Chapter 42

Benches and tables line the entrance hall of the building.

Happening to find an empty four-person booth, I sit down feeling apologetic. If a bench seat opens up, I’ll move.

The moment I sit down, a sigh of relief escapes me, and my shoulders drop.

“A party….”

The words slip out involuntarily.

For someone who admits to having social anxiety, this is a heavy issue.

I hope the person introduced to me is a good one. Well, there will probably be a background check, so I doubt I’ll end up with someone too strange.

If I do…..

“I’ll definitely complain.”

A resentful voice escapes me.

But, to whom? I need to maintain a good relationship with the higher-ups.

In business, it’s all about talking to the top. It’s about the general, not the horse.

In that regard, the veteran Heartis is a good intermediary. I’ll have to connect with someone higher up soon.

I suddenly look up to see Deed and the others opening the door and entering the building.

I must have been aware of them subconsciously. This is perfect. I need to thank them.

“Deed-san.”

I call out and wave.

Noticing me, Deed and Arie come over. Watiss is nowhere to be seen.

“Akihiro-san, you really helped us this time.”

Ah, I felt something was off. I didn’t introduce myself, did I? It’s rare not to introduce oneself during a meeting.

I remember, I was quite wary of you, and I recall being a bit confrontational. It’s a bit embarrassing now.

“Good morning, Deed-san. Thank you for carrying me when I was unconscious. It must have been quite a hassle, right?”

“Really! You were heavy and squishy! So hard to carry… I thought about dropping you a few times!”

Oh. She’s snapping at me. Arie is as energetic as ever.

“But… thank you. For helping me even in that state.”

Oh? She’s being humble. Considering my weight, it must have been really tough, yet she’s thanking me.

“Yeah, you really helped me out. And there was some unexpected extra income too.”

Seventy-five percent of a farmer’s annual income. That’s a significant amount. With the additional reward for a named request, it’s 200,000. That’s nearly two to three months’ worth of income from a party.

“I owe you one. I’ll definitely return this favor someday.”

Good. I’ve created a debt. The basic principle in business is to create a debt with the other party and then collect. They say it’s give and take, but the debt starts only when the other party recognizes it.

In the real world, this concept of debt is really important. The debtor doesn’t know the exact amount of the debt. Especially when it comes to saving a life, it’s impossible to quantify.

It’s a bit dirty, but because of this, the party that creates the debt is in a stronger position when there’s no money involved.

“I appreciate it. I’m still a newbie and don’t understand much. If anything comes up, please help me out.”

Hesitation? What’s that? It sounds delicious.

The basic principle in business is to get a verbal commitment. After getting the commitment, you make it a fait accompli. This time, nothing was made explicit. If something really bad happens, I’ll ask for help without hesitation.

“Yeah. The guild can confirm the location and time of the card reading. If you’re far away, just send a letter. I’ll come.”

Oh, being able to track the location is convenient. I’m still planning to continue being an adventurer and earn a living for the four of us. I’ll be taking on a lot of requests.

While talking, I notice Arie’s bracelet, which looks out of place for an adventurer. It’s a thin gold bracelet.

“Arie-san, that bracelet is cute.”

The moment I say that, Arie’s face turns bright red.

Hmm? Is it some special item? A magic item, maybe?

“A… a… ah, this. It’s the engagement bracelet from Deed. Ah… thank you. I’m glad you like it.”

From what I understand, in this continent’s culture, when a couple gets engaged, the man gives the woman a bracelet as a token. It’s a way of saying, “This is mine, don’t touch it.”

At the wedding, the bracelet is melted down and made into two rings. Incidentally, if a man marries multiple women, the first wife wears it on her left ring finger.

Hearing this, the blood drains from my face.

This is bad… I haven’t given one to Liz.

Not knowing or not having money doesn’t matter. For girls, anniversaries and promises are super important.

I remember my ex-girlfriend cursing me out for not knowing her birthday. After getting married, I forgot our anniversary and was met with a disdainful look and silence as she went to the bedroom alone.

“Is that so? Let me see.”

I move closer to examine it. It’s a really thin gold bracelet with simple engravings. There are no stones.

On the inside, Deed and Arie’s names are engraved.

Good, I’ve confirmed the design.

“The engravings are cute too. It’s beautiful.”

Arie’s face turns even redder, but honestly, it’s not my concern. A top priority has emerged.

“A… a… thank you.”

“By the way, I just remembered something. What are you guys planning to do next? Are you staying in this village?”

“Yeah. It’s a fairly large village, close to the northern forest, and not too far from the town. Most importantly, we’re the only 7th-rank adventurers here, so the guild will likely request us to move if needed.”

“I see. The struggles of being a top-tier adventurer. Well, see you later.”

“Yeah, see you.”

“See you.”

Deed and Arie call out, but I barely hear them.

Shoes? Spear? Those can wait. The spear was only mentioned as a future possibility.

Bracelet, bracelet. Jewelry shop? I’ve never seen one.

I remember seeing jewelry somewhere….

At a general store. They had jewelry displayed behind the counter.

A thin bracelet like that, as a decoration, is simple and it’s hard to know what it’s for.

I quickly stand up and leave the building.

Bracelet, bracelet.