Al-Flare, known as the starting town for adventurers, is a place where strong monsters don't typically appear nearby. The cost of living and inns are low, making it easy to live in. Furthermore, with a large adventurers' guild and good public order, it's famous as the most beginner-friendly town for adventurers in this country.

This was all information I had gathered from Roya and the others along the way. The low cost of living and the lack of strong monsters in the vicinity are perfect for someone like me, who's currently penniless. It seems like my luck is starting to turn.

"Stop! Present your pass or identification."

"Sure, here's our adventurer's card. As for this guy, we found him lost in the forest and being attacked by goblins, so we rescued him."

"My name is Tetsuya. I come from a distant country, but I got lost in the forest, and these people kindly saved me."

"Oh, that's quite an accomplishment for an E-rank adventurer! And you, brother, you had some bad luck, huh? That forest is vast, so you're fortunate to have been saved. Sorry, but if you don't have ID or a pass, we'll need to perform a simple check."

"Understood."

As Roya and the others had told me, you need an ID or a pass to enter this town. If you don't have either, you have to undergo a simple inspection by the gatekeeper. The upside, however, is that there's no toll fee, which is great news for me.

"Well, Tetsuya, see you around. If you run into any trouble, you can find us at the Adventurers' Guild."

"Take care, Tetsuya. Lunch was delicious!"

"We'll probably run into each other again if you stay in town. See you later."

"Yeah, thanks again to all three of you. I'll properly repay you later!"

This is where I part ways with Roya and his companions. They even offered to lend me some money, but I couldn't accept that, so I declined. Instead, they told me where to find a good commercial guild.

Without meeting them, I'd likely have been killed by those goblins or died lost in the forest. They even guided me to the town, so they're truly lifesavers. A simple lunch doesn't even begin to repay them, so I'll have to thank them again sometime.

I passed the gatekeeper's inspection without any issues. It was just a few simple questions and a check of my belongings. He gave me a curious look about my clothes and gear, but when I explained that I came from a distant country called Japan, he seemed to accept that. In a world of magic and magical tools, it's possible they were secretly confirming something I wasn't aware of.

"Alright, brother, welcome to Al-Flare! If you need anything, feel free to ask for help."

"Thank you very much."

Even the gatekeeper seemed quite concerned for me. He's probably a good person too.

"Whoa!!"

Inside the walls, a view that truly fits the term “otherworldly” opened up before me. There was a wide road with plenty of space, despite the numerous people and horse-drawn carts bustling around. The people walking down the street were also dressed in all sorts of ways.

There were people who looked like merchants carrying large bags, farmers hauling loads of crops, and knights or adventurers clad in plate armor.

Then there were beastfolk with cat-like ears on their heads and long tails swishing behind them, dog-like beastfolk walking on two legs, and dwarves, shorter and bearded, with fur-covered faces. This town seemed to host a variety of non-human races alongside humans.

"This is getting exciting! Anyway, I need to deal with my penniless situation first."

Right now, I'm completely broke, and all I have left in terms of food is some emergency rations. I need to sell what I have to get some money for immediate expenses.

"This is the commercial guild Roya and the others mentioned."

After walking around the marketplace a bit to check out the prices, I arrived at the commercial guild they recommended. The building was large, with lots of people coming and going. I had heard that even first-time customers bringing in items to sell wouldn't get scammed at this guild.

Clang, clang.

A bell attached to the door rang as I entered, but no one paid me any attention. The inside was bustling with activity, full of people.

"Welcome! How can we assist you today?"

"Ah, I'd like to sell some goods."

"Alright, please wait in this line for a moment."

Following the instructions of the staff member, I joined the line. The people ahead of me looked more like villagers or adventurers rather than merchants. Since this town is called the starting point for adventurers, it's probably the case that proper merchants do their trading in larger places.

"Next in line, please."

"Yes."

I was busy taking in the lively atmosphere when it was my turn. As I approached the counter, I was greeted by a beautiful guild employee. Yeah, as a man, it's only natural to be happy when you're helped by a pretty woman.

The woman in front of me had long, reddish-brown hair tied into a braid. Her eyes were slightly brown, and she had an elegant, well-defined face.

"Thank you for coming to the commercial guild today. What goods have you brought for us?"

"Yes, I'd like to sell these spices."