Mercenary Systems: The Eternal Life
Chapter 6 Me, Anti-Social

Map, one of the features provided by Mercenary System. The feature does not contain a map of the entire world, of course. I didn't expect high. Even so, this feature is classified as very useful, especially wherever I go, the places that have been passed by me will be mapped automatically by Map.

Also, Map offers a transaction, where I can get a map of a region by using a certain number of Quest Points, depending on the situation of the location and the area of the region that I want to map.

In addition to using Quest Points, Map can scan physical maps to serve as a staging area. Physical maps, of course, are made manually, making it not uncommon to experience mapping errors although the percentage of errors will not be less than 50% depending on who makes them. If it was not the expert who made the map, then no doubt, the map would be very misleading.

Following the path I had been on last night, I returned to the port city. In the Map, the name of the port city is still a question mark.

It was quite strange when I saw the forest path I had been walking along as I casually headed towards the port city. I turned my head left and right just by popping my head, when I arrived at the mouth of an alley. After making sure it was safe, I got out of the alley.

The sun has not long been out. The air cleanses my lungs every time I breathe.

Last night, my soul was shaken. I had thought that it was better for me to wander through the forest, hoping to arrive at a village other than the port town where the Slave Merchant operated, but in the end I decided to return here.

After all, after I was able to think more clearly, it wasn't that bad to at least attempt to complete a Quest related to the Slave Merchant. Besides, after I had breakfast, I checked the Quest, and as expected. There was a new Quest by not stepping on the previous Quest.

[Quest]

[...]

[Help to move goods on the dock belonging to one of the merchants (2 Quest Points)]

[Keeping the house of the Ilve Family for a week (3 Quest Points)]

[...]

Compared to dangerous Quests, the rewards received were small. But if I use the Quest Points earned, it is equivalent to 20 and 30 Dinner Packs when I complete the Quest.

Not because I was greedy, but if I could earn a lot of Quest Points just by completing one Quest, of course I would prefer to complete a Quest that provides great rewards even if it was dangerous. After I gained the Talent for a Paladin, my confidence in the fight increased significantly.

For now, I don't have any fighting skills yet. After all, I need to train first in order to be able to fight well, it will not be enough just to have Talent.

Some people have opened their wares.

There was no need to move stealthily as long as many people were watching. The slave merchant mercenaries should not have acted so blatantly. Walking in the middle of the road, I saw on the side of the road there was fast food that was deliberately sold in the morning because it was suitable for breakfast.

I was curious about the local food, but there was no money to buy yet.

"In hindsight, helping move things might not be a bad idea. I can definitely get a little money from there," I muttered softly.

Since I've been to the dock as an unofficial slave, Map has mapped it for me. So, I can go there without having to ask the people around. Just by following the Map, I had arrived at the dock a few minutes later.

Some of the people at the pier had quite recognizable faces. It seemed, the slave merchant's mercenaries were doing something there. Did they look for me at the docks too? Of course, I haven't gotten into the dock yet, still observing from a place not so far away. The chase happened at night, the mercenaries should not have recognized my face too much. They chased me only by following some of my skills, such as the clothes I was wearing, which were striking.

On the road I was on, I remember seeing a clothing store. Should I sell it there? Given my unique attire compared to the clothes people wore, it should have a price.

Although it has not been washed for days, my clothes from Earth get a touch of advanced technology and knowledge in the making.

"Fyuh..," I stood in front of the entrance of Anna's Store, the clothing store I was referring to.

I opened the door. Getting into it, clothes hang in some places. There are clothes and pants that hang alone because they may be privileged, some are lined up based on clothing categories such as distinguished because of age, gender, and price range. It should refer to the quality of the clothes sold. The better, the more expensive.

A woman who was tidying up the hanging clothes immediately turned her attention to me because she heard the sound of the door opening.

"G ... Hiya! Welcome to Anna's Store, Mr-. .. ouch!"

The woman fell to her feet, losing balance after too long on her tiptoes to be able to grab a hanger that was out of her hand. It seemed like he was about to take the clothes, but it was difficult to do so.

With my height, I was pretty sure I could reach for the clothes hanger. So, I walked there to get some clothes without having any trouble.

"Here," I handed the clothes over to the Shop Owner's Woman.

The woman looked stunned as she looked at me for a moment, before rushing to pick up the clothes she had taken for her. "Thank you, sir."

My tongue felt faint just to respond. I could only nod stiffly in response. For sure I was so nervous that I didn't know what expression my face was showing, my skin was hard and cold.

Looking towards me, the Shop Owner Woman chuckled lightly with a slight bow of her head.

"Ehem. Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"

I put my left hand in my pants pocket. "Um, that's. I want to change clothes. You see, my clothes are dirty. So. um..."

My eyes stared in all directions in panic, while the Shop Owner Woman looked at me fixedly. It really makes me feel hot. I want to get out of here. But, I can't do it. This woman will definitely find me strange then.

"Do you want to choose for yourself? I can recommend clothes that suit you. By the way, my instincts are pretty good at this, you know."

"Ah, yeah. Actually, I-I..," I gulped. "No money" I said quickly.

"I'm sorry?"

I lowered my head. It feels claustrophobic for some reason. Clenching my left hand tightly, I repeated my words.

"Oh, yeah. Could it be that you want to exchange things? Incidentally, I as the sole owner of this store implement a barter system as well, of course the clothes to be obtained adjust to the value of the goods exchanged. So, what items do you want to exchange?" The Shop Owner woman slightly bent down to be able to see my lowered face.

My heart feels like it's going to explode. It was nice that Anna's Store turned out to use a barter system as well. But, the item to be exchanged is clothes that have not been washed for days.

The Shop Owner's woman may not recognize the quality of the clothes I'm wearing. It would be a shame if he didn't recognize her, and he might just consider my intention to exchange things to be bad, though, like assuming the quality of clothes in this store is very low to the point that someone exchanges it with used clothes smelling thick sweat and a little shabby.

I want to tell the Shop Owner Woman not to take my intentions badly to come to this store. But, that came out of my mouth instead,

"This dress," I slightly pulled the cloth on my chest. "W-what do you think?"

That's how hard it is to interact with others. It was often an exaggerated shadow when I was still in my comfort zone, a shadow that made me reluctant to step forward, like the worst possible thing that would happen.

My previous life really made me sick. But, of course I won't make the same mistake after I make it out of there.

All I want to do is keep moving forward!