CH 270

“Well then…” (Rook)

I also sit on my bed and think about the future as I clean Shion.

Although I came to the Royal Capital of Solmar, I did not come to this town for any particular purpose. The only thing I did was to determine that this town was the best place to pass the winter given the circumstances. Therefore, I felt it was better to set goals and objectives early on while looking for what we could do in this town.

“Hmmm, lack of firepower is still a problem.” (Rook)

Even though the compatibility is bad, if the D-rank Rock Tortoise goes on absolute defense, it’s a shame that there is no way to break it. In the future, when enemies with higher defense power appear, and if it’s in a dungeon or something, there is a possibility that I will be stuck if I can’t overpower their defense, so I want to do something.

“Then, maybe a weapon?” (Rook)

The Mithril Alloy Cudgel is relatively light, durable, and easy to use, but it is only a blunt weapon. We need more power here. So, either buy a new weapon or—

“Weapon enhancement, huh…” (Rook)

This is an overly mysterious system that uses a mysterious item called a [Enhancement Scroll] to strengthen weapons.

It reminds me of the adventurers who failed to strengthen their weapons in the town of Elem and “burned” their expensive weapons.

I’m not sure what in the world the enhancements do, but since they are driving so many people crazy like that, I’m sure they actually have some sort of effect.

When I first asked Mr. Hans about weapon enhancement, I believe he told me that I should wait until I was a full-fledged adventurer. But now that I am a C-rank adventurer, I think it’s time for me to give it a try.

“I might as well start seriously examining the Enhancement Scrolls.” (Rook)

I put my hand on my chin and think.

I’m going to examine the Enhancement Scroll for now, but I’m also going to look for a new weapon at the same time.

“Then there’s the adventurer rank.” (Rook)

In the town of Aluppo, a high-class armory told me that I was off-limits.

It is said that only people with a certain title are allowed in high-class stores. The only title that a simple adventurer like us can get is the adventurer rank. Or, we could have achieved military merit and become nobles, but I don’t want to be tied down to a specific country, so I’m not going to do that right now.

“It’s a matter of whether or not I will be B-ranked.” (Rook)

I heard that the guild in the capital accepts B-rank promotions.

I don’t even know if I can become a B-rank or not.

But I feel that once you get to B-rank you can get into most of the stores and I feel that if adventurers are looking for good items they need to have a rank promotion.

“But you know… I feel like it’s too conspicuous…” (Rook)

At this stage, I seem to be just barely in the “talented boy” bracket, in short, “rare but not unheard of’” so I don’t stand out that much, but I have a feeling that if I become B-rank with my current look, I will be labeled “abnormal”.

I heard that adventurer promotions up to C-rank are attainable at some point if you are diligent, and in fact, the majority of adventurers are ranked C and D. However, from B-rank, the number of adventurers suddenly decreases. The reason for this is simple: you need to be strong enough to fight monsters like the Great Boar, which can destroy a town.

Dealing with such a large body and mass is difficult unless you step beyond the dimensions of skill and experience and step into the realm of the inhuman, I feel like I am going to stand out strangely because it’s already a little abnormal.

To be frank, I don’t have a cheat ability to rebound from being noticed and getting tangled up in strange places. If I were to be targeted by an assassin 24/7, I would die. Definitely die. In the middle of the night, while I was sleeping, getting decapitated and my life flashing before my eyes, and that is the end. I will look forward to another reincarnation. Of course, if I am vigilant and sleep in the [Holy Dimension], I will be fine, but I can’t be vigilant unless I know if I am being targeted in the first place, but it is difficult to stay vigilant at all hours of the day, even in normal times.

Besides, the most troublesome thing would be the watchful eyes. There is a possibility that there are skills or artifacts that spies would be very pleased having, such as the ability to see through walls and into the distance, and there is also a possibility that I could be the target of such things because I stand out in a strange way.

“…well, I’ll just go to the guild and see what they have to say.” (Rook)

I don’t even know if I meet the requirements for a B-rank.

The chance that I can find a lot more than just a few of them is also a possibility.

“The rest is up to… where to live and work, but I’ll think about that after I go to the Adventurers’ Guild–“

At this point, I heard a voice from downstairs saying, “Food is ready!”

“Let’s go.” (Rook)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

I grabbed my luggage and headed out of the room and down the stairs.

There were already several adventurers eating in the dining room. I had a bad feeling when I saw them eating.

But there was nothing I could do, so I went to the cafeteria counter and showed them the wooden board.

“Here.” (Rook)

“What do you want to drink?” (Innkeeper)

“What do you have?” (Rook)

“Lager. A silver coin.” (Innkeeper)

A silver coin! I thought to myself and put a silver coin on the counter.

Then I looked at the meal and the lager served and guessed what was going on.

There are two kinds of meals: soup and potatoes. The soup had small pieces of meat and vegetable scraps floating in it, and the potatoes were five golf-ball sized pieces, which looked like they had just been boiled.

Since there was no cutlery, I took a sip of the soup directly from the bowl, Miso Soup-style.

“Ah……” (Rook)

I could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

It tasted completely of salt. Salt in every other way. I could hardly taste the flavor of meat or vegetables.

The next step is to take my fork out of the magic bag and throw the potatoes into my mouth with it.

“Hmm……” (Rook)

It’s not bad, but it’s just boiled potatoes. No salt is used, so it tastes just like a potato. Nothing more, nothing less.

I looked around and saw that the adventurers around me were quietly eating and leaving their seats without complaining.

Apparently, this is normal and not something to complain about.

“… this may be worse than I imagined.” (Rook)

With a sense of urgency, I shared my small meal with Shion and, like the others, immediately returned to my room and threw my luggage on the bed.

“Nope, not enough quantity or quality. …Oh well, I know it’s not a palate cleanser, but would you like some Oran?” (Rook)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

“Okay! It’s decided! Open the dimensional door, [Holy Dimension]!” (Rook)

He enters the white different space that appears on the wall and grabs the bag containing Oran.

“Hmmm… it’s not fun for just the two of us to eat alone… Should we invite Lizzy to join us?” (Rook)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

“Yeah, that’s right. Heed my call and show me the way [Summon Fairy].” (Rook)

The magic circle born from the holy stone breaks and Lizet jumps out.

“Hello!” (Lizzy)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

“Hey, actually, I was wondering if we could eat Oran together.” (Rook)

Saying that, I took out Oran on the fur cloak I had spread inside the [Holy Dimension].

Yeah, I still want a table. No, I want to sit on the fur this season, or maybe a tea table.

“Ooh!” (Lizzy)

“Shion, choose a delicious one for Lizzy.” (Rook)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

Shion sniffed some Orans and tapped one of them with his hand.

“This one?” (Rook)

I picked up the Oran, carefully peeled off the skin, and handed it over to Lizzy.

“Here.” (Rook)

“Thank you!” (Lizzy)

I also peeled and ate the Oran that I randomly picked up, chatted about the latest situation, and before I knew it, I was consuming two or three Orans.

“Hmm…” (Rook)

As I reached out to eat the next Orans, I noticed that the number of Orans had obviously decreased.

“What’s the matter?” (Lizzy)

“No, you see… I thought that if I ate at this pace, we would run out quickly.” (Rook)

If I were to make up for the lack of dinner with this orang, let alone as a dessert, I’d probably finish it within a few days. Winter is still a long time away. If this is the case at this point, the situation may be even worse in the second half of winter, when the food situation is likely to become even more difficult. Depending on the food stockpile in this town, we may not be able to buy food even if we have enough money.

To put it bluntly, I may have underestimated winter in a world without science and technology.

I don’t know if it’s too late to take countermeasures now, but I’ll have to think of something…

“Then let’s multiply them!” (Lizzy)

“……multiply?” (Rook)

“Look, like this!” (Lizzy)

Lizzy, held out to me the seeds, with a “pew” from her mouth. It was the Oran seeds that she had just eaten.

“Here, take this! If you give it water, it will sprout and grow a lot!” (Lizzy)

“Umm… well, if I sow the seeds and take care of them, they will bear fruit someday…” (Rook)

Even if we were to plant them, where would we plant them? There is no such place, is there?

Even if I planted it outside of town, it would be no good because it is winter now, and even if it grows well, it would be the end if someone else takes it, and before that, I heard that there is not much land around this town suitable for growing plants.

As I was thinking about this, I suddenly became curious and looked at my room at the inn outside the [Holy Dimension].

It was already night outside, and light from inside the [Holy Dimension] was leaking outside and illuminating the dark room.

I looked around inside the [Holy Dimension].

This one was flooded with light and was as bright as daylight.

In this [Holy Dimension], the walls and floor are illuminated by a mysterious power, and it remains mysteriously bright 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Just as I thought that something connected the dots.

“Oh, it’s time to go! See you later!” (Lizzy)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

“Oh, yeah. See you later.” (Rook)

Lizzy disappears, and silence falls inside the [Holy Dimension].

All I could hear was the sound of Shion sniffing Orans.

I pick up an Oran seed on the floor with my finger, bringing it in front of my eyes, and look at it closely.

The seeds are small and not different in color, shape, or size from the seeds of yuzu or kabosu. It’s a common seed found everywhere.

“Is it possible?” (Rook)