1-3 Residence Permit

"Hii, fuu, mii... Alright, that's 15 Green Caterpillar magic stones received. Here's one silver coin and 30 copper coins."

"Looks good to me."

After selling off the Green Caterpillar magic stones, my current funds sat at around two silver coins and 50 copper coins.

Wait, haven't they actually gone down? Well, no helping it.

The timing had been rotten—the market price for Green Caterpillar magic stones had dipped a bit, which stung.

The next weakest monster after Green Caterpillars seemed to be goblins. But goblins used tools and were good at fighting in groups.

In that sense, Blood Slimes were apparently easier to hunt.

"Maybe I should target Blood Slimes until the Green Caterpillar prices recover?"

With that in mind, I headed to the second-floor reference room to dig into details on Blood Slimes. They kept it open to the public for free, basically.

Once it got crowded, they started charging and using numbered tickets for time slots, or so I'd heard.

Now, Blood Slimes were a variant of the classic shapeless staple: slimes.

First off, slimes in general shared one key trait—they stopped moving if their magic stone was destroyed or they lost a significant amount of body mass.

Blood Slimes were filled with a red liquid inside, which set them apart from regular slimes made mostly of uniform viscous goo. Slash their bodies, and the liquid spilled out, making it easy to reduce their mass and shut them down.

That said, what made Blood Slimes dangerous was their ability to sharpen parts of their body into weapons, and some individuals could even use magic. Regular slimes mainly engulfed foes to suffocate them or spat corrosive fluids—maybe whipping around like a lash at best.

But Blood Slimes stabbed with pointed tips.

High direct attack power. Their magic was usually fire-based, like hurling fireballs. There were even reports of earth magic users, so letting your guard down was a bad idea.

Way more monster-like than the low-attack Green Caterpillars. I'd need to psych myself up for this.

Unfortunately, being shapeshifters, there were no materials to harvest.

Well, regular slimes could be used as materials in their own right, but the red liquid making up most of a Blood Slime didn't have any known uses.

So, only the magic stone was worth money. But taking them down without damaging the stone was a hassle. Just like Green Caterpillars, they fell into the "not worth the effort" category. Oh well.

Magic stones went for 11 copper each minimum—up to 15 or so depending on size. Slimes had wildly varying magic stone sizes, so it was a bit of a gamble.

Since Blood Slimes attacked by sharpening and lunging, I picked up a used metal shield.

50 copper coins. Lucky to snag a shield without dipping into silver. It looked cheap as hell, though.

After all the rough camping, I splurged on a private room at an inn for a solid recovery sleep. Another 50 copper.

Left with one silver coin and just over 50 copper... C'mon, Blood Slimes. You're my pick now.

I set out in the early afternoon, grabbing the cheapest, heaviest street food I could find in town and even trying some adventurer-style dried meat for portable rations.

Blood Slimes lived in the wilderness, so I filled a canteen with water this time and wanted a bigger backpack I could carry comfortably.

A few changes of clothes, a sleeping bag or blanket for nights... All that ate through my copper coins.

If I had spare cash, I'd gear up on armor too, but when would I afford a full set?

Made me wanna cry.

This time, I headed out the south gate toward the southwest wilderness—the opposite direction from Green Caterpillars.

Now, let's check my current status.

Not much change.

The Interferer job had leveled up by 1.

But it had happened while I was dead asleep at the inn after waking up, so it wasn't from killing Green Caterpillars. Kinda bugged me.

I'd checked the library to look into it, but they hit me with a one-silver entry fee and I bailed. If I'd played pitiful and begged, maybe they'd lend it out of pity... nope. Yeah, no.

Research on hold until I'm loaded.

Southwest had no real roads—just rocky wilderness, up and down all the way.

Soon enough, I spotted a wriggling red thing. That a Blood Slime? Creepy as hell watching it move.

Quick stab with the large knife and leap back—it shuddered, spraying red liquid.

Thinking it was coming at me, it extended a pointed tentacle!

I blocked solid with the shield, stabbed again, and backed off.

A few repeats, its movements slowed, so I went all-in stabbing to finish it.

"Scary attacks, but lower defense than Green Caterpillars."

It deflated once down, magic stone surfacing easily for recovery. Nice—Blood Slime hunting might work.

They were slow, no ambush risk. Pushing west steadily, I hit nearly 10 on day one.

Trip over dodging needle-like projectiles from afar, nearly scorched my foot from a fireball after getting cocky... hiccups aside, stones piled up smooth.

So many, though. What was all that Green Caterpillar hunting grief?

Blood Slime hunting had downsides, too.

Wilderness—no cover like northwest woods. No local water resupply. Murky puddles, but undrinkable.

Raw water's a no-go anyway; maybe forest springs were riskier.

South gate had water stalls—ration that, no baths or even wiping down.

Sweaty and sticky, I returned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠near south gate, crashed under a roadside tree blanket-wrapped.

(Can't keep these expeditions long...)

Status check before passing out.

I'd swapped Dagger User for Survivor. Leveling it might yield survival skills for this lifestyle.

Once I had cash, daggers were history anyway.

Two levels in one day.

(Job-specific exp rates? Or non-combat exp too? Probably both.)

Squirming into a comfy spot under the blanket, I pondered.

Survivor might auto-gain exp ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from outdoor living.

If so, stick with it awhile.

No attack bonus, but Blood Slimes didn't need raw power.

(Still, sleeping outside the walls is scary... Wanna inn it up soon. Weird no other broke folks camp out here, though.)

Sheephei didn't know, but almost nobody hunted monsters outside walls on a shoestring like him.

Entry fees left no margin, plus dangers.

Slums were safer, steadier cash.

Game-world vibes had him fixated on monster hunting sans common sense, landing him here.

(This pace, a couple more Blood Slime days and I'll have breathing room.)

Exhausted body dragged him to sleep despite the crap conditions.

Next day, south from the gate.

Near southeast road, but same Blood Slime density as yesterday.

(This many monsters day-trip from town a problem?)

Manageable with escorts even in hordes, but road ambushes could wreck carriages on hardened bodies—big accidents.

(Report to center? Nah, gate guards suffice.)

Spotted fireballs telegraphed by body-hunching—smoothed out fights yesterday-plus.

Back by dusk: 8 stones.

Gate guard eyed me, bored. South gate quieter than east, guards always idle.

"What, wanna enter?"

"Nah, reporting lotsa Blood Slimes."

"Huh, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how many?"

"Ten a day. Half-day round trip, so... too many? My bad if wrong."

"Nah, sounds high. Direction?"

"West yesterday, south today—both same."

"Got it... Spawn surge maybe. Thanks for the tip."

Worried nosy, but polite thanks eased me.

Spawn surges real—bad timing outside would've sucked.

Chilled, bought water stall-side, gnawed dried meat.

No ready eats like east gate. Few stalls, raw veggies mostly. Low traffic, low profit.

Water guy said outer-wall sellers couldn't afford in-town spot fees or went red—tax-free out here?

Next day, mid-morning Blood Slime grind hit metal-armored knight duo circling one by afternoon.

Bandits? Alert—but they spotted me, waved casual.

"Yo."

"Uh, hey."

"Solo Blood Slimes? Rare."

"Yeah, well. You guys?"

"Routine patrol. Tip on surge yesterday, so..."

"Tip... me, probably."

"You? Thanks. Numbers spiked lately. Patrols help, but day-old intel hurts."

"You... town guards?"

"Nah, Warrior Squad. Slagee Warrior Squad. Thinning monsters on roads—news to ya?"

"Sorry, not too bright."

"Haha, no sweat. Surge means more soon, higher predators or Big Slimes. Watch it."

"Gotcha."

Big Slime... merged Bloods? Amped magic? Beyond me now. Early quit.

Light hunt after, back to town.

(Nice, Stamina bumped.)

Job levels boosted corrections too.

(Interferer corrections vague—multi-job interactions mystery.)

Lost in thought, counter lady from day one checked my stones—nice auntie type.

"All good. After fees: two silver, eight small silver."

Small silvers equaled 10 copper. Sheephei feared losing 'em, but not common.

80 copper worth, so small silvers.

"Can ya swap half to copper?"

"Sure, three small silver, 50 copper."

Smiley service. She'd have broken me day one without her. Saintly.

"Any tip system here?"

"Pardon?"

"You help so much, wanna slip ya copper..."

"Some offer, but I decline. Just doing my job."

Beam. Younger, I'd crush.

"Sorry, dumb idea..."

"No, really appreciate the thought."

Feeling good, monster center out—splurged drinking district grub, no booze. Pricey, meh interest. Pass out here, loot gone.

Delivered: ginger pork-like fried meat smash, thick mushroom soup, heaping rice.

Isekai tales back home hungered for Japanese food eastbound. Slagee had rice normal.

Rice over wheat mainstream. Bread existed, but eateries split ~2:1 rice to bread mains.

Starved outside, wolfed seconds, booked cheap inn multi-night. Rough camping rethink.

Multi got discount: 43 copper/night. Decent.

Next day, Sheephei hit town hall outpost in slums. Gate guard from Blood Slime report handled it—griped entry fees killing him.

"Get a residence permit then?" casual toss.

Holders tax-free day trips.

One silver reg, 20 silver yearly end.

March-ish month 3/12—time buffer. Camping limits hit, so why not.

Permit just "long-term resident"—below lifelong citizens.

Nobles? Instant death.

Weak ID, but beats none.

Tax hack mindset.

"Hand here, please."

Crystal magitool lit name, age, crimes. How?

"Good. Here's your permit. One silver fee."

Silver swapped for small silver card.

"Yoyo Human" simple.

"Cancel before leaving ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠town, or tax evasion crime."

"Yes. Day trips?"

"Show gate official out/in—they handle."

"Got it."

Day-trip free pass acquired.

(Wish day one... whatever, future-focused.)

Info hunt + daily Green Caterpillar/Blood Slime = inn sustainable.

Path clear, gear next.

Straight to weapon shop.

"Ugh, pricey... way too much."

Swords, spears, bows—no copper buys. Cheapest few silver.

Weapon hiatus, "Town Sundries" stocked inn needs.

Found: wooden spear.

("Tool" slot...? Wooden spear.)

Odd, but 30 copper bargain weapon.

Two, spares.

Warring States peasant bamboo spear vibe.

Killing tool, not "weapon."

"Solid build... fine for Blood Slimes."

Whistling, rice ball dinner, slave market peek—time left.

"Prime strongman! Two gold steal!"

"Young, trainable! Literate!"

New today: greengrocer barkers everywhere.

Time-specific maybe.

Plain guy no-muscle: two gold, 200 silver. Steep. Spotted women-only stall.

Men ogled. Popular use.

Caged women slumped, unenergetic. Duh.

No price tags.

"Sir, what girl you seek?"

Elderly man flanked me.

"Uh, just browsing. Sorry."

"Understood."

"One question."

"Yes?"

"How prices set?"

"Budget? We match. Or haggle on-site fave."

"...No fixed prices?"

"Market exists, but negotiable."

Filter clueless? Or ad—trust us beauties, details in-store.

"Thanks."

Man bowed, next mark.

(No prices scary... gold first.)

Bit down, inn return.