13 – Party of Heroes (3)
On the way to the market to buy supplies, I was inwardly relieved.
It’s fortunate.
Really fortunate.
Judging from Erin’s reaction, it seems like I managed to pass through somehow. I didn’t think she would catch on that we’re planning a party there.
“It’s fortunate… I haven’t even obtained anything properly yet, but I was afraid of getting kicked out.”
From Noble mtl dot com
However, I couldn’t completely put my mind at ease. It seemed like I had to talk about magic well.
As expected, Erin asked about the source of magic that she hadn’t asked about earlier.
“So where does the magic come from? Just tell me since you won’t say anything~.”
“…Based on what I felt while conquering the dungeon this time,” I said.
“Hmm?”
“I think we need a magician in our party.”
“Why? Isn’t Letitia enough?”
Her response seemed more curious about the reason rather than denying what I said.
“Normally, that would be true. But there are some monsters, like the lizardman shaman we encountered, who wield peculiar power through spirits. In such cases, Letitia can’t fulfill the role of a magician. Considering those situations, I believe having a magician is necessary.”
“Hmm.”
Surprisingly, she seemed to listen carefully to my words. Thanks to that, I could defend my point with more confidence.
“Right. I obtained this magic from the artifact I found in the dungeon this time. I didn’t originally have anything like magic.”
“How can someone so incompetent have magic~♡”
“…That’s right.”
“So, Incompetent, do you want to take on the role of a wizard…? “
That’s the idea.
“Right now it might not work, but if we keep looking for more things…”
“Quite a noble thought~?”
“hahahaha…”
“Thinking while being incompetent is noble, but not anymore in the future~♡”
“What?”
At that moment, I was speechless.
What can’t be done, Yinyo? You want to write something because it’s what I know and you’re preventing it…
“Do you know that you were the Devil’s lawyer?”
“…Real?”
I pretended to be surprised, but I already knew. The reason Golray was working was because I had stolen the gem.
‘But how did you know?’
Erin said, “If you plan to find something like that in the future, stop. It’s really dangerous for you, such a pathetic creature♡ Why did you find and keep that when it’s the Devil’s?”
There was nothing to say.
If I were to forcefully stop and give some unreasonable excuse, they would at least rebel against it. But I can’t say anything because I’m telling them to stop with a dangerous reason.
It’s right to try to stop the party member from doing something dangerous, and there is no problem with that reason. What should I say…
“But… I need a hidden peace.”
Without it, life will continue like this. I stress over the actions of these lunatics and live a life where I can’t even relieve that stress or take care of the aftermath.
If I have no choice but to go on an adventure, I would rather take the initiative in adventuring. Instead of being someone else’s lackey.
…Let’s come up with an excuse. A very plausible excuse.
“Understand? I’ll let this one slide, so stop doing stuff like that from now on.”
“…I also want to be helpful.”
“Well…”
Erin looked at me. I do not know if this smoke will work, but I tried to convey emotions as much as possible.
“I don’t just want to sit still every time, I also want to fight with you and help you. I won’t just watch you fight every time.”
“…Pathetic, still haven’t come to your senses~?”
“What?”
“Just because you try from now on doesn’t mean you can become anything ♡ People live according to their own limits. Those limits are…”
Erin walked towards me with a thumping sound, and suddenly pushed my chest. Although her actions were very light, the strength conveyed in her actions…
Boom bang!!!
“Ouch…!”
My body rolled on the floor.
“Everyone has such a huge disparity.”
“…Ugh, Erin… you…”
As soon as I raised my head to argue about what she was doing, I was momentarily flustered and fell silent.
Erin’s gaze, looking at me, feels a bit chilly. Her usual bitter laughter is absent now. This serious and calm expression on her face, so unfamiliar, is something I’ve never seen before.
I couldn’t bring myself to speak, bewildered by her strange appearance. Then Erin spoke first.
“Do you understand? I, someone so small, can easily bring someone as big as you down to the ground with a flick of my finger. What do you call this kind of disparity?”
“…Talent.”
“That’s surprisingly well said, mediocre. It can’t be overcome with such feeble efforts. I’m not pretending to be good. Is it just me? No, all of our party members are individuals who boast talents in their respective fields.”
Erin walks towards me, trudging through the spot where I was thrown. As I fell with a thud, the people around sent questioning glances, but soon realized it was a warrior’s business and averted their gaze.
Even a damn brat knows what it means to be a hero… She’s too busy watching out for me. Even the adventurers who harbor complaints become silent when she’s nearby.
…It’s a completely different atmosphere from when I was with that troublesome little girl earlier.
Erin looked down at me and spoke.
“Now that you’re standing on the starting line, no matter how hard you try, can you match up with us who are already ahead?”
Erin said bluntly.
“No, you can’t. So don’t think about doing something dangerous and just stay as usual.”
Erin suddenly poked my chest with her finger.
“That’s something you’re good at, Allen. Just staying by my side.”
Erin warns. It’s as if she’s saying she won’t let it slide if he doesn’t listen.
“Just do what you’re good at. Don’t engage in dangerous actions.”
I briefly gaze at Erin. Unless he’s a fool or completely oblivious… One can somewhat glimpse the emotions of someone speaking like this.
There was no emotion in those eyes that resembled contempt towards me. Nor was there any emotion of disregarding me. The pupils of someone harboring such emotions have a completely different feel.
Rather, they hold concern. It’s as if while uttering words that trample on my will, constantly warning me not to engage in dangerous acts.
I can understand why they worry. I get that their way of expressing themselves is rough due to that damn Masaki Kiyonori.
“Erin, it’s you.”
I didn’t have plans to give up.
I stood up from the floor, and Erin’s eyes blinked slightly at my appearance.
“That word… Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
“What?”
“That I won’t be able to do it.”
“It’s a given. How could a farmer do magic?”
“You were also a normal countryside girl.”
“That’s true, but I was chosen as a warrior. Maybe our stories are different.”
“Then shall we bet?”
I said,
“I don’t think that I can catch up to your talent just by working hard like you say.”
“…Even though you know that, you’re still being stubborn?”
“So, let’s make a bet. If I manage to reach a level where I can at least support you.”
I stood straight in front of Erin. Instead of when she stumbled and fell down, now I was looking down at Erin, while Erin looked up at me.
“What will you do if I confidently reach a level where I can assist you?”
I spoke confidently. I wondered if I sounded arrogant, but I didn’t feel daunted even though I had that concern.
We stared at each other for a while. Erin also silently gazed at me.
“Hmm.”
Erin kicked and laughed. In an instant, her serious and calm expression vanished, leaving only a hopeless smile.
“It looks like you’re serious. It’s the first time I’ve seen this clumsy person, who is usually so wishy-washy, showing such determination~♡”
“When did I do that?”
“Hoo~ When? You’ve always been like that, but you can’t even remember?”
Erin chuckled and looked at me.
“I said it was a bet, right?”
“Huh?”
“Well then, let’s do it like this.”
Erin made a suggestion.
“Two months. Whatever you do in these two months, I’ll turn a blind eye. So, show some growth within these two months.”
“…Two months too short, isn’t it?”
“Hmm, really? Are you unsure? You seemed pretty confident earlier. But can’t I expect more than that? I can’t just watch you doing something foolish and dangerous for more than two months~♡”
“…Alright, two months it is. If I lose, of course, I’ll give up what I was supposed to do, but what will you bet on?”
Erin seemed slightly hesitant and smirked.
“That thing we agreed on back then.”
“What?”
“The one I couldn’t give you at that time, if you win, this time I’ll definitely give it to you♡”
Saying so, Erin turned abruptly.
The thing we agreed upon?
That is what exactly? What does it mean that they couldn’t give it to you? I can’t understand because there is no memory before possession.
Erin urged me with a puzzled expression.
“Let’s quickly pick up the dropped stuff and go, clumsy~♡ They say something if kids are late~?”
“…okay.”
***
The next day, we were preparing to leave early in the morning. I was even more busy organizing the things that the Meskaki warrior had brought with us yesterday.
“The Kingdom of Estelle….”
This destination is not the Dern Empire where we are, but a neighboring country called the Estire Kingdom. The northeastern part of the Estire Kingdom is a huge wheat production area, and it is also the main source of supply for wheat imported to the Dern Empire.
The Monster Wave took place there. It was an event that occurred right after clearing the dungeon of Lizardman Road in the “Dungeon in Evil”. I felt fortunate that the rough route and events seemed to follow the original novel.
“It’s not a dungeon, it’s a place where there’s nothing to gain.”
Still, it seemed possible to experiment with how to use magic given that it’s a place overrun by monsters. Maybe trying it out quietly when everyone is busy fighting would be the best way.
“But it’s pretty far.”
Although the Estire Kingdom is a neighboring country, the territory of the Dern Empire is quite vast and the kingdom is to the east of the empire. So, going to the northeastern part of the Estire Kingdom in fact meant travelling about three times the distance from here to the kingdom’s border.
“Even if we take a carriage, it will take at least a week?”
During that time, I worry that we might be swept away by the Monster Wave. But since we’ve decided to depart, I quickly finished preparations and headed down to the first floor.
“Clumsy, we’re late~♡”
Of course we have a lot to take care of so don’t be late, Erin.
“hahahaha, don’t be like that, Erin!”
“Since everyone’s here, let’s go.”
“What are we taking?”
“We’re walking~♡”
“What?”
What?
“We’re. go. ing. to. walk~♡”
“…Are you kidding me?”
“Is it true that you want me to walk all the way to the northeast of the Estire Kingdom with all this luggage?”
“For real~ We only received a mere 50 silver as our operational funds this time~♡ They might lend us horses when we arrive in the kingdom, but we still have to walk at least until the border.”
“What? Why?”
While 50 silver wasn’t a small amount of money, considering the expenses required to travel to the Estire Kingdom, especially for an adventurers’ party… and not just for me, but also including her, there were six of us.
Just the lodging fees for going to the northeast of the kingdom… even if we stay in a cheap inn, we would need around 4 silver per person, probably more like 5 or 6 silver comfortably. That’s not even considering food or hygiene necessities. And there are other supplies needed as well.
Considering everything, it was far from enough. It’s hard to believe that the imperial treasury, especially the finance department who handles nothing but money, couldn’t consider these factors while setting the budget.
However, unlike me who couldn’t understand, my party members didn’t seem unaware of this. Letitia sighed and answered my question.
“She’s probably restraining Erin again. She must be relentless.”
“If only they weren’t a high-ranking person, I’d like to squeeze them!”
“You shouldn’t hit people, but… I empathize with the feeling.”
Restraining…?
Is this a story about someone from the Empire restraining Erin, leading to this situation?
I’m not exactly sure what that means. But aside from that, it’s unbelievable that there’s absolutely no money.
“…But it hasn’t been long since we received financial aid.”
“I spent all of that on gold coins, so we have no money ~♡”
“…Huh?”
Gold coins…
“Hey, that was your entire savings?! Then why did you give it away?!”
It was a story about the money Erin willingly gave to the owner of the tavern when I was discriminated against. And it was the relief fund that came out this time, which was all they had left.
I asked incredulously, and Erin avoided eye contact as she replied,
“Just got mad, you know?”
“….”
A really thoughtless girl…
“But when everyone receives relief funds, they divide it equally as an emergency fund. If we save that up, it should be enough, right?”
Of course. Since there were times when each person had to act separately, no one could hold all the money. Besides, things like weapons or armor that they needed, they had to buy themselves instead of relying on others.
So Erin, if she doesn’t have any money, would gather an emergency fund from others and use it. And when the next support funds came in, she could borrow more from them.
But somehow…
“Money…”
“Mmm…”
“Ahem…”
Everyone avoids eye contact.
“You guys don’t happen to have nothing…”
I was taken aback and started speaking, and each one began making excuses.
“hahahahaha, arrows are a bit expensive these days!”
“I wore the robe I had saved up to buy after it got torn last time… Well, usually I save it for later.”
“I sent the donation for taking care of the children in the temple…”
As she made a plausible excuse, I realized that everyone had ultimately spent everything for their personal use. I couldn’t believe it and turned to these damn women one by one. So, do I really have to take all this and walk to the border?
“…Allen, over here.”
“Yeah?”
“…Ah, since I always need money to buy memorization tools…, I don’t have much left, but I’ll give you this at least…”
What she handed me was a small purse of money. I became even more bewildered as I received it. It wasn’t because the amount was small.
As she said, due to the characteristics of the thief profession, tools for dismantling or memorizing were all consumables, so they had to be bought again every time they were damaged or thrown away.
From Noble mtl dot com
Therefore, expenditure on funds was inevitable. Especially small daggers required a lot of iron, and poisons, gunpowder, and other memorization tools were generally expensive.
The archer, like everyone else, always has to buy arrows, but from what I could see, for Saelria, the problem is not the price of arrows but the price of alcohol. Arrows are relatively cheaper compared to the cost of memorizing how to shoot them, as they require less iron and more wood.
However, despite spending this much money, it was absurd that the others had no money at all. Especially, what?
“You donated to the temple…?”
“Well, Erin always manages the party funds, so I didn’t think we would run out…”
“…No, that’s embezzlement! What if the party activity fund is used for temple donations!?”
“Em-embezzlement?!”
That’s right, it’s embezzlement, you b*tch.
While it’s true that the money given to use when needed is personal, strictly speaking, it is not Frey’s personal property but the party’s operating funds. And she embezzled that by donating it to the temple she belongs to.
Saelria drinking alcohol is necessary for that alcoholic to fight… and buying Letitia’s robe is something she needs if it gets torn apart.
…Of course, although he might have drunk excessive amounts of alcohol and bought overly expensive robes…, at least it didn’t go against the purpose of the adventurer party funds.
However, donating to the temple has nothing to do with the party’s activities. Of course, the intention itself is noble…
“…Never do that again in the future. If you don’t need support funds, then use them to help other people buy what they need. What will happen if you turn that into a donation?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Frei seemed to know what he had done wrong as he lowered his head deeply. So I had to avoid looking directly at the exposed chest under the unbuttoned shirt.
“This is ridiculous.”
First, let’s examine the money Doker handed over. About 10 silver and 90 copper remained.
“…Thief, just use this to buy what you need for memorization.”
“…Huh? But…”
“Anyway, it’s impossible to travel by carriage all the way to the border.”
“Sorry… I should have saved the money, but I couldn’t do that… I’m a pathetic person…”
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the only one here who didn’t leave anything behind…”
Party members turned their gaze in different directions to what I said. Even Erin was quiet now.
Thankfully, she didn’t cry at the story of there being no mistake. She looked at me and asked, “Then are you going to carry that all the way to the border?” Pointing at the stuffed backpack she was carrying.
She’s asking an unreasonable question. It’s still heavy, and how could I carry that and walk all the way?
“…We’ll take a carriage. Not walk.”
“…. Hm?”
“I have some money.”
“….!”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Even though he was a porter, he did share his personal funds. Since the porter had no need to buy weapons, he had enough money to spend on things like clothes, shoes, and some entertainment.
However, even before I possessed him, he wasn’t the type to go out and have fun a lot, so he had a considerable amount of personal funds left. Of course, I didn’t enjoy gambling or anything, so I didn’t have much use for it.
That’s why when the owner of the tavern asked for money, I could just hand over more than 20 silver pieces without a problem.
“I’m talking about the money I have aside for buying equipment, not my shoddy savings.”
“It’s my personal money. Don’t ask such an obvious question.”
“Heh, you’re impressive. Well then…”
Erin handed me the activity funds she received this time, which amounted to 50 silver.
“Try to manage it well. After all, I find managing money quite bothersome~♡”
“…It’s not about being bothersome, but without my own money, I can’t even ride a carriage.”
“…Men who talk too much for no reason are the worst~♡”
That woman is really straightforward with her words.
“Well then, Allen…”
“…W-Will you give us a ride too? I’ll tell you an interesting story!”
“Can I ask you this one time…?”
A party of exceptional talents gathered together as warriors.
Among them, I, who should have had no money, became the hope of the party.
