Ch.13The Road to Rascal (4)

“You’re quite an expensive adventurer, Viktor.”

Orca said to me with a disgusted expression.

The life of one thief was worth 1 silver coin. I killed 10 of them, so I should receive an additional 10 silver coins.

Of course, it would be Orca’s money… or rather, the company he belongs to.

“Well, I’ve had a tough life.”

“Ha. Right. Otherwise, you couldn’t have killed 10 grown adults without magic.”

When I realized I was stronger than others, I was only 12 years old.

From the moment I understood that others couldn’t work 240 hours like I could, I thought I had received some kind of compensation.

I still believed it was a blessing bestowed upon me by the Blood God Karil, who took pity on me when I had nowhere else to turn.

“Sigh… Really. What would the guild staff say if they knew a Flint-rank adventurer was getting 50 silver coins for one request?”

“They’d be happy about it. After all, the guild isn’t the one paying.”

“Urgh… You’re so flippant about other people’s money…”

Despite his complaints, Orca wrote on my request form: [Slaughtered 10 thieves. Additional 10 silver coins to be paid.] Below that, he added: [Multiple witnesses. Testimony available.]

I accepted the modified request form with a satisfied expression and looked at the baby stuck to my right arm like a scab.

“Is there no way to get this off?”

“Well… there doesn’t seem to be any particular method. It’s still a baby. Seeing people die right before its eyes, that kind of reaction is only natural.”

“I see…”

“What kind of life have you lived not to know that… Well, I guess the gods are fair after all.”

Leaving the grumbling Orca behind, I carefully detached the little rice cake with reddened eyes from my arm.

Then I gave it a piggyback ride, and its short, chubby arms and legs wrapped around my neck and head so snugly that I didn’t need a fur hat.

“Mister sticky.”

“Yes. Stick close to me.”

With both arms free, I was fine either way.

My head felt heavier, but I’d notice immediately if it got lighter, so there wouldn’t be any problems.

Even if the thieves attacked again, they’re human too, so they wouldn’t deliberately target my head with a baby attached to it.

“By the way.”

“Hmm?”

“About those thieves… their numbers, the ambush… their good equipment… doesn’t something seem strange?”

“Ah…”

As I spoke to Orca while wearing my baby hat, he put his hands on his waist and let out a long sigh.

“Those guys… they were probably hired by our competitors.”

“Competitors?”

“Yes. The good equipment for thieves, their ant-like numbers, and the organizational discipline to charge in even after being intimidated by magic at the start… the only answer is mercenaries.”

“Hmm… Did you make enemies?”

“When you do business, karma accumulates. Low-level managers like me don’t know anything, but the executives probably couldn’t say a word even if a child working in the fields stabbed them in the neck with a sickle shouting ‘Revenge for my parents!'”

“Ha… Is it that bad?”

“Depends on the company… but we’re a pharmaceutical company. Being able to save lives also means being able to take them.”

“I see.”

I nodded in understanding.

Even in the back alleys where I used to live, people killed each other for a single packet of medicine.

A legitimate business can’t change human nature.

“Then I’ve made enemies with a mercenary group. Not only did I kill 10 of them, but I was also the direct cause of their defeat.”

“I suppose so. But don’t worry too much. Those mercenary bastards are cowards. They won’t dare touch you since you’re affiliated with the Adventurers’ Guild. The Guild might overlook deaths during adventures, but they show no mercy for revenge killings. At worst, you might get lynched if a fight breaks out in a tavern.”

The Adventurers’ Guild is a transcontinental organization.

It spread across 13 vast continents because of the existence of adventurers, but also because it had the resources to operate such an extensive network.

Even now, in the most remote rural villages, adventurers who came to fulfill requests were often the only connection to the outside world.

The Adventurers’ Guild, the only organization that could control such adventurers, was not something a mere mercenary group could challenge.

“Well, they should be worried about me, not the other way around. From what I saw of their fighting, they weren’t much different from thieves.”

“Hehehe… You’re the only crazy one among the adventurers here who could say that.”

Orca said that, and I didn’t bother to deny it.

Because objectively speaking, I was strong.

*

Three days after our departure, we arrived in Rascal as planned.

There were some cute little incidents where several adventurers turned into corpses along the way, but what did it matter?

It didn’t concern me since I wasn’t the one who died.

Honestly, even if you combined the compensation of all the dead, it would be less than what I earned.

Because of this (fortunate?) situation, there was a heated debate among the adventurers about who would receive the reward for returning the dead adventurers’ guild certificates. After a brief but intense commotion, the distribution was decided: first priority to those who had formed parties with the deceased, second to those who needed treatment for injuries, and third to those in urgent need of money.

Of course, I didn’t participate in that meeting.

Because I wasn’t injured, and I had plenty of money.

Upon arriving in Rascal, we each received a [Request Completed] stamp from Orca on our request forms and headed to the Adventurers’ Guild, but for some reason, Orca was following us.

“Why are you coming?”

“Because of the baby. Are you planning to keep using it as a helmet?”

“Mmm?”

The baby that had been stuck to my head sleeping woke up, and Orca lowered his voice before continuing.

“We’re supposed to meet the baby’s parents there. Don’t just leave after settling your request, wait a bit. Who knows? The parents might give you something nice.”

“Hmm… now that you mention it, that makes sense.”

I detached the baby from my head and held it in my arms, then entered the Adventurers’ Guild with Orca.

*

“Hold the baby for a bit. I need to collect my money.”

“Okay.”

As Orca took the baby, I pulled out the request form from my pocket and handed it to the reception desk clerk.

“…Request form confirmed. Here are your 50 silver coins.”

“Hehehe…”

I scraped the 50 silver coins into my pouch with a jingling sound, and the other adventurers watching didn’t hide their envious gazes.

“50 silver coins…”

“I’m jealous… What rank are you? I’m only Flint rank…”

Hahaha. I’m only Flint rank too. It’s just that I’m stronger than you all.

“Hey. If you’ve got your money, come over here.”

Orca was already seated.

It might be surprising, but seeing children or babies in the Adventurers’ Guild wasn’t uncommon.

Mothers waiting for their husbands often brought their children, and single-parent adventurers sometimes left their children there as well.

“Want something to eat? They have quite a menu here.”

“No, I’m good. Guild food is too expensive.”

I said that as I sat at the same table, and time passed idly.

As I was mindlessly watching the clock, the door to the Adventurers’ Guild opened urgently.

The ones who entered were a wealthy couple dressed in luxurious clothes adorned with jewels. They looked around frantically until they spotted the baby rolling on the table and rushed over.

“Oh, my baby!”

“Mama!”

The mother quickly embraced the baby, and the child, who hadn’t been in its mother’s arms for days, smiled brightly and ran into her embrace.

Meanwhile, the father wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and approached us.

“My name is Sebastian. You brought our child all the way to Rascal, didn’t you?”

“Haha. That’s right. I’m Orca, a manager at Porsha Pharmaceutical Company.”

“Ah… then this young man?”

“He’s an adventurer called Viktor. Young, but definitely skilled. Thanks to him, we were able to bring your daughter here safely.”

When Orca said that, the father asked with round eyes:

“Safely…?”

“Ah, well, we were actually attacked by thieves on the way.”

“Goodness! She wasn’t hurt, was she?”

“Of course not. Not a finger was laid on your daughter.”

When Orca said that, the father took my hand and said:

“Thank you so much. You’re still young, but you’ve done a great service.”

“It’s nothing. Young children should be with their parents.”

The father silently nodded, then handed his business card to both Orca and me.

“I don’t have anything to repay your kindness right now, but… with this card, at least in this city, you won’t get involved in any troublesome matters.”

It was quite a vague expression, but judging by the reactions of nearby adventurers, his words seemed to be true.

Afterward, the parents and we exchanged brief pleasantries before parting ways.

Eventually, Orca got up first, saying he had to go, and I also left the Adventurers’ Guild to look for lodging.