I might use that move again someday, but definitely not now…
Cradling the beastkin girl in my arms, I stroll forward through what's now a barren wasteland, courtesy of that skill's destruction. At least with the area this clear, nothing's jumping out to screw me over, so I can wander freely. If I'm lucky, I'll find a small village to crash in and figure out what to do with this girl. Letting her go? No way. Keeping her? That massive magic-sealed collar on her neck is a problem - probably has a tracking spell, which explains how those bounty hunters found us so easily.
It doesn't take long to spot a nearby city. It's not huge, but its shiny new exterior suggests it's pretty developed. The outer wall, studded with cannon ports, watchtowers, a moat, and a small bridge, gives off a sturdy, reassuring vibe. I didn't think much of this world's tech level - magic tends to stunt that kind of progress - but looks like I was wrong.
Just as I'm about to enter, two armored guards block my path and say:
- Please present your pass.
Shit, forgot about that. This might be another world, but some things are like my old one. And, of course, I'm broke as hell in both this third life and my first, so this is gonna be a problem.
- Uh, I'm new here, not sure how this works. Any other way?
- One gold coin for a pass fee.
Goddamn it, this is worse than I thought. No money, obviously. How the hell do I get in? Kill these guys and barge through? Too risky - could attract enemies I can't handle. Sneak in? Impossible, I've got no stealth skills or magic for that. This is bad…
Just when it seems hopeless, one of the guards pipes up:
- Hold on, that demi-human girl you're carrying, she's a slave, right? If so, you need a Guild-issued contract certificate, or you can't bring her into the city.
- So… how do I, you know, get that certificate?
- Take the slave to the Guild for verification, get the certificate, then come back and enter normally.
Thank fuck, there's a way in…
- Where's the Guild?
- Follow the main road straight, it's on the left.
- Thanks.
No way I'm passing up this chance to improvise my way into the city and scrape together some cash. Quickest way to make a buck? Pickpocketing. Risky as hell, but honestly, I don't have any better or legal options. Selling this girl? Hell no. Saving her just to throw her back into danger feels pointless.
What's the commonality between magic tricks and stealing? Misdirection. You need tricks to pull it off flawlessly. The main road's crowded, perfect for a one-time hit - do it too often, and I'll get caught, like a magician overplaying the same trick. My target's easy to spot: a fat guy in fancy clothes with a big pouch at his hip. I just need to make sure he doesn't notice me for a bit.
In the crowd, I pretend to trip, bumping into him and a few others. In the chaos, I deftly snatch the pouch and tuck it under the beastkin girl I'm carrying. I stick around to apologize for knocking them over, diverting suspicion - bolting right away would've been a dead giveaway.
Once they're out of sight, I check the pouch. Gold coins, obviously, plus gems, a pass, and some bone-like fragments. Do I care? Nope. I don't like money, but every society runs on it, so I'm stuck with it.
After stashing the pouch, I head to the Guild's building. It's not hard to find - biggest damn place around. From the outside, it looks more like a tavern, with that anime-style decor and a loud, lively atmosphere spilling out. It's warm, bustling, almost cozy. Gotta move fast to wrap this up and get into the city.
The registration's simple: fill out a form, pay the fee, get a copy of the certificate, then head back to the gate for a pass. Too smooth, honestly. When things go *this* well, something bad's bound to happen. And it's happening - right as I enter the Guild, I spot two familiar figures loitering at the entrance, glaring at me with pissed-off faces. It takes a second, but I realize they're the hunters I almost obliterated hours ago. With the crowd, it's hard to pick out individuals, but it's definitely them. Another fight's fine - I've got about 2,000 mana left to wreck this place - but it'd cause a mess later. So, I pretend not to see them, act normal, and fake exhaustion to lower their guard while heading to the gate as planned.
One way or another, I'm gonna clash with those guys. Just a matter of when. Probably soon…
…
It's nearly dusk by the time everything's done. All I can do now is wait in the guard tower's lounge for the Guild clerk to process my pass while observing the people around. This place is lively - tons of shops selling all kinds of gear and goods, plus inns, restaurants, taverns, clothing stores, and even a brothel. The streets are packed with cheerful folks, like a festival from my first life. For medieval fantasy nerds, this place is a dream world - magical and mysterious. But it's probably just the surface of a much darker iceberg, full of problems.
- Excuse me, sir?
- Hm?
- Here's your pass and certificate. Don't lose them; the fines are steep.
- Got it, thanks.
It's getting dark, so the guards suggest a nearby inn and offer to guide me there. It's less "guiding" and more like escorting, maybe due to bad security or something I can't quite figure out. I don't care much. I'm not generous, but their kindness (or blatant tailing for a tip) prompts me to pull two gold coins from the pouch and hand them over to shut them up.
The inn's big, doubling as a restaurant and tavern, so it's noisy and bustling. There's even a "companion" service posted openly on the bulletin board… I'm not into that stuff - honestly, it disgusts me, makes me nauseous with all the sleaze here. I can't stay long. It's not personal; I just want a place to feel like myself and keep my unstable emotions in check. But this chaotic spot's the best option for now, especially since I need to deal with the beastkin girl. It's… not terrible.
I book a room at the front desk, order food quick, and head up to check the room while waiting for delivery. I'm beat from today…
The first surprise is how the room's laid out like budget motels from my first life. It's a single, so just one bed, a basic wooden table and chair, a wardrobe, and a small nightstand for random stuff. The furniture's rough, but the candles keep it well-lit, not as shabby as I expected. There's even a bathroom - basically a room with a big wooden tub and a mirror on the wall for changing. The bronze mirror's old but functional, sparking my curiosity to check my appearance…
The second surprise? The Shapeshifting protocol picked my intern look from my first life. It's a bit taller and sturdier than I remember, but the short, curled hair covering my "balding" forehead is spot-on. Whatever, as long as nothing freaky pops up, I'm good.
Finally, I check on the girl. I grab her shoulders, shake her, call out, even slap her a few times - hard. Nothing. Time for a harsher approach.
- Shadow Enhancement.
If this doesn't work, I'll have to use this shitty system, though I hate relying on it…
With full force, I swing my fist at her face to trigger her survival instincts, hoping it works. Miraculously, it does - just as my fist's a hand's breadth from her face, she snaps awake, dodges, and… stares at me with empty, lifeless eyes…
I know that look - the one that says you've got nothing left to lose. It's salvageable, though. I've been through enough trauma to have had that dead-fish stare myself, but no one stepped in, so things spiraled until my humor, worldview, and thoughts twisted into something irreparable. I don't like meddling, but I don't want others drowning in the same negativity. There's still good in this world… maybe.
- You okay? Need any help?
- …
She keeps staring with that blank, unblinking expression, creepy as hell, like she's possessed…
- System, does Parasitic Cell Division affect brain behavior?
『Parasitic Cell Division only affects advanced "mental" functions when used in specific conditions.』
Good, so it's not my fault. Must be her own issue. When I try to get closer to ask more, she flinches, scooting to the corner of the bed, looking at me like I'm a demon about to devour her. Okay, my true form *is* kinda demonic, but that's not the point. I'm not radiating killing intent or acting malicious - just showing basic concern. How horrific was her life to make her this terrified?