[IC] Eɴᴛᴇʀ — Into an Isekai World

[mickilennial]

Location: Tarashima Forest -- Village of Kotana, Town Square

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“There might be a few. In the villages along the way.”

Quest boards were honestly a little archaic, but many villages used them in lieu of an emissary to the adventurer’s guild. Once you got to the larger cities like Alisia and Prysaris the population ended up too large that a board would be effective. You’d ask for work at one of the guilds or see what the local city guard needed help with. Ipharia wasn’t an adventurer so she wasn’t a member, really. She knew enough to manage but her life was one of study, less so about goblins and orks.

Though with three heroes at her feet, changes could very well be in her future. But that wasn’t up to her.

“The first city we’ll be passing through on our way to the capital is Erda. I should be able to get us that far. Maybe my church can help with transportation… but none of you can ride a horse. I assume.”

[HokumPocus]

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Kotana

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Of course, traveling by horseback. Another staple of storybooks, another difference between his former life and his current one. Kaito was sure he wasn't the only one with no experience riding horses, as Japan wasn't the sort of country where one could acquire both large animals or space easily. It seemed tame and even romantic compared to all of the previous hardships they had faced, although he knew it was a discipline, one that wasn't going to come without its hardships.

"No... I'm sure none of us have ridden horses, at least properly and not as a novelty done in fairs. Our home used machines for transportation. Machines for almost everything, actually." He felt the explanation was simple enough.

Some of what Hiroko said had stayed in his thoughts, and he gave her a cautious glance as he continued. "If riding a horse is considered a skill, there is a possibility we could develop some affinity for it just as we did with this land's language." It wasn't just combat they had been gifted proficiency in, he was thinking.

[Polaris North]

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Village of Kotana

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At least they had the option of earning a few more money along the way if they can get a few quests that wouldn't be too taxing. And maybe they'd get some experience and discover more skills that could help them in the long run. If they really were people who were supposed to fight this Black King, then they should at least have something to show for it. And their equipment didn't look like they were up to par to any kind of fighting - she wondered what kind of armors they can don for the trip.

The mention of transportation made her perk up but just as easily deflated. Ipharia's guess was correct. Unfortunately, Hiroko hasn't even touched a horse in her entire life, much less ride one. Had there been a motorcycle, maybe Hiroko could have worked with that but technology wasn't exactly all that advanced in this world. It was a downright shame too. She idly wondered how long their phones could last before ultimately dying on them, not that it was too important here but it still could be used as a flashlight.

Kaito brought up a good point. They had managed to master the goblin language by just hearing it so maybe horse riding would be the same. "Well, we won't know until we try." She gave them a small grin. "I have to admit, I've always wanted to ride a horse before. Nothing like getting sent to another world to give you mundane experiences huh?" She said lightly in jest.

[Kuro]

ᴇ ʙ ɪ ꜱ ᴀ ᴡ ᴀ ʜ ᴏ ɴ ᴀ ᴍ ɪ

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_{Location: Kotana Village}

Timeframe: Night

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What kind of village doesn't have an inn or some sort of village hangout? Honami questioned. Ever since their arrival in this world, Honami had previously prided herself on her game knowledge—seeing it as an useful advantage while they set out to do whatever they were summoned for—but the merchant's answer was different from what Honami expected. It seemed Miss Know-It-All was more of a Know-It-Some.

Making a mental note to remember should such an issue arise again in the future, Honami thanked the merchant and returned with the rest of the group to join them in their meal.

"If you count the times my parents took me to ride the Kiso-uma at Kaida Kogen back in elementary, then yes; I've ridden a horse. But Kaito's right. The average person, at least in our country, has probably never rode a horse. Where we live, horses are a rare sight, largely in part due to the better ways—those machines Kaito mentioned—to travel."

Taking another, perhaps final bite of her rice, Honami nodded in agreement. "You know, Kaito, you're smarter than I've been giving you credit for." She jested. "If whatever magical abilities we now have—speed, strength, language and so on—were given to us without training, then I'd guess that riding a horse would come as... well, naturally as the rest of our skills did. If not, Ipharia and I can always help you two learn how to ride."

[mickilennial]

Location: Tarashima Forest -- Village of Kotana, Town Square

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“You may be right.”

Ipharia considered a world where one did not need to use horses. They spoke of machines. She supposed they were some kind of artificem. It all sounded wild and interesting. She hoped that they would speak to her more of their world as they began to explore hers. Assuming she was important enough to travel with them once she presented them to the Princess. Would she be commended and given right to guide them? A simple cleric like her? It was something to ponder, at least.

“I cannot imagine what your world could be like. I imagine you miss it after a day in mud and leaves. We do not have any fanciful... machines here.”

The purple-haired cleric wondered if defeating the Black King would return them to their world. What would their lives be like if and when that happened?

[HokumPocus]

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Kotana

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Hiroko's words interrupted a lingering thought of his, causing his features to soften immensely. "I suppose you're right." Something about the threat of combat had made the simplest of activities sound relieving. Even the bland meal they just ate had been a tranquil experience. He didn't think of it as mundane, though. Was a Japanese adult realistically ever going to be in a situation where they had to travel on horseback? It sounded fantastical, though he kept the thought to himself.

He tensed at Honami's comment. She meant no harm, sure, but she had the disrespectful habit of treating him as an equal. He realized with a small sigh that it would be pointless to speak out, as Japanese societal conventions no longer applied. He'd... have to get used to such a thing. This was a situation that extended far beyond an adult and a teenager having a conversation. "I'll accept the offer in the case that does happen, thank you." He rolled his shoulders with a newfound loss of respect. Not because he thought less of the people around him, but because he realized he could loosen up with the responsibility of being a modest Japanese man. "Our old world was certainly different, to say the least. Does this one really not have machines?"

[mickilennial]

Location: Tarashima Forest -- Village of Kotana, Town Square

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Ipharia shook her head, “We do, but nothing like how you describe machines.”

The image of the artifcer’s guild came into Ipharia’s head, a place where all sorts of machines were made for various uses. Clockmakers, weaponsmiths, and other types of scientists were always engineering some kind of invention to make the quality of life better for everyone. Ipharia herself lived a more humble life as a member of the faith, abstaining from much things. She also quite young so the experience of such knowledges were lacking. It wasn’t like she was some adventurer, though when she was a little girl she had always dreamed of such.

“Most mechanisms that aren't magical are clockwork in design. Small gears and springs. I'm no artificer so I could not begin to tell you how it all works. All I know is it works, whether it is a clock or arquebus.”

[Polaris North]

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Village of Kotana

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The idea that they may have to spend a few hours under the tutelage of Honami and Ipharia did amuse her a bit. From the videos she'd seen, horse riding wasn't as simple as they make it seem in movies. Still, it would be to their advantage if they could naturally do it thanks to the blessing of whatever deity had brought them here. The sooner they find out why they were summoned to this world, the sooner they'd be able to figure out how to get back.

If it was possible.

"Makes me think I've taken our own modes of transportation for granted now that it isn't available." Hiroko admitted. She placed her hands inside her pockets, fiddling with the lighter. She wondered if this world would ever advance technologically as theirs did. After all, with the availability of magic, there were certain machines that could just be replaced with magic. But considering they weren't teleporting all over the place, she guessed machinery for transportation might not be as far fetched as she originally thought.

The technology here isn't that advanced but it was showing a lot of promise at least. "An arquebus?" She repeated curiously, the word unfamiliar to her.

[mickilennial]

Location: Tarashima Forest -- Village of Kotana, Town Square

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Ipharia nodded. Admittedly, she was a little confused why people like them would not know what an arquebus was but then again it was a device that commonly used magic. Another thing she would have to take note of in difference between worlds.

“It is a newer weapon, built by the most skilled of artificers. It is like a cannon, but much smaller. The barrel is small and long,” She held out her hands, trying to describe it, “and it has a trigger mechanism that fires shards of metal or blasts of magic. An artificer could probably tell you more specifically how it works. It really isn't my type of device. I prefer just a plain ol' staff and spellbook.”

[Polaris North]

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Village of Kotana

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"Oh, so it's like... a gun." Hiroko commented as Ipharia finished her explanation of what an arquebus was. So they already have what sounded like a rifle here. She wasn't knowledgeable in firearms either but it was something familiar at least. Ipharia mentioned that it shot out metal or magic. That's interesting. It would be nice to get her hands on one. Maybe it would be better than the bow and arrow that she was currently using.

They weren't swimming in money now but maybe if they were summoned heroes of this world, surely, they would be inclined to give them some money to better equip themselves. "Seems like a great weapon for us who aren't so... magically inclined." It probably wouldn't be ideal in certain situations that required stealth.

[HokumPocus]

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Kotana

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First horses, now guns. The more Ipharia spoke, the more it seemed like this strange land was the total opposite of Japan. As someone who'd never been around them, the idea of encountering an opponent with one sent a small shiver down his spine. "If it's a newer weapon, it's most likely uncommon, right?" he asked, hopeful. He knew Hiroko was interested in owning one, but his fear of one ending up in an opposing side's hands rather than their own trumped any sort of sympathy from the man. "A weapon that can bypass the need for magic, maybe work even better... such a thing should be a concern for us. Assuming the technology has evolved enough, that is," he said, the last of his words tacked on as he thought about it more. For all he knew, this so called arquebus could have been closer to an ancient rifle, or was even something entirely different.

[mickilennial]

Location: Tarashima Forest -- Village of Kotana, Town Square

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“Uncommon, but not rare.” Ipharia commented, though she understood the concern growing from Kaito’s voice. She thought about the finality of things. They were heroes, not gods. They could die.

She looked in the distance, toward the mountains. The kingdoms the Black King had destroyed were no more and how long would it be until he came to her kingdom? To these people. What would happen if he heard of the heroes and sent assassins? Would they be strong enough to fight back against a crescent dagger to the throat or spine? The Black King had no qualms about using deceit and subterfuge as tactics. It was a rumor that the king's illness was caused by the Black King. She feared for the three of them and she knew she needed to get them to learn more things before the reality of the world caught up with them.

“I will get you to the capital. Don't worry.”

[Polaris North]

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Village of Kotana

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Kaito's fears weren't unfounded. If their enemy had such a thing themselves, then it would be all the more dangerous. Hiroko didn't want to assume that just because they've beaten a couple of goblins without prior training that they'd be able to defeat highly trained soldiers. If they had such firepower and they only had some low tier magic, a sword, and a bow - well, they would likely just perish as soon as they entered the battlefield no matter the blessing given to them.

Well, Hiroko would be damned if she'd die now after everything that had happened in her life.

"Better to have something to shoot them back with than not, right? Still, I get what you mean. If he's as influential as I think he is, it's very likely they already have this technology in their hands. We just have to figure out how to counter it if we ever encounter them." That was the most they could do. If they can't beat them through sheer brute force, then outsmarting them would be their best bet.

Ipharia's reassurance of bringing them to the capital did put Hiroko at ease. Just a little though. But as long as they kept their mouths shut about being heroes from another world, then the Black King wouldn't find out about them. They were safe... for now. "Well then, we better hurry it up a bit yeah?" Her tone was lighter, trying to ease the mood of the group back to a more comfortable one.