Chapter 8

A few days after making a contract with Purple, I gathered my family and said, "I have something I want to talk about."

"What is it? You have something to say?"

"It's unusual for you to want to talk after hardly speaking to us from morning till night recently."

My father and mother looked at me with puzzled eyes.

"Is it something important, brother?"

Seria furrowed her brow, placed her hand on her chest, and wore an anxious expression, as if she had a premonition. I steeled myself and said,

"Actually, I’ve been working as an adventurer lately."

The three of them changed their expressions at my confession.

"Y-You really did! I see!"

"Did you know about it?"

I was surprised by Seria’s words. I hadn’t thought she had noticed.

"Recently, I noticed that something was different about you, so I secretly checked on you. Then I saw you go out wearing Father’s old adventurer’s equipment..."

Seria looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

"You... were doing such a thing?"

"Is your body okay?"

At Seria’s words, my parents also looked worried.

"Originally, I retired from being an adventurer because I was injured during my adventuring days. It’s true that it’s a job that can earn money, but it’s not something you should risk your life for."

"That’s right. Besides, you never once said you wanted to become an adventurer before."

I never intended to become an adventurer. I had imagined a future where I would do ordinary work and live out my life in the town.

"I know there’s a debt on this house. And because of that, Seria had to give up on studying in the capital."

But the house had taken on debt for my treatment, and Seria was about to give up on her dreams. In such a situation, I couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened and return to my old life.

"You... knew about it?"

I had intended to keep it a secret between the three of them to avoid worrying me.

Despite their confusion, I took out a leather pouch filled with money from my pocket.

"Here, this is the money I’ve earned as an adventurer."

I loosened the string and spread the contents on the table. It was the result of my daily efforts collecting herbs.

"I want to use this money to send Seria to study in the capital."

"Brother!"

As I made my request to my parents, Seria cried out.

"I know that you all took out a loan to buy the medicine that brought me back to life."

I stopped her before she could say anything more and continued.

"But I don’t want any of you to be unhappy! I want you to use this money to start over."

My father, who taught me swordsmanship from a young age, my mother, who cooked for me every day and was always kind, and my sister, who sometimes scolded me in a way that made her seem older than she was. I want everyone to live happily.

"Indeed, with this much, we can manage Seria’s tuition."

Father said this and looked at me with a serious expression.

"But there’s no guarantee that you can earn this much consistently. Most importantly, being an adventurer is dangerous. Do you understand that?"

"That’s right. After all, you were saved, and while you’re an adventurer, do you think we can just sit here and worry?"

"I... I remember when you were struck by lightning to protect me and were lying there... I was so... so scared. I don’t want to feel that way again."

Everyone was worried and told me to quit being an adventurer. Indeed, if I quit and worked a normal job, no one would get hurt, and we could continue living as a family of four. But...

"I never intended to become an adventurer until this happened. But now, I enjoy being an adventurer. At first, I started without considering the danger to pay for Seria’s tuition and the debt. But when I think about how the herbs I collect save someone’s life, it feels like a meaningful job."

At the adventurer’s guild, I sometimes receive words of gratitude from the receptionist. I’ve also seen children in the town’s clinic being healed with potions.

If the herbs I collect can bring a smile to someone’s face, there’s nothing more fulfilling. Even if I’m told to stop, I can’t erase this feeling.

Father and I stared at each other. I can’t know what he was thinking when he was an adventurer, but I believe he can understand my feelings.

"I’ll allow Seria to study in the capital. I was planning to increase my work to send her anyway."

"R-Really?"

"Of course. Don’t underestimate me. My precious little sister, how can I let her be unhappy? Even if I collapse from overwork, I’ll take care of her until she gets married!"

Father clearly stated this and then turned away with a snort. It seems he had been secretly planning as well.

"You really are just like each other, you and Klaus, making decisions without consulting anyone."

Mother looked at us with a bemused expression.

"Um, so... I can go to the capital?"

Seria, who couldn’t follow the conversation, muttered.

"Thank you... so much."

She covered her mouth and shed tears. She had always dreamed of studying in the capital and learning magic seriously. Even though she had given up, she must have been happy that her dream was coming true.

"I’m glad, Seria."

"Yes, it’s all thanks to you, brother."

Seria hugged me and buried her face in my chest. I patted her head to comfort her.

"Ah, by the way, Klaus. About your situation..."

Father scratched his head and wore a complicated expression, which was unusual for him. Mother was also curious about what he would say.

"Along with Seria’s studies, you should also go to the capital."

"Huh? I should go to the capital!?"

I was completely surprised by this unexpected suggestion.

"I’ve trained you well enough in swordsmanship. You should be able to handle low-level monsters."

Father’s words were true. When collecting herbs, I had fought goblins several times and managed to defeat them without any problems.

"But just being an adventurer will eventually reach its limits, and there’s no guarantee for the future."

The adventurer’s job is good when there’s work, but sometimes there’s no work at all, especially in the border regions.

"I’ll give you a year. Go to the capital and get the ‘National Adventurer’ qualification. If you can do that, I’ll allow you to continue being an adventurer. If not, come back home."

This must be the maximum concession Father can make. After all, both he and Mother have seen me on the brink of death before. They wouldn’t want me to become an adventurer in the first place.

"Alright, I’ll try under those conditions."

Among the many adventurers, only a select few can become ‘National Adventurers.’ I vowed right there to achieve that goal.