Chapter 197: Economy? Currency? I Don't Know, Man (2)
Chapter 197: Economy? Currency? I Don't Know, Man (2)
Leaving the sleeping Un-ho behind, the two of us stepped out into the hallway.
I waited for about thirty seconds to see if Al’shel was going to do something, but he just stood there, staring blankly into space.
“…What are you doing? Aren't we going?”
“Hmm? Ah. My apologies. Come to think of it, this is your first time here, so I should have explained everything step by step.”
Al’shel scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed.
Just like a human would.
Ever since we arrived here, I felt like I was seeing sides of Al’shel I’d never seen before.
“It’s because I’ve returned to a place I missed. I mistakenly assumed you already knew.”
His tone suggested there was more to it than he was letting on.
What’s with you? You weren't like this before.
Ugh. It’s a bit nauseating.
“Anyway. After a quick look, it seems the people you encountered belong to a group that isn't particularly powerful. In other words, they’re the perfect targets to hit.”
“When did you look into that?”
“I have that much authority, at least. Well, let’s just say I used a bit of a back door. It’s not something to be proud of, though.”
As he spoke, Al’shel looked toward a distant, invisible mountain, as if he’d done something wrong.
We weren't making any progress.
“Setting that aside, why are you just standing there doing nothing?”
“Hmm? Didn't you learn how to move?”
“Visualizing the Training Ground and concentrating? What am I supposed to do with that?”
Are we going to train right now?
“Hmm. Ah. I should have mentioned this as well. Mmmmmm. There’s so much to explain that I’m starting to lose track of what qualifies as common sense.”
No, stop with the self-pity. Just spit it out.
“These individual rooms are for those who survived alone or have no interest in grouping up. But those who move in racial units, like the ones you saw… they stick together and create a world that suits their living conditions.”
Hmm. Sounds like the kind of knowledge that’ll be useless for the rest of my life.
“And to go to such a world, you need to have encountered someone belonging to it at least once. That’s why I have to follow you as you move.”
I see.
Hearing that, I recalled the appearance of the guys I’d blown away earlier and their world, which I hadn't seen yet.
“Additionally, this is all part of your training. I don’t know if you’ll ever return to the Otherworld, Lee Ha-ram, but the reason we chose such a complex method is to help you adapt to the Otherworld, where will is the foundation of everything…”
Al’shel’s rambling continued in the background, but his voice felt distant.
Four arms.
Purple skin.
Many eyes.
A humanoid intelligent lifeform.
Despite my poor memory, the image of the opponents I’d met only once rose vividly in my mind.
“…It will be harder to use than you think, but if you repeat it a few times, you’ll get fast—”
Along with Al’shel’s voice, which had momentarily drifted away.
Thud.
A loud sound echoed, breaking my concentration.
“…What was that?”
“…You succeeded.”
When I opened my eyes, I saw a wall that had suddenly appeared in front of me, complete with a rusted green iron door.
“Hmm… So, if I go through there, I’ll be in their world?”
This wasn't what I expected.
I thought I’d teleport or be accelerated like when I first came here.
“Yes. I called it a world, but to be precise, it’s a room as massive as a world. You move through the door.”
Ah. Is that how it works?
Instead of a private room, it’s like a room for a hundred million people.
“Well then. Shall we?”
As I reached for the handle.
“Wait. I’ll go first. We don’t know what might happen.”
Al’shel stepped between me and the door, turning the handle quickly without waiting for my answer.
Clack, creeeak.
The door let out a metallic screech befitting its appearance.
Through Al’shel’s slender frame, the interior looked like a simple alleyway.
“Doesn't look like much.”
“I agree. Let’s go in.”
With those words, Al’shel strode through the door.
I followed him.
My first impression of this new world was:
“It’s hot as hell.”
It was a muggy, humid, sticky space.
As if the other side of the door really was a different world.
Well, he did say it was effectively a different world.
As I thought that, I closed the door.
Click.
The moment it shut, the sensation of the handle in my hand vanished.
Startled, I looked back at where the door had been, but there was only a wall.
“Why are you so surprised after coming all this way? What’s the big deal about a door disappearing?”
I mean, you’re not wrong… but honestly, how can I not be surprised? I’m a man of common sense.
I thought that, but since Al’shel wasn't technically wrong, I just changed the subject.
“So, what now? I already want to go home.”
Clang.
At those words, a strange sound prompted me to look back again.
“….”
A door had appeared.
“You handle it better than I imagined.”
No, I wasn't even concentrating? Why did that appear?
Go away. Disappear.
Did it hear my wish?
The door that had appeared vanished as easily as a mirage.
“…What was that?”
“Even if you ask me, I can only explain it as a system that manipulates reality according to your will, as long as it doesn't violate the rules within the Demon Train.”
“Uh… thanks for the detailed explanation that even I could understand.”
“Don’t mention it.”
That wasn't a compliment.
I understood it, though.
“So. What are we doing?”
“Well… first.”
Ignoring my question, Al’shel walked toward the intense light at the end of the alley, heading for the main street.
“Why don’t we take a look around this race’s residential area while we gather some information?”
* * *
The residential area of the Purple Ones could be summarized like this:
A tropical rainforest climate.
Skyscrapers made of stone mixed with vegetation.
An environment focused on visual stimulation, with advertisements and signs plastered all the way up to the ceiling, glowing with rainbow colors.
And finally, the doors and windows were generally massive.
“As you can see from the fellow crossing over our heads by grabbing the power lines, it seems to be because their arm strength is incredibly high. They do have four arms, after all.”
Thanks for the kind explanation.
Just as he said, I frequently saw lines connecting buildings, and they seemed to use windows as doors, moving in and out of them constantly.
Plus, there were the gazes fixed on us.
“Al’shel?”
“Yes?”
“I should have asked this sooner… is it common to visit the residential areas of other races?”
“Of course not. They’d only cross over for occasional trade or when they’re at war. Ah, of course, this is a single-race residence, but there are multi-race ones too. I suppose the weak find common ground in their shared misery.”
I figured as much.
I could feel countless eyes glaring at us even now.
The only saving grace was that I felt more curiosity than hostility.
Well, should I try talking to them?
“Hey… you there. I have something to ask—”
Before I could even finish my sentence.
Slam.
The door shut, and the creature that had been staring at us from in front of its house fled inside.
It was a bit bitter, but not a huge problem.
I’d experienced this enough times for it not to leave a scratch on my heart.
And it was comforting to see them react the same way to Al’shel as they did to me.
Serves that damn octopus right.
Anyway…
“Isn't this making information gathering impossible?”
“Well, it won't work the normal way.”
“Then why are we standing out here in this scorching sun? Does just walking around solve anything?”
The bastard said he was going to swing his hammer, but here he is turning a Magical Girl into jerky in the heat.
I hope you turn into some tasty octopus jerky too, pal.
Can’t gather info, can’t relieve stress.
“Just wait. If my prediction is correct, we should get a reaction around here…”
Reaction, my ass.
Looking at the billboards up there flickering out, it looks like it’s going to pour again.
True to the tropical climate, it rained a lot. I remembered getting soaked to the bone by a sudden squall earlier.
I’d felt relieved that there was a ceiling between the buildings, but then the ceiling had automatically retracted the moment the rain started.
Why they would do something so bizarre is beyond my common sense.
I only realized after getting drenched that trying to understand the lives of other races is a fool’s errand.
Just the sight of a single billboard disappearing brought back memories of that shitty downpour. As I stared up at the darkening sky with these strange thoughts.
“Look over there. They’ve finally shown up.”
Al’shel suddenly stopped and spoke.
“Look at what? It looks like it’s going to rain, so let’s find some cover—”
My gaze, which had been on the ceiling, naturally shifted to where Al’shel was looking.
“…I see. So that’s what you meant.”
Seeing the Purple Ones standing on the main road, I realized what Al’shel was trying to do.
“You lot from another race. What business do you have in our territory?”
The Purple Ones were glaring at us like thugs, brandishing weapons.
Their behavior was identical to the punks I’d seen many times before.
“I see. They have the same habits as gangsters. If guys from another organization wander into their turf, they’ll crawl out on their own.”
It was exactly what I used to do.
I’d used this method quite effectively back in Nanjido and when I was hunting for The Society’s bases.
Now that I was experiencing it from the other side, the tactic was so common I should have realized what Al’shel was aiming for immediately. Perhaps I’d only just thought of it because the opponent was an entire race.
“Exactly. Well, the ordinary residents you saw earlier might not be like this, but in this structure, they are effectively members of the organization.”
Ah, I see. According to Al’shel, those people have no way to make a living, so they survive on the currency provided by the higher-ups. They’re effectively members and lookouts.
Walking around aimlessly made sense if we were waiting for the information to travel up the chain.
“Can’t you hear me? I’ll ask again. Which organization are you with? If you’ve come to the wrong place, leave immediately.”
They’re surprisingly polite for thugs…
But there’s no need to leave.
“What should we do?”
“Isn't it simple?”
With those words, Al’shel reached into thin air and pulled out a club.
“Like I said before. If you beat them up, everything comes out.”
“Now that’s my specialty.”
Following his lead, I rolled up my sleeves and pulled out my hammer.
“…You bastards. I don’t know who you belong to, but an attack on a residential area is—”
He was blabbering something, but honestly, I was bored of it.
“Shut up and fight, you punk! Why does a man talk so much!”
I lunged straight into The Enemy lines and swung my hammer.
“Ah, it goes without saying, but don’t kill them! It feels a bit strange for me to be saying this, though!”
“I know!”
Hearing Al’shel’s voice from behind.
I slammed my hammer down onto the head of the man who was frantically raising his weapon.
He seemed more skilled than the trash I’d met at the Training Ground, managing to set up a defense in that short time.
Clang!
The moment my hammer met his weapon—an iron club.
The outcome was already decided.
Iron sand scattered. Only the handle of the club remained.
Perhaps his weapon was poor quality; the man’s arms withstood my measured blow, but his weapon did not.
He seemed pretty strong. What a waste.
If his weapon had been better, we could have gone for four or five more exchanges.
But that was just wishful thinking.
His weapon was broken.
And my hammer was already being drawn toward his head.
Boom!
The Hammer slammed into the man’s head.
His eyes rolled back as he collapsed onto the street.
“Gwaakh!”
Beside him, more enemies were falling, beaten down by Al’shel’s club.