“Thank you for the meal.”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks for the meal!”
“Th…anks…”
“No, no, don’t mention it. I’m expecting great things from you all.”
Roderich, Dorothea, Abel, and Sabine thanked me, and we parted ways. However, Reinhardt was still seated. And with him, Bianca also remained.
“Bianca, sorry, but could you head back first? I have something to discuss with Dee.”
“Is it something I’m not supposed to hear?”
“Yeah, it’s man-to-man talk.”
Bianca looked like she wanted to stay, but Reinhardt urged her, and she left.
Or rather, what kind of “man-to-man talk” did Reinhardt have in mind?
Somehow, I didn’t have a bad feeling.
“Hey, Dee… I have a favor to ask.”
Uwah, I really only have a bad feeling about this…
“What is it?”
“Could you lend me some money?”
Reinhardt began, with an uncharacteristically earnest tone I’d never heard from him before.
“Money? I don’t really mind, but…”
Well, I was planning to give them a boost anyway, so it’s not that difficult a request.
“Really?! Man, you’re a lifesaver!”
I hadn’t found the right timing to bring it up, but I was planning to lend him money from the start.
“I’ll invest in you and your party, Reinhardt.”
“Invest?”
“Yeah. I’ll support Reinhardt’s party financially.”
“That’s really helpful, but what’s in it for you, Dee?”
“It’s not like I’m giving you the money for free, you know? You can pay me back when you can afford to, and once in a while, just tell me about your adventures.”
“Stories about your adventures?”
“Yeah. Adventure stories are fun.”
“Are they?”
Reinhardt looked puzzled. Well, the reason I want to hear about Reinhardt’s adventures is to check if they’re going well. And then, I intend to give them useful advice as needed.
Speaking of advice…
“You’re going to the Glacier Forest, right? Have you prepared torches?”
“Torches? We’re not going into a cave, you know? What would we use torches for?”
Ah, from the looks of it, he doesn’t know.
“Listen up. The monsters in the Glacier Forest are all aggregates of snow. Even if you cut them with a sword, they’ll just stick back together and attack again. That’s where torches come in. Fire magic would be best, but if you cut them with a sword, you should burn the wound with a torch.”
“Huh… But will flames from a mere torch really be effective?”
“They will. Torches are essential as a sub-weapon. They’re almost good enough to be a main weapon.”
“I see… I’ll prepare some torches.”
“Also, you should hold off on subjugating the Snow Dragon for now. You should challenge it after your Gifts have grown more.”
“I know. My master also warned me strictly about it.”
By “master,” he probably means the veteran adventurer, Reiner.
“Is this ‘master’ of yours coming with you on this adventure?”
“Yeah. He’s coming along as a coach, sort of.”
If Reiner is going with them, there shouldn’t be any problems. Reiner, who’s been an active adventurer for much longer than me, would know the ABCs of adventuring better.
“Still, why are you going to the Glacier Forest? The drop items there are bad, and you can’t earn much, right?”
“Yeah… Well, someone who lost their son in a Glacier Forest dungeon asked me to. I want to at least find a memento for them.”
“I see…”
I put on a somber expression, but inwardly, I was cheering. It seems Reinhardt is properly completing the events in the Royal Capital. That’s a relief.
To be frank, Reinhardt at the academy had practically no good points, but as an adventurer, he seems to be doing well. Just like a game protagonist, he seems to have the kind of personality where he can’t ignore people in trouble.
I wonder if it’s because things are going well with Bianca?
Thinking back, Reinhardt at the academy seemed to lack composure somehow.
“I can only cheer you on, but do your best, Reinhardt.”
“Yeah!”
“Right, about the money…”
I took out my wallet from my breast pocket and tossed it to Reinhardt.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yeah. Was it not enough?”
“No, it’s more than enough. It’s almost scary to be holding this much money…”
Reinhardt carefully put the wallet away and stood up. He was probably about to leave.
Reinhardt, with a look of resolve on his face, extended his fist towards me.
“Honestly, as I am now, I’m no match for you, Dee. But someday, I’ll catch up to you, and then I’ll surpass you. You better be ready.”
I felt happy and bumped my fist against Reinhardt’s.
“You can do it. I’m counting on you.”
Because I need you to defeat the Evil God. It’s no lie that I’m counting on you.
“……I thought you’d laugh at me…”
“Why would I laugh at a man’s resolve?”
“Dee, you’re a good guy.”
I definitely felt Reinhardt’s affection points towards me rising. You can’t romance me, you know?
As I was about to leave the shop just like that, a small problem occurred.
“……Reinhardt, sorry, but could you handle the bill?”
“Eh?”
“I gave you all the cash I had on me. I don’t have any money right now.”