"Whether or not we can really prepare the funds is uncertain."
Following the slave trader down the stairs.
"That won't be the case. I heard you defeated the thieves. You must have earned at least 200,000 or 300,000 nals in the past two days."
The slave trader seems to have a fairly accurate estimate of my financial situation. The price of 420,000 nals might be set with that in mind. Even if that's the case, if it's a unique item, I have no choice but to accept the asking price.
However, there is something the slave trader doesn't know. Before the day before yesterday, I didn't have a single nal in this world.
"Even including that, it's not enough."
"It will surely be fine."
Where does this confidence come from?
I followed the slave trader back to the room from earlier.
In this world, there are two ways for me to earn money for now.
One is to diligently delve into the dungeon. If drop items sell for 100 nals each, collecting 100 a day would yield one gold coin. Ten days would yield 100,000 nals. Honestly, it's a bit tough.
Rabbit fur sold for 20 nals, so 100 nals on average is an optimistic number. I don't know if I can hunt 100 a day. Even if I do, I don't know if I'll get 100 drop items. So far, the monsters I've hunted have dropped one item each, but they might not all be the same. Stronger monsters might drop items with rare value, but I don't know if I can handle them.
The other method is to kill thieves and earn bounties. Since the bounty for two thieves is over 160,000 nals, earning a similar amount would be fine. The slave trader's confidence might come from this.
There is some psychological resistance. When I fought in the village, I thought it was a game, and there was the justification of self-defense. Killing people for money, when I'm not even struggling to eat, seems questionable. There's also the issue of whether I can conveniently find thieves within ten days.
Besides these two methods, using Earth knowledge, appraisal, or using the money I have to make more are possible, but I can't think of specific ways to do it. I might think of something, but it would be difficult in just ten days.
"Can you earn money by entering the labyrinth?"
I asked the slave trader as soon as I sat on the sofa. I need to gather information without arousing suspicion.
"Not a lot, but you can earn money steadily, and there's a chance to make a fortune."
"Hmm."
That's probably true. Since he said not a lot, it seems earning money just from regular drops is tough.
"Items can be sold to the Explorer Guild or the Adventurer Guild. If someone needs them specifically, you can sell them for a higher price."
"Guilds?"
"The Explorer Guild is the second building with a yellow sign on the right side of the main street. The Adventurer Guild is on the west side of the town center, opposite the main street. They don't get along with the Explorer Guild."
The Adventurer Guild and the Explorer Guild don't get along. There's also a job called Explorer.
"Understood."
"Another option is to hunt bounties."
The slave trader's thinking seems similar to mine.
"Of course."
"I don't recommend it, but it can earn you money."
"Is it not good?"
"Yes. For example, the Bounty Hunter Guild only exists in the capital."
"Bounty Hunter..."
There's such a job. I thought about the job system. I became a Thief when I stole something and a Farmer when I did farm work. Maybe I would become a Bounty Hunter when I received a bounty, but nothing happened.
"To become a Bounty Hunter, you need extensive experience as a Warrior."
"I see."
I think there are conditions to obtain jobs. Maybe Warrior Level 10.
"Even with that level of strength, you can't protect everything. Bounty Hunters are enemies that thieves want to eliminate. If a Bounty Hunter Guild were built outside the capital, it would be destroyed immediately."
From the thieves' perspective, Bounty Hunters are hated enemies. It's natural for them to try to eliminate such enemies. Retaliation is also a possibility. I've already killed thieves, so I should be fine, right?
"If you earn too much bounty, you might become a target."
The slave trader doesn't seem to discourage killing thieves because killing is frowned upon. The rule in this world is that those who kill will be killed.
"That's right. Also, bounties are not very high compared to the risk unless they are offered by someone whose family was killed by thieves."
The bounty for the thieves I killed in the village might have been particularly high for that reason. No, the slave trader estimated the income accurately.
In any case, killing thieves should be a last resort. It's better to earn money in the labyrinth first.
"Understood. One more thing, I want to stay in this town for a while. Do you have any recommended inns? I don't want an expensive one, but it needs to be safe and comfortable."
"The Bair Inn, located southwest of the rotary in the town center, is run by the Inn Guild."
"Hmm. I'll go there."
I don't understand what the Inn Guild is, but it should be safe if it's run by a guild. I stood up. With the plan decided, there's no need to stay here any longer.
"Then, I'll be waiting for you in ten days."
I was seen off by the slave trader and left the building.
The sun was still high. If the town's roads are aligned with the cardinal directions, I must have moved slightly west. It's probably a little past noon.
First, I went to the main street. I crossed the road and went to the second building on the right, the Explorer Guild.
Explorer Level 17
Hmm. There is a job called Explorer.
The guild had a counter at the back, similar to a rural post office. There were some notices on the wall. A few people were inside, one of whom was placing items on the counter.
"I'll entrust this to you."
"Is it for sale?"
An employee was handling the request across the counter. I listened while heading towards the board with the notices.
... I can't read the writing.
There's something written, but I can't understand what it says. The Intelligence Card had kanji, but the writing here is different. Is it special to the Explorer Guild, or is the Intelligence Card special?
"Hey, can't you read it?"
Someone called out to me. A girl about my age. She's a Villager Level 2. We're the same age.
"Yeah."
"I can read it for you. It's 10 nals."
I see.
In a world with low literacy, there are jobs like this. A reading service.
"Can I ask you to read it?"
I took off my backpack and took out ten copper coins from a pouch. I don't know how much 10 nals is worth. A 30% discount doesn't seem to apply. It might be a bit expensive because it's a reward for someone who can read.
"Here you go."
At the counter, the employee was giving money to a customer. I couldn't tell what was sold and for how much just from the words. They seem to be quite considerate. If a large amount of money is handed over, there's a risk of being targeted.
I gave the 10 nals to the girl. She's quite cute. Her chest, hidden by the loose clothing, is hard to see. In any case, Roxane is better.
"Then, until this hourglass runs out. Got it?"
She showed me a sandglass attached to her belt and flipped it over. She seems quite meticulous.
Well, I wouldn't be surprised if that sandglass runs out in five minutes.
If it does, and I complain, she might say that five minutes on Earth is six minutes in this world.
"Understood."
"Do you have any information you want to know? Or something you want to sell?"
She asked me. I don't know what kind of information is on the board.
"Let's see. Do you have rabbit fur?"
"Rabbit fur, right?"
She stretched out her arm and followed the notices.
"Can you read it?"
"Here it is. Rabbit fur, Bicker from Somara Village, Dashiell Workshop. These two."
She pointed them out. Bicker from Somara Village is the merchant I've been dealing with recently. The village chief also said to sell to the village merchant. They probably buy rabbit fur regularly and are advertising to buy at a higher price.
How do you read it to get Bicker from Somara Village?
"Is the purchase price not written?"
"The price is twice the guild's purchase price."
So, the guild's purchase price for rabbit fur is 10 nals per piece. Earning money just from regular drops seems tough.
"Do you have rabbit meat?"
"If it's food, I think a restaurant will buy it. Do you have a lot?"
"Yeah."
I see.
Food should be sold to restaurants.
"There doesn't seem to be any request for rabbit meat."
She confirmed the board and turned back. Even though it's only about three-quarters of the board, it seems to be mostly notices for item purchases.
"What other information is there besides purchases?"
"These are job listings for explorers, and these are information about labyrinths. A labyrinth appeared near this town two days ago. You probably know."
The slave trader said it's difficult for strangers to form parties, but there are job listings. The conditions might not be good, though.
"What kind of job listings are there?"
"What kind of job are you looking for?"
"Read the first one."
"Negilba Marquis' Knights, Level 70 and above, mainly transportation, details to be discussed. This is a transportation job for the elderly."
I don't understand.
It doesn't seem to be a party member recruitment.
"Next one."
"Kustof Viscount's Knights, transportation, 800 nals for ten days. It's mostly like this."
"Hmm."
80 nals a day.
From her tone, it doesn't seem to be a good job.
"Dustonia Baron's Warriors, transportation, 1200 nals for ten days, but meals are not included."
"I see."
The higher pay for the lower job suggests that the upper job includes meals. The meal cost for ten days is 400 nals, 40 nals a day.
The fact that it's specifically mentioned that meals are not included suggests that meals are usually included in this world. Since it's a knight's guild, it might be duty at a garrison or barracks. There's a possibility of meals and lodging being provided.
I compared the upper and lower notices.
They seem to be the same for transportation.
This is it.
I don't really understand.
While I was thinking, six minutes passed.
"Time's up. What do you want to do? Are you done?"
The sand in the hourglass seems to have run out.
"Thank you. It was helpful."
"See you again."
She waved goodbye as I left the guild. I wondered if learning to read for six minutes would have been more useful, but it's a business, so I don't know if she would have taught me.
I headed to the town center. Southwest, beyond the knight's garrison. Is that building it?
It's right in the middle of the town, so the accommodation might be expensive. But safety is important. I have 33 gold coins. I can't stay in a questionable place.
I entered the inn.
It's a clean but not luxurious inn. There are several tables, which might be a lobby or a restaurant. No one is