Chapter 10

The next morning, "Crescent Claw" took care of the drakonix, had breakfast, and left the base early. He felt that the drakonix had been acting strange recently. It had started kicking the ground with its hind legs more often, its food consumption had decreased, and it had become more nervous and vocal.

In the new item pouch, he had stocked up on necessary recovery potions from beginner to advanced levels, the monster skins for kindling as recommended by the material shop owner, and other items such as flint (an inexpensive magic stone), a dissection knife, and writing tools, which he had bought from the tool shop the day before. The remaining items were stored in the item pouch he had used previously.

While the beginners' training might have all the necessary items prepared, they were, after all, experienced adventurers. They had the pride of having reached S-rank. However, they were now at a critical point of whether they could even remain adventurers.

They entered the guild as soon as it opened and all four of them appeared before the receptionist.

"We've come for the training."

"Please take care of us."

Gurgan and Hanna's words were met with nods from Lilithia and Ben, their serious faces indicating a renewed determination. The tense atmosphere had dissipated, and they were all standing here with a fresh start.

"Very well. Please go to the second floor. The instructor is waiting for you in the conference room. The morning session will be a lecture, and the afternoon session will be practical training at the guild's rear training ground."

"Yes! Alright, let's go."

Gurgan urged them on, and they all climbed the stairs next to the counter. The guild receptionist sighed slightly as their footsteps faded away.

"How much Gaius pampered you all... No, it's strange for adults to be so pampered. Really... things would have been peaceful if you hadn't been kicked out."

She smiled wryly, just like the blacksmith, and returned to her duties.

"Excuse me."

Knocking on the conference room door, they found a bent old man inside, leaning on a cane.

"You young ones, you've come. I'm the instructor, Barian. Take your seats quickly."

Thinking that this old man would be in charge of the morning lecture, they all sat in the front row. There was no need to sit far away; they were here to learn today.

"Hmm, hmm. That attitude is important. Your good point is that you understand when told. Your bad point is that you are too honest and forgetful."

"Haha..."

"This is no laughing matter. If you let a large monster's corpse rot in the city without using it for materials, it can lead to a stench and even a disease outbreak due to decay. Also, the smell of a weakened monster can attract stronger ones. — This time, the blacksmith took care of it, but adventurers have the duty to process the monsters they kill. We'll start by drilling that into you."

"Yes!"

"Understood."

"We'll do our best...!"

"...I'll do it."

"Hmm, hmm. Good, being honest is fine. Not having a false sense of pride is a good thing. Now, let's start with the basic properties of monsters. You should have learned this before, but take notes, keeping in mind that you might have forgotten."

And so, Barian's beginners' training began.

◇◇◇

"Welcome. Oh, it's Mirea. I heard you left your party. Is this your new partner?"

"Yes, this is a senior who will go into the dungeon with me."

"Nice to meet you..."

Gaius felt uneasy. This was the familiar tool shop owner who had just said a few days ago that he would take care of "Crescent Claw."

Despite his unfriendly demeanor, he was preparing for the dungeon... a B-rank special individual. Without a priest or tank, he was loading up on more than enough recovery potions, various status recovery potions, holy magic scrolls for the possibility of undead, holy water to cure curses, preserved food, a large tent, and thick blankets, placing them on the counter with a practiced hand. Mirea, unable to keep up, stood at the entrance, looking bewildered.

The shop owner, sensing who the suspicious man was from his confident item selection, approached and slapped the back of Gaius's head.

"Gaius! You didn't do anything embarrassing, so be proud! And you're leaving Mirea behind!"

"Ah... I've been found out. Sorry, old man. And, Mirea, I'm sorry. I'll explain what we're buying and what it's for, so can you come with me?"

Resigned, Gaius lowered his hood and removed his mask inside the store, laughing pitifully.

Mirea, noticing that Gaius was trying to change, nodded and approached him. There were still items to choose from on the shelves, and Mirea asked questions about things she didn't understand, which Gaius explained.

(Somehow... shopping together like this is nice.)

Indeed, it was faster to make predictions and buy items alone. However, it seemed that it wasn't enough for just one person to understand.

Items were used by both oneself and one's companions. It was important to listen to what your companions wanted, explain why you thought it was necessary, and choose together. They weren't short of money, but there was no need to waste it.

They were going into a dungeon with no resupply for just the two of them. Even though it was B-rank, the necessary items eventually piled up on the counter.

"Old man, please. I'm buying all this at once, so can you give me a little discount?"

"Alright, alright! I get it, you're using your negotiation skills! I understand, it looks like you're going to empty the store. I'll give you a little discount. ...It'll be 3 gold coins in total, but I'll take 2. But! You have to come back, Gaius."

"......That's a bit unfair. I don't make promises I can't keep. So, 2 gold coins and 80 silver coins. Can you accept that?"

Placing the gold from his inventory on the empty part of the counter, the old tool shop owner chuckled and snorted.

"Hah, you really are stubborn... Fine, fine, that's fine. Take it."

"I'm grateful. ...Alright, let's go, Mirea."

"Yes! Ah, old man! I might come back!"

"Sure, I'll be waiting for both of you!"

They had similar conversations with the blacksmith (who looked at them with pity and then grinned at their interaction), the material shop, and finally, the royal palace.

They were buying a riding beast at the palace. The store didn't handle them. Shukuru was a single-rider, and Mirea needed a drakonix.

There was a window near the stables where they could buy feed and water barrels. Being a familiar face, Gaius removed his hood and mask as he approached the window.

"Hey, Gaius! It's serious!"

"What, what? What's serious?"

The drakonix stable keeper told him about the rumor that was quietly spreading in the castle... which was, in fact, true.

"Right now, your master is at the guild, training 'Crescent Claw.'"

"Huh?!"

Gaius, hearing the word "master" for the first time in a long time, gradually began to feel genuine sympathy for his former party.