Tricia sat at the back of the wagon bound for Edinbia, a bustling hub for adventurers. As a solo scout, she had taken a commission to guard the merchant caravan.
Edinbia was a city built on the edge of the world's largest dungeon. Because that labyrinth remained unconquered due to its brutal difficulty, new, rare materials were discovered there daily. It was the dream destination for any adventurer hoping to strike it rich.
(I'd talked to Eagle about going there once we reached C-rank...)
She hadn't gone. Anetta had insisted otherwise, so they never made the trip. Remembering that, a small, sharp ache tugged at Tricia's chest.
Adventurers were ranked from S down to F. Reaching C-rank was considered the threshold of a "proper" adventurer—the point where you could make a living and secure better-paying contracts. Eagle and Tricia had climbed to C-rank at a blistering pace. Because they were both humble and polite, they were well-liked by those around them and frequently offered the best jobs. At least, that was how it went before Anetta joined their party.
(Well, at least I saved up more money than I expected, thanks to that.)
Tricia had been planning this for a long time.
(Monthly rental rooms for adventurers. I just know there's a demand for it~~)
Standard inns for adventurers were nothing more than places to crash. The noise of drunken shouting continued until late at night, and the comfort level was abysmal. They were hardly places where one could find peace. Adventurers who felt the same way would sometimes go out of their way to book rooms at slightly more expensive inns reserved for merchants.
"Adventurers need holidays, too," Tricia muttered. "I just want to relax in a quiet room."
Adventurers didn't own homes, but they often stayed in the same town for months at a time. However, unlike the roach-motels for adventurers, the room rates at standard inns were exorbitant. Rental rooms existed in various places, but adventurers were almost always turned away. Because of their profession, they tended to wreck the rooms, and there was always the risk they'd leave their luggage behind and never return from a dungeon—presumed dead.
"Monster! Incoming!" the driver of the lead wagon shrieked.
Suddenly, a pack of ten bear-like monsters descended upon the caravan.
"Aw, hell!" Tricia cried out.
Tricia wasn't exactly a combat specialist. She had been hired as a healer, and she could already see several people injured. The wounds looked deep.
(My range heal won't reach from here...)
She had to get to the front lines and start treatment immediately.
"Hey! Get to work!" Tricia shouted, kicking the other solo adventurer who was fast asleep next to her.
"My bad..." the man mumbled.
Silver hair shimmered under the sunlight. The man vaulted off the wagon with effortless grace, soared to the front in an instant, and dismantled the monsters with insulting ease. Tricia hurried toward the wounded to begin her own work.
"That must have hurt," Tricia said softly, kneeling by the driver. "I'll fix it right up."
"Ugh... uuugh..." the driver groaned.
As Tricia touched them, the driver's face, contorted in agony, smoothed into a peaceful expression.
"Heh," the adventurer chuckled, looking back at her. "Your healing skills are still top-tier, as always."
"Shut up!" Tricia snapped. "If you don't want to be called a deadbeat freelancer, get out there and clear the perimeter!"
"Yeah, yeah," the adventurer replied, his deep blue eyes crinkling with laughter.
"Luke-sama! Please!" the caravan leader cried out, rushing over. "We hired you for a reason!"
"My bad!" Luke called back. "I drank way too much last night!"
"I thought you were a lightweight, Luke-sama!?" the caravan leader protested.
"Haha..." Luke laughed.
"Seriously!" the caravan leader added.
"Come on!" Luke countered. "That woman's healing even the horses! It's like there was zero damage, right?"
Just as Luke claimed, Tricia had finished healing everyone, including the horses, in the blink of an eye.
"The wagon is still busted!" the caravan leader complained.
"It's just a wheel, right?" Luke said. "I'll fix it in a sec, so just hold your horses."
He walked over to Tricia.
"So, yeah," Luke said. "Do your thing!"
"Give me ten percent of your reward," Tricia demanded.
"Deal," Luke agreed. "Negotiation closed!"
With a wicked grin, he stepped into a position where no one could see what they were doing. As Tricia held her hand out, the wheel began to restore itself, returning to its original shape in seconds.
"That skill is just way too convenient," Luke noted.
"Only you know about it, so keep your mouth shut, alright?" Tricia warned.
"I know, I know," he beamed.
The power Tricia was using wasn't just simple healing magic.
Tricia possessed the [Reset] skill, which allowed her to (repair) absolutely anything.
In this world, many could use sorcery, but skills were only manifested in a select few. Unlike sorcery, skills consumed almost no magic power. This meant she could use them as much as she wanted without a second thought. During adventures, she never had to conserve her mana.
Most skills were non-combat utility abilities. The common ones in this world were Appraisal, Detection, or Magic Contracts. With skills like those, you could survive anywhere. Luke happened to have all three. However, Tricia's skill had no precedent. After conducting secret research, she realized her ability could return an object to its initial state—or any arbitrary point in its past.
(It's just like hitting the reset button.)
Tricia had memories of her previous life since she was a child, so she knew that if people found out about this, she'd be dragged into endless trouble. She was an orphan, after all. With no one to back her up, she had feared being exploited by unscrupulous adults, so she had kept it hidden her entire life.
"I took down ten A-class Acid Bears, so don't be mad," Luke said. "Their fur sells for a fortune—I'll give it all to you!"
"That is a gift with zero romance," Tricia remarked.
"It's fur!?" Luke argued. "That's plenty romantic, isn't it!?"
"Then hurry up and skin them already," Tricia commanded.
"Yeah, yeah," Luke said, heading toward the pile of monster corpses.
The caravan leader was still fuming, but he slowly calmed down as others placated him.
"Ten A-class monsters," a guard noted. "If Luke-sama hadn't been here, who knows what would have happened..."
"I suppose it means the high fee was worth it," the caravan leader grumbled.
"That C-rank healer he introduced is the real deal, too," the guard continued. "The driver doesn't have a single scratch. Even the horse was on the verge of death."
"Hmph..." the caravan leader muttered.
"Hey, Caravan Leader!" Luke called out from a short distance away. "Buy this fur off us!"
He had already finished skinning them. A massive mound of fur was piled up.
"The condition of the fur is excellent," the caravan leader admitted. "No unnecessary cuts."
"W-well, I suppose we'll buy it..."
Everyone in the caravan secretly thought it was unfair—how he could pull off that handsome look and that smile.
Summary:
Tricia guards a merchant caravan headed to the dungeon-adjacent town of Edinbia, reflecting on her past party and the financial goal she has set for herself. When a pack of Acid Bears attacks the caravan, Tricia is forced to rely on her S-rank companion, Luke, to clear the threat while she heals the wounded. After the battle, the duo subtly uses Tricia's secret Reset skill to repair the damage, keeping her true ability hidden from the caravan leader and the others.
Trivia:
Tricia was previously part of a party that included Eagle and Anetta.
Tricia has memories of a previous life from her childhood.
Most people in this world use sorcery, which differs from the rarer skill system.
Skills consume very little mana, unlike standard sorcery.
Luke possesses the Appraisal, Detection, and Magic Contract skills.
Notes:
• Tricia - The protagonist of the series. A pragmatic and resilient C-Rank healer who was recently cast out of her former party. Though she presents herself as an average adventurer, she secretly possesses exceptional healing expertise and the rare skill Reset, which can reverse physical damage. An orphan with dark hair and obsidian eyes, she carefully conceals her true abilities to avoid exploitation. Guided by memories of a past life, she has a deep appreciation for modern comforts and values her independence, privacy, and stability. Rather than dwelling on her dismissal, she is quietly relieved by it and now focuses her intelligence and planning skills on building a reliable source of passive income in Edimbia.
• Eagle - A former party member of Tricia who betrayed her, leading to her expulsion from their previous group. A swordsman with reddish-brown hair and bright, orange-tinted eyes who grew up with Tricia in an orphanage. He is gentle but easily swayed and burdened by guilt. An adventurer and former party member of Trisha.
• Anetta - A blonde, manipulative Sorcerer who uses offensive and healing magic. She successfully positions herself as the romantic partner of the party leader and pushes Tricia out. A member of Tricia's former party who displayed frustration and hostility toward her. An adventurer who joined Trisha and Eagle's party.
• Luke - A companion to Trisha who supports her efforts to build a passive income empire. He acts as a confidant and manager for her public persona. A highly skilled adventurer who acts as a mentor and companion to Trishia. He is observant, somewhat mischievous, and possesses financial independence that allows him to offer support, though he is mindful of her pride. An S-Rank adventurer and magic swordsman known for his overwhelming combat power and handsome appearance. He is a childhood friend of Tricia and acts as her protector and benefactor. An S-rank adventurer with silver hair and deep blue eyes who is an old acquaintance of Trisha. He is known for his combat prowess and his tendency to act carefree.