I hate being wed in a fantasy world!

Basically, my reputation in the Bronco's Bucket is outright terrible. I travel with an alfr, I beat up everyone who asks me about my sister, I beat up everyone who asks my sister out directly, and I'm dating some sort of goddess who beats up everyone trying to lay hands on her or bad-mouthing me.

In general, the Lion's Brigade seems to be about hurting people, and not in a way that would make it a better mercenary band.

Well, maybe, just maybe, this will end all this hitting on the girls at least. Why do I suffer just because they're popular? That's why I enjoy games more. There are no random encounters in urban areas where you are hit on by people.

...not that I have to be worried about getting hit on. ...that's depressing.

We're making our last preparations for today's trip and decided to separate into two groups. Yet there is one problem: “I'll take Kyou-san.” “I want to Arako to join me.” “I want Kenta!” “I’d like to go with Katarine-san.”

Each of us has different thoughts about how to form teams.

My opinion: “Ara-san is a former accountant, and she has traveled before, so market analysis and such should be what she's good at. Kyou-san and I are somewhat inexperienced, but we'll most likely figure stuff out together, so Rine should go with Ara-san.” I’m thinking about efficiency.

Kyou-san: “I trust in Arako's knowledge, but you shouldn't trust in her conversational skills. I think combining her and my strengths are what will make it work. We can also outweigh Ken's impudence with Rine-chan's charm.” Kyou-san thinks about covering weaknesses.

Rine: “I want to go on a date with Kenta!” Rine isn't thinking about anything at all.

Ara-san: “Actually, Katarine-san is the one I’d like to rely on.”

… “What?”

“Kenta-kun, you know that she's a noble’s heir right? Katarine-san, what's the leading article of export Goldbrunn has?”

“Uhm... There is only one, salt. Around 12 Newgold per ounce.”

“What does it import from Feuerberg?”

“Grain and metal ingots. The price of the grain depends on the season. At fall we sell it for around 65 Newgold per bag. Ingots' prices depend on the metal and our own stock since we get the ore from the dari. Iron goes for 55 Newgold per ingot on average, which is the most exported metal.”

…

I seriously forgot that we're talking about a princess here. I just thought of her as a royal pain in the ass. I mean, at times she shows some of her education, but...

“Rine-chan, that's amazing!” Kyou-san, for some reason, hugs Rine.

“That's why” Ara-san continues her explanation: “I want to go with Katarine-san.”

“Change of plans, democracy just dies here. Kyou-san, which one? Rine or Ara-san?”

“I can't trust whatever happens when you and Arako are involved. So I’ll go with her.”

“Fine. I'll take Rine.”

“Ya-urbh!” The moment Rine is about to embrace me, I use my palm barrier to avoid it. She still manages to say something: “A date!”

…

“Buying supplies and market analysis.”

“And a date!”

“We'll check out the stables as well.”

“On our date.”

“Plus, we do nothing romantic at all.”

“Date!”

“...”

“Ken, just admit defeat.”

“...phew... Fine, let's call it a date. You can call a horse a duck, but it's still a horse.”

You gain 1 WP.

You’ve agreed to go on a date! Make your preparations now, because this date will be graded.

...what!?

―○●○―

Why does the damn ring always jump at my words and actions, instead of my thoughts and intentions?

According to Kyou-san: “Because that's how society works.”

I’m sitting in the common room, waiting for Rine. I have checked the WP-list and found nothing really helpful about dates there, just that I could get 80 WP for a 'perfect date.' Not even an inkling, what makes a date perfect...

So I asked Kyou-san how I could max the WP/make the date a success, which earned me a scornful look plus some suggestions which are a pain in the ass. Paying attention to what Rine does, trying to answer her expectations, giving her compliments and gifts. Somehow, it all feels like outright manipulation.

Well, it's not like I won't trick anyone if there's a benefit, but this is a dangerous line. While deceiving Rine is easy, this might be a bad idea given her motivation. Maybe that's the intention of the ring, trying to convince me to step over that line, which I drew in the sand.

The WP are really attractive, they speak to me as a gamer, trying to whisper in my ear, that it’s an easy farm, just remember your objectives and get what you want. On the other hand, this quest might be way over my skills, and it can end fatally. I know how attractive Rine is and I know that many boys would be envious of me to go on a date with her, I just can't muster the... whatever it is.

In the end, I've decided to get over it and ignore the whole date thing. Just act naturally, it's only a date when I admit it's one. If I try to go with a middle ground, getting WP while trying to keep my distance from Rine, I'll fail. Because I'm always too greedy with my farming habits, it's nothing I should challenge if I can't load or re-do it.

This isn't a game, this is reality. Actions have consequences, and I'm too much of a coward to challenge them.

Now I'm waiting for Rine with these mixed feelings, while sitting in the common room, trying my best not to question this decision again.

Here she is, coming down the stairs. Why does she wear a dress? I think there is some quality to it, but nothing I'd imagine a princess to wear. Maybe I saw that dress in the Inventory-screen before… Her hair seems to flow, she still uses her usual hairband, but it kinda shines. Her lips are glowing a bit, her face looks even more beautiful in general. I guess she used some make-up.

You could say that she put some effort into her appearance, but given her limited resources, it's not going overboard. Fits her quite well, I must say. A healthy beauty, who doesn't need to rely on too many accessories.

The only things that somehow don't fit that image are her arm in a sling and the sword on her waist, but without the latter I wouldn't even leave the inn with her. I decided to go with armor and knife this time around, plus my backpack. I don't want to carry my spear through the crowds again, so it's stowed in the [Inventory]. Plus having an empty bag on a shopping trip won't be that strange.

“Phew...” Time to go! Keep your calm, me. “Did you lock the door?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let's go.”

The moment we leave the inn, she's already linking arms with me. I'm still not used to it, despite adding it to our regular activities to grind WP. This close body-contact gives me the chills, my heart is throbbing, but it's not because of anything fuzzy and warm, I just feel uncomfortable.

Yes, it's just like always. The excitement and nervousness from before are already gone, I've only overthought things again.

“~♪” While the other party is making some sounds like she's so unbearable happy that it leaks out.

“Phew.”

Just why? Why does that beautiful girl think that she likes me? I did nothing to earn that, I have no qualities that she would appreciate, and I don't believe in love at first sight.

Maybe she just looks for an outlet for suppressed emotions, and perhaps I was just the guy who came into her life when she was looking for something new. Or maybe it's...

“Phew.”

“Kenta, is something wrong? Did I do something?” Except pressing your unarmored breasts against my arm, that makes me feel lustful?

“Why do you ask?”

“You’re sighing the whole time.”

“Phew.”

“Again!”

“I just want to get our business over with as fast as possible.”

“Great idea! The faster we do it, the sooner we can freely enjoy ourselves on our date.”

… no comment. Talking back doesn't work with that girl. Just endure it.

“Let's head for the western market.”

Other than collecting information for market analysis, which might help us raise some money outside selling mob parts, our two groups have different tasks. Kyou-san and Ara-san will start to sell some of the drops we collected thus far, using Ara-san's dated knowledge and Kyou-san's haggling skills. Rine and I will look at the stables and wagon workers to see, how we can improve our means of travel. Especially regarding speed.

There are three types of mounts in this region. First there are this world's clawed horses, which people choose for their strength and endurance. Then, there are bipedal lizards called daiosars, which are good at sprinting in short bursts. Third, there are quadrupedal lizards called axeken, which can swim, climb and run, making them suitable mounts if one plans to travel through difficult terrains like swamps and mountains.

The real problem: “You're out of mounts!?”

“Yes, the Crusaders bought everything I had. They needed them as spare mounts.”

“Spare mounts!?”

“Yes, they're an army after all. I'm sorry, but in a month or two I should get new ones from the ranch.”

“Is there any place where we could find some?”

“Well, I could tell you, but there are few stables in Goldbrunn in the first place.” While Goldbrunn is a city in an intersection of trading routes, it's not a doorway of any kind. Trade also goes through Flammenkreis in the east at the foot of the mountains leading to Feuerberg, and Ohlbrücken to the west, which connects the river trade route leading to the north. These cities need a bunch of mounts for merchants and travelers, so it's not as lucrative having too many stables in Goldbrunn.

Damn you, Crusaders! Mounts are considerably expensive, but they just bought them like it's nothing!

Well, let's check the other stables... as expected, they're are also sold out. So we’re left with either beasts of burden or the mounts the Crusaders left behind. Rine doesn't recommend the latter because she deemed them unfit, the bottom of the barrel you don't want to entrust your life with. It’s most likely the reason the Crusaders didn't buy them in the first place.

Not that I can ride a horse anyway, but now we don't even have the option to.

Besides, getting a wagon won't work well either, mostly because we have no reason to get one. With our backpacks we have enough space for simple traveling, and the chance of leaving the wagon behind because it gets destroyed in a fight, or we get hunted by some more mercenaries again is just too high. Adding in the non-existent fast coach animals and the exorbitant price of even a simple wagon, it'd be a financial nightmare.

Well, let's switch to market analysis.

“Hm...” I just write down the prices of the groceries, because I have no idea what they'd be in yen. I did some research before but realized soon that the values and therefore prices of goods in this fantasy world are just different, even more so in the various countries. In Feuerberg, bread is cheap. Feuerberg has many grain fields.

Goldbrunn imports grains, this makes the bread more expensive. Not only bread. Everything here is more expensive in general. It might be because it's a trade city?

Well, I'll just trust Ara-san on that.

While I'm writing, Rine talks with the merchants. For some reason, she gets a lot of discounts because she’s pretty and it looks like she’s falling for that scam and starting to buy stuff. Hey, don't waste our money! Instead, ask about trade, travel, and rumors!

Her purchases aren't too bad though. Some more groceries that we may use soon, some fabrics,clothes and sewing threads, and some leather care, mostly the mundane things that won't ever be mentioned in games. Even a shoe brush, because the alfar in Aroahenn didn't have those; they walk barefooted after all.

I'll just make a mental note to discern which of her purchases we'll count as her personal expenses.

She also looks at the accessories laid down by some stands, but while she looks at me like a puppy who wants a bone, I just ignore them. I know she wants me to buy something, and I know that it'd give us some WP, but I also know that she'll read something into it, and to be honest, even I would start reading into it.

Oh, there is a clock. Strange to see a clock with only ten numbers, but this world has 20 hour days, while each of those hours is longer than in our time calculation. I won't buy it though, 500,000 Newgold is just too much.

After the marketplace we go up and down the streets, looking for more stores. While doing so, Rine holds my hand. Our usual WP-farming, though I think that she's blushing a bit, which makes me feel strange. Over time, I grew resistant against Rine's charms, but she may have found ways to increase them again.

“This is so different from other cities. Like, look how many guards are here.” She talks a lot with me, even though I don't even answer much. “And someone should take care of the streets, they are dirty. Kenta, doesn't that house look strange?”

I give a glance to the direction she's pointing at. It all looks the same. “Phew.”

“What kind of house did you live in?”

“I used to live in different places.”

“What kinds of places?”

That's a question I'm not comfortable with. However, not answering would just make her annoy me forever. “You don't even know what an apartment is.”

“Then explain.”

“Phew... Do you see these houses? Just imagine that all of them would be a single building, then make it at least twenty stories tall. Then you got an apartment tower. In said tower are more than a hundred households, each with its own bathroom, kitchen, living room and at least two additional rooms.”

“This sounds large. So many families living in the same building?”

“Each one lives in their own apartments, they often don't even know each other.”

“Even though they live next to each other?”

“That's how large it is.”

“You used to live in one of these apartments?”

“With my parents, after we moved to Sapporo.”

“The same city Kyou lived in? Wasn't it a huge one?”

“Esse is small in comparison.”

“Wow, that's cool! Where did you live before?”

“Another city.” My mouth tastes like shit.

“Why did you leave?”

“My father's job.”

“What does he do?”

“He works in the construction business as some kind of bigwig.”

“What does he do?” Ah, I didn't answer her question.

“No idea. Guess he decides who gets fired, how they can save money by using cheap materials, and how to squeeze out every little yen they can from their customers.”

“Sounds like a businessman to me.”

“...sometimes I ask myself if you really don't understand sarcasm. But yes, my father is some kind of businessman.”

“Father does business as well.” Of course, he's a king, you know? “He also does everything to save money, because it's national budget. So that's something we have in common. Tehehe.”

“Why do you laugh?”

“Because I learned something about you. You never talk about your family. Or school. Or anything else. Even when I ask.”

“Maybe I'm just in the mood today.” Thinking about it, I told Rine and Kyou-san almost nothing. I sometimes talk with Ara-san about stuff like that, but even there I'm cautious to keep it curt.

“Then can I ask more?”

“...depends.”

“Do you have siblings?”

“No.”

“I have six. Three brothers and three sisters! I'm the oldest.”

I heard about that a while ago. “Isn’t that quite a few?”

“No, that's normal, because if an heir is unfit then you need others who can take over.” You know that you're the said heir here? “I want to have at least four children, but I'm wondering how to name them. What would be your favorite Japanese names, Dear?”

“Shut up!” Why do you involve me with this? “And I'm not your 'Dear'!”

“But Kenta, it's an important question. Ah, wait. I can name them with Feuerberg names because Kyou-san's children will have Japanese ones and Ara's will have alfr names.”

“...did you just assume, that I'll have kids with everyone without taking into consideration what I want?”

“Sorry, Kenta. You're right, I should hear your opinion first. How many children do you want with me? I think if you want that many, we should start as soon as possible.”

I want to hit her. I want to hit her so much, but I know the moment I try, will be the moment when I get hurt instead, even if she doesn't mean to.

On the other hand, the part of 'start as soon as possible' makes me want to do things to her, that even I don't know. It's just that raging impulse within me, that tells me that I have to do something and that I can entrust everything to my primal instincts here.

Why I don't do it? Because I fear for my life. Who knows what Rine might do to me if I try to push her down, but let's say it's successful. Then what? The little chance I still have to convince her to find another partner will be lost. I don't want to be involved with Rine that way! At least my brain doesn't.

Yet there is always a way to kill off these feelings. By asking questions which will probably make me feel miserable. “Rine, do your siblings also undergo training?”

“Of course. Not that much fighting, that's a hobby of mine.” Good, because having someone even half as strong as Rine as an enemy would suck.

“So you're the strongest of the family?”

“No, that'd be granduncle or father.”

“...how strong is your father?”

She cocks her head. “Two.”

“What 'two'?”

“We would fight two minutes before I would end up as a beaten up mess.”

“...and what if he holds back? You're his daughter, after all.”

“That is him holding back. Father is strong, and when he's angry, people are afraid of him.”

“You too?”

“He was never angry at me, just disappointed at times. Though, when a construction manager tried to scam him, father lifted him up by his neck, yelled at him and threw him through the whole room afterward.”

So her father has serious anger issues? “Aren’t' you just exaggerating?”

“Klaus said, that father's anger is like a flame that will devour anything, or anyone.”

… I so hope that's just an exaggeration. I mean, I met that king and he seemed like a person, who might not like nonsense, but won't kill you for it.

On the other hand, he also is the giant douche who summoned us to this world, just to ask us to either fight for him, research for him, or try to live on our own.

I really don't like that guy.

Good thing we're out of Feuerberg. As long as he doesn't send anyone after us, but speaking logically, it'd be my classmates at best. Every able soldier he has will be used in the war, and asking outsiders like mercenaries to do this job would most likely hurt the nation more than just financially.

I don't fear my classmates, not yet. Considering how slow my level progression currently is though, they most likely have caught up by now, maybe some of them even classed-up and are about as strong as me.

Still, I really doubt that they can ever beat Rine. As long as I stick close to her, I'm safe. This should hurt my pride as a man, but I already lost it somewhere between the chasm and Goldbrunn.

Speaking of loss, there is one of the signs I was looking for, three potions filled with different colored liquids. An alchemist. “Rine, let's stop there.”

“OK.” She doesn't even ask why, but I guess it doesn't matter to her. It's just that I used most of my bombs trying to save the girls from the mercenaries by setting up traps and such. Speaking of that, I was kinda cool back then. By using most of my bombs, I made myself a huge home-field advantage, which will now be billed.

We enter the building. Ah, another pharmacy/alchemist-mix, saw them often in the smaller cities of Feuerberg. I guess as a pure alchemist, it's hard to get by unless you're part of the local industry, like back in Fackelmine, where some strange alchemical acid is used for mining.

Why not explosives? Are there even explosives in this world like in ours? I mean, even the firebombs are more flame bursts than shattering blasts that could break hard rock apart. Since it shouldn't be that hard to make explosives... well, I guess it's because of magic or something like that.

I'm not stupid enough to try to make explosives with the amateurish knowledge I have and the lack of proper equipment. Though this might be an aim for those of my classmates who refused to fight for our way home.

I hope they'll fail miserably, I can't help but smirk at the thought, how those assholes are ripped apart by failed experiments. Probably, I could've joined them in research, I'm brighter than all of them after all, but I couldn't leave slaying the demon king to anyone else.

...leading to the curse, leading to the current situation, leading to Rine, who groans because of the strong smell inside of the store. Shelves lined with different potions, baskets with a multitude of herbs, everything in one room, it smells like a pharmacy crossed with a laboratory.

I look at the shelves, labels on them identify the potions with their proper names, Energy Brew and Healing Potion, for me they're SP- and HP-pots.

The clerk here is a girl younger than me, most likely an apprentice. “May I help you, sir?” She seems to be nervous, I guess it's my armor, or being Asian. It could also be because I'm holding hands with Rine, which may give her strange ideas. Well, maybe she's also intimidated by my stare, but the way she gawks at me is annoying!

“Sure, get the boss.” Replenishing potions is also practical, but I'm here for dangerous weapons, so it's something that's outside of what an apprentice can sell me. Those bombs are usually somewhere in a backroom for proper storage.

“Yes!” The girl jumps at my words and hurries into the back.

“Kenta,” Rine pulls my hand a bit: “try smiling at people, they'll be delighted.”

Is she scolding me? No, it's Rine, she's earnestly suggesting it, thinking it'd be the best for me and everyone else around me. Nonetheless, I don't feel like smiling. “Phew...”

For some reason, she snuggles at me while having some strange, determined face. To avoid it, I distance myself as much as possible from her without letting go of her hand.

Seriously? You’re doing it again! “Rine, stop.”

“No!” What's going on with this girl!?

Now I have two options: Let her do it, or engage in a fight over my personal space. A battle I already know that I will lose, but it’s still worth fighting, I guess?

“Erm...” The voice of a woman is cutting through my thoughts, Rine seizes the opportunity to press her body against mine, the two-fold wave of lust and displeasure emanates from my arm, where her breasts are touching me.

I hate that! That feeling, not her breasts.

The one who spoke coughs slightly, it's a woman in her forties, I guess, right next to the girl from before. They don't look alike, so my guess about master and apprentice seems to be right. “You wanted to speak with me?”

“Yes,” I'll endure Rine's advances for now. “I'm looking for some bombs.”

“Henriett,” the woman speaks to her student: “Get the samples.”

“Yes, ma'am!”

Eight bombs are brought from the back room, they're a bit different from the ones I could buy in Feuerberg. I guess, it's because some of the bombs need monster drops...

At least she has my usual array of fire bombs, smoke bombs, and stink bombs, so I can replenish them easily. Wait, these fire bombs... I smell one, it's different. My [Perception] enhances every one of my senses as a side-effect, so I can acutely sense that the composition is a bit off. “We're from Feuerberg.”

Knowing what I mean, the woman looks at me silently. “...” So my guess is right, it's an inferior version of what I'm used to. “Henriett, get the proper samples. They're in the white cupboard, second drawer.”

Two girls, one beside me, one next to the alchemist, stare at us, without even knowing what just happened. The apprentice walks to the backroom again with the samples that she just brought, while Rine seems puzzled.

Well, back to the alchemist. “Was this a frigging test?”

“Precaution. You look so young.”

Is she implying, that I'm some hooligan, who would be doing irresponsible things with these bombs... actually, I can't blame her.

The next tray has some of the same bombs, but the ratio of their ingredients is different. They smell much like what the ones made in Feuerberg. There are some differences, though I don't like to show off my cluelessness about this world's science. That means, I just keep my mouth shut and look at the bombs properly.

“Phew... fire bomb, stink bomb, and smoke bomb... This is a needle bomb, right?” The kind that explodes and shoots little needles everywhere. Sounds useful at first, but there are tons of monsters with skin too tough to hurt with them, and they're pricey. I guess it’s because of the needles. “Then we have a noise bomb...” Don't use them. Especially, if you’ve got the [Perception]-ability. “What's this one?”

“It's a salt bomb. Similar to the needle bomb, it hurls projectiles, in this case, salt chunks. A viable alternative to the needle bomb.”

“Aha. Here's a flash bomb...” Another bomb you won't like if your senses are enhanced: “What's this?”

“A gas bomb, similar to the smoke bomb, it fills an area with gas, but it's inflammable.”

“You're allowed to sell that?” Rine's eyes are opened wide: “Isn't it a military weapon?” While she points that out, I can't help but imagine an army hurling these suckers right into the enemy lines, before throwing fire spells to ignite them...

Why does anyone even bothers with swords anymore... OK, looking at Rine and myself, I can't help but think that there's still a point. Seeing how much death Rine can deal when she wants to, and how much I've survived so far, explosives might not be enough.

“If you show me your letter of recognition, I can sell them as well.”

Ah, she thinks of us as a mercenary group. Well, we’re playing the part right now, so I guess mission successful? As we don't have a letter though, I'll just go with the other bombs. “No need. What are your prices?”

Technically, it'd be better to let Rine handle the haggling, or come again with Kyou-san, but as I'm the one who relies on the bombs the most, I also want to be the one who takes care of that. Foremost I want to resupply my stash, I don't need the rest. Needle bombs and salt bombs won't work against thick-skinned monsters, it may work on humans to a degree, but they cost too much for that.

Noise and flash bombs are also a danger to me. While I can see their use, I don't want to waste that much money on a weapon which hinders me as well. The trinity I'm used to may be a bit pricier here than in Feuerberg, but they're useful and still the cheapest around.

The only problem- “Th-thirty of each?” Is the numbers that I require. “Can you even transport them safely?” The problem with bombs is that they can detonate if you're handling them roughly. Like, when you're flung by a monster, roll on the ground several times, and such. It's the impact that makes them explode.

Of course, that's why I usually carry them in my backpack, until I know I'll use them. My magical backpack, which stores them in a pocket dimension making it much harder to detonate them accidentally.

“It's not only for me.” Just try to be casual here, like I'm on an errand or such. “So, the average price for one of each would be... fifty-seven. Three times thirty times fifty-seven equals... six.... one... 5,130 Newgold.”

The woman handles the abacus at the counter, checking my result. “Exactly.” Of course, it's simple math.

Rine, it's really simple math, so don't look at me like I've done something great. It's easy to calculate numbers like that, I've basically toned it down to 57 x 9, then I put a zero to the end.

Well, next one: “If I buy that much, how much for these?” I put some pots on the counter.

After paying, I slowly and discreetly put the bombs inside my backpack, so that the alchemist or her apprentice won't see it. Stored. Time to go!

Back on the main street, Rine presses my hand softly to get my attention: “Kenta, what do you want to do now?”

“More market research, of course.” That's the whole reason why we're here, after all.

“OK, I also want to buy more.” Seriously, you still need stuff? At least she’s not throwing money out of the window, but I have to keep her expenses in check.