SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 19 - Ruins of Kuna
After our discussion, I went to the second floor. As I checked out the weapons, I quickly decided on one.
I chose the staff that could cast something called “Air Hammer” and a shortsword worth 1 million yen.
However, selecting armor took some time.
It was quick to decide on Eleanor’s armor as there was only one black robe available, but I was uncertain about Okita-kun’s armor.
I didn’t want him to wear something like heavy armor that would slow him down, but they were also selling lightweight gear that looked just like regular clothing, which made the decision difficult.
After much thought, I finally settled on an inner suit that could be worn underneath regular clothes.
Naturally, wearing just the inner suit would look perverted, so I’d wear a tracksuit over it.
This means there wouldn’t be much difference in appearance from before.
Having made my decisions on weapons and armor, I descended to the lobby on the first floor.
Upon reaching the lobby, I saw Kaede-chan had returned to the reception desk, so I approached her.
“Are you done?”
I asked the somewhat tired-looking Kaede-chan.
“Yes, it was a lot of work. The payment has been completed, so please check. Ah, here’s the detailed bill.”
I checked the paper Kaede-chan handed over. Sure enough, it stated 25 million yen.
“Thank you.”
“What will you do today? Will you go to the frontier?”
I wonder what to do.
I have the money now, and I need to shop.
But I also want to level up.
“I’m thinking of going to the Kunar ruins…”
The Kunar ruins, like the Forest of Eden, are one of the areas in the frontier that Japan borrows.
It’s a city of ancient stone buildings, and of course, monsters appear.
Going inside the buildings is dangerous due to the risk of collapse, but you can explore the streets.
In terms of difficulty, it’s slightly more dangerous than the Forest of Eden.
“It should be fine, right? I think Eleanor can handle it.”
It seemed Kaede-chan was also suggesting this.
“Then, I’ll buy the weapons and robe upstairs and head out.”
“You’re buying a robe too?”
“I saw a mysterious black robe. It’s probably better than the one I bought online for 4,980 yen.”
Although it looks almost the same, except for a hood, it costs 800,000 yen.
I feel like I’m losing my sense of money.
“Where will you change?”
“In the changing room…”
I dream of the women’s changing room…
Oh, Kaede-chan’s face looks scary.
“It’s okay because there are no customers now… Senpai, senpai.”
Kaede-chan bent over and whispered to me.
“…What?”
I also leaned down and whispered back.
Kaede-chan was really close.
She smelled good, and I felt like we could kiss.
Even though I’m a woman…
“…Please take the black robe home as it is.”
“…Is that okay?”
“…Armor regulations are more relaxed than weapons. It won’t be found out.”
So, it’s technically forbidden.
“…What about the weapons?”
“…Weapons are strictly regulated. While armor can get by with caution, carrying weapons leads to immediate detention. You can’t get caught. After all, there’s no person named Eleanor.”
That’s true.
I don’t have an ID either.
“…Understood.”
I nodded and straightened up.
“Here’s your status card. Have a safe journey.”
Kaede-chan handed me the status card and waved with a smile.
I went to the second and third floors to buy the weapons and armor and then headed to the women’s changing room.
Although I thought I would be thrilled about the women’s changing room, it was disappointing since it was empty and looked just like the men’s.
With my item bag, I didn’t need a locker, so I stood in front of the mirror in the attached washroom and started changing.
First, the inner suit I bought for Okita-kun was made with some mysterious technology and was unisex, so I tried it on.
“Suspicious…”
At first, I thought it looked cool, like a spy outfit, but upon closer inspection, it was definitely suspicious. So, I quickly put on the robe.
Then, I took the staff I just bought and posed with it.
“Yeah. Mysterious.”
It does kind of look like a mage, but it’s mysterious.
Well, the only difference from earlier is the addition of the hood.
After changing, I slung my bag over my shoulder and left the changing room.
Before heading to the gate in the back, I stopped by Kaede-chan to show off my “mysterious” look, only to be told, “You look like a suspicious witch.”
Well, that’s one way to put it.
Excited to try out my magic, I headed to the gate with a spring in my step.
Then, thinking of the Kunar ruins, I passed through the gate.
◆◇◆
On the other side of the gate was a ruined town, with paved roads and buildings made of stone.
I think this was an ancient town of the Frontier people, and when they no longer needed it, they gave it to Japan.
Holding the staff in my left hand, I began to explore the ruined town.
I kept the staff in my left hand so that my right hand was free to reach into my bag and draw my sword whenever necessary.
Despite my mage-like appearance with the 10-million yen staff, my main weapon is a sword.
Walking through the ruined town, I felt like there could be treasure chests somewhere, but of course, there were none.
Other adventurers and the Self-Defense Force have already explored it multiple times, and no valuable items remain.
Only monsters appear.
As I thought this, a skeleton wielding a sword suddenly appeared before me.
A skeleton.
Monsters in the Frontier drop items when defeated and turn into smoke.
And after a certain amount of time, they respawn.
I don’t know the mechanism behind it.
Well, I have a sword, and I’d like to use it to fight, but…
First, let’s give it a try.
I face the approaching skeleton, which is making a rattling noise, with the tip of my staff and concentrate.
Then, with a whooshing sound, the skeleton is blown away in a cloud of dust.
It falls apart and turns into smoke, disappearing.
“Wow! If I get hit with that, I’m done for.”
No matter how confident I am with my sword, if I’m hit with that from a distance, it’s over.
Obviously, adventurers shouldn’t fight amongst themselves.
The Self-Defense Force patrols the frontier, and if caught, there are severe penalties.
But, there are all sorts of people in the world.
I need to be careful.
I brace myself again, picking up the items the skeleton dropped.
“A sword…”
Probably the one the skeleton had.
It doesn’t look of good quality to my eye.
“Even if a sword drops, if I don’t have an item bag, it’s just cumbersome. It’d be different if it sells for a good price.”
I can’t imagine this shoddy sword selling for much.
Maybe 10,000 yen at best.
I store the sword in my item bag and start walking again.
As I continue walking, I spot two men approaching from the front.
They seem to have noticed me too, but they don’t stop.
I keep walking, ready to draw my sword at any time.
The two men stare at me, but when we pass each other, they simply nod and continue on their way.
I hardly saw anyone in the Eden Forest, but there are adventurers here even during the day…
I kept hunting skeletons, and as expected, I saw a few adventurers here and there.
One thing they all had in common: none of them were solo.
Everyone seems to be in a party.
Makes sense.
The rewards are halved, but the safety is doubled, if not tripled.
Life is precious.
While I continue exploring with heightened alertness, this time two skeletons appear.
A 1-on-2 situation is tough, but skeletons aren’t particularly fast, and they stand no chance against my powerful air hammer.
Hmm, this air hammer is worth every bit of the 10 million yen I paid for it. It’s overkill for this level.
While picking up the dropped items, I decide to use my sword next time.
I should be fine against these, and I want to improve my swordsmanship.
Curious about my level, I take out my status card from my bag to check.
“Oh, it’s gone up.”
I wish there was a notification system. It feels less impressive when it increases without me noticing.
Name: Elenora Ocean
Level: 4
Job: Swordsman
Skills:
Swordsmanship lv5
★ Alchemy
★Alchemy:
Consume materials to create new items.
More recipes are unlocked as the skill holder’s level increases.
Level 4:
Healing Potion lv1, Gender Change Potion
Sleeping Drug, Pure Water
Translation Potion, Item Bag
Invisibility Potion
Invisibility, huh…
Peeping…
Man, my potions all sound so criminal.
I’d be scared of Kaede-chan’s reaction.
“This won’t sell.”
The ingredients are pure water and water, and the effect lasts for one hour.
Drinking another invisibility potion within an hour cancels the effect.
If something like this were on the market, it’d only be used for nefarious purposes…
But, well, now I don’t need to change in the restroom.
I can become invisible, leave the house, and then revert where no one can see me.
I’ll keep this item for personal use, not for selling.
I decide that and think it would be nice if my level went up by at least one more as I resume exploring.