I prepared to head to the local settlement. There were several things I needed—daily supplies for the house, food, and clothes.
I could smell my own stench even from a distance. This outfit had been on me for who knows how long, and it had survived multiple training sessions. You can imagine how bad I smelled. This kind of lifestyle was truly pitiful.
I decided to bring Masaki and Fireyarou with me. They were strong enough to handle common thugs. If things got out of hand, I could always summon Garnecia Elefantis and Ryu-Ran.
I stepped out of the house and saw the labyrinth walls surrounding our base. How was I supposed to get out? I didn't have a map of this maze.
As if reading my thoughts, I felt a rumble beneath my feet. The labyrinth walls shifted slowly, forming an exit. Dust rose into the air as the Labyrinth Wall moved.
Look at that—it's like the automatic sensors on shopping mall doors.
We made our way through the forest. The air smelled of trees mixed with salt and soap. Bubbles, the hallmark of the Yarukiman mangrove trees, rose from the ground every now and then.
Every time I saw them, I was impressed. How could a tree—a giant mangrove, sure—produce bubbles? And these bubbles even served as the primary mode of transportation in certain areas of Sabaody.
The sound of wind rustling through the leaves accompanied our journey.
"Masaki, is it true you've been through 100 battles?" I asked Masaki. The trip would take a while, so I might as well use the time to chat.
"Yes, Master. 100 battles might sound small to you, but to me, each one was a matter of life and death" Masaki replied with a deep gaze.
"100 battles sound really cool, Masaki. You should be proud of your achievements. You're a swordsman forged through battle," I reassured him.
"Thank you, Master," Masaki replied.
"And Fireyarou, why did you choose to learn fire magic?" I asked Fireyarou.
"Fire magic has many uses, Master. You can use it to burn your enemies, blow up buildings, burn your enemies—did I mention you can burn your enemies with fire?"
Alright, I shouldn't have asked that question to a pyromaniac. But I admit, it was cool, wasn't it? Making explosions and walking away without looking was an iconic scene in movies.
We continued our journey. Occasionally, I asked about sword techniques and magic, and Masaki and Fireyarou enthusiastically answered my questions.
"Master, we're close to the settlement," Masaki informed me.
I saw a few buildings in the distance, made of wood. Some parts of the structures looked worn and decayed. There were warning signs directed at the Marines:
"MARINES, STAY OUT!"
"DEATH TO THE MARINES!"
People in tattered, dirty clothes walked the streets. Suspicious individuals with covered faces and weapons like pistols and swords at their waists occasionally passed by.
I knew this wasn't a proper town, but I hadn't expected it to be this bad. There were no rules here. As someone from the modern era, I wasn't used to seeing things like this.
It truly lived up to its name—Lawless. I am sure if a Marine entered this area, they'd be targeted by the criminals here.
I walked among the buildings in the settlement, looking for a place to get supplies. I saw a group of homeless people gathered in an alley. I overheard a bit of what they were worried about.
"Those damn pirates! This is only going to make things worse here. Pirates will flock to the seas to find that treasure."
"We just need to survive and stay out of trouble."
For ordinary people, Roger's execution would only bring more chaos. Who knows how many villages were being ransacked by pirates out there?
After walking for a while, I finally found a building that looked like a store. I entered.
The room was fairly large, with shelves stocked with daily necessities, food, some clothes, and other supplies. The place was dimly lit, with light coming only from a window next to the door. "Donny's Store" was written on the wall behind the counter. An old, thin man was manning the cash register.
"I need a few things. Do you have them?" I asked the old man.
"For daily necessities, we have everything here. But if you need something specific, I'll have to check," the man replied in a heavy, hoarse voice.
"I don't need anything specific for now."
I listed the items I needed, and sure enough, he had them all. The total came to about 25,000 berries. The money I got from Upstart Goblin was enough for our daily needs.
I thanked the old man and left the store.
DING
Inventory unlocked.
Would you like to store the supplies in your inventory? Y/N?
Finally, the inventory function had arrived. This was one of the most important features. It could store items in another dimension, so I wouldn't have to worry about carrying things around in the future.
Yes, store in inventory.
The three of us walked out of the settlement, starting our journey back home. The silhouettes of the houses were almost gone, hidden by the trees. I could smell the forest, salt, and soap again.
"Ohoho, what's a little kid doing in the middle of the forest with only two bodyguards? How brave of you, boy."
Five men suddenly emerged from behind the trees. They carried swords at their waists, and evil grins spread across their faces, showing their ill intentions toward the three of us.
"I don't have anything. Let us pass."
"Really? Are you scared now, kid? I'm sure you'd fetch a decent price at a human auction. Hehehe," their leader, a burly man with scars on his face, said, refusing to let us go so easily.
His four lackeys placed their hands on their swords, ready to draw them.
I glanced at Masaki and Fireyarou and nodded.
In one swift motion, a card appeared in my hand.
"SPARK!"
At the same time, Fireyarou pointed his hand at the five men.
"Let's start with a BANG!" Fire erupted in their midst and exploded.
From my card, several fireballs shot toward the five men.
"Masaki, Fireyarou, finish them."
To be continued…