Chapter 20

Summary of the previous chapter ------------------------------------------------------

The meat was so delicious that I wanted to preserve it rather than sell it, but it was impossible with the usual methods.

I decided to try making dried meat.

In the end, we didn't encounter any goblins, let alone any boars or other beasts, until we returned to town that day.

Toya seemed to want to hunt another boar to increase the amount of dried meat, but the meat we already had was a considerable amount.

When Haruka said, "Think about my hard work in the kitchen," Toya reluctantly gave up on going hunting.

Besides, hunting another boar would exceed the amount we could carry, making it an impossible task.

As a result, the only things we collected on our way back were a small amount of herbs and medicinal plants that we found along the way.

◇ ◇ ◇

At this time in the afternoon, the Adventurer's Guild is relatively empty.

The busiest times are just after dawn when day laborers come and just before sunset.

To be honest, those times are quite unpleasant.

Fortunately, we don't usually overlap with them.

The adventurers who come during this time are those who have gone on missions outside the city, but their numbers are not very large.

In this relatively peaceful area, there are fewer jobs for adventurers, and more experienced adventurers tend to move to other cities to earn more money.

Thanks to this, we can work more leisurely, and it wasn't a bad place to be transferred to.

Great job, Evil God!

"Welcome back, Diora."

"Welcome back, Haruka. And Naoto and Toya as well."

"Welcome back."

"We're back."

At this time, Diora is usually sitting at the counter.

It's always nice to have someone greet you after work.

In this world, there's almost no concept of holidays, so she apparently comes to work every day unless there's a specific reason. Earning a living is tough in reality.

By the way, this applies to regular employees. For adventurers who are not day laborers, the more skilled they become, the more days off they get.

One reason is that the income per mission is higher, but another is that the jobs are often quite demanding, and it's difficult to perform well without rest.

For example, in escort missions, you have to camp outdoors and keep watch at night during the journey. Even with naps, it's easy to imagine how exhausting it would be to continue for several days.

Therefore, it's only natural to take at least one or two days off after reaching the city to rest and maintain performance.

If you don't rest due to financial pressure, you risk making mistakes, which could lead to death.

This is often the reason why many adventurers, especially those in their middle age, retire or die.

"Here, Diora, this is for the information."

"Thank you. This is one of the joys of this season."

Diora brought the Dindor fruit close to her nose, inhaled, and smiled.

"Mmm, it smells good. I have something to look forward to after dinner."

Diora carefully placed the Dindor fruit in a bag she had nearby.

"However, you guys are really good at gathering and hunting in the forest. Is it because you're elves? With a magic bag, you could earn even more, right?"

Her gaze was firmly on our bulging backpacks.

"I've never seen one around here. Are they expensive?"

"They are expensive and rare. To make one, you need an alchemist and a user of time-space magic. There are very few people with the aptitude for it."

"I see. So, it's hard to make?"

"No, it's not that hard to make. It's even listed in the Alchemy Codex."

Hmm? I knew they were expensive and rare, but making them isn't hard?

Moreover, there's something that caught my attention...

"What's the Alchemy Codex?"

"Huh? You don't know? It seems that every alchemist has one. Apparently, you have to buy it when you join the Alchemists' Guild..."

"Really? So, it's not something you can get easily?"

When Haruka asked, somewhat disappointed, Diora shook her head.

"No, not at all."

"Huh?"

"It seems that buying this is like a membership fee for the guild. Even if you don't need it, you have to buy it. But, this book is only necessary for alchemists, right? So, if an alchemist dies, what happens?"

"It becomes unnecessary?"

"Exactly. Unlike regular books, ordinary people don't read them. Even if you have an alchemist in the family, you have to buy a new one when you join the guild. So, you can sometimes find them cheap in second-hand bookstores."

"I see. So, they do sell?"

"Yes, they do. People use them to look up information when buying items, for example. We have one here, too, for consulting adventurers."

For example, when a special monster appears, you can use it to check if there's an item to deal with it.

"But this year, I've been helped by you guys. Without someone to go and gather, the information on gathering spots is meaningless."

Diora apparently enjoys selling the location information to rookies who go to gather Dindor fruits and then receiving the fruits in return.

However, it's not always easy to find adventurers of the right level who can climb Dindor trees every year, so it's a rare perk.

"Isn't that an abuse of power, Diora?"

"Ah, this is a legitimate transaction. You were helped by not having to search, right, Haruka?"

Even if Haruka pointed this out, Diora laughed it off and waved her hands in denial.

Well, it's true that we didn't have to search the forest.

Even if we gathered information from others, we would still need to pay a reward.

"Abuse of power is when someone points out flaws like damage and buys them cheaply—"

"Ah?"

Hearing this, Haruka's hand, which was about to take out the Dindor to sell, stopped.

"Ah! No, no, I don't do that! I'm fair! I buy them at the right price! Really!"

Diora looked like she had made a mistake and hurriedly denied it, but she looked suspicious.

In fact, she looked very suspicious.

"Really? You'll buy them properly?"

"Of course! But, um, well, some of them—"

The standard buying price for Dindor is 100 to 300 rea.

Most of the Dindor Haruka took out were priced at 300 rea, but a few were 200 rea.

The lower-priced ones were less than 5% of the total.

When I looked at them, they had minor damage but seemed fine to eat.

"Actually, the damage is the problem—"

Diora, somewhat reluctantly, explained that while she does buy them at the right price, damaged fruits are less valuable and are given to her family at a lower price.

If you eat them immediately, there's no problem, but if you dry them, the damaged parts can cause spoilage, making them cheaper.

"So, I'm not trying to be cheap. It's just that not everyone understands—"

"I see."

It's a kind of complainer.

If adventurers find out that the staff are buying the Dindor they were underpaid for, it could cause trouble.

"But, thinking about it, isn't the family price a form of embezzlement?"

"No, it's not a problem because I buy them before they're recorded in the ledger!"

She's well-prepared.

—No, no, that's gray area.

Feeling our suspicious gazes, Diora shook her head.

"No, no, really! If I resold them, it would be wrong, but it's allowed to consume them myself or with my family! —Implicitly."

It's like an employee discount?

Is there a concept of employee benefits in this tough world, or is it just that the rules are lax?

The last part she added quietly suggests the latter is more likely.

I don't necessarily think it's wrong to have such benefits.

On Earth, there are countries where tips from customers are considered part of the salary, and places where meals and lodging are provided instead of a higher salary.

"Well, as long as Diora doesn't get fired, it's fine... I'd be sad if you left after we got along so well."

"Don't say such ominous things. It's one of my few perks."

Diora loves Dindor, but they are so expensive that a receptionist's salary can't easily afford them.

At least, they cost more than what you'd casually spend on a luxury item, so being able to buy damaged Dindor at less than half the market price from the guild is, in a sense, a reward.

"This guild has few female staff, so it's nice not to have many competitors!"

When she said that, Toya and I exchanged a wry smile.

Personally, I'd like a young and beautiful receptionist.

Diora is around 30 and cute, but—oh, I feel a chill. No, Diora is fine, really.

"So, it would help if you could sell all of them—"

Haruka took out the Dindor fruits from her backpack.

Diora's gaze was still on my and Toya's still bulging backpacks.

By the way, Toya's backpack is mostly filled with meat, so Diora's gaze is a bit off.

The Dindor I collected later is divided between my and Haruka's backpacks.

"No, it's not that I'm being mean and reducing the number I'm selling. I have a plan... Diora, do you know how to make dried Dindor?"

"Ah, you want to do it yourself? I doubt it will work... The method is a secret."

Her gaze seemed to say, "If you're going to waste them, please sell them to me."

We want to process them and sell them at a higher price, and if we can extend the shelf life, we want to keep some for ourselves.

"If it doesn't work, I'll sell them. Can you give me a little information? If it works, I'll share some with you."

"Ah, share? Fine, fine."

She said it reluctantly, but her smile was clear.

"Still, I don't know much. Basically, you just wash them, remove the stems, and dry them. There are some tricks with the weather, temperature, and sun exposure, but those are secrets."

"Hmm, just that much, huh?"

"Ah, but—"

When Haruka said this with a slight disappointment, Diora started to say something but stopped.

"Huh? If you have any tips, please share them?"

"Even a small hint would help."

Trial and error is an option, but since the fruits don't last long, even with magic, we can't afford to try multiple times. Any hint would be helpful.

Encouraged by Haruka and me, Diora hesitantly spoke.

"I once saw someone drying them, and they seemed to be boiling something... I don't know if it's related, though."

Boiling... Maybe they boil them before drying?

Or do they soak them in something to preserve them?

Or maybe they apply a preservative made from herbs?

I remember that in modern times, something is applied to citrus fruits to make them last longer.

"Interesting. Thanks. It's helpful."

"Good to hear. But, please don't spread what I just said. People who know it are fine, but some can be quite troublesome—"

"I understand. Being a receptionist is tough, dealing with all kinds of people."

"Yes! I appreciate it—No, no, that's not the case, really."

Diora nodded firmly but then quickly put on a forced smile and shook her head.

It would be one thing if it were a complaint in a bar, but agreeing here would be inappropriate.

There are other adventurers and, of course, her superiors nearby.

"Diora always treats us politely, and we appreciate it. Right?"

"Yeah. We can earn a living as beginners thanks to her."

I felt the gaze of the staff inside the counter become slightly more severe, so I decided to support Diora.

It was Haruka's light-hearted comment that caused it.

"No, no, it's just my job."

...Phew.

Diora waved her hand slightly, blushing, and her superior (hypothetically) looked at her with a slightly exasperated expression.

The severity of the gaze had disappeared, so maybe she won't get in trouble?

If she does, I'm sorry.

To avoid any trouble, we should leave before Haruka says anything more.

"Well, we'll be going now. See you tomorrow."

"Yes, I'll be waiting."

We bowed to Diora and left the Adventurer's Guild.