Dual Cultivation

TL Note: Sorry late chapter, bunch of things happened – pc dying, internet going on and off (no the net wasn’t always like this), and I got a bit too into goblin kingdom… haha, ended up until the end of the raws – so yeah, late chapter.

Volume 3 Chapter 9

The next day.

Waking up early in the morning, I quickly readied myself, and left the room. Just as I got out of the room, Miyabi-san was there.

“Ryouma-han, g’morning!” [Miyabi]

“Good morning, Miyabi-san.” [Ryouma]

“I thought I’d wake ya up, but ‘t looks like your awake ‘lready. You’re quite the early bird, huh?” [Miyabi]

“Really?” [Ryouma]

“We wake up pretty early since we’re merchants, so for Ryouma-han ta wake up the same time as us is plenty early, ya know? But of course, the servants preparing the meal wake up even earlier.” [Miyabi]

I see.

“Ah, no good. Ryouma-han, Food’s already ready so feel free ta stuff yourself.” [Miyabi]

“Thank you very much.” [Ryouma]

And so, just like yesterday, I was brought to the dining room, and we had our meal. Speaking of which, everyone eats quite fast… Well, I do eat around the same pace myself too though.

After the meal Pioro-san and Kurana-san went to their jobs.

“Aight, then I’ll leave it to you, Miyabi.” [Pioro]

“Do a good job.” [Kurana]

“Leave it ta me!” [Miyabi]

“Huh? What are they talking about?” Is what I was thinking when Miyabi-san came over and talked to me.

“Ryouma-han, do ya have any plans for today? Have ya gotten used ta the town already? Lemme show ya around.” [Miyabi]

“I’d be grateful, but what about your work?” [Ryouma]

“No prob, no prob, Ya know, I might be the president’s daughter, but I’m still only 12. It’s pretty normal not ta do anything. Me watching over the store ‘s just practice for the future.” [Miyabi]

Now that she mentions it that does make sense.

“Rather than myself, I’d say you’re plenty strange, being only 11, yet already having a store, but… that’s definitely an exception, right?” [Miyabi]

Well yeah… In any case since she’s going to show me around, I could leave my adventurer work for later, and go make those furniture first.

“Then, today, I want to create some furniture for my store, so could you bring me to a store I could buy some lumber from?” [Ryouma]

“No prob, no prob, I’ll bring Ryouma-han ta a good store.” [Miyabi]

Said Miyabi-san as she puffed her chest. As the two left the store, Drei, who has been tasked with a message to Gimuru since yesterday, arrived.

“Ah.” [Ryouma]

“What’s… kya!?” [Miyabi]

Drei perched over my shoulder. But because he went in between me and Miyabi-san, Miyabi-san was taken by surprise, and she jumped back. Oh! Her tail’s moving vigorously! … In my past life, I heard that foxes normally don’t show their emotion through their tails much, but I guess beastmen fox tribes are different. But then again, she hasn’t moved her tail much till now, so maybe it’s just because she’s surprised. A reflex in other words… well in any case, I better apologize for having frightened her.

“Sorry, I ended up frightening you, this one here is my slave monster.” [Ryouma]

“Slave monster? Oh, right… It’s quite unique though. I’ve never seen such a pretty magical beast before.” [Miyabi]

“It’s called Rimel Bird. It flies really fast, so I had it bring a letter to the Town of Gimuru.” [Ryouma]

I then took the letter from the cylinder attached to its leg, and read it. It’s the reply from the others.

Looks like Drei managed to arrive last night and was able to get a reply. According to this, everyone plans to make a trip here, and they’ll be leaving today, so their arrival will be three days from now. Well, the expected time of arrival anyway.

I informed Miyabi about the contents of the letter, and then we started walking again. Miyabi-san brought me to a lumber manufacturer from which I bought some lumber. I then stored it into my ‘Dimension Home’, and then went back to the store.

I selected a store house in the work area, after which I had the acid slimes make some components, while the sticky slimes along with me put together the components with nail and sticky liquid. Like this we were able to slowly make furniture of all sorts, like chairs, tables, and shelves.

Miyabi-san watched us work quietly, but it doesn’t look like she’s just watching. And after a while, Miyabi-san asked me a question.

“Ryouma-han, what are these?” [Miyabi]

“They’re slimes?” [Ryouma]

“No, no, no, no, no way, absolutely no way! I’ve never seen slimes likes these! Why are slimes able to use tools!?” [Miyabi]

“It’s because I taught them. And not only tools, but also weapons likes spears and staffs. In fact the slimes can also use Taijutsu, you know?” [Ryouma]

“Really!?” [Miyabi]

“Yes.” [Ryouma]

As I said that, I shaved off the wood waste of a wooden rod with ‘Polish Wheel’, handed it over to a sticky slime, and made it show off some of its staff techniques.

“… It’s seriously doing it.” [Miyabi]

“Right?” [Ryouma]

“Were slimes always this skillful?” [Miyabi]

“At the start they were normal slimes, but after training a lot, they became like this.” [Ryouma]

“So that’s how it is, didn’t know that was possible at all.” [Miyabi]

“A lot of people don’t. In fact, everyone who sees it is shocked at first.” [Ryouma]

“If you announce your finding, it’ll be a huge find, ya know?” [Miyabi]

“You think so? Slimes are thought of lowly, both by researchers and the tamer guild, so they won’t think much of it. And besides, I don’t have any intention of publicizing my research findings yet.” [Ryouma]

As I said that, Miyabi-san muttered under her breath, “What a waste” as she stared at the slimes. The silence continued for a few minutes like that until Miyabi-san suddenly asked me this.

“… Ryouma-han, what will ya be doing next year?” [Miyabi]

“What I’ll be doing?” [Ryouma]

“Ryouma-han, you’re 11 right now, right? You’ll be turning 12 next year, so aren’t ya entering the imperial capital’s academy? Ryouma-han, you’re store’s making plenty from the looks of things, so it’s not like ya can’t pay the tuition fee, right? Won’t ya go to the academy?” [Miyabi]

Academy, huh?

“I don’t really feel like going. I’d rather train myself, and work as an adventurer freely. And from what I hear, the relationship of the people in the school are troublesome, and there’s not a lot of things to study.” [Ryouma]

As I said that, Miyabi-san sighed deeply.

“Haa~, so ya knew, huh?” [Miyabi]

“Oh, did you also know about it?” [Ryouma]

“Naturally, I have ta go this year after all. So it’s a given that I’d at least gather some information about the place. That and dad also told me all sorts about it.” [Miyabi]

“I see… and then? Why did you want me to enter too?” [Ryouma]

“Well tat’s cuz, Ryouma-han’s personality is nice, and if there were someone I knew there, my life would be easier. People there are really stiff, ya know? And more than anything, I specialize at magic. Once I go there, a bunch of annoying nobles will have their eyes on me.” [Miyabi]

“If it’s so bad, why go?” [Ryouma]

“It’s cuz I need ta make contacts as a merchant. That academy makes a point of not discriminating between nobles and commoners, so it’s easier ta get close ta the nobles there compared ta other places. Well, even then, it’s not like there’s really no discrimination… but at least we can talk casually. Speaking of which, Ryouma-han, you also specialize at magic, right? How reassuring.” [Miyabi]

For her to be this determined at this age… merchants are scary. But it seems the number of students who enroll with this sort of objective isn’t few. Well that aside, is Miyabi-san so good at magic for others to envy her?

“So magic is your specialty?” [Ryouma]

“That’s right, but not as good as Ryouma-han. I am at the level where I can use a mid-level magic, but for students this is plenty good.” [Miyabi]

Apparently, according to Miyabi-san, there are plenty amongst the students who can’t even use low-level magic after enrolling, and have to learn the foundations there in the school. So with that crowd in mind, someone who could use a mid-level magic is more than good enough to shock them, right?

Speaking of which, beastmen fox tribe people seem to have a lot of magic power despite being beastmen. If I’m correct I heard this from someone at the guild… anyway, I wonder if it’s because of this that Miyabi-san is good at magic.

In this world there are little to no persecution or discrimination towards other races, so there are no problems even if someone is a half. So she shouldn’t have anything to worry about regarding that. In fact if you use race as an excuse to discriminate against someone, you’ll instead get frowned upon. Apparently there was plenty of discrimination in the past, but the otherworlders that came before me worked hard to get rid of it. Well there are still some jealousy and envy when it comes to the strengths of the other races though.

“I see.” [Ryouma]

“Well, if ya can’t go, then it can’t be helped. It’s not good if I force ya to go too, and besides, it’s not like I really expected anything. I just intended to introduce ya ta some good nobles if ya were going, so that ya don’t find yourself caught up with some annoying nobles.” [Miyabi]

Ahh, so she was thinking of helping me out. Miyabi-san’s not a bad kid at all. It seems like it’ll be difficult from now on, but do your best, I’ll support you.

After that, I continued to make furniture. I got help from Miyabi-san with the easier parts, and like this we was able to finish making the furniture and the tools.

After finishing making the furniture, I told Miyabi-san that I’m going to the adventurer’s guild, so she should go back to the store. But then she told me this.

“Ryouma-han, there aren’t really a lot of jobs in the adventurer guild of this town, ya know? It’s mostly just chores in the town, gathering herbal plants in the fields, or hunting small animals.” [Miyabi]

“Eh, really? But I heard that there was a strong magical beast that appeared near here.” [Ryouma]

Could it have already been hunted?

“Ah~, so ya heard about that? It’s because of that, that only E Rank up are able ta go north.” [Miyabi]

“Is it that strong?” [Ryouma]

“Nah, actually a D Rank party is more than enough. But there really ain’t a lot of adventurers in this town that’s above E Rank.” [Miyabi]

Apparently, because this town has the dragon guild, wyverns and other large-type magical beasts appear frequently, causing many of the magical beasts in the area to flee. With an unprofitable town like this, it’s only a given that the adventurers wouldn’t stay here.

And the guards just stay at the garrison and watch over the gate, so it’s quite problematic during times like these… Well whatever, in any case, it’s because of that, that only E Rank adventurers up can go north. Whew, it’s good that it’s not requiring D Rank up.

“So as long as you’re E Rank, you can go right?” [Ryouma]

“That’s right, you’ll be able ta at least grab some herbs there in the northern woods… oh right, Ryouma-han, you’re E Rank, right? I won’t tell ya not ta go, but be careful. If ya see that magical beast, ya better run immediately, alright?” [Miyabi]

After that, I gave my thanks to Miyabi-san, and headed towards the guild. Naturally, it’s quite difficult for a girl who’s not an adventurer to go the adventurer’s guild, so she didn’t bring me there this time.

When I got to the guild, I headed towards the reception desk, and gathered some information. I got my information from a male employee. He looked to be the type who does his job without much care. When I showed him my E Rank guild card, he, without checking my age or appearance, quickly went and brought back only the jobs for E Rank up. I also ended up getting information on the magical beast. Apparently, it’s a strong magical beasts that’s known as Smash Boar.

If I recall correctly, a smash boar is a short horned pig. Its body is big, and it’s plenty tough, its skin is also thick, so you can’t deal a fatal damage to it if your strength is superficial.

If you’re wondering why I know this before even being told about it, well it’s because it was written there in the letter I got from Gayn and the others when I first came to this world. Along with the information of my lineage in this world and my grandparents, was to fight a smash boar once if I have the chance before going to my grandparent’s village.

And apparently, the smash boar in this town is exactly the same as the smash boar I’m thinking about. It wasn’t possible to accept the subjugation request for the smash boar, so I got an herb collection request near the place where the smash boar appears instead. Then afterwards, I went back to Pioro-san’s store. Along the way, I recalled the contents of the letter…

The name of the village your grandparents lived in is Cormi Village. That village lies within the thick forest known as The Great Forest of Shurus.

The Great Forest of Shurus is a treasure house of medicinal plants. And you can find precious stones with good quality inside the caves of the great forest.

It was in order to acquire those things that many villages were built around and inside that thick forest, serving as a stopping point. The Cormi Village is one of those, and it was because of that, that your grandparents lived there.

But The Great Forest of Shurus is also a nest of monsters, making it a perilous forest. Even in the shallow parts of the forest, the weaker monsters are all D Rank up. Moreover, the adventurers who went there to collect herbal plants or mine precious stones that were killed, have had their remains turned into undead, and are loitering around the forest as zombies, skeletons, or ghosts.

That’s why, along with the will of your grandparents for you to inherit their belongings as well as for you to continue your grandmother’s research, is a warning that you must train in magic and get used to your body before going to the village.

It’s not impossible for me to go the village right from the start with only the martial arts and Qi Gong that I had with me when I got here into this world. However, if I were to have happened upon a ghost, who is immune to physical attacks, then it’s not guaranteed that I would have been able to come back alive. That’s why I began training myself in the Forest of Gana… During that time, I got caught up in my hobbies, and passed three years… I’ve been thinking of going since I got out of the forest. But before that, I need to prepare.

I went back to Pioro’s store while thinking that. When I got back, I had supper there as well today.

During mealtime I talked to Pioro-san about my plans to go the north tomorrow, at which Pioro-san replied, “Going north? So you’re finally going ta hunt the smash boar then?” Right after Pioro-san said that, Miyabi-san hit him with a tsukkomi, while his wife, Kurana-san, rebuked him with a frightening smile.

The smash boar is nothing but practice for me, but for Pioro-san, it’s an obstacle for his business, and at the same time a good product. Apparently, the smash boar’s meat is not only odorless, but also soft, and delicious.

In case I end up hunting the smash boar, I should take it to this store. It’s true that I didn’t take the subjugation request, but just because I didn’t take it doesn’t mean I can’t fight it. After all, it can’t be helped if while gathering herbal plants I end up fighting with it. No one wants to be killed without fighting back after all, so there’s no need to hold back if I happen upon the smash boar by chance. It’s not like anyone would complain if I accidentally end up meeting the smash boar and end up killing it, right? …Hmm? Was my personality always like this? I wonder if I’ll end up rustling the ruffians around here… I better take care…

After supper ended, I went back to my room, and prepared for tomorrow.