The next morning, the party set out for Monesia Village. We split into two carriages, as before. We arrived at the village after sunset. It had small mountain village vibes, surrounded by a low wooden fence. The village gate was still open, but villagers were moving around it, preparing to close it.
“Are you the adventurers?” a villager asked.
“Yes! We’re from the Fortress City of Balga. I’m Kinjar, a B-rank adventurer, along with five other adventurers.”
“Ah! You’re the adventurers who accepted the harpy elimination quest! Welcome to Monesia Village! The Comprehensive Guild branch is just past the gate.”
“Don’t worry, we’re here now. Those harpies are toast!” Kinjar boasted.
As the party leader, he exchanged words with the villagers at the gate, and they let our two carriages into Monesia Village.
“Right. First, we report our arrival, then dinner and lodging! Boy, you arrange the lodging. Rudy, what’s your room situation?” Kinjar asked.
“We need two rooms. One for Liese and I, and the other for Schwarz,” Rudy replied.
“Got that, Boy? We’ll take two rooms as well, making it four rooms total.”
The carriages stopped in front of the Comprehensive Guild branch. Kinjar immediately issued instructions: we would park the carriages at the branch until the quest was completed. From there, we would proceed on foot starting tomorrow.
Liese and Putei followed Kinjar’s orders, and they maneuvered the carriages to the back of the branch where there were a warehouse and stables. It seemed that Rudy, Kinjar, and I would enter the branch, but—
“Hey, noob! You’re in charge of watching the luggage,” Kinjar ordered. “Sit tight here with the baggage!”
It appeared I was to stay and watch the luggage.
“Schwarz, please keep an eye on the luggage for a bit,” Rudy requested.
“Understood,” I replied.
The total amount of luggage was substantial. Six people’s bags and tool bags were unloaded in front of the branch. Indeed, someone needed to watch over them. Kinjar could at least ask nicely, I thought as I took in Monesia Village from the branch entrance.
Monesia Village consisted of small wooden houses, with a population likely only in the hundreds. I was impressed that even such a small village had a Comprehensive Guild branch. I learned that the guild staff stationed here were from the village chief’s family.
Voices from the branch reached my ears via the audio sensor. The harpies we were to eliminate had nested in a mountain north of Monesia Village, about half a day’s walk away. Though the villagers hadn’t been harmed yet, the mountain was vital for hunting and gathering medicinal ingredients and was closely tied to village life. Subjugating the twelve harpies before they caused harm was crucial. Given their ability to fly long distances, they could appear in the village itself, necessitating swift action. Inside the branch, Kinjar’s voice boasted confidently upon hearing this.
Liese and Putei returned from the back of the branch, having completed the carriage arrangements. Boy also returned from the village path.
“Is Kinjar still inside?” Putei asked.
“Yes, he’s talking with Rudy and the guild staff,” I replied.
“So you’re watching the luggage outside?”
“That’s right.”
“Thank you, Schwarz,” Liese said.
Putei, Liese, and Boy joined me in waiting outside.
“The lodging is on the second floor of the village tavern. I also got rooms for you guys,” Boy said, handing Putei a key.
“Thank you,” Liese and I said.
We confirmed the tavern’s location. As expected in a small village, there wasn’t a dedicated inn for adventurers or merchants. The tavern’s lodging seemed to be used mainly for employing prostitutes. Putei teased Liese about this, causing her to blush and look around for an escape. She was stuck here waiting with us. I decided to offer a distraction to her distress by informing everyone of the branch’s activity.
“Kinjar and Rudy are coming back,” I said.
As I spoke, the branch door opened, and Kinjar and Rudy emerged.
“Good, everyone’s here. Boy, you get the lodging?” Kinjar asked.
“Second floor of the tavern,” Boy replied.
“Great, we can drink tonight. Tomorrow, we set out for the harpy elimination at dawn, so don’t oversleep. Dismissed! Come on, Putei and Boy!” Kinjar said.
Did he really tell us not to oversleep? You should talk. Rudy, Liese, and I were all thinking it, but we said nothing.
“Let’s go check out our rooms,” Rudy suggested. “Hopefully, the tavern serves dinner.”
Prompting Rudy and Liese to go ahead, we followed Kinjar’s group into Monesia Village and to the tavern for lodging.
The next morning, I awoke to a bell, likely rung by the village chief. I got out of bed and went out to wash my face at the well behind the tavern. I also made sure to fill up my canteen. Securing enough drinking water was a priority, as was finding tools for starting fires. Living in this world, where magic was fundamental, finding tools that a dud like me could use was challenging.
I bet Marta would know. Once this quest is over, I’ll go to the Marida Trading Company and ask for his help.
“Good morning, Schwarz.” It was Rudy and Liese. They joined me at the well.
“Schwarz, you’re well-prepared. I should have brought my canteen too,” Liese said, watching me fill mine up. From my perspective, Liese’s ability to use magic to create fire and water seemed to put her at better advantage.
“But can’t you just refill yours with water using magic, Liese?” I asked.
I had only been impressed by the convenience of magic in this world—it hadn’t occurred to me that there were differing cultural perceptions of it. I quickly realized this fact, though, once Liese’s face blushed the same as it did when Putei teased her. Her eyes teared up as she looked at me, her mouth opening and closing silently. Had I said something inappropriate?
“What are you saying!” Liese exclaimed, running back to the tavern.
“So, I guess being a dud also means you’re missing common knowledge about magic?” Rudy asked, looking at me with disbelief.
It seems I had made a huge faux pas. “Yeah, I guess so. Could you enlighten me?” I asked.
“Of course. If other people heard you say that to us, they’d think we were all weird. Listen, Schwarz. Water created by magic comes from the caster’s power. It’s like...water from the caster’s body. Do you understand?”
Oh! So, here people perceive magic-created water as akin to the caster’s sweat or urine. To suggest it as drinking water was super gross, especially to a girl like Liese.
“I get it. I’m sorry—that really was inappropriate.”
“I’ll go talk to her. Finish preparing for departure and meet us in front of the tavern,” Rudy said.
“I will. Please apologize to Liese for me.”
“I will. Kinjar’s group is probably still sleeping. I’ll go wake them up.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare and wait.”
I finished filling my canteen and returned to my room to pack and muse on my mistake. The perception of how magic created water was something I hadn’t considered before. There might be other similar perceptions. Should I research this in the archives when I return to Balga? No, there wouldn’t be documents summarizing societal norms. I’ll have to learn them gradually...
Packing was quick. While waiting outside the tavern, the audio sensor picked up Rudy and Kinjar arguing. Kinjar was now insisting we departed at noon instead of dawn, and Rudy gave in to his demands. Rudy and Liese’s footsteps then moved away from Kinjar’s room. My map only showed only the tavern’s first floor, which was the level I was on.
The second floor with the private rooms wasn’t visible, but its sounds were captured. I heard the footsteps descend. Now the people appeared as points. They moved from the stairs to the exit.