Chapter 31 - 30

Then after they left Issei went around the are to look for monsters. And he can find some in no time.

It's just some Hanny Slime so they are basically total scrub.

After killing some slimes Issei got the 100G he needs. Then he heads towards Abel city.

Along the way, he saw a water fountain. The water looks really clear and he can feel some sort of blessing on this water, so he tried to drink some.

Issei - Delicious... And I can feel my fatigue recovering.

Random man - Oh. Is this your first time drinking from a <Recovery Fountain>? When you drink water from these fountains, you get fully healed. It's got something to do with Mother Eve's blessings, apparently. Worth remembering, right? But this water can't be stored in an empty bottle or any container, It will become normal water after a few seconds passed the moment you take them out from their source.

I love this water so much that I become an adventurer just to drink it more often. *Gulp, gulp*... Mmm, tasty! Delectable! More, More!.... Gulpgulpgulp!

Issei - ...

Issei hastily leaves the man alone...

-At Abel's city-

He saw Ramius waiting at the city entrance.

Ramius - Halt! Did you have the gold already?

Issei - Ah. Here you go.

Then Issei tossed her the gold bag.

Ramius - Umu. Let me see.

*Cliiing!*

She proceeded to spill the content of the bag to the ground.

Issei - ...?

Issei is confused about why she does that. Then he finds out the answer soon enough...

Ramius - One... Two... Three... Four... Five...

She started counting it one by one that's why...

Issei - You know you didn't have to take it all out...

Ramius - Shut up! Ah... Drat, now I have to start over... One... Two... Three... Four... Five...

Issei is totally speechless after seeing that. Then he tried something.

Issei - What time is it now again?

Ramius - Around 11, I think. That's what my internal clock says. Twelve... Thirteen... Fourteen...

Issei almost facepalmed because that actually works, '*Sigh* Seriously...? Well, I don't want her to mess it up again. Guess I'll just wait it out'. Then Issei just spends his times looking around him to look at the city and all that.

The housing pretty much looks like in Konosuba, which is world European Middle Age built with stone bricks but there's magical property can be seen here and there, and it's slightly more advanced. Basically, it's quite beautiful for a small city.

Ramius - Forty-five... Forty-six... Forty... Forty... Uhhh...

Issei - Next is Forty-seven...

Ramius - Oh right! Thanks... Forty-seven in particular always gave me trouble. I don't work well with numbers you see.

Issei - ...This seems more severe than that...

Ramius - Forty-eight... Forty-nine... Fifty...

Issei can only sigh once more and wait for her to finish, he got to admit her dedication and seriousness looks cute though. So he spent a while by looking at her counting all that and in case she got stuck at some point once again.

He really does enjoy watching her dedication that unconsciously his face went soft and he had a small smile on his face. He never one to judge people of their incapabilities, everyone has their own weak points and strong points.

He likes seeing a dedicated and hard working person such as Ramius here.

Thankfully there are no girls around to see his current face or they would totally be smitten and fell in love right away.

After a while, she finally finished counting.

Ramius - Yosh! There's indeed 100G here. As a Knight, I can vouch for your strength. You're free to enter the town as you wish. Also... Here, you can have your Golds back.

Issei - Um. Thanks.

Ramius - If you're tired you can stay at the inn over there. Your fatigue should recover in no time after some rest.

Issei - Got it.

Ramius - Also. Issei Hyoudou was it?

Issei - Just Ise is fine. And should I call you Lady Ramius or something?

Ramius - You can drop the title. I don't care for such formalities.

Issei - Um. Same here. Nice to meet you again, Ramius.

Ramius - Nice to meet you too. Issei. But if you're not one of the Outlaws... Where could they be hiding?

Issei - ...

Issei didn't say anything because he knows even though Outlaws are not a threat for him but for normal people they are pretty dangerous. Because Outlaws are the one who has lost everything, so they are not afraid of anything.

They will steal, kidnap, r*pe, kill, etc. Outlaws have the well known <Black Ring> on their finger.

Those with the black ring lose the ability to grow or raise anything.

Even if they grow plants, raise animals, mine some ores, kill monsters, they won't receive anything. The plants won't grow, the animals won't produce any dairy products such as eggs or milk and they die straight away after a few days, the ores they touch will become common rock, the monsters won't drop gold. That's why they will resort to all that killing and stealing because if not they can't survive on their own without the blessing.

Even if they chop up the finger that has the black ring it will just appear once more on the other fingers. And if they cut all their fingers it will appear on their neck next and become a black choker rather than a ring.

So Outlaws band together in groups to assault towns and traveling merchants. So if there are any sighting of Outlaws nearby you can expect there's their hideout somewhere nearby and they are preparing to attack the nearby town.

Ramius - Well. No matter what happens I will protect everyone in this city, even you. So don't worry.

Issei - Thank you for the concern but I don't need any protection. And besides, it will leave a bad taste to have a cute girl such as yourself protecting me.

Ramius - Hweh!?

Issei - Hm? What's wrong?

Ramius - Oh! Uh... C-C-C-Cute? Who are you calling a cute girl!?

Issei - Then are you a boy?

Ramius - OF COURSE NOT!

Issei - Fumu. Then there you go. There's no one else with us here, I'm obviously a man and you're the girl here. What's so weird calling you a cute girl anyway?

Ramius - B-B-But there is no man ever called me a c-c-cute girl before!

Issei - There's one here right now.

Issei calmly looks at her. After all, he does see her as a cute and beautiful girl. So nothing wrong with that.

Ramius - Uh-Ah... Umm... T-thank you...

Issei - Don't mind it. I'm just saying the truths. To me, you are indeed a beautiful and cute girl.

Ramius face went red after hearing that and she's thinking 'C-Couldn't be... No man could find me attractive besides a particular kind of eccentric.) But after hearing his latter words she becomes even more red-faced.

Then she turns around and tries to avert the topic.

Ramius - N-Now. I'm sure you're tired. So come into town and go ahead to take a rest.

Issei - Sure.

Abel town is a small town with a population of a few hundred.

But compared to <Fresh Fish Island> it's quite big.

Issei saw Middle-aged women were chatting and laughing at a restaurant. A couple of old people were paying a board game.

The town was peaceful and carried a gentle aura.

Issei spends some time exploring the town, but along the way, the town girls keep staring at him.

He feels a bit uncomfortable being looked at so he covers his head with his hoodie.

Then he saw a <Level-Up Shop>.

He's still at Level 1 after all this time because there's no Level shop at the <Fresh Fish Island> and the twins told him to visit it if he ever saw one before at the island.

So he went inside the Shop.

Issei was asked to write his name at the front desk before being let into the back room.

Inside the shop, there's a lot of weird things such as voodoo dolls, some lit candles, gypsies stuff like that.

Issei doesn't see anyone at the back room 'So this is a level shop... Hm? Looks like nobody's here though.'

??? - Welcooome!

Issei heard a girl's voice from the table.

Issei - Hmn?

??? - Oh, did I scare you? My voice is coming through the magic receivers in front of you.

Issei looked at the table and saw round rings being supported by stands.

??? - Everyone's supposed to have one specific level up person, but then you'd have to go all the way back to the town with that specific level shop all the time. But by using magic receivers, I can level you up in any town.

Issei - I see.

??? - Anyway, I'm your leveler, Sora. Hm, let's see... Issei Hyoudou? Nice to meet you.

Issei - Um. Nice to meet you too. You can just call me Ise.

Sora - Got it! It Seems like it's your first time at a level shop, so let me go over a few things. And if you somehow feel uncomfortable talking with me without seeing my face then you can open up that file there. After all, you'd be surprised at how many people having trouble talking without seeing my face.

Issei doesn't really mind it though, but since she went over the trouble informing him he might as well see the file.

Issei - This file?

Issei opened the file. It contained tons of portrait photos.

Sora - Page 14 has my face. Hope that helps.

Then Issei proceeded to open page 14 to see her picture.

It shows a beautiful busty girl with a shoulder length pink hair with pink eyes. She wears what appears to be a magician robe with a black and purple color and she also wears a purple habit on her head. She has big boobs. (https://alicesoft.fandom.com/wiki/Mifa if you want her image).

Issei - Hee. Beautiful.

Issei just calmly says that.

Sora - Right?! I get that a lot! That's why everyone asks for me. You're one lucky guy, Ise. Now, I'll explain how this works. Listen closely.

Issei - Sure.

Basically, he defeats/kills enemy whether it be Outlaws or monsters he will get the exp points. Then the God who governs the level up system will measure his exp to Level him up.

Sora - If you form a party, your party members fall under my supervision too. So I get tons of busi-Err, I mean it's more convenient for all of you.

Issei - ...Got it.

Issei knows she just slips up her true objective not that he minds it though. After all, it is indeed a business for her.

Sora - Anyway here let us proceed with the ritual. Oola mayta potten kororin, pattara piro piro, nya nya nya! (AN: Japan at it's best folks