Although Axel is called a "beginner's town," it's actually a decent-sized city. It's not just a gathering spot for novices—there are actually plenty of powerful individuals here.
Axel is a town encircled by a near-circular wall, formed of densely packed red-brick houses reminiscent of medieval European streets. Its roads are paved with stone, and naturally, there are no automobiles.
But the people here are different!
There are adorable beast-eared girls, refined-featured elves—such is the normal scenery of another world.
Stepping into the town, Shichen excitedly took in everything around him, his gaze lingering at times. Everywhere he looked was full of the distinct flavor of a fantasy world, making him pause more than once.
This is another world—this is what he's been anticipating.
Unlike in Frieren's world or Natsuki Minamiya's world—one basically wilderness, the other akin to the modern day—those places gave him almost no feeling of having actually traveled to another world. But a Western-styled fantasy city like this one fits perfectly with what he pictured for a true "isekai."
On the streets, people of various appearances, along with all kinds of adventurers—staff and swords at their sides, some clad in armor—really did make it feel like stepping into a game.
The "otherworld" impression undeniably aligned closely with typical in-game settings.
Swords, dragons, magic... In many anime-style fantasy worlds, they're all present.
"Shichen, what are you staring at?" Megumin looked at him curiously.
"I'm seeing Axel for the first time, so I want to look around properly," he explained.
"Aren't you a great mage? You've never been here before?"
"No, I haven't."
"That means you're in the same boat as us," Yunyun said happily.
"What are you so happy about?" Megumin gave her a sidelong glance.
"Huh? I-I'm not happy..." Yunyun looked flustered, turning away.
"Heh, you're practically all smiles—do you think I'm blind?" Megumin snorted.
"I am not!"
"You traitor who forgets her friends at the sight of a good-looking guy!"
"I do NOT do that! Don't randomly accuse me!"
"You two..." Shichen turned back to them, exasperated.
"Keep your voices down; people are staring," he said, noticing that indeed, passersby had begun glancing over.
"I think some are only staring at you," Megumin muttered.
"What does that have to do with me?" Shichen looked at a few older women focusing their attention on him, their gazes quite intense.
It felt a bit scary.
"You know the reason perfectly well!" Megumin had no intention to elaborate.
"All right, all right. Let's quickly head to the Adventurers' Guild," Shichen said, smiling wryly, pushing Megumin toward their destination.
"Don't push me!"
"What's the big deal? Yunyun, let's go."
"C-Coming!"
The three of them walked with a clear goal in mind.
When they parted ways with the people from the carriage, Shichen had asked them for directions to the Adventurers' Guild, since he planned to become an adventurer himself.
The guild wasn't far; they arrived at the door of a fairly large building in no time.
A sign reading "Guild" was affixed, so they hadn't gone astray. Shichen was somewhat surprised to find he could read the writing of this world.
From behind its closed doors, one could faintly smell pleasant aromas, presumably from cooking.
Everyone knew that in addition to being a gathering place for adventurers, the Adventurers' Guild also functioned as a bar and restaurant, and purchased the monsters that adventurers subjugated—preparing them as delicious dishes for adventurers to enjoy.
Take from the adventurers, serve the adventurers.
"Let's go in."
Shichen led the way, pushing open the door, Megumin and Yunyun trailing behind.
He found the Adventurers' Guild to be slightly dim inside, with not many people around—just a few female staff, and in one corner a table of people eating.
Shichen cast a glance that way; none were familiar.
Their entrance naturally drew attention. A few tough-looking men, likely adventurers, eyed Shichen for a moment before returning to their meals.
"Welcome! May I help you? If you're looking for job listings or want to register, please head to the counter inside. If you'd like to dine, please have a seat at any open table," a friendly waitress approached, smiling at Shichen.
"Ah, I just arrived in town and want to become an adventurer," he replied.
"I see. Then please head to the counter to sign up—I'll take you."
"All right, thanks."
"Yunyun, is this lady a bit too friendly?" Megumin asked quietly.
"Is she?"
"Look, she's ignoring us and practically pressing herself against Shichen. That pair of lumps on her chest... Tsk, another woman whose mind is filled with indecent thoughts!"
"Huh? Another? Who else?"
"You figure it out!"
"Wait—are you talking about me?! I'm not like that at all!"
"You two..." Shichen looked back, exasperated.
"I can hear your mumbling, you know. That's pretty rude," he told them in a low voice.
"Ugh..." Yunyun's face turned crimson with embarrassment.
Megumin, however, didn't feel an ounce of guilt, glaring at the waitress.
"Pff—"
"What are you doing?" Shichen smacked her on the head in annoyance.
"Wh-what?! You actually hit me for the sake of this stranger? You must really be into her chest, huh? But it's not even as big as Yunyun's, you know?"
"Megumin, what are you saying?!" Yunyun cried, scandalized.
"The truth," Megumin said snippily.
"Ugh... You two—" Shichen sighed, turning to the waitress. "Sorry about that. Don't mind her; she's just a kid. We'll go register now."
"No worries." The waitress kept her professional smile.
"Yunyun, take Megumin to sit over there for a bit," Shichen said.
"Got it. Megumin, let's go sit," Yunyun coaxed, trying to lead Megumin away.
"Hey, Yunyun, you're just going to let this happen?" Megumin hissed.
"Huh?"
"Shichen's about to be stolen away by that big-boobed lady—aren't you worried?"
"That's definitely not happening. He just wants to register as an adventurer, and she's just an employee!"
"Hmph. We'll see about that. Let's go have a look!" Megumin dragged Yunyun behind her.
"A-are you sure that's all right?"
"What's the harm? Besides, Shichen might need our help."
"Huh?"
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 120 Chapters Ahead of Others!