Chapter 52

Jack of all Trades – 52Post navigation

“Aghhghh…aaAAhh…morning…”

My body felt heavy. My muscles hurt. I was still riddled with wounds after waking up, which made getting out of bed a pain.

This was the infirmary in the western guardhouse. It was just yesterday afternoon that I helped the adventurers who were losing against the wyvern, it was almost night when I finally killed it. But I had no time to rest, I had to walk all the way back to Spiris. Thanks to Harold’s kindness, I was treated here, and the wound on my right thigh was closed up. But I was completely drained by then, and just fell asleep right here.

And now it was morning. What time was it?

“Ah, Asagi. I see you are awake now.”

“Harold. Good morning.”

“Morning! Though, it is really midday now!”

Wha-what… It appeared that I had overslept by quite a bit.

“Well, with so many injuries, it could not be helped.”

“But it feels like a waste of time…”

I sighed at the loss of my valuable morning hours as I got up from the bed. Ouch… I was sore all over. I wasn’t sure, but I had a suspicion that it was an effect of overusing ‘Legs of the Forest Wolf’…

“Ah! I had forgotten!”

“What?”

“You have been summoned to the guild. You are to go as soon as you have regained your consciousness!”

“The guild, eh?”

Uhh, I can’t help but feel like this is going to be very annoying. Something the guild master will be involved in.

“Well, might as well go then…aghhgghh…”

“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard…”

“No, I prefer to get these unpleasant things over with as soon as possible.”

I was the type who did the bad stuff first. Kind of like how I washed the cooking wear first during my night shift.

My clothes had been completely drenched with blood, so they were thrown out. I pulled out a new pair from the hollow bag and got changed. I would have liked to take a bath but was told that there was a possibility that my wounds would open again. So I had to make do with wiping myself down with a wet towel. After finishing the bare minimum of self-grooming, I collected my things and left the guardhouse.

“Well, good luck to you, Asagi.”

“Hahah. It’s like I’m off to war.”

“Battles are not fought with swords alone!”

Harold’s nostrils flare as he offers me his hand. Oh, are we going to do this then?

“I agree. I will gain whatever victory that suits me.”

I accepted his hand and we shake. Our hands clamped down on each others. I was not in peak physical condition, but this was a fight in itself. I couldn’t let go. This second battle between us lasted for over a dozen seconds, but Harold was the ultimate victor. And now my hand really hurt.

“See you.”

“Be careful!”

It was a good sort of pain that lingered even after shaking it as I walked away. I was headed for the guild. I had a bad feeling about this. Like I was walking alone into a battlefield.

□ □ □ □

Just as I was almost out of the street stall district, I found Daniela among a crowd of people. She held two skewers of meat in her hands. I was quite sure that I had asked Harold to relay a message to Daniela. Ever since I woke up this morning, I had a feeling that I had forgotten something. But that’s what it was. Daniela wasn’t there.

“Daniela!”

“Hmm, is that voice Asagi?”

Daniela turned around, and after confirming that it was me, pushed her way through the crowd of people.

Are you on a lunch break as well?”

“What? Don’t you have anything better to do? Like, coming to see me for instance.”

“Hmm? Were we not to meet tomorrow? What happened to your camping trip?”

Eh? Something was not quite right here.

“You didn’t get the message from the guards?”

“Guards? Did you get into any trouble?”

Ah, clearly she hadn’t heard. But why? Was there some misunderstanding?

“Oh, the message must be late. I got summoned to the guild, so I’ll tell you on the way there. Also, give me one of those skewers.”

“If you insist…but just one.”

“Thank…hey, don’t give me your leftovers.”

“Mmmhmm…”

She was not one to suffer any losses when it came to food… I sigh and bite into what was left on the stick. Well, the Professor of Street Stalls at least had impeccable tastes.

“…Damn it. You really are reckless. So that is why you look like that.”

“Yeah… I seriously thought I was going to die.”

“You would have, normally.”

I told her the story as we walked towards the guild house. Daniela’s glare was as sharp as a dagger, and I felt like it would deal me a mortal wound at any moment. But she did not seem like she would forgive me any time soon.

“And so I explained everything to Harold at the western gate. I knew I would pass out at any moment, so I asked that you be sent a message to come for me.”

“I see. I was not at the inn, as I left early in the morning. And I have not returned today. That was probably why I did not receive the message.”

The message must have stopped at Joshua then. I would have to explain things to him when I returned.

The time quickly flew by as we talked, and before we knew it we had arrived at the guild house. My new battlefield. The door opens with a loud creak, and I am immediately overwhelmed by numerous eyes pointing in my direction. Uncertain eyes. Excited eyes. Suspicious eyes. Angry eyes. And then the person with the most passionate of all looks walked up towards me.

“Asagi! You bastard, you came back alive!”

“Rex. As you can see, I am quite battered.”

“But you should really be dead! Ahh, but this good!”

He began to rapidly slap me on the shoulder. I could see that he was very pleased that I had survived, but I had to stop him from hurting me. Once he was calm, I introduced him to Daniela.

“Daniela. I hear that you have helped my Asagi here.”

“It’s Rex! No, it is us who owe him. Danny is safe. Though, it sure cost us!”

He said as he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger. So they were able to treat that wound. I guess it couldn’t be helped that it was expensive. But it was a huge relief.

“We are in the red because of Danny’s medical fees, but you can’t go adventuring if you’re dead. We will just have to work harder and improve our cooperation.”

“In the red…”

Hearing this, I ask Rex something that had been on my mind.

“Rex, could you split the reward money for the wyvern among your party?”

“Eh?! Asagi, you are the one who killed it! We ran from it with our tails between our legs. There is no question that you must take it!”

Rex seemed a little indignant by this, as he folded his arms and looked away.

“No, we all defeated the wyvern together. I was just in charge of the endgame.”

“You, that would hardly…”

“It was you and the others who destroyed the wings and exhausted it. I dealt the final blow in its haggard face. Is that not right?”

“Well, in a way… But, Asagi, are you sure?”

He looked at me very seriously. I looked back to show that I was serious as well, and nodded. Because this was what I believed to be the best outcome. There was no way that I could take all the reward when they had beaten it down to that point. Rex seemed to have seen that I would not back down on this, and let out a deep sigh.

“We all misjudged the wyvern’s strength, and it led to that…and yet you…”

What?… He glared at me with confusion. Then Daniela came in from the side and put an arm around my shoulder.

“This is just what Asagi is like. Soft-hearted and stubborn. But he is still a good one.”

“Hahaha! Ain’t that the truth! Ah, well. You have my thanks, Asagi!”

What was it with these two… It was slightly embarrassing. I mumbled something random in reply.

We talked a little after this until a guild worker walked up to us. Oh, I had completely forgotten about that business…

“I am sorry to interrupt your conversation. Asagi, the guild master is calling you. Please come with me.”

Here we go… I nod and say goodbye to Rex before heading towards the back of the guild with Daniela. We passed a hallway and went through an office-like room before stopping at a large door. The guild worker knocked.

“I have brought Asagi and his partner, Daniela with me.”

“Enter.”

There was a short reply and then the guild worker opened the doors. We entered inside, and the first thing I saw was a large person with intense red hair sitting behind a desk. So, was this the guild master?

“Welcome, to the Spiris Adventurers Guild. I am guild master Bordow. It is a pleasure to meet you.”