Aside from the poor display of professionalism, we were able to work as tasked. I blasted them with magic while Clyde took care of the more hardy Earthen Slimes. Of course, he did most of the work, with him dashing from target to target with his greatsword in tow, without a single care of getting dirty; and… of course, I would get jumped by Slimes that crept up to me from under his notice.

All in all, nothing serious occurred while we're at it.

By sunset, we were able to get through all of them. We weren't sure if there was any more hiding under all that farmland, but that wasn’t part of the quest description, so I was first to suggest the idea that we won’t be taking care of that.

Rich coming from me who did, only twenty percent of the work, at best…
Then again, it's not like we could eradicate them from the source, so it really was a sensible decision.

In regards to the job, he definitely sped up the process that normally would've taken so long if it were just me. He would literally pulverize the sorry creatures in one hit from the back end of his blade.

I reminded myself that I shouldn't fault his help… just because I seemed to be carried surplus.

Both of us were absolute messes, and I couldn't be more thankful to have finished the job when all of the villagers have locked themselves up in their own houses already. The village chief personally saw us to our separate inn rooms.

After a lengthy shower from my end, some quick laundry, I was in my pajamas, lying on my designated bed and staring at the dark brown ceiling of my unlit room.

Well. This sure is a nice change of pace. He’s really good. He’s really strong. But… maybe having seen how I performed, this would probably be the last.

I blinked my eyes, breathing lengthily.

But that's okay. After this, it’s back to the regularly scheduled mundane. Annoying, tedious, sometimes too difficult, but I’d manage. I always do. This venture hasn't killed me yet, so I'd like to see how farther I can get with this.

It wasn't only my fatigue that lulled me to sleep, but the softness of the bed and the smell of the covers.

Mmm… wheat bread.

That said, it was lights out for me.

_ _ _

I woke up and immediately got dressed, to hit off back on the road and back home. Clyde was readied earlier than me so I saw him chatting with the same old chief.

"Are you all ready to go?" He asked.

"Aye, ser. I have… te get back home, after all." Clyde mounted his sheathed greatsword back onto his back.

"Th-Thank you for letting us stay over without needing to pay, sir." I bowed slightly.

"Nonsense. It's the least I could do. I feel I haven't been grateful enough, just letting you both stay for just one night so I…" He brought out two hand-sized sacks of gilzeron from his back pockets and smiled at us. "thought this should serve better in your care. And oh, I'm aware that your guild pays you what I already paid for the quest. Consider this—a bonus, from me to you. Perhaps investment for the next time this quest pops up?"

I stared before carefully collecting what he was offering. Clyde took his share without any hesitation.

"Really appreciate it, ol’ man!"

"Th-Thank you, sir!"

We exchanged goodbyes and the chief saw us off, him waving at me as I slightly waved at him back before we went on our merry way.

It was still early in the morning. I stared at the gilzeron-filled bag that I got. Gentle sunlight pierced through the thin bag and made the coins luster.

"When ye said the quest was a Slime extermination, I didn’t expect there to be this much goin’ on. Plus, we got paid even more fer the effort we put in!"

Trust me. I had no idea about all this myself…

"I probably wouldn’t have finished it so smoothly without your help, so… thanks too." I stowed away my staff and coin bag.

Just as I thought that was finally the end of the conversation…

"Hey, Lily. Do you really like magic?" Clyde asked.

Where’d that one come from?
Well… at least, this time, it’s an easy question to answer.

"I do. It might just be one of my few reasons for being an adventurer. So that I can learn and use more meaningful magic…"

He breathed with content and raised his hands behind his head. "I’ve seen an’ heard a lot ‘f mages come and go. But none ‘f them ever said somethin’ like that. It’s always ‘bout needin’ the money’ or bein’ forced into it.’"

Careful there, mister.
Those reasons are close second to the one that I just mentioned. Even now, those reasons are what make every day an uphill battle…

"So I like hearin’ that. It’s somethin’ te fall back on regardless if ye are in need ‘f money, or if ye are forced into it. Likin’ yer job…’s one good reason te stay in it, after all."

There was sound logic to that, yes. He seemed to be feeling sentimental about it, though.

"W-Well, how about you?" I asked, without looking away from the path.

"Not as much as likin’ magic per sé, but I do like fightin’. Bladefightin’s been my thing fer as long as I can remember after’ll. It's endless trainin’ te get stronger than yesterday."

"Even when you’re just mostly lounging by the stairs of the Taverinn?" I slightly turned my head to furrow an eyebrow at him.

"Gh–" He resorted to a nervous chuckle to recover, before bowing his head and smiling weakly. "I-I don’t think I hate myself too much as te batter my body all the time, y’know? An’ me waitin’ there at’at spot… ye can call’at training too."

H-Huh?

I tilted my head as I turned to face up at him, completely this time. He shook his head and dug his hands into each of his side pockets. His face got contemplative again.

"Feeerget I said ‘at. It’s nothin’."

"O-Oh, okay." I faced the path again, still confused, but I held my tongue.

If it’s something rather heavy, I don’t need to pry. I should probably lead with something else from here…

"Hey, Clyde," I meekly called out.

"…Aye?" Clyde immediately responded but didn’t turn his head.

"When we’re back at the Taverinn, what’re you going to do? Well, besides guarding the stairs." I chuckled very quietly.

"A-Ah… Right. I’ll… be goin’ somewhere real quick. After ‘at, there’s–" He lifted a hand back to the back of his head to scratch it. "I guess, revealin’ what I sorta promised yesterday."

"You mean… the surprise?"

"Hff—" Clyde loudly snorted through his nose. "Aye, sunshine. The surprise."

I miss the part where that was funny. But… I’m relieved he doesn't sound so downed anymore.

_ _ _

Their little bonfire rave party probably had no end in sight. It still was a creepy sight; but, furthermore, it reminded me of something…
A scenario I thought I treasured.

No no. I’m not even going to entertain the idea.

After only a few hours of a few stops here and there, we finally reached the Eastern Gate of Asparthens by sunset. It was an awkward feeling to have journeyed with someone for this long… But after being hit by the realization that it was to be temporary, I could only sigh and push on past that sentiment.

"Ye go on ahead. I’ll just be takin’ care ‘f somethin’ first. I won't take long." Clyde waved at me.

"A-Ah… Alright. See you later, then." I waved right back.

Without saying more, he dug his hands into his pockets and broke off the path we were taking. I didn't look to see where he was going before continuing on my path, the rest of the way towards the Taverinn.

_ _ _

When I arrived, there wasn’t a single adventurer on-site. I could’ve sworn it wasn’t late enough into the night for the place to lose activity, but Ms. Chait was in her stall nevertheless, so I made my way to her.

"Ms. Chait, Ms. Chait!" I reached up to ring her desk bell.

Very customary to do when there’s a bell.

"Ah. Good evening, Lily! I must say, traveling such distances just for tasks most would call menial? You really are a hard-worker, aren’t you?"

Having been reminded of it, I chuckled nervously, handing out the quest paper to her, to which she eagerly accepted with both hands.

"A quest is still a quest, after all. A-Anyway, why’s the Taverinn so quiet all of a sudden? I didn't expect the place would be so barren this early."

"It isn’t uncommon for the Taverinn to have its slow days, but even I'm not quite sure. Small matter, though. All I can do is lie in wait, to accommodate any adventurer or guild staff that may need my services for at any moment." She handed me a bag of gilzeron. "Like you!"

I took what she had given me and without looking, I put it straight into my bag.

Though it was none of my business, I wondered…

"What do you do in the meantime, whenever this place gets boring?" I asked.

Ms. Chait giggled at me.

"Well, if you’re asking if I have a pastime… I’d say I’d be brushing up on Madam Everinn’s notes. She’s far more knowledgeable than I, and sociable too at that! My role as main Guild Attendant may be temporary, but I should value and learn from the experience while I can. Suffice to say… I like my job enough to term it as some sort of a pastime itself."

‘Ms. Everinn’. It’s been a while since I’ve last heard from her… Not since the first time I've woken up in this world. I wonder where she's gone off to?

"If I’ve sated your curiosity, may I ask one thing from you in turn?" She smiled at me after fixing a stray bang from her forehead.

"W-What is it?" Her action got me trying to fix a stray bang from my face too.

"Are you enjoying your journey so far?"

Now that’s a hard question…

Where are all these hard topics coming from all of a sudden? And why now…?

It’s been a few seconds of silence. Ms. Chait’s eyebrows creased to a more concerned stance.

"That was rather insensitive of me for overstepping my boundaries there. I'm sorry, Lily." She bowed her head slightly.

I raised my hands and shook them from side to side.

"Oh, no-no! Please don’t mind me. It’s just that… I’ve never thought about these things myself to prepare an answer for. If I were to judge everything I’ve been through so far…" I look down at my gloved hands. "I worked hard for it… really really hard. All on my own. H-How could I not like it!?"

Ms. Chait smiled at me. "That’s… really good to hear! Even when circumstances look bleak, sometimes a little self-motivation is all you’d need. As always, I’m just here if you ever need something that I can help you with. Thank you for your continued contribution to Guild Taverinn!"

"Th-Thank you, Ms. Chait."

She energetically nodded and that was the end of that.

While I see the appeal of liking a job for what it is, I, on the other hand… just don’t get it at all. Whenever something gets hard, it’s easy to regret doing it.

It’s a whole lot easier to run away.

While deep in thought, I hit my boot on an empty seat next to the aisle way adjacent to the Attendant’s Hall. I looked around before sitting on it.

Ms. Everinn…

A busty middle-aged woman that I met by chance during the time I first woke up in this place. She left me something when all the talking was done because she incidentally had to go away for something I couldn’t ask about.

Might as well follow Ms. Chait’s model example.

I then brought out the beautifully handwritten notes Ms. Everinn lent to me before we went on our ways, which I personally scribbled on with the title: ‘Adventuring Classes for Dummies’.

Clyde might not get back so early… but I guess I’ll just wait for him here and hear him out. I’m… positive that it’d be something good if he'd have it for me exclusively.

_ _ _

A few minutes into the reading, I heard someone’s footsteps from my right side and a glass got put on the table. The first thing I saw was a glass of cold water. I put down the notebook I was holding and turned to look to see whoever brought it. Holding a small, circular tray to her side, a lady with short brown hair, a side hair on each side of her face, a pair of icy blue eyes, a waitress blouse housing C-cups (only the important details, yes) appeared before me.

I seem to run into her a lot, now that I think about it.

"…Will you be ordering anything?" Her half-disinterested tone asked.

"Well…" One hand let go of the notebook and grabbed the glass for me to sip for a brief moment. "I’d like a small basket of Terranaturkey(?) legs a-and a mug of wildberry juice, p-please…"

Nailed that interaction with less awkwardness, this time. Nice!

I could see that she was jotting down my dictations on her notepad as I was mentioning them, which she finished as soon as I stopped talking.

"Understood. I’ll be right back with your order," she said, bowing in my direction.

My eyes trailed off to a detail (a pair of details, at that) I didn’t intend to view.

Eee…
Distracting…
Depressing.

I shook my head at the thought of wanting to pay respects to my non-existent chest. Instead, I just sighed and put down the glass after another sip. I picked up my notebook and continued reading.