Chapter 1

"Congratulations! Really, congratulations!"

Setting aside their adventure-stained weapons and armor, they greeted the two who were now dressed in ill-fitting wedding attire. Lana smiled in her usual manner, and Miguel, with a stiffer expression than usual, extended his hand for a handshake.

"Thank you, Wayne. We are here today because of you."

"Hahaha, you don't look right, Miguel. Well, getting married is nerve-wracking, isn't it? Here, drink up. The groom in Hierenka has to finish the poured drink—it's a tradition!"

"I've never heard of such a tradition..."

Firmly gripping the outstretched right hand, I patted his shoulder and poured wine into the wooden cup that was still half full.

"Stay well, Lana. If Miguel slacks off on the farm, kick him."

"Hehe, I will. Stay well, Wayne. Don't overdo it."

I greeted the bride as well but didn't pour her any wine. She was carrying a new life in her womb. Even I know that alcohol is bad for pregnant women.

Today is a joyous day.

An old adventurer once told me that for adventurers, a parting that isn't due to death is a joyous thing. Even a breakup or a betrayal is better than death.

If that's the case, today is an especially joyous day. Because it's overflowing with happiness.

"To the marriage of the two! May the god Armana bless this new couple!"

"Ugh, ugh... uuuuuee"

Two days later, I was crying, face down on a table in the tavern. The cheap alcohol was making my head throb, and every time sweat dripped from my eyes, my tear ducts ached.

"I think you did well, Wayne."

The curly-haired mage Shiera offered her usual words of comfort for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

"Ugh... Shiera, listen to me. I, I..."

"You liked Lana. But when you found out, Miguel already had a child on the way."

I slumped, defeated. It was a battle I had lost before it even began. I had no way to turn things around.

I sighed heavily, still face down on the table. Without lifting my head, I felt around and grabbed a piece of black bread, which was now much diminished. I chewed it slowly, and the dryness in my mouth made me finally sit up and pour more cheap alcohol down my throat.

Miguel didn't like the black bread because it was hard and had a lot of grit, but I liked its firmness. It kept me full for a long time, and it was cheap, which was a plus.

"I want to get married too..."

"Without a partner?"

"Shiera, how about you and me—"

"I'll consider it when you become a B-rank adventurer."

The adventurer's class system is tough. Being a D-rank is like a weight on my shoulders.

In reality, with a low rank, you can't take on high-paying jobs... Well, I couldn't handle high-paying jobs anyway.

But B-rank, huh. Shiera is being strict.

There are only two B-rank adventurer teams in Hierenka. There are no A-rank adventurers at all. Even in a city with an adventurer's guild, there are no unexplored dungeons around here, so the strong ones all go to the big cities.

"The capital...?"

I muttered, thinking that maybe I should set off on a journey, but then I realized I had no money to go anywhere. My funds were almost depleted from the wedding gifts, and I was about to run out of money for tomorrow's meal.

I sighed deeply. No matter how heartbroken I was, I couldn't afford to wallow in self-pity. Poverty leaves no room for leisure. The luxury of not working is for those who have the means.

Facing the harsh reality made me feel sad and almost cry, but no tears came. It's tough to be strong enough not to cry.

I threw the last piece of black bread into my mouth, washed it down with cheap alcohol, and sighed again. Glancing at the bulletin board, I saw a few job postings.

If I could get a one-way escort job, I could go to the capital and earn some money, killing two birds with one stone... But that's a different story.

Work... What a dilemma.

"Huh?"

I tilted my head, seeing an unfamiliar figure in front of the bulletin board.

The child was small but didn't have pointed ears, so it wasn't a half-elf. It was too thin to be a dwarf. It must be a regular human child.

The child looked up at the job postings, nodding thoughtfully. After standing in one spot for a while, the child touched their lips with a finger, nodded a few times, and moved on to the next. This process was repeated.

Posting jobs is the tavern's job. The tavern takes a cut as a mediator, so clients are not allowed to post jobs directly on the bulletin board. Therefore, the only people who usually loiter in front of the bulletin board are fellow adventurers.

Is this a new recruit, or just a curious onlooker? The guild accepts registrations from the age of twelve, but this child seemed even younger.

I tightened my loosened sword belt, stood up, and, with unsteady steps from my hangover, approached the child. I gritted my teeth against the dull headache and called out.

"Hey, kid. Newbie? Can you read?"

I later reflected that I might have come off a bit rough.