Ruling a kingdom in the Ynistia continent versus becoming a young dragon’s pet servant. Which was a better job?

Definitely the latter. Take it from Oeno, the runaway prince of a powerful sea kingdom. Askr landed on the best job for princes hiding from their kingdoms.

The living conditions were much better as well. It was a place in nature with no pollution or disturbance. Earthlings would kill for a half-day vacation here. 

‘So, in a sense, I guess all that killing was worth it?’ 

[Please do not justify your actions based on rewards.] 

So what if he justified his killing spree as a price for a moment of respite under the clear sky and fresh air of the mountain? Did the system want him to live in guilt?

[You were not assigned tasks that would leave you feeling guilty. Do not fret over it. Instead, you can think of this as a reward for your unconventional teaching.] 

‘What about Aoi? Did he not do anything to be guilty about it?’

[...

You needn’t worry about that. Focus on recovering your mental health.]

‘Haah.’ Ryuu was not proud of his behavior back at the cave. It was not only self-sabotaging but also cowardly and disrespectful. He was not a child after all.

"Hey. I'm sorry. I kind of freaked out back there." Kai, who was sitting calmly on a big rock closer to the edge, looked at him. 

“How many times are you going to apologize?”

Ryuu looked away guiltily. “It’s just that I seem to be always dragging you into these things. It doesn’t even have anything to do with you, but you even had to take my place and answer to the elder dragon.” If things didn’t go well, Kai would have fallen into danger for no reason. 

"I was here to help,” Kai remarked. “I only followed along because you might need help. Isn’t that what I did? Why are you apologizing for it?" 

"Haha." Ryuu laughed awkwardly. 

"You know, you don't have to do things that give you a hard time," Kai added. "No one will force you to complete missions." 

Yes. That was what everyone thought, and why KS got so popular so soon. Although there was someone on your shoulder telling you to go left, no one was going to complain if you went right. 

"It should be like that." Ryuu paused. "But, I don't think I can." But what if everyone who went left dies because you took the other route? Could you still go that way? 

Sure a hunter could say they won’t hunt, a mage could become an actor instead. But could the person with the ability to postpone the destruction of the world run away and hide in a corner, waiting for death, knowing all this? Maybe. 

Ryuu couldn’t. That would contradict his whole purpose of being here. 

"Just what kind of mission do you have?" 

"Well, you see—"

[System: Mission details must not be shared with anyone. 

The penalty would be severe. Please be patient.]

'So I can tell him I'm an assassin but not about my mission? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?'

[System: There are certain rules that need to be followed. This is for a better future. Please understand.]

'Hah!'

"I can't tell you. But I have to complete it. The other option isn't...good." Ryuu spoke with a smile. He didn't want to get involved in such a thing either. But he only had the system to rely on in this world. 

'You are trustworthy though, right?'

[System: You do not need to trust me. 

My job is to help you in this world with your best interest in mind. 

I will only suggest the best course of action.

Whether you like it or not.] 

‘I almost drowed though, remember?’

[That was a miscalculation on my part. All the more reason to be patient. I’ve learned from my mistake.]

'That's...reassuring.' 

"Then, can I help you?" Ryuu was taken aback by the sudden question.

"Help me? How?" He couldn't fathom why Kai would offer to help him. "You don't need to—" 

"Don't get me wrong. I'm only asking you for a job. Hire me." 

[System: A legendary phenomenon—]

'Shoo.' Ryuu completely ignored the system as he looked at Kai, surprised.

"I can help you as a mercenary, I don't have anything better to do anyway." 

'Hey, system. Is that ok?' Hiring someone to help, for an assassin, how valid was it? 

[System: ...

There aren't any issues.]

"You don't need to force yourself to help me, Kai," Ryuu spoke as he jumped down a few steps from the cliff, followed by the other. 

“I also did tell the dragon I work for you.” Pause, “It might be a problem if he finds out it was a lie.” 

Kai was holding Ryuu’s conscience by the throat. “If you’re guilty of putting me into such a situation, you should take responsibility for it.”

“But working for me would only put you in more dangerous situations. It won’t benefit you, would it?”

"I'll only work for 50 gold a month." So expensive! 

[System: Would you like to send a custom job invitation?]

The system was fast to intervene this time.

'Should I? What do you say? You said you know what's the best.'

[System: —

Having a companion would be beneficial for you.]

'With that high rate?'

[System: Sending invitation.

Sent.

Invitation Accepted.]

'Yeah, don't bother consulting me. Decide on your own. Who am I anyway?' 

"I look forward to working with you." As Kai spoke with a rare smile, Ryuu, who wasn’t given a chance to compare the odds, couldn't help but comply with the two. 

"I'll work you to my money's worth then! There will be no end to your suffering!" 

The smile on Kai's face didn't fade. "I'll look forward to that too."

Just like that, Assassin Scarlet Eye was manipulated into hiring a mercenary with two times the market price. And with him, Ryuu left the southern mountains the next morning.

With the sandbags gone, Ryuu and Kai were able to travel more efficiently and reached Selcouth City a little before midnight. However, whether it could be called midnight or not was up for debate. 

Selcouth, as mentioned before, was a busy place. It wasn’t like the capital city, which held great political and economic value to the kingdom. Selcouth was one of the top twenty significant places of the Ynistia continent. Not only was this place under the protection of dragons for centuries, but it also served as a landmark, a place of business, and had a great number of secrets hidden underneath its reputation. 

Ryuu wasn’t interested in all that and only wanted to visit the magic market. Although he wasn’t a mage, he needed to use many things in his diverse line of work that could only be found in such places. The system did provide him with the basics, but that could only work for so long. 

“Don’t you need to rest? We’ve been traveling for quite some time,” Kai remarked as they navigated through the crowded streets. 

“I’m fine. If we take this route, we won’t have to waste time looking around tomorrow,” Ryuu insisted.
In reality, Ryuu’s body was at its limit, purely running on adrenaline at this point. He had to be on guard 24/7 for the past month, barely getting any rest. But Ryuu himself was unaware of his condition and marched forward without hesitation. 

The structure of the market was no different from a fair, temporary shops took up 50% of the area, the rest occupied by some long-standing shops and food stalls. The difference was in the products the shops sold. Hunters that pass through the Isle forest come here to sell what they find in the forest. From beast blood to rare herbs, all that was used to make potions could be found here. 

But these things were also not of his interest because he could find those things himself, being both a hunter and a farmer. What he wanted was magic tools and high-grade magic stones to operate them. The temporary stores didn’t sell such things, so there was no point exploring the streets. 

But they did sell many small trinkets, spellbooks, and miscellaneous things. And one of such things caught Ryuu’s eye. A necklace with a ten-sided blueish-purple stone. It was very small, Ryuu only noticed the detail after taking a close look. The stone looked pure under the lantern. 

“Is this a magic stone?” Ryuu asked the woman behind the counter. 

“It’s not a stone that can help you use magic. It can help you reserve energy.” Reserve energy you say? 

“How much is it?” 

“5 gold.” Is everyone trying to rip me off?

“That’s too pricy.”

“I’ll throw in a magic vial.”

“Deal.” 

Kai watched the two business people bargain over a 1cm stone pendant necklace and a 3cm glass vial with utmost curiosity. 

[Restoration Stone Obtained. 

While wearing the necklace, your energy level would be restored by .01% every minute/ 1% every 100 minutes. 

Current energy percentage. -10%. Approximate collapse in ten minutes.]

‘Wait what? How did it get that low?’

[System: You have been neglecting your health for  17 days 23 hours 50 minutes. 

Your body is expected to fall into deep sleep in 5 minutes.] 

‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’

[System: I apologize for the miscalculation. I did not realize you would be that much of a fool.] 

Didn’t you say you learned from your mistake? 

[This was not my mistake. The system has no obligation to serve as a health meter.]

Ryuu hurriedly put on the necklace.

[Restoring.

-9.99983333333

.

.

-9.99833333333] 

Oh. No. I’m done. 

“Uh, so, Kai. There’s this problem.” Ryuu spoke as they slowly walked away from the stall. He hastily bought a plate of what looked like dumplings. “So the system just informed me that I’m running low on energy.” 

“The system…told you?” Kai looked at him in disbelief. Anyone would if they heard such nonsense. 

Ignoring that, Ryuu finished the plate at a late-for-school speed.

“Yeah, so, I’ll probably collapse soon.” He gulped down some water from the same store. 

“Collapse? When—” 

Ryuu’s head began to get heavy as he spoke. 

[10
  9
.]

“In…in about 7 seconds?” He mumbled, trying to stand still. “So I’ll be counting on you…your first job…” With that, Ryuu let his body fall to gravity, more like, he didn’t have a choice. 

[1

0

.

Rest easy.]