99 - Chapter 97 Remuneration

Sarah and her family's first time in the labyrinth ended without incident, and they were finally able to come out of the labyrinth.

"Yuta! It's almost sunset, are you going back to the inn?"

(Yeah. But I'm going to the Adventurers' Guild after I drop everyone off at the inn, so stay with me.)

"Oh, well, you should take Sarah and the others with you since you've just completed your first commission. I don't think it will be too much trouble with the condition of the Adventurers' Guild this morning, and I'm sure they'll be happy to show you how they can turn the demons they killed into money.

Well, the other adventurers around us were just whispering from a distance, nothing serious, but I wondered what Eltina would say.　But it might be important to confirm with your own eyes that you will be paid in money or ...... properly. I'm going to try to take him to the first request accomplished.　It's a bit of a quandary, but I'll check it out.

"Sara, Marco, Kikka, I'm going to the Adventurers' Guild to report the accomplishment of my first request.　However, as you found out when you went to the Adventurers' Guild before, they don't like me, so they'll talk about me behind my back."

The three of them talked for a few moments and then turned their attention to us.

"I'm going. We were told a lot of things in the slum, so a bad word is nothing.

"Master. I don't mind Kikka and I don't mind you. We're used to being talked down to.

Don't put on a cheerful face and say sad things. Well, I was going to keep Sara and the others away from the Adventurers' Guild, but now that I'm going to show them their first reward, I might as well take them with me just for the hell of it.

"I see. If it's okay, let's go."

I didn't know what to say to her sad words, so I let them slide. I guess it's a cool adult to be able to say something nice at a time like this.

As I was walking around with my head in a quandary, before I knew it, I had arrived at the Adventurers' Guild. I couldn't think of anything to say. I came up with a few ideas, but something was off.

You don't have to get used to swearing. I'll protect you.

Basically, I'm the one being bad-mouthed. You're fundamentally wrong.

Don't worry, I'll beat up all the naysayers.

I'll just get mad and lash out at them for bad-mouthing me.

*I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. It's all right now. I'm here.

What would happen if I were here?

*Sarah and her friends are stronger now. We just need to blow the naysayers away.

We're gonna create a jarhead.

*Let's be happy from now on.

It seemed good for a moment. But I'm the one who's making them fight the undead in the land of the dead and the labyrinth ...... to make them rethink their spiritualism. And it's like a proposal.

I feel like I'm getting close, but I can't get to the right answer. It's frustrating. Also, while I was pondering, I saw Tamamo on my shoulder with Belle in his arms. I didn't notice.

"Master. Aren't you coming in?"

"Hmm?　Yeah, I'm coming in. Let's go."

For now, let's just report back on what we've accomplished. I'll think of something cool to say before I go to bed. When we enter the Adventurers' Guild, there are a lot of people at this time before dinner, as if everyone is coming home. It's not a good time for us.

We ignore the others and get in line at Eltina's counter. The adventurer in front of me looks at me disapprovingly, but I don't care.

I think about queuing up at the other receptionist's counter, but I don't want to add to the number of beautiful women who are giving me blank stares. It would be a bit disconcerting.

No one gets in line behind me after I get in line. This line is getting shorter and shorter because everyone else is lining up in the other lines. I thought adventurers were supposed to be more free, but they all follow the guild's wishes. Oops, it's my turn.

"Hello, Miss Ertina!"

Can I help you?

You're unapproachable.

"I've fulfilled your request and I need you to process it. Ten roughbirds, two hundred and ten herbs, and a magic stone. I haven't dismantled them yet.

"If you are requesting a delivery, please drop off your items at the delivery station in the back over there and line up here."

...... I see, so that's how the system works. I didn't hear that in the beginner's class. Is it a matter of course?

"I understand. Everyone goes to the delivery place first, let's go. Let's go. See you later, Mrs. Ertina."

He takes everyone to the delivery station in the back. Again, we get in line, much to our chagrin.

"What do you got?"

...... a blunt old man asked me. This guy never changes his attitude. He is uniformly blunt to me and to the adventurers in line in front of me. In a way, I like him.

"Ten unmemorized roughbirds and two hundred and ten herbs, sir."

"Unmolested?　Oh, you have a magic bag, then come here."

I was taken further back and led to a place where various materials were kept.

"Give it here."

I put out ten roughbirds where I was told. The old man muttered that it was quite a bag. I wonder if this information will also be sent out to the guild.　Well, the one I'm using now is from a treasure chest, so I guess it's all good. The one with unlimited capacity and time stop should be handled with some caution.

Herbs and magic stones are over here.

The herbs that Belle and the others have worked so hard to collect, and the magic stones that Sarah and the others have worked so hard to gather, are placed on the designated desks. I'll get one request for thirty herbs, so I'll have to wait for the fractional number.

"Okay. Wait for me over there while I check things out.

While I was waiting in the corner of the delivery room, chatting with Sarah and the others, the old man called me and handed me a wooden tag. This seemed to be an exchange ticket. I went back to the counter and handed him the ticket.

"..................I have completed five requests for the delivery of roughbirds. I have confirmed that you have completed seven delivery requests for medicinal herbs. The total cost of the roughbirds, including the parts that are not usually brought back and the dismantling fee, is 220,000 elt. The total amount of herbs is 35,000 elts. The magic stone is almost F grade, so 18,000 elts. The total is 273,000 elts.

That's quite a price. Is it fair?　No, the most profitable meat in Rough Bird could bring it all back with a magic bag. Is it more severe for those who don't have a magic bag?

Sara and the others who were listening to the conversation next to us were also cheering. They are smiling so much. They must have had a hard time making money, so they are quite happy to be able to earn money by themselves.

As Sylphy said, we are glad to have brought Sara and the others to the Adventurers' Guild. It will be a great encouragement for their training.

I understand. By the way, how much more work do I have to do to raise my rank?

"To move up to rank E, you must succeed 20 times in F- and E-rank requests.

That means eight more times, and I'll be up next time.

Thank you very much.

I thank him and leave the Adventurers' Guild. The annoying stares will go away when you leave the guild.

"Yuta. There was Gilmouth, but he didn't get the magic grass and almighty grass that Yuta wholesaled, and it seems that the nobles and merchants are pushing him up against them. It seems that the Adventurers' Guild wants to hide the fact that they don't know who got the materials. They're blasting us to hurry up and find the wholesaler.

Gilmouth was there. We gave out a good amount of herbs, but some people didn't get them. It's all right that I'm bothering Guilmas like I planned, but I hope we can get to him during our stay. Okay, back to the inn.

****

"Welcome home. Here are your keys. What about dinner?　If you're going to eat, do you want me to carry it to your room like I did yesterday?"

Martha asked me as soon as I entered the inn. She usually starts with small talk, but she was busy today.

"Yes. Yes. I would like to order four more servings for the same four people as yesterday.

"Sure."

We leave Martha and gather in Sarah's room. What a relief. Even though they knew they would be safe with Sylphy and the others, they seemed to be a little nervous to explore the labyrinth with Sara and the others.

I pat the flirtatious Belle and her friends to calm them down. She can't wait for her dinner to come. They're all awake and ready to eat.　

"Sara, Marco, Kikka, how was your first time in the labyrinth?"

While petting Belle and the others, I ask Sarah and the others what they thought of their first time in the labyrinth.

"I was nervous, but I discovered some new things and learned a lot. FUKU-chan is helping me, so I think I'll be fine as long as I stay calm and behave myself. I'm just worried that I might encounter a monster that won't be able to use Huku-chan's power.

Sarah was nervous. I didn't notice because she was looking around as usual and following Marco and Kikka closely.

"Sylphy said that it would be difficult to defeat a hard enemy as easily as before if we encounter a hard enemy. I think we need to have a plan in place. How was Marco?"

"Master. I was okay this time, but should I be able to use the buki or something?"

......That's a hard question.

"I can't teach you how to handle a weapon. And even if Marco could handle a weapon, I don't think he would be able to do a stronger attack than Uri. It's best to keep a sharp lookout and stay away from demons you can't beat. How was Kikka?"

If you keep a good lookout, you will be able to escape faster than the demons notice you. Some of the demons might not be able to use magic, so we should have something in mind, but for now we should be okay.　

"I'm fine with Mame-chan. It's been a lot of walking.

Was Kikka having a hard time walking? We took breaks, but maybe next time we will take breaks a little more often.

"You'll get stronger as your level goes up, so I'm sure it won't be a problem after a while."

Hmmm. I thought I might get carried away since it was a pretty easy win, but all three of you are so serious.

"Well, we'll be exploring the labyrinth the same way we did today for a while, so you can try different things.

Okay... okay... yes.

At any rate, I'm relieved to hear that entering the labyrinth is not a problem.

Now let's see what the reward is.

That's 273,000 elt. I divided it into three equal portions of 91,000 elts each and gave it to Sarah, Marco, and Kikka.

"This is your first reward as adventurers, so don't waste it."

I don't think these kids will be so careless or wasteful with money since they have been through hardships with money, but we have to be careful. Is it dangerous to let kids have a lot of money at ......?　I think 90,000 is a lot for an elementary school student. ......Fuku and his friends are there to protect you.

"Master. Is it okay if we take it?　And with this distribution, you won't have enough for the master for all of today's rewards."

"You can have it because it's a reward for all the hard work Sarah and the others did. And I don't need my share. I was just behind Sara and her friends, and I have plenty of money to pay for the fire dragon and stuff."

It is heartbreaking to see a kid with enough money to be called a millionaire, and yet he is denied a reward for his hard work. It would be possible to cheat them out of all the money by saying that it teaches them the harshness of society, but I'm not that much of a money worshipper, and I'd rather not take the money than take a small cut of the reward.

But master, we don't spend money because you feed us. But master, we don't spend money because he feeds us.

"No. No. I'll feed you, so you don't have to. If you don't have a chance to use it, you can save it, because you may need it when you grow up.

Marco is twisting his head. Kikka is also puzzled. When I was a kid, I used to be so excited when I got an allowance, but I guess that means I'm not used to having money at my disposal.

"Master. As Marco said, I haven't had a chance to spend any money so far. Can you give me some money for food and living expenses?"

After much discussion, it was decided that I would keep the money for now. I was told not to waste the money, which was very painful for me since I had run out of pocket money that day.

I'll save the money and give it to him when he needs it or when he's on his own. I want to be moved when I give it to them, and I want them to say, "Thank you, master.