Chapter 12

"Here, take it."

Sora caught the large, hard coin that was flicked at him with a puzzled look on his face.

"Is this a large copper coin?"

"Yeah, it's your share for today."

Even though Sora had lived in a remote village, he knew the types of coins.

He just didn't have many opportunities to handle them.

Fifty copper coins make one medium copper coin, and a hundred copper coins make one large copper coin.

Five large copper coins make one half-silver coin, and ten large copper coins make one silver coin.

Forty silver coins make one gold coin, and two hundred gold coins make one platinum coin, but that's a world completely out of reach for commoners.

According to Tōru, the average daily wage for a day laborer in this city is two large copper coins.

A new receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild earns about ten silver coins a month.

If you live alone with minimal expenses, one gold coin can last you a year.

"Can I really take it?"

With shining eyes, Sora quickly looked around.

Stalls lined the square, and people were gathering to grab a quick dinner.

"Once we get back, there's dinner for the landlord, so don't overdo it."

"Got it! I'll be moderate."

From the stalls with large pots, steam rose, rich with flavor.

On the other side, sausages skewered on sticks were being grilled, and the aroma of fried potatoes wafted through the air.

Green-tinged meat sizzled on the iron plate, mixed with crushed garlic, and sweet fried pastries caught the eye of passersby.

At the tables of the stalls serving drinks, the sound of wooden mugs clinking together in a toast echoed.

Sora, who had been staring intently, swallowed hard and turned back with a smile.

"Hey, Tōru, what do you want to eat?"

"How about that?"

Tōru pointed with his chin to a stall where bite-sized pieces of sharp-beaked meat were being grilled on skewers.

Due to the honey mixed in the sauce, a sweet and sour aroma filled the air.

"Looks delicious! Yeah, let's go for that."

Nodding vigorously, Sora ran to the stall and carefully examined the skewers on the grill.

After picking out three skewers he liked, he paid and returned with a spring in his step.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Tōru."

"Three skewers?"

"No, no. Here, open up."

Sora offered the hot skewer, and Tōru, scratching under his chin, opened his mouth and resignedly took a bite.

Watching Tōru chew with a smile, Sora also bit into her skewer with delight.

"Delicious! What is this? It's so tender!"

"I haven't had it in a while, but the taste hasn't changed. The other one is for the landlord, right?"

"Yeah, it's a gift! But, to think that one skewer costs only two copper coins, that's amazing."

"Right. Did you notice anything else?"

In response to Tōru's question, Sora's large eyes darted around as she chewed on the skewer.

"Oh, I see. It's all meat dishes, and they're all cheap!"

"Indeed, meat is easier to get here."

In this city, where adventurers bring back monsters they've defeated every day, meat is a much cheaper ingredient compared to others.

On the other hand, farmland is limited to avoid the influence of miasma, making vegetables and fruits more expensive.

Similarly, wheat is also expensive, and soft white bread is considered a luxury.

However, the rise in the prices of vegetables and wheat over the past year has another significant reason.

It's because the border town of Borsaria to the north of this city fell.

The town, overrun by monsters, had its walls destroyed, and the residents who couldn't escape in time were all killed.

The area where the town once stood became a miasma zone, and the surrounding farmland was also covered in miasma.

As a result, not only did the production sites decrease, but the transportation routes also became much longer, adding to the costs.

"I see, being able to eat as much meat as you want is great, but the high price of vegetables is tough."

"... When I was in the village, we rarely ate meat."

"Yeah, thinking about that, I'm happy."

Sora, smiling again, raised her skewer and twirled around.

Then she suddenly stopped and started rummaging through the pocket of her robe.

"Here, this is the change from earlier."

"No, it's your allowance. I told you to use it as you like."

"I can't spend it all, so I'll return it to you, Tōru."

"No, I've secured the necessary funds, so don't worry."

Tōru himself doesn't have much desire for material things.

He planned to save all of today's earnings for the party's expenses.

The repair costs for weapons and armor, which used to take up most of their expenses, are no longer needed since they can be fixed with <Restoration>.

Replacing their equipment, especially against goblins, isn't urgent.

However, for the monsters they will face next, a wooden sword won't be enough, so they'll need to switch to an iron sword.

The rent is one silver coin per month.

In this city, that amount would only get you a small, cramped room with just a bed.

But Tōru's room is more than three times that size, and it comes with three meals a day.

Moreover, this morning, Tōru had been secretly told by Yuril that the rent would remain the same, and another room would be kept available.

Apparently, it's not appropriate for a young man and woman to share a room.

"Once we make a bit more, we could buy a magic stone device for the landlord."

"Huh, the one that glows?"

"There are also ones that can boil water."

While they don't produce enough light or heat to make it as bright as midday or for all cooking purposes, they are still quite convenient.

Moreover, with Tōru's current skills, they can obtain more magic stones, saving on fuel costs like animal fat and firewood.

"Are they quite expensive?"

"About five silver coins for a cheap one."

"Wow, that much? ... Oh, I got it!"

Sora, suddenly having an idea, stretched up and whispered in Tōru's ear.

"Can you get money by healing injured people?"

"That's not a good idea. Healing is the domain of the Healing Temple."

According to the priests of the Healing Temple, unauthorized people accepting payment for healing is a severe act of blasphemy against the water goddess Aluria.

This is partly due to the issues of shoddy medical practices and medical fraud by unlicensed practitioners, but it's also about the value of their skills and techniques.

So, Tōru has no intention of encroaching on their territory.

In fact, he wants to stay as far away from it as possible.

If Tōru's <Restoration> skill were to be discovered by the priests, he could end up being confined in the temple's basement for life, used only for that skill.

"Also, earning money by repairing tools is difficult."

Similarly, repairing broken weapons and armor is quite risky.

This is the territory of the blacksmiths' and leatherworkers' guilds.

While you might get away with a little, involving money will inevitably lead to rumors.

If it becomes known that you've been meddling in their territory, your adventurer's license could be revoked.

This city, which relies on adventurers who depend on divine power and the guilds that support them, makes it almost impossible to start a business without permission.

However, there are ways to navigate around this, and Tōru thought of a few acquaintances.

"I see, earning money is tough. Yeah, I'll return this, Tōru."

"Stop saying that. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have earned this money. And you're a girl, so you need various things."

While Sora would have stayed in the wardrobe during <Stasis>, that's not possible now.

Though Tōru is not very aware of such things, he knows that women need various small items.

Nodding happily several times at Tōru's words, Sora put the coin back in her pocket.

"Thank you, Tōru."

"If you run out, let me know. Don't be shy."

"Okay! Then from now on, I'll work hard and be a bit more demanding. Men like that, right?"

"No, that's too extreme. Just be reasonable."

"Grandpa said men like to show their strength."

"Ugh, that old man. Come on, let's go back before the skewers get cold."

While urging Sora, who was about to eat the last skewer, Tōru remembered one thing he wanted.

A small piece of land.

Just enough to plant one tree.

If it were near a tree with white flowers that he liked, Sora's grandfather would surely rest in peace.

Walking home side by side with the girl, Tōru reminisced a little about the old days.