulthood travelling alone ? The nearest village is a day and half of walk away. He is quite lucky to not have encountered danger. Even a small group of goblins could heavily injure him.) (Guard A)
“... First time ? The adventurer guild is straight north. Just walk straight along the main road and you will find it. Ah it's the big building you will see on the left.” (Guard A)
“Thank you very much” (Sakuta)
He was quite the polite boy. Usually adventurers would just say “ 'ere” showing their adventurer card, '...none of ya' business' and 'Oi wher's the guild ?'.
----------------------------------------
Summary of Sakuta's current status :
Sakuta - Human
Level 3
Swordmanship
Lv3
Dodging
Lv1
Intimidation
Lv1
Enhanced Eyesight
Lv1
Enhanced Hearing
Lv0 → 1
Pain Resistance
Lv0 → 1
Thoughts Acceleration
Lv1
Parallel Thoughts
Lv0 → 1
Concentration
Lv1
Status Appraisal
Lv2 → 3
Self Status
Lv1 → 4
Item Appraisal
Lv1 → 4