Chapter 6

The first customer Abby brought in was a pair of female adventurers.

One had pointed ears and an unusually well-defined face, while the other was abnormally muscular and had a sturdy build. Choosing women as the first customers was likely Abby's strategy. Adventurers, without exception, are shrewd and have a rough temperament. I immediately understood that Abby had naively thought that women would be easier to handle.

The one with pointed ears spoke in a sharp voice.

"Five thousand sheep. I won't pay more than that. If it doesn't go well... you understand, right?"

"Y-Yes, I understand..."

Abby, who answered, seemed hesitant. —She was scared.

It was understandable.

The one with pointed ears had a bow on her shoulder and several knives in her belt, while the muscular woman carried a large sword almost as tall as herself. If things got rough, it would be a serious problem.

Abby, with a face on the verge of tears, said,

"Di, I'm counting on you."

Seeing a different expression from the one she usually shows to the kids, I almost burst out laughing.

While suppressing my laughter, I noticed the cat girl was giving off a particularly hostile aura, but she didn't say anything at the time.

I nodded slightly and started with a light offer.

"Five thousand is fine for now. But if it goes well, I'd like ten thousand next time."

I couldn't tell the value of the money, but I knew I was being taken advantage of.

"Alright. If you're a useful healer, I'll pay that much."

The one with pointed ears looked around the group of kids and said casually, as the muscular woman stepped forward.

"Here. Can you do it?"

The muscular woman rolled up her right sleeve, revealing a series of half-circular holes, as if bitten by some beast.

Flipping it over, the same wound was visible...

"Hmm... Were you bitten by something?"

"A Dire Wolf."

"A zombie wolf. The bleeding has been stopped. Abby, do you have water?"

"Huh?"

Abby was momentarily confused, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"You were bitten by a dirty dog. First, we need to wash the wound."

"A, ah..."

Seeing Abby's flustered state, the muscular woman sighed.

"I have it. Use it."

"Thank you."

Taking the leather water flask from the muscular woman, I washed the wound.

"I'm going to squeeze it. It will hurt a bit."

"Go ahead."

The woman gritted her teeth, and I grabbed her arm, squeezing it with both hands as if wringing out a rag.

"...Ow!"

The woman groaned slightly, and as the wound bled, short fangs appeared from the hole-like wounds and fell to the ground.

"Good job, you held up well."

"...Don't... mock me, kid..."

I was a kid. I had forgotten.

I shrugged.

"Sorry, it was a rough method. I'll make it less painful next time."

The muscular woman looked down at me with a complex expression. Her eyes narrowed and widened, looking both angry and embarrassed.

Next, I brought out the 'snake.'

The one with pointed ears, seeing the snake coiled around my arm, widened her eyes.

"No way, snakes on both arms?"

As I traced the wound, a faint emerald green light illuminated the dark alley.

"..."

The muscular woman watched the wound disappear with a strangely relieved expression.

"...It's done. Pay Abby the money..."

"I was thinking of exposing a fraud, but you're good."

While saying this unenthusiastically, the muscular woman took five copper coins from her belt pouch and handed them to Abby.

"Thank you very much..."

Seeing Abby bow hurriedly, the group of kids followed suit.

The muscular woman bared her teeth in a vicious smile.

"Good job, kid. I don't like your attitude, but you're surprisingly skilled. Where did you learn this?"

"I was dragged around by thieves for two years. That's all."

Dietrich Becker answered unconsciously. Not me. According to the memories of the kid Dietrich, that's how it was.

It wasn't a good reason.

I shrugged playfully, and the muscular woman, checking the healed wound, leaned in and peered at my face.

"I'm Alexandra. Call me Alex."

"Ah, Alex."

Alex didn't blink, grinning and staring at my face.

She didn't look at Abby, the leader of the group, but directed her vicious smile only at me.

"Let me know if anything happens. I'll take care of you."

"...That's scary..."

I waved my hand as if shooing away a bug, and Alex, still grinning viciously, turned away.

"I'll be back."

As she left, the one with pointed ears turned back and winked.

It seemed I had done a good job.

"Anytime."

Feeling a strong dizziness, I collapsed, and Abby and Zoey rushed over in a panic.

"Di, you did well...!"

"..."

Sweat poured from my forehead, and my heart was pounding. With my limited divine power, that was my limit. But...

"Abby, let me rest a bit... but I can handle two more like that today. Is that enough?"

'The integration of 'me' and 'Dietrich Becker' isn't complete.

So—

Squeeze it out! Dietrich's divine power still has some left.

"Y-Yes, that's plenty. Ah, Di... you really did well...!"

"Try to raise the price to ten thousand next time..."

"Got it. Got it!"

Abby, pleased that things went as planned, skipped back towards the dungeon.

◇◇

After that, we took in two more customers as planned.

They were as lightly injured and as calm as possible. Abby was better at selecting them.

Without any trouble, we earned twenty-five thousand sheep... two silver coins and five copper coins.

Abby seemed to gain confidence from this, smiling broadly while glancing at me, who was exhausted.

"Di, you did well. Here's your share."

Saying this, Abby offered one silver coin with a slightly sad look, but I declined.

"I don't need it. You can use it as you see fit. Keep the money, Abby."

Too much wealth can be a curse.

One silver coin might be a small fortune for an adventurer, but for Abby and the street kids, it's a significant amount. Besides, I have the vow of 'detachment.'

"More importantly, I want to rest today. Get me a private room, even a cheap one."

It must be cheaper than one silver coin. Abby nodded happily.

"Sure, sure. You did well. I can handle that."

"Make sure to include meals. And... I'm tired... I don't want to do anything else. Get someone to take care of me..."

"Sure, sure. No problem. Just say it!"

Abby was in a good mood.

What was a small fortune for an adventurer was a significant amount for her.

"How about tomorrow, Di? Can you do it?"

"Leave it to me. I'll see five people in the morning. In the afternoon, I want to see three more, depending on how I feel. Be ready for that."

Satisfied with my answer, Abby's smile deepened. She carefully tucked the money into her pouch, looked around at the kids, and the demon girl nodded and stepped forward.

"Um... get... on..."

Sitting on a wooden box, I exhaled, and the demon girl squatted in front of me, inviting me to climb onto her back.

"..."

Zoey and the cat girl frowned, looking extremely displeased, but I was too exhausted to care about their expressions.

I don't like being carried by the demon girl either, but in this situation, I decided to indulge myself and climbed onto her back.

However... adventurers, huh...

Is it really that profitable? If so, Abby and the kids could become adventurers.

That's right.

If a life is worth so much, why not burn it to the ground?

I thought vaguely.

I will eventually...

Enter the dungeon.

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