Chapter 27

Chapter 27 : New Weapon, Longsword

｢You are leaving the dungeon!｣

｢In Velheim, rest is also important! Make sure to recover sufficiently from your fatigue before entering the dungeon next time.｣

｢However, remember this. If you become drunk on the sweet afterglow and fail to reach the target level within the deadline, you will pay a harsh price.｣

｢Remaining deadline: 39 days and 8 hours….｣

When we came out of the dungeon, the sun was high overhead.

Malton adjusted his heavy backpack and muttered.

“We were only inside the dungeon for three or four days, yet it feels as though we have come out after a very long time….”

“It really does.”

“We have come back to the surface after quite a while. Is there anything you want to eat? Is it not an adventurer’s tradition to eat and drink to one’s heart’s content after finishing an exploration?”

“Me? Pork belly… no, I would be satisfied if I could eat roasted pork with long strips of fermented cabbage….”

“Hm? That is an unfamiliar combination.”

“It is a local dish from my homeland. I do not know whether I can find the ingredients here, though.”

“How intriguing. If you ever cook it, make sure to call me. …Putting that aside, are you going to keep following us from so far away?”

“…….”

When Malton looked back, Radi, who had been following at quite a distance, reluctantly opened his mouth.

“……Sir Malton deceived me.”

“Deceived you? What do you mean?”

“…….”

Radi’s eyebrow twitched, and he snapped back as though he found it absurd.

“No, are you in your right mind too, Sir Malton? What are you going to do if you keep hanging around with such an ominous being and get accused of being the same kind of heretic?! On top of that, it is not merely a matter of being involved with him. There are two Evil Gods, no less, mmph!!”

“Are you insane? Do not say that out loud.”

When I hurried over and covered his mouth, Radi glared at me fiercely.

I awkwardly lowered my hand and said,

“Ahem… You promised, did you not? We agreed not to bring up that topic in places with many people. …There are many things we have to do outside the dungeon as well, so let us deal with those first.”

“Things to do? There is nothing I need to do with you! It is none of my business what Evil God you believe in, but if I stay with you and end up getting caught by a heresy inquisitor…!”

“Yes, yes. You would be tortured until you were on the verge of death or boiled alive in a cauldron. …In any case, we still have to report our return to the Adventurer Guild, do we not?”

“And it would be good to exchange the materials as well. The bag is so heavy that I can barely move.”

Even though we had only taken the valuable Golem Cores, walking was still difficult.

With backpacks weighing heavily on our shoulders, we headed to the Adventurer Guild.

‘At some point, it might not be a bad idea to obtain a Familiar or find and hunt a Monster specialized in transporting luggage.’

｢You have arrived at the Temporary Achaia Adventurer Guild!｣

｢It is a temporary branch operated by employees dispatched from Verastin. They say that, from time to time, the screams of workers suffering from overwork can be heard from inside.｣

When we entered a tent large enough to stage a performance, the receptionist greeted us with a puzzled expression.

“Oh? You are the people whose procedures I helped with last time. But… was the exploration harder than you expected? It has only been four days since the three of you entered the dungeon….”

“No, we found a good hunting ground, so we filled our backpacks.”

“I see! If you would like to exchange materials, please place them on this table… W-Wait! This many?!”

When I turned my backpack upside down and poured out a heap of Golem Cores, the receptionist’s eyes filled with shock.

But this was only the tip of the iceberg.

“There is still more.”

“Th-This is not the end…? Surely….”

The receptionist spotted Malton’s and Radi’s bulging backpacks, let out a small shriek, and hurriedly ran deeper into the tent.

***

“Here is your payment.”

In the end, the situation was only settled once the Guild Appraiser arrived.

Radi received a hefty pouch, opened it, and let out a small cry.

“What is it, Radi?”

“Gold Coins! Th-There are Gold Coins mixed in!!”

“Gold Coins, huh….”

When I rummaged through the pile of Silver Coins inside the pouch, I really did see golden coins lying beneath them.

‘Let me see… If it is like medieval England, twelve Copper Coins make one Silver Coin, and twenty Silver Coins make one Gold Coin….’

This was a considerable sum.

It was several times more than what I had risked my life to earn in the Radgit cave.

However, I stared at the coins with a slightly displeased expression.

‘…It is nowhere near enough.’

If this had been back when Velheim was still a game, I might have been satisfied. But now that this place had become reality, I could not feel satisfied when I considered it the price of my life.

Then again, even if it was before the apocalypse, it had been foolish of me to expect reasonable compensation in this dark fantasy world, where cheap labor overflowed everywhere.

As I laughed at myself, the receptionist said in a bright voice,

“Seeing you smile so brightly, it seems you like the payment! Since so many mages have gathered here, the demand for Golem Cores has increased sharply! But where exactly did you obtain these?”

“That… I will write it in a report and submit it soon. But the ones we hunted were the last of them, so we will not be able to bring the same spoils next time.”

“That is a shame… Ah, with this number of subjugations, we will stamp a golem seal on your Adventurer Badges! I look forward to your excellent performance in the future! The three of you will be entering together next time as well, right?”

“Well, that….”

Radi hesitated, then raised his hand and said,

“…I will probably be leaving the party.”

“What? Why?! With results like this, would most people not want to stay? It is hard even for a high-rank party to earn this much money in such a short time….”

“Well, that is… The income is certainly tempting, but….”

Radi glanced at me, frowned, and shook his head slightly.

“I will just say… we have differences in direction.”

“I see… If that is the case, there is nothing to be done. But if you change your mind, please tell us right away! It would not be too late to think it over a little more before deciding!”

Radi sighed, shouldered his backpack, and headed out of the guild tent.

I reflexively tried to grab his shoulder, but he shot me one glare and left before I could say anything.

｢The adventurer ‘Radi’ has left the party!｣

‘Damn it… This is rather troublesome.’

To be honest, the kid leaving the party was quite a painful blow.

The deeper we went into the dungeon, the more we would absolutely need a skilled ranged shooter.

Moreover, he was an all-rounder who handled traps well and could even perform scouting duties through his sense of smell.

Because his reactions were excellent, he was also perfect for inflating his abilities with my [Chaos] ability.

Most importantly….

‘…At the very least, he did not report me to the Temple even after seeing me in my undead form.’

Being involved with me put his safety at risk. Although he had been angry about being deceived, Radi had ultimately kept my secret.

In this world where betrayal was rampant, a tight-lipped and trustworthy comrade was worth more than a few clinking Gold Coins.

I absolutely could not let such a talent slip away.

‘The problem is that he has already left….’

Fortunately, there was still a way.

In any case, since he had come here, he would want to form a party again and challenge the dungeon.

Considering the time needed to replenish enough supplies, rest, and look for new party members, I had at least three or four days before his next entry.

I could also roughly guess where he was headed.

While I was raising the corners of my mouth and plotting, Malton gathered his payment and said,

“It is regrettable, but it cannot be helped. We should hurry and move as well. …Shall we go to the Temple?”

“The Temple? Why would we… Ah.”

I could check it immediately through the Status Window, but the people of this world could only confirm their level through the Temple’s Crystal Ball.

‘Come to think of it, I also have to dispose of the pendant I received from the goddess when I was reincarnated….’

Since I had earned money I could use right away from hunting the golem, perhaps I should put that off until later.

“Let us visit the Temple next time… Shall we go to an arms shop instead?”

“An arms shop?”

“Yes. My Cutlass was completely ruined while bringing down the golem. Since I earned some money, I should replace it while I have the chance.”

“That is a good idea.”

Malton and I walked at a leisurely pace.

Even though we had only been away for three days, many changes had taken place in the campsite near the dungeon.

Temporary buildings had sprung up across what had once been an empty field, and narrow alleys were lined with stalls and tents that had not existed before.

Touts had stationed themselves along the roadside, and the sound of haggling never ceased at the mouths of the alleys.

‘Somehow, this place feels more like a dungeon.’

When we entered a suitable arms shop, the shopkeeper looked Malton and me up and down, then spoke as though dismissing us.

“…Welcome. The beginner weapons and armor are over there, so look around as you like. If you are not going to buy anything, do not touch them.”

“…….”

Was it acceptable to treat customers this poorly?

I frowned, then looked down at my own appearance and understood.

Right now, my clothes were extremely shabby because I had just returned from the dungeon. In a premodern society, clothing itself was practically no different from identification.

Malton, who seemed to be used to this sort of thing, showed his silver Adventurer Badge.

“I would like to see some swords.”

“Ah, good heavens, you were high-ranking elves! To think you are B-Rank adventurers… No wonder both of you have such remarkably handsome appea—”

“Would you be quiet?”

“Of course!!”

The merchant hurriedly bowed his head and retreated.

As I looked around the weapon shop, which was fairly well stocked for a hastily assembled tent, I saw all sorts of equipment, from beginner gear to items meant for experienced mercenaries.

[Ordinary Wooden Bow and Arrow Set]

｢It is not bad for target practice.｣

[Traveler’s Leather Gloves]

｢For preventing calluses. Do not expect anything more.｣

[Militia Halberd]

｢A weapon that combines a long shaft, an axe blade, and a hook, making it effective against Cavalrymen!｣

As I looked over the weapons and armor with a flutter of excitement, Malton spoke.

“There are quite a few types. What weapon do you plan to choose?”

“A Longsword. A straight, double-edged type.”

“Hm? I thought you preferred Curved Swords.”

“That was something I looted from a pirate… no, something I had no choice but to use. I prefer straight swords.”

Velheim had many sword techniques that made use of the false edge.

Since many of the techniques were derived from actual medieval swordsmanship, there were various methods beyond simply cutting and thrusting.

A crosswise strike followed by a broken strike, deflections, winding, irregular double actions and changing actions, and so on….

In other words, if I wanted to aim for a higher ceiling, it was better to become familiar with the Longsword in advance, since its usefulness increased depending on the user’s skill.

“But there are far too many Longswords on display here… Choosing one will not be easy.”

“You are right….”

In comics and novels, the term Longsword was often used as a catch-all for Western swords, but naturally, Longswords had many forms and variations.

And by looking at the shape, one could understand the sword’s purpose and intent.

For example….

“Hey, Malton. We will probably end up fighting Monsters more often than people, right?”

“Would it not depend on the time and place? At the very least, in a dungeon, we will have more occasions to fight Monsters. …But why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Because the advantageous shape of a sword changes depending on the opponent.”

Against ordinary Monsters, a cutting-oriented sword with high stopping power was best, while in fights against people, a thrusting-oriented sword with a sharp point was better.

If one wanted to pierce a knight’s Plate Armor or Chainmail and deal damage, a thrust was far more effective than a cut.

Even in the early Middle Ages, there had been many broad-bladed swords that prioritized cutting performance, but they gradually developed into more pointed forms because improvements in smithing techniques increased the spread of Chainmail.

‘I have no reason to fight knights yet… For now, a cutting sword would be more suitable for me.’

After some deliberation, I drew one Longsword from the rack.

｢You have chosen an Oakeshott Typology Type XIIIa Double-Edged Sword!｣

｢It is a type called a true medieval two-handed sword, characterized by a blade with parallel edges and a rounded tip!｣

｢As long as you have enough Strength, it is an object with excellent cutting performance, enough to sever even a Monster’s bones in a single stroke.｣

｢Detailed Specs

Blade Length: 95cm

Grip Length: 24cm

Weight: 2.05kg｣

‘Excellent.’

It was a Longsword used on Earth in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.

It was a type that tried to break through the increasing defensive power of Chainmail by investing everything into cutting performance.

Therefore, if one could swing it with all one’s might, it would produce decent results even against tough enemies.

After quietly warning the merchant, who had been trying to sneakily overcharge me, by showing him the sheathed sword, I paid the price and left. Malton asked worriedly,

“Hm… You seem to have spent quite a large sum. Will you be all right? In Verastin, there would have been cheaper swords of the same quality.”

“I have to think of it as an investment. If an adventurer pinches pennies on equipment, nothing will come of it.”

“A wise answer to a foolish question. That is a good mindset.”

“Yes. Besides, I will be able to earn plenty of money from now on.”

If I saved money on equipment, I might die in an instant.

It was a lesson I had learned at an extremely high price while playing Velheim.

At the very least, an adventurer should never be stingy with weapons and armor directly connected to their life.

Besides, the cost of living around the dungeon was so expensive that this much was not particularly a loss.

“Then now I have to choose lodging to stay in for a while… On the way here, I saw a cluster of lodging facilities. Shall we go there?”

“Unfortunately, I plan to stay at the house of an acquaintance nearby. He is rather shy around strangers, so regrettably, taking you along would be difficult.”

“Well, then it cannot be helped. See you next time.”

“Yes. Let us meet again after reorganizing. Take good care of yourself.”

After discussing our future schedule, Malton and I parted ways in front of the road where lodging tents were clustered.

When I needed to recover as much fatigue as possible before the next expedition, it would have been foolish to use a cold, cramped one-person camping tent.

‘Even if I have to accept some expense, it would be better to rest in a proper place….’

After paying Silver Coins, I entered a temporary rental tent.

｢You have entered an Adventurer Rental Tent.｣

｢It is a multi-person tent made with thick cold-weather outer covering and sturdy supports!｣

｢Improving the quality of your rest is a wise choice. Even greater trials will be waiting in the next exploration!｣

｢Remaining rental period: 2 days and 23 hours….｣

When I entered, the faint smell of grass and straw tickled my nose.

In the corner was a bed made from straw with a cover placed over it, and there was a small makeshift table and a lamp as well.

It was inconvenient that, because it was meant for two people, I had to share the same tent with another adventurer, but since a large partition had been set up in the middle, my privacy would not be invaded.

‘I feel as though I have become a Mongolian nomad.’

Without even taking the time to change clothes, I threw myself onto the bed.

Because I had spent the entire day walking with a heavy backpack on my shoulders, my whole body ached terribly.

On top of that, in the dungeon, I always had to keep my nerves on edge in preparation for Monster appearances, and even while resting, I had kept my Hood pulled low to hide my Black Hair.

The proper rest that had come after so long nearly made my brain melt.

However, just as I was about to sink into sweet sleep, I heard a groan from beyond the partition.

Whenever I tried to let go of consciousness, the noise pricked at my nerves like needles, making it impossible to sleep.

‘Damn it… Did I choose the wrong room? This was the last tent left, so I cannot even change it….’

After tossing and turning for a while, I finally could not endure it anymore. I violently pulled open the makeshift partition and shouted at the occupant in the next space.

“Would you be quiet and let me sleep…! H-Huh?”

Why are you here….

And beyond it, a flustered Radi was staring at me with startled eyes.