After we finished exchanging the money, Mia and I walked around the artisan district.
Although we had already accomplished our purpose, it was rare for me to wander around the town in the daytime, so it felt refreshing. Unlike a pouch full of magic stones, my pouch bulging with silver and gold coins had a pleasant weight.
“It’s not just the nobles who have power in the Royal Capital.”
Mia turned around, her red hair swaying in the wind.
“Merchants have what they called merchant connections. Besides Gideon, there are other nobles in the west. If you know how it works, there are many ways to exchange money.”
I guess it would have been something that Father might have taught me. It’s what they called, “How to get along in Life.”
I stopped in my tracks. I want to say thank you properly to Mia-san.
“Thank you very much.”
“Fufun!”
Mia-san looks away proudly. Before I knew it, we are already approaching the exit of the artisan district.
Mia called out to me,
“Rion”.
Then she added,
“Would you like to team up with me?”
Surprised, I looked up and met her brown eyes.
“With me?”
“Yes. The guild is a gathering. A gathering of adventurers. Speaking of gatherings of adventurers, forming a party is also a way of getting by in life.”
Things are going smoothly. It’s certainly something I could only hope for.
I want to earn money for my family, but it’s hard to rely on the guild when exchanging my loots to cash. With Mia-san’s help, I can make connections in the west of the royal capital where Gideon’s influence is less.
Above all, this person has something that I don’t have: experience.
“I-, I’ll….…”
I was tempted to promptly say I’ll be in your care, but I restrained myself.
I just learned about making a deal after all. I have to ask questions first before I decide. I need to confirm the negotiations and prerequisites.
“I’m very grateful for the offer. But, why though?”
I asked Mia-san.
“I’m only level 5. How about Mia-san?”
“I’m level 30.”
As expected, our level is quite far apart.
Is there any benefit to Mia-san doing this?
“……First of all, as of the moment, I can only enter the Eastern Dungeon. In this case, Mia-san would be left with an unsatisfying adventure.”
The Adventurer’s Guild ranks adventurers and limits the dungeons they can enter. Well, I think it’s a decent way to limit reckless challengers.
As far as my rank goes, I can only enter the Eastern Dungeon.
There are a few conditions for escaping the beginner level, that is, being able to enter other dungeons. Of course, there are various ways to do so, like by completing guild-specified quests, take exams, and you can pay money. But the most important requirement is to defeat the monster at the bottom of the Eastern Dungeon – the werewolf. Defeating the boss of the first dungeon will be a proof beyond a doubt that you’ve escaped the beginner stage.
Defeating a boss also requires a lot of magic stones. I can’t let my guard down when it comes to interference, but as long as the situation allows, I intend to raise my rank by slaying a werewolf.
“Fufu, so you’re saying that there is no benefit to me, is that it?”
When she laughed mischievously, she really looks like a cat. I think she is about three years older than me though.
“Haha, thank you for your concern! But there are benefits in me doing this. There’s two in fact.”
Mia stretched her hand and raised a finger.
“First is that there are dangerous monster appearing in the Eastern Dungeon. It is dangerous, but in dungeons where the difficulty has started to increase, it is easier to find rare items.”
“.…Is that so?”
“Yes. There are rumors that the difficulty of a dungeon is controlled by the Royal Family. The Eastern Dungeon will soon be the center of attention. I’m interested in it, so if I’m to explore the Eastern Dungeon, it would be helpful to have you as you are used to exploring it.”
Mia-san gestured a 2 with her fingers.
“Second, Rion, it’s your ability.”
“My ability?”
Mia smiles wryly.
“I saw it. You used magic in the dungeon, didn’t you?”
It was the power of the spirit though—but I couldn’t say that. If I’m to say it, I would end up talking about my 【Unseal】ability which I want to keep a secret for now.
“And those spirit stones. It looked like the rocks turned into spirit stones in Rion’s hand. The same was true in the dungeon and in the workshop earlier.”
I see.
I guess the reason she showed me to the workshop was to wait and see before inviting me to be her party member.
-Uh… I was so busy fighting and negotiating that I didn’t even think about hiding anything…
Mia pursed her lips.
“……My gratitude is real.”
“Uh-, I know.”
I found it funny that she looked so upset, so I laughed a little too.
Mia-san continues.
“I’m not saying you have to reveal your skills. It’s normal to keep rare abilities a secret. But I’m also saving up money. I want to form a party with you because it looks like it will be profitable, and that’s my benefit.”
Mia looked my way and paused.
“In addition, it is because you picked my interest.”
It was a proud and dignified adventurer negotiation.
Indeed. I just felt the danger of going solo when I fought with skeletons. Plus, in dungeons, it’s much safer to party up with people you trust. I think it would be okay to put Mia-san in that trusted person.
At least, that’s what I’d like to believe now.
The rest depends on the feelings of the dear goddess that Mia-san doesn’t know of.
(Solana, what do you think?)
I heard a voice coming from the gold coin.
『I agree with you in everything.』
I looked up and smiled back at Mia-san. Although we are of different heights, as fellow adventurers, I wonder if I look a little more reliable.
“I’ll be in your care!”
“Okay!”
We then shook hands. The chain wrapped around Mia-san’s right arm sways wildly.
At this time, I never thought that our relationship would last such a long time——it is what I hope.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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