It had been nearly three months since Tricia was kicked out of the party. While the person who had been cast aside was living a perfectly happy life, Eagle and Anetta, the ones who had done the casting, were already flat broke.
At the time they parted ways with Tricia, neither of them had much money on hand, nor did they have much money saved in the guild.
"Meh, we'll save up in no time! I mean, our rewards just increased by one person's share!" Anetta said with a casual shrug.
With their promotion to B-rank all but guaranteed, Anetta wasn't worried about a thing.
Ever since she joined Eagle's party, Anetta's standard of living had improved significantly. She no longer had to pay for her own clothing, weapon maintenance, armor repairs, or medical bills. All the normal costs for an adventurer were completely gone.
"Eee! So cute!" Anetta squealed.
Whenever they visited a major town, she would go on a spending spree. She'd buy up cosmetics supposedly used by noble ladies or pick up an expensive, fancy staff for a Sorcerer. She ignored Tricia's constant nagging because she didn't want anyone telling her how to spend the rewards she'd earned.
(When we get to the next big town, I'm getting those earrings with the big gems!)
But even after they ousted Tricia, the money didn't pile up as they expected. Even after completing difficult quests, the rewards vanished entirely into their daily living expenses, and they couldn't even manage to properly maintain their gear.
(Why!? That woman (Tricia) was able to make scars vanish in an instant!)
Having expelled their Healer, they had assumed Anetta's level of Healing magic would be enough. It was true that Anetta could heal simple cuts, but the scars still remained, and her mana reserves were so low that she had to be extremely careful when using magic during an expedition. Anetta's pride and joy—her perfect skin—remained covered in scars.
"Those Healers, aren't they just ripping us off!?" Eagle growled.
Since it was the first time for both Eagle and Anetta to be in a party without a dedicated Healer, they were shocked to hear the standard prices.
"Wait, what!? Five large copper coins for one spot!? That means one silver coin for two!?" Anetta shrieked.
"That's right. You guys really been adventurers without knowing that?" an older adventurer replied with a smirk.
Feeling insulted by the Healer from the other group, Anetta made her displeasure clear.
"Isn't the healing for a measly C-rank way too expensive?" Anetta spat.
"Anetta!" Eagle barked.
Eagle had to step in to stop her, as she had become even more arrogant since they "reached" B-rank.
"If you don't want to receive healing from a 'measly' C-rank, then maybe you shouldn't be getting hurt in a place like this in the first place. You're B-rank, right? Go ask someone else. I'm not that much of a pushover," the other adventurer replied, turning his back on them.
They were in a small town located near a small demon forest. It was a spot where many low-level adventurers gathered to make some quick cash, because the monster materials from the local woods were decent. In the end, they had to wait for Anetta's mana to recover just to treat her injuries, but the scars remained etched onto her cheeks.
(Our savings are gone in the blink of an eye...)
Back when Tricia was around, this had never happened once. They always had clean clothes and well-maintained armor, and Tricia never needed extra time for weapon repairs.
Eagle looked in the mirror, his face covered in scars, and the handsome, calm man he once was long gone. And, of course, there were far more hidden away under his clothes. It was becoming clear that Eagle's swordsmanship had been entirely dependent on Tricia's healing, and his blade was now dulled by the fear of injury.
(If I get seriously hurt next time, will I even be able to pay for the treatment...?)
If he couldn't pay, he might be sold into slavery, a thought he couldn't bear.
'Eagle, even if I leave the party one day, you absolutely must stay frugal with your money!'
It was something Tricia had said so often that it bordered on nagging ever since they became adventurers.
Eagle and his companions were orphans, so becoming adventurers had given them the freedom to spend money like they never had before. Most other adventurers came from similar backgrounds and lived paycheck to paycheck, splurging the moment they got their hands on gold. That was why he had agreed to the high percentage of party savings Tricia insisted upon, as he thought she had a point.
'Having money in reserve gives you peace of mind, you know~'
(This savings is what keeps me going so I don't have to quit this job (black company)! That's been my emotional anchor~)
Tricia had been an orphan too, so other adventurers used to laugh at her, asking why she spoke with such unearned authority, but Eagle was used to her wise way of speaking and hadn't felt any particular awkwardness.
In the cheapest adventurer inn nearby, there was no room for him and Anetta to be intimate, so he slept clutching his tattered gear to ensure it wouldn't be stolen by the unsavory characters around him. He looked nothing like a B-rank adventurer.
"What!? Dropped to C-rank next month!?" Anetta screamed.
"It can't be helped. You haven't produced any real results..." a guild staff member sighed.
"It took so long to get to B-rank! Why is it so fast to fall!?" Anetta wailed.
(Anetta, you weren't even C-rank for that long, were you...)
It was Eagle and Tricia who had struggled in C-rank for the longest time—nearly two years. But that wasn't rare for adventurers, because C and D ranks were the most crowded classes. Just being able to maintain C-rank without ever dropping to D-rank was considered an achievement in the adventurer world, and if you didn't produce results, your rank would drop easily.
Since Tricia left, the two of them had barely completed a single request properly. On the contrary, they had failed several, and the guild's view of them had plummeted. Naturally, the monster materials they brought in were nowhere near the level expected of a B-rank party.
'I'll do everything I can! Eagle is the one putting his body on the line for us!'
Tricia had always said that while she made the plans. The next quest, the target monster, which town to head to... She would always consult with Eagle before deciding. If he looked worried, she would reconsider or persuade him, finding a middle ground where they were both satisfied, and they had truly built a great partnership.
'Always, thank you.'
'The one who's better at it should do it, that's all.'
Eagle wasn't good at the groundwork, but in exchange, he swung his sword with all his might for his hardworking companions, and to become even a little stronger.
Through Tricia's healing, they had made friends with other adventurers, gained good intelligence, and even participated in joint hunts for high-class monsters. It had been a fun life.
(Ah, those were the days...)
"Do something about it! You're the leader, aren't you, Eagle!?" Anetta shrieked.
Eagle watched her—screaming hysterically—with the coldness of a stranger.
Summary:
Eagle and Anetta, having ousted their healer Tricia, find themselves in severe financial distress and physical decline. As their status drops and their gear falls into disrepair, Anetta's hysteria increases while Eagle contemplates the harsh reality of their future. The story concludes with the two facing potential demotion and poverty, leaving their past success as a distant memory.
Trivia:
Eagle and Tricia previously struggled in C-rank for two years, making their maintenance of that rank an actual achievement.
The party's financial stability was largely due to Tricia's insistence on setting aside a percentage of rewards into party savings.
Eagle's sword skills were significantly bolstered by Tricia's active healing, which he now lacks.
Anetta's arrogance grew specifically after they moved up to B-rank.
Notes:
• Anetta - A blonde, manipulative, and arrogant sorcerer skilled in offensive and healing magic, she used her vanity and charm to usurp Tricia’s role as Eagle's romantic partner, causing Tricia’s expulsion from their party. Dismissive of other adventurers and plagued by impulsive spending, she subtly controls Eagle's group while acting as a teasing acquaintance who treats Tricia with ongoing hostility.
• Tricia - A pragmatic, light-haired C-rank adventurer with obsidian eyes and reincarnated past-life memories. Formerly a lonely, abandoned party healer and strategist known for her foresight and ability to heal scars instantly, she hides a rare item-restoring "Reset" skill and basic wind magic. She is now a self-conscious, budding entrepreneur in Edinbia, building a boarding house for low-rank adventurers.
• Eagle - A B-rank swordsman and former leader with reddish-brown hair and bright, orange-tinted eyes, he grew up with Tricia in an orphanage. Gentle but easily swayed, he betrayed Tricia—his long-time companion—for Anetta. Now a handsome man bearing significant facial scarring, he is burdened by guilt and a loss of confidence since Tricia left the party, acting stoic despite his visible discomfort.
• A - A student from South Middle School described as an idol who has been recruited into R's high school squad.
• T - A first-year student at District 13 High School who has recruited K and N from East Middle into his group.
• M - A first-year student at District 13 High School and the childhood friend of Anonymous Student 0006, described as an atavistic strong-female who looks plain but possesses significant power.
• B - A student originally from North Middle School who was added to S's group.
• S - A first-year student at District 13 High School who has taken B from North Middle into his squad.
• N - A student from East Middle with an eccentric personality who entered National High School due to complex family circumstances and used herself as leverage to negotiate a protective agreement for K.