The Hunter’s Town of Dryden
 

 
Dryden is a town of livestock and hunting.
 
Surrounded by several dairy farming villages, Dryden thrives as a small urban hub connecting them. Villagers come here to buy goods from the city that they can’t get back home. For outsiders, the main attractions are leather goods, cheese, and other dairy products. Oh, and horses—though those are damn expensive.
 
“Thanks for the escort. You really helped me out. Next time you’re free, I’ll be sure to hire you again.”
 
“Certainly. If the opportunity arises, please don’t hesitate to make use of our services.”
 
Artemis is … Read the rest

Those Who Flee the Sun
 

Early morning. Even in summer, the air was cool and pleasant.
 
Unlike Japan, the low humidity probably helped. It was quiet here—no loud cicadas screeching. Other insects were plenty noisy, though.
 
As I stood lost in thought at the northern gate’s carriage station, I spotted Artemis’ members approaching.
 
Raina, Ulrika, Sheena, Natasha, Gorilliana… the usual crew.
 
“Yo. Been waitin’?”
 
“Mongrel-senpai, you’re always early.”
 
“Whoa, you’re carrying so much…”
 
“…That’s… quite the excessive luggage.”
 
Sheena muttered while staring at the tip of my fishing rod. At least look at the backpack before saying that.
 
“It’s … Read the rest

Momo, Mongrel, and the Heavy Load
 

“Mongrel, you’re still doing city cleanup?”
 
“Huh? Oh, hey, Momo.”
 
I was picking up trash along the street as usual when a sleepy-eyed girl called my name.
 
It was Momo, the daughter of Sally, leader of the “Young Wands” guild.
 
She’d always tied her jet-black hair—inherited from her mother—into twin tails, but her way of speaking felt sharper than I remembered.
 
She used to be such a polite kid… Guess even Momo’s hit that phase—puberty.
 
“City cleanup’s important, y’know? Keeping things tidy like this helps people develop a habit of cleanliness. Did you … Read the rest

“Choose Your Own Throwing Weapon”
 

 
There were still a few days left before the fishing trip.
 
During this time, I busied myself modifying my fishing gear, buying thick Sky Forest Spider silk at the market, and steadily preparing. It felt like packing for a trip—something I actually quite enjoy.
 
Now, all that was left was to fatten up my worryingly thin wallet by earning some spending money.
 
With that in mind, I casually dropped by the guild to see if there were any quick jobs available. The moment I stepped in, a group huddled around a table all turned … Read the rest

Returning Home and the Next Expedition Plan
 

 
When I got back to Legol, the gatekeeper greeted me with a lazy “Hey” as he stretched and yawned toward the sky.
 
“Huh? Mongrel, you’ve been out for seven days?”
 
“Yeah. Been deep in the woods, hunting and eating whatever I could. As you can see, most of what I got is just pelts. Ate everything edible already.”
 
“Oh, thought that bulge was meat. So it’s all just fur, huh?”
 
“Sorry it ain’t food. Though I did make some Halpe ferret jerky—want some?”
 
“That stuff’s nasty. No thanks, just move along!”
 
“Aye … Read the rest

The Ghost of Struve

Summer has arrived.
 
People walking through the streets have properly switched to light clothing, walking around the streets without any shame.
 
So the high exposure rate of humans in fantasy worlds was reasonable after all…? Well, I guess it’s just their culture.
 
It’s one thing for men, but even women show no particular sense of shame about it. Bare legs, exposed navels, bare shoulders – they do it all without a care. It’s a feast for the eyes, if you will.
 
However, when you can see body hair, it kind of ruins the appeal. I wish … Read the rest

The Third Aged Moldy Smoked Cheese Lewd Tale Battle

Today we were blessed with high temperatures that felt like summer had come early.
 
Actually, saying “blessed” might be misleading. When summer suddenly arrives while you’re still wearing long sleeves, few people are happy about it. Looking at the streets, many people seemed fed up with the unseasonably hot weather.
 
What I hate most about it is how food goes bad.
 
Meat and fish spoil easily. So does bread. Things that usually last a bit longer become just slightly more prone to spoiling. It might seem like a … Read the rest

Warren’s Ideal Guildman

Warren’s Perspective

 
My name is Warren. I’m 16 years old.
 
I was born as the fourth son of a nectar farmer—just an ordinary guy.
 
I tried arguing with my old man and my older brothers about various things, but in the end, I couldn’t inherit the farmland, and last year I was forced to start working as a guildman. I think I should have been more serious about helping with the farm work, but it’s too late now. I’ve been forced to work as a guildman with an unstable livelihood. Well, I know it’s my own fault…… Read the rest

Magic Aptitude
 

The temperature rises day by day, and now just moving around during the day makes me sweat. The weather is starting to hint at the arrival of summer.
 
In winter, you can just bundle up, and if things get really bad, there’s always heating. But when it comes to beating the summer heat, there’s really no alternative to air conditioning. That’s the modern way of thinking.
 
I imagine the same applies in this world, but fortunately, Legol, where I live, doesn’t get unbearably hot. The only people at risk of heatstroke are those working near blazing furnaces.… Read the rest

Escort Duty for Logging Preparations
 

 
“Hey Mongrel, wanna help out with a logging escort mission?”
 
The moment I visited the guild that day, Barlgar, who was standing at the reception desk, tossed the offer my way.
 
“Yeah, sure.”
 
I agreed without hesitation. I’d been itching to take on some random job anyway, so this worked out perfectly.
 
“…Mongrel-san, could you at least confirm the mission details before accepting? It’s part of the rules, you know.”
 
“Elena, you’re way too serious.”
 
“With that attitude, you’ll never find a husband! Hahaha!”
 
“Ugh, you two are so annoying!”
 
“Nah, I wasn’t even … Read the rest