Sozai Saishu 4

Chapter 4: Golden Material

As I now fully understood the usefulness of Detection, I decided to search for a human settlement.

Truthfully, I am tempted to hole up inside this forest and do nothing else but collect raw materials for the whole day. However, I am pathetically lacking information about this world too much to be at ease.

I should live in a human settlement somewhere as my base and gain some common knowledge first.

When I appraised the stream water, it told me that there is a place called Ferumi Village somewhere around here, so I’ll aim for that.

Easy to say but I have absolutely no idea which direction I should head towards, but since humans need water to live, there is probably a village somewhere downstream.

Believing in that reasoning, I walked alongside the stream downwards.

By using the materials I have on me as the keyword in Detection, I can sense locations of dangerous monsters like Wagners and adjust my route to evade them. This way I can prevent careless encounters that will lead to battles.

Since I can’t seem to use Detection without having the parts of that particular monster, I try my best to pick up materials from monsters as much as possible.

Thanks to that, I now have materials not only from Wagners and Horn Rabbits, but also Goblins, Blue Bears, Wild Boars and etc. so I can use Detection on these guys as well.

As I have gotten my hands on these monster parts, the danger level of my journey has lowered considerably.

I take care to constantly use Detection on monsters and stay vigilant. Also, to check just in case that I don’t miss out on good materials lying around here too.

“Hm? Something golden is shining?”

The colours shining around materials that I have witnessed hitherto were purple, blue, red, and orange – these 4 colours. As if to draw a clear line between it and the rest, I saw a material with a strong radiance in the distance.

Taking a closer look at the outline, it seems to be a scale-like thing lying on the ground.

Since it is not moving around, I think it is not a monster.

I wonder what kind of thing a golden-coloured material would turn out to be.

When discovering a potentially rare material, it is the quirk of me, the material collecting lover, to want to instantly zoom in on it.

Deviating a bit from the stream, there was a single, red scale dropped on the ground.

It was a scale sporting a profound scarlet hue. When changing the angles you gaze at it from, the colour changes delicately. Even from just looking, I can feel the strength radiating from it.

“……it’s beautiful.”

I felt so from the bottom of my heart. I was as moved as the first time I discovered a glass shard at the beach when I was a kid.

I have seen tonnes of beautiful things back in my previous world, but I think this scale can justly compete for 1st or 2nd place.

A single scale is as big as my palm, and when I picked it up, it weighed heavily on my hand.

“Since its scale is this big, the body itself must be huge. What in the world did this belong to?”

Without any more delay, I used Appraisal on the scale on my palm.

【Red Dragon’s Scale】

The scale of a Red Dragon, widely renowned as the ruler of the skies. Strong against heat; harder than steel. This scale can be used not only for weapons or armour, but also for magical tools. It can also be used as a catalyst for magic and alchemy. It is a rare, highly valuable material.

“A dragon’s scale ! ?”

The material hailed for its unrivalled strength in every fantasy setting.

Although I wanted to be excited over the fact that dragons exist in this world, however, since there is a scale dropped here, there is a possibility that the real thing might be living around this area.

“Dragon’s Scale, Detection!”

I designated the scale of the dragon as the keyword and used Detection in haste.

The magic waves were fired, but there were no golden materials sparkling anywhere.

However, does Detection work in the sky as well? There may be no dragons on the surface but it is too scary to think of the possibility of dragons flying overhead.

I concentrated and imagined for my magic waves to spread upwards, for it to cover the space overhead, and operated Detection.

Then, I successfully received the feedback of my magic waves reaching the skies as I wished.

There were also no sightings of golden, sparkling materials anywhere overhead.

To conclude, there are no dragons around here.

Feeling relieved, I let out a sigh. It is not funny at all if I suddenly have to enter a battle with a dragon. No matter how many self-defence abilities I have, it doesn’t seem like I can defeat a dragon.

This scale probably fell off when the dragon flew past above the forest.

Appraisal did say that this scale was rare and highly valuable, so I guess I can assume that the closer the colours are to gold, the more valuable it is.

But really, a dragon’s scale huh? I do have experience collecting these in games but to have picked one up in reality… It’s somehow deeply touching.

I want to continue gazing at it while I walk forever but since it is heavy, I tearfully parted with it and packed it into my Magic Bag.

Although my tension rose because I picked up a dragon’s scale, I faithfully trekked back to my waterside route.

Then, I single-mindedly used Detection routinely to avoid monsters and to pick up any materials along the way as I progressed down the stream.

When the stream started to combine with a larger river, the trees thinned out and finally, I exited the forest.

Whilst feeling nostalgia over the sight of the vast sky that I haven’t seen in a while, I continued to walk downstream.

Then, after a short while, I saw the roofs of houses covered with orange tiles in the distance.

“Ooh, a village!”

Seems like my assumption that there was a village downstream was correct.

There’s a possibility that this is the place called ‘Ferumi Village’.

As my heart pounded excitedly over my first encounter with a human settlement in this world, I steadily walked towards the village.

Probably there are kids playing in the village because I can hear the peals of their laughter from here.

If there is the sound of children’s laughter, then it must be a great place.

Fences were erected around the village, probably as a countermeasure against monsters. At what I assume is the only entrance to the village, a man with a spear stood.

He must be the guard of this village, I reckon.

First impressions are important here. Let’s greet him with a smile to send the message of me not being hostile across.

“Hello there. Am I correct to assume that this is the location of Ferumi Village?”

“Ah, that’s right. This is Ferumi Village. And, what business do you have with this countryside village?

It seems like this really was Ferumi Village. I’m glad it wasn’t a place that I needed to walk for a few days to reach.

Wait, this isn’t the time to be relieved just yet. If I am judged as suspicious and driven away now, I won’t be able to rest.

“I am called Sozai Shuu. I collect raw materials as I travel, and I was thinking that I want to rest my body in this village for a while.”

“Ooh, so you’re an adventurer specialised in materials collection then! That’s reassuring!”

“No, I am not an adventurer, and at best a novice collector.”

It seems like in this world, one can become an adventurer.

If we talk about adventurers, it is a staple occupation in games. They are considered Jack-of-all-trades that accept requests from clients to subjugate monsters, collect materials, and all kinds of odd jobs.

If material collection requests exist, it will be a perfect fit for me. Let’s investigate carefully later.

“Although, you are called ‘Sozaishuu’?  It’s a weird name, don’t you think?”

“You don’t say it next to each other, it is read as ‘Sozai Shuu’.”

“Un? Since you have a family name, are you a noble?”

Oops. It seems like if you give a family name in this world, people will misunderstand that you’re a noble.

Since it seems troublesome, let’s re-introduce myself as Shuu. From now on, my name will be Shuu.

“My name is Roland. I am part of this village’s vigilante corps. Since you have great manners and are polite, you probably ain’t a bad guy. You can enter. We ain’t have nothing here but feel free to take it easy.”

“Thank you very much, Roland-san.”

Seems like I’ve received permission to enter.

Feeling relieved, I entered Ferumi Village.

First, I want to secure a place to relax and sleep.

A place like an inn would be great, where is it I wonder?

“If you’re looking for an inn, go straight and look for the biggest buildingー!”

While I was walking and looking around, Roland informed me from his post near the entrance.

The first thing a traveller looks for after entering a village is definitely the inn. Seems like what I was searching for was crystal clear to him.

After giving Roland my thanks, as per his words, I walked straight down the road.

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Hi, everyone. I am the translator, Peach Knight.

Thank you for having interest in this novel.
If you like this story, please consider sharing with your peers or leave a review on Novel Updates.

Shout out to Kyrin Fireheart, much appreciated for pointing out my mistakes.

Enjoy.

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