WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

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◈ Surviving as a Warrior in a TRPG World ◈

Chapter 12: Riverbridge (1)

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'I should at least buy a pot when I reach the next village.'

After eating nothing but jerky and dried fruit for days, Gerik was starting to get sick of it.

Unlike the ignorant adventurers who drank whatever water they found without a second thought, Gerik, who had lived in the modern world in his past life, knew very well how important boiled drinking water was.

He resolved to always carry a pot so he could prepare simple meals to keep himself in good condition and boil his drinking water.

Fortunately, unlike on his first day, Gerik encountered no monsters or other problems from the second day onward and continued his journey safely.

On the third day of his journey, around sunset, he finally arrived at Riverbridge, his midway stop.

'It's pretty big...'

Gerik's first impression of Riverbridge, viewed from the hill above, was that it was remarkably large.

The Gray River ran through the middle of town, where a sizable bridge and dock stood at its center. Even at sunset, goods were constantly being loaded onto and unloaded from small cargo ships.

'It'd be fairer to call this a small city than a village...'

Perhaps because so many of its buildings were made of stone, the town looked quite prosperous.

A low stone wall enclosed the outskirts, and there was even a gate. Gerik thought Riverbridge was closer to a city than a village.

'Is it because every settlement past Riverbridge is a frontier village?'

As he slowly walked toward the town gate, Gerik considered why the place was so prosperous.

'Being near the frontier, it must be easier to acquire special products that aren't found in settled regions, like monster hides. On the other hand, frontier towns probably have a harder time getting ordinary supplies such as food and cloth than normal cities do. Trade was bound to flourish.'

Drawing on the education from his past life, Gerik quickly understood why Riverbridge was so bustling despite being remote, close to untamed land, and fairly dangerous.

"Stop right there!"

Two guards in chainmail, spears in hand, stopped Gerik on the bridge over the moat before the gate.

One of them, who looked older, approached Gerik and asked, "What business are you here on?"

"I'm an adventurer."

Hoping they would not find fault with him and turn him away, Gerik answered obediently.

At first, the guard frowned at Gerik's shabby clothes, which made him look more like a farmer than an adventurer. Then he noticed Gerik's young face, his pack, and the large longsword strapped to his back, and nodded as if he understood.

"Looking at you, I'd say you're a novice adventurer without much experience?"

"...That's right."

Gerik did not argue with the guard treating him like a rookie and quietly agreed.

Apparently pleased by his humility, the guard let Gerik through in a gentler tone.

"Um..."

"Hm?"

Though he had been allowed through, Gerik did not leave and instead spoke again. The guard looked puzzled.

"It's my first time here. Is there an inn you could recommend?"

"Ah, an inn. There are some. How much travel money do you have? Ah, I don't mean anything by it. There are several inns here, you see."

Perhaps Gerik's face still looked a little too much like that of a young boy, because the guard seemed faintly sympathetic as he gently asked about his finances.

"I have... enough, I suppose."

"Ah, well, then."

The guard explained that Riverbridge had three main types of inns.

The first was a cheap inn commonly used by novice adventurers like Gerik.

Located on the outskirts of town, it offered poor meals and lodging for its low price. Theft and violence between adventurers also happened there from time to time.

"Unless you're truly short on money, I'd recommend avoiding that place if you can."

After saying that, the guard explained the second inn, The Oak and Owl, near the town center.

"It was opened by a retired adventurer and his family. It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. Experienced adventurers usually stay there. Since it was founded by an adventurer, they know all sorts of useful information... and there are fewer fights, too."

"...What about the last one?"

The guard practically seemed to be recommending the second inn, but Gerik asked about the third just in case.

The guard grinned at that and answered as though it was out of the question.

"That's a luxury inn for nobles, knights, and wealthy merchants. No matter how well-lined your pockets are, I don't think you could ever afford it."

"Ha. You'll be lucky if they don't throw you out at the door."

"True enough!"

The other guard, who had been quietly listening nearby, added that half-jokingly.

Thanking the two kind guards for their explanation, Gerik asked how much the second inn charged.

"Well... I never have reason to visit inns myself..."

"Probably four or five silver coins a month?"

"It's that expensive?!"

The senior guard's eyes widened in surprise at the other guard's answer.

Lugos had left behind thirty silver coins, so the sum startled Gerik as well. Still, he tried not to show it as he thought to himself.

'If I stay at a cheap inn and get robbed, it'll be a headache. Even if it's expensive, I should stay somewhere decent.'

He also found the fact that the innkeeper was a former adventurer appealing.

If he became a guest, he could receive advice that might help his future work. Even if it cost more, he decided to stay at the second inn.

"Thank you for answering my questions so kindly."

"Haha. This town lives off adventurers, so it's nothing."

Perhaps because Riverbridge made its living from the specialties brought in from frontier towns, the guards seemed to view even rough adventurers fairly favorably.

Gerik thanked them once more, then slowly headed in the direction they had given him.

Less than ten minutes after leaving the entrance, he spotted a large, two-story stone building built around a central courtyard.

A wooden sign jutted out over the entrance like an antenna, with The Oak and Owl written on it in rough Common Tongue.

Gerik hesitated before the inn's door, where loud chatter spilled from inside, debating whether to enter. At last, he steeled himself, took a breath, and opened the door.

At around ten tables, people of all sizes and appearances gathered in small groups, eating, drinking, and talking.

Interestingly, they all seemed to be adventurers. Their ages, builds, and looks differed, yet each of them gave off a sharp, dangerous air.

"Welcome."

A waitress who looked three or four years older than Gerik approached and greeted him. She was not a beauty, but she had the fresh charm unique to young people. Perhaps because she spent less time in the sun than a farmer, her skin was fairly clear as well.

"Um... I'd like to stay here..."

"Oh! Of course! This way. Dad!"

At the word lodging rather than food, the waitress brightened and led Gerik to the table where the innkeeper stood.

The innkeeper had been pouring beer and setting out snacks at the table. Perhaps he had been focused on his work, because he did not notice Gerik until his daughter brought him right in front of him.

"Hm? Are you looking for a room?"

Since his daughter usually brought him lodging guests, the innkeeper asked Gerik that question as he looked at him.

"Yes. I'd like to stay for a while."

"Is that so? How long were you thinking of staying?"

Gerik paused to consider how long would be appropriate.

'I can't stay just a day or two, not with the equipment I need to buy and the state of my body.'

The past week had been brutal for Gerik. Because of the raiders, he had spent days shivering in a cold hiding place, then set out on a forced march as soon as he emerged. He was in terrible condition.

He was only holding up because he had a young body. Honestly, it would not have been strange for him to be laid up for days with body aches.

So even if it cost him some money, he decided to rest here for a while and recover.

"I'm thinking of staying for about a week."

"A week? Hmm... How about two silver coins, with three meals a day included?"

"...Two coins?! I heard most people pay around four or five coins a month."

The price was much higher than he had expected, and Gerik objected based on what he had heard earlier.

"That's because those are long-term guests staying at least a couple of months, or even half a year, to get through the winter."

The innkeeper explained that there was naturally a difference in price between long-term and short-term guests.

Thanks to his past life, Gerik was familiar with a market economy. He could not argue with the innkeeper's words, so he fell silent and thought.

'What should I do...? If I stay longer, my budget will get tight because of the equipment and consumables I need to buy...'

Rather than bargaining, Gerik seemed to be deep in thought. From experience, the innkeeper sensed that the greenhorn in front of him was not simply a penniless drifter.

"We don't use premium ingredients, but we're generous with the meat. And my wife's a fine cook, so if it's just the taste of the food, we're no worse than the Golden Stag over there."

The innkeeper began praising his establishment and comparing it to a luxury inn. Gerik's eyes widened as he considered the cost.

He realized he had been trying to make a deal with the fixed-price mindset of a modern person, and spoke again.

"...Could you take off twenty copper coins? As you can see, I've only just started working as an adventurer, so money is tight."

"Urgh..."

Having worked as an adventurer for quite a long time himself, the innkeeper could tell from Gerik's equipment that he truly was a rookie adventurer.

His heart softened in the end. With a light sigh, he accepted Gerik's offer.

"Fine. Fine. We'll do that."

"...And one more thing."

"Huh?"

The innkeeper had already made a concession and settled on a price, so his face creased as Gerik looked ready to make another demand.

Seeing his expression, Gerik hurriedly clarified that it was unrelated to money.

"Ah, I was wondering if you could recommend a good forge or general store in town."

"Ah, is that all? Sure, I can do that!"

Once he heard that Gerik only wanted to ask a few questions that cost nothing, the innkeeper's face became warm again.

He called over his son, who was helping his mother prepare food in the kitchen, and told him to guide Gerik to an available room.

"Ah, the money is in my luggage..."

"Hey, hey! You'll attract thieves! Don't go saying things like that so freely. My son will take care of it, so follow him upstairs first."

Once the agreement was made, the innkeeper smiled and answered in an endlessly gentle tone that did not suit his fierce-looking face.

Gerik gave an awkward smile and nodded, then followed the well-built son, who resembled his father, to his room.

"You'll be staying here. If you wait a bit, I'll bring you warm water and a towel."

"Ah, thanks."

Despite his build, the young man had a fresh-faced look. At the shy sound of his voice, Gerik instinctively realized he was a boy who had only just entered puberty.

Still, even after Gerik smiled and nodded, the boy did not leave the room, which left him puzzled.

Footnotes:

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