Chapter 6: The Frontier Town of Loft
ㅤ“That’s the adventurer’s town of Loft. A frontier town where roughnecks gather.”
ㅤ
ㅤSaying that, Letitia-san points ahead.
ㅤIn that direction, I see a settlement surrounded by earthworks and wooden fences.
ㅤFurther beyond, a high wall towers.
ㅤI guess the outer part is a slum, and inside the wall is the noble district.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Because, it kind of smells.）
ㅤ
ㅤThe sanitation outside seems bad. Well, it’s better than that goblin nest from earlier. It seems like a tough town for me, having been born and raised in the hygienic paradise of Japan.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Um…… It’s a big town.”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I say that, searching for words,
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s okay. You can honestly say it’s a dirty town.”
ㅤ
ㅤI nod vaguely at Letitia-san’s unadorned words.
ㅤ
ㅤ（If you take this kind of self-deprecation seriously, you’ll be resented later.）
ㅤ
ㅤEven I, in my own socially inept way, have learned from my past misfortunes.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Well, we’ve made it back safely, but what are you going to do?”
ㅤ
ㅤLetitia-san asks.
ㅤ
ㅤ（This is bad……）
ㅤ
ㅤI have a fair amount of money （apparently. I don’t know the prices here, but judging from Letitia-san’s reaction, it seems like a lot.） because I scavenged what was in the goblin nest.
ㅤBut, not knowing the common sense of this world, is it okay for me to enter such a big （and seemingly dangerous） city?
ㅤGiven my unfortunate constitution, I’m sure I’ll at least be robbed and thrown out.
ㅤ
ㅤ（But……）
ㅤ
ㅤI think relying on Letitia-san is also something to consider.
ㅤJust because she helped me, I don’t want to impose on her kindness and make various demands.
ㅤBesides,
ㅤ
ㅤ（Honestly, she’s a little scary……）
ㅤ
ㅤIn terms of ability, thanks to Difficulty Change, I can probably manage somehow.
ㅤEven in the fight with the goblins, Letitia-san didn’t seem to see my movements.
ㅤ
ㅤBut, looking at Letitia-san, I can’t help but remember.
ㅤThe main perpetrator, the girl who bullied me at school.
ㅤ
ㅤ（She’s an adventurer, so she’s strong-willed, or rather…… Even just talking to her on the way here made me nervous…… I’m afraid we’ll get stuck in a power dynamic.）
ㅤ
ㅤThat being said, she hasn’t done anything to me yet.
ㅤEven though I feel bad about it…… I don’t think Letitia-san and I are very compatible.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Letitia-san also seems a little uncomfortable, doesn’t she?）
ㅤ
ㅤShe’s trying to treat me as her lifesaver, but when we talk, Letitia-san naturally takes the lead.
ㅤOn the other hand, even if Letitia-san holds back, I don’t lead the conversation.
ㅤFrom Letitia-san’s perspective, I’m probably someone who’s frustrating to talk to.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Letitia-san is the type of person who’s always at the center of attention. The so-called “popular kid” type.）
ㅤ
ㅤI’m afraid that if we stay together any longer, things will get complicated.
ㅤ
ㅤI decided to flatly refuse.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’ll be fine from here. Thank you for guiding me.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, are you sure? I was thinking of showing you around town.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s kind of you, but I think you’re tired. I’ll also get a room and go to bed soon.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s true. Did I make you worry?”
ㅤ
ㅤShe’s probably talking about how I was treated badly by the goblins.
ㅤ
ㅤ”N-no, that’s not what I meant……”
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s okay, don’t worry about it. If you’re looking for an inn…… let’s see, I think the 『Sold Calf Inn』 on the west side of the wall is good. It’s popular with female guests.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”The Sold Calf Inn, huh. Thank you very much.”
ㅤ
ㅤI wonder if it’s like Donna Donna, I think to myself as I repeat the name of the inn.
ㅤ
ㅤ”In the adventurer’s code, a life debt is repaid with one’s life. If there’s anything I can do for you, just let me know. I’m usually at the Warrior’s Guild.”
ㅤ
ㅤWarrior’s Guild. I have to remember that.
ㅤNot to go there, but to avoid it.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes. I understand. I’ll ask you if I’m in trouble.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Of course.”
ㅤ
ㅤLetitia-san turns around and leaves briskly.
ㅤ
ㅤ（She’s a cool person.）
ㅤ
ㅤI think that, but she’s still not my type.
ㅤI often naturally approach that type of person and end up being bullied.
ㅤ
ㅤ（If you grow up being abused, you’re more likely to be attracted to the type of person who abuses you, right? Life is full of absurdities.）
ㅤ
ㅤSighing, I head towards the town entrance.
ㅤ
ㅤThe town is located in a wilderness beyond the forest.
ㅤIn the wilderness, there is a crude settlement surrounded by a wooden fence, and along the highway, there is a gate flanked by watchtowers on both ends.
ㅤThere’s a gatekeeper at the gate.
ㅤThe trauma of being blocked by bullies in kindergarten resurfaces, and I brace myself for the fact that nothing good will probably happen from here on out.
ㅤ
ㅤHowever, I can’t just not go forward.
ㅤIt’s unthinkable to camp out in a world with monsters without proper shelter.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Difficulty Change isn’t absolute.）
ㅤ
ㅤGiven my unfortunate constitution, I should assume that I’ll be unlucky enough to be attacked by a powerful dragon while I’m sleeping.
ㅤIf that’s the case, it’s still better to have a dispute with the gatekeeper.
ㅤWell, it’s not like it’s decided that it will happen, though.
ㅤ
ㅤI’m not the only one heading towards the gate.
ㅤThere are other people who look like adventurers, and there are also people who look like traveling merchants.
ㅤThe clothing is broadly Western medieval style.
ㅤSince I changed my equipment in the goblin nest, I don’t think I’ll stand out too much.
ㅤ
ㅤ（There seem to be some people with black hair too.）
ㅤ
ㅤIn this world, it seems like blonde hair and blue eyes aren’t the default and black hair and black eyes aren’t special…… unlike in typical Japanese fantasy.
ㅤ
ㅤWhile I approach the gate, other people pass through almost without stopping.
ㅤRelieved by that, I also approach the gate.
ㅤ
ㅤNervously, I reach the gate.
ㅤSoldiers with spears are standing on either side of the gate.
ㅤ
ㅤMy heart pounding, I manage to maintain my composure and pass by them.
ㅤ
ㅤThen,
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hold on, young lady.”
ㅤ
ㅤOne of the gatekeepers calls out to me.
ㅤ
ㅤMy heart nearly leaps out of my chest, but I somehow manage to hide my agitation and turn around.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ahaha. W-what is it?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That arm of yours.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe gatekeeper points to my left arm.
ㅤThere’s a fresh wound there, and a little blood is trickling out.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, when did that happen……?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Young lady, you’re not used to walking in the forest, are you? That forest is infested with a weak plant-type monster called Barbed Ivy. It scratches people’s skin like this and sucks their blood.”
ㅤ
ㅤOh no. In an instant, he’s figured out that I’m not from around here.
ㅤ
ㅤ（What if he doesn’t let me through……?）
ㅤ
ㅤUnaware of my blood draining from my face, the gatekeeper says,
ㅤ
ㅤ”Well, hold on. I may be holding this （spear）, but I belong to the Magician’s Guild.
ㅤ━━ Healing Light, Come!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe gatekeeper places his hand on my left arm and chants something that sounds like a spell.
ㅤA gentle light overflows from the gatekeeper’s hand and envelops the wound on my left arm.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Wow, it’s healed!”
ㅤ
ㅤI can’t help but be surprised.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hehe. It’s nothing much, right? But, this is all I can do. I was always treated like the lowest of the low in the guild, so I decided to make a fresh start and enlist as a soldier.”
ㅤ
ㅤThe gatekeeper says proudly, rubbing the tip of his nose with his finger.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Um, thank you very much. What about a reward?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Don’t worry about it. I did it on my own. A higher-up magician would probably charge you, though. I sometimes offer free treatment so my magic skills don’t get rusty.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Is that so? Thank you very much.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yeah. If you leave a wound from Barbed Ivy untreated, it can fester. Even if there’s no one who can heal you, it’s good to disinfect it with strong alcohol.
ㅤBy the way, are you a traveler, young lady?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Y-yes. I’m not familiar with this area.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Then you should be careful. This town is on edge right now.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”On edge……?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Maybe on edge is an exaggeration. Right now, there are a lot of rough people in this town. There aren’t even enough cheap inns, and some people are sleeping rough on the streets.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Is there a festival or something?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Haha! A festival, huh? In a way, maybe. If you call a rare drop hunt a festival, that is.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What do you mean?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You’ve heard about the dungeon entrance that opened nearby, right?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Y-yes. Because of that, the monsters are more active.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s right. But, this time it’s not just that. It seems that the prince of this country has contracted Stone Fever. A huge reward has been offered for the 『Cockatrice Beak』 needed for his treatment.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Cockatrice Beak……”
ㅤ
ㅤ”As you know, the Cockatrice Beak is a rare drop item that A-rank monsters 🔹Cockatrices rarely drop.
ㅤThat’s where the new dungeon comes in.
ㅤApparently, there’s a large Cockatrice nest in the depths of the new dungeon. If you can hunt them, you’ll have a good chance of getting rare drops.
ㅤIn other words, daredevil fools seeking a fortune are gathering here one after another.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Is that so……”
ㅤ
ㅤ（I learned a lot.）
ㅤ
ㅤAs I’m organizing the information I’ve obtained,
ㅤ
ㅤ”━━Hey, how long are you going to chat her up! Don’t hit on the cute girl!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe other gatekeeper calls out to the gatekeeper who was talking to me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, sorry! ……Sorry, young lady. That’s all for now.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, okay. Good luck with your work. Thank you for the treatment.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”No problem at all. Anyway, this town is dangerous right now. Be careful not to get involved with any weirdos.”
ㅤ
ㅤAnd so, I was able to enter the town of Loft more easily than I expected.