Chapter 14 - I Didn't Know That (7)

「Actions and Companions │ Specific NPCs can Action Together: you can travel with them or recruit them as companions.

Accompanying NPCs will travel with you until a certain objective is achieved. Depending on Affinity, you may part ways early or recruit them as companions.

Companion NPCs will not leave until the player bids them farewell, and it is possible to check their information, detect their location, etc.

Accompanying and Companion NPCs act on their own judgment, but depending on Affinity, it becomes possible to give them specific orders.」

「Affinity │ NPCs show different reactions depending on Affinity. The Affinity value cannot be checked directly.」

Examining the info windows, I made a judgment. Recruiting them as companion NPCs was a lost cause. Along with any method of checking those two's levels.

However, the latter wasn't very important, and the former wasn't a serious issue either. If worse comes to worst, going solo wouldn't be a problem.

"Discard any thought of treating me as a companion. If it weren't for killing Satan, I would never have shared the same space as you bastards."

I'll say it again, but I was so obsessed with my roleplay concepts that I had often cleared the game without using a companion character even once.

"Understood?"

So I didn't linger on an already ruined Affinity. I delivered my line with a fierce attitude.

Then, the answer that returned was this.

"Yes!"

... I had drawn the line that I had no intention of becoming companions, so why was her answer so bright? Is she really a Kimchi Dumpling? She's so cute it's driving me crazy.

Separately, I didn't know why her eyes were sparkling. No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like low Affinity.

Just what the hell did I do to get her Affinity in the positive?

I did leave her neck and tongue attached, and in a way, that could be considered mercy. But if asked whether that was something to raise Affinity over, a hundred out of a hundred people would shake their heads.

Or, well. Was the first stimulus encountered in a blank state with no experience too overwhelming? Like the suspension bridge effect.

Or maybe it was simply a forced mechanism to enter the story. No matter what kind of mess the player made before entering the main plot, it was designed so they could play comfortably afterward.

Mm, yeah. This seemed the most correct.

"..."

So what now? Even putting NPC Affinity aside, I needed to quickly resolve the situation that had barged in on me.

Breakfast was served, but it felt awkward to touch it, so should I converse like the quest instructed? But how could I strike up a conversation without breaking my concept—

"Found him!"

I gripped the sword hilt I had been holding onto all this time to look threatening even tighter. It was a reflexive response.

"Adventurer!"

Turning my head slightly, I saw an errand boy from the Adventurer's Guild. It was the kid who had guided me to the other inn yesterday.

"What is it."

I did need to have a conversation, but somehow this was giving off the scent of a quest too.

The moment my judgment was made, I turned my body. Conscious of the two people, my expression was still clad in a fierce aura, and perhaps because of that, the boy flinched.

"... U-Um, the person looking for you..."

The boy approached hesitantly before letting out a gasp upon seeing the two people next to me.

The truly knight-like armor worn by the Inquisitor and the Archmage's race must have startled the boy. Other than the race normally called humans—referred to as 'Middle' here—it was hard to see other races unless you went to their respective habitats.

That is, if the setting I remembered was still intact.

"Um..."

Noticing the boy's tension, the Inquisitor gave a light bow and the Archmage smiled benevolently. The boy's expression relaxed considerably.

"Adventurer, the official is looking for you..."

... The official mentioned here must be Izren. I checked the side quest written beneath the main quest.

「❖ The Danger Lurking in the Northwest Forest

∎ Talk to Official Izren」

It said to talk, but it just meant to go receive the reward. Even during the rescue quest, this had stayed up until I received the reward.

"I-If you could just wait while I bring her here..."

"Guide me."

"Eh?"

Normally I would have told them to come here, but the current situation was what it was.

Even though I had accepted the accompaniment, the relationship between those two and my concept was still a mess, and having missed the timing for conversation, they probably wouldn't want to stay together. Following that interpretation, I concluded that I should go myself.

"I said guide me."

Of course, even if I left, there was a high chance the two would follow. In most games, once you form a party, you stick together constantly.

However, I wasn't sure about the 'Legend of Heroes' remake, so I figured I'd give it a try. Whichever way it concluded, it wasn't a loss for me.

"May we go with you? It seems we also have business there."

But I guess a game was a game after all.

Without even sparing a glance at the two who were standing up, I rushed the boy. The flustered child looked back and forth between the two and himself, then soon cried out.

"Follow me!"

The boy led the way with quick, short steps. It was a pace close to race-walking, but due to the difference in our strides, it wasn't hard to keep up just by walking at a moderate pace.

"Are we allowed to go together?"

"He didn't refuse, did he."

"If he doesn't refuse, can we consider it an approval?"

"That... depends on the situation."

More importantly, is the Inquisitor studying social skills...? How commendable.

"Official!"

As we arrived near the Adventurer's Guild, the boy suddenly darted forward. The destination was visible to my eyes as well, so I didn't bother speeding up.

"I found the adventurer—. Ah!"

Official Izren, who brightened upon seeing the boy, next made eye contact with me. Her complexion stiffened slightly.

"First off, I'd like to apologize."

About to ask for my reward, I twitched my brow at the out-of-the-blue remark. Surely she didn't mean she was going to stiff me on the reward...

"We handed the thief over to the guards. It originally wasn't the sort of place to get robbed..."

Fortunately, it wasn't. It seemed she was just sorry that an incident had occurred at the place she recommended.

"Um, the innkeeper was asking for just one more chance..."

"I don't need it."

Additional rewards were always welcome, but concept-wise, it felt right to refuse this. I easily shook off my regret and focused on the situation.

"Is that all you wanted?"

"... Mm, um, were you hurt anywhere? I heard a fight broke out."

"Do you think I would have been done in by something so weak?"

My pride was touched, so of course I had to bare my teeth.

At the abrasive attitude, the official immediately flinched.

"But, the sage of the Magic Tower and the Inquisitor...?"

The official's gaze shifted slightly as she spoke. Thanks to this god-tier game that even implemented pupil movements, I immediately realized the reason her words trailed off.

It seemed that NPC had finally spotted the two people behind me.

"Y-You two are..."

"Hoho, it's been a week."

Oh, they were acquainted?

"The request is..."

The official began walking on eggshells even more. As I pondered over the reason why, I got a hunch.

This lady, from a broker's position, hadn't been able to stop that eccentric old man from making a double contract.

"I know, I know. That friend caught it."

Still, seeing how they'd discussed penalty fees, she shouldn't be *this* troubled, right? Was it a matter of face? It was a bit funny talking about 'face' with an NPC, though.

"We were the ones who were late, so we won't accept the payment. We'll be satisfied with the advance."

"No, the penalty fee will naturally be paid as well. Protecting an adventurer's rights is our Guild's job, after all."

At the Archmage's statement generously letting the double contract slide, the official firmly shook her head. They weren't taking broker fees for nothing.

"Um, but are the three of you perhaps..."

"We had a bit of a squabble yesterday due to a misunderstanding, but as of today, we've cleared up the misunderstanding and decided to travel together."

"Ah, so that's how it was."

Well, that was none of my business.

"If you have no further business with me, I have a question to ask."

"What is it?"

"When will the reward be paid out?"

I thought she called me over to give me the reward, so why wasn't she bringing it up? Hand over the reward. The reward.

"Ah, we sent investigators yesterday, so the investigation results should be out by tomorrow. Please wait just a little longer, Adventurer."

However, the official smiled brightly and delivered a bombshell. From a gamer's perspective, it was undeniably an answer that felt like a slap to the back of the head.

"Tomorrow."

I reflexively spoke in a gloomy tone while thinking to myself.

'This, this is a bit baffling. To think it's a game where a quest reward payout takes over two days—16 hours in real time.'

"Yes. We have to verify that the dangerous elements in the forest are definitely gone... Is there a problem?"

The official acted as if asking what the problem was. Come to think of it, it wasn't an unreasonable reaction. Looking at it realistically, taking these procedures to wrap things up properly was correct.

But that was reality, and having it like this in a game was just a bit... perplexing. It was nice that they aimed for realism, but this felt a little overkill.

"Ah, about that. We will vouch for him, so could you pay it out in advance?"

Fortunately, before my reluctance could be replaced by absurdity and annoyance, the Archmage stepped up and spoke.

"From what we've seen, the only dangerous element in that forest was the Medusa. Now that this young man killed it, and since we've even cast Purification, there shouldn't be any problems."

"I can vouch for him as well."

At around the same timing, the Kimchi Dumpling declared as well. The official's expression immediately became troubled.

"Mmm... If you two say so..."

"If there are any problems, report it to the Magic Tower or the temple. I'll make arrangements so they can send people."

"If you're willing to go that far, yes. I will process the request as completed and pay out the reward."

Seeing the official nod and look this way, it was clearly the feeling of the reward being handed over immediately. It was a relief, but it still felt off.

... I understood handing it out in such a roundabout way to maintain realism, but what should I say? It felt weird because it gave the impression that the process was only shortened because those two were here.

What are they going to do for other classes?

"Please come this way."

Still, there was no reason not to accept it. The 1,000,000 Gal I was owed was innocent.

I followed the official.

"So, are your tasks in this city finished? Or is there more? Perhaps you have a destination to head to next?"

At that, the Archmage subtly tagged along. The intention behind the question was quite familiar.

Meaning, he wanted to coordinate our schedules.

"If there isn't, and if it's fine with you, I'd like to leave this city by today. Would that be possible?"

Heading straight to the next village didn't really matter to me, as long as I was given time to prepare.

But leaving the starting city, Tatara, already? While I could make minor moves for hunting grounds like the Northwest Forest, I thought it was too early to change bases entirely.

"If there are demons there."

Regardless, I decided to give him an answer. It was awkward for me to strike up a conversation first anyway, so I was grateful he initiated it.

"Oh, then would leaving at 9 o'clock be alright? A merchant group whose route partially overlaps ours departs exactly at 9 o'clock."

But they're giving me a time limit like this?

"Is it too sudden, as expected? My apologies. It was a matter decided before we even knew you existed, let alone about you joining us. Of course, we can cancel the request if you wish. You can leave the city without necessarily traveling with the merchant group."

I twitched my eyebrows. Even if it was possible to delay it if I wanted, the very existence of a time limit was somewhat unfamiliar.

Furthermore, having even heard talk of canceling the request, how could I carelessly delay it?

If I had a separate schedule, concept-wise I would have made a remark like "You cancel it first, bastard," but not right now. I hadn't chosen the concept of a nuisance who threw tantrums for no reason. If anything, I was the type who'd get it done if only out of pride.

So I had no choice but to accept that time limit...

The departure time couldn't be 9 PM, so it had to be 9 AM. That meant there wasn't much time left, so what time was it now?

I subtly looked for a clock. Fortunately, there was a clock right in front of me inside the building I had just entered.

Roughly 7:10, huh. Then I'd need to move on a tight schedule.

SWISH.

Busily calculating the time in my head, I quickened my pace, letting my coat flap as a sign of my agreement.

The Archmage and the Kimchi Dumpling trotted after me like that. It felt as if baby chicks were following me.