Otherworld TRPG Game Master

255 – Otherworld TRPG -1

“Ughhh.”

“Ahhh…”

Selbier and I were walking down a path, groaning. It had been nearly a week of walking, and for two frail wizards, it was utterly exhausting.

My calves were already cramping and painful, and the soles of my feet were numb. It was too hard.

We clearly set out with a carriage from the Red Tower, but if you ask where we sold it, I can only say an unintended accident occurred. To explain in detail, it was long enough to spend a night awake.

But someone’s misfortune can often be summarized in a way that feels almost trivial.

If I were to summarize the events and my feelings, it would be a frenzied human sacrifice festival involving the pieces of Mima. That’s how I would put it.

I went through all sorts of hardships to escape from there. I lost both the horse and the carriage, my purse, my food… and even a wisdom tooth, so what more can I say?

The only consolation was that I managed to recover a couple of pieces as a reward for the adventure.

Anyway, for these reasons, the two frail and delicate wizards were walking until our feet sweated. I miss Yura. If she were here, she could carry me and run for three days and nights.

Selbier asked me in a voice full of exhaustion.

“…How much longer do we have to walk? We can get into the city today, right?”

“I don’t know either. We can only hope we arrive before our legs give out… Oh, oh! Isn’t that a building roof?!”

The light of dawn shone upon us.

That artificial-colored roof, without a doubt. It’s a sign of human presence. As we got closer, it became unmistakable. It’s a city!

“That, that’s not a mirage, right? We can finally wash up…?!”

“Yes! We’ve finally returned to civilization! Let’s go, Selbier!”

We ran towards the city, filled with the hope of finally being liberated from all this discomfort.

And so we reached the city of Elpiris in the southern empire, but…

However, reality is a cruel mistress.

—

—

“If you don’t have money, you won’t even get broth. Ah, if I sold this robe I’m wearing, I could probably cover a night’s stay and maybe a bucket of bathwater.”

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

There was no money.

In a pinch, I sold my robe to gather some funds. With that, I could afford a meal, a room, and a bucket of bathwater.

Yes, unfortunately, just one bucket. For two people.

But… if we both squeezed in tightly, it might just work for two.

After much deliberation, I proposed to Selvier.

“⋯⋯Shall we wash together?”

“Are you crazy⋯⋯! Ugh, ughhh⋯⋯ definitely not!”

The fact that Selvier hesitated even for a moment at the suggestion of a shared bath meant we were in quite a state of disarray.

In the end, I graciously offered Selvier the bathwater like a gentleman, but I wanted to wash too⋯⋯.

—-

The city of Elpiris is adjacent to the Elf Great Forest, known for its stunning natural scenery and high-quality timber. Seeing it in person, the reputation holds true.

Should I call it the Tree Sea?

From a high vantage point, the horizon was filled to the brim with dense trees, almost dizzying. The leaves shimmered in a refreshing green that invigorated the senses.

A forest without bugs, thickets, or a loss of direction is truly beautiful. It would be dreadful to step inside, but watching from the outside was delightful.

Fortunately, the path to the Magic Tower goes in another direction. I won’t have to wander through that thick forest.

Anyway.

The city of Elpiris is merely a stopover. Once we finish our brief rest here, we’ll have to walk quite a bit more toward the Magic Tower. That’s… not good. It’s not just the time; it will be painful above all.

I’ve come to realize through body and mind that a walking journey is closer to a painful pilgrimage than a leisurely travel.

We need horses and a carriage. Warm meals and a cozy bed too. To live like a person, we need money. But right now, I’m completely broke. I need to earn some.

In this context, I suggested to Selvier.

“How about we find a way to earn some money, buy what we need, and then continue our journey?”

“Sounds good. I’d rather not walk any more⋯⋯ I didn’t realize how precious a carriage was.”

“I didn’t know either. What kind of jobs could two veteran wizards find in the city? Research contracts? I’m not sure.”

“⋯⋯I’m not sure either. I’ve always relied on the Magic Tower’s funding for money⋯⋯.”

I only knew how to draw from the Magic Tower’s funds.

As members of the elite class even in a medieval fantasy, Selvier and I had no idea how ordinary wizards, who weren’t affiliated with the Magic Tower, made their money.

Money doesn’t just spontaneously generate from the royal family⋯⋯ or isn’t it something you can just whine to Yuna for?

—

After combining all the various testimonies we had heard while huddled together, Selvier and I reached the conclusion that we might as well earn some money as adventurers or mercenaries.

Surely, there must be a demand for violence anywhere in the world.

With the vibrant, youthful sorceress Selvier, who had reached the realm of fables, by my side, any orc or ogre struck by her would surely turn into a perfectly cooked steak.

We confidently stepped into the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Newly registered adventurers cannot take high-level requests.”

“What did you say?”

“The Adventurer’s Guild acts as a notary. If a problem arises from employing someone whose identity and trustworthiness have not been verified, it would be a loss for the guild…”

But would they really say such a thing after seeing our impressive credentials? I pointed at Selvier, who stood beside me, and shouted loudly.

“How dare you! Do you know who this is? She is the direct disciple of the Master of the Red Magic Tower, a student of the academy, a powerful being who has reached the realm of fables, and she is beautiful, cute, and lovely—”

“…Stop it!”

Thud.

Selvier struck my head with a book, cutting off my rambling. But I had already said everything I wanted to say. My intent must have been conveyed.

Are we not of fable-level caliber? Do we really need such procedures?

“No.”

Yet, the guild insisted on the rules, stating that no matter how strong a person might be, verification of trustworthiness was absolutely necessary.

From this, we could discern that the city’s security was good and stable.

If there were an urgent situation, with an undead army advancing from somewhere, would they not just use whoever was available, regardless of trustworthiness?

Let’s think positively. Even with my luck of always encountering incidents whenever I visit a city, a moment of peace and respite has finally arrived.

“Let’s just take on a low-difficulty playdate. It’s not urgent anyway.”

“…Well, I’m fine with that.”

“Because it means more time alone with me?”

“………”

Selvier turned her head away, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. I found her adorable, and as I smiled, the guild receptionist clicked her tongue in annoyance.

I chose the highest-paying low-level request from the board. It was a goblin extermination mission, one I was almost familiar with by now.

“We first met when it was goblins, right?”

“…That’s true, if we limit it to just you.”

Back then, Selvier was quite inexperienced… and I didn’t have much to offer either. But now, things are different. The mad sorceress who used to blind people with illusion magic is no more.

I have been reborn as a blazing sorcerer armed with fire magic!

At that moment, the receptionist interjected sharply.

“That’s a four-person request.”

“Just the two of us would be enough.”

“Rules are rules. Fortunately, there are new adventurers in a similar situation to yours, so I’ll arrange for you to be on the same team and introduce you.”

“…Did you get mad because I was showing off earlier?”

“I’m not mad.”

Seems like you are.

Thus, the forced party matching began.

Selvia and I spent the waiting time doing some trivial quests to earn a little pocket money. Like catching a runaway cat. After about three hours, it seemed everyone had gathered.

When I received the message and arrived at the meeting place, I could clearly feel the receptionist’s anger towards the couple. They were not decent folks.

“…Hmph. Two wizards, huh… Wizards are the most vulnerable creatures at night…”

Leaning against a pillar with arms crossed, a rogue was smirking with a sly grin.

“Hmph, I’m a silver-tier mercenary. I’m not like you rookies! Just because I came to a distant city and my credit rating hasn’t been updated, everyone in the capital knows me as the great Jowgil!”

A bearded warrior was boasting about his experience right from the start.

Their first impressions were not just off-putting.

“When hunting goblin villages, you absolutely need ropes. Thick ropes, to be precise. Because goblins are afraid of this type of rope!”

“…That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Are you disrespecting a silver-tier mercenary?! I’m right! If you’re in a position to rely on a veteran mercenary, you should obediently do as you’re told!”

Pushing for useless equipment purchases while giving wrong advice.

“Rogue, hey, Rogue? What’s up, you little brat? Did you forget to calculate?”

When trying to buy camping gear together, he suddenly backed out right before the calculation.

“Rogue, I won’t say anything about not paying, but shouldn’t we share the burden? Right now, both me and Selvia, the wizard, are carrying our own backpacks.”

“…Hmph, doesn’t seem like my problem…”

And then he just sneered.

I was deeply moved by this fascinating group of people. And I wanted them to feel this emotion too.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Now that it had come to this, I thought I should adopt the ‘talkative wizard’ concept and make them pay the price they deserved.

Before I could act on that thought, Selvia burst out first.

“Everyone, can we talk for a second? Are you really going to do this?”

“Did you just talk back to a silver-tier mercenary?! I’m sharing all my know-how and giving you advice that will be beneficial—”

“…Hmph, this is getting annoying… You all figure it out…”

“‘Flame Angel’.”

—

The little sun rose with a whoosh.

“…Hmph, I’m sorry…”

“…I will be more careful from now on.”

In an instant, manners were instilled.

—-

Even the most foolish of fools knows that facing the sun will get you burned.

Once I recognized that the girl in front of me, with her sharp features, was actually a walking ball of fire, the attitudes of the warrior and the thief dramatically improved.

“This herb is known to have a very good effect on vitality—”

“No, no. This is an herb that promotes diuretic action. The one next to it is a weed.”

“I was right—*ahem, cough*… I see. I was wrong.”

“…Hmph, clever, aren’t you…”

How peaceful this is.

As they returned from being wild beasts to human beings, I finally noticed their appearances. Until then, my brain had been applying a mosaic filter on its own.

The thief had a tall, slender build and wore a pitch-black hood. And as if to advertise that he was a thief, daggers hung from the inside of his cloak.

The warrior was bald but had a thick beard, dressed in a barbarian-style string top that revealed all his upper body muscles. It was likely that he wore it not out of choice, but because he had no money.

Because the warrior’s axe was quite a luxury item.

“Let’s move on. Thief, please maintain a safe distance, and warrior, your role is to protect the mage. If you rush out swinging that axe, you’ll burn along with the rest of us, so keep that in mind.”

“…Hmph…”

“…Understood.”

With Selbier firmly in control, we continued on.

After walking for about 70%, the sun began to set, so rather than forcing a night battle, we decided to camp for the night and prepare for the next day. We set up a campfire and assembled the camping kit.

Dinner was a roe deer caught with a fire spear as we passed by.

As I stared into the flames, watching the roe deer legs roast to a golden brown, Selbier sat next to me and casually asked,

“…Um, why are you shaking your legs like that?”

“Huh?”

Shaking my legs? Me?

Hearing that, I looked down to check, and indeed, I was shaking my legs. I pressed my knees down gently to calm myself, but they wouldn’t stop flailing like a freshly caught fish.

“What, am I cursed or something? Or did that weird-headed thief secretly poison me…?”

“No, no, Selbier. This symptom is… withdrawal symptoms.”

Selbier looked at my face with a worried expression.

“Withdrawal symptoms? Are you taking drugs, oppa…?”

It’s somewhat like a drug. The fact that it can become poison if misused is similar too.

I know the cause of this body’s tremors. This is the withdrawal symptom from a session. As a result of living too much in the present, my soul is craving TRPG.

Hacking goddesses, manipulating tournaments, catching zealots—I’ve been so busy that I hardly enjoyed any hobbies…!

Like the position of my tongue in my mouth, once I recognized it, the thirst grew even stronger.

A session. I want to have a session. Isn’t there any way to play TRPG? Damn it, if only I had learned illusion magic instead of fire magic… No, that’s not right.

Originally, TRPG isn’t about illusion magic and holograms; it’s about paper, pens, and dice.

And right in front of me… there are three players. All three are newbies, too. Suddenly, those little rogue warriors look cute.

“…Oppa? Your eyes are sparkling a bit too much.”

“Selvia, are you interested in tabletop role-playing? It’s really fun. Come here, warrior and that smelly rogue. If you have nothing else to do, let’s play together.”

“…Hmph, I’m not particularly interested…”

“Play! With that attitude, you’ll never reach the rank of silver mercenary! As an adventurer, you must check your equipment in front of the campfire…”

—-

“No!”

The warrior thrashed on the ground in frustration.

“Why is this crazy die rolling a 1 right now!!”

“Instead of just shouting, let’s come up with a strategy! If you had aimed for the goblin archer from the start, a fumble wouldn’t have mattered!”

“…I’ll go into hiding this turn too…”

“If you’re hiding, then you should ambush! What’s the point of just hiding every turn? Are you planning to wait until the goblin dies of old age?! If you act like that in reality, you’ll get a celestial being stuck in your head—”

It’s fun…!