Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Pallos
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Because I had to go to the city of Pallos due to her personal circumstances, Karen stepped up and said she'd cover all the travel expenses and lodging costs during our stay there.
"You don't have to go that far... Aren't the sword and subspace pouch you gave me super expensive? I checked at the blacksmith, and they said it was dwarf-made..."
"Oh? You heard? It's fine. It wasn't something newly bought; it was a sword I used myself. And the travel expenses..."
I tried to decline since it felt like I was just taking too much, but Karen was stubborn about it. No, more than that...
"To begin with, your money wouldn't be enough anyway, right?"
"...Pardon?"
Even though she knew I'd received reward money from the guild this time, she still said my own funds wouldn't cut it.
"Is it that expensive?"
What, is it on the other side of the planet or something?
I'd spent some at places like the tavern, but I still had nearly 35 gold left, and she was saying that wouldn't be enough?
"It's pretty far... but that's not the issue."
"????"
Right now, Karen and I were on the move with light luggage packed.
Once the decision was made, she urged us to leave quickly, so we set off right away today after finishing training.
'But... isn't this the city center?'
I was starting to question why Karen was heading toward the central part of Riville instead of the outskirts when she said we were going to another city.
Soon enough, Karen arrived at a massive tower located in the heart of Riville.
"Master? What are we doing here...?"
"Riville's a pretty big city, so there's a Magic Tower branch. First time here?"
The Magic Tower. It refers to the organization founded by mages pursuing magic, and at the same time, the name of the towers where mages reside.
They weren't affiliated with the human kingdom of Terra, the elven great forests, or the beastkin confederation, and had branches all over the world, extending their influence across the entire continent.
Their power was on par with the churches serving the Good Gods.
Anyway, it wasn't particularly special that Riville had a Magic Tower branch too...
"Why are we here? Buying some magic tools?"
Magic Tower branches served various roles.
They took in talents from all over to train new mages, collaborated with the Adventurer's Guild on important requests, maintained magical facilities in major cities, and so on.
Among those, the most commonly used service was buying magic tools.
The Magic Towers ran businesses selling various magic tools and potions crafted by their affiliated mages and alchemists.
The subspace magic tool I'd received from Karen was a prime example.
"Why else? I told you we're going to Pallos."
"????"
I asked about her business there, recalling the Magic Tower's roles, but Karen looked at me like I was the weird one.
She entered the tower naturally, showed a gleaming golden badge to the receptionist at the entrance, had a brief conversation, and was guided somewhere.
"Is the gentleman next to you traveling with you?"
"Yeah. Two people including him."
"Understood for two. To Pallos, that'll be a total of 20 gold."
"Here."
"...?!?!"
After a short talk, Karen casually pulled out 20 gold coins from her pouch and handed them to the receptionist.
I stared at her in shock, my jaw nearly dropping at the sight of her paying an amount I'd earned risking my life without batting an eye, but Karen just took my expression in stride.
"I told you, your money wouldn't be enough. It'll be another 20 gold coming back, so you're short now, right?"
"Master. What exactly are you planning that costs this much...?"
"I've been wondering what you've been asking... Oh, right, you wouldn't know."
Following the staff member who'd taken the money and was leading us somewhere, Karen arrived at a certain spot in the Magic Tower and said with a proud smile.
"There's no way we'd walk all that distance, right?"
"...Ah?"
Behind Karen, who was smiling, I saw something blue floating above a complex magic circle, and a surge of emotion welled up from deep in my chest.
"Surprised face? This is..."
"A portal...!"
"Portal...? Wait, how do you know? I thought you didn't."
Karen's face twisted subtly—she'd been smiling, ready to explain it to me since she thought I was clueless—but I ignored her, breathing heavily as I stared at the portal.
'Insane... Even in a fantasy world, something like this exists?'
The blue vortex I'd only seen in games.
A high-level spell that connected spaces, allowing instantaneous jumps over vast distances.
"Seeing this really makes you appreciate how amazing that woman is. Developing magic like this got her to elder mage at the youngest age..."
Karen muttered something from behind, poking my back with her wooden sword like she was teasing a country bumpkin, and pointed at the portal.
"Done sightseeing? Let's go."
"Uh, but is there any chance something could go wrong while passing through?"
"Well, if something messes up, your body might get sliced up..."
"Pardon? What did you just—"
"Enough. Let's go."
"Wait a second...!!"
I felt like I'd heard something I absolutely shouldn't ignore, but Karen grinned and shoved me—who was still gawking at the portal—inside, then jumped in after me.
"Uwaaaah!!"
The world flipped upside down, and I lost consciousness.
.
.
.
.
Recalling everything up to passing through the portal, I grumbled while downing a beverage that smelled like coffee.
What was it called? Kohinu or something?
Anyway, sipping this dark drink and looking out the window, I saw a tower even taller and grander than the Magic Tower branch in Riville where we'd used the portal before, proudly displaying its presence.
And looking down at the ground, I frequently spotted people strolling the streets with books or staves in hand.
This was Pallos. A city in the eastern part of the Terra Kingdom, the most magically advanced city in the kingdom.
And the city where Karen and I had arrived last night.
"...No parts of me got sliced off, right?"
Remembering Karen's words—joking or serious, who knows?—I shuddered, did some light stretching, and left the room.
True to form for someone who'd casually shelled out 20 gold for portal fees, as soon as we arrived in Pallos last night, Karen found the most expensive inn in the city and booked rooms.
Thanks to her booking one for me too, I'd slept comfortably, but Karen—who said she had business—had left early in the morning.
'She said it'd be about a few weeks, right?'
I hadn't heard the full details of why we came to Pallos, but she'd said her errand wouldn't wrap up in a day or two and would take at least two weeks.
Less than a month in Riville, and now several weeks in this unfamiliar city... it was a bit disorienting.
Up until now, I'd spent two years without even leaving the backwater town of Riville.
"Guess I'll sightsee the city."
Karen had said sword training would resume tomorrow and recommended checking out the city.
It was one of the safest cities in the Terra Kingdom, and famous for producing renowned mages, so there were plenty of unique sights you couldn't see elsewhere.
'Magic tools have me curious too.'
Karen had also mentioned you could get magic tools and enchanted gear cheaply here, which stuck in my mind.
While experimenting with my Duplication ability this time, I'd tested the subspace magic tool too, and it was way more convenient than I'd imagined.
It might not be on this level, but if I could snag a few more magic tools...
"Time for some shopping."
To fend off boredom alone, I left the inn with a black iron sword at my waist and the subspace pouch, heading to the shopping district.
Karen had tried to give me pocket money, but I'd refused.
No matter what, taking more from her felt too guilty.
"Good, they have gear for warriors too."
Prioritizing equipment shops in the shopping district, I saw plenty of stuff suited for mages, but fortunately, there were items for frontline fighters like me too.
Among them, what caught my interest were the enchanted gear.
"What's the effect on this one?"
"It's high-end with temperature regulation magic and auto-repair magic enchanted! Wear it, and you'll stay warm in the depths of winter or cool in the height of summer. Plus, minor damage fixes itself!"
"Hooh."
These gear had bizarre effects impossible to forge with just a hammer.
Of course, the effects were intriguing, but...
"Mind if I try it on?"
"Size issue? You're pretty tall, huh."
What fascinated me was that I could try on gear with such magical effects myself.
'Indeed. Weight's about this much. Material's...
Another element worth investigating. Could I duplicate gear with effects like these?
I couldn't test my ability in a crowded place like this, but I tried on as many as possible to boost my understanding and imprint them in my mind.
"Hey! You keep trying stuff on and touching everything... You gonna buy or not?!"
I'd been so thorough that the merchant, who started off friendly, ended up frowning and snapping at me.
Still, I hadn't left empty-handed; I bought a leather armor enchanted with a basic 'Cleanliness' spell.
"One gold for this..."
It felt a bit pricey—quality I'd expect to get for about 50 silver in Riville, but doubled because of the 'Cleanliness' enchantment.
And apparently, these enchantments weren't permanent.
Depending on the case, the one on this armor would last about a year... Hm.
'Still, not bad value.'
I considered metal armor but went with leather for mobility, as the swordsmanship Karen taught emphasized evasion.
Metal was pricier too.
Anyway, since I'd bought something, the merchant's mood improved, so I asked one more thing.
"Is there an Adventurer's Guild here too?"
"What, you're an outsider? The guild's right next to the Magic Tower in the central area—head there."
After learning the guild's location from the merchant, I headed there first.
'Gotta check what requests they have here.'
I'd continue sword training with Karen in the mornings during our stay, but she'd said there might be days she couldn't due to unavoidable circumstances.
Even without that, afternoons were free, so I planned to take on simple requests at the guild then.
Seeing Karen's spending this time made me realize how far I was from earning(?) just 40 gold and being thrilled.
'How much would I need to buy a mansion like Karen's...'
Lately, I'd been feeling stronger desires for little things like living in a nice place or eating better food, so I wanted to earn as much as possible while I could.
"The guild... smaller than Riville's."
The Magic Tower was bigger in Pallos, but the Adventurer's Guild was slightly smaller, so I headed inside.
The moment I tried to enter, I ran into an unexpected face at the guild entrance.
"...! You're...!"
"You...?"
Long purple hair reaching her waist. And light purple eyes matching it.
A confident posture and an ornate robe stamped with the Magic Tower seal.
And a massive chest that didn't lose to Karen's.
"Laila?"
Laila.
The woman I'd parted ways with without even seeing her face again after encountering the Evil God follower in the ruins.
I reunited with her at the guild.