"Eight malagmium." Katrina showed the coins in her palms.

Stars sparkled on Kirin's pupils!

"Even split. Two for each." Onyx took the coins.

"Wait! No way!" Kirin exploded with a bark. "I invested twenty amalgium into that quest! Plus, you still owe me a lot of money. You should be giving me all your cut!"

"What's that crap coming out of your mouth?!" Onyx barked back. "We wouldn't have finished this quest if the three of us hadn't talked to those two parties."

"But! But! I only have twelve amalgium left!" Kirin dropped to his knees and bawled.

"Is that my problem?!"

"Pleeeeease!"

"Get away, you idiot!"

"Kya...!" Kirin grabbed and cried into Onyx's leg.

"Shut up! Let go. Let go or I'll kick you!"

"Kya...?"

"Ergh!"

"It's okay, Kirin." Alia chased as Onyx tried to run away, dragging Kirin now clinging onto the blue knight's foot. "I can give you mine!"

Faolan scratched the back of his head.

"Dragonlaird," called a masked man in a hood. The Unopened Book, Nolan Cole. Leader of the Blaring Sentence party. "Just because we helped you this once doesn't mean we'll be going easy on you. We appreciate you telling us about the Guild Games, but our party will want to participate just as much as you guys."

"Same goes for us." Rafa Berry, leader of Pastel Blood, also approached. "And remember. I was being serious when I said my wish would be to marry you."

Imaginary flames engulfed Nolan's head. "I'll go very hard on you, Faolan. Veeery hard. You'll regret ever showing your face to my beloved Rafa."

Faolan forced a chuckle and raised his palms defensively. "It's okay, it's okay. We knew what it meant when we told you. As long as we all keep it fair, my party and I will see no problem with having competition."

Rafa flipped her blonde hair. "I doubt anyone else would be stupid enough to pull off a Coral Crown."

Nolan held his hips. "Heh. Even if they do, we could always team up again and put them in their place."

Faolan agreed. "By the way, before I forget, I still need to thank you two for coming to help our party. Even though you agreed for personal benefit, no number of words may ever express my utmost gratitude." He bowed.

Rafa tipped her toes and lifted a leg backward. "Your love will always be enough."

Nolan roared. "Your gratitude to me can be your distance from Rafa."

***

Now that Kirin had money again, he should probably buy more stuff for his apartment. Several chairs, in case of guests. Ingredients for the kitchen as Kirin would love to cook and save himself from needing to buy meals all the time. More clothes, of course. Those would also be sensible. And maybe something that Kirin could enjoy working on at home when he gets time to spare. Ooh! He should buy sewing materials!

"No!" Kirin mentally slapped himself.

He shouldn't be spending on anything at all! Seriously. Did he really wish to end up back in that same dreadful penniless position? Isn't worrying about not being able to pay rent just too stressful?

Then again, all the items for sale around Ydra Street were also just too tempting to ignore.

Why did Kirin even come back? He'd probably walked back there subconsciously after seeing all the displays from his peripherals early in the day. Not a wise choice. Not at all.

Ooh!

But that shiny sea crystal armor on a fifty percent sale surely would be!

How much is it?

"No!" Kirin mentally slapped himself once more. "No unnecessary spending."

"Splsh!" Black water sprayed onto the streets.

"Hold on, Ely! It was my mistake. Let's just refund them." Sir Bhala, the merchant, was standing with an anxious stance, looking on worriedly.

At what? Coral Crown standing off against that black-haired helper from earlier.

All their eyebrows were furrowed, and their eyes dagger-deadly.

"Whoa. What's happening?" Kirin rushed to mediate them.

Hopefully, something hits him in case either party starts throwing things.

"What they've said were too much, Sir." Ely steeled his jaw. "At this point, they should be the ones paying."

"But we're in the wrong!" Sir Bhala cried.

"Squid Magic! Blinding Burst!" A cloud of ink launched from Ely's hand and scattered towards Coral Crown.

Kirin, in the way, stood frozen as he anticipated the dark shower.

"Sponge Magic! Seep!" Nebby opened his palms. After absorbing all the ink, his fingers were all black and sticky. "Ugh. This disgusting magic is precisely the reason you couldn't stay in the party."

Ely grumbled.

Kirin checked out his arms.

Darn. Looks like Nebby got all of them again.

"What?" The blond boy raised an eyebrow. "That comment gonna piss you off too?"

Ely balled his fist as if Nebby's neck was between his fingers. "You're free to insult me and my magic, Master, but I won't be able to forgive you for making fun of Sir Bhala."

"Huh?" Nebby shrugged. "You mean that good for nothing shopkeeper who can't even get shit right?"

"Squid Magi--"

"Sponge Ma--"

"Don't you there absorb this one!" Kirin scowled. "You're the worst. Seriously. Why can't you just keep your tiny fingers from taking things that don't belong to you, huh?!"

Nebby's eye twitched. "Y-You're... What are you doing here? I've seen enough of you for today."

"I mean! Really!" Kirin glowered. "First, you steal my lightning strikes. Then you try to swipe my party's phantom tails quest. And now you're stealing my opportunity to be shot by--"

"Dame Kirin," Ely called. "You may leave this to me. I can handle it."

Nebby grated his teeth and quivered in frustration. "Rrr! Whatever. I can't be around three mongrels at the same time. We're leaving." The shota whirled and stomped away.

His brutes gave Kirin stares that warned, except for Axle, who only gazed with curiosity in his irises. They followed their leader, saying no more as they left.

Ely sighed. "They haven't changed, that party."

Kirin blinked twice and checked his arms once more. Still clean. "Ugh!!! That shota's ruined it for me again, hasn't he?!"