Chapter 19


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    "Do you have extra fingers?"


    "Don''t be cranky, you like it."


    "What makes you say that?"


    "Well, I''m still alive, aren''t I?"


    Mira took a heavy breath: "You mean to stick my nose in here?"


    I folded my fingers in a ring: "And say "auf."


    "What for?"


    "That''s cute."


    "And chewed-off fingers are delicious."


    "You don''t get any money for them."


    Mira looked at me very carefully.


    "You''re not laughing at me, are you, par-rtner?"


    Anime does not lie, catgirls are very sophisticated business partners. But she had nothing to complain about - the System took into account our agreement, and when I withdrew the first profit itself transferred the share of the adventurer. Apparently, the Delivery can get something out of it too, otherwise, they wouldn''t have tried... By the way, with this transfer, I got a ten percent growth in the rating Trade Guild, not bad. But one mistake I will not make again, I will never show footage to a model! This is not right, this is wrong, all have to erase and redo because she has a wrinkle here.


    Today''s session was in the style of "a tired adventurer returned from a camping trip". I considered the one where Mira is sitting half-naked on the bed, cleaning her long, curved blade with a rag, to be the punching shot. "Dangerous pussy," aka "Girl with a weapon"! Although the "Mira soaking in a bucket of hot water" series of shots looked good, too. I''ll post that next week when the audience warms up.


    Yeah, I''m already doing Furry porn.


    My conscience was embarrassed to say that it was not porn, but rather artistic erotica, but I sternly interrupted this squeak. It was clear that it was only a matter of time.


    Well, what should I do now? I think it''s time for a heavy sigh of regret! I already know what the diners are eating here, now it''s time for some middle-class food. Inviting Mira to join me, I went down to the hall.


    The interior of the inn was different from what I had seen before, for the better. There were no tablecloths on the tables, but first of all the tables themselves were square, for four visitors, and there were real chairs with backs on each side. Secondly, everything was very clean, smelled like food and grass, and the audience was on the verge of being "almost decent people". Mira, after snatching me up as soon as I was in town, dragged me here. If I understood correctly, she was bankrupt, so she wanted to sell more pictures and get some easy money.


    The waiter quickly placed a plate of meat in front of me, a basket of bread, jugs, goblets - everyone had their utensils, not just the same pot. I think if you go to a restaurant for the local nobility, you''ll find better tablecloths and dishware.


    A stocky stranger suddenly dropped into a vacant seat, with a long-eared elf grinning his forty-eight small teeth behind him. After looking at the table, he rubbed his hands together defiantly, and then suggested, insistently but peacefully enough: "Would a young merchant like a treat for a seasoned adventurer? We''d love to share stories about places to pick up good stuff to sell!"


    He reached for the jug, but I bent down and put my hand on top of it: "I''m sorry, but I''m waiting for a girl."


    The big guy smirked: "It''s even better..."


    Then he flew out from behind the table with his back to the front and dashed toward the door. Mira picked up the fallen chair and nodded at the stranger who had just thrown the freeloader out: "According to the contract, ten percent is mine."


    I didn''t know what kind of horned beastfolk the new girl belonged to. The Taurans are from "taurus," a bull, and their horns are straight. This one has something twisted on her head, like Leia the sheep hairstyle. I don''t want to call the girl a sheep, considering she''s a head taller than me and a half as heavy as me. But all in all... nice. Although the hooves (I bent down and looked) are natural, with horseshoes.


    The future horny internet star looked up and remarked approvingly: "You''re so big... In our cold mountains, you''d last a long time. At least for two pots."


    "Very funny. But beautiful girls shouldn''t eat a lot of fat."


    The elf who picked up his flying buddy furtively pointed a finger at the girls and made a questioning face. I nodded in agreement, and he wagged the same finger at his temple. I don''t deny it.


    We ate in a race. The girls, as they should, diligently devoured the burdock that paid for the banquet, and I did not lag. However, I left the last two slices for them... mainly because Mira had pulled a knife from her belt for some reason. The hard life of an adventurer, bestial laws, I understand and let her eat.


    "Now that we''ve eaten, now we can talk business. Beautiful girls, can you tell me where we can put a hundred slightly trained militia? Trained, but no combat experience?"


    The question did not seem strange to the girls. They both thought about it, and Mira was the first to respond:


    "I heard that three arches away, they''re gathering fighters and villagers to explore the old wastelands. New magical lodes have been discovered in places where no one has lived for five hundred years."


    "Half of the squad is women and teenagers."


    She shrugged: "If only there were someone, and you can always add someone to the project. If there are experts, that''s even better."


    "What is needed for this?"


    "What is my interest in this?"


    I thought, I assumed: "I don''t have any money, I''ll spend it all on them. Meet them, take them there, and make sure they don''t get hurt. Offer yourself."


    "So it''s up to the employer to charge... None at all?"


    With a sigh, I offered: "I can raise your percentage from pictures to forty."


    "And thirty for the ones I bring!"


    "Twenty."


    "Deal. Hey, wine over here! We''ve got a contract to celebrate."


    I looked sadly at the waiter hurrying with the bottles and agreed that the deal needed to be wrapped up. Of course, it''s silly to bet on one agent, I should ask more people. By the way: "What does "three arches" mean?"


    "Transition Portal in the Big City."


    So it may well be on the other side of town and on another planet.


    "When we get laid.?"


    Coughing, I looked at the horny girl: "We haven''t been introduced..."


    "Larna."


    Her voice was harsh, her eyes were set deep, and her hands were four-fingered. And a lot of fur. She wasn''t kidding about the cold mountains. I looked at Mira, then at Larna: "Girls, we definitely need a session together."


    "Are you sure..?"


    Kitty stretched out in a rather inebriated voice, though when would she have had time, with one drink?


    "I will. We''ll shoot Larna first to try it out, but if it works for the audience, you''ll both work next time."


    "You so blunt..."


    "I''m always like that when I''m talking about business. Where can I buy a book with recipes for potions that aren''t too complicated?"Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    The girls frowned and looked at each other, Mira blinked, Larna tilted her head slightly, and Mira hummed: "I''ll make inquiries. If there''s anything, Larna will tell me. Are you sleeping here tonight?"


    As if she didn''t know that I had to take a room for the night.


    I nodded, then stood up, said a quick goodbye, and headed for the exit.


    It''s two o''clock already. I rushed straight here from the Creators. Today I would like to be in time for the umruns in the desert, thanks to the personal quest is already available. I''ll explain about the documents on the squad, take the water - now the only source of currency. Funny, on the one hand, I have a lot of money allocated by the Creators for purchases, on the other hand, I just spent the last cash on treats for the girls. It''s not even that there''s no money, it''s that there''s no money all the time, even when there is. So I have points, what can I buy with them in the magical Middle Ages?


    Nothing.


    Looking at the Merchants'' Guild manager, I made an assumption: "Is there an installment plan? Now the goods on credit, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow the money?"


    "There is, but first get up from "clay" at least to "rock'' level, boy."


    "In the evening I will have magic ingredients to sell..."


    "When you have any, come and we''ll buy them."


    "But I have to pay the suppliers."


    "No money, no goods. By the way, you''ve ordered stuff before, so the masters are waiting for prepayment."


    And he looks so funny, the bastard!


    "Is the venerable Artsevash in town right now?"


    "Gone with the caravan, will not return soon."


    Exactly, he knows I have nowhere to go.


    Okay, there''s no point in procrastinating:


    "What loans and under what conditions can the Guild provide?"


    The bastard''s smile got even wider. Clearly, he''s got his percentage!


    It''s a stupid situation, I have plenty of money, and I have to borrow it, under a magical oath! You see, they need achievements to take my word for it. What achievements do I have? Grandfather said that he got a master''s degree when he was my age, my father in the same years served and traveled all over Europe. Yes, it''s hard to compare.


    I wonder what I''m going to lie to my children?


    I adjusted the unusually heavy bag on my back and looked around.


    Follow the trail, trying to step on the yellow stones.


    I''m following.


    Oddly enough, it was less profitable to buy directly from the manufacturer than through intermediaries. Constant contracts, established chains, I do not know what else, but for the same old weapon junk demanded as new, from the anvil, equipment. I had to bargain, though there was almost no time. True, wiser manager after issuing credit promises that over time, when I become a regular customer, everything will be cheaper. But I needed everything now! Well, I shouldn''t think about serious things on the Delivery trail, in case they heard me, so I''ll think about small things.


    I have to get the Healing Potion and five other pleasant surprises. Healing is easy, the order for two vials with a decent saturation is already worked out. "Beauty Potion" - what do you mean by that? Boost for Intelligence - is it like, look for implants from the techno-setting? And where to put them?


    Turn right, take a rest.


    I turned and stopped. It''s really hard to walk. And there''s still a long way to go back.


    I received two thousand coins for everything they wanted, with the condition that after I bought everything I ordered, I would return the leftovers. We wanted more Heal Potions instead of leftovers, but since no one knew how long and under what conditions they should be stored, we decided not to take the risk.


    For my work, I will get a hundred and thirty third level skills. How to transfer these skills to ordinary people is not yet clear, so they gave me two pieces to try. I was in a hurry to get on the road, so as not to find out later that these skills were useless for the ümruns. I asked around - the Guild promises a lot of bonuses for skills, but only adventurers get them. Very profitable goods, but do not exchange for platinum and gems that can then save lives?


    No one knows about the possibility of erasing the skill list either. In theory, it can be done by a cool god or demon, and in both cases, it''s considered a curse. Eh, everywhere you turn, it''s all bummers and tensions. I want to go home, go to the attic, pump up my hundredth character or make a 24-hour stream. Not this.


    From the circle of stones, they were already waving, and not in my direction. I turned the scanner around and found two dots a kilometer away from me, and quickly, in a few jumps, made my way to the menhirs.


    "Hello, folks. How''s it going?"


    This time they were as happy to see me as they had been the last time. But I did not go into the center anyway, stopping near the edge and placing my bag on a convenient boulder:


    "Today with gifts. Professor, where are you?"


    The man in charge was already standing nearby.


    "It''s good to see you, Marius."


    "Me too. Take it."


    From my bag, I first pulled out a bundle of a dozen spears I''d bought an hour ago. Then two battered halberds. Then five leather breastplates. Then two packs of water, a box of chocolates. Nearby someone commented in a low voice: "Magic Bag."


    People agreed.


    The last thing I pulled out was two rolls of "rags for wiping". Junior had found it for me, at a ridiculous price, when I remembered the rags wrapped around their heads. White, lots of it, enough to cover the head and shoulders from the sun.


    "Marius, as you said, we gathered the letters! Here are the addresses, a line each. Will you take it to them? They''re worried."


    I took a few pieces of notebook handed to me by the Professor, written in small, fine handwriting. Not the best material for notes, but who carries around notebooks nowadays, and the kind that you''d consider it as your extension even when you''re dead? It''s a miracle there are at least these left.


    "Tell me, Marius, there''s something wrong with us, isn''t there?"


    I hoped that question would not come up. With a sigh, I agreed: "Yes, there is something wrong with you. You are caught in a strong surge of unreality, and the old world is rejecting you. You can''t go into it, but you can find another one. You''re somewhere in between now."


    "And you?"


    "I have an edge-walking ability. There are structures that take advantage of people like me."


    There was an almost dead silence. People looked at us almost without moving, without speaking. Maybe it was the heat, or maybe it was...


    "And what will happen to us?"


    "That''s what I wanted to talk about. Is everybody here? Is everything quiet?"


    The people unfroze, and they told me all the news. No one''s been killed, just a few small demons gnawing on their legs, but all they have to do is lick the dewy rock and it''ll be healed by noon. No energy left in this heat, everyone''s walking around like a zombie, only the Prof and two or three other lively fellows keep people from getting too relaxed and falling prey to the demons.


    "Did you collect water?"


    This time I was handed as much as fifty milliliters. After checking the saturation with the scanner, I put the goods in the pocket of my bag.


    "So, I can offer you this - I bring you things that will help you learn the skills of bladed weapons."


    "Why not a firearm?"


    "Because I only have access to the magic worlds, and a spear is cheaper than a machine gun."


    Everyone began to babble, exchanging thoughts. Waiting for the noise to die down, I ran a series of experiments. The skills from the phone stubbornly did not want to be transferred to those standing around, not copied onto the phones. The System offered no options, not even for a fee. I looked at the sun, slipping noticeably to the horizon, and summed it up:


    "I''ll deal with this issue, but I''ll just have to work a little bit more. That''s where your water comes in handy, I don''t have much of my own money."


    Everyone nodded, and I continued:


    "I''ll bring the skills, they learn instantly, it only takes a little waving of the weapon for the body to "remember"."


    About this told me the chief creator, his name is Oleg and he constantly improves the "sword and shield", so this is firsthand info.


    "I can''t say for sure yet, but it seems there are places that take inexperienced, but willing to work."


    "And if we don''t want to?"


    "You can stay here, I''m not forcing anyone to. You''ll be able to live practically forever, and the big demons won''t come into the circle, but you''ll be able to fight off the little ones. I saw a girl who lived in a circle just like this, maybe a little smaller, for a few centuries."


    The arguing man fell silent, and the people began to discuss again. It was like a tribal council, a Bedouin tribe-some of the cloth had already been stripped, some had made cloaks, and the men were leaning on the spears I had brought. Finally, there was an imminent question from one of the women:


    "What''s your interest?"


    Indeed: "Nothing, if you look at it that way."


    "That makes you look like an angel from heaven! Somehow I imagined them differently!"


    I sighed: "I actually joined the messengers by accident; at first I thought I was going to a simple delivery company. And now, look at me, I''m wandering in other worlds."


    It sounded very familiar for some reason, but before I could remember, a clever thought occurred to me:


    "By the way, don''t expect an answer. It may well be that I do not come from the same world as you."


    This surprised the people, but there was no time to discuss it: "So get ready for the journey; how exactly I don''t know yet, but I''ll try to get you out. Try to gather more dew, it''s our only asset right now."


    Besides, I have a plan for it. Even two plans.


    "As soon as you collect it, make an order in my name again. Does the phone work? Okay. All right, bye, the road''s calling."


    No one rushed me this time, but I tried to walk faster myself, jumping now and then so I wouldn''t hurt my feet in the twilight. The demons and other scum scattered about, as if they, too, were working from nine to five, and even the wind was drying me rather than frying me. Already out under the green of the magical world, I suddenly got a message:


    Boss, I finished my shift. Should I take another slot?


    I looked at my watch... I''m going to be the good boss today.


    Go home.


    On second thought, I added:


    I''m working all night tonight, have dinner and rest.


    Got it, Boss.


    It''s good to be a dummy, you look at the app and do as you''re told. No metaphysical questions, order taken - order delivered. And then you eat and go to sleep.


    How can you not understand that you are dead? If you''re dead, that''s it - there''s nothing to understand! Hmm, but if there is an external medium, for example, a print on this very, unreality, and a backup copy is run from it... Which can run not even in our world - a justification for isekai. The copy is clear, it just didn''t have time to record the moment of death. But it implies... well, a system for producing copies, for example. Proven, stable, and therefore maintained by someone. There are even points of accumulation of incorrectly loaded copies - menhir circles. And Truck-kun as an employee of the unknown "Incarnation System". It''s probably more complicated than that, though.


    Okay, let''s recap the day. Met with the Skillers, everything is normal there and there is a possibilities. Met with umruns, they do not panic and in general, are ready to do what I say. On the downside - a loan from the Guild, on the plus side - the Water of Life, which I already know how to spend. And so on, little things.


    "Lad, they''re waiting for you up there."


    The innkeeper smirked, but I wasn''t paying attention. Of course, they are. If Larna had brought information about the magic books... where else would they get the money for that?!


    "Hi, sorry I got late."


    Sheepgirl let me into the room and closed the door.


    "So, did you find a bookseller? Just make it quick."


    "Are you in a hurry?"


    I turned around sharply. Larna smiled wryly, and moved the bench to the door, cutting off escape routes. She began unbuttoning her jacket.


    Geez, I''m so tired.


    Sa-ve me...


    Hm.


    Anyway, let''s rock.


    I can handle it myself.


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