Clothes Shopping, Guild Registration, and a Parting of Ways
Rishel was a city straight out of medieval Europe.
Surrounded by sturdy walls, entry was restricted to a few guarded gates.
Mizuki and I had made it safely inside and were now in a clothing store.
To blend into this world, we figured we'd start with the basics: new outfits.
The townsfolk dressed more modern than I'd expected, but my suit and her sailor uniform stuck out like sore thumbs.
The shop had been recommended by Ira, the busty priestess.
"I got no clue what to wear."
The climate around here was mild year-round, with just the usual summer-winter swings. Right now, it was spring. I grabbed a plain cut-off tee lookalike and some shorts that resembled athletic wear.
"Don't pick something so embarrassing! We're heading out on adventures!"
Apparently, my weekend loungewear was a source of shame.
"Even if you say that, I don't know what to choose."
It was a small shop, but stocked full. I'd imagined medieval garb, but most of it felt close to stuff from our world—probably cultural leftovers from past transplants like us.
"Fine, I'll pick for you."
"What, you my mom now?"
"Hmph, just shut up. Pick your own underwear."
In the end, I bought what Mizuki selected and changed right there.
I ended up with a military vibe, while she got something like her old sailor uniform.
Part of me wanted to complain, but it was too much hassle. Plus, with a skirt, there was always the chance of another panty peek.
"They'll buy our old clothes for five silver coins."
"Wait, you're selling them?"
"Yeah? Money's always good, right?"
"Then lemme buy your clothes for ten silver."
"Eww? Hell no, that's gross."
"Even if you sell to the shop, some creepy old dude grosser than me might buy 'em. I could sneak back and grab 'em myself."
"Ugh... fine, whatever. Quit being a jerk."
Mizuki gave up arguing and handed over her outfit.
"Whoa, for real? You're selling?"
"No charge. Consider this payback for all the slaps."
"Deal. Oh, and the light blue panties too."
Her palm flew at my face again.
Next stop: the adventurer guild.
Free citizens registered here, took on quests, and scraped by that way.
Starting at F-rank. Rack up experience, climb to E, then D, and so on.
Hearing "F-rank" hit like a bad memory from our world—some crappy college tier. Made my skin crawl.
"Where's this Demon King at?"
I asked the guild receptionist girl.
"The Demon King? Well, there's the Demon Kingdom far to the east."
She gave me a weird look. Common knowledge around here, apparently.
"Ain't the Demon Kingdom's king the Demon King?"
"The Holy Knights' expedition took him down a hundred years ago. Now it's run by a triumvirate of big shots. Though honestly, they've gotten stronger since the Demon King days."
"Huh."
"Yup!" Her nodding was kinda cute.
Mizuki, already registered, was chatting up members of Wind's Blade. How'd she get so chummy with strangers so fast? No idea.
Come to think of it, she'd been bold with me too.
I grabbed a beginner herb-gathering quest while I was at it. Bought a pressed-flower herb guide too—fifteen silver, but worth it for the convenience.
Dungeon dives and monster hunts were options, but after today's scrap? No way.
Sun was dipping low anyway. I'd head out tomorrow. Man, what a marathon of a day.
As I finished registering, Mizuki came over.
"Hey, they invited me to join Wind's Blade."
"Cool. I'm out."
Her face went full pigeon-shot-with-pea-gun. Didn't expect my instant no.
"Why? We could learn from them, take down tough monsters, level up fast, adapt quicker."
"That's exactly why not. Learning's fine, but the rest? Nah. I wanna take it slow till I adjust. Today's fight had me thinking I was dead meat. Combat scares the shit outta me. Doesn't it freak you out?"
"Sure it does, but Wind's Blade's a B-rank party. Safe, right?"
Party rank was based on the leader's adventurer rank.
Glancing at Wind's Blade, my eyes met Lead's.
He smirked for some reason. No clue how to respond.
Maybe it was normal here, but I hated seeing him with two girls flanking him and slaves in tow. Joining that meant constant exposure. No thanks.
I'd never fit in there.
"Safety's something you earn yourself."
"Hmph."
"Hey, not trying to force my view. Do what you think's best."
"Why? We're both transplants."
"Even back home, we were strangers. Anyway, herb gathering starts tomorrow for me."
Today's chaos made it feel like we'd known each other forever, but we were still basically nobodies to each other. Had to keep that straight.
"...Fine. I'll try dungeon diving with Wind's Blade folks, I guess."
Don't look so down about it. She hated my guts anyway.
An old dude like me? No shot with that crew.
"I'm off to find an inn."
"I'll stick around, chat more with Lead and them."
She was basically in already. They knew she'd soloed that goblin horde.
A ready-made powerhouse like her? They'd snap her up.
I checked into Daien Pavilion, a recommended upscale commoner inn from Rakushel's World Walker.
That guide was a brick-thick pain to handle, half-filled with that front-matter spread on her.
Seven silver a night, breakfast included. Dinner extra one silver. Booze: five copper a pop, or two for a silver.
One room, one bed. Water from the well. Toilet downstairs, no bath—but they gave a hot-water bucket for wiping down.
Downstairs doubled as tavern and dining hall. I ate there.
Not bad. Tasty, even. But heavy, missing something refined.
As I read the guide over dinner, Mizuki showed up with Wind's Blade. Their base too, apparently. She spotted me quick and came over.
"Same inn? Coulda waited."
Complaining already.
"Wanted to scout the town."
Especially the red-light district. Recon only, sadly—my game with women was trash.
"I see."
She nodded.
"No sign of the macho warrior?"
"...Beers went to a shared dorm."
She seemed hesitant to say it. Right, he was a slave.
"I've joined Wind's Blade. Dungeon runs starting tomorrow."
Probably the one near town.
Dungeons were a form of spatial magic, like Storage, but no one knew why they popped up. Scattered worldwide.
They could spawn anywhere, anytime. Monsters birthed inside spilled out to roam.
Today's goblins? Dungeon-born wanderers.
To keep the world safe, you had to clear them.
Layered floors, monsters ramping up deeper in. Each had an area guarder boss.
Six people max per guarder room—hence the six-person party limit. Smash the guarder, destroy the deepest Crystal Core, and poof: dungeon gone.
"Knew it... uh, never mind."
She hadn't given up recruiting me.
"Alright, heading to my room."
With that, we parted.
Back in my room, I checked my character sheet.
Adventurer level 4. Not sure if my experience boost skill helped. Over 50 for A-rank, usually a decade-plus grind. Magic users and priests? Double that.
You could multiclass, but only first job leveled from kills.
I eyed the Goddess Summon skill help.
"Summons Goddess Rakushel. Showers swarms with endless arrows, mighty foes with divine spear thrust. Massive MP cost—use wisely."
Wonder which was stronger: that or Mizuki's skills. Super Save vs. the spear thrust would decide it.
Come to think of it, I'd never talked to a non-relative woman this long.
Total lifetime chit-chat with girls might not even match today's Mizuki marathon.
She hated my guts, yet pushed conversations anyway. I couldn't pull that off.
Bratty, snarky as hell, but her looks canceled it out. Bonus: panty flashes for late-night fuel.
And now she was Wind's Blade.
Deep down, I'd wanted to stop her. But what could a guy she despised do?
I pictured her cozying up to Lead, turning girlfriend like Ira or Cecily.
Shook my head, banishing the thought.
"Goddess Summon!"
Yelled it. Nada. No enemies? Low MP? Embarrassing, but room was empty—safe.
Exhausted. Tomorrow: herbs. Time to grind.