Published at 22nd of July 2019 12:57 am

Chapter 10

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For some reason, my stomach growls once I relax.

If I call recall correctly, I haven’t had a bite to eat since I came to this world. My stomach was already growling when I headed back out to the swamp.

‘What is it? Are you hungry? If so, would you like to have some of the fungus you and that girl picked together? However, There is actually not too much left.’

Why do I have to eat mushrooms?

Never mind that, why didn’t you give it all to Arleaf?

‘It is obvious, is it not? Handling fees, you could call it. Well, even if you call it theft, it is a tiny amount that I had taken, I believe. If you were wanting to return it, she would refuse. That is how little I have embezzled.’

Oh, whatever. So, why the hell mushrooms?

‘If you were to use Poison Absorption on them, the fungus would not pose any danger to you. Furthermore, assuming you are able to remove the poison, they are very nutritious, so I kept some at hand.’

No, that’s not it. I’m saying why would you assume I would eat raw mushrooms when I’m in town already.

If I have cash to spare—and I do—why wouldn’t I go get a decent meal somewhere?

Like a pub or something. No, especially at a pub or something.

‘Gathering intelligence is of utmost importance. We must be vigilant and head forth there! Now, let us make haste to investigate!’

Yeah, yeah.

Thus, after a bit of rest, I left my room and locked the door in search of a meal.

“I’m just heading out for a little while.”

“Alrighty. Oh, heading out for some grub?”

“Yes. And to gather some information as well.”

“In that case, you might want to head to the tavern over yonder. It’s might a lil’ early, but there’s gonna be the usuals havin’ a good time over there.”

“Thank you.”

I hand over my key to the proprietress to safeguard and head out of the inn.

‘Hmm? What do you think is that there?’

Once outside the inn, Veno highlights and pings a store that looks like it sells gear and equipment.

I see it! Cut it out! We’re not heading out just because we’re bored, are we?

I enter the tavern she introduced to me.

Mm… it feels exactly like a tavern out of a Western.

Wanted posters are posted on the wall.

I guess there really are bounty hunters.

Not wanting to stare too much, I instead look over the menu on the wall.

Even if I can read a menu of a parallel world, there are many ingredients that I haven’t heard of.

Oh, seems there are daily specials as well.

That makes it easy.

“Welcome!”

“One of your specials, please.”

I raised my hand at the shopkeep who walked over here, beckoning her.

“You got it!”

She nods warmly and nimbly makes her way into the kitchen. She brings out the food and drink relatively quickly and places it down at my table with a thud.

It feels a bit more casual than it would be in Japan.

The people and culture are different, hey?

Alcohol from a parallel world… looks like an ale. I try a sip.

Mm. There’s a bit of sweetness to it, but… this is crap.

‘As should be expected of cheap liquor. If you want a good drink so much, I could share a little of the nice ones I have.’

In tales, dragons are quite the heavy drinkers, but you, too, Veno?

‘You could say I am a connoisseur. In either case, I am fonder of sweets, however.’

He’s got a sweet tooth, huh?

Anyway, back to the daily special… a massive hunk of meat that looks super tough, paired with stewed vegetables.

I stab it with my fork and try a bite.

Eugh… as tough as it looks.

I’m only familiar with Japanese food, but the seasonings for this… Rather than to say it’s not to my tastes, it might be more appropriate to call it crap.

The stewed veggies are soft, but they’re not that good either.

‘You must have had many delicacies back in your land.’

Well, yeah. They say there’s lots of good food in Japan now, so I guess it’s not really by choice.

I’ve just started living in this world, so maybe there would be menus that I do like.

I eat some of the meat and then call over the server again.

“Can I get some dessert? Just one of whatever’s not too expensive will do.”

“Right away!”

She heads back into the kitchen at a brisk pace and returns with a fruit platter.

That’s dessert, alright.

I figured she wouldn’t bring me ice cream or anything like that.

‘Oh? A dessert made by chilling milk, beating air, and adding sugar into it? I would like to have some of that too.’

Don’t beg for food that doesn’t exist, you dolt.

I eat my food and, while no one is looking, have Veno store away the fruit, treating him to something sweet.

In the tavern are other people looking like adventurers making merry and drinking a bit now and then.

I don’t have much of a chance to interject and giving off an odd impression would be dangerous for me. I’ll just have to observe today.

Though not particularly satisfied, I fill my belly and finish my meal.

“Thanks much.”

I walk out of the store after hollering that, but not before placing down the money for my meal on the table, just like what an adventurer would do.

Whew… I somehow filled myself up on that.

However, I haven’t been particularly hungry until just before my meal. I wonder why that is.

The immense fatigue from the death march made me not hungry.

My link with Veno also connects our sense of hunger.

‘Or three: The poison from the marsh eased your hunger due to your Poison Absorbtion (Weak).’

Don’t just go around adding another option in my head!

‘I cannot help but do so, as I see it as my responsibility to help you out.’

Yeah, sure. Whatever you say.

You know… I’ve always thought dragons were supposed to be majestic creatures. But this guy just does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and he makes smart-ass comments from time to time. Veno’s attitude reminds me of a kid brimming with curiosity more than anything.

‘You dare to make a fool out of me?! I am not a child!’

Yeah, and if you weren’t one, you’d pipe down already.

‘It is to be expected, is it not? I have seen very little of the world of man. I am not able to sate my curiosity.’

Hey, don’t go shifting the blame on me.

‘Heh heh, do not underestimate my desire for knowledge.’

Is it really something to brag about?

Though taken aback by his attitude, I nonchalantly look up to the sky.

… the setting sun shines brightly.

Now then, let’s get back to the room, I’ll brush my teeth, and hit the sack. Either that, or we can keep wandering the town. Not much else to do otherwise.

Maybe I’ll get to see Arleaf again.

Oh, that’s right. I need to get toiletries too. You know what I’m talking about, Veno?

‘I do have a toothbrush, you know? That store ahead should have some for sale.’

Is that so? No harm in buying one there then.

We head in that direction to do some shopping.

I should take the opportunity to check my status too. I had leveled up while fulfilling the request.

Kogure Yukihisa

Poison Earth

Level 5

Acquired skills: Spirit Link, Poison Absorption, Poison Release, Poison Condensation

… Poison Absorption lost the (Weak) part. I wonder where it disappeared to.

It should be better now though.

My level is up to five now, too, so that’s proof of my growth.

‘Once you reach level , you can advance from your Earth-class.’

In that case, I should set my goal to levelling to .

Incidentally, how about dragons?

‘I am fundamentally different than the framework of monsters. In the beginning, I started off as a Dragon Baby, then to Dragon Pup, and I climb through the ranks as such. It is equivalent to your growth, so I do not change classes like humans do. Eventually, I may alter forms, similar to how humans advance jobs. However, it is up to me what derivation I choose to change into.’

Hmm, wow… It seems like you evolve quicker than beings on Earth do.

‘Rather than that, do you not wish to investigate about your new skill, Poison Condensation? It is important to have a grasp of your abilities.’

That’s right. Do you know anything about it, Veno?

‘I possess a skill of the same name. It is a skill that concentrates the poison within my body.’

Ooh… As expected of a mighty poison dragon.

I focus on activating the skill.

Swamp toxin

Miasma toxin

Marphina toxin

I guess I don’t have enough Spray Green Mosquito poison to do anything with it, so that option’s greyed out.

The spores of the poisonous mushroom is also an option, but it seems like I don’t have enough of that either.

I’ll just choose one for now.

I select swamp toxin.

How much would you like to reduce it by?

The text suddenly pops into my vision.

It seems like I get to select the percentage to do this by.

I’ll try maximizing it. I feel as if I suddenly lost a lot of energy.

Checking my status, I see that my mana has reduced.

Seems like using the skill will expend mana.

I raise the gauge up to two-times reduction.

As I confirm my selection, an hourglass icon pops up in my vision.

‘Concentrating poison requires time. We have plenty at the time being, so it shall be fine.’

So, this is something that needs to be prepared ahead of time, huh?

However, since I chose swamp toxin, I think it takes less time than the other options.

One hour, eh?

Well then, in that hour’s time, let’s finish all the shopping I have to do.

‘It is important to try it out when it is completed as well.’

… the problem is what to try the poison out on.

The monsters around the swamp would naturally be resistant to poison… However, Arleaf took her gas mask off along the way, so maybe the swamp’s noxious gas doesn’t reach all the way here.

In that case, the monsters closer to the village may have less resistance to poison.

I arrive at the two-in-one second-hand shop/pharmacy to get my toothbrush and other toiletries.

I’ll pretend like I’m here because Arleaf’s dad has what I’m looking for.

Unfortunately, Arleaf isn’t around.

I really can’t hold the products here to Japanese standards. At least it’s better than nothing.

So, I buy all my daily necessities.

They also straight razors, but they’re a little scary to use.

‘If you are afraid of cutting your face, you could always cast Poison Release and use that on your cuts. It should heal up your wounds quite rapidly.’

There’s something sad with what Veno pointed out.

It just doesn’t feel good how I can smear poison on my face to heal my cuts.

But it’s not like I have any other choice…

If not, I could always go shave at the swamp.

… it would totally suck if it grows back immediately after I shave it though.

How is it normally with regards to that?

‘That is an interesting point of view. It should work the same as healing magic. It is a question of how much you can cure.’

It seems like Veno knows, but he’s not telling me.

Do dragons shave too?

Are you guys like snakes? You shed your scales like a snake sheds skin?

Like when an attractive member of the opposite sex comes along, do you rip off your scales on your face to pretty it up?

‘It would be extremely painful to do the same to scales as you do to your beard. The attractiveness of scale takes things like luster and shape into consideration, but we do not remove scales on purpose. But that is the topic at hand. Were we not talking about the extent of healing magic?’

Ah, right.

I was hoping you’d tell me if skin and hair would grow back where I heal.

‘There is much research and study conducted on that area, but there are not many conclusive results. However, even with different thoughts between the healer and the patient, the wound will heal to the image in the patient’s thoughts.’

So, what’s gonna happen if I heal my wound after I cut myself with the razor?

‘Parts that could not grow hair would not be able to grow hair after healing. For the parts that you have accidentally shaved, the part can grow hair again.’

Hmm… so if I don’t want it to grow back, it wouldn’t?

‘More or less. If you do not have a concrete image in your head, hair might grow too. Therefore, it is not certain.’

How vague.

Well, if I’m not familiar enough with the effects of healing magic on my body, so I guess whatever happens, happens.

Anyway, I complete my purchase while discussing about shaving.

I’m glad that I can pick up razors pretty much in Japan and I’m glad I can do so here too.

Ah, and also toilet—… no comment.

Well, for stuff like that, you kinda just have to get used to it.

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