Reinhard pondered for a moment, seriously considering Satoru Gojo's words.
Under the astonished gazes of the knights behind him, he took out two silver coins and handed them to Satoru Gojo.
"This should be enough for two days at an inn and some meals."
"You really are a generous, good person."
Satoru Gojo gave Reinhard a thumbs-up in praise, then accepted the money without the slightest hesitation.
His fingertips brushed the silver coins, feeling their cool metal. With a light flick of his finger, a coin spun into the air before he snatched it back into his palm.
"Thanks!"
With a cheerful tone, Satoru Gojo waved at Reinhard.
"I'll likely be around here for the next two days. If you run into trouble, come find me."
With that, Satoru Gojo turned to leave. He wasn't worried at all about whether Reinhard would be able to find him. As a member of the local patrol, Reinhard was undoubtedly familiar with the area; with his network, finding someone would be incredibly simple.
Furthermore, the man in front of him was a rare powerhouse.
Yes, even he had to admit it.
This young man, who appeared to be around his age, was extremely strong. Although they hadn't exchanged blows or interacted deeply, the perception of "kindred spirits" between the strong was very distinct.
Satoru Gojo, who stood nearly at the pinnacle of his own world, hadn't encountered such a presence in a long time. Before coming to this strange world, even the so-called "senior" elders in his eyes were nothing more than mediocre. He hadn't expected to encounter such a powerhouse on the street so soon after arriving.
For someone who was virtually invincible in his own world, this was actually excellent news. Compared to being powerful in solitude, the existence of more strong individuals made things far more interesting.
After taking a couple of steps, Satoru Gojo seemed to remember something and turned back to add a word to Reinhard.
"Oh, by the way—if you encounter any particularly troublesome 'monsters,' like the kind that won't die and keep regenerating, come find me. I'm the best at handling that sort of thing."
These words caused Reinhard to freeze slightly.
Monsters that can regenerate? Is it because of the Royal Selection period?
He wanted to ask more, but Satoru Gojo simply waved his hand and disappeared nimbly into the crowd, showing none of the "homeless" distress he had displayed moments ago.
Reinhard watched his retreating back, a flash of contemplation in his blue eyes. He could sense a powerful force hidden within Satoru Gojo, yet this strength seemed peculiar—it had a flavor he couldn't quite describe.
The knights behind were discussing the interlude, their eyes full of curiosity and confusion as they looked in the direction where Satoru Gojo had vanished.
"Sir Knight, that guy..." a guard nearby said, perplexed.
"Don't worry about it," Reinhard shook his head and withdrew his gaze. "He harbors no malice; he is just an interesting traveler."
Carrying the borrowed money, Satoru Gojo walked down the street in a good mood. Although it wasn't a fortune, he clearly had a place to stay tonight.
Based on his impressions from the day, Satoru Gojo quickly found an inn. He walked inside and slapped a silver coin onto the counter, his tone lazy.
"Give me your best room. With the leftover change, go to the cake shop at the corner and get me some berry cakes—make sure they're the freshest."
The innkeeper's eyes lit up at the sight of the silver coin, and he nodded hurriedly. "Right away, guest! Please wait a moment!"
As the Royal Capital of Lugnica, accommodation costs were naturally not low. While there were cheaper rooms, Satoru Gojo had no intention of making himself uncomfortable. This world was like a vacation to him; since he was here to play, there was no need to be too frugal.
Led by the owner, Satoru Gojo arrived at his room. While it couldn't compare to the modern world, it had a certain exotic charm. Satoru Gojo went to the inn's bathhouse for a soak and then lay on the bed, feeling completely relaxed.
"According to that prompt, the so-called protagonist should be arriving tomorrow."
"It's actually quite exciting. I wonder what kind of guy earns the title of 'protagonist.'"
Satoru Gojo took off his sunglasses, his clear eyes shining brightly under the lamplight.
...
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Satoru Gojo woke up. Back at Jujutsu High, his days were occasionally busy, but generally quite leisurely. Today was the day the "protagonist" would descend, so he needed to be in top form.
After a quick wash, Satoru Gojo went down to the inn lobby. The owner had already followed his instructions, returning from the corner bakery with the berry cakes and a glass of warm milk.
Starting his day with berry cakes for breakfast, Satoru Gojo hummed a tune, beginning a pleasant day. Shortly after he finished eating and wiped his mouth, the familiar pale blue text suddenly surfaced in his vision with its signature electronic quality.
[System Notification: The protagonist of this world, Subaru Natsuki, is about to arrive. The arrival location has been marked. Countdown: 10 minutes. Supporting character, please prepare for the encounter.]
It was slightly different this time. It wasn't just text; in the upper right of his vision, something like a mini-map from a video game appeared. He could see a triangular arrow representing his position and a red dot not far away.
Without a doubt, that was where the protagonist would appear.
"Oh? He's finally coming?"
Satoru Gojo raised an eyebrow, a defiant smile curling on his lips.
"Marking the location so clearly saves me the trouble of searching."
He stood up and began walking toward the indicated location. It was morning, and the streets were becoming lively, much like when he first arrived yesterday.
According to the mini-map and his memories of wandering around yesterday, the location was likely a small plaza with a fountain. Walking toward the plaza, Satoru Gojo passed the same fruit stall from yesterday.
The middle-aged man with the scar was currently busy setting out fresh apples. Satoru Gojo walked up, greeted him familiarly, grabbed an apple, wiped it, and started eating.
Hearing the noise, the man prepared to greet a customer, only to look up and see it was Satoru Gojo again. Yesterday's events had left a very deep impression on him.