Published: July 31, 2025
Today, six episodes were released simultaneously.
This story is the third episode.
Today, just like yesterday, we're out hunting magical beasts.
I said last night that I would become independent, so I should do whatever I can from now on.
First, the minimum necessities—clothing, food, and shelter—are all set. If I lack clothing, I can buy some in town. Since I'll be living in the abandoned mine shaft, housing isn't an issue. For food, I'll look for new hunting grounds and purchase anything I lack in town. However, buying things requires money.
Currently, I have 700 gold coins from the bounty for defeating bandits, plus 40 middle gold coins taken from the bandits themselves. Additionally, I've earned money from previous jobs, so I won't have trouble sustaining my life for the time being. In fact, I have enough to live luxuriously, but of course, money disappears once spent.
Well, if I accept cleaning requests for the guild's cesspit, I can earn 3 middle gold coins—or 3,000 soot—for 30 jobs, which covers about 30 days of living expenses. Also, selling iron ingots and waterproof cloth to Mr. Serge brings in a good income. So money isn't really a problem, but earning it too easily also feels a bit off...
If I imagine continuing life like this, I only see decay ahead. Especially since the cesspit cleaning has been handed over entirely to scavengers, leaving me with no tasks. Living comfortably on that income would make parting ways with the Duke's household meaningless.
In that case, maybe I should consider some sources of income outside of adventuring? Yeah... There could be some reason I might not be able to continue as an adventurer.
I managed to live the three years before meeting Mr. Reinhardt and the others without spending a single soot. So, to put it extremely, my income only needs to cover living expenses. I can save the large sum I currently have for emergencies or when necessary... A daily income of 100 soot would be enough. Saving for old age would be great too, but at the very least, if I can earn that steadily, it should be sufficient.
"Ryoma-kun! Hey, can you hear me?"
Uh-oh, I was lost in thought...
"Sorry, I was just thinking. What is it?"
"It's dangerous to be lost in thought during combat... I was going to say that..."
"But even though your mind seems elsewhere, you keep effortlessly taking down magical beasts..."
"Not a single one of us is getting any prey!"
"Ah, sorry. My body just moves unconsciously..."
"That’s fine, but please stop muttering to yourself while calmly dispatching magical beasts. It’s scary to watch."
"Sorry about that..."
Was I really muttering out loud...?
"About those mutterings, are you short on money? You were talking about living expenses and such."
"Actually..."
"Summon up!! Gather in front of the mine entrance!!"
Just as I was about to explain, an adventurer burst in, looking extremely flustered. Is this an emergency?
"What happened!?"
"A group of goblins has made a village in a section of the mine tunnel. And it seems quite large. Luckily, no one has died, but several G-rank adventurers were injured."
"A goblin village, huh? What a pain. If we don’t crush it quickly, they’ll only keep multiplying."
"I’m calling the others. You guys head to the mine entrance!!"
Leaving those words behind, the man ran off.
We hurried to the mine entrance, where a large crowd of adventurers had already gathered. After a brief wait, the guild master stepped onto the prepared platform.
"Most of you have probably already heard, but I’ll explain again! Just now, a goblin-inhabited tunnel and a nearby village were discovered! Therefore, we will begin a goblin extermination operation! The scale is medium — about 500 goblins are expected! To minimize damage, we’ll focus on D-rank and above! Everyone gather by rank and follow instructions!"
After pausing, the guild master called me over.
"Also... Ryoma, are you here?"
"I’m here."
"You’re currently F-rank, but your skill is certainly above E. This mission meets the conditions for your promotion to E-rank. It’s a little early, but you’ll participate as an E-rank."