Chapter 20

The sound of clinking mugs echoed—

...

When Kanzaki Rei woke up again, it was, as expected, morning.

Pressing a hand to his throbbing head, he pushed himself up from the wooden table.

These people...

Could they not force alcohol on a child?!

What was that nonsense about "it’s fine if Kumironi’s around"?

He turned his head.

Beside him, Akase was still fast asleep, snoring loudly with a bubble of snot inflating and deflating at his nose.

Across from him stood Kumironi, wearing a helpless smile.

"I heard what happened last night," she said gently. "I figured you’d be waking up around now."

She stepped behind Rei, and warm life energy flowed into his body.

The lingering dizziness and hangover faded rapidly.

"Kumironi... is he always like this?"

"Mm... more or less."

"He really does mean well."

Rei let out a small sigh.

As a former overworked corporate employee before transmigrating, he could understand Akase’s intention.

It was just—

My wallet...

Rei looked down at his completely empty coin pouch.

Last night’s expenses had totaled exactly 2 gold and 26 silver.

Not a coin more.

Not a coin less.

It had squeezed him completely dry.

Kumironi covered her mouth.

She seemed to be suppressing a laugh.

In the end, she quietly reached out and placed her hand over Rei’s.

When she lifted it away, two gleaming gold coins rested in his palm.

"Consider it my treat," she said softly.

"Kumironi..."

Rei gently pushed the coins back.

"It’s fine."

"Honestly... it was something I wanted to do too."

"Oh my~ Little Rei is quite mature for his age."

"But it’s alright."

"This is also compensation for Iz failing to protect you."

"As a hired bodyguard, allowing his employer to return on the brink of death—that’s negligence."

"In a situation like that, not only should he waive the fee, he should compensate the client."

"Let these two gold coins serve as proof that you and Iz have reconciled."

Rei couldn’t out-argue her.

In the end, he slipped the two gold coins into his pocket.

After a night of drunken chaos, yesterday’s suspicion, distrust, and unpleasantness had gradually faded.

Perhaps this had been Akase’s way of handling things.

Kumironi smiled.

"Iz and the others are still asleep. Let me show you around instead—you haven’t seen Rein Town in the morning yet, have you?"

Rei nodded lightly.

"Okay."

That had been his original intention last night anyway—until Akase had hijacked it into a victory feast.

They left the Adventurers’ Guild.

It was early morning.

Heh... he had thought his schedule would be ruined again after fainting.

Instead, one heavy night of drinking had reset his sleep cycle.

Two negatives made a positive.

"Mm... I’ll introduce things one by one."

"This is Rein Town’s Adventurers’ Guild. It’s where adventurers accept commissions—and where they usually gather."

"That over there is Rein Town’s library..."

Rei walked beside Kumironi along the quiet morning streets.

This was the first time he’d truly slowed down to appreciate this world.

Most of the buildings were wooden structures.

Occasionally, there were uniquely shaped constructions made from materials he couldn’t identify.

The library, for example, was more elaborate than most.

Aside from the library, Rein Town also had a dedicated training ground.

Adventurers practiced combat techniques and magic there.

Casting spells casually inside one’s room—

Was strictly prohibited.

Only now, after Kumironi mentioned it, did Rei learn that on the day he had practiced magic indoors, Iz had already set up a localized absorption barrier.

His spells hadn’t been seen by anyone.

Nor had they caused any damage.

Aside from the training ground—

There was also the Hall of Life.

Most illnesses could be treated there free of charge. Low-grade curses could be removed. Minor wounds could be healed.

But more serious injuries required payment.

Rei understood.

The Hall of Life was essentially a hospital.

In certain corners of the town stood blank altars.

Kumironi emphasized that Rein Town had no church, no dedicated divine temple.

Those who wished to worship had to use the blank altars.

Even so, despite freedom of belief, certain gods were strictly forbidden.

One was "White of Death and Destruction."

The other was "Bane of War and Flame."

Both were considered ill omens.

Among them, "White of Death and Destruction" was banned not only in Rein Town, but in most regions of the world. Establishing a church—or even openly worshipping it—was illegal.

If discovered, the offender would be treated as a cultist under local law.

In more serious cases, execution was highly likely.

...White of Death and Destruction?

That already sounded ominous.

Better to stay far away from something like that.

Though it wasn’t as if he could just casually run into a god.

It was a god, after all.

As for faith, there wasn’t much to worry about—especially after Kumironi learned that Rei was unaffiliated.

Being without faith was surprisingly liberating.

As the High Priestess of the Temple of Life, Kumironi occasionally had to conduct blessings and tours for the Life Church.

Beyond matters of faith, she also showed Rei various shops—weapon stores, armor vendors, potion merchants, food suppliers.

Rei gradually formed a basic understanding of this world’s prices.

A person’s daily food expenses—assuming no extravagant meals—were around 10 copper.

1 gold = 10,000 copper.

Wait.

Yesterday they drank 2 gold and 26 silver worth.

That was equivalent to 2,260 days of food expenses.

Days.

Not meals.

There had been roughly a hundred people at the Guild last night.

Rei did the math over and over.

Even feeding a hundred people shouldn’t have exceeded 50 silver.

These adventurers really didn’t treat him like an outsider!

Wait—

What had Akase said yesterday?

"Bring out the best wine in the house"?

The blurry memory surfaced.

A vein throbbed faintly at Rei’s temple.

He nearly swore—something entirely inappropriate for an eight-year-old.

Exhale—

Calm down. Stay composed.

He forcefully smoothed out his emotions.

Just consider it a tax.

A transmigration tax.

By the time they had toured every meaningful location in Rein Town, it was already afternoon.

Kumironi counted on her fingers.

"That should be everything in Rein Town."

"I don’t think I missed anything."

Yeah.

Kumironi... you feel far more reliable than those other two.

"Thank you, Sister Kumironi."

She replied, "Mm, I promised Granny Sancy I’d help harvest her fields this afternoon."

"I might not be able to accompany you much longer."

Rei grinned.

"It’s fine, Sister Kumironi. I plan to walk around on my own."

A trace of concern flickered across her face.

But she quickly remembered—

Rei was already a mage capable of solo-clearing a Tier-2 dungeon.

Rein Town was relatively safe.

There was no need to worry too much.

"Alright, I’ll be off then."

"You remember the way back to the inn, right?"

Rei nodded.

"Mm-hmm. I know."

Kumironi bent down, gently ruffled his hair once more, then waved and departed.