Gearing up

Nozomi and I returned to the city; the sun was already setting. A couple of hundred meters before entering, I withdrawn Nozomi. I didn't want to cause a commotion in the city. The truth is, I've never had anyone care so much about me. Just a few days ago, I was cursing everyone, and now I'm delighted with the new life I've started. Kureha's group, Rosie, Nozomi... They've all shown concern for me, though, of course, I've only been here for a day, and people take time to stab you in the back.

When we arrived at the guild, the atmosphere was tense. People seemed agitated, and there were no more shouts of joy, no one was eating or drinking. They all seemed to be whispering to each other.

"Master, something is not right"

I approached the reception, but there was no one there. Everything was very strange.

"Ray, thank goodness!" Rosie descended from the upper floor, looking equally agitated. "I've been so worried about you."

"Has... something happened?"

"Very bad news. It seems they've spotted a group of giant eagles to the east. It's a Rank B monster, usually a solitary one, but if they gather in a flock, their danger level can exceed Rank A. I'm glad you haven't encountered those monsters."

So, monsters are ranked too...

"I'm lucky I headed north. Here's the card to prove I completed the missions."

Rosie received the EI and inserted the card. Then she seemed surprised.

"You managed to kill the five slimes without any equipment. That's impressive. Are you a mage?"

"That's a secret for now, okay?"

Rosie laughed.

"Alright, now the plants. Could you deliver them?"

I took out ten medicinal plants from my pocket. Surprisingly, they were still in perfect condition.

"Great! So the total payment is 180 Grims. Congratulations on completing your first mission successfully."

Rosie placed a small leather pouch on the table.

"Thank you..."

Even though Nozomi did everything.

"Unfortunately, today we can't offer more low-rank missions due to the giant eagles. Come back when the threat has passed."

"I understand, Rosie. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"I've gathered some more medicinal plants. Where can I sell them?"

"The guild will be happy to buy any materials you acquire during your missions. If you bring them, I'll make the corresponding payment."

I see, so I can sell materials to the guild, even though I'll probably earn less money than if I sell them to a specialized shop. But for now, that's okay.

"Here you go, five medicinal plants."

"Take this, 50 Grims."

So, I can sell them at ten each. I'll probably earn more money by repeating the mission. It won't hurt to collect some extras.

"Thank you very much. See you tomorrow."

"Have a good night."

After saying goodbye to Rosie, I left the guild. Now, it's time to buy some armor and a weapon. I headed towards the blacksmith. The building was somewhat old and neglected, but many people were coming and going. Inside, behind the counter, there was a young guy in his twenties, brown hair, green eyes, wearing a dark blue overall. When he saw me, he greeted me.

"You're new here, aren't you?" His voice was somewhat deep for his age. "Come closer. My master makes the best weapons and armor in the region. You can look around or place an order."

"I think I'll let you advise me. What kind of light armor do you have for 500 Grims? I'll also need a short weapon, like a dagger. I'm much faster than I am strong, so something heavy would slow me down, and I don't have experience with swords, so I think a dagger is easier to handle, and it's probably cheaper than a sword."

The guy seemed surprised.

"You're quite clear for someone seeking advice. Indeed, with no experience, a dagger is better than a sword, although it leaves you more exposed, but nothing that good speed can't solve. Also, as you said, light armor is the best option. I believe I have the ideal one for you. It's commonly used by hunters, and it's not very expensive. As for the dagger, well, with 500 Grims for both things, you can't afford much, but I'll show you what you can buy. First, let me get the armor."

The guy went to what seemed to be the back room and returned with the parts of a leather armor.

"Chest piece, arms, legs, and a cap. In total, 400 Grims."

"If we skip the helmet, how much would it be?"

"320, with that, you'd have some more for a slightly better dagger, but not much more."

"Alright, then without the helmet, thanks."

"Okay, now I'll show you the daggers you can buy with 180."

The young man went again and came back with three daggers.

"This one here costs 60. It's not very sharp, but it's good for striking." He pointed to the smallest dagger on the left.

No, I don't think you can even hit anything with this.

"This one here is 100. Sharper and a bit larger, but not very durable." He pointed to the medium-sized dagger.

I'd be better off with the small one.

"And lastly, this one costs 160. It's definitely better than the others, sharp, durable, and the size is perfect for facing a sword, although I wouldn't recommend it, of course."

"That works, I'll take it."

"Thank you! In total, it will be 480 Grims. I recommend you try on the armor to see if it fits."

The guy gave me the leather armor, and he pointed to what appeared to be a fitting room. I thought it would be difficult to put on, but it was easier than it seemed. The armor was quite comfortable and light. When I tapped it with my fist, I could feel its hardness. I don't know why, but I'm getting more excited about being an adventurer.

"It fits you quite well, humans are amazing" Nozomi said.

"Even though it's basic, I can tell it will be useful in the missions we'll do tomorrow. I plan to get up early to complete missions and hunt some monsters. I'm counting on you for that, Nozomi."

"Yes, Master!"

She seemed excited too. Maybe it's because she finally has a friend, or perhaps she has just discovered the thrill of hunting other living creatures. I guess I'll find out.

I left the fitting room with the armor on, and I could move perfectly in it. Although saying "with the armor on" sounds strange, as I only have a kind of leather vest, arm and hand coverings, and shin and foot guards. The rest is exposed.

"Oh, it fits you perfectly! I have a good eye for customer sizes."

I emptied my pouch of Grims. The guy quickly counted all the coins and kept 480.

"Can I exchange these 100 Grims for a coin worth 100 Grims? It's more convenient than always carrying around hundreds of coins."

"Oh, if you're so kind."

He took the 100 copper Grims, which had a reddish hue, and gave me a single silver-colored coin.

"A silver Grim is worth 100 copper, and 1 gold is worth 100 silver. It's very useful to have coins of all three types."

"I'll keep that in mind."

-"I can tell you're not from around here. Although Grims are used by humans all over the world, you don't seem like an elf, a dwarf, or even a Filgyanta. What exactly are you?"

Well, the guy is perceptive. He has figured me out completely.

"I'm a human, but I lost my memory. I only remember my name, nothing else."

"Oh, sorry for prying, then."

"No worries, it's normal for you to suspect someone who doesn't know something as basic as the global currency."

"Anyway, thank you for shopping at our store. As a gift from me, here's a belt and a sheath for that dagger. It's better than carrying it in your hand all day. Come back whenever you want to buy new equipment or repair the current one."

"Thank you for selling me the gear, teaching me about the currency in this region, and the gift you've given me."

After saying goodbye to the young vendor, I headed to the inn. It was already night, so I asked the young innkeeper to bring my dinner to my room when it was ready. I wanted to share my dinner with Nozomi; it would be strange (and expensive) to order two portions. If we earn a lot of money tomorrow, I'll probably order an extra portion with the excuse that I'm very hungry. When I entered my room, the first thing I did was lie down on the bed. Physically, I feel fine, but mentally I'm exhausted. Is it due to my low endurance? It's been a long day, and I think it'll take me some time to get used to this new life. However, I'm very excited about it, much more than my old monotonous life. I can't wait for tomorrow to try out my new equipment.

"Master..." Nozomi sounded somewhat concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't mean to be a bother, but are you sure you have amnesia? You seem to know a lot for someone who just lost their memory, yet you're unaware of many things in this world."

I knew she'd figure it out sooner or later.

"I suppose I can confess something to you, but you mustn't tell anyone, alright?"

She can't really talk to other people, and even though I should keep the secret, I guess I can trust the creatures under my pact.

"Understood, I'm like a tomb."

"I've reincarnated in this world after dying in mine. I woke up shortly before we met, so I know nothing about this place. Since I don't know how much trouble it might cause if the people here find out I'm from another world, I thought it would be better to lie to them."

The truth is, it feels good to let the truth out sometimes. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"That's amazing! I never thought I'd meet a person from another world."

Her reaction is even more amusing than I expected, and that's why I started laughing, but Someone knocked on the door.

"Ray, I've brought your dinner." The innkeeper's voice came from behind the door.

I got up from the bed and opened the door. The young innkeeper handed me a metal tray.

"Take the tray down to reception when you're done. Enjoy your dinner." Her tone was somewhat monotone.

"Thank you."

She bid me goodnight with a bow and closed the door to the room. I placed the tray and dishes on the table and summoned Nozomi. The tray held a bowl of soup with what looked like potatoes, and there was a plate with a grilled fish, sliced into five pieces, seasoned with fragrant spices. There was also a glass of water.

"Should we split it in half, or should each of us eat one dish?" I asked.

"Let's split it in half. I want to try both."

Nozomi stared intently at both dishes. A small droplet of slime was forming at the corner of her mouth. This girl has no remedy, I picked up the knife and divided the uneven piece of fish in half. It didn't have any bones, so it was easier than I thought. I finished cutting it quickly.

"You can start with the fish; I'll go for the soup."

"Okay."

Nozomi didn't hesitate and took a part of the plate. She absorbed it, and in a moment, one of the fish slices had vanished. She's surprising me more and more with how limos eat. I started eating the soup; it had a chicken flavor, and its texture was very smooth. The potatoes were easy to eat, and it tasted really good. Once I had emptied about half of the bowl, Nozomi was waiting. It's probably more about the food than the accommodation. I switched plates with her, and just like she did at noon, Nozomi devoured the entire bowl using her elastic body. Then she spat out the completely clean bowl. As for me, I began savoring the fish, taking my time. It had an exotic taste I'd never tried before, but that's what made it delicious. I cleaned the plate in no time. I haven't eaten this well in a while.

"It was delicious. If I had known, I would have made friends with a human earlier."

"I guess that would cause more problems than you think. It's rare for a human not to try to kill you when you're a high-experience monster."

Nozomi looked at me intently.

"You didn't try to kill me. In fact, you saved my life."

"That's because..." Darn it, I don't know what to say right now. "You didn't seem like a bad monster."

Nozomi seemed to appreciate that answer, and she continued speaking, showing a hint of melancholy in her voice.

"You didn't seem like a bad human either. But many who don't seem bad still end up being bad. You, on the other hand, were the only one who tried to communicate with me."

"Well, I believe that not all creatures of a species are solely good or bad. There's a mix of everything, in this world and in mine."

"I think the same way. That's why I trusted you to protect me from the other humans. Similarly, I know that not all slimes are good, nor are all blood slimes pacifists."

Nozomi had a melancholic look on her face.

"It seems you've been through a lot as well. Well, I think we've talked quite a bit. I'll leave the tray, and then we should sleep. I want to wake up early tomorrow to take on missions, earn money, and level up. Otherwise, we won't be able to eat and sleep here tomorrow"

"We have to work hard!"

I bet she's more worried about the food than the lodging. I collected the tray and dishes and brought them down to reception. The innkeeper wished me goodnight, and I returned to my room. Nozomi was on the bed, and when I closed the door, I started taking off my armor. It'll be best to sleep in my usual clothes. I'll have to think about buying some changes of clothing, but I suppose that'll be when I have more money. When I removed all the pieces of leather armor, I left them on the little table along with the dagger and sat on the bed. Nozomi looked at me with some embarrassment.

"Can I sleep with you?"

To be honest, I was going to let her roam freely. It's not like it's wrong to leave her summoned overnight, but she's still a girl. Does that mean this will be my first time sleeping with a woman? Well, I don't think of her as a woman; she's more like a gelatinous plush.

"Sure, I don't mind."

Nozomi's eyes lit up.

"Really? Thank you!"

Nozomi jumped into my arms. I suppose everyone needs some affection from time to time. Though a bad memory has just crossed my mind, it's better not to ruin the moment by thinking about those things. Hugging Nozomi, I lay down on the bed. I thought it might be hard to sleep, but I ended up falling asleep quickly.