Was There A Place Like That…?

The next day, the three—Kikori and the others—gathered in front of the Hero Gate and busied themselves checking their luggage.

“If we consider roughly four days for the round trip, dried rations are essential.”

“What about bedding?”

“We don’t need it. Rather, we can’t use it. We’ll need either someone on night watch or tools to repel monsters.”

“Can’t you make those, Eil?”

“I think monster repellent is more in the domain of priests…”

“Ah, I probably can’t. The Moon God is more about summoning than warding.”

They had mainly been checking required items from Eil’s alchemist perspective, and there were many things Kikori hadn’t known.

For example, bedding made it impossible to respond immediately if attacked, so it wasn’t suitable for exploring the Contaminated Region.

Tents especially made it obvious humans were present and attracted attacks easily.

“The Contaminated Region is monster territory. That’s why long expeditions place a considerable burden…”

“Ahh, that’s why sweet stuff sells well.”

“Dried fruits? That seems to be the case.”

Indeed, dried fruits sold well in the Fortress City.

And veteran adventurers were often seen buying them.

For example, dried raisins seemed extremely popular.

“The same reason dried sweet potatoes sell. They’re sweet and tasty.”

“Have you sold them before?”

“…Well, judging the drying level is also one of the skills of alchemy, you could say…”

Eil laughed, and Kuon laughed with a “nyahaha”… and from that perspective Kikori realized again that the Fortress City truly was “a city for that purpose.”

Through various trial and error, the goods sold became refined. In other words, that was how it was.

“Then for us, should we buy dried sweet potatoes and raisins?”

“And water. I think we need a purification waterskin.”

“Ah, I can make that, so just buy a normal one.”

As he said that, Kuon tapped the leather pouch hanging at his waist.

So that was a waterskin—Kikori was impressed only now.

He hadn’t bought one for day trips, but it would certainly be necessary from now on.

“If I remember right, drinking water from the Contaminated Region is bad, right?”

“That’s right. It’s perfect for monsters, but not for us.”

Apparently the Contaminated Region was caused by high-density mana… drinking it disrupted the body’s mana balance, and the purification waterskin had magic that dealt with it.

“And if we’re not buying bedding, then cloaks, right? I have one shabby one at the inn, but maybe I should get a new one.”

“Good idea. Let’s go to the cloak shop!”

“Cloak shop…? Was there a place like that…?”

There were still many shops he didn’t know. Or maybe he had seen them but hadn’t realized what they were.

Kikori headed toward the cloak shop while being pulled along by Kuon and Eil.