167: Work, they said, was about cultural exchange.

The Mizoho Shrine Nation was a beautiful city, where vermilion, wood grain, and gold were mixed together.

Buildings with strange shapes lined the streets, and the lanes buzzed with life.

Their clothing was unique too—women wore vivid, colorful robes.

There was surely a gap between rich and poor. Some women dazzled in fine attire. Others wore patched-together rags, dull mouse-gray, shabby and worn.

Yet strangely, everyone smiled. No grim determination hung in the air.

I scanned my surroundings, heart racing. I knew I was gawking. Knew I was acting like a city-bred fool. Couldn’t help it.

I remembered why I became an adventurer. My world as an orphan raised in an orphanage had ended at the edge of that town.

Back then, I thought it was all there was. And I was content with that.

But then I heard stories from an adventurer who’d come from an orphanage—about how the world stretched beyond the orphanage, beyond the town. That’s when I thought, yeah, I wanna go see it.

The mage adventurer even said I had a lot of magic power. Before I knew it, becoming an adventurer became my goal.

After I became one, I planned to travel the whole kingdom. But reality wasn’t kind. I was just barely keeping myself alive. Couldn’t afford to travel far or stay long.

Still, I changed bases now and then. Compared to ordinary townsfolk, I’d seen more of the world—way more.

So I was satisfied.

But.

Now here I am, standing at the far northern edge of a foreign land.

Can I let myself get a little sentimental? Just for a moment? Remembering an old dream?

“Let’s get a place to stay, first.”

Kyle was just as stunned by the town’s look, but he snapped back, taking charge.

"No, first we gotta change some coins."

"Can't you just ask at the inn?"

Evah chimes in, responding to my words.

"True. The gate guard said to stay at an inn on the main road. They said the inn would let us know when we could go out. So we’re good to wander around."

"Yes. Not many travelers between cities, but there are quite a few inns."

"Guess you’re right."

Wagons crisscross the streets, but fewer merchants than in royal cities. The roads don’t seem to be busy with traders.

"Yeah. Seasonal thing. During harvest, you’ll see a lot of merchants—mostly around Mizuho. But that’s old news for me. Don’t know much about it these days."

"Ah, I see."

Lucas, the adventurer we met on the road, answers our questions.

……hey, wait. What’s with just casually walking together like this?

“Huh?”

“You’re already at the Mizoho Shrine Nation, the whole point of the trip. Just go somewhere already.”

“Harsh, dude!”

“Half joking, but seriously—why the hell are we still together?”

“Half serious? What, you think I’m kidding? I only came here for work. No real goal. Figured, hey, let’s just share a room for now.”

“Sigh.”

I toss my hands up. Lucas, meanwhile, suddenly darts off toward a beautiful woman in an intricate patterned dress, standing across the way.

“Whoa, you there, kimono beauty! Come to my room, how about it? Eh? Calling guards? Haha! Wasn’t that just a little joke?”

Now’s the time to hit on someone, huh?

Whatever. Let him be.

We stepped into the largest-looking inn—what the locals call a ryokan.

Inside, an older woman greeted us with a warm smile.

Welcome! Oh, now that's a rare look. You from the Empire?

No, from the southern kingdom.

Huh! Now that's rare! Heard there's monsters running wild down south, but you okay?

Yeah. Ran into a fair number of monsters, but we’ve got a reliable guard with us.

I glance at Raidock.

Huh! Nice-looking fellow, and strong too! Simply splendid!

Haha...

Raidock gave a dry chuckle. Damn, even the old lady’s into him!

Should start calling him Madame Killer!

Nah, don’t need that.

Well, jokes aside, four men, eight women—got any rooms free? Oh, and that flashy one over there’s out.

That’s harsh!

The innkeeper caught on quick and went to check available rooms.

So, how about the girls in the shared room? Guys, two double rooms, or maybe one more shared room, even if it’s a bit of a waste?

Right. Personally, I’d prefer two shared rooms—better for guarding.

"Can we use royal currency? If not, can you point me to somewhere I can exchange it?"

"Imperial coins are fine. The money changer’s right next door."

"Thanks. I’ll go exchange it. You all head to the rooms first."

"No, I’ll come too."

Kyle, the one I wanted to rest the most, announced he was coming along.

Then Maina, of course, clung to my waist.

Raidock chuckled and gave orders.

"Evra and Camille, stay with them as guards. We’ll sort out the luggage and the carriage."

"Understood."

"Uh."

Well, sure, we’re calling it luggage, but really, it’s just what each of us has stashed on us, just in case.

Leave the carriage to them. We’re heading into the moneychanger next door.

Small building. Just one counter.

The old guy with a raccoon face looks up from his ledger.

“Huh? Empire… no, wait—Kingdom or League, you’re from?”

Guess it’s the moneychanger’s job to spot foreigners.

“Yeah. We’re from the southern Kingdom of Maugaria. Came to exchange Kingdom currency. Got the recommendation from the inn across the street.”

I don’t know the rates, so I might get ripped off. But saying it’s an inn’s recommendation should at least put a little leash on him.

“Haha. Careful, aren’t you? I’ll take a fee, but I’ll exchange it at the real rate.”

“Appreciate that.”

Still, you can never trust a merchant’s words—half of it’s probably lies.

“Though… if you’re from the Kingdom, that’s a bit of a surprise.”

“Why’s that?”

“Hmm… you need to exchange gold coins, right?”

"Of course. And if you’ve got some silver and copper coins handy, that’d be even better."

I pull out about ten gold coins from my pocket. Should be enough for a while, even with this many people.

The man then pulls out four coins that look oddly flat.

"Gold coins are these. 'Koban' is the term that goes better here, in this country."

"Four? That’s a bit excessive, isn’t it?"

The amount of gold used seems about the same, whether it’s koban or regular gold coins.

"In this country, gold’s only worth about half what it is back home."

"What—?"

"Think it’s a lie? Go check for yourselves. We’ve got a big gold mine here."

I glance at Kyle without a word.

"Guess we’ve got no choice but to believe it."

"...Got it."

The man nods, then jingles out a few silver coins. Small, square-shaped.

"These are silver coins. Called 'ichibin' here. And—"

Now, a string of copper coins comes out.

Each coin has a square hole in the center, threaded with a string.

"This is the copper coin, the one-cent piece. Just now, the gold coin, the small ingot, the one-silver, and this one-cent. I've already deducted the fee. What do you want to do?"

"Please."

We get our hands on Mizuho's currency, return to the inn, and settle our bill on the spot.

For now, we secure a room for about five days.

Back in the room, Kyle stares at the copper coin—the one-cent piece—intently, turning it over in his palm.

"What's wrong?"

"No. Every coin is perfectly straight. No warping. To drill a hole right in the middle like this? That’s incredible casting tech."

"Incredible?"

"Yes."

I’ll ask Leifan about it later.

"Most importantly, the copper coin—the one people use most—is strung like this. That’s incredibly practical. I must tell the king without fail."

"Sure beats carrying it loose, huh."

Raidock was tying the string to his belt, fiddling with it.

"Could even use it as a weapon like this."

Raidock tugged the string, shaping the coin into a makeshift staff.

All he ever thinks about is fighting, that guy.

Even with a sword saint’s skill, he’d probably make it work.

"So, what now?"

"Yeah..."

Kyle glanced at Maina sitting on my lap and answered with a smirk.

"We’ll sightsee until we hear something."

"Yay!"

Maina lit up.

Yeah, that’s the plan. Nothing to do.

Tourism’s about learning culture, not just playing around, you know?

"Let’s find some tasty eats!"

Yeah. That’s right, Jitarou.

A world that looks like ours—but not quite.