1-5. Fortress City Life Begin! (1/2)
Missed my self-imposed deadline... But now we're halfway through volume 1 of the web novel!
1-5. Fortress City Life Begin!
I finally got to Seryuu city.
Let's strip it naked with [All Map Exploration]!
The population is around 120,000. It's a remote region within Shiga Kingdom ruled by an earl. 95% are from the human tribes, the other 5% are beast tribes, scale tribes and fairy tribes. Average level is 2-3. Highest level is an old man magician who is 48. The knights range from 5-20 with most of them on 8-12. Normal soldiers are around 5-7. There are a lot of bows as a dragon countermeasure. Male to female ratio is 5:6 with lots of females. It's unknown whether it's because of difference in birth rate or because of a high male mortality rate.
Unexpectedly, townspeople only have a few skills. Most of them have 1-3 skills, some even none. Having 20 or so skills may be the exception rather than the rule.
Only a few magicians exist. There are only around 2000 people with magic skills. 90% of them have Livelihood magic while the remaining 10% seem to belong to the country's army.
It's as expected in a way, but level 310 is truly extraordinary. In addition, I got carried away and learned a lot of useless skills which would make me conspicuous.
The map could show the name of the streets and merchant's houses to some degree. Even though it could not tell you what kind of item they're selling or their reputation, it's still quite useful for a first look of the town. Unfortunately, the search function only works for people, I could not find shops with it.
Seen from reduced scale, the town is shaped like a 6 Km diameter oval, along with two 3 Km long [くの] shaped, bowing daruma-like objects attached on each side.
I enlarge the map and confirm each area...
First, closest to the gate, there seems to be a general residential area. Beside the gate are stables and inns. Joining them, the local lord's castle is located in the center of the neighborhood. Something like a temple or magic-something is at the center of the city. Far from the gate, the lord's mansion stands. And a cafeteria that looks too small for city use, but too big as an exclusive for the local lord.
When I tried to search for people with [Adventurer] as job, I got nothing. There was no [Librarian] either, which probably mean there's no library. However, there were some [Slaves]...
After checking so many things, I've arrived at the front of the gate. Showing up together with the sun in the horizon, perfect timing! Though the gate is closed at this time.
I thought that there would be other people in front of the gate but there was actually no one.
It would be nice if there are some villagers who are going to sell their vegetables in the morning.
Is it only in my dream that stores don't open until 10 in the morning?!
My body looks like the time when I was 15 with its small stature. The robe is too long and is dragging a little on the floor. Thanks to that, the sneakers are hidden. My mustache didn't even grow after one week. I was so happy and showed it off when it grew during the freshman period of university life. Though, I shaved it immediately when I got a girlfriend...
While having a recollection of the past, I continue to wait for the gate to open.
◇
「●●！ ●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●！！」
When I got near the gate an uncle soldier came out while saying some unknown words.
The long awaited conversation featuring a mysterious language!!
>Shiga Language Skill Acquired!
I love Easy Mode!
God hasn’t forsaken me!!
I operated the menu and acquired the Shiga language skills extremely fast! Overenthusiastically allocated 10 skill points with glee.
”What's wrong kiddo? Do you have a stomachache?”
A bearded soldier follows suit. I don't think calling a man in the latter half of his twenty, ”kiddo”, is right... Oh that's right, my outer appearance is that of 15 years old.
”Good morning. Yes, I'm fine.”
I replied amiably with a vague smile, trademark of Japanese people. Even if the partner is a middle aged uncle, it's a human after a long time. A smile is only 0 Yen!
The heavy gate opened behind us during the conversation.
”Kiddo, show me your identification per the rules. If you don't have one, pay the 1 copper coin tax.”
What--! ID in a dream!
I thought of showing the driver license from my wallet but it looked like it'd be troublesome so I stopped.
”I'm sorry, I don't have an ID card.”
I honestly say it. If I got refused then I could just stealthily go in, if I got caught then I'd just run. I'm seriously acting self-important inside this dream! Yes, a dream! This is a dream!
”Did you lose it? We could issue a new one but that'd be 1 silver coin, ya okay with that?”
Oi oi, can you so easily issue a new one?
There are some Shiga silver coins in the storage if I'm not mistaken.
”Please allow me to get a new one! My horse, surprised by the loud roar 8 days ago, escaped while carrying my luggage. If I haven't got beef jerky in my pocket and didn't find some spring water on the way here, I would have been dead!
I'm a smooth talker if I do say myself~ I may truly have a talent for swindling.
As if responding to my inner monologue :
>[Excuse Skill Acquired]
>[Deception Skill Acquired]
>[Negotiation Skill Acquired]
Cheap skills!!!
”Come here kiddo!”
Uncle soldier beckon me to the guard station located besides the gate.
Even after telling excuses with great pain, uncle soldier just ignored it. His ignorability power-level is too high!
”Just in case, you're not on some wanted list or a thief, right?”
”Yes, of course.”
I'm a member of general public unrelated to crime~
”Then, put both of your hands on top of this Yamato stone and speak your name.”
Uncle guided me to the place with a 20” wide LCD display inside the guard station. Where in Yamato this Yamato stone can take me? Can it goes to space?
For name, it should be character name right~
”Satou.”
Right after I spoke my character name. The lithograph started to dimly shine with blue light, and some words appeared.
It's the same letter as the one on the guidepost earlier. I could properly read it thanks to Shiga language skill. I want an English language skill!
”Kiddo, it's fine to release your hand now.”
On the lithograph, [Race: Human],[Level: 1],[Class: Commoner],[Affiliation: None],[Occupation Type: Management],[Title: None],[Skill:None],[Reward and Punishment: None] are written.
Eh, isn't the level different?
Leaving me puzzled, uncle soldier smoothly wrote the displayed writing from the lithograph onto a paper using a quill. Finally, he stamped the entry form, [Person Approving: Retainer of Earl Souryuu, Knight Soun], with his ring on the place where his name is written.
”Here, don't lose it next time.”
Uncle soldier passes me the certificate while I give him a silver coin and one big copper coin taken from my pocket.