Chapter 41

――”Frontier City Tristein.”

It is a city located on the outermost edge of the country, considered to be the most rapidly developing in recent years.

Thanks to the efforts of a saint-like lord and a certain young lady, the city has become a clean, technologically advanced, and culturally rich ideal place, attracting many people—but…

“Hey, you! You’re too damn loud! The walls are thin, so live quietly! I’ll shut your mouth with my Skill ‘Enchantment Kiss Palm Kiss,’ you hear me?!”

“Huh?! You’re the noisy one, stomping around! Want me to use my Skill ‘Vocal Cord Change Voice Shift’ and make you moan seductively in the middle of the night?!”

“You two fighting are too loud! I’ll use my Skill ‘Universal Makeup Magical Makeover’ and turn you into a cute boy couple, you jerks!”

“…All of them are so damn noisy.”

Due to the increase in population, the inn where I live has turned into a living hell.

The place I’m staying at is a men-only adventurers’ lodging. It’s run with financial support from the Adventurers’ Guild.

And adventurers, by nature, are mostly rough and careless.

In recent years, hygiene awareness has improved, so at least they don’t stink as much anymore, but when they walk, it’s stomp-stomp, and when they sleep, it’s snore-snore. That hasn’t changed.

Sigh “Yeah, I’m reaching my limit…”

Jade-kun is always thinking.

“Ah, I want a house.”

Just like that demon from the volcano the other day, I want to live somewhere I can enjoy a quiet, solitary life without anyone bothering me.

But no, living in a volcano is definitely a no-go. That demon must have been out of his mind.

“Hey, don’t you want to live somewhere nicer too, Chick-kun?”

“Peep?”

When I ask, Chick-kun is relaxing inside the little wooden house (handmade by me) on the table, wrapped up in fluffy cotton.

Oh, I see. You don’t seem to care where you live, huh…

“As expected of a crude bird… But this Jade-kun is different! As a supreme evil dragon, I demand the best dwelling! And I’ve been saving up for it for a while now…”

I grab my piggy bank and give it a shake.

All I hear is a sad clink… clink….

“Why haven’t I saved more?”

I don’t remember making any particularly big purchases.

The most I’ve spent is on materials for making magic weapons as a hobby.

Aside from that, it’s just the occasional drink with friends, and…

“…Buying gear for the newbie adventurer Komori-chan, giving Iris living expenses after she was kicked out of the Holy Capital, and helping out Van, who, like me, turned from a dragon into a human… Ah.”

Okay, I see the problem.

I’ve been giving away my savings for building my own home these past few days! No wonder I haven’t saved anything, damn it!

“Ugh, I need to take better care of my money. Maybe I should cut Chick-kun’s food expenses for a start…”

“Peep!? Peep-peep-peep-peep!”

“What now?”

I don’t understand, but it’s clear that he’s protesting.

Fine, fine. I guess his food costs—like beans, bedding, and the little trinkets and toys he insists on—can stay the same.

“Actually… that does add up, huh…”

Maybe I’ve spoiled him a bit too much.

Reflecting on that, I make up my mind.

“Alright, Chick-kun, I’ve made up my mind!”

“Peep?”

“I won’t change my ways. I’m not going to bend myself for money. I’ve had enough of that in my past life when I worked myself to death as a corporate slave.”

I must never forget those bitter days.

I became a carefree adventurer to avoid living such a miserable life again.

“But I do need money. So, I’ll man up and start accepting private requests.”

“Peep-peep?”

“Private requests.”

These are requests that come directly from someone, bypassing the Adventurers’ Guild.

There are big benefits.

When the guild is involved, they take a sizable cut as a commission.

But with private requests, you keep all the money.

However…

“There’s a downside. Without the guild acting as a middleman, you could end up with a really bad request.”

It’s one thing if they give you an extremely difficult job.

But the request might be completely different from what was advertised, or they might reduce your pay with some nonsense excuse. In the worst case, you could even end up unknowingly working for a crime syndicate and becoming a criminal.

That’s why the guild discourages adventurers from taking private requests.

But.

“Eh, it’s fine. If they try to screw me over, I’ll just kill them.”

I may be a mere third-class adventurer.

But in truth, I’m an ‘Evil Dragon.’

So I’ve made up my mind. This time, I won’t let myself be pushed around like in my past life. If someone crosses the line, I’ll kill them, no question.

“Alright then, let’s go find a job! Let’s go, Chick-kun!”

“Peep!”