The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 12

We traveled by carriage, and when it got dark, we camped for the night. The next day, we continued our journey by carriage.

“We’re almost there,” Natalia announces with a smile.

“Finally, civilization… By the way, how much is the reward for the bandit hunting?”

“Let’s see, it’s 20 gold coins. So, 10 gold coins each.”

Gold coins?

“AI-chan, what’s the currency system in this world?”

“The currency in this world consists of copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins. Ten copper coins make one silver coin, and ten silver coins make one gold coin.”

Hmm, I don’t really understand.

“So, what does that mean?”

“Well, for an average person, 10 gold coins would probably be enough to live on for a month.”

Natalia explains further.

“So, you guys have earned a month’s worth of living expenses with this bandit hunting job?”

“Yes, but for us, it’s more like enough for about 10 days. We make a decent profit, so we tend to splurge a bit.”

I see.

“Is being an adventurer profitable?”

“It depends on the person. Yuuma is strong, so I think he’ll be able to earn quickly.”

“If you don’t have anything else you want to do, I recommend becoming an adventurer. Anyone can become one, and there are no troublesome obligations.”

Adventurer, huh.

Well, that might be better than being a mercenary or serving in a lord’s court.

“Does ‘anyone can become one’ include me too?”

“Yes. We have to go report the completion of the request anyway, so I’ll take you with us.”

“Please pretend that we have subdued the thieves. Yuuma is just a lost child that we picked up on the way. ”

A lost child…

Considering that I was 99 years old, it felt a bit like being a wandering old man.

“Alright. But I need to earn some money first. Otherwise, we’ll have to camp outside the town when we arrive.”

“Let’s sleep under the bridge.”

Like vagrants.

“Umm, I still want to give you some money.”

Natalia suggests.

“I don’t need it. That money is yours.”

I won’t accept charity.

“But… to register as an adventurer, you need one gold coin, right?”

Alice mutters reluctantly.

“… Please lend it.”

Now that I think about it, the monk at the temple taught me the importance of relying on others.

“O-Okay… I’ll lend it to you. You can return it whenever you want, so don’t worry about it.”

She doesn’t seem to expect me to pay her back… Natalia is so kind.

As we continue our conversation, a large wall comes into view ahead of us.

“What’s that? A fortress?”

Isn’t it huge?

“No, it’s Celia’s town.”

“A town? There’s a town inside a fortress?”

“Of course? Without an outer wall, monsters would enter the town.”

I see.

So that’s how it is.

Yokai can appear anywhere, even in the middle of a town.

But monsters are living creatures.

That’s why they need an outer wall.

“It must cost a lot of money.”

“I think it does cost a lot, but it’s necessary.”

Well, that makes sense.

The carriage continues forward, passing through the gate and entering the town.

There are many people and buildings in the town, but their clothing and hair colors are different from those in my world. The buildings are also noticeably different, with stone structures standing out among the predominantly wooden houses in my world.

“It’s a different world.”

“Yes, it’s a different world,” AI-chan agrees.

“And it’s a big town too.”

“Yeah. Crow-chan, go take a look at the whole town from above.”

AI-chan instructs the crow perched on her shoulder, and it flies up into the sky.

We look up at Crow-chan as it soars.

“Master, I will create a map of the town, so please give me some paper and a pen.”

“Map? All I have are the talismans.”

No pen either.

“Oh, then please take this.”

Natalia hands AI-chan a blank piece of paper and a pen.

“I will now start working on the map, so I’ll be quiet for a while.”

AI-chan begins drawing the map with the pen.

“Oh, it’s handwritten…”

I had expected it to be automatically drawn or something like that, but she’s just drawing it normally.

“Don’t mind me.”

AI-chan continues drawing with complete focus, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.

“Let’s head to the guild then.”

Natalia says with a smile.

“What about the carriage?”

“It’s borrowed, so we have to return it. Come out.”

We get off the carriage as instructed.

The carriage then starts walking away on its own.

“It escaped.”

“It’s set to automatically return.”

Hmm…

Isn’t that a security risk?

“… The guild is this way. Follow me.”

Alice walks ahead, and we follow her.

“AI-chan, it’s dangerous, so please walk while facing forward.”

AI-chan is drawing the map as she walks, making her movements very precarious.

“It’s fine. I’m linked to Crow-chan’s vision, so this level of multitasking is no problem.”

“Really?”

“Are you an old grandpa who wants to hold his granddaughter’s hand while walking?”

Well, not exactly, but with so many people around, it’s dangerous.

“Actually, you two look like siblings.”

“….Yeah, I guess so.”

Well, considering one is around 20 and the other is in her early teens, it’s understandable.

Probably because of their similar facial features, despite the difference in hair color.

“AI-chan, should we change the setting to siblings?”

“Should I call you ‘onii-chan’?”

I really don’t like that.

Because she has the face of my mother.

“Let’s not.”

“I guess so.”

AI-chan nods while continuing to draw the map.

“By the way, how old are you two?”

I ask the two of them.

“I’m 17.”

“….I’m 16.”

Natalia is much younger than I thought, and Alice is older.

“I see…”

“Huh? How old are you, Yuuma?”

“….I’m curious.”

99 years old.

“This body is apparently 20 years old.”

“Eh!? Older than me!?”

“…. I thought we were the same age.”

There’s no way.

Natalia looks like she could be my age, but Alice definitely looks younger.