The Port Guidance Office
I dropped my luggage in the room, stashed the valuables in my extradimensional space, and headed out into the city streets.
As expected of a core metropolis and tourist hub, it brimmed with energy. Not quite on par with Shinjuku, but crowded enough that I had to weave through the throng.
Glancing back, I saw Sasha lagging behind, swept along by the crowd. I paused briefly to let her catch up, then casually offered my hand.
"Uh..."
She tilted her head with a puzzled look, so I grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
"So you don't get lost."
"Ah... yes."
We looped back to the main boulevard where the Emond Merchant House was, then entered a small building at the edge of the plaza.
I'd spotted it on the way to the inn.
A large wooden sign above the door read Oguri Kyuresu Port Guidance Office.
"Welcomeee~"
The interior was surprisingly empty. At the counter, a short old lady was chatting quietly with a staff member.
I waited at the adjacent counter.
"What can I do for you?"
"First time here. Thought I might grab a map or something of the area."
A young man poked his head out from the back and nodded silently, flipping through some documents.
"Uh, yes, that'll be thirty copper coins for one."
They charge for it, huh.
Well, maps can be valuable commodities depending on the era—sometimes treated as military secrets. Can't be helped, I suppose.
"I'll take it."
"I'll fetch it. Please wait a moment."
I saw him off to the back, then idly flipped through the materials near the counter to kill time. Hmm, operated by something called the Urban Guidance Information Provision Organization.
Led by some noble, but it doesn't seem like a big deal. Probably a cushy retirement spot for an old aristocrat.
"Sorry for the wait. Just the one sheet?"
You could've asked that before going to fetch it, I thought, but nodded and took it anyway. Fine, one is enough.
The front side showed a rough map of the surrounding area. Basic street layouts in this district, with some shops and landmarks marked.
Good for getting a general sense of the roads, but useless for terrain details. Probably intentional to protect military secrets. A bit disappointing.
The back had a larger-scale map showing positional relationships to other districts, gates leading there, and such—very roughly.
Even less info than the front. Hmm.
"Is this all for the map?"
"Yes, that's it."
"Can I get directions to specific shops or places here at the guidance office?"
"That's what we're for. If it's something I know, I'll tell you."
"Got it. Any good spots for learning magic?"
The young man furrowed his brow, thinking for a few seconds before answering.
"Magic, huh. Are you a mage yourself?"
"Nah, not yet. Just thinking about becoming one."
"I see. For schools teaching magic, there's the Central District's Higher Academy, plus a few private academies."
"Hmm."
"Not that? If you want personal lessons... hmm."
"Tough?"
"Apprenticing under a mage, maybe? Or head to the Mage Guild after becoming one—they might know something."
"Oh? Mage Guild?"
Sounds intriguing.
"Yes. But don't picture it like a trade guild or merchants' association. It's more like a club for mages."
"A club..."
And just like that, it sounded lame.
"Mages with magic-related jobs gather to chat, exchange ideas, start research on new spells, that sort of thing. I'm no mage myself, so that's all I know."
"Gotcha. Thanks."
Not holding my breath, but a loose circle beats some rigid, exclusive cartel. Lower barrier to entry. I'll check it out later.
"Traveling and need weapons. Where are good shops for that?"
"No fixed spot, but for selection, check the big stores along this avenue. Famous ones are... here, Seicradd, and... Armin's Armory here."
He traced the map with his finger to show me. I marked them with X's using the reception pen.
"Hmm."
"For higher quality or custom orders, head to the artisan quarter. Around here."
This Commercial District 2 includes an artisan quarter too. Could live my whole life here.
"Do other commercial districts have better weapon selections?"
"Not too familiar with arms myself... But District 2 is one of the busiest, so you should find most things."
"Fair enough."
Looking at the back—the city's overall layout (overview)—it had one commercial district each east, west, south, north, and central, with residential areas in between.
Central had a high-end neighborhood, likely nobles and rich folk.
West, south, north were similar in design but varied in shape and scale. East faced the sea, so unique—military and trade port considerations made the map hazy, with minimal info.
Just rough ship docks and numbered assignments.
"Helpful. Thanks."
"No problem."
I gave the guy props. Looked unmotivated at first, but damn useful.
"Oh, right—one more. Any places to browse books around here?"
"Library? There's a small public one. For big ones, Central District."
So major ones are in the fancy hood.
"Private ones?"
"Yes. Merchants run paid reading rooms for books they've acquired. Central has nobles lending theirs free, but usually need an intro to enter."
Got it. Books here are scarcer than modern Japan but more than Earth's medieval/early modern era—valuable commodities.
Hard to schmooze into a noble library, so merchant paid spot or trek to Central.
On the way out, I tossed a silver coin as a tip on a whim. He looked thrilled taking it. Good call.
Should've done it upfront—might've loosened his tongue more. Missed opportunity.
For now, hit that Mage Guild he marked on the map.
The Mage Guild was... not grand, but like a decent-sized local community center in some provincial town.
Deep in a back alley, kinda sticking out from surroundings. Fits the otherworldly mage vibe, maybe.
Inside was an open space. A blackboard up front listed today's room/lab usage and reservations.
Yup, total community center.
"That over there?"
A small counter in the far left corner looked manned if called.
"Hello—?"
I called out firmly, and pattering footsteps brought a robed small figure.
"Yes, yes~ Oh, a customer?"
"Yeah. This the Mage Guild?"
"Yup, yup. First time?"
"Yep."
The robe had a high voice—woman, probably. Short; head only to my chest. Could be a kid pre-puberty.
But doubtful a kid mans reception, so likely a woman.
"Registering?"
"Yeah, guidance office said come here if learning magic."
"Ooh, really."
I could tell she nodded up at me. Face hidden by robe, but her movements conveyed emotions well.
"Start with registration info?"
"Please."
"This guild's a gathering spot for magic lovers and practitioners. One silver a month registers you for partial facility access and member-led lectures."
One silver monthly. Affordable. But like 10k yen a month—not cheap.
"Next, affiliation. Annual fee makes you a full member: free facility use, research pamphlets occasionally. ...Good so far?"
"Yeah."
"Sir... uh."
"Yoyo."
"Yoyo-san wants to learn magic?"
"Yeah, wasn't a mage before, but church said I could become one. Dream come true, so I switched jobs."
"Oh? Level 1 then?"
"Probably. Too late for jobbing and school; can't carve out time. Any chance for personal lessons?"
I bullshitted smoothly as she rubbed her hooded head, pondering.
"...Hmm, register first, then I'll find someone to teach you."
"Possible?"
"Likely. But it'll cost."
"How much?"
"Market rate: 1-2 hours per session, about three silvers..."
"Steep... nah, fair enough. Proceed?"
"Got it. Try one and decide if continuing. Some struggle with mana control even for basics, but zero-from-scratch is rare."
"R-right."
"Total beginner, teach from ground up?"
"Yeah."
I could already spark a tiny flame, but better start from zero to catch gaps.
"Come back tomorrow convenient time. I'll line someone up."
"Roger."
No same-day start. Fine, magic training from tomorrow.
"Registration one silver?"
"Yup. ...Received."
She handed quality paper; I filled personal info.
Name: Yoyo. Job: Mage. Specialty magic? None.
"...Okay. Palm down on the paper. ...Good. Registered your mana to this card—keep it."
"Whoa, mana registration possible?"
"Yup~ Merchants use mana-reg paper for big contracts. Handy ID."
"Neat."
Club-like, but techier than mercenary guilds.
Formal members are hobbyist researchers; some probably craft magic tools as hobby.
"Back tomorrow. Thanks for everything."
"Waiting~!"
She waved enthusiastically; robe slipped, revealing a kid-girl face. Responses were solid, so probably not a child—but who knows. Musing as I exited, Sasha piped up.
"That was a Tutuk tribe woman."
"Tutuk tribe?"
"You didn't know? A dwarf-like race, heavily mixed with humans—look like normal kids. Not many, but around here, any short folk are Tutuk."
"Huh~."
Dwarves exist. Mistook for kids; probably some in the streets unnoticed.
"Heard if mother's Tutuk, kid inherits traits. Father's side? Looks human-sized, so unnoticed mixes common. Friend pointed it out to me once."
"Huh. Status race display for mixes?"
"Usually dominant blood. Mixes sometimes certified new race."
"I see..."
"Some choose race later."
"Choosable? Dual citizenship vibe... benefits to changing?"
"Some avoid mixes or other races as partners."
"Ah. Marry Tutuk woman, kid mini-sized possible. Even sans prejudice, inconveniences make folks wary. Can't fully blame 'em."
"Indeed."
Choosable kinda negates it? Nah, if human-dominant, no issue. Complicated. Irrelevant to me.
"Magic sorted. Next gear... wait, forgot magic stone exchange."
Stashed escort quest stones in space corner; slipped my mind. Wasteful.
"Monster material buyer? ...Here."
Map showed "Magic Stone Buyer" near gate. Casual map, but handy. Worth the price.
"Way more cash than expected~."
I jingled the pouch of silvers and coppers into my space.
Stones averaged ten-ish coppers as usual, bit low—but one outlier.
Rock Dog stone.
Smooth sphere, brown—perfect earth-attuned magic tool fuel. Fetched thirteen silvers. Nice.
Covered guidance office and guild splurges with change.
"Now, gear up with leftovers."
"Yes."
Window-shopped big armories first, gauged prices.
Pricey. Swords all over; promising ones gold-coin tagged. No-go.
Metal armor worse—full set? Goldcoins flee.
Bought Sasha's arrows planned, plus archer gloves, elbow guards.
Shelved armor refresh till gold piles or leather rots; reinforce weak points.
Gloves for her hand pain from long holds.
Total ten silvers.
My shield beat-up; upgraded.
Less shield-tanking now, more drop-and-charge, so small hand-strap buckler type.
Game term: buckler.
Two silvers. Trade-in old one? Pennies. Cheap junk anyway.
"Weapon refresh... hmm."
Groaning, Sasha eyed suggestively.
"Master, if spare cash, maybe daggers?"
"Daggers. Sub-weapon?"
"Yes. Your longsword, my bow—awkward close/fast. Knife fight? Unsettling."
"True."
Daggers cheap size-wise; fine. Took her advice: three daggers.
One spare.
Plain iron: three silvers. Edgy black blade: seven.
Black from monster fang—tough magic conductor, sharper mana-channeled. Magic weapon.
Intrigued by magic weapons, plus that matte black allure—I impulse-bought.
No regrets.
Expecting fiscal wisdom from a guy who buys slaves on goldcoin whim? Wrong.
"New weapons itch for battle."
"Do they?"
Sasha unmoved, but cash spent—need earn. Urged out west gate.
Lunch, wrong turns ate time; sun dipping on exit.
Nearby monsters hunted out; forest search yielded one fang dog.
Sasha arrow slowed it; I dagger-slashed. Sharp enough, but no real test.
Gather intel tomorrow; revenge.