Rusul-san first warned me that this was something he was not supposed to show to anyone outside the guild staff, then he brought out a map of the area around Mars Town.
It was called a map, but the scale was vague and only the major landmarks were drawn. Even so, it was definitely better than the one I had made.
I took out my compass, placed it on the map, and checked the directions. I realized the map had been drawn from the perspective of someone looking outward from the town.
「Is that magic?」
Hm? What is? I looked over and saw Rusul-san picking up the compass I had placed on the map.
「No. It is just a tool. Something for finding direction」
What is with you?
「A tool for finding direction? Is it valuable?」
「It is worth about one copper coin」
It was a cheap item you could buy for a hundred yen at a discount shop. Even expensive ones would not point in a different direction.
「Could you sell it to me?」
「It will disappear after fifteen days」
「If it works for fifteen days for one copper coin, it is more than enough. Is this the only one?」
I had Ladarion take out the one she carried. I handed both to Rusul-san and he paid two copper coins for them.
「How do you use it?」
Since the directions were written in kanji, Rusul-san had no way of knowing what they meant.
I explained how to use it, and Rusul-san, who was very smart, understood right away. He wrote the explanation on parchment in the local language.
「I see. There are interesting things in the world」
Since I had grown up in a world where such things were normal, I could not feel the same sense of wonder he did. But I was surprised to learn that this world had no compasses. Had they not been invented yet? Or did only Rusul-san not know about them? Did I just cause a problem?
Hmm, no. The useless goddess was the one who sent people from other worlds here, so responsibility lies with her. I had no reason to get blamed for this.
Yes. I was not at fault. This was the path guided by that useless goddess. Decision made.
After settling it that way, I had him mark the spots where goblins appeared, then left the branch in a hurry.
「Excuse me. Is there a place nearby where we can get a meal or rest?」
When I asked the middle-aged man from earlier, he told me that if I left the branch and went right, I would find the entertainment district, and that there was a place called Rodom’s House, a combined inn and tavern often used by adventurers.
I thanked him and headed there. The building was quite impressive.
Since it catered to adventurers, I had imagined a cheap inn, but both the exterior and the interior looked refined and well kept. The adventurers here must earn a good amount.
Rondario-san’s team was there, but I went to the counter first.
「I would like a room for two people. How much is it for one night?」
The woman at the counter was probably the proprietress. It might be rude to say, but she looked like someone who would work at a brothel. Not my type though.
「If you want a room without meals, it is thirty copper coins. Three large copper coins. Meals cost extra」
Around three thousand yen then? Cheap compared to the old world, but maybe expensive here? I had no idea.
「I do not have small coins, so can I pay with silver?」
「Yes, that is fine」
I handed her a silver coin and she returned four large copper coins. So, one large copper coin was roughly a thousand yen.
A copper coin was about the size of a one-yen coin and a large copper coin was about the size of a hundred-yen coin, though their shapes were uneven.
The room the proprietress showed us was on the second floor and very simple, with only two beds. Compared to a net café, three thousand yen felt expensive.
「We handle laundry too. Put whatever you want washed in that basket. Underwear is two copper coins. Clothes stained with monster blood are sent outside for cleaning, so that will cost more」
I see. This was a higher grade inn. They earned money through extra services.
「Understood. Are we allowed to bring food in?」
「Yes, I do not mind, but use the dining hall when you eat. If you make a mess there will be an extra charge」
「We will be careful」
Once the proprietress left and I closed the door, I returned to the Sefuti Home. The H Sniper and MINIMI were getting in the way.
「Ladarion, do you want something to eat?」
「I will eat the cake we bought」
「We are having sushi for dinner, so do not eat too much」
「Cake goes to a different stomach so it is fine」
I had no idea where she picked up that phrase. Actually, it was probably from me. I think I once said that beer goes to a different stomach.
「We are done for today, so take it easy. I am going to the dining hall to draw the map」
If I stayed shut inside the room, someone might get the wrong idea. I should show my face in the dining hall just to keep my reputation clean.
I armed myself with cargo pants carrying the Glock 19, a knife on my belt, and put my writing tools, sketchbook, and two bottles of wine into my shoulder bag before heading to the dining hall.
When I arrived, Rondario-san’s team was having a drinking party. Well, after earning that much, of course they would.
「Can I get something that goes well with alcohol?」
Even though outside food was allowed, it felt rude not to order anything. I handed five copper coins to the girl who seemed to be the waitress.
「We can bring out stewed mutton right away. Is that all right?」
「Yeah, that is fine. Also bring a cup」
「Okaay. Please wait a moment」
The girl returned to the kitchen and I took an empty seat.
I took out my writing tools, sketchbook, and wine from my shoulder bag.
Before the food arrived, I tried to remember the map shown at the branch and copied it in a way I could understand.
「Huh. You are pretty good at that」
At some point, Rondario-san had appeared in the same seat. Was this guy a ninja?
「It is just a rough map drawn by an amateur. The distances are approximate, I do not know the elevation differences, and the paths may be inaccurate. If possible, I would love to draw it after seeing everything from the sky」
For someone used to looking at G○○gle Earth, this felt unreliable. I might have to walk the area myself.
I poured wine into Rondario-san’s empty cup.
「I would love to learn from an adventurer who is active around here」
Rondario-san let out a small laugh and drank the wine, his expression changing. A thousand-yen bottle tasted pretty good.
「I will make sure to reward you properly」
I poured him another cup of wine.
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