episode_0008

Because I incurred a deficit on my first quest, after paying the inn fee, I was truly broke. Even the jerky and bread Grandpa packed for me seemed like they would run out by tomorrow.

“Revenge and all that aside, I need money first….” It was good that I hardened my resolve and left Grandpa’s side, but. In many ways, it wasn’t easy.

But it wasn’t that there was no opportunity to overcome the situation. Once the label of being from the slums was removed, people were still displeased with me, but they didn’t try to bother me like before. That means finding work would be much easier. Even while working as an adventurer, I had to look for other side jobs.

“……Since I look decent enough, maybe things will work out.” If I had been ugly and unpleasant, there would have been no solution. Fortunately, although unpleasant, I looked decent enough. Slap slap- I lightly patted my cheeks to snap myself back to reality and muttered to myself.

“……Snap out of it.”

I grabbed my sword and left the inn. I was tired from what happened yesterday, but I couldn’t rest. No matter how tired I was, if I rested in a situation like this, I would immediately become homeless starting today. In a medieval-style world with terrible public security, nothing could be more dangerous than a young girl sleeping on the streets. When I was in Dirhan, I was so filthy that maybe they didn’t even see me as a girl, so it was fine, but now that I wash and go around cleanly, it’s noticeable that I’m a girl, which is troublesome.

I naturally shifted my steps and headed for the Adventurers’ Guild. Yesterday it was completely empty, but today there were quite a few people. They mostly seemed to be in their 30s to 40s, and every single one of them had a strong impression. As I was hesitantly standing there, feeling self-conscious, a man who was cleaning his spear spotted me and beckoned.

“You, come here.” “…Yes, yes?”

Although I was flustered, coming when called and going when told to go was the attitude I had to adopt in this world, and after several months of learning, I scurried over like it was an ingrained habit. The man who had called me scrutinized me several times before falling into thought for a moment.

“Are you strong?” “…Excuse me?”

What could it mean to suddenly call me over and ask if I’m strong? Is there perhaps a task where I need to carry burdens? I tilted my head, unable to guess the intention behind such a question.

“Is there something I need to lift and move?” “…No. Looking at your body, you won’t do at all.”

The man said that and clicked his tongue. Although I didn’t know what the job was, it seemed like work requiring strength was needed and there was no one available, so I cautiously asked.

“Excuse me, could I know what the job is?” “…It’s nothing special. The original porter ran away.”

Is he looking for someone to replace the worker who was in charge of miscellaneous tasks and ran away? Thinking this might be an opportunity, I decided to talk a little more.

“Excuse me, do you need a porter? Or do you need an odd-jobber?” “…If I had to say, it’s the latter, but.” “Then how about giving me a try?” “You?”

To the gaze that was scrutinizing me up and down, I puffed out my chest and put my hands on my hips to express confidence. Of course, I didn’t meet his eyes. The man muttered as if pondering for a moment, then asked again.

“It seems you can’t handle physical work, so what else can you do well?” “I can cook and butcher byproducts, I can read and write, and I can even maintain weapons.” “…That means you’re either versatile or can’t do anything properly… Can I test you?” “Yes!”

Anyway, the only quest I could do by myself was herb gathering. I couldn’t even pay today’s inn fee with that. If so, it seemed much easier to cooperate with another adventurer like this and share the quest fee, so I answered confidently. Although I exaggerated a little, I could do all of it. Grandpa’s antique shop was an antique shop in name, but it was practically closer to a general store handling all sorts of things, and by helping out at such a shop for several months, I had picked up quite a lot by observing.

“I’ll tell you in advance, for the quest fee, I get 9 and you get 1.” “Yes!” “And if you run away before completing the quest, you get nothing.” “Yes!” “Do you understand everything and are you answering correctly?” “Yes!”

Anyway, this wasn’t the time to be picky, so I answered ‘Yes’ to everything as if thoughtlessly clicking ‘agree’ on terms and conditions. I had pretty much figured out the man in front of me. The bronze token dimly visible at his waist. In other words, this man was a same-rank adventurer. He was a warrior who used a spear, and was in such a desperate situation for a worker that he would ask an absurd question like ‘Are you strong?’ to a small girl like me.

If there was anything I had grown in over the past few months, it wouldn’t be my sword skill, but my situational awareness. Because I was nagged whenever I did anything and received hateful stares, I diligently observed people’s states and tried my best not to offend their feelings, which improved my situational awareness. The worker ran away. Unless he was an idiot who didn’t even know what it meant to work as an adventurer’s helper, he would have known it was hard work, so the fact that he ran away means the adventurer’s personality has a flaw. Perhaps, he’s strict about the work, or his personality is just terrible.

But. If you ask if that’s a problem for me, it’s not. I had already experienced all sorts of contempt in Dirhan. I experienced being treated as less than human and children throwing stones at me right away. As long as it wasn’t worse than that, I could endure it. So, it’s fine.

Then the fundamental problem remains: whether I can withstand the intensity of the work. The fact that I can do many things was an exaggeration, but it wasn’t entirely a lie either. I wasn’t exceptionally good at anything, but I could definitely do things to an average degree. But no matter what I do, it only matters if my stamina can keep up. In that sense, if I objectively assessed my stamina… that was also fine. To use a game analogy, although my stamina bar was small, my recovery speed was fast because I was young.

“Alright… since I’m the one in a hurry anyway, I’ll be relying on you. You unpleasant kid.” “…It’s Ellie.” “Okay, I’m Ban.”

The man who introduced himself as Ban sighed and extended his hand along with his self-introduction, and I hesitated but grasped it. His rough hand felt like a rock.

“And, when you talk to people, look them in the eye.” “You’ll feel unpleasant, so I can’t.” Even Grandpa Leon, who cared for me so much, would frown when he looked into my eyes. This means that someone who doesn’t think much of me will feel repulsion if they look into my eyes, and someone who hates me will feel almost a murderous impulse if they look into my eyes.

“Alright, if you don’t like it, I won’t force you, but let me make this clear: you have to do the work properly, okay?” “…Yes!”

At Ban’s words, I nodded vigorously, and Ban stood up.

“Then let’s go. Because the guy who used to work ran away, it’s taken too much time.” “What’s the quest?” “Goblin extermination. A small tribe was discovered nearby, and I was told to handle it before it grows larger.” “…Oh.” “If the job is finished successfully, you’ll get 2 silver coins as your share.”

If I get 2 silver coins even with a 10% share, it means this is a 20-silver-coin quest. It definitely seemed like missions that involved fighting actual monsters, not miscellaneous tasks like catching rats or gathering herbs, had a completely different level of income.

“There are several things you need to know first. Do you have a good memory?” “It’s not bad?” “An ambiguous answer is worse than not answering at all.” “My memory is average or better.” “Alright, then remember well. The preparations are mostly done, and we’ll carry out the mission tonight.”

Ban’s explanation continued. This quest, as mentioned earlier, is the subjugation of a small goblin tribe. He said the number of goblins was estimated to be around 9 as a result of previous reconnaissance.

“You can handle 9 of them by yourself?” “No?”

Ban looked down at me with a disgruntled look as if to say why would I ask such a question. “Maybe a Silver-rank adventurer could do it, but I don’t have that skill.” “Then isn’t it better to just gather people and attack?” “Then we’d have to split the quest reward, wouldn’t we? Who would that be enough for?”

It was a truly simple reason. To fight 9 goblins because he didn’t want to split the money. Should I say he’s greedy, or should I say he’s bold?

“I already scouted multiple times and confirmed the weak points, and I set traps. But the previous porter ran away saying he didn’t want to die, asking if I was really going to do it alone.” “What on earth did you make him do?” “It was nothing special. I told him to be bait.”

To say ‘be bait’ so nonchalantly. His personality seemed quite twisted. And I, right now, have gotten involved with such a twisted guy.

“You lure them into the traps I’ve set. How about it? Can you do it?” “Um, just in case, I’m asking…” “Alright, ask me anything. But once the mission starts, be quiet.” “If I get caught while luring them, will you save me?” “That would mean the goblins didn’t fall into the traps, wouldn’t it? I can’t fight. If I stepped in to help you, I’d die too, wouldn’t I?”

What an irresponsible adult. I sighed.

“It’s not just luring them, I have to do the odd jobs afterwards, right?” “That’s right. You said you’re more skilled at other odd jobs than physical work, didn’t you?” “I guess so…”

But no matter what, it didn’t seem right for the ratio to be 9:1 for doing that kind of work, so I awkwardly attempted to negotiate.

“…For this job, please make it 8:2.” “You can negotiate too? Alright. Kid, I’ll make it 8:2.”

I regretted thinking, ‘If I had known he’d accept it without hesitation like that, I would have just asked for 7:3-‘, but the opportunity had already passed. “Sigh.”

I’m not in a position to be picky about jobs, so I’m doing it, but. From yesterday until today, things have been going strangely every time.