"Journey to the East" RUMORS ON THE WAY

It is not like I am lost but I somewhat feel I am in a way now that I a travelling alone to find Shiroe. I acquired a map from Roe II before we parted as a reference for my travels. Thanks to Roe II, I don't feel too much worry over my surroundings because I am now in level 45. Considering how much level I gained, I accumulated 220 statpoints which I used to enhance my three major stats; str, agi, and dex. I have healing skills and attack enhancement buffs that increases my attack's potency and how can I forget my kickass stats. Monsters that appear on major routes are usually level 30 and below are just chicken to me, they got battered. Conversing with people of the land was not hard for me because of my simple attire which made me less suspicious among them.

Today is Monday according to the system's date and it is just another great morning to start a walk. I stood, faced the sunrise and closed my eyes as I feel the warmth on my face and it felt good. It is something I never experienced in the real world and somehow I wonder what is going on at the other side of this world. After I packed and returned my items into my storage, I head straight to the main road. As I am walking, I opened my inventory and checked my items. Now that I have a magic bag, I can neatly arrange my consumable items and other stuffs in it.

Moments later of walking alone in this road, I saw 2 people ahead of me. Judging from their attire, they are adventurers like me. One is with an axe on his back while the other one seems to be a spell caster just by looking at his attire. I decided to approach them and ask some directions. They might know the closest town or city so I can restock for my travel. I purposely walk past them so they might initiate a conversation.

"Hello there", greets the guy with an axe. I look on each of them and they seem to be nice people so I greeted back. "Hello, you must be some adventurers?" I asked.

"Yes but do people of the land like you travel on these roads specially a lady like you?" replied the other. I was dumbfounded with the question but I regained my composure so my cover would not be blown.

"Well, I am trying to get to Akihabara because I need to see someone. Is it unusual to see people of the land travel?" I asked.

"We don't usually see people of the land travel a lot but when they do, they usually hire adventurers for protection" answered the guy with the axe. I give it a thought on what he said and then suddenly an idea popped out from my head.

"Uhm, may I ask something?"

"Go ahead" both replied as they look at me.

"Are you both perhaps free to escort me till I reach Akihabara? I just thought I might encounter some dangers along the way and I might not be able to handle them. Don't worry because you'll be compensated once we establish connection with my contact. And by the way, the person I am looking for is Shiroe of Log Horizon" I ended my request with a smile while thinking, it might not be wise to name someone but it might just work if it is someone who is popular.

Maybe they knew Shiroe, after all the two adventurers looked at each other with surprise. After some seconds, they asked me to wait as they are going to discuss something with each other first.

"Isn't Shiroe the one who p'ked us from our last stealing business?"

"Fool, we were the p'kers that time but we were killed instead", whispered the other. "Would it be better if we don't deal with anything that is related with those people? We might end up in trouble"

"But think about this partner. Shiroe is the owner of the bank and some major buildings in Akihabara. If we let them see that we won't cause trouble to them, they might allow us to enter the bank", said the guy with the axe. "This might be a chance for us. Aren't you tired of losing your items and money because we keep dying during hunts?"

"I think you are right. We might regain our access to the bank and finally we can store our gold in there. Let's just tell him about a favor instead of gold as compensation for accompanying him."

Both are approaching me with smiles on their faces and then the guy with an axe offers a hand shake and says, "We accept the deal and by the way call me Borte and this is my partner Shanks. It is a pleasure meeting you and thank you for this opportunity".

"Call me Spade and I should be the one thanking you because you accepted my offer. Thank you by the way and I look forward for a job well done. Now where should we head first?" I asked Borte with a casual tone.

"Don't worry. We are heading in the right direction". "Past that mountain ahead of us, we will be able to see a town where we can rest and stack some food", says Borte.

"That works just fine. We might as well give ourselves a good rest when we reach the place".

It was good everything went out just fine. I have a good cover with these two adventurers and we encountered no monsters along the way. I just wondered what might be the possible reason they acted that way when I said the name Shiroe earlier. Still, it is better not to pry on other people's business as long as I can reach the designated city safe or at least with less danger.

We reached the town Borte was saying but it wasn't something I was expecting. The previous towns I visited were nothing compared to what I am seeing just now. It was like a little city with all the stalls and shops on the streets. The place is mainly crowded with adventurers who are eating. I look at the two acting bodyguards and I almost burst into laughing if I haven't covered my mouth.

"Hey Borte and Shanks, what's with the long faces? I'll go and check for a place for us to stay. You can go around and enjoy the place as much as you want. I'll contact you both when I managed to find one". I paused for a moment then slowly they look at me crying showing me their palms with two gold coins each. I immediately figured out their situation so I checked-out some coins from my inventory.

"Here, take it. Will 100 gold coins do?" I asked as I see both their eyes glittering with joy.

"It's more than enough. Is it really alright for us to spend all of these?" it was Borte asking with teary eyes.

"Don't worry, I still have budget for the next days. I'll also appreciate if you'll bring me some of the place's delicious food. I'll leave the foods to your choices.

"Yes ma'am! We won't disappoint you ma'am" both answered in chorus and quickly ran towards the food stalls.

It was sure a busy town even at night. People of the land are working hard with their business. Fast food stalls, vegetable stalls, item stalls and others are lined up on the street creating a scenic view of a place having a fiesta. On the other hand, adventurers being the main customers roam all around the place.

I walk past the busy street to find a place to stay and luckily I saw an inn. The rooms cost 4 gold coins each and the bed was nice like in regular hotels in the real world. After paying for 3 rooms, I fixed everything on my bed and mailed Borte and Shanks:

"I found a place for us to stay the night. When you are done, come to the inn near the pub at the west side of the town."

It was past eight when I heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and it was the innkeeper.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but there were two adventurers looking for you. I let them wait in the reception area. Do you happen to be expecting them?" asked the innkeeper.

"Ah yes mister. I hired them as my bodyguards. Thank you for the call. I'll go and fetch them."

I went down stairs ahead and saw the two with a lot of stuffs with them. They sure took their sweet time buying those.

"Borte, Shanks, over here. Our rooms are on this side. Come on"

"Yes boss. We bet you will like these foods we bought for you" replied Shanks

"That's for sure. Just from the smell I can already tell."

We entered the room next to mine and laid the food on the floor. There were plenty of Japanese foods to choose from. I suddenly thought they were similar from our place's street food delicacies. There were burgers and fries also. I wished float was also available but it seems there was none.

"Let's dig in guys. There's enough for everyone. Did you enjoy the place? As I sit down on the floor, both of them followed and grab some food.

"Yes boss. We even went to the pub just beside this inn" Borte replied but Shanks gave him a hitting o the head.

"It is alright. I did tell you to enjoy anyway" I said to show I'm not mad and laughed afterwards. The two looked at each other and it seemed that they were able to act casual too in my presence. They began to talk about how they argued choosing the food until they got to the pub.

"We actually planned to have some drinks before coming here but we were caught up in the rumors from the pub" Borte continued. "They were actually talking about someone whom they identified as "Berserk healer".

"Berserk healer?" I suddenly ask as I remember about the last city where I last hear it. "Go on. What else do they know about this person?"

"They said she has a unique way of fighting and she is strong. She has a staff but uses it like a sword and heals its party members at incredible speed. According to the adventurers who fought alongside with the berserk healer, she served as the party healer but when she fought the monster she moved with agility like that of an assassin." This time it was Shanks explaining.

"They said she looks normal at first that they even thought he was one of the people of the land and that he travels with a lady summoner", added Borte.

"Hmm. So is she really that special?" I asked in a non-interested way to hide my real interest.

"Yes boss. For the record, there is no mage that fights that way and she is already being branded as legend from the town he saved and even in this town. Some also said that the berserk healer and the lady summoner came to the city riding a wyvern", Borte responded.

"Wouldn't that wyvern be a summoned beast from the lady summoner? And if not, what is so special in riding a wyvern anyway?" I asked secondly as I can see they are really into it.

"No boss, they said that the wyverns flew away when they dismounted from it and no one has ever tamed a wyvern before except a griffon which was seen ridden by the famous Debauchery tea party members. They were team who became legends because they were able to do difficult quests and one of them is Shiroe "the villain in glasses" of Log horizon at present", says Borte.

"I see. Any information you've got to where this person be?" I asked.

"They are actually looking for her. I mean those who came to the pub and spread those rumors. They said they wanted to see her again and challenge her to a battle to see for themselves how strong this Berserk healer really is" Shanks replied as he eats his last helping.

"Well, that's really some rumors. Anyway, I'm full and it is already late. We should have a good rest and better be ready for tomorrow's long travel. I'm going to use the room on the right and it's up to you two who is going to sleep on the other room on the left of this room. Good night" I said as I close the door. I never expected that that little scene from the previous city would create something like a legend. This time I really need to hide my identity well or else I will face those people who want to challenge me in a fight. Lucky if that is all I'll get. What if I'll even get something more badly than that? Well, that was enough to fill a day so "good night".