My Reincarnation Skills Are “Playing With Dolls” and “Playing With Clay”, but What Am I Supposed to Do With These? C111

Episode 111: Meeting

Until we set out on an escort quest to the Parthea Empire, we entered the labyrinth every morning at dawn to gain experience, and from noon we each went on separate activities. 

Lucien and Carmilla independently patrolled the forest surrounding the village from the labyrinth, and found and mopped up some of the remaining burrows of giant rabbits and demon boars. He also picked up wild birds, edible mushrooms, and wild plants for dinner. Lucien is knowledgeable about plants, so he has also found some useful medicinal herbs. 

Nolte is a helper at the village blacksmith. 

Last time I went on a tour, I helped out a little, and my father thought I had a good plan. After all, labyrinth subjugation has become a regular occurrence, and dozens of adventurers are passing by every day, so the need for small metal products such as sword repair is increasing, and people are welcome to help out even for half a day. 

Nolte seems to want to work as a blacksmith someday, so even though his level as a job increases in the labyrinth, he also wants to raise his level of "blacksmithing" as a skill. It was a good opportunity for that, so I was happy to send him off. 

And with Lina as my assistant, I was spending my time creating medicine through alchemy. 

In the morning, I grind the magic stone I got in the labyrinth in a mortar, and use alchemy to send some kind of "element" into it. It has become clear that by combining these skills and skills such as ``force field,'' ``heat control,'' and ``substance change,'' it is possible to create a variety of medicines. 

For example, if you throw a pill filled with ``fire element'' and ``wind element'' into a group of monsters, it will explode and produce an effect similar to area magic such as ``flame vortex.'' When I appraised it, it came out as <Fire Wind Medicine>. By working hard on the type and amount of magic stones and how to refine my magic power, I was able to create not only <(very small)> but also <Fire Wind Potion (Small)>, but it took a lot of MP consumption. 

The power is weaker than a wizard's spell, but anyone can use it, even Nolte and Carmilla who can't use magic. This will come in handy in a pinch, so I made a few and wrapped them in clay to make them easy to throw. 

Similarly, make a large amount of pills packed with ``biochemicals''. Being able to recover even a small amount of HP is helpful, and depending on the situation, it might sell well. 

Moreover, the big thing was that the alchemist's level rose to 14 during the battles over the past few days, and he gained a new "elemental skill" called "Holy Element."

This seems to be the monk's "purification" spell. It is possible to turn the remains of a monster into a magic stone, and it is also possible to create a medicine containing this "holy essence", which when appraised becomes <Purification Medicine (Extremely Small)>. 

Furthermore, when a medicine containing both "Sacred Essence" and "Bio Elements" was created, it became <Healing Medicine (Minimum)>. This is equivalent to a monk's ``healing'' spell, a medicine that can cure poisons and abnormal conditions. In the providence of this world, does "purification" + "healing" = "treatment"? 

In the labyrinth battle every morning before departure, not only me but everyone except Lucien had increased in level. Nolte became a blacksmith LV12, and Carmilla became a werewolf LV13. 

Lucien is an elf who is treated as a senior class and is already at a high level at LV19, so it seems like it will be really difficult to rise any higher. 

Lina's wizard job has also reached LV14, and she has learned the spell "Gravity Control". Simply put, this is "levitation."

Unfortunately, they cannot fly freely like birds. It is possible to move while canceling out the downward gravity by turning the direction of gravity diagonally upward, but it consumes a lot of MP, and if you fly at the speed of walking for even 1 minute, you will run out of MP. I knew it would be. 

In reality, it could be used to ``move to the top of a tall tree for reconnaissance'', ``to land safely even if you jump to the bottom of a deep ravine'', or ``to load and unload heavy loads''. I think that alone is very helpful. 

If you form a party, it is possible for everyone to float for a short time. It's tough because MP consumption increases accordingly. 

Then, for the future, I spent one day as a "warrior" and one day as a "scout" to gain experience, and I rose to LV4 in each. It's a true "double growth rate" effect. 

While I think it would be better for Lina to concentrate on raising her magician skills and have her learn LV15 "Transfer" quickly, I also thought that depending on the quest situation, you might want a more avant-garde type member. , I raised the level to the bare minimum. The lower the level, the faster the rise. 

When you become a warrior LV4, your HP and strength increase a little, and when you become a scout LV4 you can use "hidden" and "enemy search", which is very convenient. 

There are girls like Cecily and Laruke who can be the basis of a specific image, so it's easy to transform. 

In that sense, one of the conditions for the job that Lina can learn is that there is a girl I know well who is in that job, but there also seem to be other restrictions. . 

For example, just because I knew Iriane, I couldn't make Lina a "summoner" at the moment. No, if it's just her appearance, she could use "dress-up" to make her look the same, but she couldn't get the job. 

The status display simply reads <Lina ->. 

(If you don't meet the conditions to change jobs, it won't work even if you can just create an image. It will just be a "dress-up")

That's what he said. 

The conditions for becoming a senior position seem to be difficult. 

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

It was the third month of the month, the fifth day of our trip, and on the morning of our departure tomorrow, Lucien and I came to the adventurer's guild in the capital. 

Today we will meet with the merchant named Heibal, who is the client of the escort quest, and if there are no objections from both parties, we will sign a formal contract. I think canceling at this point is highly unlikely since there are only disadvantages for both parties, but according to Lucien, there are times when problems arise at the last minute, such as haggling or changing dates. 

Since this was my first time hearing such a story, I asked Lucien, who had been an adventurer for two or three years after leaving the village at the age of 18, to accompany me. 

In principle, it seems that only the representative is required, but since the client specifies that there be a female member as a condition for the escort, I think it would be better to bring someone along. I thought so. 

I arrived at the guild a little before the designated time, so first I went to the reception on the first floor and asked to have a letter sent. 

Yes, over the past few days, I've been writing a reply to Leda-san and Beth's letter using a dictionary and a scribble. He also did his best to write a very short letter to Princess Karena. She felt embarrassed and asked Lina to correct her a little. 

I also wrote a letter to Gen-san about what had happened so far and that I would be taking a short trip to Paltea, and entrusted it to the Gentz Company on my way to the guild. This one was easy because I wrote the contents in Japanese. 

A corner of the dining room on the second floor of the guild is like a meeting corner. 

After waiting there for a while, three men and women came in. Could it be them? 

One is an old man, one is a woman, and the other is a well-built, well-tanned man. 

As I approach, I quickly take a look at the main stats. 

<Haybar human male 61 years old merchant (LV17) (old)>

<Natasia Human Female 40 Years Old Merchant (LV14)>

<Osmalf, human male, 35 years old, merchant (LV13)>

As expected, it was the client's name that I had heard during registration. 

An old man named Haybar spoke to me. 

"Are you Lord Tsuzuki?"

This is confirmation. This old man has personality appraisal skills, so he probably asked at the reception desk on the first floor in the first place. 

"Ah, yes, nice to meet you, I'm Shiro Tsuzuki. Shiro is fine, I'm a customer."

Even I can talk properly when I'm working, at first... 

“Hmm, I say that adventurers, whether they are nobles or commoners, are equal adventurers, so Mr. Shiro, please take care of me. There is no need for us to use honorifics either. My name is Haybar. This is... ...”

"Natasia, nice to meet you. You're younger than I thought."

"This is Osmarf, please take care of me."

This guy is the only one who speaks with a slight accent. I also introduced Lucien. 

"This is Lucien, a member of our party. There are two other female members, so please take care of them..."

The three of them are independent merchants, Old Habar and Natasia belong to the merchant guild in the royal capital, and Osmarf is from the Parthean Empire, apparently returning from a business here. So, he asked the commercial guild in the capital if there were any merchants who could accompany him in order to lighten the burden of escort fees, and apparently he had a condition with two people. 

The three of them each have a wagon, Habar brings his young grandson, and Natasia takes a female servant. Osmarf will be operating the wagon himself. 

However, it seems that they plan to sell the horse there once they reach the port town by land, and then buy a new local horse once they arrive at the port town at the gateway to Parthea by sea. Apparently it's cheaper, and it's also difficult to carry horses on long voyages. 

When it came to specifics, Natasia was in charge. She seems like a skilled old lady. In this world, I think 40 years old is already a good age, but I have the image of a big-bodied, playful, and energetic auntie who works as a businessman in Osaka. 

"The schedule is just an estimate, but we'll leave at dawn tomorrow and travel overland to the port town in five days. There are four of you, right? We'll have you split into three carriages. From there, it usually takes three days to travel by sea. We will arrive at Ankyrium in the Kingdom of Ankyra, and will stay there for three days, so there will be no need for an escort during that time..."

“Wait a moment.”

It was Lucien who spoke up. 

“Does that mean that there will be no reward during that time?”

The merchants looked at each other. 

"...It should also be written in the request form that each person will receive 6 silver coins for each day they accompany the escort."

"However, during that time, I will not be able to take on any other duties in the capital, so isn't that included in the number of days I am detained? I was also responsible for accommodation and food expenses during that time, right?"

I see, that's right, I didn't realize that. 

"...We will cover the cost of the inn where the client stays and the escort of the ship they board while accompanying the escort, so the cost will be the same when the client is not escorting."

Heybar and Osmarf have expressions that say they won't do anything about it, but Natasia is the only one who remains unfazed. Does this mean Natasia was trying to do something nice? 

"Isn't there usually a case where the escort fee is based on the number of days of detention?"

"It's a case by case basis..."

It seems like a bit of a lame excuse. 

"Okay, Lucien. I understand, I have no objection to that."

"okay?"

“Yeah, let’s take advantage of the opportunity to go sightseeing… In exchange, it’s okay if we take those three days off completely, right?”

"Of course, I don't mind if you handle other requests locally during those three days."

In reality, it's unlikely that you'll be able to find the perfect quest in an unfamiliar city and the schedule is fluid, but since your original motivation is to "see this world," you can travel for free. If so, I think that's fine. 

"From Ankyrium, it takes about seven days on average to take the sea route again to Damascus on the east coast of the Inland Sea. There, we will once again procure horses and hitch a wagon, and we will arrive at the imperial capital Partepolis in about 14 to 16 days by land route. But I might stay for business."

“In other words, the total number of days is expected to be around 32 to 34 days, but of course it could take longer depending on the weather on the sea route, the security situation along the way, etc. Is that okay?”

Haybar took over the conversation. Natasia will be in charge of practical matters, but it seems that among the three merchants, the leader will be Old Heibal, who is both of a higher level and age. 

"Yes, I understand."

Habar nods in response to my reply and continues. 

“The number of days eligible for compensation will be at least 29 days in the previous format, but I will guarantee you 30 days.Also, I will pay 15 days in advance, and the rest will be paid as a success fee once you arrive at Partepolis. Is that okay?”

It seems common sense to pay half the amount in advance, so I agree to this as well. 

Also, if we are attacked by thieves or monsters and decide that we are no match for them, we must follow the normal rules of the adventurer's guild for details such as conditions under which we can negotiate or surrender, handling accidents and insurance, etc. After confirming the above, both parties agreed. 

The contract was thoroughly checked by Lucien, and the three of us signed it, with the guild staff who brokered it also present. 

It seems like the escort fee is an equal relationship, with the three of them dividing the burden into three equal parts. 

The advance payment is 6 silver coins x 4 people x 15 days = 360 coins = 18 small gold coins.After receiving this, sign again. 

The daily wage per person is 24,000 to 30,000 yen in Japanese yen, so being an adventurer can be said to be a fairly lucrative job in this world, but more than 19 days out of the day are spent camping. And considering that you have to procure your own food and other supplies during that time, and you probably have to fight for your life, I can't say it's a particularly rewarding job. 

If you get injured and can't work, or die, that's it. This is a world without a social security system. 

After the meeting, I bought some useful items based on Lucien's advice, and then returned to Ozark Village. 

Some new place names have appeared, so I've compiled them into a simple map.