Kiri, the boy I’d met at the adventurer’s guild, really was strange.
He had effortlessly recalled a passage from the scriptures as he sat on the other end of this bench, with Yune between us. It wasn’t verbatim—he had simplified the text in a way that made it easier to understand. That proved he had actually read the scriptures and fully grasped their meaning. He might even know more than Yune. The gentle and diligent apprentice cleric studied every day, but I’d heard she tended to fall asleep whenever she read the scriptures. Even now, she struggled to recite the basics from memory.
Most people tended to see adventurers as little more than a band of rogues, and most adventurers deserved that reputation. Heroes worthy of poetry were few and far between. The majority of adventurers were hardly different from common thugs. That man I’d argued with at the adventurer’s guild was a prime example.
But Kiri didn’t give off that impression.
To begin with, he looked weak. Even with a spear and armor, the image of him carrying a basket for gathering herbs didn’t exactly inspire fear. At the same time, he was kind enough to share his water with me and educated enough to read and comprehend the Scriptures of Amana. Most importantly, he had a sincere attitude toward his work.
He didn’t seem like an adventurer at all, to be honest. I couldn’t understand why he was adventuring in the first place. Someone like him could surely take on a normal job. Perhaps that would even be better for him.
There was one thing I could say for sure, at least: He seemed like someone I could trust. Following him had taught me a lot. I had made mistakes and learned what I was lacking. His very existence, so unlike the vague, rough-and-tumble image of adventurers I’d had in mind, helped dispel my own biases. Now I knew that not all adventurers were unruly rogues, because there were people like Kiri too.
This party had formed by chance, and I still disliked that rude warrior who had brought us together. But, in hindsight, maybe working with Kiri for my very first adventure was a true stroke of luck for me.
Well, trust and reliability were two different things. He might be trustworthy, but he wasn’t someone the Magnan Trading Company would want to rely on. His skills and age were clearly lacking, and there was no way around that.
Which was a little disappointing, I thought. Only a little, though.
“Hmm...” The fruit juice was sweet and tangy, but the moment I remembered my duty, I couldn’t help but make a sour face and sigh. That was not something I was looking forward to.
I wanted to go on adventures. I didn’t come here to work for the Magnans, but that was the pretense I had given as my reason for becoming an adventurer. It was also a condition I had to satisfy—a job I had to do.
“Yune, just drink your juice already. We can’t go home until you do,” I chided. “And you’re thirsty, aren’t you?”
“Ugh... Yes.” The apprentice cleric clutched her cup with both hands. But instead of moving the cup to her mouth, she brought her face closer to the rim and took a hesitant sip.
Her expression softened in an instant. She was so easy to read and so genuinely expressive. “Wow, it’s delicious!” she exclaimed.
“Of course. Drinking it outside doesn’t make it taste any worse,” I told her. If anything, it tasted even better than I’d expected. Whether that was because we were drinking it outside or because we were just tired and thirsty, I couldn’t say.
“This juice is amazing. I had no idea something so good existed.” Kiri seemed completely taken with his drink too. He was savoring every drop, as if the contents of his cup were something truly precious.
He was quite the country boy, so he probably hadn’t had much experience with drinks meant to be enjoyed for their flavor and not just for quenching thirst. This fruit was grown in the villages surrounding town, so it wasn’t particularly rare. But what really mattered was that he liked it.
I studied Kiri’s face carefully, but I still didn’t think he looked dependable or strong. Sure, he had surprising endurance and knowledge that completely defied my initial impression of him, but that was all. When it came to judging how reliable he was, appearances played a major role.
In that regard, well... Kiri’s not just a little lacking. He’s completely hopeless.
He was absolutely not the right choice. If I had to pick someone, I would choose an adventurer who seemed strong and competent. That was what anyone would do.
However, Kiri technically had more experience than Yune or me. And right now, he was the only adventurer the two of us knew—our only connection. To fulfill my duty as a member of the Magnan family, I ought to start by using him as a foothold.
But taking advantage of Kiri, when I haven’t even been all that useful to him yet, feels a little unfair. Still...
“Hey, Kiri.” I turned to look at him. Yune, who was happily drinking her juice with both hands wrapped around her cup, was still between us.
“Hm? What is it, Liluetta?”
“Would you happen to know anything about the party that discovered a new section of the sewers?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Why...”
The dimly lit adventurer’s guild had a spacious interior with numerous tables where patrons could drink and dine. At one of those tables, a group of adventurers sat facing each other with serious expressions.
For an utterly worthless reason, I added to myself.
“These three, Waine, Sheya, and Chikka, are the adventurers who discovered the new area in the sewers,” Kiri said.
The trio consisted of a human male warrior, a human female mage, and a halfling female scout.
“Why...”
The three of them had apparently been in the middle of a card game. From the looks of it, they were gambling; each had a stack of silver coins in front of them. Beside each pile of silver sat a cup, and the distinct, heady scent of alcohol wafted through the air.
It wasn’t even nighttime yet, but these rogues were already drinking and gambling.
“Yo, kiddo. You’re back early today. Three cards.”
“Welcome back. I fold.”
“Looks like you did well, tiny. I can tell just by looking at your face. Call.”
One after another, the three adventurers greeted Kiri while continuing their game.
I glanced at the table. It was entirely trivial, something I really could not have cared less about, but the mage seemed to be in the lead, followed by the scout. Only three silver coins remained in front of the warrior, meaning he had just gone all in.
With the bets set, the warrior and scout revealed their hands.
“Damn it! Lost again!” The tall warrior with dark brown hair and a single streak of white at the front clutched his head in frustration.
Why does he look familiar... Ah.
It was the same rude man I had argued with when we’d first met at this very establishment.
“Why does it have to be this guy?!” I yelled.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Oh ho, I see, I see! So the little ladies here wanna ask us some questions?”
“That’s right. The discovery of the new section of the sewers has caused quite a stir in the merchant’s guild. They’re saying it’s a groundbreaking find that will help the town flourish even more, and the adventurers responsible are heroes to be praised. I had no idea the first person we met here was the one behind such a feat. Please forgive our earlier rude remarks.”
“Ha ha ha, no worries, no worries! So that’s how it is, huh? Well, lemme tell ya, exploring those sewers was no easy task!” The warrior roared with laughter, oblivious to how blatantly forced and monotone Yune’s flattery was.
Since the table they had been using earlier was too small for six people, the trio had moved to a larger one to accommodate us. We sat in a different order this time, with Yune, me, and Kiri on one side of the table. Across from us, from left to right, were the warrior, the mage, and the scout. If I remembered correctly from Kiri’s introduction, their names were Waine, Sheya, and Chikka.
Yune and Waine, who were seated directly across from each other, were leading the conversation. As a member of the Magnan family, I should have taken charge. But speaking with that man was out of the question for me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid slipping into an argument with him, so I left it to Yune.