Third Outer World Story Series: Pumpkin Sorcerer - Chapter 25

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

“Well, excuse me for earlier.”

“When someone of my appearance shows up, that’s only a fair response, so I don’t really mind.”

“I appreciate that.”

That was the first exchange of words between Pumpkin and the old man as they moved into the back room of the Association where they were settled across the desk from each other.

While Pumpkin, by floating a bit, gave the impression that he was seated, he actually wasn’t; the elderly guy was firmly perched on what looked to be a soft-looking chair.

This was only a safety measure. Pumpkin had no idea how the other individuals would act, even if the old man was fine with him.

“Let me introduce myself first. I am Kozo Anjin. Here in Kunukihappy, I serve as the Adventurers’ Association’s president. Well, there are others who are more superior to me, but I’m practically the head of my own branch.”

“I’m Pumpkin. I’m an apprentice sorcerer, but a strange spell has transformed me into this…”

“Oh, well, I guess I would let you pass it off as that.”

As an introduction, Pumpkin was planning to narrate the same kind of background information that he had told Rio and Gohei, but judging from the look in old man Kozo’s eyes, it seemed that he already figured out that it was a lie, so Pumpkin chose to forgo doing so.

If pressed further, he would share information about his background and the contents of his cloak, but in principle, he would not divulge such information to a total stranger.

“So the requirements are exactly what you said on the surface, correct?”

“Yes, I wish to register with the Association and sell the materials.”

“I get it. Let’s get the documents and the estimator.”

After Kozo rang the desk bell to call for assistance, a staff member came and received the furs from Pumpkin and started to appraise them on the spot with documents brought with him.

Hmm. The fact that he is appraising the fur in front of the client is a favorable impression.

Pumpkin was about to read through the paperwork but…

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh, could you do the reading on my behalf?”

“Oh, that’s what you mean.”

…he didn’t know how to read the characters in this other world.

It was odd that he could effortlessly speak the language of another world; in fact, he had never given it any thought before. Since there was no chance for him to learn the writing system up to this point, this was inevitable.

So he requested Kozo to read it for him, and when Pumpkin found out that it was really nothing more than an ID document, Kozo asked him to register it. After responding to a few questions, Pumpkin consented to the registration.

“Now, while I’m waiting for it to be ready, I’ll answer some questions that you might have.”

“What? Is that okay?”

“It’s the first step in establishing a relationship of trust, and I won’t discuss anything confidential, so it’s no problem.”

Therefore, until the material was finished evaluated and the registration papers were issued, Pumpkin spoke with Kozo.

“First of all, I’m not inquiring about your identity because I have information from a certain source.”

“?”

“According to the source, a pumpkin monster has appeared in Lean Forest. Please exterminate it or find out where it lives. You know where it lives, don’t you? Do you have any insight into this source?”

“…”

Kozo’s remarks caused him to involuntarily avert his eyes.

Do I have any insight? Yes, I can think of a million things. This is definitely a request that came from that village to the Association. 

“If that’s all it is, though, it could be another entity that’s very similar to it, right? Where did your assurance come from?”

“When you brought the Strike Bear and Clawing Boar furs, that’s how I knew for sure. Those two species are endemic to Lean Forest.”

“I see.”

It seemed that Pumpkin’s lack of knowledge in this area was perfectly exposed. If he brought in the fur of animals that were indigenous to Lean Forest, that would lead to a connection.

However, given my look, why did they not immediately assault me?

Pumpkin asked Kozo about it.

“That is simply how things are in Kunukihappy. There are many things going on in Kunukihappy, but it’s not a town where people are ostracized solely on the basis of their bizarre appearance. Though it does attract attention when you look like that.”

And that was what he replied.

Hmm. While I have no understanding of how this came about, it is a piece of very welcome news for a guy like me. In other words, as long as it is limited to this town, I can move around provided I don’t engage in any suspicious activity.

Conversely, in other towns, I might be attacked out of nowhere. Well, that can’t be helped. I am a pumpkin.

“Excuse me.”

“It looks like the evaluation and issuance are over.”

Following the conversation, an official came in and put a bag containing some documents and something in front of Kozo.

Well, I wonder what it’s going to be.

“Now, here’s your Association registration card.”

“Thank you.”

Pumpkin took the card from him and read the contents.

?????

Name: Pumpkin

Class: Sorcerer

Rank: E

Number of requests received: 0

Number of successful requests: 0

Issued by Kunukihappy Adventurers’ Association

?????

Hmm. It really seems to be a little bit of an ID card.

He had pictured an advanced technology card with all kinds of information, which was frequently featured in Isekai stories, but in all fairness, this type of card may be more convenient in various ways without worrying about unnecessary information being leaked.

Furthermore, he was informed that the six ranks—S, A, B, C, D, and E—from highest to lowest did not represent the owner’s competence but rather the trustworthiness of the Association.

Well, when it comes down to it, a high rank = trust of the Association = capability to accomplish a task reliably = ability (including various aspects other than combat ability) to match the trust of the Association, so it is safe to assume that if the rank is high, so is the competency.

Incidentally, since this card was issued to the illiterate as well, it apparently contained a spell to make it readable to anyone. Whoever came up with this magic was not known to Pumpkin, but he was very grateful for it.

“Now that the valuation results have been announced… would you like me to start with the value of each coin?”

“By all means.”

After a quick glance, Kozo said he would present the results of the evaluation, sharing the value of each coin, so he decided to listen to him.