What did adventurers, bandits, and Mercenaries all have in common?

Love for loot.

The thought was an idle one I of course did not voice aloud, but it would be hard to miss how my friends were very nearly trembling with excited anticipation. Yet more proof I was no true adventurer, at least not in the modern conventional sense: I sincerely doubted said loot would include rare books, secret knowledge, special study materials, or other such incentives of personal interest.

Still, I basked in my friends' united enjoyment. It was good to be an Empath when surrounded by happy people.

After my Scroll had recharged enough to return us to Wilton, I had finally thought to question why we hadn't simply conducted our business in Zibarro. Theoretically, each Adventurer's Guildhall should offer the same credit rewards.

The answer turned out to be simple enough: Bessie. No sooner had we arrived than she'd chatted up a friendly receptionist, asking if another, presumably even friendlier receptionist was available.

The lady thus summoned had looked... vaguely familiar? No, really quite familiar, I was fairly sure?

This time I'd snappily Scribed her name and distinguishing characteristics: Veronica, Bessie's receptionist, birthmark under right eye. After a beat of hesitation, I'd added: made me take combat class.

Which brought us to now, when Veronica revealed, with a flourish, the rewards catalogue. My friends were buzzing with excitement; meanwhile, I was feeling quite strange, infected by their enthusiasm even while struggling with my own contrary disappointment. The 'catalogue' was slim as a pamphlet, illustrated and colorful but lacking true artistry or magical enchantment. For the supposed culmination of our efforts, materially and symbolically, it appeared sadly cheap in its construction, and worse, meager in its offerings.

In the next moment, I shook my head at myself. I had grown accustomed to the Scholars, who would no doubt have produced a hefty tome replete with details and citations, enthusing me alone. But the Adventurers knew their audience: my friends were crowding around the catalogue, admiring the pictures and exclaiming over the options. This was in marked contrast to their typical reactions to books or paperwork. Perhaps I might learn a lesson here in practical brevity?

"Considering the day we've had," Bessie said a bit ruefully, "We probably need private combat lessons the most."

"Do you think that would have helped?" Hannah asked.

"Maybe not the mission, but the fight after? Sad. It was just sad."

"They also had much better equipment..."

"Um... but didn't we win?" I interjected. "Or... oh. Do you mean because there were only three of them?"

"That, and they just lost their most important member," Bessie said. "Their whole team strategy revolved around Rinaldo... We should've rolled right over them!"

The others were nodding, abashed... even Blake, though I thought he'd shown a new Skill today, possibly whichever one he was studying with his SES. Then a throat cleared.

"Excuse me," Veronica said in syrupy sweet tones, "What fight was this?"

To my disbelief, after a brief explanation she seemed more concerned with our performance than that we'd been fighting against other adventurers. "I know, I know." Bessie raised her hands. "We need to work on our teamwork."

"That wouldn't help with getting through their armor," Hannah argued. "Most of my arrows are too underpowered... or too overpowered..."

"I hate it when we're not allowed to maim or kill," Blake agreed.

"Still," Bessie said. "Did you notice how coordinated they were? They shouldn't have been able to keep all five of us covered with just three of them!"

Nobody was singling me out, but my head lowered. I was well aware I was the weakest link. "Sorry," I said. "I was useless."

"Hey, you defended yourself so we didn't have to worry about you," Bessie said without missing a beat. "That's the most important thing!"

I perked up. True... It was at least something.

"Hold up." Veronica was eyeing me in a way that made me nervous. "You cast [Mana Dome]. Then what?"

"Um..."

Oh, did Bessie have to be so gregarious?

After I was forcefully reminded I still had eight prepaid lessons in Basic Combat remaining, the receptionist suggested we could all benefit from a guild-appointed team manager. One manicured nail indicated the spot on the catalogue.

"Now hold on," Bessie said, "We already have Rena!"

I winced. "Really?" Veronica said. "She's qualified to advise adventurer teams now?"

"She can advise us," Hannah said loyally.

"And your team does her credit. I don't dispute you might be an excellent Path Advisor," she said to me directly, "But adventuring's more than the right Paths on paper. Since your team was formed in the guild, came in without outside experience or backing... if you ever want to make Gold, you should seriously consider hiring a manager."

Bessie crossed her arms and huffed. "But it's so expensive."

I edged over to look, my eyes zeroing in on the five digits plus... "Twenty percent of future earnings?"

"Only up to a hundred thousand credits for most managers." Veronica waved this away, like it wasn't an outrageous sum. "A few good Gold quests can pay that right off."

"It'll be a long time before we're ready to try for Gold," Tom grumbled.

A bright smile flashed our way. "But you do plan to try?"

As they continued talking, I took the opportunity to skim through the catalogue and consider our options myself. In the end, the guild had rather generously granted us ten thousand credits, each; we had managed to finally report the demon, accidentally 'reported' it (in a manner of speaking) before that, and nobody even died. Though my friends had more credits saved up, I definitely wasn't willing to mooch off their hard work, so I'd just consider that we had fifty thousand credits as a team to play with.

That wasn't a small amount, but... it wasn't a lot either. As Bessie had complained, a manager would cost us five thousand credits minimum to start, with the exact amount of this initial cost dependent on the manager. The catalogue depicted several prospective candidates, including one proud-looking woman of indeterminate age who apparently demanded one million credits upfront. That had to be some sort of advertising gimmick; any team with so many credits wouldn't need a manager!

Alternatively, we could purchase private lessons at a relatively cheaper variable cost. The bulk of the catalogue's page space was devoted to this, with dramatic illustrations and even more dramatic accompanying text.

'WHERE THERE'S A SKILL AND A WILL, THERE'S A WAY!'

An adventurer was depicted leaping into the air shouting, "It UPGRADED!" while a proud coach looked on.

'KNOW YOUR FOE! THEN CRUSH THEM!'

The chosen foe here was clearly vampires. Amusingly, a student was shown loaded with stakes and talismans facing an annoyed-looking vampire, who had his mouth open while an instructor indicated his fangs.

'TAKE HOME THE YEAR-END TOURNAMENT TROPHY!'

The fully armored champion raised an equally shiny trophy overhead. No doubt Bessie would be tempted by this one, considering her chosen resolve.

And so on. As a last resort, we could always...

'MAKE YOUR OWN COURSE!'

A beautiful receptionist smiled eagerly as though just awaiting a brilliant suggestion. Apparently we could also open our requested class to the guild, which could lower the cost if others signed on.

I was a little interested in studying how to handle demons, but not enough to pay a thousand credits or so per lesson. Wait, make that two hundred assuming my friends joined in. Moving on...

The next page showed different 'TREASURE CHESTS!' with randomized rewards, starting from the 'BRONZE CHEST!' at a hundred credits each and capping at the 'PLATINUM CHEST!' for a hundred thousand credits apiece. Various 'GRAND PRIZES!!!' were displayed as bait to reel in suckers.

That was... not exploitative, exactly, but certainly manipulative of the guild. Adventurers just loved treasure, after all. And how many possessed common sense, much less financial sense?

Shaking my head, I flipped past several more options that did not appeal, such as buying overpriced group insurance, hiring a guide for a single quest, gaining advance notice for preferred quests, listing our own quest, or exchanging bulk credits for less coin. The very last page advertised the Gold-Ranking Exam, which would cost 'only' a nonrefundable thirty thousand credits each or significantly more coin... Wait.

I flipped back and regarded one particular option with renewed interest: 'QUEST REQUEST.' Yes, we could actually put up our credits as an offered quest reward. Coin too, but the guild charged fifteen percent compared to five percent for credits. The discounted rate still applied so long as there was an equal or greater number of credits as coin...

Looking up, I said, "Um, I'd maybe like to request a quest?"

"What, you're done already?" Bessie said. "I swear it's almost scary sometimes how fast you can read."

I stared at her blankly. "This catalogue has more pictures than words." Spatially, if not numerically.

"You were asking about a quest?" Veronica said.

"Oh. Yes. I would like to cover a hole, um, that is, to have an artifact capable of high-level camouflage."

"An artifact?" She looked at me dubiously. "You would have better luck with the Artisans."

"But there's a chance?" Bessie said. "Hey, if nobody manages the quest, can we have our credits back?"

"Yes, except for the cost of listing."

"Brilliant! Maybe a fellow adventurer will do us a good turn. Aww, but will we still have enough for some treasure chests?"

I blanched. "Wait, you want to buy one? Some?"

"Of course! Veronica was telling us the guild often picks up random junk or treasure to add to the loot pile, or adventurers donate money or old equipment. It might be random, but I'll probably get something better than what I'm wearing."

Eyeing her leather set, I wasn't sure I could disagree.

"You know, I sometimes think we're luckier than rich folk," Bessie said cheerfully. "It's always up and up for us!"

Tom snorted. "You keep telling ourselves that."

Actually... Thinking of those I'd met, particularly nobles, I thought she had hit upon a valuable point. Rich people tended to be harder to please.

Then again, adventuring was the topmost recognized profession for seeking rapid gains and social advancement. In fact, my friends weren't such risk-takers compared to certain heroes featured in stories...

Or maybe not. Our dealings with Duni could potentially entail fairly significant risk. Just not the kind that also inspired heroics.

Or not yet.

"Just back from a major mission?"

I blinked, reminded we were in the guild lobby by the stranger who'd suddenly come up and asked that. She continued, "Is this your first time?"

"Yes...?" Bessie said.

"Word of advice," she said. "Sleep on it before you spend everything. Then if you mess up... at least you know you weren't totally stupid."

"You were just stupidly unlucky," Veronica said. "I think you almost broke a record."

"Almost, huh? That's bad luck itself." The random adventurer waved and left.

"It's good advice," Veronica said. "If you do decide to try your luck, make sure you also decide how much you're willing to spend beforehand."

"But that takes some of the fun out of it!" Bessie protested. "Besides, Rena will stop me, right Rena?"

"I would like to stop you right now."

"Aw."

"I think that means we're done here for now," Tom said. "And for the record, I'm voting for a manager."

We reunited with Duni the next day. I thought it maybe wouldn't hurt to include them in the rewards discussion, but before that we had to discuss the mission.

We'd already gone over this once with the guild, so I thought we managed quite well, keeping our summaries sweet and simple. I tried to stay objective and not pelt them with needless emotion.

But where our previous interviewers were more knowledgeable and experienced than us, Duni was the opposite. At least, they seemed constantly confused, questioning again and again:

Why had we not reported the demon when we said we would? Why did we believe this was a mistake? Why might we do the same again? Why, why, why?

"They want to know why we dislike the demon," I translated, "When it didn't mean us harm." I sighed.

"Here's the thing, Duni," Bessie said. "Despite its oath, it did mean us harm."

"Um... Do you know that for a fact?"

"Everybody knows that about demons!" Hannah sputtered. "Stop trying to make excuses because you want a demon minion!"

It felt really strange to have my friend shouting 'at' me, even though I knew she was actually directing this at Duni.

"No, they really don't understand," I said, "Though now that you mention a demon minion..."

"Never happening," Tom said flatly.

"Yes, I know you are still interested, Duni." I sighed again. "And still confused." How to explain? "Yes, demons have more knowledge and power, but that is mostly not a good thing... not for us..."

I trailed off lamely. Did I launch into a lecture on good and evil? Explain demons were too dangerous, even for the drastic measures necessary to save Duni? Justify it as demons were our enemies, or this demon was, or...?

My friends failed to say anything. I could feel the full focus of the dungeon's expectant attention on me.

I was starting to regret the day I looked into demons. No, that was blaming the book instead of its reader. Or blaming the student for the inept teacher.

...

I opened and closed my mouth. "Um..."