IWHERSFL 38

~Chapter 38~

The role of scissors is to cut something.

But strangely, the name of this item was “Distortion.” I didn’t know why.

Still, I had to buy this item, and I had to use it to change Muriel’s fate.

‘There’s no price written.’

I turned to Milk and asked,

“How much is this item?”

“Yes! Please wait just a moment!”

Milk took out the etiquette scroll and unfolded it. After a short while, she spoke again.

“The currency given to customers is called ‘Coins’! Then the price of this item is 80,000 coins!”

…How much?

80,000 coins?!

‘Are you insane? Why is it so expensive?!’

I jumped in shock. After asking Milk to wait for a moment, I brought up the status window and complained.

‘Hey, you damn system! How am I supposed to gather 80,000 coins? Muriel will die before I finish collecting them!’

I was furious, so my words got rough. But whatever. It was the system’s fault for not telling me the price beforehand.

Maybe it admitted its mistake, because it quickly popped up a message.

Don’t worry!
You can exchange real money into coins!

‘…Exchange?’

I frowned slightly, and the system immediately posted another message.

Go to the dungeon hub city and try selling crops and potions!

So basically, it was telling me to earn money by doing business.

I punched the air.

‘So I have to grind again…!’

Ding!

Quest Generated! ⟨Let’s Go to the Dungeon Hub City!⟩
You need money!
Go to a hub city where many people gather and secure the funds you need!

Earn 3,800 Rubels (0/1)
Exchange 3,800 Rubels into 83,600 Coins (0/1)

Reward: 1,000 Coins, 100 Fame
Failure Penalty: None
※ Caution: Many different people gather in dungeon hub cities. Be careful not to encounter dangerous individuals!

As expected, the system threw a new quest at me. I knew it….

‘So 3,800 Rubels equals 83,600 coins. I don’t know how they calculate it, but…’

I let out a deep sigh. 3,800 Rubels… It wasn’t an impossible amount. I could probably earn it by selling the potions I’d made so far.

I accepted the quest, then turned back to Milk.

“Can I reserve this item? I really need to buy it.”

“It’s possible! Your name is… Muriel, right? I’ll reserve it under Muriel’s name!”

Milk opened the etiquette scroll again and scribbled something down. Then she announced in a kind voice,

“Fate Distortion has been reserved under Muriel’s name!
The reservation period is one month!
If you don’t purchase it within that time, the reservation will be canceled!”

So… I had one month to earn 3,800 Rubels.

If business went well, it would be easy. If not…

‘…I’ll need to raise my alchemy skill.’

There was no choice but to go to the Veratis Guild and squeeze out a contract fee, under the condition of becoming a guild-affiliated alchemist.

“Oh! Come to think of it, there’s something I should give you!”

Milk perked up her ears and pop, summoned something into the air.

It was a pure white card. She handed it to me and explained,

“This is our shop’s membership card! If you have it, you can freely enter whenever you want!”

“Oh… thanks.”

I quickly took the card. It was about the size of a credit card, with a golden key emblem engraved in the center.

As I lightly traced its surface with my fingertips, Milk spoke again.

“Do you have any other requests? Feel free to ask!”

“Hmm, no. I should get going now. Which way is the exit?”

“Please follow me!”

As I followed Milk, we soon arrived back at the place from the beginning.

When I held the card up to the keyhole of the white archway, the door shone brightly and opened.

“Please come again, customer!”

Milk waved her front paw at me. Her black paw pads looked incredibly soft.

‘So cute… she probably smells nice too…’

I regretted not being able to pet the white puppy more, but shook off the temptation and stepped through the door.

The white-washed view gradually returned to normal.

Blinking several times, I saw the familiar wooden floor of the room.

‘Am I back?’

The moment I lifted my head with a smile, someone pulled me into a tight embrace.

A fresh, clean scent rushed over me. I was startled at first, but relaxed when I recognized it.

“Lisian.”

“Muriel….”

Lisian held me tightly and took a deep breath. I hesitated for a moment, then gently patted his back.

“Sorry. Were you worried? I tried to come back quickly, but…”

“Huuuuh~! Master~!!”

At that moment, a spirit suddenly clung to my shoulder. She cried so sadly it felt like she might flood the entire house with tears.

“Nini, stop crying. The floor’s getting wet.”

“Hwaaah~! Master, you’re such a T-type!”

After I taught her about MBTI, Ninabel was using it well.

I tried to pat the water-droplet rice cake, but Lisian was holding me too tightly to lift my arm.

These two, really… I was gone for just a bit, and they made such a fuss.

‘Anyone would think I disappeared and came back from the dead.’

I knocked lightly on Lisian’s back and said,

“Can you let go now? It’s getting hard to breathe.”

“……”

“Lisian? Hello?”

“……Haah.”

He let out a long, heavy breath, then finally released me.

Only then could I properly see his face. …His eyes were red, as if he had been crying.

I blinked blankly and asked,

“…Did you cry?”

“I didn’t cry. I almost did, though.”

“No, but still….”

“Muriel, it’s been three days.”

“…What?”

I widened my eyes in shock.

Three days? What did he mean?

“That’s impossible. It only felt like about thirty minutes to me.”

“It’s true, Master! You didn’t come back for three whole days! Nini was so worried I thought I’d dry up and die~! Waaah~!!”

…It was hard to believe, but it seemed to be true. They weren’t the type to lie about something like this.

“Three days….”

Muttering weakly, I walked over and collapsed onto the sofa.

‘Why didn’t that damn system warn me earlier?’

I glared at the air in disbelief, but no excuse came back.

Closing my eyes, I let out a long sigh.

‘Was time flowing differently in that space compared to reality?’

If I had to guess… ten minutes there equaled one day here.

‘There are cases like that during dungeon runs.’

For example, adventurers explore a dungeon for one day, only to find ten years have passed outside.

‘I never thought I’d experience something like that myself.’

Three days was unexpected, but thankfully it wasn’t three months or three years. That would have been a real disaster.

I spoke seriously to Lisian and Ninabel.

“I didn’t realize that much time would pass. I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Lisian stared straight at me with eyes that looked slightly unhinged and said,

“Next time, we go together. …No matter what, I’ll follow you.”

“Th-that… if possible.”

When I avoided his gaze, Lisian stepped closer, knelt on one knee, and looked up at me.

“I was going crazy. I kept thinking something might have happened to you.”

“Please don’t… if you go any crazier, that’d be bad….”

“I agree. So next time, let’s definitely go together.”

If I refused here, he looked ready to pester me until I agreed. That sounded exhausting.

I didn’t even know if joint entry was possible, but for now, I nodded.

“Alright… I’ll try to go together.”

Then I rubbed my eyes and yawned widely, pretending to be tired. I wasn’t completely exhausted, but I did want to rest.

Luckily, Lisian didn’t press the issue further. Even the water-droplet rice cake surprisingly behaved herself.

While calmly sipping the tea Lisian made, I explained my next plan to them.

“I’m going to the dungeon hub city to do business.”

“Did the god give you a mission?”

“Uh… something like that. I need to earn 3,800 Rubels within a month.”

“That’s not an impossible amount.”

“Right?”

That evening, we spent the whole time discussing what items to sell and at what price.

Friday night passed like that.

There were 75 days left until D-day.