With twelve blue metal coins clinking in my pouch, we headed to the inn the attendant told us. With only twelve shlings, I figured ensuring that we have a roof to shelter us for the night was the top priority. Even though Bria could just teleport us back to the Hatchery, I’ve guessed that was similar to wearing a neon necklace telling the humans we’re demons.
Opening the creaky swinging door, a bustling noise of drinking adventurers clamoring about their day’s exploits filled the rome. I froze. This exactly was the kind of scenario I dreaded. It heavily reminded me of being the last to enter the classroom and everybody else was already huddled up, talking to their friends. Of course, nobody would actually talk to me, maybe except Aya, but it still felt like my every move was being watched.
Bria nudged me, which reminded me that this time, I wasn’t alone. I smiled and silently thanked Bria, who looked confused being thanked out of nowhere. I briskly passed tables after tables of adventurers. After passing what seemed like a maze of tables, I leaned on the wooden bar and sat on one of the stools, Bria, Shiki, and Rihoku behind me.
A middle aged bulky man sporting a plump mustached was manning the bar. Is it a requirement to look like that before owning a pub? He doesn’t have a shotgun hiding under the bar, does he? I thought, trying to distract myself from having another nervous breakdown.
The man scanned our group, then looked me straight in the eye. “You lot are the people from Turg?”
That certainly didn’t help ridding my anxiety. “Y-yes,” I replied, instantly shattering the cool composure I was trying to exude.
“That, your wolf?” he pointed to Rihoku with a plain, frozen expression.
“Uhmm, yeah. Looks cool, doesn’t he?” I choked, trying and failing to keep a conversation.
“Uhuh, sure. He has to go out, though. No big pets or mount allowed. But you can rent a place at the stable for a shling,” he explained while grabbing a mug.
“Ah, yes. We’ll do that. The attendant from the guild pointed us here saying we can rent a room here. How much does a room cost?”
“Oh, Larky did? A room for two’s five shlings a night, including breakfast. Given that you’re three, two rooms plus the stable should cost you 11 shlings. But as a welcome gift, I’ll give it to you for 10 shlings all in all.”
“Really? Thanks!” I readily handed the man ten shlings, surprised that he would be that generous with the way he acted. “Oh, uhmm can we get any food for two shlings? That’s all we’ve got left.”
“Sure. Take your keys. I’ll see what I can come up with. Your rooms are 5 and 6, both at the far end upstairs. I’ll just bring the grub to your room,” the man said, putting a smug smile while wiping his mug.
We thanked the man, grabbed the keys, and proceeded to our rooms. The man called for a helper to lead Rihoku to the stables.
***
I was back in my own room. No, not the well maintained, but dusty wooden room of the inn in Castel. I was in my own room back in my world.
I blinked. Was all of that a dream? I thought, then the scenes suddenly shifted. I was at my seat in school. It was lunchtime, and my plain blue lunchbox was in front of me. A familiar female figure approached me and opened my lunch.
As per usual, she went and got a sausage from my lunchbox. I didn’t look at her swift hands, since I was busy staring at her nostalgic, familiar face. When she put the chopstick on her mouth, however, there was something strange. What she was eating wasn’t a sausage, but a goblin’s tongue.
Oblivious of what it was, Aya slobbered at the tongue. She grinned, revealing two sets of razor sharp teeth. Her irises turned that of a kobold, and a pair of horns grew on her head. I shrieked, or at least tried to, but no voice came out of my throat.
Panicked, I turned to flee. At the exact same time, dozens of heads turned towards me. Each was sporting the same set of horrifying features.
“Ahhhhhh!” I finally managed.
I sat upright, my forehead and back covered in sweat. Blinking, I shook my head, ensuring that I was awake. I scanned the room. I was back at the dusty inn room, but I noticed that both Bria and Shiki were beside my bed staring at me. Did I wake them? Weirdly enough, my hands were covered by a blanket of dissipating white aura. My brows furrowed, and I stared at Bria and Shiki.
“Having a nightmare?” Bria asked, worry shown in her eyes. “You were writhing, so I casted a calm spell on you.”
I nodded. “Well, yeah. It was a bad one, but I’m good now. Thanks.”
“You’re drenched. Let me cast a Cleaning spell on you,” Bria offered.
I touched my back. True enough, it was wet. “I’d appreciate that.” Is there a spell you don’t know? I thought.
A few incantations later, a light blue mist swirled around me. After two rounds of circling around my body, I felt refreshed and clean. After making sure that everything was fine, Shiki went back to his bed, although he didn’t really need to rest. Bria also went back to her room. I laid down, waiting for sleep to come. Weirdly enough, it quickly came despite my recent nightmare.
***
‘Spiked Firebear – 30 shlings
Goldhorn Ram – 25 shlings
War Orc – 20 shlings
Black Kobold – 15 shling
Three-fanged Viper – 12 shling
Nighthowl – 12 shling
Kobold – 5 shlings
Goblin – 3 shlings’
We were back in front of the hunting board in front of the guild. In simpler terms, we were broke. We had spent what little we had for a single night. Not only that, we didn’t even have enough food for us. Another pleasant surprise, the pubmaster brought us a serving of what seemed like grilled meat with sauce for the price of two shlings. Disregarding his look and outward demeanor, I liked him. He somewhat reminded me of the ramen house owner in my previous world. He was even considerate enough to provide an extra set of utensils for us. Fortunately, Shiki didn’t require any food for sustenance, so Bria and I shared the meat, but the poor Rihoku had to sleep through his hunger.
Resolute, I decided that we must earn from a bigger prey this time around. Plus, there were also those goblins to think of.
“Oh, so you’re back here again. Looking for your next prey, people of Turg?” said an old voice behind us. “I heard from Larky that you did a great job rounding up a few goblins yesterday. You have my sincerest gratitude”
“Uhmm, yeah, we did,” I replied, turning around. The same old woman that gave us the tip yesterday greeted my gaze with a warm, kind smile. “Thank you for the tip you gave us yesterday.”
“It’s my pleasure to help the people of Turg,” replied the old woman. “What are you planning to hunt today? Hunting goblins again? Or, maybe something stronger?”
“You caught us,” I admitted. “Uhmm, we’re planning maybe some kobolds,” I lied. “Do we also just have to bring the ears?”
“Oh ho, just kobolds? Your party seems strong enough to at least fight War Orcs. Where has the courage of the young ones gone?” She snickered. “Hoho, just kidding. What am I saying to my benefactors. Anyway, you only have to bring the ears of most creatures as proof, but there are some exceptions. For the Three-fanged Vipers, you must bring the fangs. It’s the horn for the Goldhorn Rams, and the spikes for the Spiked Firebears.”
“Thank you very much!” I replied, expressing my deepest gratitude. After all, we would’ve been homeless on our first day in Castel if it weren’t for her.
“Hoho, my pleasure. My pleasure. You should keep going now or you might not make it back before night.”
We waved her goodbye and went on our way.
***
When we had reached the goblins’ cave, a few tiny bones were sprawled on the floor. The three goblins were nowhere in sight. Of course, that was only to those who didn’t know better. Bria chanted and the stone wall at the back of the cave gave way, revealing a small space where three terrified goblins hid.
“Hmmm. You guys managed for a day.” I picked up a bone. “What did you guys eat yesterday, anyway?”
“Those seemed like the remains of some Bigtoothed Hare, my liege. I reckon those were common around this area,” Shiki answered.
“Really? Wow! I worried over nothing then.” I was. As harsh as I might’ve sounded, I didn’t want to cause their deaths. I turned to Bria and Shiki. “Hmm, I’m thinking of hunting Three-fanged Vipers today. Do you guys think that’s possible?”
“Adult Three-fanged vipers are around level 12-15, my liege. With your strength, I believe one or two is manageable.” Shiki stated his analysis.
“Okay, then. Let’s go earn some shlings!” I turned to the goblins. “Equip yourselves. You’re coming with us.”
The goblins looked at each other, their ears down and their eyes wet. I wasn’t being cruel, it’s just that I figured they would have to level up if they were to survive. After all, I had seen far too many monsters their age be eaten in the Hatchery. Since they were my subordinates, I couldn’t just let them meet such fates.
“Don’t worry. Rihoku and I got your back.” I tried to console them. They weren’t cannon fodder. I was going to train them.
After a few more seconds of not doing anything, the Subjugate’s effect activated, and the goblins hurried to find what little equipment they had.
“Okay, then. Bria, please locate our target.”
Bria stomped her foot and chanted, casting the same search spell she used yesterday. A few more minutes, Bria broke out of her trance and said, “Got it. Three adult Three-fanged Vipers.”
