Volume 2 Chapter 5 In Memory, Backstreet Shop
I woke up to the sound of multiple noises.
Opening the door, I saw a group of people hurriedly walking down the bright corridor. The town of Voljanath was welcoming the morning.
I gently shook Leanne's shoulder, who was sleeping peacefully under the blanket, urging her to wake up. Still groggy, she followed me as we left the dusty storage room behind.
Returning the borrowed blanket to the innkeeper, we stepped outside. We washed our faces and drank water from the well just behind us, feeling a surge of energy.
This area seemed to have clean and abundant water, just like the other customers who were doing the same.
The sky was clear and sunny.
If things continued like this until our earnings stabilized, it would be a relief.
"Are you going to the guild today?"
Leanne asked, brushing off droplets from her hand.
"I'm going to ask Eric for a loan. I'll buy a weapon, even a knife or whatever, so I can take on more lucrative quests."
"Do you think he'll lend you the money?"
"If not, I'll think of another plan."
I tried to take Leanne's hand and walk away, but she pulled me back.
"Hey, can we stop doing this?"
"What do you mean?"
"That person obstructed our Adventurer Registration because he thought it would harm the guild's reputation. Do you really believe someone like that will help us?"
"Well, that may be true... but maybe there's some reason behind it."
"I doubt it."
I never thought I could borrow money for sure.
But the advice after the registration seemed accurate.
He's not especially kind, but not an enemy either.
He's the only one I can rely on in this unfamiliar place for now.
"Reality isn't so sweet. If things continue like this, we'll just end up disappointed and miserable."
"Yeah, that might be true. You might be the first one."
"I probably won't be alive then. I understand the anxiety, but try to be calmer."
I got into an argument, but I need to calm down for a moment.
Leanne is right; I've been so desperate to make money that I've lost all sense of composure.
The chances of Eric lending me money are extremely low. It was made clear in our conversation yesterday.
If I fail to persuade him, our impression of us will only worsen. It seems like I should reconsider my approach.
"Understood. Let's look for a job that can earn us money besides collecting herbs."
"A wise decision."
Leanne is much more grounded in reality than I am.
I hold her hand again, this time without resistance.
We start walking side by side through narrow alleyways to get back to the main street. I search for the way while retracing the memories of last night. I should have asked for directions at the inn if I had known it would come to this.
"...?"
After walking for a while, I feel a strange sense of familiarity.
It feels like I've been on this path before, but that can't be right. Yet, my feet move naturally.
As I arrived at the house, it looked just like any other ordinary home in the town.
There was a hanging iron sign, indicating that it might be some kind of shop.
"What's wrong?"
"Well... I'm just really curious about this shop."
"But you don't have any money, do you?"
"Can't we just go in for a look?"
"Sure, I guess. Maybe we can ask if there's any work available."
"Oh, I see."
If I only wanted to earn money, I didn't need to be an adventurer.
Why did I insist on being one in the first place?
Was there any reason other than just to survive?
Slowly opening the door, a bell at the top rang.
Inside the shop, there were all sorts of items crammed together. Books, trinkets, and even weapons. It seemed to be a kind of general store.
There were other people in the shop besides us.
In front of the counter stood a young man with blond hair, holding a teacup. And further back, there was an older man wearing an old-fashioned blue robe, with a dignified white beard, sitting in a chair with a pipe in his mouth.
They both just stared at us without saying a word.
Something feels off.
The people in this store don't seem like they belong here, I thought to myself.
"'Who are you?'"
The words slipped out of my mouth.
The two of them looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! This is interesting, isn't it?"
"I've never been called that by a customer before."
Suddenly, Leanne smacked me on the head.
"Stupid. What are you saying out of the blue?"
"...Sorry."
It's no use being laughed at. Even though it's obvious that I'm the outsider here, I said something strange.
"Sorry. He's a bit weird."
It seems like I've been labeled as a weird person.
"No, no, I'm sorry for laughing and all."
"Just to make it clear, I am the owner of this store. Not a thief or anything."
The old man who owns the shop was explaining things while puffing on his pipe.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Leanne, and this is Ark."
"Leanne-san and Ark-san, huh? I'm Albert, a regular at this shop. And this is Wallace-san, the shop owner."
The man who called himself Albert was wearing a really nice white shirt with a black vest and pants. It looked like he was being treated to some tea, so he must be a frequent customer.
"Wallace-san, can I make some tea for them too?"
"Oh, sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. It's my hobby."
It was a strange situation for a customer like Albert to be making tea, but it seems like they're really close.
"It's a shame, but we don't have any money, so we can't buy anything."
"Oh, then why are you here?"
"We're looking for work. Do you need someone to watch the shop or do some cleaning or anything?"
"I became an adventurer yesterday, but... well, I tried to, but I'm not making much and I'm struggling."
Leanne gave me a scary look, so I changed to polite language.
It was a bit scary.
"Wow, I envy adventurers. If I were born differently, I'd definitely become one."
Albert happily spoke while pouring tea into two beautifully patterned teacups from a teapot. Judging from his manner and appearance, he might be wealthy but not free.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
A pleasant aroma wafted from the offered cups. After taking a sip, my body warmed up.
"Wow, it's really delicious."
Leanne seemed to like the taste.
"I'm glad you like it. It's made from tea leaves grown in this region, so I'm quite proud of it."
I didn't know why Albert was boasting, but if I could enjoy it, there was no reason to refuse.
As I looked at Wallace, he was reading a thick book with a pipe in hand.
After we finished the tea, Wallace turned to us.
"Too bad, there's no job for the likes of you here."
Wallace's response was somewhat expected.
Not to be disrespectful, but a small shop like this doesn't need two more helpers, and it's not doing very well.
"I see. I'm sorry for asking the impossible."
"I used to be a poor adventurer myself, so I understand. I'd like to help, but as you can see, there aren't many customers around."
It seems Wallace was once an adventurer. Maybe that's why he's wearing a robe that looks like something a traveling magician would wear.
"If you're looking for work, may I ask you something?"
Unexpectedly, it was Albert who said that.
It was a sudden request. He looks like a wealthy merchant, so maybe it's something related to the merchant guild.
"Really? What kind of job would it be?"
"I want you two to gather interesting stories as adventurers."
"Interesting stories?"
This was a really strange request, kind of out of left field, you know?
Usually, adventurers are all about slaying monsters and stuff, but this time, it's all about getting the scoop, the inside info.
"I've been researching this region, and I often visit this guy Wallace, who's a real history buff."
"Region's history... huh?"
"Yeah, when I was young, I used to be an adventurer, and I had this thing for exploring ruins just out of curiosity. My skills got noticed, and that's how I ended up taking on jobs for Albert-dono."
They both had a thing for history research, and that's how they got to know each other.
It's not every day that someone like Wallace, who's so knowledgeable about history, goes out of their way to wander down deserted alleys.
"Can you give us some more specific details?"
"For example, there's a dungeon a little to the east of this town, right? Do you guys know why it's there, and who built it?"
Albert mentioned a dungeon, probably a place mentioned on a sign. It's deep in the forest, and Eric warned not to get close.
"I don't know."
"Yeah, 'nobody knows'. An old, mysterious ruin, even the era it's from is unknown, just sitting there in the middle of the forest. Weird, right?"
It is weird, but adventurers aren't interested in history itself, just valuable things.
If we get information about the dungeon's structure, we might find hidden paths. But if that info exists, someone probably took the treasure a long time ago.
"I have two requests for you. One is to tell me rumors about the dungeon and such. The other is, if possible, to get old books about this region... 'ancient documents.' Of course, it's not for free."
Albert reached for the small leather pouch hanging from his waist and pulled out three silver coins.
"Let's consider this as an advance payment for our task. If you manage to accomplish either of the two, it would be wise to come back to this shop. The value of the rumors depends on their content, but as for the ancient document, it is extremely rare, so I can buy it from you for twenty gold coins."
With three silver coins as an advance payment and the possibility of obtaining the ancient document in exchange for twenty gold coins, the worry about money would be alleviated for the time being.
However, the method to obtain the ancient document remains unknown. The fact that neither of them has it suggests that it is not an easily attainable item.
"But we are newcomers. Can we really deliver the expected results?"
"This is somewhat like an investment. I want you to accept it without hesitation. Oh, but please be careful and avoid any dangerous actions.".
Albert turned his gaze towards Leanne, hoping to hear her opinion, but even she seemed unsure about what decision to make.
I have no choice but to decide.
"Understood. I'll give it a try."
"Thank you. I'm counting on you."
With determination, we accept the silver coins.
Whether it goes well or not, we have to take the money to survive.
Having unexpectedly acquired some money, we found ourselves taking on this strange request.
Perhaps, not much is expected of us.
Nevertheless, it is necessary for our survival.
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