Botan made his way back to town before the sun set. He found the boat he was given near the edge of town and returned to using it, realizing he should return it to the castle before he retires for the night. "I'll use it for selling then return it." He decided.
As he returned to the market area, he noticed lights popping up around the city. As he paid attention, he noticed what people were doing to have these light sources. They were taking a certain kind of flower and snapping off its stem, which caused it to produce light for some reason. They then sat them in braziers or lanterns to illuminate the streets and shops.
"This place is so damned cool. Flowers as light sources? This place gives me hundreds of ideas. I need to dra-" Botan realized that he didn't have paper or a writing utensil. He'd need to rectify that immediately. He saw a shop that looked like it sold books and paper and made his way inside after tying off his boat.
He opened the door and saw exactly what he was looking for right away. He approached the counter and saw something he didn't have hope of finding, pens. Sure, they didn't look exactly like the ones he knew, but they were clearly pens. The place also had very good parchment for a world with lowered technology. Having different cuts of paper including scrolls. "Paper is made from trees and requires a water supply, so I guess Weldroe is the place for paper. Another way I'm kind of lucky…"
"Hmm, curious. I've never seen this one before… Who are you?" A voice from a chair asked. Botan turned to see a creepy looking man with orange hair and green eyes. He seemed to be in his 40s and covered his mouth with a paper he was reading… and he looked really creepy.
Botan flinched at the sight of the man. "Eh, um… I came to buy some things." Botan managed.
"You entered my shop, I know why you're here. My question is, who are you?" The man stayed sitting, and Botan was thankful for that.
"Oh, yeah… My name is Botan Nakaya. I'm the flower hero." He answered. The man made him worried for some reason. The man just had an unpleasant vibe.
"Hmm, makes sense why I've never seen you before." The man said before returning to what he was reading.
"Um, what? Is that the end of the conversation…?" Botan paused for a moment to confirm the man stopped speaking. He then awkwardly continued looking around for what he wanted. When he was done he sat everything on the counter and turned to the man. He wasn't paying attention.
"Um, I'd like to buy these." Botan said.
The man stopped reading the paper and walked over to the counter. He looked at the items a moment before speaking. "Loose paper, but also a leather strapped journal. Three pens, but all different. What are you planning on doing with this?" The man asked.
He now struck up a conversation when speaking before seemed strained.
"I'm an artist. The loose paper is to practice, the bound journal for finalized designs. I need different pens for different places."
"Hmm, so you chose low-end parchment and a high-end journal on purpose… Well the total comes to be 3 silver and 12 copper. If that's too much I suggest a cheaper journal." The man explained.
"Nah. Quality paper matters. You put in more effort if you know the money you're wasting by screwing up." Botan answered, opening his bag to pull out his money.
"Ah, top spikes, are you selling those?" The man said, seeing them in his bag.
"I mean, I plan to. Why would you need them?" Botan asked.
"Let me see one and I'll show you." Was his answer.
Botan obliged and gave him one. The man took a small bit of water and placed it atop the flat side of the spike and waited a moment. After which a water drop began forming at the bottom tip of the spike, then dropped down.
"Wait, so there's a hole in them?" Botan understood.
The man was pleased that Botan understood. "Yes. Top spikes are useful because they have a small tubular hole in them too small for blacksmiths to cheaply replicate. Pens, needles and a few other items are instead made by using these spikes and just carving the rest away."
Botan was interested, but had to ask. "Wooden needles?"
The man seemed more animated now. "Ah, you don't know? Those monsters use this tube to intake the grounded minerals from its spinning. Longer living tops are often made of metal or similar materials."
"Really? I saw some in trees, how does one being made of metal affect the tree it'll grow into?" Botan loved this kind of stuff.
The two spoke for nearly an hour. He decided to sell the spikes to the man at a rate of 2 copper per spike. Other places were offering only 1 copper per spike, but this shop directly used them and so would pay more. The man also saw the glass eyes and explained them to Botan too. That being that they allow the untalented to use a weaker form of appraisal by shattering them while looking at the target. This explained how Botan saw the monster's level when he broke one of the glass eyes, but otherwise didn't see level on anything else. This man seemed to have a lot of useful information as well as the useless tidbits that Botan could never get enough of. Such a well informed man might be useful to bring items to in the future. If only for these long conversations.
Eventually he left, but he sold all his spikes, 19 in total. Lowering his price by 38 copper. He could have sold those glass eyes here, the ones he now knew were called [Scrying Marbles]. However he didn't for two reasons. Firstly, the man's buying prices for them were lower as he freely admitted. Secondly, he wasn't going to sell them now that Botan knew what they did. They seemed so fundamental and exactly the kind of item he'd hoard.
When handing the man the money at the end of the long exchange, he remembered to ask him something basic. "I'll be a regular customer from now on and will make sure to bring all the good stuff here first… What's your name?"
"Ah, I seem to have done that again. The name is Professor Hector Hemlock. The 'store' is Lore & Ledgers. Though I only run it to continue providing me with a means to survive. No one with any real talent stays in Mosden without a reason." Hector answered.
"Well, don't move away anytime soon. This will be my favorite shop from now on." Botan paid for his supplies and left. The man simply nodded along. Botan sold what he could, so now it was time for lodging. That and food. He had a bit of food from buying camping supplies, but he really needed a good meal.
He got to slow down for the first time since he came here and just tour the city from the boat at night. He saw where people went and what they did. That told him where the most popular place to eat was. He made his way there, but allowed himself time to sightsee a bit. The air was a bit cold and thick with fresh water. He thought about how beautiful this place was and how lucky he was that he was here now as a hero. He thought of the city, the castle, the forest he ventured into, then he thought of the place he was summoned.
He decided to visit that place again tomorrow and see what he could absorb. Speaking of which. Botan passed a man setting the glowing flower up in the braziers, he seemed to be a guard. When he did, his weapon's gem glowed. "Hey there. Can I get one of those?" Botan asked in a friendly manner.
The man gave Botan only half a glance before handing him a flower free of charge and returning to his job. Botan was going to pay, but people around here seemed generous despite their apparent poverty. Botan went to absorb it, but something strange happened.
[Weapon copy system activated]
[Bright Bellflower Wand]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: Magic Attack + 6 Skill: Illuminate
Botan looked in amazement. "That which shares its form." Botan realized. He noticed that he could absorb the flower as he did before. He decided to snap the stem to make it glow to see as he walked, but as soon as he did, the gen glowed again. "Now it wants it?" He muttered aloud. He fed both parts to the weapon.
[Floral Lantern]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: MP + 4
Special Equip Effect: Bonus: Radiance
.
[Flower Stem Pole]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: Speed + 3
"Huh." Botan thought about his new weapon forms. One had an equip effect skill called [Illuminate], while another had a special equip bonus called [Radiance]. Just from the fact that one was a bonus exclusive to the weapon and the other was a skill he could unlock told him they were more or less the same thing done differently. They would both produce light, but the skill cost SP, but he could use it whenever after unlocking. Meaning-
Botan switched to the [Floral Lantern].
As he thought, the weapon form produced a helpful amount of light passively. The stats on the weapon were kind of bad though. Still, it is perfect for traveling the city streets at night. And it was quite beautiful. He'd need to visit the flower shop tomorrow to exploit this. He'll feel kind of bad, like he was exploiting the shop and those that worked there, but given the eventual tasks he had to succeed in… "I'll do whatever I have to, then pay them back for it however I can when I can afford to do so."
Soon Botan slipped into a tavern of some kind. Despite what image mostly springs to mind when thinking of the word 'tavern' the inside portion seemed to be purely a kitchen and storage area, the rest was outside the building, but still covered by the extended roof. Botan saw two dozen people here. Eating, talking, and having fun.
That surprised him for two reasons.
He saw that most of them wore armor and carried weapons. Something most didn't do. He pegged them as adventures. It made sense. Botan was already told Mosden had impressive enemies further north. Foreign adventurers would be assumed. Some seemed almost arabic, a pair had even darker skin, but bright hair in contrast. He had no frame of reference for them, except 'foreigner'. Which he also fell into, now that he thought about it.
He waited a moment to see if a waiter seated you, but after standing there until another group arrived, he saw you just sit where you want. He took a seat close to the kitchen and stared at a menu posted on the side of the wall. He couldn't read it, but saw the prices. The place was dirt cheap, which answered one of his reasons.
He ordered his food with a little difficulty, needing to just point to another man's meal after a little trouble. It wasn't high quality, but it hit the spot. "The food is pretty fatty, they probably cooked everything with animal fat… or whatever butter or oil substitute they have." That thought made him remember that in this new world his world's knowledge would only get him so far. Thinking ahead will be less useful than being quick to adapt and understand. That'd be just fine with the way he wished to conduct himself.
Just as he left his thoughts, he realized he'd already scarfed down his entire meal. He left the coin next to the plate and went to find lodging, but saw Tia of all people sitting alone and poking at a small bit of food. "Hey, Tia. I didn't take you for the type to eat out." He greeted.
She looked up and adopted a smile. "Ah, Sir Nakaya. How has your first day been?"
Botan felt her smile was forced. "Doing good. I'm almost level 3 and only nearly blew up once." He joked.
"Blow up? There shouldn't be [Dynamice] nearby."
"Neat, another monster to watch out for. No, I was referring to me moving the wrong way and making a small explosion." He commented.
"How?" Tia asked, now seeming more interested.
"I swung and missed, I continued the swing into a full circle. When I hit the enemy, it knocked us both back. It has me a little concerned. I'd hate to move the wrong way and launch myself into the sky. Hehe." Botan said with a laugh.
"Well, movement alone rarely invokes magic. Intent is a factor, as well as trying to utilize your mana in that moment. You were intending to hit your target and did from the sounds of it. Utilizing mana on your first day, even if poorly… that's quite talented. I didn't expect the need to address magic for weeks… In the evenings, I'd be willing to help you a bit." Tia offered.
"Oh? I'd hate to bother you so early on. I'm trying to adjust, but it's all so strange. I'd probably be more of a bother than anything until I figure out a bit more out on my own." Botan told her.
"That was my thought as well, but to have experienced a [Backfire] on your first day in this world. You must be among the most talented dancers in the world. It could be because you are the Evergreen. It could be that your immense talent is why you were chosen… And I find myself with more free time than usual." She praised Botan before making herself sad.
He decided to just ask. "Is it because of the king?"
"Yes and no. I raised Alder all by myself, but he's not left the castle in nearly a week. He won't leave the king's side until the end. So until that day, I am alone. Normally I cook for the both of us, but if it's just me, I find it to be too much effort." She revealed.
"An older woman like this, eating such unhealthy food while being forced to live alone…" "How about this? I'll come to you in the evenings and pay you for a home cooked meal? I can't exactly keep going on food like this if I'm going to get as physically fit as I need to be. Sound good?" Botan suggested.
He'd solve both of their issues at the time being.
She seemed to like that idea. "Heh, yes, that seems like it would be for the best… It's too late today, though. I need to sleep myself." She looked as tired as she claimed. The two gave their goodbyes and parted ways
Botan's evenings would be filled with helping comfort the very person that brought him here, saving his life. It also meant he'd understand magic sooner. He'd schedule his day to minimize waste when possible.
Soon enough, Botan found an inn to stay at. It was rather unique as a building. The building was quite wide on the first floor, but the second through fourth floors were smaller because it was separated into what might best be described as two towers. There were cheap rooms in both, so the design seemed pointless to him. Then he noticed some scaffolding between the two. Maybe the design was incomplete and was to be one solid building, but they had to complete it in sections like this due to needing the business open as soon as possible.
He was again reminded of the worry of those around him that morning when he entered the city for the first time. He wondered how poor and worried the people truly were. He came to the conclusion that the people socializing and having fun at the tavern were still worried, but it's not like you can go through life like that. They needed relief from their problems like everyone else.
He bought a night at the inn for 25 copper. He didn't know if it was lower because they were poor, or higher for the same reason. As he laid in his bed he thought about his family and the world he came from. He worried about seeing them again, but ignored it because he couldn't do anything about it. That's when he realized why everyone was acting happy despite the worry. Just like him, they couldn't do anything about that situation, so why waste all their time worrying about it? If he was to learn to live in the moment, this place seemed like a fine place to do so.
…
The following morning
…
Botan woke up not quite hungry yet, having eaten less than an hour before he slept. He checked his [Floral Lantern]. It now read Abilities Unlocked. Sure enough, when he switched weapon forms again, the MP increase stayed. He switched to the [Blue Spinning Flower], he'd use this since it was almost identical to the red version he already mastered.
"4 more MP might not seem like much, but I've played enough games to see what's going on. If I master one weapon that ups each stat, it'd be greater than a level up. Erich also said my stats were high for my level. I mean, I beat a level 5 monster at level 1. So given that, I might be 10 levels higher in stats than actual level by the time that wave happens. If I can get to level 20 by then, I'd like to think I'll be about to pull through. Better to overestimate the waves than underestimate them." Botan analyzed his growth.
He left soon and realized that he was up kind of early. He hated that he didn't have his phone on him to tell the time, but he didn't have it on him when he was summoned. He'd need to develop more of an internal clock.
He walked the streets knowing his destination. Despite how poor the place was, he couldn't get enough of the view. The place felt so different between the night and day, they were both appealing in different ways. He'd return shortly. He retraced his steps and followed the same trail he first entered the city from. Up the gentle slope of the distant hill towards the small stone structure he was summoned in. After a bit, he crested the hill that gave him such a great view of the city. He sat on the stones that formed stairs and pulled out his paper and pen.
Using the cheap paper first, then recreating the successful steps into the journal he captured the idyllic nature of the summoning location into the first page of his pricey journal. The small pond, the stone structure, the way the whole place was given just the right amount of shade. The place was beautiful and felt more important to Botan for some reason. As soon as he was done, he spun around and captured the view of Mosden's capital city, Weldroe, on the next page.
He decided he would later look for good spots to capture the city closer, before he moved on. He wanted to record his experiences and life in this world. If he couldn't return to his world, then maybe there was a way to at least send the journal to his sister. That was the sentiment anyway.
Once he was done, he went to leave, but remembered he knew more about his weapon now. He walked over to the pond and grabbed one of the lotuses.
[Weapon copy system activated]
[White Lotus Shield]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: Water Resistance (small)
Special Equip Effect: Bonus: Buoyancy
"A shield? Hmm, wow. The stats on the shield itself are pretty good. If I can learn to switch weapon forms fast enough, this would block really well for now. And it gives me resistance to an element? How much does 'small' mean? And if I-" Botan was pulled from his thoughts by something inside the water.
He leapt away from the water as a fish as large as a semi truck shot out of the water. It had a metal-like face plate and wet fur. It was a proper sea monster. Botan felt the kind of panic that deep sea scary movies gave.
The monster clearly tried eating Botan just now. Botan immediately realized the reason the place looked so good was the lack of monsters and animals around it. Likely, anything that goes to the small pond to get a drink is eaten.
The fish slowed to a stop mid-air and turned towards Botan. "Oh fuck!" Botan used [Spin] and braced himself. The monster looked like it was about to swim at him in the air, but after his weapon started spinning, the beast just returned to the small pond with a huge splash. The amount of water displaced was easily twice as much water as Botan thought was in the pond.
He looked at the small pond a moment before realizing. "It's not a pond… It's the surface of some huge underwater tunnel…"
He left soaked and in a hurry to get far away from the spot. His heart was pounding, but he'd be lying if he didn't say this world was just so damned cool, even when it was scary. He laughed at the whole situation for a moment. "This place is just so cool. And I'm a hero here…" This world was winning him over in some ways.
He stayed a bit longer trying to dry off, obviously staying further away from the pond. While there he saw the shine on his weapon and absorbed the cause, one of a weeping willow-like tree's drooping branches.
[Weeping Whip]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: Agility + 4
"A whip? That's a tricky weapon to use. Best to unlock it at night and never actually use it. I plan on improving, but learning to use a whip when you're as accident prone as me? No thank you." Botan concluded.
He also touched a lilypad that splashed out of the pond from the earlier commotion.
[Lilypad Umbrella]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Skill: Lily-Step
"Looks like something a friendly neighbor would use…" Botan joked to himself.
He returned to town as planned and went straight to the flower shop near the gate. The girl was not there yet. Instead, an older man was there manning the shop. Disappointing, but it'd keep him on task.
Botan greeted the man. "Hello, I was hoping you could help me with something."
The man wore a seasoned smile and waved lightly. "An adventurer? What type of flowers would you like?"
Botan came to copy every flower, but… something he said made him think. "Full transparency, I am new to this world and all the strange aspects of it. What would an adventurer want with flowers?" Botan asked.
"Are you the Flower Hero my granddaughter was yelling about?" The man asked.
"Um, yeah… Did I do something to upset her?" Botan was now thinking he upset her the day before with the way he acted,
"No, no. Twas her own fault. Hmm. In our world flowers are a useful resource. Many different types of flowers have types of magic they can use if you know how to change them." The man began to explain.
"Huh? 'Change'? I thought magic was achieved via movement?" Botan asked.
"That's the answer given to or by beginners, but a more accurate explanation would be that magic requires that something physically change to happen. Moving achieves that, but it's hardly the only way." The man began. He took two flowers off the shelves. "These are two of the most important flowers to adventurers. By burning them they achieve magic. This one draws in and attracts monsters, both wild and domestic. This other one, does the opposite. It makes you repulsive to monsters and wards them off."
Botan put a hand to his chin. "So the 'change' achieved is the burning? Huh…" "Wait. I need to buy them too, because I also want to absorb them while they're burning. Just like with the glowing flower last night. Some things are only absorbable while they're achieving some sort of magic."
"How much per flower?" Botan asked.
"Depends on the flower. These two are among the pricier options. One lasts for 8 hours. The [Alluring Asters] go for 5 silver, while the [Shunning Saffron] are 7 silver and 50 copper." The old man told him.
"Oof. I thought the starting armor was rough… Even if those are the most expensive options, I could spend 100 silver here and possibly not buy one of everything. And I brought in less than 40 copper yesterday. How do those adventurers afford this stuf-..." "Not to change the subject, but… is there something like an adventurer's guild around here?" Botan asked.
"You mean the mercenary guild ran by the Ivory Company? You'd want to visit them. They have a guild hall just down the street." He answered.
"I assume they issue quests and rewards?" Botan asked and the man nodded. "Then why didn't anyone in the castle tell me about that? I need a lot of coin after all." Botan asked in annoyance.
The man sighed loudly. "Mosden is an untamed land. There are incredibly strong monsters to the north and at the bottom of many bodies of water. The Mosden knights couldn't keep up with defending the people. About 20 years ago, the Ivory Company came in from Arden and brought peace to many sections that we natives failed to. Soon the locals started contracting them instead of asking our knights. The Ivory company now deals with over 70% of the problem monsters. It's become a place of shame for those in charge. For the people to rather pay a stranger than rely on the duty-bound knights for free. How little must they think of them? …Those in the castle probably wanted to not lose you to them as they have most people." The man explained.
"Oh god. The most dangerous enemy, politics!" Botan thought. "Hmm. What other flowers are pricey?" He asked.
He was given a brief run down of several other flowers that had conditional magical effects. Flowers that made those around them feel a specific emotion by picking the flower petals off, a flower that can help recover MP by eating it, flowers that remove all scent around them when you rip up the flower, flowers that you break off the stem and suck on it for different flavors, flowers that cause a minor visual illusion when falling, and so much more. Botan asked what he could and held each flower as the man explained them.
He copied all of them, then settled on buying 5 of them. He had to assume his 500 silver was going to need to cover up to and maybe even past the first wave. He wanted the best armor he could afford when the time came. He'd buy the must-have options now, then buy more if he ran out of forms to unlock.
He unlocked more than 2 dozen forms, but most only gave a stat increase. The ones that were noteworthy were:
[Alluring Aster Fan]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Skill: Captivate
Special Equip Effect: Bonus: Nectar
.
[Shunning Saffron Idol]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Ostracize
Special Equip Effect: Bonus: Noxious Persence
.
[Mirage Magnolia Baton]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: Shimmer
Special Equip Effect: Bonus: Blur
.
[Datura Charm]
Abilities Locked Equip Effect: Bonus: MP Recovery (small)
.
"Man… how strong am I going to be when I unlock all of these?" Botan mused.
Botan wanted to check in on this Ivory Company, but he'd wasted over 2 hours already. He'd wait until tomorrow. Even as a hero, he was going to be unimpressively low level to those seasoned adventurers.
He made up his mind to take a different direction today then exited out of the north side towards more open plains. He'd make it a point to only indulge himself in the mornings, because it put him on a timer to leave and do his job. He'd never been that serious of a person, but things were going to be life and death. He'd learned a little bit about that recently.
[Otherworld Index]
Today we will be talking about the geography and other random facts about Mosden. Mosden is a decent sized country, but unfortunately finds itself as the battleground of the three greatest nations in the world.
Despite a perceived lack of power in some ways, it would be extremely difficult to conquer due to thick rainforests and marshes throughout the region. Mosden almost receives as much rain as Ventus, yet has few rivers and many lakes. This is because Mosden's lakes and ponds are hauntingly deep. Beneath the continent there are hundreds of underground cave systems so massive that it's practically an underground ocean, secretly dwelling beneath them. Between the horrors from below and the nine Sovereigns of the peaks, Mosden's wild monsters and terrain guard from foreign invaders better than the soldiers ever could.
(The Nine Peaks and their Sovereigns will get their own otherworld index, so they will not be explained here. However, know that the closer to the nine peaks one travels to, the stronger monsters you'd find.)
A nation with such unbound monster populations and several different environments makes Mosden home to several monsters that non-natives have never even heard of. The difficulties of Mosden's environment eventually gave rise to the Ivory Company. A powerful mercenary and adventuring guild that formed out of foreigners from the Arden Republic. They too will be receiving their own Otherworld Index soon.
[Author's Notes]
First day and he didn't die again, but he nearly died the following morning. Man, he really needs to do something about being sneak attacked.
He did make an acquaintance that shares some of his interests and Tia has agreed to tutor Botan in magic.
I thought it was important for him to take time in the mornings for himself. He's less mature than Naofumi and lacks as serious a mindset as him. So you can't expect him
