Day 30: Reverse Thinking and the Reason
Holy Era 6102, Month of the Marsh Dragon, 13th day.
Weather: Sunny

…My head hurts…I’ve drunk too much.
Hah… This is the second time in my life that I’ve woken up in a bar. Mmm. This is no good at all. I should not be doing this.
I must do my best and work…

And so I drank some water and washed my face before going to the quest board.
What should I do today… The weather was once again very fine…
Hmm. I’ll gather four branch mushrooms again! And since I knew where they grew, I would accept three of them. There was still plenty left, so this will be easy.

As I headed to the forest, I thought about the previous day. The problem was the goblins.
They were just treated as an additional mission, so I didn’t have to hunt them. But I wanted to if possible. Besides, the reward was nice.
But for some reason, whenever I see them, I cannot unsheath my sword… Ah!!
It just came to me!! Reverse thinking. If I can’t unsheath it, then I just have to carry the naked blade from the beginning!!
Yes, that’s what I’ll do!! I am so wise!!

After I had picked my eighteenth mushroom, I saw a goblin.
As it is still some distance away, it hasn’t noticed me yet. Hehehe. This is my chance.
It was wearing rusted armor and wielded a club… I really don’t know why goblins even bother to arm themselves.
I was careful enough to go around to its back, and just as I was about to ambush it…

…Ah? Huh? My legs won’t move…
I desperately tried to move them, but it was as if they had been sewn to the ground.
Why… Why!!

As I stood there frantically, the goblin noticed that I was there.
It stared at me, and then its mouth widened into a smile that extended to its ears. It was like a crescent moon.
And then it started to dash.
But my legs would still not move. It was no good! This was a state of emergency!!
As I panicked, what flashed in the back of my mind was the moment that I was attacked by a monster in the dungeon.
I would experience that again… Not that. Anything but that!!
When I thought about this, my feet moved backwards a little…

And before I knew it, I had turned around and was fleeing from a goblin…

After that, I somehow managed to finish gathering the four branch mushrooms, and started on my way back, completely disheartened.
It was all clear to me after today… The reason that I couldn’t unsheathe my sword, or to be precise, the reason that I couldn’t fight.
It was probably related to what happened in the dungeon.
After that, there was some part of my heart that was afraid of fighting…
…I know the reason… But what can I do now…

After I made my report at the guild and collected my reward, I found myself visiting the bar again.
…I didn’t think that I’d be able to sleep if I went to the inn alone. And hearing the lively voices of the other Adventurers made me feel a little better.
And so I sat by myself and drank quietly. As I drank, my worries started to feel less and less important…
The waitress looked worried as she asked if I was well. …Mmm, I’m fine!! Just bring me some more of this win!!
Ah, it’s so good… But for some reason that I can’t explain, my eyes are welling up with tears…

Today’s earnings and expenses:
Bronze: + 90(Quest reward x3)
– 65(Bar)
————-
Balance: 1 Silver, 11 bronze

“(/へ＼*)”)) Uuuhhh, hic. Uhhh… I don’t think I can do this anymore… Ah, waiter. Another!!

Next Chapter

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