Chapter 28

Despite the minor interruption, we continued our trek through the city.

On the way, I decided to buy some food from the street stalls. My supplies were running low, and frankly, I was getting a bit tired of the traffic jam. I took some pocket money from Alice and hopped out of the vehicle, leaving the golem car on auto-pilot until I returned.

There was a butcher shop nearby, so I dropped in immediately.

“Hey there. Can I get some dried meat?”

“You bet! Everything here is a steal.”

The shopkeeper, a man with a stern face, gave me his recommendations. I picked out a few cuts of meat and settled the bill. I had been worried about whether Imperial currency would be accepted, but the payment went through without a hitch.

When I asked about it, I learned that currencies from various nations circulated throughout Eurea. They had their own exchange rates, and apparently, bartering was even permitted in some places. In fact, Eurea didn’t even have its own unique currency to begin with.

“This country is special, see. Systems, culture—nothing is consistent. You could call it a lawless zone.”

“That’s impressive, but doesn’t that make it a bad environment for business? In a lawless zone, people are bound to target your goods.”

“When that happens, I just blow ’em away. Might makes right—that’s the only absolute law laid down in Eurea.”

The shopkeeper struck a pose, showing off his muscles. He had a sturdy build reminiscent of a bear. It wasn’t posturing or a joke; he was clearly the type to truly settle things with brute force.

Eurea really was a peculiar place. I wondered if the cause was its form as an independent state and the way it was established. I had a feeling the policies of those “Representatives” had something to do with it too.

Well, I wasn’t particularly interested in that. There was something else I needed to look into with higher priority. I continued my conversation with the shopkeeper.

“By the way. Are there any properties in this city that I could buy easily?”

“Properties? You planning on settling down in Eurea, kid?”

“Yeah. It seems easy enough to live in, so I’ve taken a liking to it. It’d be a big help if there’s somewhere I can buy for cheap.”

Alice’s pocket money seemed to be a decent amount. It was the wealth she had earned as an alchemist. That said, it wasn’t a fortune. She told me that if we spent it without thinking about the future, we’d run out in no time.

I’d have to start making money eventually. I wondered what kind of work I should do.

The first thing that came to mind was mercenary work. It was the profession I was most familiar with in my old world. With a body enhanced by high-level modifiers, it would undoubtedly be a perfect fit. I wouldn’t have any trouble finding a job.

Alice, for her part, could do work that utilized her various skills. I imagined it would be easy for her to earn even more than me. Being multi-talented is a great value in and of itself.

Researching return magic would also require money. For the sake of the future, it wouldn’t hurt to build up our savings.

“If you’re looking for property, you should talk to a handyman. It’ll cost you, but they should be able to arrange a place that fits your criteria.”

“A handyman?”

“Yeah. There’s one close by. You should stop in there first.”

With that, the shopkeeper explained where the handyman was located. It certainly seemed like I could get there quickly from here. I didn’t have any other leads, so I figured I should show my face there first.

I gave the shopkeeper a tip, returned to the golem car, and resumed driving.

The streets were still congested. There were many moments where we didn’t move at all. However, there was still time before the sun went down. I decided to enjoy the scenery without worrying about finding a shortcut.

“Ow! The hell do you think you’re doing!?”

“You’re the one who started it!”

There were men trading blows by the side of the road.

The two individuals trading insults and fighting were from a fishman-like race and a wolf-headed race.

The people around them cheered and jeered, enjoying the spectacle. Some were even placing bets on the outcome.

“Wait, you brat! How dare you steal my precious goods! I’m not letting you get away with this today…!”

“No way! Like I’d let myself get caught!”

A young boy clutching fruit dashed past the golem car. Immediately after, a man in an apron appeared, shouting in a rage. The man chased after the boy with a hatchet in hand. The boy was a fruit thief, and the man was likely the owner. Given the extraordinary bloodlust he was emitting, it wouldn’t end well for the kid if he were caught.

“N-No, stop!”

“Shut up and stay still, you piece of garbage…!”

Hearing a faint voice, I shifted my gaze. A woman with a hemp sack over her head was being dragged into the shadows of an alleyway. I wondered if she was being sold into slavery. In this world, that probably wasn’t a rare occurrence.

“How cold-hearted…”

As a mere bystander to these scenes, I let out a deep sigh and muttered to myself. Observing the city again, the poor public safety of Eurea was striking. Neither the other cities nor the slums had been this blatant. Seeing these sights rampant on a main street suggested that this was simply the norm here. The people around us went about their business without looking particularly concerned. To them, this was daily life.

It was surprising that a city of this scale could exist with such disorder. There was no gloomy atmosphere; instead, one could sense a bottomless vitality. It felt as though the place was overflowing with energy. It was quite interesting. It was close to a form of madness.

I was curious if all the cities in this nation were in a similar state. I definitely wanted to take a look around the country.

“This is a very lively place. Though the crime rate seems a bit high,” Alice remarked softly.

Apparently, she had been thinking the same thing. Drawing my gaze back from the outside, I asked her, “Have you never been to Eurea before?”

“No. It’s too noisy here to do research in peace. But I don’t dislike it. There shouldn’t be any shortage of supplies.”

“I believe import and export businesses are thriving here, right?”

“That’s right. It’s chaotic, but it’s a city where you can find anything. Anyone can hide their identity easily here. The Summoned you’re looking for must be hiding somewhere within this country, Jack.”

Alice cut her words there and gave a small, modest fist pump. She closed her mouth and stared at me in silence. I felt like her dignified gaze held more strength than usual. Was she trying to tell me something?

After thinking for a moment, I grasped her intent and gave a wry smile. “Are you… trying to encourage me?”

“I am. When we reunited at the dwarven settlement, you let that Summoned escape, didn’t you? And you were being attacked without even being able to resist. I thought you might be feeling down about it.”

Alice answered with her usual bluntness. There was no malice in it; she was simply speaking her mind. I did think she was being a bit too harsh, though. Still, I could tell it was a comment made out of concern.

I gave a light laugh and shrugged my shoulders.

“I’m not depressed. I’m not so fragile that I’d break over a single failure. You don’t get angry every time your favorite dish is served late, do you? It’s the same thing.”

“…What exactly does that mean?”

“It means I’m definitely going to kill that guy.”

Upon hearing that, Alice looked stunned for a moment before letting a soft smile spread across her face. She looked genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart.

“That’s a very straightforward conclusion.”

“I live by the motto ‘Simple is Best,’ after all.”

While we were talking, the traffic jam cleared up, and the golem car reached a crossroads. I turned the wheel to the right. From there, I followed the directions the shopkeeper had given me. Before long, a building with a blue triangular roof came into view. That was the landmark for the handyman.

I parked the golem car in front of the building and stepped out with Alice. I made sure to turn on the golem car’s anti-theft functions. Now, if any suspicious types touched the vehicle, it would automatically transform and intercept them. I doubted anyone would actually try to steal it, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

I wondered if there would actually be a suitable property. Depending on the state of security, I might consider setting up a base in a different city. I didn’t want a place where criminals frequently came to play. Though, if I asked Alice, she could probably set up some security devices. If we could drive them off with those, maybe it would be quiet enough.

As a last resort, I could always personally eliminate them with violence. That seemed to be the Eurean way, so it would fit right in.

‘Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’

With my heart full of anticipation, I knocked on the handyman’s door.