Day 17: Starting E Rank

Holy Era 6102, Month of the Moon Rabbit, 30th day.
Weather: Sunny

The Adventurers Guild building that glows under the morning sun… It’s so pretty.
I don’t think that I’ve ever visited the guild so early in the morning since I became an Adventurer.
Out of nowhere, memories of the first day that I stepped foot into the guild came back to me, and I became a little nervous.

I passed the reception desks and stood in front of the quest board that was covered in various requests.
Now, this will be my first job after rising to E Rank. So, what should I do?
The types of quests were mostly the same as F Rank. If there was a difference, it would be that there were more missions that required you to travel far and camp out at night.

As I wondered which one to do, Ms. Marga suddenly appeared next to me.
Woah, she smelled of ale. Had she been drinking until morning again?

As I looked at her with bewilderment, she asked if I was going to accept a job.
…Of course, I was. I needed money in order to live.
I nodded silently, and Ms. Marga smiled and then patted me lightly on the head. Then she said, ‘Good for you!’ and then she walked back to the bar…

…Or so I thought. But then she started shouting at the surrounding Adventurers and saying, ‘Yes! I won!’
And then quite a few of them trudged forward with heavy feet and dropped a gold coin into the leather bag that Ms. Marga was carrying.
I could hear them clicking their tongues and muttering things like, ‘Once again, she keeps winning’…

Ms. Marga had made money thanks to me. And she looked very smug about it.
…Uh, yes. While I had an idea of what had happened, I wanted an explanation!!

…It was what I expected. These people were placing bets on me, well, the three F Rankers who accepted the escort mission!!
Apparently, when Adventurers with no experience fighting against other people take on that trial, about half of them quit.
And so they had been betting on which of us three would be back at the guild first… They really were the worst!!
But I finally understand it now. So that’s why!? Why Ms. Marga seemed to be so rich!!
…This…this is why the world of adults is so!!

As I seethed in silence, Ms. Marga came to soothe me.
She said that she had high expectations for me.
Apparently, the vast majority had thought that I would quit, and that’s why she had made so much.
And so she was so happy that I had returned before anyone else. Ms. Marga believed in me.
She said it made her quite emotional… Hey, she was trying to make this sound like some kind of touching story, but I won’t be fooled, all right?!
Wait a minute!! I want my share of the profits!!

…She laughed and ran away.
Hmph. I suppose I’ll just gather herbs today.

Mentally exhausted, I went over to the reception counter and was handed a strange piece of paper.
What? Citizens tax? Three silver?
What! Today is the end of the month!? No, taxes are fine. It’s our duty.
But isn’t three silvers too expensive!?
It was then explained to me that in general, because Adventurers wandered a lot, the attitude was to ‘take from them when you can!’ and so the taxes were higher than the average person… But that is horrible!!
And while I was told that there was a discount if you paid it all at once, I don’t have that kind of money!!

…In the end, I decided to pay it monthly… My living fees…I want to cry.

Today’s earnings and expenses:
Bronze: + 5(Herb gathering reward)
– 5(Inn)
Silver: -3(Citizen tax(end of every month))
————————–
Balance: 64 bronze

(ﾉ△･｡)… Money really is everything in this world…

Next Chapter

Senpai boukenshasan ga tasukete kureru no de kitto daijoubu nano desu! Shinmai boukensha no nikki-chou