Well-Deserved Reward

From hand to hand, I tossed around the black box that Kim, Kem, and Kam had given me. Despite my unpleasant morning experience, I was in an exceptionally good mood. What else can lift a person’s spirits better than the sight of a nice sum of money!

Three hundred and twenty glens from yesterday, and with the reward from the bros—which I hope to get—I’ve already got a total of six hundred and twenty glens! If I add my remaining debt and some smaller expenses (like that damn lubricant!), I only need to get another 250 glens! And hopefully I’ll get something out of the adventure with Lay’s group too.

Please, pretty please, dear serial killer, could you drop by? Just for a minute. I’ve never looked forward so much to a serial killer coming into my shop.

The portal whooshed and someone entered. To my initial disappointment, it wasn’t the prey I was waiting for, but the next moment I brightened up.

It’s Lay!

“Lay! So, how did it go? Do you think I’ll get something?”

The adventurer didn’t answer immediately. He approached the counter and dramatically extended his hand. I had a feeling something like this was coming, so I just decided to go along with it.

“Dearest friend Seiichi. It is marvellous. You gave an excellent performance. A performance of such caliber that even seasoned adventurers would not be ashamed of it. I am overwhelmed, and your efforts will be duly rewarded. We live in a cruel, complex, and unforgiving world. A world where it is so easy and natural to turn to selfishness and hatred. I too have walked such a path. I had a difficult childhood that left its mark on me for life, and I must still struggle with my dark side. Remember, Seiichi if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

Welcome back, Friedrich Nietzsche, I see you’ve kept that bushy moustache even in this world! I must admit though, a philosophy lecture isn’t exactly what I was hoping for. So how much did—huh?! Wait, is he crying again?!

Tears started streaming down Lay’s cheeks as he continued his existential monologue.

“When we found you here, broken and lost, at first, I wanted to turn away, but then I realized that wasn’t the right path. I said to myself: No! You mustn’t. You must help this poor fellow…”

Wow, did I really look that pathetic?

“…We took you with us on an adventurous expedition, and you proved to us all that you’re worthy of this reward I now present to you. We all agreed that you deserve more than we do, you who risked your life for us…”

Ahem, no, it was for the juicy cash.

“…Even despite the greedy guild that robs us of our earnings, I shall give you, I believe, a grand reward. Raise your head, hero Seiichi, and accept the reward!”

Into my hand that wasn’t being crushed by him in a death grip, he placed a pouch that settled into my palm. I clenched it and… discovered it was basically empty. I quickly untied the string and dumped its contents onto the counter. Coins scattered across the surface. I counted one, two, three, four, five, six… six… six…

Six! Are you kidding me?! I risked my life for this?!

I stared wide-eyed at Lay, who was still crying with his eyes closed. I didn’t know whether I should strangle him on the spot or just go get the noose from the storeroom.

“Is–is this a joke?” I stammered.

“Oh no, dearest friend, we gave you more than we gave ourselves, because we recognized your contribution and bravery!”

“How much did you all end up with, for God’s sake? Three glens each?!”

“Three glens? No, no, we each have fifty-five,” the moustached man replied, surprised.

That’s it, I’m choking him out right here and now. To pull a joke like this on me?!

I already had my arms raised to lunge at him, when Lay finally opened his eyes and looked at the counter. He stared at the few scattered coins lying there alone and sad, like drunkards in a park. Then, out of nowhere, he collapsed to the floor and raised his hands to me in supplication.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, my friend! This is a misunderstanding, one big misunderstanding! Oh, how I’ve dishonoured you. How will I be able to look at myself in the mirror now? I am vile, filthy, and dishonourable. I’m sorry!”

“Okay, okay, it’s all right, if it’s just a misunderstanding,” I assured him, my heart leaping with joy.

“I’m a fool! I didn’t want to dishonour you or make fun of you!” Lay kept lamenting.

“I said it’s fine, so just—”

“I’m a fool! Such a fool!”

“Shut up, where the hell is my money?!”

“Oh yes, I almost forgot.” Lay got up and wiped his eyes. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a pouch that looked heavy at first glance. “Here it is, exactly eighty glens, I counted it myself.”

I snatched the pouch and again dumped its contents onto the counter. This time I finally heard the beautiful, delightful, sweet clinking of coins spilling out one after another.

Let’s gooooooooooo!

“Sorry, those six glens were for lunch I was supposed to buy on the way,” Lay explained, but I wasn’t listening anymore—I was counting coin by coin to make sure the number was right. It didn’t take long before I really counted eighty coins.

“You really did a great job, I think you should consider becoming an adventurer,” Lay suddenly suggested.

I looked at him a bit reproachfully. “You know I’ve got a two-year contract here. I can’t just drop it, even if I’d really like to, you can trust me on that one.”

“But that’s okay. You can apply for an amateur scavenger license to collect goods for Lumir’s warehouses.”

“That’s allowed?!” I shouted excitedly.

“Of course. We’d be very happy to work with you again.”

Wow, that actually sounds pretty good. Maybe once I clean up this mess with the crystaline dust, I’ll consider it.

I sincerely thanked Lay for the money and for the offer, and in an even better mood, I returned to my eager waiting for the serial killer.