New chapter of Let’s Create a Dungeon is out! (3/5 chapters)
Chapter 39
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The place was Brant, the northernmost town in Margrave Hauster’s territory.
In normal times, it was a lively town where adventurers heading to the Great Forest of Owa and merchants seeking materials from the forest came and went, along with wealthy merchants traveling between the nation-states and the kingdom, and craftsmen targeting such merchants.
Volt said it was a bustling town where various people came and went.
That was truly delightful. The more people there were, the more information could be gathered. However, there was one crucial piece of information missing.
“Is there a toilet in that town?” (Nobunaga)
“It’s not as splendid as yours, but there is one, so don’t worry.” (Volt)
I desperately held back my stomach, which was growling, and hurried to Brant, but I couldn’t run, so in the end, I walked.
After a while, I saw a stone wall that could hardly be called magnificent. The wall was slightly uneven, and grass was poking through the gaps between the stones. It had likely been used for many years, but it didn’t seem very reliable. But right now, such things didn’t matter. What was most important was to enter the town and rush to the toilet. As I approached the shabby gate, an old man, who seemed to be the gatekeeper, hurried over with a flustered look.
“Hey, you guys! Did you perhaps come from the Great Forest of Owa?” (Gatekeeper)
What’s with this old man? Stopping me as I rush to the toilet—could he be an enemy?
“That’s right, but is there a problem? Hey, why are you so hostile! Stop it!” (Gatekeeper)
I’m not hostile at all. I was just thinking of removing the obstacle that was getting in my way.
“Eep! F-for now, please come to the front of the gate. It’s dangerous in case of emergencies.” (Gatekeeper)
I don’t know what kind of dangerous emergencies there could be against a Demon King and a Sword Saint, but I’ve decided to follow him in silence. It’s the gatekeeper’s post, there should be a toilet there.
—
There wasn’t. There was neither a post nor a toilet.
The gatekeepers were drawn from the town’s self-defense corps, and it seems they rotate shifts from the self-defense corps stationed throughout the town. Naturally, there wasn’t a toilet nearby. However, the typical procedures for visiting, such as questioning the purpose of the visit and inspecting luggage, ended as soon as I mentioned Volt’s name. They even asked for a handshake. It seems the “Sword Saint” is revered in the kingdom. In reality, he’s just an old man who loves to cut things.
When we entered the town, the first place we headed to was the inn. I had no particular baggage and didn’t intend to make this my base. Moreover, since it was lunchtime, it seemed there was no reason to rush to find an inn, but there was an important reason.
“Landlady, we need a room for two for one night. Is there any available?” (Volt)
“Welcome! Two people, right? Don’t worry! Thanks to the birth of the Demon King, not many people are coming to the town now, so you can stay in any room you like.” (Landlady)
Volt and the plump landlady seemed to have a comfortable conversation. Since I had only moved around the dungeon and the surrounding forest since birth, I didn’t understand the flow of the conversation, so I silently left it to their course. Moreover, just as the landlady said, I hardly saw any people in the town or at the inn. There were only a few people who lived there at the minimum, maybe even a little less than that.
“One night for two, right? Sure, for now, all the rooms are vacant, but let’s put you in the one at the back of the second floor that’s just finished being cleaned. What’s your name?” (Landlady)
“I am Volt. And the big and scary one behind me is…” (Volt)
“Nobu—” (Nobunaga)
I was about to answer “Nobunaga.” However, I thought about the potential consequences if it became widely known that the Demon King of the Great Forest of Owa is named Nobunaga. It might cause trouble if this body also goes by Nobunaga.
There is a significant difference between humans and demons, but the names are the same. Moreover, it’s supposed to be a rare name. Some might get suspicious, and there’s a chance my true identity might be revealed.
So, I quickly decided.
“It’s Nobutsuna.” (Nobunaga)
“Hmm, that’s a strange name. Is it the same as that ‘Sword Saint?’ Ahahaha, if you come here, you’ll get some prestige!” (Landlady)
I could have told her that he’s right in front of her, but I needed to learn something more important first.
Stepping forward, I came in front of Volt.
“Landlady.” (Nobunaga)
“W-what is it? You look scary.” (Landlady)
It’s not my scary face. it’s Volt and Alice’s fault. Don’t tell me.
“Where is the toilet?” (Nobunaga)
*Kyu-ru kyu-ru kyu-ru*
My stomach growled as if to assert its existence.
I was currently in a room of the inn. Sitting on a chair provided, I pressed my stomach and crouched down. I went to the toilet and relieved myself. I tried hard enough that I thought my insides would come out. However, I was still not freed from the pain.
I wondered if it was poison, so I ate a green fruit with detoxifying properties, but it only worsened. I realized that I shouldn’t put anything in my stomach right now. Thanks to that, I couldn’t eat the blue fruit meant for recovering magic, and to suppress my magic consumption, I returned to my original form. If someone were to come in, I wanted to be in a position where I wouldn’t be easily noticed, so I positioned myself near the door, where it would be in the blind spot when the door opened. However, this means I couldn’t go outside.
…I have no choice.
I pulled over a nearby table and placed the contents of my magical bag on it. Well, it was mostly fruit, and only the bag with the coins stood out. I neatly stacked the fruits so that they wouldn’t fall off the table.
“Volt, I have a request.” (Nobunaga)
“What is it?” (Volt)
I handed the bag filled with coins to Volt, who was lazily looking outside.
“Please buy something for me.” (Nobunaga)
“No way, that’s a hassle. You should go yourself.” (Volt)
Hah, this senile old man. Doesn’t he even understand something so simple?
“I’m sorry, but I can’t expect to leave this inn and come out unscathed.” (Nobunaga)
Mainly from myself.
My stomach growled in agreement.
Ugh, not good.
“The basics are farming tools and equipment. I also need needles and whatever else you think might be necessary. You can use all the money. Just buy as much as can fit into the magical bag.” (Nobunaga)
After saying all that, I took a bite of the blue fruit, transformed, and headed to the toilet. I felt like Volt was making an exasperated face, but it was probably just my imagination. When I returned, Volt was gone. He must have gone to buy something.
Even so, what a trial this is. To go to the toilet, I had to eat fruit, but eating the fruit upset my stomach, and to appease my stomach, I had to go to the toilet. Well, that’s fine. Right now, I’ll prioritize gathering information.
I moved the table with the fruits to the window, tilting the chair to prevent the door from opening easily. All that was left was to open the window just a little. With that, I was done.
Through the slightly opened window, I would find a target and transform, then read their memories. Of course, I had made sure not to just let them walk in, and I kept the fruit within reach to ensure my magic wouldn’t run out. However, there were two problems.
One was the reading of memories upon transformation; I could not instantly read all the memories of the target. I needed to recall those memories after transforming. What I had thought about at the moment of transformation could be recalled easily, but the things I hadn’t thought about or older memories needed to be remembered.
The other was the current state of my stomach. If my magic had decreased and I had eaten more fruit, I would have definitely had to head straight to the toilet. To do that, I would have had to revert to my original form, which meant I couldn’t continue reading memories.
The solution was to shorten the transformation time and decide what to recall.
What I need is a level of common sense to come alone, the surrounding geography and situation, my reputation, and how to deal with the Demon King. Then maybe some recent events? In this remote area, I don’t expect all information to gather. However, I want as much information as I can get right now.
Now, let’s do my best.
Unexpected problems had arisen immediately. There were very few people passing by. I had already read the reason from my memories.
To put it simply, it had been my fault.
The birth of the Demon King in the Great Forest of Owa had led to the forest being deemed dangerous, making it hard to enter. Furthermore, the complete annihilation of the Hausuta Baron’s cavalry had increased the perceived danger of the Demon King, leading the residents to flee. The fortress, thought to be a key defensive point, was located further back, and if the Demon King had attacked, there would have been no defensive capability whatsoever.
It was no wonder people had been disappearing.
But I had managed to work on that part and had grasped the surrounding geography and situation. To the north was an empire, to the east were city-state-sized nations clustered together, to the south was a kingdom, and to the west was a mountain range. I had never expected the Great Forest of Owa to be treated as a border. However, it was such a troublesome place for the Great Forest of Owa.
In addition to that information, I had learned that the blue fruit I had been eating was called the “Wari Fruit,” which only grew in the Great Forest of Owa, was considered a luxury item, and that the price had skyrocketed since entry to the Great Forest had been restricted.
Well, I won’t sell it, though.
But I was tired. I had not expected reading memories to be that exhausting. Well, maybe it was because I had been using my head continuously. I had also had to visit the toilet several times.
Maybe I should have finished up with the next one. I hoped they had some good information.
…Oh! If they came by wagon, they might be a traveling merchant or wealthy. Well, I just hope they have good information. Alright, then, transformation!
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