Chapter 1-9 : What They Think About Us (part 2)
I went to the public bathhouse again from the slaughterhouse to wash my clothes and have a quick bath. It was the second time I went there today.
After that, I planned to go to Nansa’s house to ask her to make potions for me. I learned【Compound】skill so I can make potions myself, but it’s still level 1 so I can only make the lowest grade potions. Besides, potions made by Nansa are the best in this town.
I went down the main street to the residential area, but before I arrived at Nansa’s house, I heard a child crying.
I turned my face and saw a little boy crying under a tree all by himself.
「Hwaaaaa!! Hwaaaaaaaa!!」(child)
No one seemed to care about him, so I approached him and crouched down in front of him.
「What’s wrong?」(Alice)
「Hiks! I don’t know how to get home! Hwaaa…! Mama…!」(child)
Ah, a lost child, huh?
I want to go to Nansa’s house, but I can’t just leave him alone.
「So you don’t know where your house is?」(Alice)
「Hiks… I don’t…」(child)
Well, he would have gone home by himself if he remembered.
「How did you get here?」(Alice)
「Hiks… I chased after a cat and I got here before I realized it… Hiks… I don’t know where this is… I’ve never been here before… Hiks…」(child)
「I see… Do you remember what your neighborhood was like?」(Alice)
「Hiks… I remember there is a house with a lot of pigs near my house…」(child)
A lot of pigs? I see. I think he lives near the farmhouse.
「Don’t worry. I think I know where your house is.」(Alice)
「Re, Really!?」(child)
「Yup. Follow me. I’ll take you home.」(Alice)
I held out my hand. The boy grabbed it and smiled at me.
「Un!」(child)
We then walked down the main street in the direction I just came from.
As soon as the farmhouse came into view, the boy pointed his finger at a small house and jumped in joy.
「That’s my house! My house! Thank you, Onee-chan!」(child)
「Your welcome!」(Alice)
The boy let go of my hand and ran toward his house.
Before he got to his house, he turned around and waved at me. I raised my hand and waved back at him.
I’m glad that he gets home. I bet her mother is worrying about her.
Thinking that I had to walk down the main street again, I turned around.
However, just when I was about to head for the main street, I saw an old man looking at his broken cart with a troubled face.
「Oh, no… It’s broken… What should I do…?」(old man)
Just like when I saw the crying boy, I just couldn’t leave the people in need alone, so I approached him.
「Ojii-san, what’s the matter? Anything I can help you with?」(Alice)
「Ah, Ojou-chan, as you can see. The wheel is broken. I have to deliver these goods, but…」(old man)
There were a few wooden boxes that seemed to contain valuables in the cart.
They’re not that big and don’t look that heavy. I think I can carry them.
「Ojii-san, where do you need to deliver them?」(Alice)
「A restaurant near the main street.」(old man)
「I see. It’s not that far. I can carry them for you.」(Alice)
「You will? I would really appreciate it!」(old man)
I nodded at the old man and carried the goods with my both hands.
It’s not that heavy for me probably because I’m a player. However, it would be difficult for an old man NPC like him.
Walking down the main street again, I followed the old man to a restaurant to deliver the goods.
The restaurant was packed with people, but the old man and I entered through the back door.
「Thank you, Ojou-chan. I wouldn’t have made it without you. You saved the day!」(old man)
「You’re welcome, Ojii-san!」(Alice)
I parted with the old man and left the restaurant.
Ahh~ Helping people really feels good.
Just when I said that in my mind, I found another troubled person.
「Ugh… Where it is…?」(woman)
A woman seemed to be looking for something on the ground.
「Are you looking for something?」(Alice)
「Ah, yes. My wedding ring. It’s a precious thing for me and I dropped it. I think it’s somewhere around here…」(woman)
「I see. Let me help you.」(Alice)
「Thank you. You’re a kind girl.」(woman)
ーーーーー
After helping the woman to look for her wedding ring, for some reason, I kept finding troubled people on my way.
I helped them all thinking that I would feel bad if I didn’t do anything for them.
In this game, the NPCs would treat you well if you treat them well too, so I believe I wasn’t doing that for nothing.
The sun had already set the moment I arrived at Nansa’s house.
I hope I’m not bothering her for visiting at this hour.
I knocked on the door and called her.
「Nansa obaa-san, are you there?」(Alice)
「Hm? Ah, it’s you.」(Nansa)
「Hello. Umm… Am I bothering you?」(Alice)
「Not at all. You’re welcome anytime. Come in.」(Nansa)
「Thank you.」(Alice)
We went inside the house and sat in the living room.
「What can I do for you?」(Nansa)
「I collected a lot of herbs this morning. Can you make potions for me?」(Alice)
「Sure. How many do you need?」(Nansa)
「For now, I think I need sixty potions.」(Alice)
「Sixty? That’s a lot.」(Nansa)
「Well, it’s not just for me. I need some for my friends too. We promised to playー I mean, explore the dungeon together.」(Alice)
「…Your friends, huh…?」(Nansa)
Somehow, Nansa’s expression changed. She looked somewhat unhappy for some reason.
「By the way, I went to the bathhouse and heard from the people there that the supply of potions in this town was running out.」(Alice)
「I heard about it too. My pharmacist friend told me there were many Outworlders coming to her clinic asking for potions.」(Nansa)
「Right? That’s why I think my friends don’t have enough potions either.」(Alice)
「I see. But, Alice, I’m sorry. I don’t want to make potions for your friends.」(Nansa)
「…Eh?」(Alice)
「I will make twenty potions for you, but I won’t make any for your friends.」(Nansa)
「But… Why?」(Alice)
「Because I hate Outworlders. You are different. I like you because you helped me. Do you remember the rude young man who pushed me to the ground the other day? He’s an Outworlder. Not just him. I had been treated so badly by Outworlders like I was not important… Until I met you.」(Nansa)
「I see… Umm, I’m sorry, Nansa Obaa-san…」(Alice)
「Why are you apologizing?」(Nansa)
「Uhh…」(Alice)
Somehow, I feel bad for her. She doesn’t deserve to be treated badly by players.
I know not all the players are good people. Many of them don’t even consider the NPCs as human beings.
Well, they’re not human. They’re AI, but still, they’re living in this virtual world, and as outsiders, we, players, have to respect them.
You can gain access to [Early Access] page and read up to ten chapters ahead by supporting me on [Patreon]