The sun is still up in the sky when I exit the guild, but noticeably closer to setting. The light has gone honey-gold at the edges, and the stones underfoot throw back dull warmth instead of the harsh noon glare. I should have two or three more hours of daylight, so I don't dally around.
This stop had been helpful all around and I am now sporting an uncomfortable thin leather chest piece instead of being bare chested, a belt and a sheated long knife/short sword strapped to it. The leather smells faintly of tar and sweat; it rubs at the base of my neck when I turn.
I am also 5000 valis in debt to the guild for the equipment and the 1000 valis Misha allowed me to borrow when I explained my circumstances. Unofficially. On paper, I also bought a helmet. A gesture of goodwill I will try to repay if possible. My stomach will certainly be grateful when I finally eat something.
The metal of the knife hisses quietly against its sheath when I move. It's a small, comforting sound, telling me that I am at least a little bit harder to kill.
Isekaid for 5 hours and already being in debt is unfortunate but thankfully, the Guild aren't loan sharks. There is no interest, but if I don't pay them back in two months I will be blacklisted until I do.
I stop by a food stand and buy some meat skewers, bread and onions. The meat sizzles on the cart as the vendor hands it over; steam curls up, carrying the sharp tang of spiced onion and char.
All of this costs me 300 valis, which leads me to believe that 10 valis is somewhat equivalent to a dollar or euro back on earth. It totals to a 500 dollar debt.
Paying it back isn't a priority, but food and finding someone to teach me to use my knife is. Housing will be taken care of after today one way or another, so it doesn't get on the list of expenses.
I finish eating quickly and continue toward my destination.
I have seen a full map of Orario displayed on the Guild's wall and despite the fact that my Minimap didn't fill out, requiring me to see everything myself, I have a much better idea where I have to go.
Moving northwest to babel and closer to the outer walls, the buildings become less imposing and older. The timber edges are worn, shutters sag slightly; a breeze carries the faint scent of mildew and old wood. These aren't slums but neither is it the city center.
The air tastes of dust and distant cooking fires; a cat brush-past startles me and then it is gone. I keep on walking.
The distance from the guild to where I'm going isn't much, maybe 20 minutes on foot, and so, I don't rush. My feet are hurting anyway from all the barefoot walking. Every pebble presses like a tiny complaint into the soles of my feet; my toes ache and there's a steady, dull throb up my calves.
Instead of thinking about the pain, though, I consider my thought process and search for options I did not take into account. I have taken a look through the list of Recruiting Familias alongside their information, but only four of them I realistically considered.
The Hestia, Miach, Takemikazuchi and Soma familias, each due to different reasons. Takemikazuchi wasn't on the list of recruiters, but from what I remember from the anime, I should be able to join if seem like a trustworthy and kind person looking for friends and allies. That is impossible due to the ability of the gods to see through lies of mortals, so I am forced to cross it out mentally. The benefits were limited to high quality training in weapon usage and martial arts, but these can be acquired eventually with money no matter which familia I join.
The Soma Familia would be able to provide me with said money, theoretically at least. I am confident that playing loyal henchaman for the Familia head honcho would earn me some dough. This option is based on my confidence in not becoming an addict and my ability to deal with addicts on a daily basis. At least until I inevitably get enough strength to slaughter each and every one of them and gain control of the wine/money making machine that is Soma. This option sounds good on paper but the risks involve being shanked while still weak, which is probable, or being unable to gain the leader's trust in a reasonable amount of time to benefit from it before he is removed by Bell in a few weeks.
The slaughtering part is also not necessarily impossible to accomplish while still being part of another familia, so the Soma familia is crossed out.
The Hestia Familia is tempting for the sole reason that it would allow me to connect with and influence the plot much more directly than the other options, staying day in and day out with the protagonist of this world.
Beyond the stable progression of the familia that I know is coming, a few words here and there and everything could change, presuming there is no god of fate keeping everything on the straight and narrow. If that was the case, though, I would already be dead, eaten by a wild animal outside of Orario, or mugged and killed despite my precautions. Then everything would go back to normal.
But I am still alive, so I presume that isn't the case.
Despite thinking deeply, I don't lose track of my surroundings. The sun dips lower; shadows stretch like long fingers between buildings. I see an abandoned church somewhere to the left side of the street. The windows of the church are dark and boarded; a wreath of dried ivy hangs crooked on the door.
And I keep on walking past it. While tempting, it isn't my destination.
Five minutes later, I am standing in front of the so called Blue Pharmacy, the home of the Miach Familia. The sign creaks softly on its hinge, painted blue flaking to reveal pale wood beneath. The smell of herbs hits me first — a sharp, green smell, then a sweeter medicinal scent underneath, like pine and lemon.
I don't waste time before walking through the door. The bell above the entrance tinkles thinly as I push it, and the cool, herb-scented air washes over me.
It's time to join a familia.