Avangarde Royal Capital – Commercial Street
I found myself in an unprecedented pinch. I felt more cornered than during the ten years in the Abyss Cave or the battles against Lord Daigami, the Dragon God, and Elmera. No, it wasn’t anyone else’s fault; it was entirely my own.
“I’m broke.”
Saying it out loud made the reality hit harder. I opened my pouch and pushed aside Shin, who had somehow snuggled in there, trying to retrieve my money. All I managed to grasp was a mere two gold coins. This gold seemed to be made of cheap metal, and in my confused state, I thought maybe I could make some myself. But if I got caught doing that, as Kurinka once told me, I might never see the light of day again.
With this amount, I couldn’t even buy a present, let alone a Togaramochi. That thing costs at least three gold coins, which I thought was way too expensive. I couldn’t just stand here on this bustling commercial street forever.
Right, if I don’t have money, I just need to earn some. I could head to the Guild, take on a simple request, and wrap it up quickly. Being an Adventurer has its perks.
Avangarde Royal Capital – Adventurer’s Guild
“I’ll take on this Melt Lizard extermination request.”
“Um… Excuse me, but you’re A-Rank Rua, aren’t you? Your ranking is… currently 50th along with Kurinka…”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s just that someone of your caliber taking on such a request seems… unusual.”
The receptionist hesitated, and the conversation stalled. Wasn’t it against the rules for Guild staff to question such things? She kept glancing nervously behind me, and something felt off.
“Hey, hey, there’s no way an A-Rank would take on that request…”
“Wait a minute! If she’s A-Rank, there are much higher-paying requests available, right? If she takes that one, what are we supposed to do?”
A crowd of Adventurers began to gather, and they didn’t seem friendly at all. I was just trying to accept a request, but today felt different.
“High-paying? Is there anything more expensive than this?”
“…There isn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Like the recent bandit incident, the continuous attacks have really hurt the economy. There aren’t many people willing to offer high rewards for requests anymore. The entire country is in financial trouble. Honestly, the government should focus on what needs to be done instead of squabbling over republican matters.”
“Ugh! This is ridiculous! At this rate, we’ll all starve!”
One disgruntled Adventurer slumped down at a table, resting his feet on it. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone seemed frustrated at not being able to secure requests. Everyone was struggling to make a living, while I was just trying to earn some money for a present. I decided it was best to step back from the reception counter.
“Well then, I’ll let someone else—”
“By the way, Rua? No way… you’re not talking about the Flash Strike Girl, are you?”
“No way. It’s just a coincidence that we share the same name, right? I’ve heard she’s a beast of a woman who can stop even a Dragon’s heart with her killing intent.”
“Don’t be stupid. There’s only one A-Rank Rua, the Flash Strike Girl…”
“Then, is that… the real deal?”
A strange image was forming again. There was no way I could stop someone’s heart just with my killing intent. I often wondered why such impossible stories circulated. I suddenly imagined Elmera laughing hysterically beside me. And my pouch was shaking; I wanted to smack it.
“Is it really her?! This is bad…”
“I-I’m so sorry! Please forgive my rudeness!”
“That request? Please, go ahead and take it! We’re just sitting around doing nothing!”
Didn’t they just complain about starving? Suddenly, they were bowing and scraping. This reminded me of when I came looking for a training partner before; the moment they realized I was the Flash Strike Girl, they’d back off and run. Some would approach confidently, but once they realized they couldn’t match me, they’d just slump down and stop moving. It made it hard for me to hold back, defeating the purpose of training.
Now, it felt like I was threatening to take their requests away. I understood the situation, and I couldn’t let my desire for a present come at their expense.
“I’m fine. It wouldn’t be right to take away your work.”
“No, no! We’re just a bunch of perennial C-Rank slackers!”
“Then all the more reason for you to take it.”
Even with all this bowing, I felt uncomfortable. I wasn’t going to eat them, so why were they so scared?
“Hey, hey… you’re being too humble in front of a kid.”
“Idiot! You’ll get erased!”
“That’s not true…”
“I’m not talking metaphorically; I mean literally erased!”
I was done. There was no place for me here.
Avangarde Royal Capital – Commercial Street
I ended up back where I started, but what was I going to do about money? Looking at the bustling commercial street, it didn’t seem like anyone was struggling. Various shops and stalls lined the street, with some vendors shouting their promotions loudly. Despite everything that had happened, this place was lively. With this kind of energy, it felt like they could handle anything, even a republic.
No, more than anything, Iks had said that the damage was minimal thanks to the skilled Adventurers who managed things well. Aside from Tiferia, most of the A-Rank Adventurers were staying in this country, which was a significant strength. The King had mentioned before that training Adventurers was crucial in situations like this.
Still, this commercial street was incredibly noisy. People were engaged in various businesses, and many were utilizing the shops. I realized how much I had been isolated in the Adventurer’s world, as I was only now noticing such obvious things.
Right, it’s obvious. I’m an Adventurer who takes on requests to earn money. But I just passed on a request. So now, I have no money. Wait a minute. I’m an Adventurer, but what do I do if there are no requests?
—How am I supposed to earn money?
Standing here, lost in thought, was proof enough. I had nothing. If there were no battles, what was I supposed to do? Of course, there were requests outside of combat, but they were all things I was terrible at. If Kurinka were here, it would be different, but alone, I could only fight.
There were hardly any requests related to reconstruction. The soldiers of the Royal Capital were primarily handling those, so there was no shortage of manpower, and it seemed I was out of options.
“If you’re just standing there, you’re in the way… Gah! I-I’m sorry!”
An uncle turned pale and hurriedly fled upon seeing my face. Even an adult like him was scared of me. I finally understood how much my fighting had terrified people. I had never considered that before. I was just fighting desperately.
“Isn’t that the Flash Strike Girl?”
“Wow, she looks pretty young…”
“I’ve heard she can slice through even a Dragon in one strike. She’s terrifying…”
I was getting used to people talking about me like this, but today, it struck deeper. In the end, fighting was all I had. That was my place.
“Oh! Could you be the famous Flash Strike Girl?!”
“…Who?”
A plump man in a well-tailored suit approached me with a rather odd voice. His attire reminded me of the Matere Trading Company. He didn’t seem like an Adventurer; perhaps he worked in this commercial street.
“Wow! What an honor to meet the real deal! I’m Kozel, from the accessory specialty shop ‘Moonshine Shop’ based here on Commercial Street. Please, do visit us!”
He bowed repeatedly and handed me a small square piece of paper, leaving me unsure of what to do with it. I could tell it had his name and some other information on it. I had improved a bit since Kurinka taught me how to read and write. Still, I had never heard of Moonshine Shop, and I wondered why he was talking to me.
“Actually, I have a personal request for you. Of course, I’m willing to offer a generous reward.”
“A request? What kind of reward?”
“Money, of course. If you have plenty, feel free to take any accessory from my shop. They’re worth tens of thousands of gold coins.”
“Huh…”
So this man was asking me for something. He seemed overly eager, which made me uneasy, but for me right now, it was a stroke of luck.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Impressive! Your quick thinking and conversation skills are remarkable! It’s no wonder you’re climbing the ranks of A-Rank Adventurers with such momentum! Ah, since standing around chatting isn’t ideal, how about we discuss the details at my place?”
I didn’t feel the slightest bit pleased. Even I wouldn’t get swept up in flattery like this. This person was just like those Adventurers who suddenly changed their attitude when they found out I was the Flash Strike Girl. They were asking for a favor from the Flash Strike Girl.
◆ Moonshine Shop ◆
“Well, as you can see, we sell accessories that are useful for Adventurers here. This ‘Braglass,’ which completely prevents darkness, is quite popular among those fighting on the front lines.”
When I looked at the price, it read 150,000 gold. Eeks and Kurinka had mentioned that items preventing Status Ailments were exorbitantly priced, far beyond what an average person could afford. Even Seigel had said the same. 150,000 gold was an amount I couldn’t have dreamed of handling before I became A-Rank. There was no way an ordinary Adventurer could buy something like this. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was really selling.
“I thought it was expensive, didn’t you? But you see, we offer installment payments for everything. That’s the difference between us and other shops.”
A plethora of accessories was displayed in the glass case. From items like the Braglass, which had effects that were somewhat understandable, to spiky earrings and things that were completely incomprehensible. I was even told about an accessory that would poison the wearer—who would buy something like that?
“I believe you’ve grasped the range and quality of our products. Now, onto the main topic. Despite how excellent our accessories are, it’s not uncommon for us to receive complaints about their effectiveness or lack thereof.”
“That sounds tough…”
“Of course, it’s extremely regrettable for us. It tarnishes the name of Moonshine Shop, and we can’t allow such baseless complaints to stand. So, here’s the deal!”
“Uh, okay.”
Kozel suddenly leaned in closer, his forehead and cheeks glistening. I knew I shouldn’t say this, but I wished he wouldn’t get so close.
“I’d like you to wear this accessory, Rua. It’s called the Pregnable Ring! It’s an exceptional item that grants resistance to darkness, paralysis, and sleep! I know it sounds pricey, but it’s not that expensive since it doesn’t provide complete resistance! The price is only 60,000 gold! There’s a reason we can offer such a low price.”
He started talking excitedly. I could only nod along, while Kozel was the only one getting heated up.
“And we have a loyal customer base as well. Just the other day, a young couple bought a wedding ring right on the spot. It was quite the scene!”
A wedding ring? I vaguely remembered my mother wearing something like that. It seemed like it was a gift from my father, but I wondered if receiving a ring would really make someone happy. When I glanced at the price tag, it was in the tens of thousands of gold, and I quickly looked away.
“Is it enough if I just wear the Pregnable Ring?”
“Oh! I’m sorry for digressing. Yes, that’s all I ask. Of course, there’s no charge. However, I need you to wear it at all times. That’s the only condition. As for the reward, well, I estimate it to be around 140,000 gold.”
“140,000?! Isn’t that more than the ring… but you said estimate?”
“Ah, that’s our business. In any case, that’s all I need from you. Oh, wait a moment!”
Kozel left to fetch something and returned with another accessory—a red, sparkling bracelet. Please don’t tell me he wants me to wear this too.
“I’d like you to wear this as well. This is called the Power Bracelet, and it boosts your strength just by wearing it!”
“I-I guess that’s fine, but why are you asking me to do this?”
“Of course, it’s to eliminate those dishonorable complaints about effectiveness. If someone as skilled as you, Rua, uses them, it should restore our reputation. I can’t ask just any nameless Adventurer for this. Trust is essential.”
His last words were almost spat out. It was clear that he was asking the Flash Strike Girl for help, not me. Is it really okay for me to accept this?
“Now, next, please read this paper and sign your name.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s a Contract. Just some typical boring stuff, so feel free to skim through it.”
I couldn’t read the densely packed text, so I just wrote my name. I was glad I had learned to write. It felt good not to embarrass myself like that again.
“Ah, that’s great! The contract is now established! You can just wear those and go about your usual business. As for the reward, it will be delivered as stated later.”
“Hmm, but I want it right now…”
“The contract states that’s not possible.”
His voice, which had been cheerful and rubbing his hands together, suddenly dropped. The high-pitched tone turned low, and he spoke with the same dismissive tone he had shown earlier. What’s going on? Am I about to do something I shouldn’t? I felt an uneasy premonition from Kozel’s current attitude.
“Well then! Until next time!”
There was no need to give me the present today. My allowance wouldn’t come for another month, and with only 2 gold, I couldn’t buy anything, not even a rice cake. Either way, I had no choice but to wait.
◆ Shin Report ◆
This time, like a sprout, I’ll drive away the dead!
I won’t forgive you this time!
How much do you think I’ve been useful until now?!
You’re just thinking about flirting with Kurinka, you stupid Rua!
Grrr!
You’ve clearly fallen for a suspicious guy, and you deserve it!
A foolish person who knows nothing about the world should suffer here and wake up!
Hmph!
Pfft!