Author's Note
If bikes don't work, then why not ride a horse?
"You know what? In these situations, you need to borrow a horse." (Hannes)
With that said, we headed to a post town near the border with Hannes as the guide. It was one of the satellite cities of the three central cities of the Former Meffy Commercial State.
"Where do we rent it from?" (Rena)
"From the adventurer's guild." (Hannes)
"...The adventurer's guild?" (Rena)
"Oh, you've never used it before?" (Hannes)
According to what Hannes told me while looking off into the distance, almost all players were registered in that large in-game organization. It seemed that by registering, players would be able to take on various quests as requests, and by submitting gathering requests for desired materials, they could obtain them in exchange for in-game currency and time, which provided significant benefits. Due to the existence of a massive organization spanning continents, second only to the temple, it was surprising that high-ranking members could freely borrow horses and even receive special privileges. With such clear benefits, it was no wonder the majority of players signed up.
"By the way, what's your rank, Hannes?" (Rena)
"It's the second highest, A-rank." (Hannes)
"Even though the languages are different, why does A come up?" (Rena)
"It's a game made by Japanese people, so it should be easy for Japanese people to understand. Don't worry about small details." (Hannes)
"That's right, huh?" (Rena)
When enjoying creative works like games, worrying about such small details would be boring, and nitpicking the language could ultimately lead to something like "Injera made from teff and off-chobet."[1] It's often enjoyable to explore original languages and unique phrases specific to a work, but unless they are directly related to the main plot, there is no need for lengthy explanations. It would be much smarter to quickly help users understand, get to the point quickly, and entertain them.
"The adventurer's guild is usually in the center of town or near the entrance —— here." (Hannes)
"...It's a typical stone building, isn't it?" (Rena)
Other than the wooden swinging door and the sign identifying it as an adventurer's guild, there weren't any particularly unique features. If one didn't know, it would have been easy to overlook it as it blended in with the surrounding buildings and pass by.
"Oh, you'll probably get caught out if you go in, so be careful, okay?" (Hannes)
"? Is that so?" (Rena)
"Well, it would be quicker to experience it for yourself, huh?" (Hannes)
Not really understanding what was happening, I followed Hannes, who had a subtle expression on his face, into the adventurer's guild — at the same time, numerous gazes were directed towards us. Although there wasn't a particularly loud noise, the raucous sounds of the revelry from inside should have been louder, yet the rough-looking individuals inside all turned to look at us. Even as I followed Hannes through the building, the gazes fixed on me did not waver... Are they trying to pick a fight with me?
"Sorry, I'd like to register a new person." (Hannes)
"If you are a new user, please click here." (Receptionist)
Despite being aware of multiple gazes, I moved towards the counter where the staff member was, as Hannes indicated with a nod of his chin for me to go. Judging by the format of the documents handed over, it gave off a rather modern bureaucratic feel. Well, the paper wasn't made from plants, but rather parchment, and the pen was also a quill.
"I guess I can just write it here——" (Rena)
"—Hey, hey, little miss? Haven't you come to the wrong place? The door you should be knocking on is a brothel." (A man)
Just as I picked up my pen to write, a man came out, yelling vulgar things. The people around either laughed loudly, egged the man on, or hurled sexually harassing comments at me—Even those who seemed to be guild staff just looked troubled and didn't intervene. I took a quick look in Hannes' direction, but he just had a displeased frown on his face and looked sulky... Why is it Hannes who is in a bad mood, and not me, the one being heckled?
"With skinny arms like yours, you might manage a man's rod, but a sword? Not a chance!" (A man)
"Ain't that right? Gahahaha!"
"Good!"
"Hey, little miss! Entertain me too, will ya! Huh? Not a cold call? My bad! Ah ha ha ha ha!" (A man)
I was supposed to register at the adventurer's guild and then borrow a horse... Why am I being subjected to these jeers? I didn't understand even 80% of what was being said, so I didn't know how to respond.
"Now, what kind of event is this...?" (Rena)
I put my hand to my cheek and tilted my head, thinking about how to get out of this terrible situation...but no good ideas came to mind. It would be easy to silence them, but if I cause trouble now and are no longer able to register, then that would defeat the purpose, right?
"Hey, hey, keepin' quiet ain't gonna get you nowhere, ya hear?" (A man)
"Your face is so scary it scares me!"
"Oops, that ain't good! Looks like it's too early for ya, huh? If you learn your lesson, go home and suck on mommy's br—" (A man)
——I grabbed the man in front of me by the neck, twisted him, and slammed him to the floor.
"……………………huh?"
In an instant, the annoying jeers disappeared, and within the now silent guild, the man who collapsed blowing bloody bubbles was peered into as I placed my knee on his solar plexus. With the hand opposite to the one gripping his neck, I drew a dagger and raised it to deliver the final blow—only to have my wrist seized and stopped by Hannes.
"...Wait, that's enough." (Hannes)
"...please let me go."
"You're the one who should let me go, idiot." (Rena)
Still pointing at the man's neck, which I was gripping and not letting go, I couldn't help but show a puzzled expression.
"Do you have a habit of not stopping halfway through?" (Hannes)
"Other players can't intervene until the results are out... that's the nature of the event." (Rena)
"...I don't understand." (Hannes)
While healing the unconscious man, I glared at Hannes, who was holding on to my hand and not letting go. Even with Inoue-san assistance, it seemed that simple muscle strength was not enough. While we were having such a futile exchange, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard coming from the stairs leading to the second floor.
"——GM!"
"...What exactly is the situation?" (GM)
GM...is this an abbreviation for Guild Master? The fact that someone who appeared to be the top person here appears makes it seem like this was really an in-game event. In other words, is it highly likely that the man sleeping peacefully here right now is an NPC who has been given the role of livening up the event?
"—Well, it doesn't really matter." (Rena)
"Ah, hey――" (Hannes)
Ignoring Hannes' restraint, I crushed the man's neck with the grip strength assisted by Inoue-san and killed him.
"...You killed him right in front of me." (GM)
Important NPC
Name : Garland (Lv.212)
Karma : 50 ‹Neutral - Good›
1st Class: Great Sword King
2nd Class: Martial King
3rd Class: Battle Master
Condition: Normal
Remarks :
- Former S-rank Adventurer
- Mellond Adventurer's Guild Branch Manager
- 38th Barbarossa Martial Arts Tournament Champion"This person is at fault for mocking my mother." (Rena)
As the Guild Master, he seemed to be quite strong. If this person were to attack, what should I do? ...Judging only by the class name, it was clear that he was a pure warrior who did not use any trickery. There appeared to be no obvious weaknesses, and before being overpowered by sheer violence, it was necessary to devise some cunning strategies.
"So? Are you going to kill me?" (Rena)
"...Let's not do that. If you get serious about killing each other here, it will cause trouble for the people around us." (Hannes)
I see, so you're saying I should remember that once I leave town, huh? ...Now that I think about it, there was a bounty on me, right? Whenever I went into populated areas, I usually disguised myself because I was plotting something. Otherwise, I mostly stayed in the City of Beginning, so I had forgotten about it. It wouldn't be surprising if the branch manager of a huge organization like the Adventurer's Guild was aware of this.
"Um, uh, GM, it's me, Hannes... Can you lend me two horses for now?" (Hannes)
...When I got curious and checked my title, I found out that my bounty was over one billion. Well, let's pretend we didn't see that.
"Hmm? ...Are you Hannes, the Holy Knight of Earth?" (GM)
"...Holy Knight of Earth?" (Rena)
As I checked the bounty on my head, I heard an unfamiliar word and couldn't help but say it out loud.
"Stop calling me that name!" (Hannes)
"Hannes, you are the Holy Knight of Earth, aren't you?" (Rena)
"That's not right, so stop!" (Hannes)
I didn't know he had such an exaggerated nickname? class? as the Holy Knight of Earth.
"The Holy Knight of Earth?!"
"Why is the Holy Knight of Earth here?"
"Are you the real Holy Knight of Earth?"
It seemed that he was very famous. Since there was the corpse of the man I had just killed, no one dared approach, keeping their voices low, but many appeared to be shocked. I had heard players call me weird names too, but I had never been called anything by NPCs. Thinking about it that way, Hannes is quite unusual, isn't he?
"Yeeeaah! I'll make up for what this woman did later, but for now just lend me two horses! And don't ever call me by that name again! It's so embarrassing!" (Hannes)
"Are you embarrassed, Holy Knight of Earth?" (Rena)
"You just shut up!" (Hannes)
I asked Kageyama-san to take the man's corpse into the shadows and tried to ask Hannes the Holy Knight of Earth once more, but he just yelled at me.
"Hey, wait a second, why are you trying to destroy evidence?" (Hannes)
"Huh? No? I'm going to use it as food for my demon familiars." (Rena)
"It's even worse, you idiot!" (Hannes)
Is it no good? That's a shame... Well, since Hannes was scolding me as promised, I decided to let it slide this time. Kageyama-san was somewhat reluctant, but this was not the time to be stubborn.
"Yes, I don't mind lending you a horse since you requested it, Holy Knight of Earth — Hannes, but I cannot approve the woman's registration." (GM)
"...Well, I guess that's what happens." (Hannes)
"I don't mind if I can borrow a horse...it's something I haven't had any trouble with up until now anyway." (Rena)
I kicked the man's corpse, which Kageyama-san had stopped absorbing into the shadows, towards the guild master, then turned around and headed towards the entrance. My frustration hadn't subsided yet, but I didn't mind because, after leaving the town soon, bounty hunters would be dispatched as pursuers. Let's vent my frustrations with the bounty hunters... Hannes probably won't be so forceful with people attacking us first, right?
"...It's difficult to interact with other people, isn't it?" (Rena)
If I hadn't held back and acted according to what I felt, I would have ruined what Hannes had prepared for me. I couldn't help but wonder about the troubled look on his face when we left the guild. I didn't have any intention of causing trouble for my friend or wasting his kindness.
"What's this twilight thing? Let's go." (Hannes)
"May I use that horse?" (Rena)
"I just made a deal with the Guild Master, so it's fine. Feel free to join in." (Hannes)
"Well then, without hesitation" (Rena)
I hooked my feet into the stirrups, then using that momentum, I swung myself sideways onto the saddle on the horse's back. I held the reins and, while sitting sideways, neatly arranged my legs and twisted my upper body to face forward. Once I was ready, I gave the horse a command and it started to gallop.
"...That's a strange way to ride." (Rena)
"A lady can't straddle you with her legs spread apart." (Hannes)
"Is that so?" (Rena)
With a look of understanding on his face, as if he had seen something unusual, Hannes galloped alongside the horse as we left town. After running a bit further and putting some distance between us and the town, I decided to ask Hannes a question.
"What was that just now?" (Rena)
"...Ah, what should I say?" (Hannes)
I wait patiently for Hannes' answer, groaning and searching for words...was it really that difficult to answer?
"It's a bit of a playful idea on the part of the management, but it seems like a template that an adventurer's guild can't leave out..." (Hannes)
"...Is that some sort of promise?" (Rena)
"That's right... it's kind of a given. The route will branch depending on how you respond to that senior adventurer who gets involved." (Hannes)
"Does it even branch off into routes?" (Rena)
I see, it seems like I've been playing this game for a long time and don't know anything about it. Normally, playing the way Hannes did would be the correct way. It seemed that I hadn't been able to adapt to the unfamiliar game mechanics here... I usually just played the parts that felt like real life. Usually, I wouldn't even consider something as game-like as dungeon crawling an option. What I mainly conquer were not dungeons, but towns and countries ruled by people.
"What I know is that… you become friends with a senior adventurer, show off your skills and impress them, and then it’s a contest to see who can complete a designated request the fastest… in this case, the route will branch out depending on whether you win or lose." (Hannes)
"...There are a lot of them, isn't it?"
"It's a sub-event unique to the adventurer's guild... I didn't know that if you kill someone you won't be able to register and you'll be banned." (Hannes)
I stared intently at Hannes' profile as he muttered with a serious look on his face, "Will the events continue like on the other routes, or will it end here...I don't know."
"...What is it?" (Hannes)
"No, I just love games, you see." (Rena)
"...Shut up, look ahead." (Hannes)
I think Hannes was also looking down and not ahead, but...oh well, it's okay.
"—More importantly, it's here." (Hannes)
"It seems like it." (Rena)
When I glanced back, I could see the assassins sent by the guild master of that town pursuing me. It was quite obvious, as everyone was wearing black clothes and covering their faces... It was probably intentional, but since it was the middle of the day, they really stood out. It seemed that it wasn't just to alert us, but to notify the people walking on the road and those leaving the town that something was happening, prompting them to be cautious and avoid getting involved in the battle.
"Get to the front line as quickly as possible—" (Hannes)
Hannes, who also seemed to have checked behind him, looked at me provocatively.
"—Don't get scared and stop, okay?" (Hannes)
With such obvious provocation, I couldn't help but respond.
"—You too are something I rely on you for, Holy Knight of Earth." (Rena)
I chuckled as Hannes quickly furrowed his brow, and we began preparing for battle while still on horseback.
Author's Note
Holy Knight of Earth! Holy Knight of Earth is seriously awesome! I really respect you, Holy Knight of Earth! Holy Knight of Earth— *gets knocked down*
Translation Note
[1] テフをオフチョベットして作るインジェラ I didn't understand what it is, but as the story says, don't sweat small details!
But when I asked Copilot, here's what I got:
"Injera made from teff and off-chobet."
Injera is a type of sourdough flatbread traditionally made from teff flour, commonly eaten in Ethiopia and Eritrea.