Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Oakwood (2)
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A full day of carriage travel.
And then half a day on foot.
Just as blisters were forming and bursting on the soles of my feet, our destination finally revealed its grandeur.
"Whoa..."
An exclamation slipped from my lips.
This was Oakwood.
The western stronghold of the Winster Kingdom, a massive city called a holy site for adventurers due to its proximity to dungeons and ruins.
Its scale mocked the meager imagination of a country rat like me.
The first thing that caught my eye was the enormous city wall.
Carved from gray granite, the wall was so tall I had to tilt my head back to see the top.
Soldiers in blue uniforms patrolled atop it.
The gates stood wide open.
A steady stream of carriages and crowds flowed in and out through the massive archway.
There were guards, but they weren't conducting any special inspections.
Toll collection seemed limited to merchant caravans.
Thanks to that, a shabby traveler like me could slip in without drawing attention.
Stepping inside the gates unveiled a world incomparable to the villages I'd seen before.
"What is all this?"
Smoothly paved sidewalks stretched endlessly ahead.
Three- and four-story buildings of red brick lined both sides densely.
Tall chimneys rising between them belched white steam that hazed the sky.
From afar came deep thumps like massive machinery at work, mingled with the clang of metal striking metal.
The acrid scent of coal smoke mixed with the savory aroma of fresh bread.
And the sweaty tang of people—the fragrance of the city!
"So this is another world."
It felt like a medieval fantasy movie set, yet laced with an oddly modern vibe.
Above all, the bustling street scenes screamed life and vitality.
Merchants in flashy silk robes hawked their wares.
Donkey carts laden with goods rumbled past.
A group of adventurers in armor marched ahead.
"Out of the way! Coming through! My fresh pies will get cold!"
"Fresh mana stones in today! 10% off!"
"Hey, miss! How about a flower?"
The clamor assaulted my ears.
The crowds rivaled Myeongdong Street from my past life.
Most striking were the diverse faces.
Beastkin who looked much like humans but with pointed ears and tails.
Majestic wolfkin, sleek leopardkin, laid-back dogkin.
And then.
"Oh, over there!"
What caught my eye were young girls in gray cloaks scurrying by.
Round ears and long tails. Ratkin, just like me.
They all looked small and youthful.
A kid carrying a basket.
A kid sweeping with a broom.
A kid running errands.
All of them appeared as little girls.
That must be a racial trait of us Ratkin.
Ooh! So many of my cute and clever children still thrive here! Behold, Apostle! Those sparkling eyes!
"Yeah, yeah, there are a lot. Everyone's working hard."
The rodent folk are destined to overrun the land! Prosper! Spread across the world! Gnaw everything!
Just then, a group of slender, elegant figures passed by in the distance.
They exuded an unusually refined air with graceful poise.
People parted naturally around them as they walked in silk robes with haughty expressions.
Rodentia's voice turned icy in an instant.
Tch. Apostle Reti! Do you see them?
"Those people? Why?"
Look closely! Their ears!
As Rodentia said, I looked closer—their ears were long and pointed.
"Wait, no way?"
That's right! Those pointy-eared ones! Elves! The ear freaks!
Elves in another world, huh.
Rodentia's rant didn't stop there.
Apostle! Listen well! Those pointy-eared wretches are vile and arrogant scum!
"Really?"
They pretend to be noble and nature-loving on the outside, but they're rotten inside. Never get involved with them! They even tried to steal my Hamster Wheel once!
Some bad history there, apparently.
'I'll keep that in mind.'
She might exaggerate a bit, but so far, the Lord hadn't lied or spouted total nonsense.
There must be a reason.
Anyway, the crowds were a relief.
In this throng, no chance of running into debt collectors or that adventurer jerk.
I pulled my cloak low and melted into the masses.
The Adventurer's Guild was near the central square.
A massive two-story wooden building with a gleaming brass sign.
Opening the door unleashed a rush of alcohol and paper scents.
The interior blended a classic pub with a modern government office— an odd vibe.
One wall was dominated by a huge bulletin board plastered with quest papers.
Adventurers prowled it, hunting for work.
The other side had a bar selling drinks and food, already rowdy with clinking mugs in broad daylight.
What stood out was the adventurers' behavior.
Many held small black devices.
About the size of a pocket bible, framed in wood and metal.
They stared intently, tapping with their fingers.
The scene felt eerily like commuters on a subway from my past life.
'...Smartphones?'
No, that couldn't be.
How advanced was the tech in this world?
I pushed curiosity aside and headed to the reception desk.
Behind it sat a weary woman with dark circles under eyes that drooped to her chin.
"New registration?"
"Yes."
"Fill out this form. You can write, right?"
I took the pen and started filling it.
For the name, I hesitated, then chose a pseudonym.
I wrote 'Roti'.
Using my real name could lead to tracking.
"Occupation... none yet."
"Then you'll start at Iron Rank. Registration fee is one silver coin."
I paid with my saved coins.
The receptionist skimmed my papers, then turned a strange machine toward me.
A box with a round glass lens.
"Photo time. Look here. Three, two, one."
Peng!
A white flash erupted with smoke.
My startled wide-eyed face printed instantly in black-and-white.
'A camera too, huh.'
Aaah! Apostle! Your face is trapped in there! Witchcraft! It's witchcraft!
Rodentia was freaking out, as expected.
"All registered. Papers process in two days—come back then."
She took my documents and photo to a hulking machine in the back.
A complex behemoth of gems, gears, and metal contraptions.
She fed in the papers and tapped levers like a typewriter.
The machine whirred noisily, transmitting something.
Chiiik!
Tatata-tick!
It sounded like Morse code from an old movie radio operator.
Sending info to HQ or other branches, maybe?
I'd thought this was a pure medieval world, but weird stuff kept popping up.
Another world was full of surprises.
By the time I left the guild, the sun had set.
I needed lodging, but trouble arose.
Oakwood's prices were murderous.
Even the cheapest inns were 1.5 to 3 times pricier than back in the village.
My remaining coins? Useless.
A few bread loaves and scraps left after supplies wouldn't even rent a barn.
"Sigh... City rat life ain't easy."
I headed to a quiet spot on the outskirts.
I settled under a big tree, wrapping myself in my cloak.
Camping out was no big deal.
Before portering, I'd done plenty as Reti.
I slept fine without a bed.
Grasshopper chirps weren't bad lullabies.
I pulled half-finished crossbow parts from my bag.
Worked on them during carriage rides and breaks over two days.
I rubbed the wooden stock with rough leather cloth.
Shh-shh-shh.
The wood's fine grain gleamed under moonlight.
Who knew my past-life woodworking hobby would become survival skills.
My hands moved with Ratkin dexterity.
Apostle, is it almost done?
"Yeah, almost."
I held up the finished stock.
Smooth curves, perfect grip for my small hands.
The shoulder rest was ergonomically curved for my petite frame.
Lighter and easier than standard crossbows.
"Just fix the prod upfront, assemble the trigger, and done. If the pins and latch mesh right..."
I fitted the metal parts.
Click. They snapped together crisply.
Worlds apart from my crude prototype.
This was a real weapon.
Stable, accurate, lethal!
"Library tomorrow, then I can finish it."
Good! Tomorrow, we find our goal! Locate the Pantheon Temple!
The next morning.
I rubbed sleepy eyes and hit the road.
Rodentia had nagged from dawn, spinning her wheel.
Apostle Reti! Don't forget our goal: the Pantheon Temple!
We must become great! For that, we need maps! Knowledge is power!
"Got it, I'm going. Just let me eat one bread first."
Hardtack for breakfast, then heavy steps to the city library.
A grand stone dome of a building.
'Hall of Knowledge' plaque at the entrance.
Problem: entry fee.
Maintenance donation, my foot—pure admission.
'Not like modern libraries...'
Scraped my last coins to get in.
"...My whole fortune. Meant for lunch."
Gritting my teeth, I headed to the shelves.
Books crammed floor-to-ceiling.
Paper and ink scents calmed the soul.
Asked a librarian for a world map and latest geography encyclopedia.
Stacked thick tomes on a table and opened them.
Back home, a phone search would've done it.
Flipping pages manually sucked.
I missed modern convenience fiercely.
The info age, where Wikipedia and AI answered everything.
"Let's see... Winster Kingdom here..."
I spread the map.
Winster Kingdom in the western continent.
The holy city with the Pantheon Temple...
"Looking for the holy city, Hieros... Huh?"
I couldn't believe my eyes.
Winster was western continent.
Hieros was clear across, on the eastern continent beyond the sea...
No.
Vast ocean, jagged mountains, countless nations in between.
Practically the antipodes.
"This real?"
Rodentia and I went silent as tombs.
[...Apostle. How long to get there?]
"Who knows."
I needed more world knowledge, but no airplanes here.
Even if equivalents existed, not for small fry like me.
At my level?
The world's scale was dizzying, immense.
Carriage? Years.
Ship? Pirates or monsters en route.
Worst: the fortune required.
"Lord, can we even reach it at our level?"
[...]
Rodentia fell silent too.
Only the faint wheel spin echoed from my bag.
We stared at the map wordlessly.
Broke dreamers with big ambitions.
The library's hush enveloped us.