Ch.13 The Place I Saw Yesterday and The Place I Saw Today are The Same, But Different.

In conclusion, it's impossible. The status screen doesn't appear.

I wonder if NPCs don't have anything of that nature that they use exclusively.

It can't be helped, so I'll just wait until I learn the appraisal magic. Although it might seem strange for me to say this since I haven't given up completely yet.

So how about this one?

I haven't tried it yet because I didn't have a mouth and the status doesn't appear, but I'll give it a try since I can.

Yes, there's another one that every player knows.

"Menu"

Responding to my voice, a familiar menu screen appeared in front of me with a "whoosh" sound.

"Oh, wow. I can use this even when I become an NPC."

This is unmistakably the menu screen.

Thank you for all your help in my first life. I look forward to your continued support. Thank you very much.

However, if I look closely, there are only four options: friend list, friend request, message creation, and message box. There is no message board, report, or even logout.

"Well, of course that'd be the case."

Well, I guess I'll just have to accept it.

On rather, what's the point of logging out anyway? Won't I just be called to heaven at that point?

Even though I died, my ego, self-awareness, and memories were not erased and I was given a second life, so I should be grateful.

Okay, just a quick look at my friends list.

"It was 0 after all..."

The names of my previous friends are gone, it's just blank spaces now.

I feel a little lonely, because I'm sure none of them remember the days we went on adventures together.

However, since I was supposed to have gone back to the past, I could just go and meet them again and become friends, but that's not quite the same. That's my memory from my first life.

I will never have that body again, and now I am in my second life.

I want to live my fairy life in a new way, rather than repeating the same thing over and over again.

What? You mean, if I act on my own, there's a chance that the past could change? No, there's an irregularity in me to begin with. It's hard to imagine that I'll follow the same path again.

So I'll go my own way. Freedom and I are friends.

◇◆◇

Well, first of all, I need to know about myself.

To do this, I need appraisal magic. i should also learn water-based magic. I might also be able to use sorcery.

However, even if I go to the starting town to learn appraisal magic, it will be a waste of time since I don't have any money at the moment.

So along the way, I have to gather or hunt to get items, which I can then sell to learn magic.

"But there aren't many things I can hold with both hands."

This fairy's body is really small. It's probably only capable of holding two or three nuts.

Even if I take those, I won't get much money.

I'd like something that looks expensive but is as light as possible.

All I could see around me were some grass whose name I couldn't identify, some grown trees of the same species as me, and that specific tree that is full of holes that had grown into a mixture of red, black, and brown.

What was once a pitiful tree full of holes has now transformed into a magnificent, eerie tree, with dark red flowers in bloom.

Oh, I forgot to mention, but that creepy fellow tree seems to have been an event monster.

That tree will be involved during the bond event with the famous and unfortunate NPC Cern. Apparently you will fight that tree at the end of the event.

I had never met or defeated it before, so I only knew what it looked like in this state, and only from photos I had seen online.

I never thought that a fellow tree full of holes would grow into an event monster.

I can't remember the exact name, but it's torrent-something.

The tree has its branches undulating and there's a stern face on it, I wonder how it got to be like that.

It's on the path to becoming a monster, not a fairy. I know that the bones of Cern are buried beneath it. I watched as she was swallowed up as it grew.

Maybe they have to fight to get it back?

By the way, this tree never attacks the ones who live in the fairy forest, including me. I don't know why.

Maybe because there's a sense of camaraderie.

Speaking of which, that sparrow doesn't attack me either. Even when it sees me transformed into a fairy, it doesn't even try to attack me.

Somehow, I get the feeling that it's protecting everything in its territory as if everything is equally worthy of its protection.

After all, it is the master of this place. Perhaps it is similar to a king in human terms? As long as we don't attack the sparrow, it won't do anything.

In the first place, it's strong enough to be a raid monster, so none of the creatures living here even try to defy it.

But I've digressed. So what should I sell to make the most money? Something light and expensive.

When I was playing the game, I didn't really care about it. I just kept hunting and selling and the stock kept increasing.

While worrying about this, I suddenly looked up.

"I wonder if the leaves from my body will sell?"

I muttered something as I look at it.

At the very least, a fairy was born? Or resides within? In this tree, so surely the eaves could fetch a decent amount of money?

Hmm, this seems like a good idea for now.

"Let's just take three so as not to interfere with my main body's activities. If there aren't enough, I can gather something else near the town. Okay, let's go with that."

With that decision made, I flew up onto the main body.

Hopefully it won't hurt. I hold the leaf and close my eyes as I pick one off the branch.

"I, it doesn't hurt."

I didn't feel any pain, but the visual act of having it removed from my body was a bit off-putting.

I guess it's similar to plucking healthy hair in humans.

I felt a bit uncomfortable, so I decided to take some of my own leaves that had fallen naturally.

It's a little brownish, but mostly green. Let's trust that it'd be fine.

"Now that I have something to sell, let's head to the starting town!"

Let's go to the town where it all began. Let's spread our wings and rise.

I flew through the sky at a moderate speed. The air was cold to the touch, but flying itself was so much fun that I didn't mind.

It would be impossible to experience such feelings as a human.

As the plane rotated from time to time, I enjoyed my flight and couldn't help but smile.

◇◆◇

I don't know how long I flew, but I came close to seeing the town in the distance.

I'm slowing down a little and descend.

Then, as I approached the gate, I suddenly remembered its existence.

"Ah, what should I do about the entry fee..."

To get in, you'd need a guild card or some other form of identification, if you don't have any, you should pay money.

But what if I don't have money either?

Should I catch a traveling merchant who travels from town to town selling his wares and sell these leaf to them?

I fly up a little and look around, but there is no magical carriage that looks like a merchant's.

Maybe I should just ask the guards at the gate and see if they could buy it on the spot and deduct the amount from that.

"But, you know... was the town really this big?"

The town gets bigger as I get closer. That in itself is not strange. It's normal.

But to begin with, the town of Marathos isn't supposed to be this big . It's different from the town I remember.

I've been here many times so I can't be wrong.

"Maybe this is a different city?"

Hmm, I guess I'll ask the gatekeeper about that too.

Even if it's a different city, that's okay.

It doesn't matter which town I'm in to learn appraisal magic, which is a daily life magic.

I descend again and go to the end of the line of people waiting to enter the town.

"There are quite a few people here."

Is it because it's been officially released?

This game (Mystery Of Life 3) was supposed to be released two days ago.

Yes, the official release was almost two months after the beta version was released.

That's right, I first learned about this game and started playing it about three months after it was released. I wonder if I'll be able to see my first-year self after that.

No, I don't plan on meeting him.

"Oh, hello. It's rare to see fairies. Are you here for sightseeing?"

As I was lost in reminiscing, a man in front of me called out to me. He was standing next to a woman of similar age. I wonder if they were a couple?

There's no player name above his head, so he must be an NPC.

"Good morning. I have some business at the guild in this town."

"I see. I don't see many fairies around so I couldn't help but wonder. I'm sorry for suddenly calling out to you."

"I'm sorry about my husband."

"Nono it's fine... Oh, that's right. I have something to ask. Is the name of this town Marathos?"

While I'm at it, I asked a question that had been bothering me.

It would be easier to just ask this person anyway.

"Yes, Marathos is correct. Though I think it's a little too big to be called a town."

Hearing those words, I stiffen a little.

As expected, this was the town where it all began, Marathos.

Is the size difference just me misremembering, or is something going to happen that will make it smaller?

If that's the case, it'll probably happen within the next three months... but I've never seen or heard of anything like that. If it had happened, it would have been a hot topic on the internet.

I don't understand at all...

Yeah, it's a mystery, but I don't think about things that I can't understand even if I think about them.

"Oh, one more thing. Do you know if they buy materials at the gate?"

"Hmm? Do you not have enough money? Well, I'm sure they do, but I think you should ask the guards first."

"I understand. Thank you. That's good to hear."

"Well, I'm glad I was able to talk to you. I never thought I'd have the chance to talk to a fairy at my age."

"Darling, it's our turn. Thank you for having a conversation wit us, fairy-san. If we meet again, feel free to say hello."

"I'm Harald, and this is my wife Hannah. I look forward to speaking with you again. Now, we'll be off."

"Yes, see you later."

With that, Harald and Hanna showed their ID cards to the guards and entered the town.

He was a kind man. I'm sure we'll meet again someday. Probably.

"Next... a fairy?! Ah, no, excuse me. Next please."

Your voice sounds a bit high-pitched, are you okay? I'm not a monster, you kmow.

"I-Identification, or if you don't have it, the entrance fee."

"Oh, I don't have either of those... Can you buy these from me...?"

I flutter closer and shows him the leaves of my main body I've been holding.

From the outside, it looks just like a leaf. The guards at the gates also have their eyes wide.

"I understand. Hey, is there anyone who can appraise today?"

"I can do that. Fairy-san, please come over here. I'll appraise them for you."

As soon as the gatekeeper called out to his fellow soldiers, someone who could use appraisal magic spoke up. It was a soldier who had been hiding and glancing their way.

Are you really that curious? I'm just a fairy.

"Ah, okay."

I bow to the guard who is looking at me with a reluctant look on his face, and follow another guard who will appraise my item.

That said, it's right next door, in a shed next to the gate.

It's a simple building, and what's inside is also very simple. There's just a plain desk and a few chairs. There's no door.

So that the other guards can see what's going on inside. For security reasons.

"Then please sit down on that chair... no, on this tray."

indeed, when I sit down, I can only see what's below the desk. I'll be having a conversation with his feet.

I'm sorry to have made you worry.

I fly gently and place the leaves on the tray.

"Please"

"Yes. Let's get started."

Saying this, the guard picked up a leaf and stared at it. After staring at it for a while, he placed the leaf on the tray and stared at another leaf.

He repeated that once more and then turned towards me.

"Is it okay if we buy all three?"

"Yes. So, can I get enough money to get in?"

"Yes, this is a valuable material. It can be used to make rare potions. Ah, I'll bring the money right away, so please wait a moment."

The guard went outside and returned not long after with two bags.

Is that money? Is my leaves that pricey?

But if all of those are money, I can't carry all of it.

"This is the purchase price. Ah, the entrance fee has been deducted."

I was right. It was money. What should I do? Oh, right, is there a sack for fairies?

"Sorry. It's too heavy for me to carry, so... do you have a magic sack for fairies ? Or do you know of a store that sells it?"

"Oh, yeah, that's right. Now that you mention it... I'm sorry I didn't notice. I don't know if we have magic sack for fairies, but I know a store that sells them."

If I have a magic sack and put them inside, the weight wouldn't be an issue and it would be easy to carry around.

I didn't know if there were any for the fairies, but this gatekeeper seemed to know where they were sold.

I haven't been to Marathos stores much, so I don't remember.

I'm honestly grateful that he knows the store.

"I'll show you around now, if you don't mind. It's almost time for my shift."

Oh, I unexpectedly found someone kind enough to carry my money for me.

However, I can't let my guard down just because he's a soldier. Of course, while I myself will be safe, I still need to keep a close eye on him to make sure nothing gets stolen as he's bringing me to the store .

"I appreciate that. I'd appreciate it if you could show me the way to the store."

It's been a while since I've been to Marathos. But it's a Marathos I don't know. I wonder if something has changed.

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〘Entry Fee System〙

Money needed to enter towns and cities.

If you have identification such as a royal citizen card (which shows you are a citizen of Kingdom XX), a divine citizen card, or a guild card, you can enter without paying.

However, nationality identification cards such as royal citizen cards are only valid within the country in which they are issued. In other countries, you must pay to enter.

The money collected is used for public works projects.

By the way, there is no collection system in the village. Thieves are happy because they can come and go as they please.

〘Cat〙

A species that will choose someone they like as their master and spend their entire lives together.

Unlike in real life, there are no pet shops, so the only way to become part of a family is to get a wild cat to like you.

This cat that can live in the wild is essentially a monster that looks very similar to a cat.

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