## Chapter 130 – D-Rank Adventurer Kim Katte
After resting for about an hour, hoping the hobgoblin friends might return, they never showed. It seemed the 23 inside the abandoned mine were all there were.
It was a bit much to expect hunting kids to return in just an hour, but as per the contract, we’d killed all ’20 or so hobgoblins inside the abandoned mine,’ so the quest was over.
“We’ve waited long enough. Let’s head down.”
At my words, Lina grumbled and hoisted the sack onto her back. The sack was quite bulky, filled with 23 heads, clubs, and other miscellaneous farming tools and rags.
Could Lina really handle the weight with her frail body?
But that was the weight of life for those living as F-rank adventurers.
If you can’t bear the weight crushing your shoulders, you’ll eventually be crushed and left behind.
This world isn’t kind enough to cut kids any slack. Even a delicate girl can’t receive fair wages unless she does as much work as an adult. It’s only natural.
Hang in there, little sister.
“Lina, is it too heavy?”
“Ah, no. I’m okay. I’m getting used to it.”
“Then let’s hurry.”
And so, we descended the mountain with the momentum of a raging tide.
If we were lucky, we could return to the inn today. That is, if the carriage was still there. If not, we’d have no choice but to spend another day.
We went straight to the village chief’s house and knocked on the door.
ㅡKnock, knock, knock.
“Hmm?”
After knocking three times and waiting, the village chief opened the door.
He observed us for a moment before speaking.
“Didn’t you folks go up this morning? I thought you’d be back around nightfall…”
“The job finished easier than expected. Here, take a look.”
I had Lina dump the sack in the yard. The hobgoblin heads rolled out, scattering across the yard.
“Oh, oh! Hobgoblins!”
The village chief cheered at the sight. He picked up a head that had rolled to his feet and examined it with a delighted expression.
“There were 23 in total. We cleared out the entire inside of the abandoned mine and came back.”
“I’m glad I requested the guild! I never thought the problem would be solved so quickly!”
Afterward, I talked with the village chief about any remaining hobgoblins, but it seemed there were no issues. He immediately handed over the guild document confirming the completion of the request.
“Well, good work. Oh, and a carriage came this morning. It’s still waiting, so you can take it back.”
Thankfully, a carriage had arrived.
Looks like we can return to the inn today.
“Thank you. Ah, but by any chance, would you be interested in buying any of the spoils? A couple of the farming tools look usable.”
“Those are the stolen farming tools. It wouldn’t hurt to have them, but unfortunately, I don’t have any money left to spare after requesting the guild… Is bartering possible?”
We decided to dispose of the acquired farming tools as well. Looking at them, it felt like we were returning lost items, but strictly speaking, they were spoils of war, so the rights belonged to us.
It was a shame not to receive cash, but this was also a reward for his kindness. We decided to hand them over in exchange for some groceries.
“But don’t you need the clubs? Or the leather the hobgoblins were wearing? It would be fun to arm the vigilantes with them.”
“Regrettably, I don’t really need those. And even if it’s fun, I don’t think it would be very helpful.”
Just in case, I had carefully selected the usable-looking clubs, but as expected, no one would buy such things. The dirty leather was the same. Who would buy this trash?
What should I do with this?
As I was pondering, I noticed Lina tidying up the items that had spilled from the sack.
“Hey, Lina. Just take all that stuff.”
“Yes, yes?”
“I said take the damn clubs and leather. I don’t think I need them.”
It would be a waste to just throw them away, so I decided to give them all to Lina as an act of generosity. The flustered Lina nodded. When I asked with a grin, “Aren’t you grateful?” she gave an awkward smile and thanked me.
Indeed, people should occasionally donate.
“Shall we go back now?”
After saying goodbye to the village chief, we headed to the entrance of the village.
Sure enough, a carriage was waiting. The coachman waved at us. He must be happy to have passengers on his way back.
“Coachman, can you go to Isvant?”
“Of course!”
I immediately paid 30 coppers and boarded the carriage.
“Blackie.”
“Huh? What?”
Winnia, who had entered first, sat down and glared at me. I wondered what was wrong this time, and when I looked at her, she frowned and tapped the seat next to her.
…It seemed like she was signaling me to sit next to her.
“But I refuse.”
“What?”
“No means no, Winnia.”
“Tsk. You’re just a damn mutt.”
I immediately sat across from her. Then, Claudia came up and sat next to me, and Lina sat next to Winnia. Winnia turned her head away, looking displeased.
Damn it.
“Um, Katte. It’s good we’re in the carriage, but will we be able to enter before the city gates close?”
“Probably not. It’s a bit late.”
Claudia, who was sitting next to me, said.
As she said, even if we returned to Isvant today, we wouldn’t be able to enter the city if we arrived at night. Considering yesterday’s travel time, we would arrive after sunset no matter how fast we went.
Then, we would end up returning to the inn tomorrow morning.
Ah, damn it. That’s why long-distance quests are ambiguous.
The travel time ties you down in many ways.
Most D-rank requests seemed to be like this. They pay a lot, but there are many inconveniences.
Anyway, the carriage departed.
It was still daytime, but I was tired from using my stamina.
Winnia, who had been glaring at me with her head turned, soon began to nod off. I heard that Chain Lightning was a somewhat powerful spell that consumed a lot of mana. When mana is rapidly depleted, you become severely fatigued.
I was also tired, so I simply leaned my head on Claudia’s shoulder. And then I fell asleep and woke up—
“—Did we already arrive?”
When I came to my senses, it was dark.
That’s right. We had arrived in the city, but the gates were closed, so we couldn’t enter. The coachman urged us to get off, saying we had arrived. I shook off my drowsy mind, stretched, and got out of the carriage.
“You were sleeping like a log?”
“Your shoulder was so cozy.”
I couldn’t help but yawn. Looking around, there were adventurers who hadn’t made it in time and merchant carriages lined up here and there. They were all preparing to light fires and spend the night. Some had set up small tents, while others had gotten into their sleeping bags.
It was a typical night scene by the city walls.
Since delays were always possible, people spent the night in front of the walls and entered in the morning. Since they gathered and lit fires, monsters didn’t really attack. And with so many witnesses around, crimes weren’t committed much either.
Then we had to prepare to spend the night as well.
“…Blackie. Go get some wood or something.”
Winnia said, creating a small spark at the end of her staff. She meant she would start the fire, so I should prepare the materials. I immediately gathered stones, wood, and kindling from nearby and made a bonfire.
After Winnia started the fire, we decided to take out the groceries we had bartered for earlier and grill them. It was country-style cured meat. I stuck it on a branch and grilled it, and my body warmed up and I felt full.
And so, we spent the night in front of the city walls with a fire burning.
***
As soon as morning came, the guards opened the city gates.
There was a long line of people. I rubbed my eyes and followed the line into the city. Even though I had slept so long, I was still very tired. The quality of sleep is the most important thing after all.
I immediately went to the guild, received the reward for the successful first D-rank quest, and divided it into three after deducting transportation costs. I decided to pay Lina’s wages myself. As an older brother, I had to take care of my little sister.
“Hey, Lina. Take your money.”
“Ah…!”
I tossed Lina 5 copper coins, and she happily accepted them and bowed her thanks. It was just a fair wage payment, but how many scoundrels in the world don’t even do that?
“Thank you, Oppa!”
“Now get lost.”
I waved at Lina. The girl disappeared into the city center with a sack as big as her torso on her back… Live strong in the mountains.
“Hey, Winnia. Seeing her reminds me of something.”
“What?”
Seeing her reminded me of something from the past.
“A few years ago, you and I worked with that Renan or whatever her name was. When I was F-rank. That was probably a goblin extermination quest, anyway. You guys stole my pay and ran away.”
It was definitely when I first met Winnia in Krasheim. We had agreed to pay 5 coppers as wages, but they only gave me 1 copper as a joke. Back then, I couldn’t even afford to eat because of that malicious prank and slept on the streets.
Whenever I think about that, I wake up screaming in the middle of the night.
It’s one of my long-standing traumas.
I didn’t have any feelings for Winnia, but I could never forgive that bitch Rena.
I always intended to slaughter her if I ever met her, but it’s not easy to see someone’s face in this wide world. I could only hope that the opportunity would come.
“…You remember that well. Then you must remember that Blackie came looking for us with a shitty sword afterward? And even ran away?”
“Of course, it’s as vivid as yesterday. And back then, it wasn’t running away, it was a strategic retreat. Anyway, don’t you have anything to say to me when you think about that?”
When I shrugged and answered, Winnia glared at me.
“Say? Like apologizing to Blackie?”
“No, not necessarily. Seeing Lina just reminded me of that time. Rena and Lina have similar names. They’re both shitty bastards, in fact. They’re practically the same person.”
Actually, I don’t have any particular feelings for Winnia.
Even if I did in the past, those feelings have been neutralized by sleeping together. Instead, all those negative feelings have gone to Rena. I should take this opportunity to ask where that bitch is living and what she’s doing.
“…I won’t.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Blackie. Is that okay now?”
“Uh? Uh…”
I was just poking around, but she apologized surprisingly easily.
I was a little taken aback.
She came closer to me.
“Is an apology enough?”
“Yeah, it’s plenty.”
“…I see.”
With that, Winnia turned around.
“I’m going. See you later, Blackie.”
“Uh, y-yeah.”
“I’ll be staying where I told you last time.”
Then she walked away.
“…If you feel like it, come visit anytime. I’ll be waiting.”
“…”
I had nothing to say to her as she left those meaningful words. I turned to Claudia with a bewildered feeling. She was watching me with a playful smile.
“Blackie?”
When I got closer, I was suddenly called that and was horrified.
“Ah! Don’t call me that!”
“Hehe, why? Is that something only that mage girl can call you?”
“I don’t know, damn it!”
As if to soothe me, who was angry, Claudia wrapped her arms around my waist and moved in step with me.
“Hmm… Personally, I think it would be okay for you to follow that girl right now… Would you get angry if I thought that?”
“You. Know. Our Claudia’s going to get a little scolding from me today.”
Claudia, who smiled seductively at the word “scolding,” bit my ear and said.
“Oh my, how scary. What specifically are you planning to scold me with?”
Ha, how pathetic.
“Of course, I’ll have to scold you with Seol Woon-do’s compass.”
“What—!”
Taking a deep breath, I sang passionately about whether to go to Jongno or Myeongdong with all my might. As always, the conclusion was to go to Cheongnyangni instead.
Claudia was horrified and tried to cover my mouth, but I was a true singer-songwriter who didn’t compromise with anyone when it came to singing. My song echoed through the streets.
Claudia’s face turned pale in an instant.
I grabbed her waist, which she was trying to pull away, and never let go.
Because she was my most precious audience.
