Chapter 24

Ossan, goes to an abandoned mine *DISCLAIMER: I DON'T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. When it comes to going to an abandoned mine, naturally, you'd need a guide, or at least information about the place. Though, Zeros, who was close to being invincible, was looking for the latter.

The question now is where to gather information, and there are few places to do so. It's either at the Mercenary Guild, or at a some back-street's shady tavern.

Since he wasn't a mercenary, he stopped himself from going to the guild, and instead went to a nearby tavern.

In this world, they are establishments that function as restaurants during the day, and later, as bars when the sun goes down. 

It was currently lunchtime, so many merchants and craftsmen were gathered to have a meal and talk with each other. It was also possible to see merchants conducting business negotiations, and mercenaries bartering different items with one another.

Zeros' image of fantasy taverns was a spot where only shady people gathered, but surprisingly, it was a social gathering place open to everyone.

(Hmm… Shouldn't I revise my knowledge of these situations? One shouldn't believe all the things that appear in light novels, right? This looks just like a bar in the Bronx.)

In all honesty, he was scared of going to a tavern. At first glance, he looked aloof and collected, but in reality he was a cowardly old man. 

If he stayed locked up in his house, there was little chance of running into something troublesome, but he wouldn't be able to get information and grasp the common sense of the people in this world, which would be unwise considering he had no choice but to live there. 

There's bound to be a difference in common sense with his former world, and not having a grasp on it can lead to misunderstandings with people. Business negotiations and information gathering require one to have proper knowledge on it, and it's not always possible to pretend to be a magician withdrawn from society.

After the episode in which he sold magic stones, he had to put more effort into blending with the surroundings. Though, he forgets that he already looks suspicious enough to normal people.

(Somehow… I feel like I'm being stared at… What's going on? Is a cliché light novel event going to happen or something?)

When a boorish-looking middle-aged magician, wearing a discolored and shabby gray robe, enters the tavern, all the surrounding gazes gather on him.

He got so used to his shady look, that he forgot how sloppy his appearance actually was.

Humans are creatures that quickly adapt to their environments, and in this case, the person in question was unconcerned with his appearance. 

He came to this place for the sake of gathering information, but the matter of his looks got pushed out to the back of his mind, completely forgetting about it, making the surroundings cautious of the unfamiliar and suspicious-looking magician.

Because it's mostly regulars who hang out at such taverns, the appearance of such an uncle will be conspicuous whether the person likes it or not.

The shady uncle's face distorts after receiving the inquisitive eyes from the tavern's patrons.

(Let's see now, I can't gather any information if I'm standing here alone, I should get a seat and order something right…?)

He looks for a free seat, but due to the place being packed, there didn't seem to be any. 

Looking around, he sees a familiar figure. A twin-tailed girl dressed in an all black outfit that dangerously exposed her flat chest, which seemed as if she was trying way too hard to look more mature than she actually was, but ending up giving the complete opposite impression.

It's the fellow j.a.panese person he rescued from the bandits a while ago. There seemed to be two other women with her, and so, Zeros thought of getting information from them.

"Huh? Mister, it's been a while *mogu mogu*…"

"Don't say h.e.l.lo while you're eating… And it's been a while, Iris-san. And… your friends are?"

"I'm Rena. I'm sincerely grateful. Thank you for saving us back then."

"Ah, that's right. I remember you now, Rensan."

The woman named Rena seemed to be a mercenary specialized in being a vanguard, wearing a green leather vest, easy-to-move clothes, in addition to the small buckler, and short sword on her waist. 

Alongside them, there was brown skin, red-haired woman staring at Zeros with sharp eyes. She was equipped with a breastplate over a chain mail armor, and a bit further there was a greatsword leaning against the table. She seemed to have the role of dealing damage as a vanguard.

Zeros didn't overlook the fact that she was taller than the average woman, and most importantly, her considerably bountiful bosom. 

She looked like a model, and was completely his type. Though if he had to point out an issue, it would be their age difference. 

"Oi, who's the old man? Do you know each other?"

"Hmm? Yeah. He helped us when we were caught by bandits a while ago."

"So shady… and somehow I feel like he's staring at my chest."

"Isn't that the usual? You have quite the figure, Jane. Of course men's eyes will be glued to it."

"But isn't it the same with you, Rena? How many men have tried to hit on you so far since we've been here?"

"Well well, I'm only interested in younger boys anyways."

It seemed like Rena was apparently a shotacon.

"Is it okay to share a seat? The place is so busy there's nowhere else to seat."

"Hm? Yeah, it's fine, mister. But, didn't you say you were going to live as a farmer from now on?"

"Well, I'm going to the abandoned mine north of the city, but before that I thought I should gather a bit of information at least."

"The abandoned mine? Give up, uncle. That place is impossible for a gray robe, you know?"

"What about gray robes, does it mean that you're really strong, mister?" 

Iris was unaware of the cla.s.sification of magicians in this world, and more specifically, in this country, where the color of their robes signifies their abilities, with gray being the lowest, followed by black, crimson, and finally white. 

However, Zeros and Iris weren't from this country, so that common sense didn't apply to them. 

She summarizes it to Iris in that way.

"Fuun. Then, mister, is it really safe for you to go there?"

"Well? I've never been there, so I can't say, but, is it really a dangerous place?"

"I often receive escort request from laborers. Things like Goblins, Kobolds, Worms, and Golems are commonplace there. Worms are the most troublesome though."

"Fumu. So, it's possible to mine there, right? Excellent."

"Were you even listening to me? The whole place is a giant maze, it's dangerous to go alone."

While hearing Jane's advice, Zeros takes a bite of the fried chicken-like sandwich he ordered. The meat seemed to have been macerated with different herbs, which was the first thing he tasted, followed by the sweetness of the fat of chicken-like meat, that spreads in his mouth as he chews, mixed together with the subtle flavor of the herbs, in addition to the unique aroma of the hard bread. 

"I know it will be dangerous, but I really need to get metal right now, so I will go either way."

"I don't know if you're an over-confident fool or not, but well, it doesn't matter to me if you die."

"We were gonna go there anyways, right? It's better if we have more fighting potential."

"That's right, didn't you want to mend your sword, Jane? You said it would be cheaper if you could mine metal ores at the mine, right?"

"Uuu… you wanna take this old man there?"

(*T.N: the word she uses is 親父[oyaji], which is used to refer to someone else's father in a casual way, so it's not really said in a derogatory manner imo.)

While looking at Jane, Zeros was thinking that her back must hurt with all that weight on her shoulders.

Nevertheless, the shaking of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, springing up as she stands up, somehow fills his heart with a strange sensation.

That sensation is the same thing he felt when he first met Luceris, something he never experienced in his former world.  

Though, it was closer to the feeling you get when you look at nudes on the weekly p.o.r.n mags. 

(I wonder what is this feeling…)

He couldn't understand this mysterious feeling welling up in his chest for the first time since arriving at this world.

"Well, if you guide me around you can do as you please, I guess. Are you also looking to get metal?"

"Err, yeah that's right. Jane's sword is about to break, and she needs iron or black iron to mend it."

"What about blazing red iron*? Isn't it stronger?"

(*T.N: 赤光鉄)

"You can't mine it unless you go to the deepest parts. It's really dangerous because there are a lot of Worms loitering around there."

"We don't have to worry about that because mister will be with us… so, why don't we go together?"

Zeros contemplates about her proposal for a little while.

He wanted to get metal, but being accompanied by a party of women of marriageable age made him a little embarra.s.sed. However, it will certainly be easier if he goes with them.

He didn't have a problem with going alone, and above all, he wasn't that over-confident to the extent of carelessly wandering through the unfamiliar pa.s.sages.

Mere bandits wouldn't even pose a problem to him, but from the experience of being constantly chased by monsters in Far-flung forest, he knew that having to protect that many people would be extremely troublesome.

"Then, if that's alright with you, I don't have a problem. But, it will be completely dark by the time we arrive there, are we camping outside?"

"Nah, it's alright. There's a village near the mine. It's called Ahhan village…"

"Ah, you mean Aaahhnn♡ village, right? I've occasionally escorted some young boys there to level up… fufufu…"

"It's Ahhan village, you idiot!!"

Apparently, the people going there for a different reason, had given the village a new moniker.

Silently entering the village accompanied by a beautiful woman. Thinking about that made Zeros' cheeks loose into a smile.

It didn't seem all that bad.

(No way… Does she really eat inexperienced young boys starting out as novice mercenaries? Wouldn't that be a crime? Hmm… but it might be another difference in common sense compared to j.a.pan.)

*T.N: it's probably clear enough, but the verb 'to eat' [食う] can be specifically used to refer to having s.e.xual relations with a woman for the first time.

He unconsciously started to compare it to what would be a crime in his former world.

She seemed to be quite upfront about being a lewd woman, and also had a different modus operandi from a certain feudal lord.

Though he kept wondering why that sort of thing wasn't a crime…

"Well, whichever way it's fine. There's no problem if we stay at an inn, right? I am a man, of course, and if there's such a charming woman in front of my very own eyes, it wouldn't be strange if I become a savage beast. That's why we'll stay in separate rooms, so you can be at ease."

"Me?… Charming?"

"I'm not interested in kids. That would totally be a crime."

"Oh my? Then is it about me, I wonder?"

"Sadly, I'm not really into women with such a suspicious way of smiling…"

(*T.N: not sure about this; 「さっきの変な笑い方が無ければ守備範囲なのですが、残念……」)

That means there's only one person remaining, Jane, who for some reason, was left stunned, while the gazes of the other two women gathered on her.

"C-Charming!? Me!?"

"Going by process of elimination, you're the one left. Were you not aware of it? You're quite a beauty, you know?"

"Aahh!?"

With her face dying in crimson, her panicking expression was, quite frankly, really cute.  However, Zeros, who didn't expect such a reaction, had his heart racing like crazy, though he managed to keep eating his sandwich as if nothing happened. 

Such poker face was a remainder from his time as a salaryman. 

"T-This uncle, aren't you quite the smooth-talker!?"

"Heee… Isn't that fine? He said you were cute, Jane, you know? You have quite the appeal…"

"That's right, apparently he was a bit displeased about me devouring one or two young boys…"

"… Iris aside, Isn't that a crime, Sena?"

(Ah, I knew it. So it was a crime. I doubted my common sense for a second there.)

The three women seemed to be quite dense.

However, since he didn't want it to be a big deal, Zeros keeps eating quietly. That's because, if he stops talking about it, it's more likely that they would gloss it over as a joke.

"No! I don't wanna go with this uncle anymore!"

"It's better to have a higher fighting potential, so give up."

"Is that so? No one is as powerful as mister though. We can go there safely if he's with us."

"N-Noooooo!!!"

It seemed like he really wasn't her type. And being so bluntly rejected gave him quite the shock. 

In the end, she agreed to go after being persuaded by Iris and Sena. However, for some reason, she keeps glancing cautiously at Zeros.

He just complimented her by calling her cute, but somehow he ended up branded as a pick-up artist.

After finishing their meal, the group proceeded by foot towards the abandoned mine, though Jane was the only one whining until the end.

It's often said that all travels are pleasant when you are accompanied by friends, but after walking for three hours, no one is speaking a word. 

The girls who were initially, noisy and lively, were now walking silently down the path.

There's an enormous forest as far as the eye can see, and a road made by clearing the surrounding vegetation and levelling the ground. 

It's a half a day trip to Ahhan village, but it's a considerable distance to travel by foot. 

—

For around six hours, they continued to follow the forest road safely, without encountering any monsters on the way. 

They're certainly proceeding within schedule, but it would be a boring and tedious experience if they continued like this the rest of the way. 

Iris, who couldn't stand the silence any longer, asks a question.

"Hey, mister. What are you gonna use the metal you extract from the mine for, are you making new equipment?"

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"I'm thinking of making some sort of container that dries and stores rice. It's called a desiccator."

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