Vol. 1 - Ch. 4 - Central Plaza

Ash blinked involuntarily."This is the central plaza." Uru said.

The scene before Ash was not something one would have expected to see inside of a forest.

The best way to describe it would be to say that it was akin to a main street of a prosperous country.

The wooden buildings were neatly lined up along the cobblestone pavement, laid out in a square pattern.

In the center of the plaza, a fountain was splashing water, cooling the entire plaza.

The whole area was colored with people and Milmas all walking around.

While most of the Milmas were dressed similarly to Uru, the human outfits were wildly diverse, ranging from light to heavy.

"It's beyond what I imagined."

"Right?! Everyone who comes here for the first time is as surprised as you are, Sir Ash!"

Ash had thought that Dural Island was filled with a coarse atmosphere fostered by the challengers who had come to ascend the tower.

However, he'd ended up being greeted with such a beautiful sight.

His amazement was understandable.

"Is this also God's doing?"

"He created the environment, however, it was us, the Milmas, that built the buildings."

"That's amazing."

"Ehehe." Uru giggled.

After her face was beginning to turn red from the compliment, Uru suddenly exclaimed, saying, "I almost forgot!", and began rummaging through the pouch on her hip.

"I forgot to give you this."

Uru said, handing over a frog the size of a fist.

Its skin was mixed with green and purple.

It had unusually large eyes and mouth, while its limbs were short.

"That's a very dumb-looking frog," Ash remarked.

"It's called a Gamal. It's a purse that we use on Dural Island."

"This thing is a purse? You've got some strange tastes here."

"Really? Uru thinks it's quite cute!"

Uru handed over the Gamal to Ash, who was looking at her judgingly.

Even looking at it up close, Ash couldn't find it cute at all.

"Do I really have to use this?"

"Well you don't necessarily have to, but the monsters in the towers drop plenty of gems that are used as currency on Dural Island. You'd find it hard to manage without a Gamal's stomach."

"Guess I have no choice then."

Ash said, reluctantly accepting the Gamal.

Contrary to its glossy skin, it wasn't slippery at all.

It was quite smooth and pleasant to the touch.

When Ash flipped the Gamal over, he was met with its big belly.

He then pressed it lightly with his thumb.

"Gwa!"

The Gamal made a weeping-like sound before opening its big mouth.

Ash was left dumbstruck by the sudden development.

"How it works is that you say the amount of money you wish to withdraw while pressing its stomach and it will appear."

"That's quite novel." Ash noted.

Perhaps because he did not specify an amount, the Gamal closed its mouth on its own.

It then squeezed out, falling to the ground, and with a jump it attached itself to Ash's hips.

Before Ash could figure out what had happened, the Gamal had already disappeared.

"When not in use it attaches itself to its master and becomes invisible. Also, when inside the towers, if it happens to spot Duri, it will move on its own to eat them. It's quite useful. There isn't a challenger that doesn't use one." Uru explained.

Everyone using it was a testament to its usefulness.

As time went on Ash thought that he might eventually get used to its appearance.

Even then, he firmly doubted that he would find it cute the way Uru did.

"Say, can I go to the tower now?" Ash asked.

Ever since he had come to Dural Island, he had been curious about it.

In fact, he was itching to go up immediately.

"Sure, however, Uru suggests that you wait until tomorrow. Doing so you'll have time to get used to the central plaza. Furthermore, if you go up and then come back without having found a place to stay you'll be in trouble."

Ash was used to staying in the wild, but that always left him exhausted the next day.

If he wanted to ascend the tower at his best, he wanted to avoid that if possible.

"Well I don't want to hinder myself in any way, so I guess I'll have to follow your advice."

"Good choice!"

"Guess I'll go and try to find an inn then."

There were about 20 stores facing the central plaza

On their opposite sides there were enough buildings that an alleyway formed.

There were approximately 300 challengers.

Furthermore, Uru had also told Ash that it would be better to find a play to stay.

This all meant that there were probably quite a few inns.

"The place known as Blain's Perch is cheap and good for newcomers."

"I'll go with it then."

"You sure were quick to make the call."

"I don't want to waste any energy looking for a place to stay."

Ash had decided he'd go to the tower tomorrow.

As such he wanted to go to bed early today to prepare.

"In that case we'll visit Blain's place later. Let me first show you around the central plaza. Huh?"

Uru, who was about to start running, stopped dead in her tracks.

Her ears twitched as she looked toward the distance.

"U-Uru's sorry. Master Venus is summoning me." Uru apologized.

However, it didn't seem like anyone nearby had spoken to her.

Nonetheless, the Milma weren't known as the Messenger of God for nothing.

They probably had a means of communicating with someone far away.

"Who's Venus?"

"The Chief Milma. You can view them as the supervisor of Dural Island."

Maybe it was because Ash had seen the naive Uru earlier, but when he heard the word Chief, he didn't picture a very impressive figure.

"B-But what should Uru do... Uru still has to guide Sir Ash..."

"You don't need to worry about me. I've got the general stuff. I can manage the rest on my own."

"Hmmm. In that case Uru will take your word for it." Uru replied.

Despite this, she still seemed quite concerned and somewhat downcast.

Nonetheless, after exhaling she looked up with her usual cheerful smile.

After which she raised her hands to her chest and turned both of her palms towards Ash.

"What with the pose?"

"It's a parting ritual that the Milma only show those they've taken a liking to."

"We just met, you know?"

"You went along with Uru's mood swings without even complaining once!"

Ash never believed that simply talking naturally with someone would cause him to be liked so much.

"You must have it hard." Ash said.

"Don't look at me with that pitiful look! Uru has all of the other Milma! Uru's not lonely at all!"

Uru exclaimed, protesting desperately. Seeing that, Ash placed his palms against Uru's.

"Is this okay?" 

"Yes!"

Uru replied with a cheerful smile and squeezed Ash's hands.

(Is this also a part of the gesture?) Ash wondered.

Ash could feel the tips of her fingers as she repeatedly squeezed his hands.

Each time she squeezed he vividly felt the texture of her smooth skin.

"It's more rugged than Uru thought it would be." Uru said.

"It's rugged enough for me to come here. And weren't you in a hurry?"

"That's right!"

It seemed Uru had genuinely forgotten.

She squeezed Ash's hands one last time before letting go.

"Well then, see you soon Sir Ash!"

"See you."

As Ash said, Uru rushed out in a hurry.

But then, after a short while, she turned around and waved her hands in the air while jumping up and down. She was really friendly even though they had just met.

Thanks to her, Ash's tour had been quite enjoyable.

(I should thank her somehow next time.)

Ash thought as he watched Uru's back.

"It's quite rare to see someone getting along so well with the Milma on their first day here. You must be quite good with the ladies, rookie."

A voice suddenly called out to Ash from the side.

"I didn't hear anything about this being an island for picking up women, though."

As Ash answered, he turned his gaze toward the voice. There he saw a smiling man.

At first glance the man appeared young, however, a close inspection of the skin around his neck revealed that he was probably in his 30s. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ ɴ0velFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

He had a neat face and short, silky hair.

He had an air of being an heir of a wealthy household.

"Oh my, what a natural, yet spontaneous encounter this is."

"Is the hand that's been on my ass for some time now also spontaneous?"

"Oh my, it seems I've been found out."

"Anyone will find out if you squeeze their ass!" Ash said, however, it seemed like that man had no intention of removing his hand. "Do you swing that way?" Ash asked.

"To be honest, I'd say I swing more towards bottoms rather than anything else."

"That still doesn't answer my question."

"Well then, I suggest you add my answer to your check-list for the future."

(What an odd person.)

As Ash thought that, the man in front of him put out his hand.

"My name is Leo Grant. What is yours?"

"It's Ash Brave."

Ash said, shaking Leo's hand after a moment of hesitation.

"Why do I feel like I've met you before, Ash?"

"If this had been a normal first meeting then we might have even become best friends, Leo."

"But I already think of you as my best friend."

Leo said, reaching his hand for Ash's bottom once more, but this time Ash managed to skillfully push it away.

Ash then spoke while looking at Leo's reddened hand.

"So then, what's your aim by striking up a conversation with a rookie?"

"I saw your fine bottom and thought I had to reach out."

"Can I go now?" Ash asked.

"Wait, wait. I was only half joking."

It was somewhat graceful of Leo to confess only half of what he did.

The fact that the conversation had come this far was nothing short of appalling.

"I was wondering if we could grab a juice and chat a little," Leo suggested, shifting his attention to a snack store on the corner of the square.

In front of it, several chairs and tables spilled onto the street, where several people were currently engaged in conversations and enjoying their meals.

Since morning, Ash had hardly eaten anything, and he was actually quite thirsty.

Although having Leo with him seemed dangerous, he really wanted to go.

But there was one problem.

Ash pushed the stomach of the Gamal, and showed Leo that nothing would come out of its mouth.

"Unfortunately, I don't have any money."

"It's my treat of course!" Leo assured.