Donatorre, the shop owner, swallowed his words.
The number of mana stones the boy had produced exceeded fifty.
“Where did you obtain this many?”
“These items were being managed by another group.”
“Did you steal them?”
“I simply took items that had lost their owner.”
Donatorre stroked his chin.
Since the world had turned out this way, suspicion was necessary even when buying goods.
It was because his side could suffer damage depending on the process through which the items were obtained.
“Before we trade, can I know the source of these items?”
“It’s Dormitory 2.”
“I know from rumors that a swarm of zombies appeared there. Competition must have been fierce, yet you managed to bring back this many.”
He felt no lie in the boy's words.
Even so, he couldn't feel at ease.
When silence fell, the boy approached with a smile.
“Is Martel doing well?”
Donatorre sank into thought for a moment.
The name Martel was not unfamiliar.
Exactly one person.
An acquaintance with that name came to mind.
One of the leaders responsible for the Merchant Association.
“Wait, are you Joshua? The boy known for naming the monsters and being active at the meeting.”
“I don't recall doing anything grand at the meeting, but yes, I am Joshua.”
Donatorre furrowed his brow.
He’d met Martel recently.
Martel had taught him the name of a certain student as a customer to avoid trading with.
That was Joshua.
He’d advised him to be careful because one could only have fair trades with him.
“Haha, I’ve heard the stories. That you hunted a bear that had become a variant.”
“Will you withdraw your suspicion now?”
“O-Of course.”
“Rest assured. I don't know what you heard from Martel, but I’m not that bad of a person.”
Donatorre let out a deep sigh.
If he’d known his identity, he wouldn't have made the mistake of locking the shop door.
“I’ll tell you in advance, I don't have the capacity to buy that many mana stones with the goods currently in our shop.”
“I know.”
Joshua showed a smile.
Vilne was a place where mercenaries were mainly active.
It was dangerous to display rare items to rough people.
If pushed, they would even kill to take what they wanted.
Even if they were kicked out of the village, it was no big deal to them.
A mercenary is a wanderer.
A wanderer didn't know how to stay in one place.
“Please contact Martel on my behalf. I’ll write down the items I need on a note.”
I handed him the prepared note.
“Wait, so is my role over just like this?”
Donatorre looked at the mana stones with a look of lingering regret.
He’d been swayed without even getting to haggle once with the boy.
He became afraid of the response from the upper management when he reported this.
“Don't worry.”
“Huh?”
“The fact that they sent you to this village means the Merchant Association recognizes your ability, Mr. Donatorre. You won't be cast out just for meeting my demands.”
“……What do you mean.”
“Will four days be enough?”
“I’ll prepare it as quickly as possible.”
Joshua bowed his head once and left the shop.
Only after he disappeared did Donatorre notice the strangeness of the previous conversation.
The boy had called him Donatorre.
“Did I ever introduce my name?”
* * *
The night grew deep.
The loud singing of the mercenaries that had been heard from the floor below the inn subsided.
It was the time when the gathered people dispersed.
The moon outside the window was high in the sky.
“…….”
Tania carefully pushed aside the blanket.
She entered the bathroom, being careful not to let her footsteps be heard.
Along with the mana stones she’d practiced with in the morning.
“Fast and accurate like Senior.”
Joshua hadn't retrieved all the mana stones.
He’d left some behind.
She thought about what that meant.
‘It must mean to keep practicing. To do it even more perfectly!’
She extracted the mana that was in the mana stone and put it back in anew.
It was important to utilize speed.
Simultaneously, she had to ensure the mana didn't become disorganized.
While she was practicing a few times.
A presence was felt in front of the bathroom door.
“Gasp!”
Adela let out a cute scream.
Tania kept her mouth tightly shut.
The two surprised people stared blankly at each other.
“What are you doing here?”
“……Ah, about that.”
While thinking of an excuse, Tania saw the item Adela was holding.
It was a mana stone.
“Wait, did you come to practice too, big Sister?”
“Ahhh, well, I couldn't sleep.”
“Hmm~”
“Are you planning to tease me?”
“No, I just felt that we connect in this way.”
Adela sat down randomly on the floor.
Like Tania, she held mana stones in both hands and focused on training.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“It hasn't been long.”
“You and I are both in a real state. To think children of prestigious families are studying in a bathroom.”
“I don't mind. I think the fact that I can study like this is a miracle in itself.”
“True, I couldn't have even dreamed of this a few days ago either.”
Conversation cut off for a while after that.
They focused on the mana stones they held.
“Hey, by any chance, what do you think of Senior, Sister?”
Adela felt a flash of irritation.
The face she wanted to forget rose to the surface once more.
“What do you mean?”
“W-Well, I mean how do you evaluate him as someone we’ll be with from now on.”
“Why are you curious about that?”
Tania swallowed hard.
Her chest felt tight at Adela’s sharpened gaze.
“Wait, you aren't planning to snitch on that bastard, are you?”
“Huh?”
“You're planning to feel out me and Serena's thoughts and tell him. Right?”
“……Ah, yeah! You caught me.”
“I really can't let my guard down. You’ve used the fact that you’re close to me.”
She was misunderstanding.
Her question was about romance.
However, seeing this appearance, her resentment seemed stronger than her favor toward him.
“In this case, making something up would be better, right?”
Adela answered very seriously.
Tania, seeing that expression, thought it was too late to speak honestly.
Therefore, she judged that she should also act according to Adela's reaction.
“Wouldn't Senior see through it?”
“Probably. Sigh, Joshua is annoying, but he’s a person worth respecting. Should I just put it that way?”
“Is it love-hate?”
“What are you talking about! I might have hatred for that bastard, but there’s no affection.”
Adela growled and clearly showed her dislike.
It was a cold reaction.
However, Tania couldn't feel at ease.
A woman’s intuition told her.
That she saw a bit of potential for her to be a rival in love.
“That’s unexpected.”
“What is?”
“You usually ignore people you truly dislike, Sister.”
“Did I do that?”
“You did.”
“I suppose it means even I, as a noble, have gratitude toward a benefactor.”
“……If that's what it is, then that's a relief.”
Tania replied disapprovingly and turned her gaze.
It wasn't the refreshing answer she’d hoped for.
Two new women had been added to the group.
Both were renowned beauties at school and were also excellent as mages.
If she let her guard down, they would take the lead.
Thinking so, she couldn't hide her anxiety.
‘Let’s stop thinking. We’re busy enough just surviving anyway.’
Survival came first.
Training should also be regarded as an action to increase her own chances of living, not to be recognized.
“Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“For you, how would you express Senior in one word?”
Adela opened her eyes wide.
Force she’d never felt from Tania was conveyed.
“L-Leader, for now.”
“What if he wasn’t the leader?”
“A f-friend, I guess? Like Leo.”
Tania stared at her blankly.
She said friend.
A friend is dangerous.
The easiest stage to develop into a lover is being a friend of the opposite sex.
“If your heart changes, just know that I was first.”
“Huh?”
Adela didn't realize her meaning and only tilted her head.
* * *
When day broke, Leo of the knight unit sought the inn where Joshua was staying.
He asked the owner for the room number and went up.
When he knocked on the door, Luna greeted him.
“It’s been a while, Luna.”
“Hello.”
“Is Joshua in the room?”
“Yes, he’s washing up right now. Please come in and wait.”
He entered the room slowly under her guidance.
After he sat on the edge of the bed and waited for a bit, the boy came out of the bathroom.
Joshua stared intently at him.
“I’ve come to report.”
“Right.”
“Just as you said, I got a room at the inn on the opposite side of this place. Everyone prioritized recovering from fatigue, and they seemed to find it bearable after about two days.”
In the middle of the report, Joshua reached out his hand toward him.
“What’s with that gesture?”
“Show me the request forms you tore off.”
Leonard stirred his body.
It was an action as if he were seeing right through his thoughts.
While lamenting that action, he hated himself for showing the request forms as Joshua intended.
“A yellow request?”
“I heard the level of the Black Chain mercenaries we defeated at Dormitory 2 was about that much, so I thought it might be good to start from there since we handled them.”
“No.”
Joshua answered firmly.
“Start from brown, which is the lowest.”
“Why! We even struck down a Golem.”
“I’m not doubting your ability. However, there are many variables in the process of performing a mission. Especially when yellow has many competitors, so you don't know what will happen.”
Leo let his shoulders drop.
It could only be a disappointing result for him, who was full of romance as an adventurer.
“Brown has almost no reward though.”
“I didn't separate the knight unit to find supplies. It’s to build experience. Your swordsmanship might be outstanding, but commanding is a different matter. Cultivate judgment and discernment.”
“Is there a request you recommend?”
Joshua held out a request form he’d prepared in advance.
The goal of the request was the zombie mice living in the sewers.
Demon beasts existed in this world as well.
And demon beasts were also zombies without exception.
They hadn't encountered them until now.
They were acting in the shadows, not the light.
“Hunting giant mice?”
“Try it from there.”
“It sounds like a piece of cake.”
“Don't let your guard down. They aren't humans, so you have to think in various ways.”
“Various ways?”
“When dealing with creatures whose size is below the knees, you have to change the interval of swinging your sword. Stabbing won't be easy.”
Leo sank into thought.
The instructor who taught him swordsmanship had said something similar.
That fighting various creatures was the shortcut to becoming stronger.
“Moreover, I heard that no student has perfectly cleared a mouse hunt yet.”
“I-Is that true?”
“I was inwardly giving up because it seemed difficult too.”
“I-I’ll do it! That request hasn't been closed yet, right?”
“Right.”
Leo jumped up from his seat with a happy face.
Joshua held back a laugh.
“Aren't you teasing Brother Leo too much?”
After Leonard disappeared.
Luna said as she approached.
“Since I know Leonard’s personality. It’ll be troublesome if I don't use it at a time like this.”
“I feel a little sorry for Brother Leo.”
Joshua shrugged his shoulders.
Luna felt regretful, but he himself was seriously considering Leo’s future path.
He was a major character for clearing the game.
His growth had a great impact on the progress of the game.
He intended to lead him on the right path.
Even for the sake of his own survival.
Knock, knock!
“Open the door, Luna.”
“Okay.”
When Luna opened the door, a white haired old man visited this time.
It was Gunter, the branch manager of the guild he’d talked with yesterday.
“I don't know if it’s a discourtesy to visit so early in the morning.”
“It’s fine.”
“I saw a boy leaving this room just now, and his face was glowing. Is he also your companion?”
“Perhaps.”
Gunter wore a stiff expression.
Joshua waited, and Leonard visited.
The behavior of the two was telling who was the leader and who was the subordinate.
It was an astounding matter.
Because it was evidence that the prideful Leo acknowledged Joshua.
“I’ve decided to grant your request.”
“Does that mean you’ll obtain a recommendation letter?”
“Yes, it seems the guild judged that helping the daughters of the Grace and Rainwood families isn't bad for them either.”
“I see.”
“If you just tell me which request it is, I’ll deliver it to the branch manager.”
Joshua nodded.
Gunter was still hiding the fact that he was the branch manager.
There was no way to peel off that mask other than completing the request.
“What is the green request you’re looking for?”
Gunter organized the requests and placed them on the table.
All nine current green requests were there.
The boy scanned them and then shook his head.
“It isn't among these.”
“What do you mean? I must’ve brought every request that fits the green rank.”
“Yes. That’s correct, but the one I’m looking for isn't here.”
Joshua opened his mouth while facing Gunter.
“It’s related to Lake Emeria.”
“……Wait a minute, what are you saying now?”
Gunter furrowed his brow.
Among the green requests he’d looked at last night, the request the boy mentioned was not there.
However, he knew about that request.
That was a request he’d discarded fifteen days ago.