Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Creature (1)
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Three days had already passed since Id seen that incomprehensible out of stock message.
Of course, the delightful weekend had also come to an end, and the weekdays, demanding the daily grind of work, had returned.
The workweek that followed a sweet break was always exhausting.
After a grueling half-day at the office, I finally clocked out. The moment I got home, I collapsed onto the floor.
I emptied my pockets, and as I lay sprawled on the floor, my eyes fell on my smartphone, its screen dark.
Gazing at the dark screen, memories of the past weekend flashed through my mind once more.
"I wonder if they've finished patching together those bits of data by now."
The excuse that they were out of items was ridiculous from the start.
Though, I suppose I could have understood if they'd used that expression to fit the game's concept.
Three days had passed since the message appeared, so the maintenance should be finishing up soon.
After such a tough day, I suddenly felt the urge to do a gacha pull.
The thought of a pull, something I hadn't considered in a while, made me reach for the phone lying on the floor.
"After all, the fun of a game is seeing new skills and new characters."
This was especially true for what are often called 'bonsai games'.
Leveling up to use a new skill.
Doing a pull to get a new character.
Those were the things that made these games fun to play.
I hadn't seen Evan in action much yet, but that fact couldn't suppress my desire for a pull.
Once the game screen finished loading, I immediately tapped the shop button and entered the Premium Currency Shop.
"Don't tell me the price went up in that time?"
The first thing I did upon entering the shop was check the price of a 10-pull, just like before.
My distrust for the game's management had reached its peak.
If I just tapped the button assuming the price was the same, I might have ended up paying a much higher price without realizing it.
Fortunately, the price of a pull hadn't changed again in the last few days.
Relieved to see the price was the same, I tapped the pull button.
"Please, let it be a grimoire."
Press.
As I pressed the button, a bright light flooded out, and the gacha screen appeared.
This time, unlike before, it didn't show me that absurd maintenance message about being out of stock.
The results of the pull flashed before my eyes, glowing as they sped past.
- You have acquired Stylish Tunic.
- You have acquired Baguette.
- You have acquired Baguette.
- You have acquired Stylish Tunic.
- You have acquired Stylish Tunic.
- You have acquired Baguette.
- You have acquired Sponge Cake.
- You have acquired Hard Black Bread.
- You have acquired Grimoire: Creature Maker.
- You have acquired Stylish Tunic.
As usual, the results were mostly junk items of ambiguous use.
To make matters worse, I even got a Hard Black Bread instead of a Baguettea total disaster.
It might have been useful back when Yutenia was starving, but I doubted she'd be satisfied with that kind of black bread now.
If I'd gotten clothes instead, at least the followers of the Order could have worn them.
"I got one grimoire."
The only other useful item was the grimoire named Grimoire: Creature Maker.
Creature Maker.
Creature. The name brought to mind pets or familiars from games.
I clicked on the Creature Maker in my inventory to check its description.
I wanted to see if it was worth giving to Yutenia before I used it.
"What? It has a use limit?"
Checking the description for the Grimoire: Creature Maker in my inventory, it said I could create creatures and that it could be used up to five times.
A skill that can only be used five times.
Considering the cost of pulling a grimoire, the fact that it had a usage limit was an unwelcome feature.
I've always been averse to buying items with time or usage limits.
It couldn't be helped since I'd already gotten the item, but I generally didn't place much value on these kinds of consumable skills.
It's because they make you hesitate to use them.
"Hah I guess I have no choice."
But I couldn't just hand over an item with a use limit to Yutenia, either.
Unlike the other items, there was a risk it might disappear.
This was an item I had to use myself.
I sighed for a moment while looking at the item, then moved my finger and tapped the grimoire.
Press.
The moment my finger touched the grimoire, a confirmation window popped up.
- Do you want to learn the Creature Maker skill?
- The grimoire will disappear upon learning.
- Yes No
There was no point in hesitating any longer.
Without a second thought, I tapped the 'Yes' button and used the grimoire.
The grimoire in my inventory vanished, and a new skill button appeared at the bottom of the screen.
- You have learned Creature Maker (Lv.MAX).
- You can now consume mana to create creatures.
- Creatures made by consuming mana are life forms that will grow well without your assistance.
- Creature Maker can be used a maximum of 5 times.
A new skill, Creature Maker, which used the grimoire, had been created.
As the item description in the inventory stated, Creature Maker could only be used up to five times.
This meant I could create a maximum of five creatures.
Given the usage limit, it would be best to use it as efficiently as possible.
"A creature, huh. What kind of creature would be good?"
And compared to my other skills, this one had a relatively high degree of freedom.
What kind of creatures would be most efficient to create with this skill?
That was the difficult question I would have to ponder from now on.
I stared at the Creature Maker skill and continued my serious deliberation.
My contemplation continued until my empty stomach, which had missed dinner, began to growl.
Litua-Centierrus, the central trade city of the Centierrus region.
Standing in the line at the city checkpoint, Shuron glanced back with a worried expression.
Behind Shuron was an extravagantly decorated carriage.
It was the followers of the Order who had modified the ordinary carriage to look so opulent.
Though its internal structure was quite ghastly, its exterior was convincing enough to pass for a noble's carriage.
The procession of carriages had also been made to look as grand as a noble's entourage.
Above all, the person riding in the carriage looked every bit the part of a noble.
"This is quite tedious."
Yutenia, who had been sitting in the carriage, murmured as she opened the window.
Sitting in the carriage in a frilled dress, Yutenia looked for all the world like the daughter of a nobleman.
Archbishop Loan had mentioned this as well, instructing them to claim she was a noble, but for Shuron, it was an incredibly stressful task.
Claiming to be a noble was an act that carried enormous risk.
And to be ordered to do so in front of the city guards...
It was enough to make Shuron's legs tremble.
"P-Please, wait just a little longer."
Of course, regardless of whether Yutenia was actually the daughter of a noble family, Shuron was in a position where he had no choice but to be careful around her.
Even Archbishop Loan, who oversaw the entire Order, walked on eggshells around her.
It was only natural that Shuron would watch his words and actions around such a person.
As Shuron dismounted from the driver's seat and approached a guard, the guard monitoring the checkpoint line looked at him.
"What is it? It's not your turn yet."
"Well, you see, our young lady is growing quite bored."
"Young lady?"
"The daughter of Viscount Eisalia from the kingdom. She is accompanying our merchant caravan on this trip, along with a knight and an attendant."
Hearing Shuron's words, the guard eyed him with suspicion.
Considering the typical procession of a noble, the guard's suspicion was perfectly reasonable.
If arrangements had been made between noble families in advance, there would be no need to waste time like this.
Yet, Shuron had arrived at the city unannounced.
"We received no word at the guard post."
"This was an unscheduled stop, so she plans to pay her respects separately."
"Hmm."
"It would be a hassle for everyone if the young lady were to get annoyed, wouldn't it? I'd rather not get an earful from her myself. For the sake of the viscount's family name, let's just move this along quickly."
Shuron pressed a pouch of coins into the guard's hand.
The pouch contained several times more coins than he usually used.
The guard's expression changed as he took the pouch from Shuron.
He felt the heft of the pouch in his palm, then glanced at his colleague and spoke.
"Looks like the young lady is in a bit of a bind."
"What should we do?"
"She's a viscount's daughter, after all. Carries a different weight. We'd better take care of this if we don't want to get in trouble."
"We'll have to clear the line ahead of them first."
After finishing his conversation with his colleague, the guard turned his head back to Shuron.
He offered Shuron a sheepish smile and said.
"Did you say you were accompanying the young lady?"
"That's right."
"I will go and apologize to her. If you wish, I can also send a report to the main castle."
Hearing the guard's words, Shuron recalled what the Archbishop had told him.
The one with a connection to the Order is the first son of the count's family.
That was the information Loan had given Shuron.
Shuron nodded at the guard's words and stated his business.
"In that case, please contact the first son."
"The first son, you say? I'll report it as such."
"Here, this is the young lady's carriage."
Shuron led the guard to the side of the lavishly modified carriage.
There, Yutenia, having opened the window, looked down at Shuron and the guard.
Her appearance and demeanor radiated a dignity that was unmistakably noble.
The guard bowed his head to her without a hint of suspicion and spoke.
"My apologies for the wait. We will escort you inside immediately."
"Is the tedious wait finally over?"
"We will process this as quickly as possible. I will also promptly report that you are seeking the first son."
"Excellent."
Yutenia offered a faint smile at the guard's words.
She appeared to be satisfied with his attitude.
Aside from the relatively small number of people in her party, there was nothing to arouse suspicion.
Looking up at Yutenia, the guard brought up the topic of an escort.
"If you happen to require a separate escort."
"An escort? I don't believe that will be necessary. I have Sir Evan with me."
Their eyes met through the window, Evan's and the guard's.
Meeting Evan's stern gaze, the guard lowered his head again.
A trained physique. A sharp aura.
He looked every bit the seasoned knight.
Seeing the knight, the guard realized there was nothing for him to worry about.
"Understood! Then I will simply report that you have a knight with you!"
"I understand, so I would like to proceed inside now."
"Let them pass! Let the entire caravan and carriage procession through!"
At the guard's command, the path blocking Shuron's caravan was completely opened.
No one questioned the procession of carriages as it entered, led by Shuron.
The guard who had assisted them had already disappeared into the castle to make his report.
It was the moment the Order entered the city.