Part 1
A carriage made a loud creaking sound as it drove over the pavement. I had just taken off my gloves to make sure they weren't muffled.
Before my eyes were houses built from red bricks and wood. They looked similar to old photos of T Corp.
There were no cars or buses or overpowering spires that drowned out the night sky. It almost looked primitive compared to the City.
What struck me as the strangest was the air, however. It felt clean. There was no lingering scent of blood or corpses or smoke. Just air.
After the Smoke War and foundation of the new L Corp. prior to its downfall, the air quality of the City did improve, but I never imagined that such clean air could exist.
It was almost intoxicating.
The people of this world dressed just like characters in fantasy comics. Weirdly, I couldn't see any prosthetics or robotics. Some of them had animal or pointy ears, but not a single prosthetic.
You couldn't throw a stone in the City without hitting at least three people with prosthetic heads. Maybe they're rarer here?
There's a chance they didn't exist here at all. Technology here definitely seems primitive. I've read of villages in the Outskirts and many of them didn't have something as basic as a light bulb or stove. It seemed this world was the same.
The greatest difference between this place and the City, however, is how peaceful everything was. Everyone is smiling and going on with their day with no urgency. They're letting their children run along wherever, as well.
To let your children run around on their own was how you feed the Sweepers in the City, but it appeared like a normal activity here.
It didn't have the luxuries of many Nests, but it was a peaceful life. Angelica would like it here. She might have been here already.
Well, no point in speculating. I should look for Fixer Associations. Since this is some kind of parallel world, the Hana Association might not even exist and I can join one with no problem.
I strolled the town for a while, taking in the environment. Though it was partly because I wanted to see what it had to offer, it also helped to make a mental map of the place in case things got dirty. It felt like it was bound to happen because of my clothing.
In the City, the suit and tie was the uniform for eighty percent of the population. Even without the Perception-blocking Mask, I could fit in as an average worker among the seas that are crowds.
Here? I stood out like a Cinq Association Fixer trying to mingle with Liu.
Not only did no one wear a suit, they were all wearing almost painfully colorful clothes. Green, beige, pink, but never black. The symbol of normalcy and the working man did not apply here.
Everyone was staring at me as a result. The only people that were curious enough to ask about me so far were kids playing around, but it won't be long until the police get suspicious of me. Do they even have a Zwei Association here?
I did see some fellows that looked like Fixers. Instead of a uniform, they all looked rather unique. Fixer gear is typically personalized, but those from Associations and respectable Offices tended to have a dress code they followed.
That does not seem to hold true here. Some of them were in full plate armor like characters in N Corp. games. Others were, for some reason, almost buck naked. Maybe they just have transparent armor.
A blacksmith, some kind of 'magic' shop, a strange cafe, and other buildings are mingled in with normal homes. No Fixer Office as far as I can tell, though. I could read signs and flyers, so Charon wasn't lying when he said he punched this world's language into me.
It should also hopefully work when talking with the locals. Clearing my throat, I approached a nearby elderly woman sitting on a bench.
"Excuse me, madam. Do you know the way to a Fixer Association?"
She turned her head towards me. Her eyes scanned me up and down. Is an old lady of all people sizing me up?
"Fixer? Ye mean repairmen?"
Repairmen? Either the old lady is just out of touch or Fixers don't exist here. I hoped that the latter wasn't true. Joining a reputable Office is the best way to get information about this world, but most importantly Angelica.
"Ah, no. I mean people who take on jobs and requests for people. Finding a missing something, killing a beast…"
Please, tell me they exist.
"Oh! Ye mean adventurers! Yer clothes made me think ye were from out of town, but ye definitely are if you don't know the way to the Guild!"
"Right, that's my mistake, madam. We called them Fixers where I'm from."
"Yes, yes! Don't worry, child, ye just head down the street an' take a left. There's a big sign there and over. Welcome to Axel, young man! Town of novice adventurers!"
"Down and left, right. Thank you very much, madam." I waved the lady goodbye and followed her directions.
Adventurer. I suppose that's a more apt term than 'Fixer' for this world where heroes go on adventures rather than staying in an office building all day and waiting until something worthwhile comes up.
Based on that, a Guild might be the equivalent of an Association. Even if the terminologies are different, it's good to know that the profession of a Fixer still exists here.
It wasn't long until I arrived at the rather large building with a sign simply saying, "Adventurer's Guild." It was larger than almost everything in this town, Axel, and I'm not even sure how I missed it.
There are lots of what I assume to be adventurers outside talking with each other, likely with coworkers from their respective Officers. They were openly carrying their swords, axes, maces, and other weapons.
While no laws forbid you from doing that in the City, that was a good way to get the Zwei or Seven Assoc. to send Fixers to keep an eye on you. Most people had the decency to at least hide them in their coats.
That aside, I climbed the stone stairs and pushed open the wooden doors. As I did, the fragrance of food I've never seen before assaulted my noses. Rather than being repulsed, I welcomed the assault with open arms. They smelled good.
What didn't smell good was the assault of dozens of eyes making their way to the newcomer in strange clothing. It made sense. An eccentric looking newbie entering an Office would definitely raise brows, but that shouldn't be reason enough for trouble.
I can tell that none of their gazes had ill intentions behind them, but I kept my guard up just in case.
A waitress with short red hair greeted me.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild! If you're here to dine, please take any empty seat. For requests or adventurer registration, please approach the counter."
I said my thanks and she walked off to serve other customers.
It seemed like the Guild also served as a bar or diner. It almost reminds me of Dong-hwan's Pub, at least until I turned him into a book.
I gently closed the doors behind me and entered the Guild, taking a seat near the corner. Most people were back to mingling among themselves, but a few of them were still looking at me.
Before applying to be an adventurer, I took the time to observe everything in detail. The many adventurers and the weapons on their backs. Trying to figure out conversations based on their gestures and trying to read their mouths.
I picked up the skills thanks to my grandma and my time in Charles' Office. During my rampage before Iori contacted me about the Library, it became second nature to do so. After beheading Angela and ransacking the City yet again, it became crucial to do so.
I have no reason to do it. Not here, no. Nobody was out to get me, but after months of nothing but killing and hiding, it felt wrong not to.
That, and I wanted to sit down and think for a few minutes. It's been too long since I did that. Never had the time or headspace ever since the Pianist incident.
I needed some kind of plan to find Angelica. Before finding out Angela was the cause of all my pain, it was as simple as finding suspicious Syndicates or Offices, wiping them out and questioning the heads. No point in doing that here.
I should avoid being a murderhobo again. I had no reason to do so. The Seven Assoc. didn't exist so I can't join or hire them to seek her out. I have no connections here so I don't even know who to ask.
Thinking about it now, Charon gave me this world's language but no other information. Or maybe he did during that long speech about the Demon King. My ears blocked out most of the information.
That was bad considering my former speciality in intelligence and information.
Apply as an adventurer, build up my reputation, ask about anybody with a similar appearance or name as Angelica. That's the best I can do for now.
It might take a while, but I can live with that. She's alive. She's here, somewhere. I can take it slow.
Being the city's boogeyman, killing Angela, I did all of that for nothing.
Almost makes me feel empty, that I lived through and caused so much hell when we just reincarnate somewhere after dying. I accepted it long ago. That was just the City's cycle.
That didn't stop the demoralizing feeling that we went through such ugliness when we had the option of killing ourselves and living a better life elsewhere.
But I can take it slow. See a better side of humanity along the way.
"Enough dwelling, then," I muttered.
There were four counters but only one had an employee behind them. I stood in line behind three others.
It was finally my turn.
Part 2
Damn it! I'm going to punch that damn explosion brat, we almost did a toad hunting quest without being eaten for once!
"Kazuma~a!"
"Stop slobbering on my feet! Get off!"
We headed to the Adventurer's Guild covered in giant toad muck.
Again!
"Kazuma, did you see that!? That long, big tongue—"
I'm going to kill all of you!
- At the Adventurer's Guild -
After washing ourselves off, the three sat at a table and I headed to the receptionist's counter to pick up our reward.
A life of toad hunting isn't grand, but at least it can fill our stomachs for a while.
Because of the dullahan, these low level quests were rare. I just sold that guy's cursed sword so we didn't need the money, but we decided to take it anyway. It might be a while until these easy quests come back.
"…Huh?"
There was a peculiar looking man at the counter. He was holding an even more peculiar wallet instead of a bag of Eris.
"How much is that?"
He asked Luna, my favorite blonde receptionist.
"One thousand Eris."
The suspiciously dressed man stopped in his tracks while pulling out bills from his wallet.
"Uh. What's this 'Eris' thing?"
Wait a minute, a suit and tie and paper bills!? Those are things from earth!
Luna had a confused smile when she answered.
"It's our currency. Gold coins?"
"Do you accept Ahn or card?"
Credit cards! Definitely from earth!
"Ah, Luna! I'll cover his fee."
I tossed coins on the counter and leaned on it. I have to strike up a conversation with this man. Even if he's a Cheat user, that's way better than those three buffoons! He doesn't tick off any of my senses like that Mitsu.. Misu… That Mitch guy!
"Hey there. Name's Kazuma, veteran adventurer. You must be a cityfolk, huh?"
I said in the coolest voice I can.
In Roland's mind, 'Cityfolk? Ah, he must also be from the City!'
"Yeah, I am," he replied with a smile. "You don't look like someone from the City yourself."
I knew it!
"Hah, right about that. I'm actually from the countryside, only ever went to cities for school or shopping. You look like an office worker yourself."
'Office? He must have been a Fixer himself!'
"You got me there. Used to be part of a kickass Office, though we disbanded after a while. Was running a one-man Office by myself!"
Some kind of entrepreneur? He must know how to take care of himself, then! I have to get him in my party.
"Ahem," Luna faked a cough to get our attention. "Now that payment is settled, please take this, mister Roland."
She handed him an adventurer card.
"Please look over here; do you see the word 'Level'? As you know, all things in the world have souls. Whenever you kill or eat a being, you will absorb a part of the memory of their soul, known as 'Experience Points'."
The office worker, 'Roland' according to Luna, nodded while he observed the card.
She continued.
"Normally, Experience Points are intangible, but the adventurer card will show the experience points you absorb here. Here, the level corresponding to your experience points will be displayed here. This shows how strong an adventurer is."
"So Levels are Fixer Grades, got it."
What's a Fixer?
Luna ignored his comment and explained more about the card. It was almost the same exact speech that she gave Aqua and me.
"Here, it displays how many monsters you defeat. With enough experience points, a creature will, at some point, grow rapidly. This is known as leveling up. Leveling up grants all sorts of benefits, namely skill points to learn new skills. So please work hard to increase your level."
'This all sounds like those comics Angelica talked to me about. I knew I should have read them.'
"Next, please fill in your height, weight, age, and other details in the blanks."
"Sure, sure. Let's see, 178 cm, 33 years old…"
Thirty-three?! He was over twice my age! I thought he was mid-twenty at most!
Didn't Aqua say they only reincarnated young people too? I have to ask her about that…
I looked back at our table. Aqua was already getting herself drunk and using more party tricks.
Nevermind asking.
"Done."
Roland returned the form.
"That'll be fine, please touch this card. This will display the strength of each of your abilities for reference when choosing your job. After accumulating skill points, you can learn skills that are available for your job. This is one of the key points in choosing your class."
Since he's just an office worker, he should have stats similar to mine. Oh, maybe a bit higher since he's an adult. He must have chosen some kind of weapon as a cheat skill.
"… All right, thank you. Roland, let's see…"
"I recommend having high expectations, my friend." I gave him friendly advice. "It only leads to disappointment when—"
"Eh? What? These numbers…!"
Luna gasped out in shock. The entire guild was focused on her and Roland.
"Leaving aside your below average luck and above average magic power, the rest of your attributes are drastically above average! Strength, vitality, intelligence, agility and speed, they're all drastically high! To think another prodigy would arrive so soon after adventurer Aqua!"
The place was in an uproar.
I silently sulked in a corner. Damned cheat users!
"Uh, thanks. I was a kickass Fixer in the past, after all."
Roland had a smug expression.
I hate cheat users!
"This is beyond extraordinary! You can take any class at all! Even with your magic power, your high intelligence more than lets you take even mage-type classes! The holy knight with its strongest defense, Crusader; the mage with overwhelming magic power, Archwizard; the swordsman with the strongest attack, Sword Master; and the top-tier cleric, Archpriest, and… Berserk? That requires a violent personality… Ah, but that aside, you may choose from any of the top-tier jobs right now!"
It should have been me…
"Uh, hold on, this is too sudden. My heart isn't ready for this."
He was acting surprised. You're enjoying this, aren't you?! You were being all smug just a second ago!
"Is there any class that's, say, an all-rounder? I'm pretty good with every weapon. Oh, or one about information and espionage! I was good at that."
"Ah, there's the Adventurer class, but it's regarded as the worst out of all starter classes. They level up fast and can learn skills from any class, but at a greater cost. It's not recommended at all."
Urgk! This is slander!
"For the latter, the Sage class has spells related to information gathering, but Assassins or Dark Stalkers are perfect for that! Of course, if you wish to pursue the all-rounder class, there is an advanced warrior class, Battle Master! It gives you skills for all weapon types!"
'Doesn't Dark Stalker sound kind of suspicious…? Can't I just be a simple Fixer? We had to be versatile to deal with all sorts of requests. We specialize in specific fields often, but we never focus on just one thing. Hell, I was one hell of a fighter even as some kind of spy!'
"I guess I'll take that adventurer class, then."
Wait, what?
The cheering from the other adventurers stopped.
"I-I'm sorry? Um, please, you might want to rethink this!"
"Why? It seems smart to have the versatility of every job, no?"
"Even if that's the case, to choose the weakest starter class over any of the high-end classes? You could—"
"Hold it!" I interrupted her. Someone else is smart enough to take adventurer and they're suddenly against it? This is discrimination! Discrimination, I say!
"Roland has clearly made his choice! Representation for the adventurer class! Show them that we're strong too! Go, Roland! Adventurer representati—"
"Ah, my bad. I'll take the Battle Master class."
What!?
The guild was cheering yet again.
"Ah, an excellent choice! The battle master is great with ranged weapons as much as melee! They are as versatile as mage-type classes and can deal with any situation! I'll register you now… Done! Welcome to the adventurer's guild, Roland-sama! All of our staff look forward to your grand exploits!"
Luna said with a pleasant smile. The same speech she gave Aqua.
Roland, you traitor!
Whatever, who am I to tell him off? Dejected, I slumped my face on the table. I'll claim our rewards later.
"Kazuma, Kazuma."
Aqua poked me.
"Yes, I'm Kazuma…"
"Isn't that guy really strong? You talked to him so you should make him join us!"
"Hmph. A shame he chose a path against an archwizard. I would have revealed to him the romance of explosions!"
"That man, he must be really strong… Heh, heh heh, look at those rough hands. Do you think he uses them to hit maidens in their—!"
I'm going to scream.