Chapter 11

After that, the hunt proceeded smoothly.

Toll stepped forward to draw the goblins' attention, and when the signal was given, Sora would secretly lend a hand. What was particularly noteworthy was that Sora's <Reversal> was almost unnoticeable.

Usually, when magic techniques like fireballs or flashy lightning are used, the user tends to attract a lot of attention. While this can decisively end a battle, if it doesn't, the concentrated hostility of the monsters often leads to the magic user being taken down first. The skill in avoiding such concentrated hostility is also a test of the user's ability.

However, in the case of <Reversal>, the high power of the effect was offset by its lack of visibility. The target wouldn't even know what had happened, making it difficult to identify the user. If Sora had used ice spears or arrows, the direction they came from would have revealed her position. But <Reversal>, which simply returned the attack's power to the attacker, had no such risk.

As a result, the two of them dispatched the monsters without any particularly dangerous moments. In the end, they managed to take down a considerable number of goblins by the time evening fell. They even managed to hunt a mole and a forest slime each after returning to the forest path.

By the time dusk was setting in, Toll and Sora had returned to the city's outer gate.

"Hey, old man, you were quick today. You're probably getting tired of collecting mud and thinking about retiring—"

"Good evening, thank you for your hard work, gatekeepers."

It seemed that the evening shift was the same as yesterday. The young guard, who always kept one hand in his pocket, was about to make a joke to Toll but stopped short when he noticed the beautiful girl standing next to him, his purple eyes widening in surprise.

"Hey, old man, what's with that cute girl! Ah, did you just happen to meet her there? Seriously, don't scare me like that."

"Always a pleasure to have Toll around."

"Huh?!"

"To enter the city, just show your adventurer card clearly."

"Like this?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

With a slight bow, Sora lifted the green-bordered plate hanging from her neck for the two guards to see. Her awkward movement was filled with the freshness of a new adventurer.

Ignoring the two stunned guards, Toll and Sora passed through the gate with a friendly atmosphere. Just before they disappeared into the crowd, the young guard, who had been standing next to the middle-aged man, muttered with a dazed look.

"What the heck was that? She's super cute. Man, you old guys are still getting attention. Damn, damn, damn!"

The young man—Karlus—voiced his honest thoughts and looked to his partner for agreement, noticing the tense expression on his face.

"What's wrong? You look frozen."

"…No, it's nothing."

"Alright. But that's just crazy. It's insane."

While the young man continued to grumble, the middle-aged guard bit his lip and watched the crowd illuminated by the evening light.

After weaving through the crowd, Toll and Sora split up in front of the adventurer's guild. Toll, with the prey hanging from his belt, headed to the purchase counter, while Sora, holding a leather bag containing the monster parts, joined the queue at the appraisal window.

The line was shorter than usual, perhaps because it was a bit earlier than usual. Sora, trying to hide her anxiety at being left behind, casually took her place at the end of the line.

Before she had taken a few steps, a group of young adventurers joined the line behind her. The group of three men and one woman was talking excitedly about their day's battle. They had apparently fought fiercely against the goblins and won.

"That place was seriously dangerous. I thought I was done for."

"Yeah, when you were surrounded, I thought, 'This guy's done for.'"

"That's harsh, isn't it?"

"You were too cocky and went too far forward. If I hadn't rushed in, you would have really died."

"Yeah, you looked really cool at that moment!"

Sora, who had grown up in a village with few children, found the conversation of her peers very fresh and couldn't help but listen.

One of the group, noticing Sora's half-turned body and attentive ears, whispered to his friends in surprise.

"Hey, hey! The kid in front is super cute, isn't she?"

"What, where, where?"

"…Yeah, she's really cute."

The sudden change in tone made Sora turn around, only to realize she was being stared at. To cover up her eavesdropping, Sora gave a polite smile, causing the three men to gasp in unison. The woman, however, scowled.

"Good evening, I'm sorry for listening in."

"Oh, no, it's fine. It's our fault for talking so loudly."

"You're cute too!"

"It sounds like you had a tough time."

"Nah, it wasn't that bad."

"Yeah, we've been adventurers for a long time, despite how we look."

"Wow! I'm on my first day today."

The men exchanged glances at Sora's admiring words, faster than when they were cornered by goblins.

"Hey, how about joining our party? We have one spot open."

"Goblin hunting is really fun and highly recommended!"

"What, you're inviting her out of the blue?"

"Just go with it. This is a really important moment."

Just as the young men were getting carried away, someone unexpectedly interrupted them.

"Still not done?"

"Ah, welcome back, Toll."

"Hey, what are you butting in for, old man!"

Toll, who had called out to Sora, was supposed to have been cut out of the young men's minds. Facing the three men with a murderous aura, Toll replied expressionlessly.

"Sorry, she's with me."

"Huh?!"

"Ah, I'm in Toll's party, so, sorry!"

"……Huh?"

The three men, speechless and frozen, were interrupted as Sora's turn at the counter arrived.

"Good evening, thank you!"

"You're welcome. Oh, Sora, how was your day?"

The receptionist, Enna, who had registered Sora as an adventurer, greeted her with a warm smile. The girl reported back happily.

"It was all new and really interesting."

"That's great to hear."

Most new adventurers end their first day exhausted and at their physical limits, or injured and discouraged. However, from Sora's expression, it was clear that despite her fatigue, she had genuinely enjoyed her day. Enna was impressed by Toll's excellent leadership, as she had heard good things about him.

"Here, these are today's results!"

Sora eagerly pulled out spiral shells, pointed horns, and bright red crest feathers from her bag. When Sora spread her green ears on the counter, Enna was even more surprised.

Taking a novice on a goblin hunt on their first day was not a sane decision. Even with an E-rank or higher companion, the risk was high, and Toll was still a G-rank adventurer.

However, there was nothing unnatural about Sora's demeanor. She seemed to have completed the hunt as if it were a routine task. This suggested that Sora's <Reversal> magic technique was exceptionally skilled.

"Um, that's everything... "

"Sure, let me see."

Enna, lost in thought, hurriedly reached for the monster parts. The green ears, still damp and quite grotesque, were checked without hesitation. After quickly calculating, the receptionist's voice was filled with admiration.

"First, two forest slimes, five mole goblins, and one pointed beak, plus six slime fluids."

"See, it wasn't just mud collecting."

A mocking voice came from the woman in the group of young men, still in shock. However, her voice faltered when she heard the next words.

"Next, twenty-one goblins and seventeen magic stones. If that's correct, please take your payment."

Sora stared at the pile of coins on the tray with wide eyes. Behind her, the men were equally wide-eyed.

"Wow, Toll, I've never seen so much money before."

"Let's go home."

Toll, who had put away the coins nonchalantly, bowed slightly to the receptionist. Enna, sensing the significance, decided to keep the day's events to herself, though she suspected her detail-oriented boss, Sienna, would figure it out in a few days.

"Thank you for the invitation earlier. We can't be in the same party, but let's both do our best!"

Sora's smiling words made the three men nod awkwardly, and the woman blushed and looked away. The receptionist, sensing the situation, quietly appraised the five goblin ears the group of four had submitted without comment.

While crossing the square again, Toll quickly calculated the day's earnings and expenses. The expenses included one large copper coin for Sora's adventurer registration and two large copper coins for the young oak staff purchased from the guild. The robe and chest plate were borrowed, and the leather gloves, backpack, and water bottle were Toll's old ones, so they were free. In total, three large copper coins.

The income started with the bounty. Each mole goblin and pointed beak was worth ten copper coins, and each forest slime was worth two copper coins. The skill points were one for each. Each goblin was worth twenty copper coins and two skill points. In total, four hundred and eighty-four copper coins. Sora had earned twenty-three skill points.

For the materials, the mole and bird parts (excluding the meat) were worth seven copper coins. The slime fluids were worth thirty copper coins. The magic stones, even though they were the lowest grade, were worth ten copper coins each, totaling one hundred and seventy copper coins. All together, six hundred and ninety-one copper coins, nearly seven times Toll's usual earnings.

After deducting the expenses, the net cash income for the day was three hundred and ninety-one copper coins. Additionally, they had twelve spiral shells and some monster meat.

"Toll, did you get the meat?"

"Yeah, the pointed beak's thigh meat is quite delicious. Want to have it for tomorrow's lunch?"

"Really! I'm looking forward to it."

Sora, who had been walking happily, suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky in surprise.

"Wow, Toll, what's that glowing?"

"It's a magic stone lamp. Remember the stone that came from the goblins today?"

"That weird stone?"

"Press it hard, and it lights up."

"Wow!"

Toll wasn't very familiar with the details, but magic stones emit light when pressed at a specific angle. The magic stone lamps, which use this property, can last a whole night, though they aren't very bright. The girl, who had grown up in the countryside, looked up at the softly lit square with amazement.

"This city is full of interesting things."

"Hmm, maybe so."

Seeing Sora's innocent enjoyment, Toll's lips curled up slightly.