An Ordinary Civil Servant’s Transfer to Another World A Gacha-Dependent Life Relying on Luck
The following morning, when I woke up, I was still staring at the ceiling with a groggy head. Looking beside me, I saw that Almerita had already gotten ready and was standing.
“Good morning, Lord Kazuto. I’m prepared.”
The way she called me “Lord Kazuto” last night still felt unfamiliar to my ears, and it made me a little embarrassed. But seeing her greet me with a warm smile, I decided it wasn’t so bad after all.
Before leaving the inn, the innkeeper handed us breakfast: bread, fruit, and some light side dishes, all wrapped up for us to eat in the carriage. She even gave us portions for lunch and some preserved food.
“Thank you so much, this really helps.”
Saying that, I thanked the innkeeper once more and left the inn.
We arrived at the horse station early in the morning. When I mentioned that I’d already been briefed by someone else before, the man at the reception gave me a quick explanation.
This was a large transport carriage, seating ten people, pulled by two horses. The journey to Lyubelia would take about three days, with rest stops and a border crossing along the way. The fare for two people was two gold coins, with the border toll separate.
“Here you go.”
I handed over two gold coins and showed my guild ID. The man at the reception seemed a little surprised when he saw that I was a G-rank adventurer.
It seemed that adventurers typically didn’t use such comfortable means of travel and instead moved with merchants as escorts on cargo wagons. Money was really tight for me. Well, I had zero regrets, though.
“Since you’re the first ones here, feel free to sit wherever you like and wait.”
Nodding lightly at the man’s words, I boarded the carriage. I had Almerita sit at the very back corner and took the seat next to her.
“Almerita, you okay?”
“Yes, Lord Kazuto. Though, I might be a little nervous. Sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s a three-day journey, so let’s try to relax and get through it.”
There was something earnest about her demeanor, and it made me feel anew that I had to protect her.
Though, in terms of stats, it’s pretty obvious I’d be the one protected.
The journey proceeded without any major issues, and we arrived at a rest stop near the border. After getting off the carriage and spending the night, we handled the border-crossing procedures the next morning. I paid one silver coin as a toll and declared Almerita’s status.
When they told me, “Slaves don’t require a toll,” I felt an indescribable emotion.
After that, the carriage journey continued without problems.
The well-developed roads were impressive. By the time we reached Lyubelia, it would be about 500 kilometers from the capital, calculated based on the carriage travel time. Being this far away—and even crossing into another country—meant I could finally feel at ease about any shady dealings with the royal family.
At last, the city of Lyubelia came into view.
A cityscape surrounded by massive walls spread before my eyes, exuding an atmosphere worthy of its title as the Labyrinth City. Feeling my heart race, I called out to Almerita.
“Almerita, we can see Lyubelia now.”
“Yes, Lord Kazuto. This is my first time leaving the Beast Kingdom where I was born and raised. I only knew Eastwood in Arstia, so this country—and everything here—feels completely new to me.”
Her words made me pause.
“You’re right… Maybe we should’ve explored Eastwood a bit more. The timing was bad, but I’m sorry about that.”
When I said that, Almerita shook her head with a lonely expression.
“I’m a slave. You don’t need to worry about me so much, Lord Kazuto.”
That word “slave” had been bothering me for a while now. Pushing down the murky feeling in my chest, I decided to pull myself together.
“Alright, from here on out. I know you’re tired, but let’s head to the guild first. I’ve got some ideas I want to try out for our future.”
At the guild, I had them exchange my Arstian gold coins. The fee was about ten percent.
After finishing the exchange, the receptionist said, “Merchants usually carry currency from both countries. It’s more convenient in Lyubelia that way.”
“If I had the luxury to do that, I wouldn’t be struggling.”
Almerita’s purchase had taken a bigger chunk out of my funds than I’d anticipated, which stung.
So, I pulled a bracelet out of my luggage and asked if they could buy it. It was something that hadn’t fetched a price in Eastwood, but I knew it had the effect of boosting agility, and I figured it might sell here.
“This was appraised in Eastwood. It’s supposed to permanently boost agility. Can you buy it?”
I casually presented it as something already appraised.
Of course, even if they checked it again, the bracelet genuinely had “Agility +5” on it—it was the real deal. Honestly, it was so good I wanted to use it myself, but for the sake of living, I had no choice. If it didn’t sell, I’d decided to give it to Almerita.
The receptionist’s eyes lit up as they replied.
“This would be in high demand in the Labyrinth City. We’ll buy it for five gold coins, but with the fee deducted, how about four?”
“Please do it!”
I agreed instantly.
If I were to start some kind of business using my appraisal skill, I’d need capital to buy stock. I wanted at least three gold coins as a buffer, so this was a huge help. For now, it looked like I could avoid an overly frugal lifestyle.
After finishing at the guild reception, I decided to talk to one of the staff. I wanted to get a solid grasp of the lay of the land for our future here.
“Excuse me. I just arrived from Arstia and don’t know anything about Lyubelia. Could you tell me about the city’s layout and the basics?”
A young male staff member smiled and nodded.
“Of course. Lyubelia is a city that’s recently developed as a labyrinth city, and its structure is relatively simple.”
He spread out a map on the edge of the desk and began explaining.
“At the center of Lyubelia are this guild and the mayor’s building next to it. These two are the core of the city, supporting the lives of adventurers and citizens. The city expands outward around this center.”
I nodded while peering at the map. Indeed, its circular structure centered around the guild was distinctive.
“There are only two gates: the West Gate and the North Gate. The West Gate connects to Arstia—it’s the one you entered through, Lord Kazuto. The North Gate leads to the labyrinth.”
“The labyrinth?”
“Yes. A short walk from the North Gate takes you to a large mountain. At the base of that mountain is the entrance to the labyrinth. It extends underground and has a very complex structure. However, we recommend only entering the labyrinth once you reach E-rank or higher, so you don’t need to worry about it for now.”
The labyrinth… Just hearing about it was exciting, but I also felt I needed to stay cautious.
“There’s a large shopping district along the road to the North Gate. This street, connecting the guild to the North Gate, has everything—gear and supplies for adventurers, as well as everyday goods for regular folks.”
“That’s convenient.”
“Roughly speaking, the shopping district is divided into two areas. The part closer to the guild has high-end and advanced gear, while the closer you get to the North Gate, the more beginner-friendly items you’ll find. That said, prices are just a guideline—there are plenty of hidden gems and good shops if you look.”
“I see. Where are the inns?”
“There are a few along the shopping district, but for beginners, I’d recommend the ones near the North Gate. There are two there: one’s affordable, and the other’s a bit pricier but includes meals. Both have decent reputations.”
I nodded at his words. I’d love to prioritize food, but while money’s tight, an inn with meals is a godsend.
“The residential areas are split: the west is a high-end district, and the east is currently being developed. If you walk east for about two hours, you’ll reach the sea, which is also a hub for fishing.”
“The sea… I’d like to visit sometime if I get the chance.”
“To the south, there’s a forest where most gathering quests take place. But beware—monsters show up there.”
“Got it.”
“Anything else you’d like to confirm?”
“I think I’m good for now. Thank you for the clear explanation—it really helped.”
“You’re welcome. Feel free to ask anytime if you’re unsure about something.”
Thanking the staff member for his thorough explanation, and with my pockets a bit warmer, we headed toward the North Gate to find an inn.
When we arrived at the inn, I first asked about the rates for an extended stay. The woman at the reception explained it with a practiced ease.
“You’re adventurers, right? One night for two people, with breakfast and dinner, is nine copper coins. But if you stay for a week—six nights, seven days—it’s five silver coins. That’s the better deal.”
Five silver coins… Considering the buffer I’d gained from the guild exchange, it wasn’t too much of a burden.
“I’d like to book for a week. What kind of room would it be?”
When I asked, the woman smiled slightly, looking a bit apologetic.
“The room’s small. Is that alright?”
I didn’t answer right away and glanced at Almerita beside me. She met my gaze and nodded firmly.
“It’s no problem, Lord Kazuto. A place to sleep is enough.”
Relieved by her words, I replied to the woman.
“Alright, we’ll take it.”
She pulled out the guestbook and had me fill in the necessary details. Meanwhile, she handed me the key and gave a quick rundown of where the room was.
“Dinner’s served in the first-floor dining hall. Breakfast will be there too.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
And so, our life in Lyubelia officially began.
Dinner was a simple menu of stewed soup, bread, and a bit of vegetables. Exhausted from the journey, we ate quietly and headed to our room.
Opening the door, I was shocked at how tiny the room was. Two wooden beds lined up against the wall, leaving barely any space to move around. There was no shelf or desk for luggage—just a tiny bit of open space in the center.
“…So this is what they meant by ‘small.’”
I muttered with a wry smile.
Almerita, watching me, smiled and looked around the room.
“Isn’t this enough? To me, it feels almost luxurious.”
“I’m grateful you’d say that, but… I’ve got to work harder so we can live somewhere a bit bigger.”
“If you’re thinking that way, Lord Kazuto, I’m sure it’ll happen soon.”
Almerita looked me straight in the eye as she spoke, her voice brimming with confidence. It lifted my spirits a little.
I sat on the bed to test it, giving a wry smile at the less-than-plush mattress.
“Alright, this is our starting point. First goal: get out of this cramped room and stay somewhere more comfortable.”
Almerita paused while unpacking, glancing at me briefly before starting to speak.
“What’s up?”
I asked lightly.
She hesitated, her gaze wandering for a moment, then shook her head slightly with a faint smile.
“…It’s nothing. Thank you.”
Her words felt reserved, like she was holding something back. But pressing her further didn’t seem right, so I just said, “Alright.”
“It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”
“Yes.”
As always, Almerita fell asleep almost instantly once she got into bed. She’s so composed in her usual behavior, but seeing her like this, she really is just a kid.
Now, what to do tomorrow? For now, I’ve achieved the urgent goal of escaping the country, and there don’t seem to be any pursuers or trouble on our tail.
Next up is pulling a gacha, but to keep doing that sustainably, I need a steady income. An 11-pull costs ten gold coins, and if I pull without a solid plan to earn that much, I’ll be stuck fast. I already know from experience how tough it is to earn ten gold coins—last time, I just got lucky with the gacha-produced Hammer of Plenty.
Buying a slave to form a party for steady income was a good move, but I didn’t expect to stop seeing Almerita as a slave in such a short time. No regrets, though.
Alright, it’s decided. The next goal is figuring out how to earn sustainably.
I’d love to pull a gacha, but enriching our lives takes priority. To do that, I’ll explore the town and check out the guild’s quests.