"So this so-called underground world isn't much different from the Sky Relam, huh?"
Kiri couldn't help but mutter as she looked around. But neither she nor Ryuji made any move to help the woman who had collapsed nearby.
It was obviously trouble—just like the woman earlier had said, something about the cost of debt. It screamed gangland retribution.
Jumping in to save someone now would only drag them into a huge mess.
Besides, the locals didn't exactly look friendly.
But still…
"You totally want to save her, don't you?" x2.
Both Ryuji and Kiri said the same thing at the same time.
"Which eye of yours did you see that with?"He snapped back instantly—he had absolutely no desire to save that woman.
His only goal now was to get enough money to find a girl who wouldn't expect any emotional investment but was still down to cuddle. As for Kiri, that domineering queen could get as far away from him as possible—he was tired of her being in his face all the time.
"Oh? I thought you liked playing the hero. Then you'd save her, and she'd repay you with her body or something."
As she said this, she curled her hand into a loose fist and made a suggestive gesture in front of her mouth, making Ryuji immediately get her point.
"She was already doing that when I woke up! What the hell does that have to do with me? Besides, that woman's as good as dead."
Shrugging off the accusation, Ryuji and Kiri casually walked past the scantily dressed female fighter. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, and her eyes were vacant—completely lifeless.
Ever since that other person had stabbed a clearly poisoned needle into her spine, she'd been like this. When her head dropped, she didn't even twitch. Her tongue hung out, and she wasn't breathing. She looked like she was beyond saving.
Even if the poison hadn't killed her, she'd be paralyzed from the neck down.
That said… ignoring all the wounds, the scars, and the bizarre accessories—she was actually quite beautiful.
Her body was explosive, and that tight, tan bodysuit that exposed her inner thighs, simply designed for sex appeal. Whoever invented that outfit was clearly a man of culture.
Especially the chest area—those holster-like compartments clearly weren't for armor; they were for maximum bounce—
No. No! Clearly, they were designed to support the breasts so they wouldn't move too much!
Although... in reality, they made them bounce even more.
"Yeah… she's dead," Kiri said with a sigh.
Just then, they spotted a jewelry shop.
The two exchanged a glance and stepped inside.
Their gold shocked the shop owner—because what Ryuji and Kiri had brought out was pure gold, something that shouldn't even exist in this world.
To him, it was top-tier material.
Even so, the value wasn't particularly high. They checked a few other stores, but this one still offered the best price.
In the end, they exchanged it for over a hundred gold coins.
"According to this world's standards, this much should be enough to hire a small adventuring party for even the most dangerous missions. You could also rent a shop stall or two," Kiri said, tossing her fifty gold coins in her palm as she looked at him.
"I'm thinking of opening a shop here—selling some stuff from the Sky Realm. Looks like there are a lot of Skyfolk in this area. With my skills, I can mass-produce bullets easily. Maybe I'll even figure out a way back to the Sky Realm…"
She nodded toward the other Skyfolk on the street, proving she had a market.
Thanks to the 7 Days to Die system, she didn't even have to worry about resupplying.
The only problem was that the bullet calibers from her system didn't match the guns used by the Sky Realm people—but—
That's fine! They'd just have to buy her guns! Boom—monopoly achieved!
"That's your plan, huh?" Ryuji looked at the moneybag in his hand and smiled. "I'll probably just earn some cash and… hit the brothels. Maybe help a few fallen women turn their lives around."
Women in this world were generally pretty attractive. He hadn't seen any hideous ones yet. Even the tavern maids were cute and curvy.
And judging by that fighter who got killed over money, it wasn't too far-fetched to assume there were female fighters who'd sell their bodies for cash.
"You're way too honest about that kind of stuff," Kiri said with a complicated look on her face. This guy… he always managed to surprise her in the worst ways.
"Of course. That's one of my best qualities. But honestly, there's something else I'm even more interested in."
He pointed to the swordsmen and mages wandering the streets.
"I think I can get stronger in this world."
His eyes burned with resolve. In the 7 Days to Die world, he'd been held back countless times by his own weakness.
Sure, he'd use money to buy some pleasure and energy points. That was a given. But without question, finding a way to gain real strength was essential too.
And when he returned to that world, he'd need to bring some serious gear with him.
"Oho? Sword and sorcery, huh? I've always been curious… but…" Kiri stroked her chin and sighed.
"…I want to focus on finding a way back to the Sky Realm."
She had come down here to support her comrades, but ended up stuck on this place called Arad.
Right now, she had no interest in adventuring with Ryuji. Now that her survival was secured, her top priority was to verify her identity as a Skyfolk, locate others from the Sky Realm, and figure out how to go back.
And if she couldn't?
Then she'd just become a weapons merchant, study magic a bit, and support her fellow Skyfolk here.
"So, does that mean…" Ryuji stopped walking and looked at her.
"We go our separate ways?"
He wanted to pursue strength. She wanted to reconnect with her people. Their paths no longer aligned.
"Well, it's not like you'll ever get to do this and that to me anymore, right?"
Kiri looked at him, clearly hoping to hear him say something to make her stay.
"Indeed."
"Then let's call it here. We'll go register ourselves at the town hall, and after that, we part ways. Later, come find me at this tavern. I'll give you a load of money and some equipment as thanks."
"Got it."
Silence fell between them—inevitable, really. Kiri had made up her mind. And Ryuji wasn't going to string along a good girl like her anymore.
It was bound to happen.
But of course… things never go as planned.
After registering at city hall and getting their IDs, the two of them shared a farewell meal.
Ryuji checked into a local inn. Though he told himself this was the best outcome, he couldn't help feeling a little empty. Kiri's disapproval of him sleeping around was understandable. He didn't resent her. As long as they stayed out of each other's way, everything was fine.
Still… when he thought about her body, he couldn't help but miss her.
But he was new here—he had no idea how things worked. The slang, the services, the people… none of it. Trying to hire a prostitute now would probably just get him killed.
"Hiring a prostitute when you don't even know how this place works… that's just asking to die. Whatever. Sleep first. Tomorrow I'll pay the fishermen, then go find G.S.D.[1] and Sharan to see how much they'll charge to teach me swordsmanship and magic."
With that, he spent a lonely night.
But the next morning, when he stepped out of the inn and walked toward G.S.D., he passed that same alley again—and froze.
The female fighter… was alive!
She was trembling, struggling to stand, but couldn't manage. Crawling slowly toward a trash can.
Ryuji stared, dumbfounded, watching her attempt to scavenge for food while everyone else looked on with disgust.
"…Hey," he called out.
"Why exactly did you owe money?"
~~~~~~~~~
Bonus chapter target: 100 PS.
[1] 'Name of an instructor who teaches swordsmanship'