Ch.25Debt Settlement (6)

We returned to the Adventurer’s Guild and began looking for quests suitable for a two-person party.

“Hmm… this one pays too little… this one is too far away… this one is too dangerous…”

“I guess there are inevitable limitations for a two-person party…”

If I’m considered a close-range dealer and Seriya is a ranged dealer, then this party has no one for recovery or spellcasting.

It means if one of us falls, there’s no one to save them. Unfortunately, our party doesn’t have much appeal.

A sixteen-year-old battler who works 240 hours a week and takes jokes seriously without any sense of camaraderie.

And a Wood Elf scoundrel who, despite living for 200 years, lacks self-awareness and became a debt slave after getting cleaned out at a gambling den.

It might work for protagonists in comics or novels, but it’s an awkward combination for actual day-to-day living.

Even setting that aside, there simply wasn’t much a two-person party could do.

Most parties consisted of at least three, or ideally five members, so two-person parties weren’t very common.

“This quest seems decent enough.”

“Hmm… might be a bit too much for us?”

“The bandits couldn’t even scratch us. It would be laughable if we found an orc horde too challenging.”

“I guess you’re right.”

The quest I handed over was about eliminating a group of orcs that had been growing in numbers on the outskirts of Rascal.

As the present progressive phrase “growing in numbers” suggested, we couldn’t know exactly how many orcs there were currently. Proving its danger, we could earn another hefty sum of 100 silver coins by bringing back the head of the horde leader as evidence of the orcs’ extermination.

“Orcs… I’ve fought them in dungeons, but encountering them in the field will be a first.”

“Same here. If it’s a horde, there could be dozens, maybe hundreds. We’ll need to prepare thoroughly.”

Seriya nodded.

While Seriya could dismantle the orcs’ crude traps, she was a scoundrel by nature.

Besides archery, we couldn’t expect any ranged support, which meant I, as the battler in the vanguard, would somehow need to engage as many orcs as possible and reduce their numbers…

Should I use a shield?

No… that might work in narrow spaces, but in open terrain with attacks coming from all directions, a shield would be pointless.

Besides, I’ve never used a shield before. Though I have wielded a longsword and a medium sword simultaneously…

“Oh?”

“What is it?”

“I was just thinking, what if I used dual swords?”

“Dual swords?”

“Yeah. I may be short, but I have enough strength.”

“Well… that’s true. If you lacked strength, you couldn’t have cut those thieves in half.”

Seriya said that, indicating I should do as I pleased.

Given that our party couldn’t expect more than suppressive fire from range, we would ultimately need to engage in close combat against orcs who were much stronger than humans. In such a situation, dual swords that could utilize my swordsmanship and techniques would be more advantageous than a cumbersome shield.

With that in mind, Seriya and I headed to the blacksmith.

*

“Can you get me another sword similar to this one?”

“Hmm… planning to use dual swords?”

“Yes.”

“Hand me the sword then. I need to know the exact weight and length.”

At the blacksmith’s request, I handed him my sword. He placed it on the anvil, measured its dimensions and weight carefully, then said:

“When do you need it by?”

“We’re going to face an orc horde, so as soon as possible.”

“I’ll have it ready by tomorrow somehow. Are you planning to use that medium sword as part of your dual-wielding too?”

“Um… I suppose I should?”

After saying that, I took out the medium sword from my waist and handed it to the blacksmith.

“Well-made. It’s a bit worn from use, but still almost like new.”

“I bought it less than a month ago. Handle it with care.”

“Hmph. What blacksmith doesn’t handle iron roughly?”

“…”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

“So, how much?”

“Let’s see… First, I’ll need to modify your existing longsword and medium sword for dual-wielding. The handles are too long. Hmm… including the modifications and the new sword… 60 silver coins should do it.”

“60 silver coins…”

I remembered buying the longsword and medium sword for 50 silver coins in Parcifal.

Adding 10 silver coins for modifications, I thought it was a reasonable price, so I took out 60 silver coins from my money pouch and handed them to the blacksmith.

“Good. 60 silver coins. Received. Come back tomorrow.”

“Will do.”

We left the blacksmith’s shop and headed to the general store next.

*

“Excuse me? Firebombs?”

“Yes. I’ll pay for them. I need empty bottles about the size of beer bottles.”

“Ah… just a moment. I’m sure we have glass bottles suitable for throwing…”

Firebombs were commonly used throwing weapons among adventurers.

They were easy to make even for novices, and inexpensive to produce.

Moreover, they could be made in various sizes, and their potency could be easily adjusted by mixing different additives with the oil, making them invaluable throwing weapons for adventurers.

Clink!

The clerk soon brought out empty bottles as requested.

“How many do you need?”

“About 40 bottles. I have an extradimensional storage, so don’t worry about space.”

“I see… What monsters are you hunting?”

“Orcs. We’ve taken on a rather difficult quest.”

“I understand. Then this size should be perfect.”

The clerk offered bottles of about 500ml, and we nodded in agreement.

We purchased the bottles along with oil to fill them.

Then we bought thin cloth to serve as wicks, clay to prevent oil leakage, and various other materials. Seriya asked me as I purchased these items without hesitation:

“How do you know about all these materials?”

“I learned while helping university student protests. Educated folks tend to become more radical.”

With Seriya’s newfound understanding, we went to an open space in the city and began crafting firebombs.

*

Clatter… clatter…

“You know, it seems like there’s nothing you don’t know.”

“Well, I grew up in a port city.”

I replied while mixing sugar dissolved in oil.

The reason for adding sugar to oil was to increase viscosity—viscous fire could easily stick to clothes or weapons, causing secondary damage.

“Does living in a port city make everyone like that?”

“Well… I’ve killed people for money and desperately learned any skill I could. I’m more of a special case.”

“I see…”

I inserted cloth into the bottle opening and sealed it tightly with clay to prevent oil leakage.

Blocking oxygen was necessary to prevent the oil from evaporating on its own.

Contrary to what many believe, the cloth wick didn’t necessarily need to touch the oil.

The principle of a firebomb was to light the cloth, throw it, and have the flame from the cloth ignite the oil that spills from the broken bottle.

While making the firebombs, I asked Seriya:

“So, what did you learn in the forest?”

“Well… the usual forest stuff. Taking care of plants, setting traps for dangerous animals, handling a bow. And making and mending clothes.”

“Practical skills.”

“Not really. Traps that work on beasts aren’t very effective against people or monsters.”

“What about making clothes?”

“Elves aren’t barbarians. We have clothing stores too.”

“So not particularly practical skills after all.”

“Funny enough, it was quite helpful when I first left the forest and settled in human society.”

“I can see that. Many households make a living through piecework sewing.”

“Something like that.”

Stories of mothers raising hungry children through piecework sewing or other odd jobs were common.

It was something you could see without much difficulty, and sewing was one of the easiest ways for women, who were physically weaker than men, to earn money safely at home.

Considering how I myself had tried to mend old clothes with bleeding fingers, the income of skilled seamstresses could certainly support an entire household.

“But… it wasn’t easy, entering a completely new society… especially mixing with a different race…”

“…”

“At first, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to exchange elven money for human currency, where to find lodging and food, or how to earn money.”

I didn’t respond.

I simply continued making firebombs while absorbing her emotions that had begun pouring out like a flood.

“So… I became an adventurer, sometimes being betrayed, sometimes betraying others, and that’s how I’ve lived until now. With this green skin and pointed ears.”

“I see.”

I didn’t say it must have been hard or that everything would be fine now.

Her life wasn’t over yet, and we were currently preparing to face death.