The girl, Sheera, whom I had picked up just before entering the town, guided me to a lodging. After that, I decided to take a stroll around the town.
Sheera, who was the guide, said she wanted to find her own lodging first.
“Won’t you stay at the same inn as me, Sheera?”
“N-No, I can’t! An inn like that is too luxurious for a beginner adventurer like me!”
From the way she hastily shook her head, I understood that an inn that costs two silver coins per night was considered a luxury for a new adventurer.
The inn includes breakfast, and while there’s no bath, they’ll prepare water in a basin.
(If that inn is considered luxurious, what kind of inns do normal adventurers stay at?)
I was genuinely curious, so I decided to visit Sheera’s usual inn.
By the way, I had lent Sheera five silver coins. With that amount, it seems she could survive for about ten days.
“I’ll definitely repay you! I’m sorry, but would you mind waiting for two weeks…?”
“Honestly, if you just guide me around during my stay, you don’t have to pay me back.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Sheera, you’re really serious, huh?”
I couldn’t help but feel fond of her earnest personality. She might not be the strongest adventurer, but she was knowledgeable about the town and very good as a guide. Apparently, she became familiar with the area when she was a new adventurer, running around town on various errands.
“I can only use weak wind magic, so I’m not really good at monster hunting… I mostly earn by doing gathering requests.”
The slender, delicate girl carried only a short sword at her waist. Her main weapon, a bow, was lost when she was attacked by a magical beast, along with all her belongings. She said she only used her short sword for gathering or sometimes to dismember the magical beasts she could manage to defeat.
“Maybe you’re better suited for a party than being solo…?”
I blurted it out because she seemed so unreliable.
“I’m often told that…”
“Yeah.”
The girl’s cheek was being gently licked by Ketsue, as if to comfort her. It seemed like she recognized Sheera, who was clearly weaker than herself, as someone she had to protect.
(My kid is so cute and kind—could she be an angel?)
“I’ve tried forming parties a few times, but, well, I didn’t really fit in…”
The girl hugged Ketsue tightly, her eyes cast downward. Her ears were red. From the side of her face, I could see a complicated mix of anger, fear, and embarrassment.
I thought I understood why.
(Being so pretty, the men in the party probably fought over her. If there were any female adventurers in the group, that wouldn’t be a pleasant situation.)
Though not intentional, she might have ended up becoming a “party crusher,” like a circle-crasher. It made sense why she hid her striking silver hair and dirtied her face, quietly gathering in the forest.
(She’s still only fifteen. She’s just come of age, yet she’s already struggling.)
Since she was staying at an inn, it seemed she had left her family home and was living on her own.
They say “let a beautiful girl travel,” but it’s hard to believe someone would let go of such a beautiful girl.
“Ah, over there! The adventurer guild’s inn on the third floor!”
“So this is the adventurer guild. It’s quite an impressive building.”
Sheera’s usual inn was within the guild. It’s available only to new adventurers, with the second floor for male adventurers and the third floor for female adventurers.
“It’s room-only, and a private room costs two iron coins per night. A shared room costs one iron coin!”
“That’s cheap.”
A private room for 2,000 yen and a shared room for 1,000 yen is quite a bargain. However, the rooms are small, with only a bed and a small closet.
“But it’s just for sleeping, so that’s enough, right? We have to clean our own rooms, though.”
“Yeah… That sounds like a lot of work, but for new adventurers trying to save money, it’s a good environment.”
“Exactly. In the town’s inns, the cheapest room costs at least three iron coins.”
The cheapest room is a large room with no beds, so you can only sleep on the floor, which made me shiver. I couldn’t possibly stand it.
(Sleeping with strangers in the same room, and on a floor with shoes on? There’s no way I could handle that.)
“Camping in the forest would definitely be more comfortable…”
“I think you’d have a hard time with that, too.”
In Sheera’s mind, it seemed she thought I was the son of a wealthy merchant association, living in luxury.
“I’ll go book the room now!”
I watched as Sheera headed toward the reception desk and began observing the guild with interest.
The three-story brick building was large, and it was clearly the adventurer guild. At the entrance, there was a sign with a shield and sword drawn on it, making it easy to recognize. The wooden swing doors added to the atmosphere, and I couldn’t help but feel excited.
I had hoped there might be a tavern inside, but there was only a wooden counter. The place had more of a government office vibe than anything else.
(It makes sense, though. The adventurer guild is kind of like a modern-day employment office.)
There were scrolls of requests posted on the walls, and adventurers were browsing them. There were a few wooden benches, seemingly set up as waiting areas. In the back, there was an independent counter, likely for purchasing items. Adventurers with large burlap sacks were lined up.
About 70% of the adventurers were male, and 30% were female. Most of the female adventurers were beastmen.
“I’m back! I got us a room, so let’s go explore the town!”
“Did you get a private room?”
“Of course not! It’s a shared room. The women’s shared room is for four people.”
“A shared room for four…”
“It’s a room with two bunk beds!”
Now that we had a place to sleep for the night, Sheera seemed relieved and smiled innocently.
I glanced at one of the requests posted on the wall. The pay for a gathering request was about five iron coins. If she could gather a lot of rare herbs, it might turn into silver coins, but without an identification skill, it would be difficult.
(She might not even be able to buy proper equipment, let alone pay off her debt…)
“Main weapons like the bow, camping gear, clothes changes, and other various items. Women especially need many miscellaneous goods.”
I couldn’t just leave the girl, who was cheerfully burying her face in Ketsue’s head, alone like this.
(She’s the same age as Natsu, after all. It can’t be helped…)
I let out a sigh.
I decided to ask Sheera, who was leisurely walking ahead, for help with a task.
◆◇◆
“Are you sure? Just helping with the traveling merchant’s work for a single silver coin in wages!”
The girl, her cheeks flushed with joy, smiled widely, and I nodded in response, trying to keep my expression serious.
“Yeah. First, can you guide me to the Commercial Guild? We need to get permission there to sell at the market. I’ll need your help with the stall. You can handle simple calculations, right?”
“Of course! I’ve helped at stores with street requests before!”
“That’s reassuring. Once we’re registered at the guild, we’ll scout the market. Can you show me around the market tomorrow? Of course, I’ll pay you.”
“I’d be happy to!”
The daily wage of 10,000 yen seemed incredibly appealing. She was determined to use that income for repaying her debt.
As for me, I thought of the help with the street stall and showing me around the town as a way to clear her debt, with a small extra payment for the work.
“She’d have it easier if she were a bit more ambitious…”
“Huh?”
“No, never mind… Ah, right. We provide uniforms and three meals plus snacks for our employees, so let’s head to the clothing store afterward.”
“Eh? Does that mean this outfit… won’t do?”
The girl nervously tugged at her shirt. I gave her a quick glance and shook my head firmly.
“No. If you’re going to stand at my stall, cleanliness is the first priority! So, change out of those unwashed clothes and get cleaned up. Once you’re looking good, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
“I’ll make sure to clean up!”
Her reply was enthusiastic.
I couldn’t help but smile as I looked forward to turning this girl, who seemed to have great potential, into a Cinderella.
