“Hmm — what now, though. No money’s pretty inconvenient, you know?”
Endo took another bite of the remaining crepe and tilted his head. I was working on mine too, the pair of us sitting at the plaza fountain, watching the foot traffic go by.
“Well, yeah. Going to have to work for it, won’t you?”
“What kind of work do you do, Touya?”
“Me?”
Income… income, huh. Hadn’t really thought about it that way, but — what is my job? Adventurer, I guess. Mostly the guild reward thing.
“I take guild jobs, mostly. Cull monsters, escort merchants, that kind of thing.”
“Ahh, I see. I could probably do that too.”
That sounds easy when you put it that way. Well — beginner quests, if you’re careful, you can handle them.
“You going to register at the guild? You sure about going without a weapon? There are gathering-type requests too, mind.”
“No weapon needed. It’s not like I’m hunting dragons.”
Bare-handed!? Same school as Elze — a brawler? Or a magic user? Or — wait — talking like he could handle a dragon if he had a weapon… Plenty of confidence there.
“Anyway — I’ll show you to the guild. I have business there too.”
“Sorry to trouble you.”
We dropped our crepe wrappers into a bin and walked toward the guild. Got to withdraw money for the rings, after all.
Endo is a little taller than me. Maybe 173 centimeters. His features are androgynous and neat — what you’d call a pretty-boy. Tch — not that I’m jealous or anything…
The white scarf is so long it looks like it’ll drag on the ground. And it’s not winter — why’s he wearing that?
“This is a gift from a friend, you know.”
When I asked, he answered with a smile. That wasn’t quite what I asked, but — sure, there’s probably a reason. Anyway — not my business poking into someone’s privacy or principles.
Eventually the guild’s sign came into view. Inside, the board area was buzzing as usual.
I towed Endo up to the receptionist and asked her to handle his registration. While she was running him through the explanation, I went to the next counter to withdraw money. Once in a lifetime kind of thing (I hope) — got to splurge.
I collected the withdrawal — and Endo, beside me, had just received a black guild card.
“Registered?”
“Yeah, thanks to you. Now I just need to clear jobs. Guilds being everywhere is a lifesaver — I don’t really stay in any one place.”
Huh. He’s lightly equipped for a traveler, though. And how’d he make it this far without any money? Vague sense, but — feels like he doesn’t know the world that well. He’s not a prince from some country, is he…?
…A lot of question marks, but it’s not my business. Everyone has their own circumstances.
“All right — that’s me. Stick to easy jobs at first. Don’t push it.”
“Yeah, got it. Thanks, Touya. Hope we run into each other somewhere again.”
“Yeah, see you somewhere.”
I split with Endo and left the guild. Strange guy.
Right — to the jeweler’s, then. The original errand.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Across from me, the four were happily admiring the rings glinting on their left ring-fingers. Platinum bands with a simple diamond — they ran a fair price. Honestly, no idea what the going rate is — left it entirely to the shop’s saleswoman. Maybe she padded the bill? After the design was settled, when I said “okay, four of those, please,” her eyes did go round.
Apparently magical effects are already worked into them — the size adjusts naturally to the wearer’s finger. On top of that, I added my own enchantments.
“On those rings I added [Accel], [Transfer], and [Storage], using [Enchant] and [Program].”
[Accel] is for combat. [Transfer] is a backup mana tank — even when your own mana runs out, you can pull more from there. [Storage] doubles as personal inventory.
“Thank you, Touya-san.”
Yumina cradled her ringed left hand in her right and smiled gently.
Then I pulled a slim mithril chain from my coat pocket.
“And this — is for Elze.”
“For me?”
Elze took it, looking puzzled.
“You can’t wear gauntlets with a ring on your finger, right? Figured threading it on a chain to wear around your neck would work.”
“Oh. Thanks, Touya. I’m glad.”
She slipped the ring onto the chain and held it up around her neck. Yeah — this works too. Mithril, so it basically won’t break, and as long as she’s wearing it, the enchantments still work.
I remembered the coins Endo had given me in my pocket — and clinked them onto the table.
“What’re those?”
“Got them off a strange guy named Endo I ran into today. Looks like some country’s currency. Recognize it?”
Linze picked one up curiously and held it close to her face.
”…Don’t recognize it. The engraving is very fine. This is probably worth quite a bit…”
Hmm — if so, sounds like I shortchanged him. Should’ve taken him to a money-changer. Or a pawn shop — silver value, at minimum.
I picked one up too, turned it over, examined it from every angle — and just then there was a knock at the door, and Renee entered the living room. She held the door open as Cesca followed, carrying a teapot and cups.
“I have brought teA.”
Cesca laid out the cups and began pouring. As I was watching absently, Renee came over to my side. She was fidgeting for some reason. What now?
“Um — Touya-nii-chan… master. I have a request… please…”
“Lime-san’s not here, so just talk normally, Renee. What’s up?”
“Um — I want to ride a bicycle too…”
A bicycle? Well — at her age, starting practice isn’t a problem. Riding around town alone would worry me, but with a chaperone she’d be fine.
“I want to practice, but the one at the mansion — my feet don’t reach the pedals. I heard Touya-nii-chan made a smaller one for Sue-nee-chan before…”
Ah — right. The one here is an adult size. Yeah, that’s not going to work for Renee. Didn’t think that far.
“Got it — I’ll make one just for you, Renee. What color?”
“Really!? Th-then, red!”
“Easy.”
“Yaaay! Thanks!”
She bounded over the couch and threw her arms around me. Hey, hey — Lime-san would scold you for that. Well, I don’t mind being hugged in delight.
I was smiling wryly at the latched-on Renee when I met Cesca’s eyes across the way.
”…LolicoN.”
“O oi! Hold on a second, would you!?”
Don’t say another word, Robo-girl! I’ve already got enough on my plate with Yumina — don’t pile on!
She kept eyeing me strangely for a while, but eventually finished pouring as if nothing had happened. Then her eyes caught on the silver coin on the table, and she tilted her head slightly.
“This currency is still in usE in this country?”
“Still — hold on, Cesca, you know these?”
“YeS. Partheno silveR. First minted 5,284 years agO, and used in this region as well. Surprising they still exisT.”
5,284 years!? I gave the coin in my hand a hard, careful look. Doesn’t look anywhere near that old. Mint condition. Why did Endo have currency this old?
…Hold on. What did he say back there?
“Used to be able to buy stuff with these.”
Used to? What’s “used to” mean? Is there anywhere ancient-kingdom currency would still pass?
No way. Stupid thought — but I’m starting to wonder if Endo is someone from the past. Or someone Dr. Babylon built, like Cesca.
“Cesca — among the things Dr. Babylon created — like you — are there any boys?”
“BoyS…? No, there are nonE. The Doctor did not create male typeS. There were a few units with a masculine-styled personality, thougH.”
Masculine-styled, huh. Endo did have an androgynous face. And I didn’t actually verify whether he’s a boy. …You don’t say.
Cesca was staring at the lost-in-thought me with a strange, intent look. What now.
”…B-L.”
“O oi! Hold up — hold up, Robo-girl!”
That’s not what I was asking about! I do not swing that way! Default-issue normal! I love girls!
“Whatever taste master has, I am simply your servanT. …Should I put on short pantS?”
“You absolutely should noT!”
Honestly — where does she get this excess of trivia from? Like parent, like child? Look — everyone else is staring blankly because they don’t get a word of it.
…Wait — why’s Linze the only one with a bright red face…?