Chapter 7

I still can't believe it... It felt like a dream.

Not only did I get to talk with the Guild Master, but I even went on a quest with them.

However, when I confirmed with the receptionist, it turned out that I had indeed accepted the herb-gathering quest.

It seems I have to accept this as reality.

After finishing the guild's chores, the sun was setting.

I returned to my room and took out the wooden sword I had hidden under the bed.

I hide it because the mean adventurers who always bully me might break it or throw it away.

I passed through the hallway, feeling the slightly chilly outdoor breeze on my skin, and went to the empty courtyard to practice alone.

(Sigh... Even after all this training, my sword skill is still at the lowest rank.)

I may not be getting stronger, but I don't skip my daily training.

I want to get stronger quickly to contribute to this guild as an adventurer.

This guild took me in when no one else would.

To become an adventurer, I have to work twice as hard as everyone else in this guild.

And I want to repay the Guild Master, Gilne, someday.

Still, I feel like I owe an even bigger favor after this...

After training until I was exhausted, I decided to go to sleep.

◇◇◇

"... It's morning. I need to go prepare breakfast..."

The morning of a chore person starts early.

Because I was too nervous to sleep.

First, I'll do the morning chores.

I cleaned the inside of the guild, tidied up the flower beds and plants outside, and polished the helmets and weapons that the adventurers entrusted to me.

I prepared the clothes the adventurers would wear today and waited for them to come to the dining room while checking the stored ingredients.

After greeting the adventurers who started appearing in the dining room and serving them breakfast, it was finally time for that moment.

(—It's about time for Gilne to arrive, I guess.)

The dining room was bustling with adventurers having breakfast.

Among them, I was the only one who couldn't settle down.

What should I do? Gilne even prepared a bento for me...

When I think about it calmly, being able to eat Gilne's bento is an incredible honor.

Maybe I should have prepared something too...

"Hey, Tim! Tim Cynthia!"

I was thinking about this when someone called me.

It was one of the guild members who often bullies me, a long-haired male swordsman.

"Guild Master Gilne wants tea. I have Gilne's cup. Pour it into this and serve it."

"Yes, sir!"

The long-haired man handed me a beautiful cup.

Since I had nothing to do, this was just in time.

I would pour the tea with great care for Gilne.

Just as I thought this and took the cup, the long-haired man bumped into me.

I desperately tried to protect the cup and felt relieved.

"Oh, that was close—"

But then, the cup broke unnaturally in my hands.

"—What!?"

"Ahh!? Gilne's teacup!?"

The long-haired man raised an unusually loud voice, and people started to gather.

Most of them were adventurers who came to laugh at my usual bullying.

However, this time it was a big incident, not just a small accusation.

"Tim, you! How dare you not only take Gilne's personal item without permission but also break it!"

"What!? What!?"

Shocked by the long-haired man's loud voice, I could only stand there in disbelief.

I might have broken it, but wasn't this cup taken out with Gilne's permission...?