[What's the purpose of your visit?] Guard

[We are mercenary. We're just looking for a job here, I guess.] Me

[Are you already arrange your accommodations? Do you have a contact or acquaintance here?] Guard

[This is my first time here, so, no we don't. But I happen to know another mercenary called Claus and Krill.] Me

[Hmm... I'm not familiar with any mercenaries named Claus, but I do know Krill, the leader of Cloudy River.] Guard

[Okay then, you may come in. Just make sure you didn't end up sleeping in the street tonight. Also, keep your weapon sheath all the time. You may use it to protect yourself if you must but we won't tolerate it if you're the one that provokes the commotion. Next!] Guard

...

[Woaahh!] Billy

[Didn't know you've never come into a town, Billy.] Me

[Look who's talking! I never had a chance to go out from Dasi, okay!] Billy

Well, it's a fair response from Billy. It's not that amazing if you compare it to any big city on Earth. But for someone who's been living inside a small community all their life, gasping is pretty much understandable.

[OY! Move aside!] Someone pulling a cart

[Ah sorry. Let's go find our lodging, Billy.] Me

[Hahaha, See? You're also stunned yourself!] Billy

[Shut up!] Me

[Come on, don't be shy like that, Mr. Dean. For someone who spent their entire life in a forest, I know you're more dumbfounded more than me.] Billy

Yeah, yeah.

But this town is more bustling than I anticipated. There's a lot of small shops selling a lot of things here and there. We're practicality still on the edge of the town mind you, so who knows how much more bustling it's in the center. I can spot some that look like traveling merchants are unloading their merchandise into the shop. Mercenaries are also walking here and there. Hmm? A jack? A group of people is pulling a small cart carrying a bunch of tools like saws, hammers, chisels, and some lumber.

♪♪♪♪

Ah, a bard. He's singing in the corner of a shop. Let's get some information from him.

[Excuse me.] Me

[Ahh... Hello... Care to buy my song?] Bard

[Mmm... I don't hear what you're singing, sorry. But this is our first time here, so we want to know something like accommodation and maybe a delicious meal.] Me

[What kind of mercenary are you, didn't listen to a bard song? Ahh... Just follow the road and you'll find a good Inn called Little Mugwort, just look for green mugwort on its sign. Take left at the next intersection to get a good drink in the Petty Bowl tavern. It's a famous tavern for mercenaries. For food... A lot of good food is inside the inner wall so just take whatever the inn provides you. Little Mugwort food is not that bad.] Bard

[Hmm... Thank you for your information. Here.] Me

[Ahh... What's becoming of me. A mercenary paying me for the info of an Inn but not my story.] Bard

...

Mugwort, mugwort... What's the mugwort look like anyway? Oh well, let's search for an Inn with a green herb sign.

[I think it's the one, Mr. Dean!] Billy

[Good perceptions as always, Billy. Let's go. I'm starting to be hungry.] Me

[Welcome-nya!]

YAY! ANOTHER CAT-PERSON!

Ehm... I mean

[Hi, can I get a room for two?] Me

[Of course-nya, 5 copper a night! It'll also include breakfast and dinner at 7-nya. More than that, you can order and pay separately to our kitchen. How many nights do you want-nya?] Receptionist

That much?! Even from my payment from Rando, I can only live here for about 10 days! Thank God I met that Princess. Wait, is that meeting is a setup by God?

Oh right, the coin conversion in this world.

1 small copper = 10 gils, or about 1 dollars;

1 copper = 10 small copper, 100 gils;

1 silver = 10 copper, 1000 gils;

1 gold = 10 silver, 10.000 gils;

1 big gold = 10 gold, 100.000 gils;

1 platinum = 10 big gold, 1.000.000 gils;

1 iridium coin = 100 platinum, 100.000.000 gils;

[Nya?] Receptionist

[Ah, sorry. Book us for 7 days, please.] Me

[Alright-nya! Please pay it forward-nya. As a bonus, we'll reheat the last breakfast meal for you while we prepare your room-nya!] Receptionist

[Thank you, umm...] Me

[Ah, my name is Dora-nya! Please call me anytime if you need any help here-nya!] Dora

[Thank you, Dora. I'm Dean and this is my companion, Billy. Nice to meet you.] Me

[Like wise-nya! Please take a seat, I'll tell our kitchen to reheat your meal-nya!] Dora

I'm not yet to see our room but seeing the interior of this Inn, I think it'll be so much better than what we get from Dasi.

But, it's so expensive though. Is that bard tricking us? Or is it a normal price for anything in town? I remember only paying a copper to stay in Tree's Nest, albeit I need to pay extra for the food. Guess living as a mercenary is not as easy as I think.

Hmm... But thinking about it, it's not like a mercenary will stay in a city for a long time. They are called a wanderer for that exact reason, did they?

Ah! Then I shouldn't have paid for a week in advance here. It'll be more economical if I just pay for a night. I mean, I might spend days out there for a job right? Or I might come back here after weeks if the job requires it!

Ahh... My 35 copper... I spent it for nothing...

[Here's your meal, sir.] Waiter

[Thank you. Ah, this is my first time here, so can you tell me where the information center is?] Me

[Of course, just follow the road to the center and you'll see a bustling building with double doors. It'll be hard to miss because of how many people walk in and out to that building.] Waiter

[All right, thank you very much.] Me

[Your most welcome, sir. Please enjoy your meal. Sorry, it's not that fresh. I promise you that our dinner and breakfasts later will be much better than that.] Waiter

Some kinds of meat soup, fried egg, 3 slices of bread and a glass of ale. It sure does a bit lavish than what I got in Dasi. Let's dig in! I won't waste any of my 5 copper here!

It's bland! Other than a flavor from the meat and vegetables that are in here, I don't taste anything other than salt. That last meal in Dasi has more seasoning than this. But guess it's because they're doing a feast so they use much more flavoring than what they usually prepared.

Oh, yes! I remember that I have a pepper sachet from that last MRE. I also still had the main meal from that but after Billy's commotion from a simple coffee, I won't dare to take it out that night.

[Pst, Billy! Pour this into your soup!] Me

[What's this, Mr. Dean?] Billy

[Don't scream! But it's pepper.] Me

[WHA! I mean, what? You also have pepper in you?] Billy

[I do. I still have a lot of stuff, so just enjoy it! Here, pure this on top of your egg too.] Me

I give Billy a hot sauce from the same MRE package. He almost cries out another shout after of course. But I managed to shut his mouth fast enough.

[Mr. Dean, your room is ready-nya. You can follow me to your room-nya!] Dora

[Ah! Mister! I can help you carry your stuff!]

What is this? A group of kids suddenly run into me and asking me to carry my stuff.

[Ah! I'm sorry Mr. Dean! They're a kid from a slum-nya. They must have been seeing you going into inn-nya.] Dora

[Go now bo-nya, go away! Don't disturb Mr. Dean!] Dora

[Wait a sec, Dora...] Me

Slum kid huh? Guess they do anything to gather any money they can.

[Dora, do you have a bath here?] Me

[Bath-nya? No one in the outer wall has a bath-nya! But we have a private well so you can take a bath there. A bar of soap is 1 silver-nya!] Dora

[I'll take it. Billy, you can give the bag to them and follow Dora to our room. I think I'll take a bath first.] Me

[Yes, Mr. Dean.] Billy

[Here! Don't break anything.] Me

[Thank you, mister!] Slum kids

[Nyaa! You really generously!] Dora

I give them 3 pieces of copper. Guess it's too much, huh? Oh well, I do pity them. Let say it's a reward for them for even in their struggle, they still trying to do an honest job for their life.

Ah! Did I also buy a bar of soap for 1 silver? That's... Ah... Whatever! At least I can take a proper bath this time.

I can only take warm water wipes so far. This is because not Dasi nor Tree's Nest has a private well. There is only one well in their village where people come and go to do their business. Rando did tell me that I can take a bath there if I want, but how can I comfortably take a bath when people are drawing water at the same time.

And now, finally! Bath!

Bath...

...

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

I thought when Dora say 'private', it's 'private'.

Suppose what Dora means is they have a well that only the Inn occupant can use. But the condition is still pretty much in the open. Albeit it's located in the back, people can easily see me from the alley gap.

Hahh... Guess I put too much hope for the bathing situation in this world.

...

*open doors*

[Ah, Mr. Dean! Are you done?] Billy

[I do. I leave the soap on the well. You can go ahead take your bath. We'll go to the Information center after this.] Me

[Okay, Mr. Dean. Excuse me.] Billy

Hahh... It certainly takes a lot of strength to be able to take a bath like that. I'm honestly lost my stamina than gaining one after that.

*sit*

Hmm... The bed here is better at least. It still uses straws for its bedding. But it uses some kind of thick fabric for the cover. It's a lot more comfortable and more breathable than a hide cover. It's also easier to clean and dry so it didn't leave a wet dog smell like before.

*summon weapon store HUD*

Let's check what weapons I can buy while waiting for Billy.

Hmm... Looks like I can upgrade my PPSh-41 into a better one. But do I really need it though? I can buy a P90 now and it would be nice with its big capacity and armor-piercing rounds. Maybe I can just jump into an assault rifle straight away?

My option is...

M1 Garand, M14, FAL, Gewehr 43, and StG 44.

Hahh... The only one that can do full auto is the StG and that's not really exciting.

Maybe the M1 Garand?

But if what I want from this are a bigger bullet and better penetration, I might as well just pick a sniper rifle.

...

*knock, knock*

Hmm? Is it Dora?

[Umm... Mister Dean...]

[Wait a sec!] Me

*open door*

[Ooh! You're the kids from before. Sup?] Me

[Umm... Here, Mr. Dean. We wanna return some of your money. We realize you're giving us too much.] Slum Kids

[Hahaha... What's this? Did you get scolded by Dora?] Me

*headshake*

[We just think that you give us too much mister. We only help you bring your stuff after all.] Kids

[Is it? But you can keep it though. I'm fine with that.] Me

[No, mister. We are afraid it'll bring us trouble later. I mean, we don't deserve this money.] Kids

[Hmm... Then why don't we make that money as downpayment?] Me

[Hmm?] Kids

[I and my friend are new in this town so I think I can hire you as our guide. How's that sound?] Me

[Ah! If that's the case, we'll be happy to be your guide! We'll guide you to anywhere you wanna go! We know every show who sells anything!] Kids

[Good, good. Now go and wait downstairs. We'll go right away after my friend finished his bath.] Me

[[Osh!]]

What an energetic bunch.

They really are good kids, aren't they? It's shame that they need to live in the current situation. Wish I can do something to make their live a little bit better.

[Ahh!! It's really good to have a bath!] Billy

[Yo! Welcome back. Ready to explore the town?] Me

[More than ready Mr. Dean!] Billy

How can you be that leisure after bathing in the open?

[Oh, wait. Here, Billy. Your share from the last job.] Me

[I'll take a small amount while you can keep the rest Mr. Dean. It'll be safer on you. Right, are we going to find a job today?] Billy

[Not really. We'll be checking the information center real quick then just strolling the town. You also say that you need to go to Fletcher, aren't you? Maybe we can also buy some armor.] Me

[Sounds good. But is that alright?] Billy

[No worries. We already pay the inn for the night after all. Also, I already prepared a guide for us.] Me