161 Town

After assisting the Vampire Child and her mother, a short while passed.

I arrived at a large town the same day.

More precisely, judging by distance, it was likely the town where that mother and child lived.

A castle was absent, but a massive mansion stood at the town’s center.

Perhaps that was the Vampire Child’s residence?

Born with an unfair advantage, and wealthy by birth.

Envious.

Still, wishing for what one doesn’t have serves no purpose.

I couldn’t simply enter the town, so I observed from within a nearby forest using千里眼.

Far larger than the previous rural settlement.

Population around thirty thousand.

This was the first proper town I’d seen since arriving in this world.

People everywhere.

Just watching them could consume days.

Still, I’ll begin by searching for the item I seek.

I scanned the town at a glance.

Ah, fruit stand discovered.

No, wrong one.

I’m not looking for that item anymore.

A—ah, a confectionery shop!?

No way.

There are proper sweets in this world too?

I want to eat.

No, no.

I’m not looking for that item anymore.

Wandering aimlessly, glancing sideways, searching for the target.

Found it.

Soldier outpost.

In a town this size, there should be guards for self-defense.

The issue is how many guards there are, and how strong they are.

There are nine outposts in total.

One each at the four corners of the town—east, west, south, north—and one larger central headquarters.

Four more located roughly midway between the center and the corners.

Hmm.

About forty per outpost, excluding the central one.

The central outpost has around one hundred.

Including patrols and those not currently stationed, total number is approximately five hundred.

Whether that’s a lot or a little—unclear.

Not entirely sure about that, but personally, I wouldn’t say it’s very tasty.

The soldiers are engaged in training, patrols, paperwork—various tasks.

Watching their drills, they don’t appear particularly strong. But without assessment, it’s impossible to say for certain.

It’d be ideal if assessment were possible even through千里眼.

Also, noticed something—armed individuals beyond soldiers are scattered about.

Clearly adventurers, by appearance.

And those people usually enter the same building.

Second largest structure in the city, after the central manor.

Is this the fantasy world’s standard rumor—adventurer’s guild?

Unlikely.

No way it’s that cliché.

It can’t be, right?

Peering into the building the adventurers—temporary designation—were entering, one half of the ground floor was a tavern, the other half a counter-like structure.

Similar in atmosphere to a city hall.

Adventurers stood in line there, discussing something.

A large board covered in countless sheets of paper lined the wall.

The second and third floors resembled office spaces.

Ah.

Yes.

This is the adventurer’s guild.

Seriously?

The adventurer’s guild is real?

This world really is fantasy.

That’s right.

Adventurers take on requests, fight monsters.

Begin with gathering medicinal herbs, eliminate goblins sighted in village A, gradually confront stronger monsters.

Not that I know if goblins exist in this world.

But they probably do.

After all, it’s D’s oversight.

And then, once famous, I’d go hunting dragons.

Oh, is that not the legendary dragon slayer?

Something like that.

Ah, that’s nice.

But regretfully.

I’m the one being hunted.

If I become famous, will dragon-slaying quests be issued against me?

Perhaps they already have.

Slaughtering knights within a labyrinth. Destroying the fortress at the entrance.

Yes.

It wouldn’t be strange if a bounty appeared.

Wait.

Isn’t that actually convenient?

That would draw in adventurers of notable skill, seeking to eliminate me.

If they’re determined to kill me, I can turn the tables.

Use myself as bait. Lure in adventurers.

Brilliant idea.

Then I should settle down somewhere stable.

Hmm.

Should I build a home in a conspicuous location?

Then, ambush adventurers here.

Could work.

Or, actually, why not just stay here?

Close to the city.

Adventurers are present.

Soldiers too.

Plus, a Vampire Child is probably around—can provide backup if something happens.

Ah.

Huh. I'm actually kind of concerned about that Vampire Child.

Hmm.

Still, I hate trouble.

I dislike it, but leaving someone in danger nearby also feels wrong.

Hmm.

Well, whatever.

We'll deal with it when the time comes.

First, build my home here.

For now, observe the situation, occasionally scout around, and relocate once I find a better location.

Ah. Can I secure food supplies around here?

People live here in such numbers—probably few monsters in the area.

So, no food for me.

Ah.

Guess I’ll have to go out somewhere and hunt for it.

Uncertainities remain—what’s lacking, what comes next—but things will work out as they must.

Now, shall we construct the homestead?