Chapter 4

"――No, today was a great day, Sophia! Here, this is your share!"

"Thank you, seniors! I'll be on my way then!"

With a forced smile, she left the party of adventurers she had fought alongside.

It had been a week since the pandemic incident in the Gracia territory, which (probably) I caused. I was now living my second life as an adventurer in the large city of Stella in the neighboring territory.

As I walked through the cobblestone streets, which were new to me but not entirely unfamiliar, I thought about how convenient it was to have memories from my previous life.

Firstly, knowing the entire structure of the 'Dungeon' at the edge of this town was a significant advantage.

Dungeons, which are scattered across the world from prehistoric times, are evil caves that endlessly spawn vicious monsters. They are very dangerous places.

Our job as adventurers is to delve into these dungeons, thin out the monsters to prevent them from overflowing outside, and collect materials like monster hides and fangs, which can be used for sturdy items.

Therefore, knowing where to find the desired monsters in the dungeon and memorizing escape routes in case of emergencies are essential skills for an adventurer.

"…It was tough to memorize everything. In the dungeon, you can't leisurely open a map because you never know where monsters will spawn…"

Thinking about the struggles of my past life, I couldn't help but sigh. However, thanks to my efforts back then, my body still remembers how to navigate the dungeon even after fifteen years.

Moreover, thanks to my memories from my previous life, I can distinguish between 'reliable adventurers' and 'adventurers to avoid,' which has been very helpful.

That's why I was able to join a veteran party that was kind to me, even though I used to be a gloomy person. Over the past few days, I successfully refreshed my memory of how to fight monsters.

Well… from tomorrow, I need to work solo. After all, forming a party increases safety but reduces the share of money. This is a crisis for the territory.

Father said, "Thanks to the savings you've helped us accumulate, we don't need to send regular treatment fees." But illness can worsen at any time. If possible, I want to earn a large sum within a year and get the best treatment for him.

Also, I needed to prepare the funds for my adventurer's outfit.

Because…

"Oh, isn't that Sophia from the Gracia territory? You're still so noticeable…"

"Yeah, that lady from the border. You can tell who she is from a distance, can't you~"

Ugh!? Feeling the gazes from around me, I quickly slipped into an alley.

Sigh… of course, I stand out. After all, I'm a noble who works as an adventurer and wears a 'pure white dress' to delve into the dungeon. I'm probably the only one who does that.

Fiddling with the frills at my chest, I recalled why I ended up wearing this. It's all because my father, who has become even more foolish than in my previous life, gave it to me.

On the day I was about to leave, Father suddenly handed me this and said,

"Wear this as armor. I prepared this custom-made dress for when you become an adventurer—no, when you marry into a noble family! It's made from the silk of the Genocide Worm, a killer caterpillar monster, so even blades can't pierce it! You'll be safe even if your mother-in-law tries to kill you!"

"Ah, thank you! But, um, the dress…!"

"Hehe, isn't it cute!"

"It is cute, but…!"

…So, I ended up wearing it. As Father said, its performance is excellent.

It's strong against friction, easy to clean, and much sturdier than ordinary leather armor. The silk from the Genocide Worm also has a self-repair function, so it should last a long time. It's as if it was custom-made for an adventurer from the beginning.

It's also incredibly beautiful and cute, but…

"Sigh… the performance and quality are top-notch, but it's just too noticeable…"

Even if it were at a noble party (which I've never been invited to!), it would be one thing, but in the dungeon, a place of battle, this outfit is far too mismatched. For me, a formerly gloomy girl, being too noticeable is a significant mental burden.

However, I couldn't change into cheap adventurer's clothes. After all, I once got injured in the dungeon, couldn't move, and was stabbed to death. From that experience, I understood how important equipment is. At least until I can get equipment with the same performance as this dress, I have no choice but to endure.

Sigh. I tried wearing a red cape to make the dress less noticeable from a distance, but it still makes me feel uneasy… and people around me must be thinking this:

'That smug poor noble girl, wearing an unsuitable outfit and looking ridiculous'—!

Please take a look at my new work:

【Decided to be published in a week!】Blade Skill Online ~I, with the trash job 'Summoner,' the weakest weapon 'Archer,' and the worst stats 'Max Luck,' somehow become the 'Final Boss'!~

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3398fz/