Chapter 19 - Sorry, But Living in Bainwood Isn’t That Easy (2)
Chapter 19 - Sorry, But Living in Bainwood Isn’t That Easy (2)
“What do you mean? That living in Bainwood isn’t easy?”
“You’re Theodor, right? What do you think of Bainwood?”
“…It’s a nice place to live.”
“Yes. And I’m sure everyone else thinks the same. ‘Ah, I want to live in Bainwood too.’”
“…”
Ah. I think I see where this is going.
“So, because too many people like me try to register with the Adventurer’s Guild to obtain residence rights… they’ve made becoming an adventurer difficult?”
“Exactly.”
The receptionist, who had maintained a professional smile the entire time, finally relaxed slightly and gave me a wry grin instead.
“To be honest, considering Bainwood’s population, the number of adventurers registered with the guild is already at capacity. Because of that, even truly skilled adventurers are being turned away. But we can’t just kick out those who are already active and doing well, can we?”
“Hmm…”
This is bad. My rosy second-life plan is already falling apart right from the start.
“I’m in a really tight spot right now. I traveled a long way to settle down in Bainwood, and I barely made it here. My travel funds are almost gone.”
“Oh dear.”
“I came to the guild planning to become an adventurer, get residence rights, and earn some settling-in money. But if I can’t even become an adventurer, I’ll end up on the streets. Isn’t there any other way?”
I’d already concluded that registering as an adventurer was out of the question, but I figured I might as well plead with the receptionist just in case.
Being rejected wouldn’t be any worse than now, and maybe she’d know another way?
“Well… Currently, the methods to obtain residence rights in Bainwood all take a long time or are difficult for commoners from outside to qualify for… Ah!”
“Oh? Something good?”
“There is one way for someone like Theodor—without wealth, low status, or a guardian—to reliably obtain residence rights.”
“Ooh! What is it?”
“Enlist in the Imperial Army—”
“I’ll be going now.”
After being rejected by the Adventurer’s Guild, I visited every credible institution I could think of to gather information, but nothing changed.
“As you know, everyone wants to live in Bainwood… That’s why the requirements for residence rights have been steadily increasing. Now, unless you’re wealthy, a skilled artisan with special abilities, or a noble, it’s practically impossible to obtain residence rights.”
After hearing this explanation from a city hall employee, I finally gave up on my plan to get residence rights.
“…This is a full-blown emergency.”
I sat on the edge of the fountain in Bainwood’s central square, blankly watching the passersby.
The cheerful faces of the people that had seemed to warmly welcome me when I first arrived now felt like they were mocking me.
—Did you really think a lowly outsider like you could cling to our blessed land of Bainwood?
As if saying that.
Seriously? I have to deal with gatekeeping even in another world?
“Haah…”
I looked up at the sky. It was pointlessly clear.
Of course, I expected many people would want to live in Bainwood—everyone I talked to unanimously agreed it was a great place—but…
I didn’t think it would be this bad.
Among all the villages and cities I passed through on my way from the Radain Holy Nation, none were as picky as Bainwood.
Without residence rights, you can’t stay in the city for more than six months, and naturally, you can’t buy a house or land—not even rent a single room.
You can only stay as a traveler in places like inns.
Even in another world, I can’t escape the blood-boiling competition for housing. Is this the fate of a Korean?
“…Might as well join the army.”
Thwack!
I hurriedly punched my own mouth for daring to utter such nonsense.
Snap out of it, idiot! That’s not an option!
In my past life, I barely finished my military service before getting sucked into a game world just for turning it on wrong—and now I’m considering enlisting again?
And just to check, I found out that to get Bainwood residence rights through the military, you need to serve at least five years in the local Imperial Army before discharge.
No. Absolutely not.
I won’t waste a single second of this new 18-year-old life I clawed my way back to—especially not in the military.
I got up from the fountain and started walking.
For now, I’ll give up on getting residence rights. If it’s impossible, it’s impossible.
What I need to do right now is secure living expenses.
I need to find an inn for tonight, have a proper meal for the first time in a while, and buy new clothes.
In other words, I need money.
Whether I’ll stubbornly stick around Bainwood or give up and leave cleanly—
I’ll decide my next move after securing food and shelter for today.
Whoosh!
After leaving Bainwood’s western gate and walking for a while, I finally reached a sparsely populated plain where I could use my Qinggong.
[Activating Qinggong: Shadow Moon Step.]
[No Demonic Qi invested. Casting the inferior version: Shadow Moon Step—False Form.]
The martial art I devised to conserve Demonic Qi—since I couldn’t recover it—was the “Formless Technique.”
Literally, an empty martial art. It mimics only the movements without using Demonic Qi.
Of course, it’s far weaker than when using Demonic Qi,
but since I reinterpreted martial arts I’d already mastered to their peak in my own way, mimicking the movements alone still produces decent combat effectiveness.
In the case of Shadow Moon Step, the original allows running at speeds comparable to a car, but the False Form version is a downgrade, reaching only about 40 km/h.
Still, it’s much faster than running normally and consumes less stamina, so it’s better than nothing.
Anyway, using this Qinggong, my destination was a small mountain named Ruwen, located west of Bainwood.
—Huh? You’re asking where bandits frequently appear?
—Hahaha! What an odd question! Bandits? Bainwood’s public security is excellent.
—Ah! Now that you mention it, there is Mount Ruwen to the west. Since travelers from the western continent must pass through it to reach Bainwood, there are supposedly bandits who prey on them.
I recalled a conversation I’d had with some adventurers at the guild.
The mountain isn’t tall, and the monsters there are weak, so travelers heading to Bainwood often pass through Mount Ruwen.
But the forest is dense, and once the sun sets, the paths quickly darken, requiring caution.
Those two factors combined make Mount Ruwen the closest thing to a crime-ridden area in the otherwise peaceful Bainwood region.
That’s right. I’m going to rob some bandits.
In Heavenly Demon Simulator, bandits were synonymous with “money pouches” to me.
Early in the game, when I needed funds to run my demonic sect, or when I was kicked out and had to scramble for money in a bad ending route—
Whenever I needed quick cash, the bandits in the Greenwood Stronghold were nothing more than punching bags that spilled money and treasures.
It’s the same in this world.
Bandits encountered on perilous journeys gladly provide me with money and supplies,
and named bandits with bounties even become “generous trees” that offer extra rewards and reputation when turned in to nearby villages.
So today, to secure daily necessities, I’ve come here looking for any foolhardy bandits lurking in the secluded mountains.
At the foot of the mountain, I licked my lips as I gazed up at the thickly shadowed slopes under the night sky.
“Shall we start searching?”
“Damn it… There’s no one here!”
But contrary to my expectations, after two hours of combing through the dense foliage with Qinggong, I found nothing.
No bandits—not even monsters worth looting for money.
Bainwood’s soldiers and adventurers were disgustingly competent.
They say you can’t find bandits even if you need medicine—and that’s exactly how I feel right now.
“…Sigh.”
Finally giving up on finding bandits near the mountain’s peak, I plopped down on a rock.
“Looks like I’m sleeping rough tonight.”
Just as I was about to pull out a tent from my bag—
—…! —!!
“…!”
Piercing the quiet night air of the mountain, I heard voices.
Faint due to the distance, but unmistakably someone shouting in agitation.
Closing my eyes, I focused my senses beyond sight.
Multiple shouts, the sound of something burning, and the metallic stench of blood.
A battle was unfolding about 500 meters west of here, at the mountain’s base.
Whoosh!
Before my rationality could intervene, I grabbed a single sword from my belongings and sprinted toward the noise.
‘Bandits!’
What luck, just as I was about to give up!
What else could be happening on this mountain? Bandits ambushing travelers—what else could it be? Right?
“Juten or whoever, I don’t believe in you, but I’ll gratefully accept this gift.”
Recalling the Saintess’s teachings, I offered my own version of a prayer of thanks to Juten before racing toward the scene at full speed.
And the situation I witnessed upon arrival was exactly as expected.
A carriage overturned and burning in the middle of the road, horses collapsed with arrows in their heads.
“No matter what happens, the young lady must not be harmed!”
The fewer-than-ten guards protecting the carriage,
“Kuhahaha!! Loot ’em, boys! We’ve got ourselves a rare guest!”
And the over thirty bandits surrounding them.
Oho. A two-for-one deal.
Rob the bandits and rescue the victims.
If I play my cards right, I might even get a reward from the people I save.
Cheering inwardly at this unexpected windfall, I drew my sword, preparing to make a cool entrance and leave a good impression on my future benefactors—
“Do you even know who I am, daring to do this?”
A woman’s voice came from inside the carriage.
At the same time, the door burst open, and a woman leaped out.
The only light came from the few torches held by the bandits,
but even so, I could clearly see her extravagant red dress and eyes that glittered just as vividly.
“You dare lay hands on me, Parmela Herthe? Do the Herthe Ducal House hold no fear for you?”
As she boldly declared, placing both hands on her hips and lifting her chin defiantly, her golden twin-tails swayed dramatically.