The Otherworld Guidebook is Finally Complete!
I’d been absorbed in putting it together on a hill overlooking the royal capital.
—
[Beautiful Hill with a View of the Royal Capital]
4.5★★★★☆ (478)
Royal Capital Romantic
★★★★☆
When I want to think, I come here.
Adventurer Who Found It by Chance
★★★★☆
Super pretty!
—
The magic pen I got at the general store uses mana as its power source, so it never runs out of ink.
The magic notebook is also handy.
If you wave your hand while chanting "Erase," the writing disappears, and with "Restore," it comes back.
“Mmeowaah, sunbathing feels so nice, meowaa~”
Next to me, Milfie was lounging cozily, her ears twitching adorably.
One of the perks of being an adventurer is getting to do whatever you feel like that day, or enjoying your freedom when you’ve got money to spare.
Making a guidebook is fun, but difficult.
I have to pack in everything great about the royal capital, Ortria.
I intentionally left out the deep local spots and wrote it to please adventurers visiting for the first time.
I also used lots of photos, so even the people who left reviews (even if they were generated automatically) could enjoy it.
“… G’night…”
“Yeah, sleep well.”
Milfie worked hard doing interviews and running around the city.
She’d been dashing around yesterday too.
I had to work hard as well.
Glancing at Milfie snoozing beside me, I kept writing and erasing, writing and erasing.
And then—
“Milfie, wake up. Come on, wake up.”
“Mumeow mumeow… Just feed me already…”
“A dream where you didn’t eat? That’s rare.”
It was just before evening, and I tried to wake Milfie up, but she wouldn’t stir.
She’s so alert on the battlefield—why not now?
So I decided to touch the base of her ear.
“Ahhhn… Aaahhhhn! Nnhaaaahn!”
“Too loud!!”
“Feh… Ah, good morning.”
“Morning.”
I instinctively looked around to make sure no one was nearby.
Gotta be careful. Someone might think I’m attacking her.
Then I held out the book I’d been working on.
“It’s done. A prototype, but will you read it?”
“Eh! Of course I will!”
Our first reader, Milfie, praised the cover of the book titled “How to Walk Ortria, the Royal Capital.”
It included places like the diner where Miss Silk works, the witch Miri’s shop, the inn run by Old man Rildo, and tourist spots I’d visited with Tia.
There was also a section for adventurers recommending good hunting grounds.
I added warnings I’d pulled from reviews too.
And somehow, even a “Bear Corner” by Bridget.
Surprisingly, she was really into writing it. Honestly, it might be the book’s highlight.
After reading it, Milfie let out a big sigh.
“… What did you think?”
“It’s amazing… This is amazing! It’s a revolution, meow!”
“Haha, that’s an exaggeration. But thanks. If we write about ourselves on the last page, people who see it might tell the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“Yeah, yeah, it’s perfect! Oh, but… why’s the end part blank?”
“Oh, I want you to write that part, Milfie.”
“Eh? M-me!?”
“Yeah. I want to include the royal capital from the perspective of a catfolk.”
“Eeeh!? I’ve never written anything before!”
“Me neither. So let’s do it together. I’m sure everyone will want it.”
“Y-you think so?”
“No doubt about it.”
“Th-then I’ll do my best!”
And so, we started writing again.
Sometimes kindly, sometimes with tough love.
“There! You made a typo!”
“Yes, meow!”
We also went back to add a photo of Old man Rildo.
“Don’t I look kinda bald in this?”
“You’re fine, leave it as is.”
And finally, the full book was complete.
“Milfie, it’s looking great! You poured your soul into it!”
“I’m so tired, meowaa…”
She’d worked hard, even though she’d probably never even seen a travel guide before.
What stood out were the recommended spots from a beastkin’s point of view.
“This sunny spot… people really like it that much?”
“Feh!? Is it bad!? I-I think everyone will love it!?”
“Nah, it’s not bad. Just made me chuckle a little.”
It was a brilliant book, really.
A job well done.
Now, all that’s left is to make copies.
Where’s the nearest convenience store?
Wait—copies!?
“Milfie, w-we’ve got a probleeeeemm!!”
“Eh, wh-what happened!?”
“A copy machine! Is there no copy machine in this world!?”
“Wh-what are you talking about!?”
I’d completely forgotten.
Do they even have print shops here?
If they do, how much would it cost?
This was not in the plan.
“Duplication… of the book…”
“Oh, I already talked to them about that.”
“Eh? Wh-what do you mean!?”
◇
"Yes. Here's the copied version."
"Thank you, Karin."
We moved to the Adventurers’ Guild.
The second copy of the guidebook I was handed was perfectly reproduced.
"Wow, this is flawless."
"We use it for official tasks like distributing materials when the regulations change. We have a dedicated duplication magic device."
"Do all Adventurers’ Guilds have one of these?"
"Yes, they do. And this one’s already been approved."
"Approved?"
"Yes, we received the request from Miss Milfie. She said having the book would reduce the mortality rate among adventurers, so the upper management approved it as well."
When did all that happen?
To my surprise, Milfie had already laid the groundwork behind the scenes.
Rather than categorizing it as a tourist book, she had submitted a request for duplication under the justification that it was helpful to beginner adventurers.
Since there was no precedent for this, she apparently anticipated it would take time for a response and started working on it as soon as we decided to make the book.
"Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I thought you might be really disappointed if it didn’t go through. I figured if that happened, we’d just think of something else then."
"What an amazing partner I have."
"E-Ehh!? T-That’s so embarrassing, meow////"
Milfie fidgeted. Full marks.
Of course, it wasn’t completely free.
We paid a small fee for the duplication, and it was arranged for the books to be displayed in a prominent location.
The Adventurers’ Guild had a remittance system, and proceeds from the sales would be deposited into an account under my name, which I could access from anywhere.
But I wasn’t doing this to make money.
This was simply to let people know about me and Milfie.
And it was also a continuation of my love for travel, now in another world.
"And don’t forget about Miss Bridget, too."
"Huh?"
"She helped push it through. Told the upper management that Tabito’s book was definitely something valuable."
"She did…?"
I had no idea.
Everyone around me really is so kind.
But just because it’s comfortable here doesn’t mean I plan to stay in the royal capital forever.
Once I’ve upgraded my gear and preparations are complete, I’ll be heading to the next country.
Of course, with my partner.
"Alright, let’s buy her a teddy bear later."
"Agreed, meow!"
When we delivered it to Mr. Edilio, he was overjoyed.
And from the very next day, my guidebook began to be distributed.
Surprisingly, it sold out immediately.
It seemed that because many people already knew of me through named monster subjugations and dungeons, and thanks to Bridget’s endorsement, it gained popularity.
Also, Carlo and the others I had partied with before had spread the word through word-of-mouth.
Thanks to that, things were going well.
Then one day, just as I was thinking about leaving the capital, on my way back from what I thought would be my last quest at the guild—
I met someone completely unexpected.
"Uh, um!"
"Milfie, we’re leaving the capital next week, right?"
"Yep! The next stop is Tia’s country. I’m really looking forward to it, meow!"
"Yeah, me too."
"Um, um, excuse me!"
I could hear a voice.
… Who is it?
I looked back—no one was there.
"Excuse me!"
No, there was someone.
A tiny child.
Wearing a black hood.
"Who are you?"
"… Don’t you remember me?"
Don’t remember her?
When she pulled back her hood, I was shocked.
Her ears stood up straight.
Really, really straight.
Wait—she’s a little girl.
A young little girl.
"An elf. That’s rare."
"Yeah, didn’t know they came into human towns."
"A kid? Wait, how old even are elves anyway?"
Even the locals around us were murmuring.
And wow—her features were sharp and striking. Super cute.
A blond-haired, blue-eyed little elf girl.
That’s… just too powerful a combo.
"You’re alive…"
"Huh? Alive?"
I didn’t really understand what she meant, but she seemed to be confusing me for someone else.
I crouched down to meet her gaze—and suddenly she threw herself at me.
"MISTER YAKUMO TABITO! IT’S MEEE, AQUA!"
"Eh? Wha!? Aqua…?"
Wait—
How does this little girl know my full name!?
—
Milfie
★★★★★
Another great day, meow~
Huh? Who is this girl??
Feels like I’ve seen her somewhere…
Tabito
★★★★★
The guidebook’s doing great!
Eh, w-who *is* this kid!?
Why is she hugging me!?
Is it because I’m a handsome guy!?
Aqua
★★★★★
He’s alive, alive, aliiiiiive!!!
What do you think about this chapter?
