6 First Clients

"Alright... Here goes...." If the obvious bravado hadn't given it away then I must inform that I'm scared shitless out of my pants.

All four of my fellow traveller have their eyes locked on me as I am about to commit the greatest of self-harm.

Look I know that all of you are hoping for a miracle that will not come, and as much as magic advanced this world there are bounds to be some things that will remain underdeveloped due to the possible resources being directed elsewhere.

And in every fantasy world, those are always the same four fundamental things.

Construction, Transportation, Clothes, and last but not least as well as the most important Food.

I glanced uneasily at the fluid dancing on my spoon. Despite the banquet set in front of us and my own appetite, I opted to eat the plain soup first due to my own expectation.

Albeit gorgeous in display it was a no brainer that all of this food's taste will be 'unlike anything we have ever tasted before'.

Opening my mouth in defeat I spoon feed myself a serving of soup. And as expected the taste was.....

XxX

I wasn't surprised to find that our trek to wherever we're heading was filled mostly by silence.

The two married couple is in the lead, no doubt trying to keep their distance to work out whatever baggage both of them are carrying together.

Koen running counter to their direction positioned himself in the outermost rear, obviously needing the solitude to handle the exact same thing with a different approach.

As for me and Midori...

"So tell me how did magic work again?"

"Depends, do you want the short answer or the long complex one."

"Since we got the time I'll take the long explanation. God knows how long we're going to walk anyway."

In truth we did. Koen had 'asked' one of the now totally dead rogues about the locations of the nearest settlement. It's only half an hour away (how the hell do they even have a clock and the same concept of time as we was left uncared) and we're making our way there as we speak.

I'm only asking for the long version to distract myself from whatever negative thoughts that'll surface should my mind be too lax, and the fact that Midori opened his mouth means that he's either doing the same or that he just want to prattle his hypothesis to someone who would lend an ear.

Whichever it was both of us would end up getting what we wanted.

"From my short observation, the magic here is split into two, the magic to affect oneself and the magic to affect the natural phenomenon."

"Heh, ~ does the latter have anything to do with the four or six elements and all that?"

"Obviously." Even in another world, this guy is still a smartass. "However it is still heavily related to the former in the field of 'source'."

"And that's?"

"I have yet to learn it's true name, but through my observation, I have decided to call it 'Aura' for now."

"How original." I chided, but he ignored the jab.

"Using this so-called aura we either 'deny' our bodily limitation, that's the inner magic or 'enchantment' if you may call it. The second is using it to manipulate and change the surrounding, that's outer magic or 'element' magic in general."

We've only been in here in a while and he already got the whole thing figured out. I never paid much attention to the arcane arts, excluding some defence increasing buff and barriers I'm pretty much in the dark as everyone.

"So that was how you kill the enemy mage? With an air bullet or something."

"Aura pellet actually, but a strong one at that. I tinker with my own reserves a bit and discovered that aura can also be used for materialization as well as emission."

"Come again?"

"I wasn't sure whether or not could I affect nature at the moment, so I grasped the straw and go with the most logical course of making weapons from my own aura."

Okay, honestly only you would think of that after arriving in a world where 'magic' exists.

"Since slingshot was the simplest ranged weapon I can think at the moment I ended up materializing just that and inadvertently discovered that without transmuting them into elements Aura can be emitted as projectile even at its basic form."

Some of that vocabulary seemed to be a bit too specific and familiar, and I wasn't reserved enough to not voice my train of thought.

"I kinda feel inclined to point out that I might have heard your explanation back on earth..." That's what we're calling our home for the moment.

"Frankly I'd be surprised if you don't. After me, you are the most enthusiastic about manga after all."

Everything suddenly clicked. Enchantment, transmutation, emission. I HAVE HEARD this explanation beforehand.

"Don't tell me... The short most likely copyrighted answer was...."

"Yep, the magic here is basically N*n. Although it is obvious that the classification limit is greatly lowered, and that specialists are less rare."

HOW THE HELL CAN YOU SAY THAT SO CASUALLY! WE BARELY EVEN STARTED AND YOU'RE ALREADY RISKING A LAWSUIT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?

Is what I would've said if the thing we're ripping of exist, but since this is a parallel world it doesn't.

One hell of a weird loophole but hey as long as I'm not getting sued.

"Well, that's really convenient, not that I'm complaining. Still, it'd be better if we compare our notes to this world's own."

"A wise course of action. I shall do just that."

"That'd be for the best."

Why would I? This will only serve to help us in the long run anyway, accepting it from the get-go will bring us advantages but that doesn't mean that proper research shouldn't be conducted. That means we'd probably be adding the biggest library to our lists of destination, and hopefully, the nearest town would have at least one no matter how small.

"You must have led a fulfilling life Akaba-kun."

I flinched a bit at the deduction but nonetheless proceeded with the topic. "Rather than fulfilling it's more accurate to say that I got out just how I wanted."

"No regrets?"

"None." I died protecting the people who actually gave two shits about me, without any other goal afterwards and nowhere to go I kicked the bucket not a second too soon despite what others would say.

"And what about you?" I asked back, also feeling curious.

Midori fixes his glasses and just like me, he didn't hesitate in sharing. "I never paid any attention to my surrounding that much, to begin with. To me getting reincarnated was nothing more than a change of scenery."

One hell of a shady answer, but it was obvious that the main point was that he did not care at all. As long as he can entertain himself and challenge his own intellect it doesn't matter where Midori is, he's just there and he makes it his mission to have the time of his life.

Now some might not react to answer like that too kindly, but forcing into someone personal issue will only be adding fuel to the flame. Even the 'It's okay I'll always be your friend' approach will only go so far (since this is the real world and psychological issues are much more severe)

Henceforth I'm letting those three off the hook for now. It's not that I'm being a bad friend but because I know that being seen in a compromising state is a hazard in a relationship between two people. I just hope that this wouldn't affect any of their performance in any way.

It wasn't even five minutes later that I got my answers.

(ROAR)

"HEEEELLLLP!"

Not too far ahead was one of those old fashioned horses pulled carriage from the middle ages sieged by a pack of (probably magical) wolves. A swordsman who couldn't be younger than 17 was the sole defender of the transport and, you guessed it he wasn't doing great, the other person present being the coach driver.

He frantically swung his sword in desperation, the weapon fails to hit any of the wolves who kept his distance. He is doing a swell job at keeping them at bay but I know that he's running on fumes and can't keep it up for much longer.

"Koen you secure the cargo and guard those two! Midori try and get us some distance! Momo! Ao! you both go to the right! I can handle the left!"

My question was answered as they systematically did what they were told.

Midori clapped his hand together before slamming both of them to the ground (guess where did he got that idea), although it wasn't to the scale that I expected two knee high walls suddenly appeared and barricaded the surrounded coach.

Sure it won't do much against humans but against foes who stand on all four, it's defensive properties increases by a few folds.

The others are performing exceptionally as well, Ao and Momo didn't let the element of surprise go to waste and easily disposed of the wolves on the right. Koen showaced both his speed and social aptitude, already beside the coachman and calming him down with every word.

Now all that's left is me. I sent my circular shield flying towards the wolf closest to the boy, the beast perishes instantly from the power behind my throw and thanks to the tweaking I made with my aura as well as a calculation of my own my arsenal of choice soundly bounced back to my awaiting arm.

The death of their own kin serves as the perfect provocation and forgetting about the original target they set their sights on yours truly, me.

Minus the first one, which I bludgeoned to death, and the others that Ao and Momo had taken care of the remaining three charged at me. One of them didn't even make it halfway as Midori's aura pellet penetrated it's skull without much of a hitch, leaving me to handle the other two.

"Ora!" With a battle cry, I intercepted their attack. The first one had already jumped and spread it's mouth open for a feast, I responded by cancelling out the appetizer and skipped to the main course. A full plate of steel straight to its open jaw.

(CRACK!)

A disgusting crunch was heard as I destroyed his palate and maw, needless to say the beast instantly died. I've had my doubts but it's obvious now that this shield was a well built one. The last wolf tried to attack me from my left side, using the opening its ally had created at the price of its own life.

It was useless.

I swung my shield in an outward manner, swatting the wolf away with a backhand and sending him flying. The last wolf died mid air before even hitting the ground, the caracass now lying lifelessly at the side of the road.

I swiped the sweat off my forehead. Fighting bandits and wild wolves wasn't much of a challenge, but having to do those two in a row and after a long period of non-combat definitely put quite an amount of strain to one's body.

"Good job." Midori praised.

I was taken a bit aback by this, and it clearly showed on my face as he quickly followed up with an inquiry.

"What's with the face?"

"No... its just....you're usually much-much harder to please."

"Don't be fooled. My standard is greatly lowered at the moment."

"....Is that so. Thanks anyway."

"More importantly." Midori started "Shouldn't you get over there? What's next is your and Koen's speciality after all."

"....I got that."

He was reffering to picking out information from the fellows we had just saved, something like this was an everyday thing for me and Koen since our job involves negotiation.

With that in mind, we approached the two victims who are now talking to Koen. It was a good change of pace to see that he's talking albeit forcing it, work is always a good distraction to take the minds away from dark thoughts.

As for the happy couple.

"Ah~ as expected it became useless after killing one or two." Momoiro threw her spear away

"Blood and fat make it dull." Aogiri to let go of his short sword

A bit gory but as long as they're out of the depression gutter what the hell.

"Akaba! Over here!" Koen directed towards where he's standing. I obediently approached him, while Midori detached probably trying to give us some space.

"These two people are townspeople of the town up ahead, Rowl and Karas." He introduced

"Nice to meet you and thank you very much. You really did save our lives back there." The coachman Karas gratefully thanked, but his travelling companion Rowl was not as friendly.

"...Thanks."

I merely raised an eyebrow at the obvious envy, looks like he had wanted to take care of the wolves himself.

"P-please forgive him. H-he wanted to be an adventurer."

Well, that explains a lot despite not being within our current interest. The late Barudo also mentioned being a former adventurer, so it's probably one of those accepting anyone as long as they don't mind dying organization.

"B-by the way are you five perhaps heading towards Rando city as well."

I glanced at Koen who sligthy nod in understanding.

"For now at least." Koen played along. "Truth is we also want to be adventurer since we're jobless."

That comment of his hit a sore spot in my pride. I'm a first-rate office worker after all.

"I see, you guys can definitely do it since all of you are strong...."

I appreciate the compliment but shouldn't you pay more attention to your brooding friend? He definitely hates us for a childish reason now.

"This might sound rude but are we getting any reward or sort from helping you out?"

Karas flinched from my question, but it was obvious that he was expecting it. For me to suddenly brought it up might appear to be insensitive. In truth, however, it was all a part of our act.

"Ahaha, please forgive my friend for being so blunt. You see we're almost out of money so we're kinda hoping to get to the town as fast as possible."

If you fail to notice what we're playing at is the good old good cop bad cop scenario. In short, is they're wary of me they'd naturally lower their guard around Koen who is much nicer in comparison. This was our basic modus operandi for negotiation.

"I-I'm sorry. But we can't relly give you anything at the moment. Our horse ran off during the fight earlier and we're already in a bind, to begin with." He lowered his eyes to avoid eye contact, but from the sound of it, he wasn't lying.

"I see." That much we already know after all "By the way we also killed some bandits on the way here. Think we can get some money from that?"

His face lit up a little bit. "Y-yes. You just need to bring their head to the guild to confirm their death and they'll pay you."

A bit over the top, but it's definitely a fool proof system.

"Then how about this, help us transport the heads of those bandits and we'll call it even. It's not really that far from here."

Karas nodded while Rowl looked intrigued and interested, looks like fighting bandit were also in his adventure wishlist.

"The horse ran away because of the wolf now didn't it? In that case, it couldn't have gotten far, unless there are other predators nearby it should still be alive." Koen pointed, further uplifting the two males' spirit.

"Y-yes! There shouldn't be any wolves or wild animals here, to begin with!" Karas excitedly informed.

"Then we should split up." I suggested "Ao! Momo! Try to look around for a horse! Midori and I are gonna double back and take the bandits' head for money!"

"Okay~!"

"Understood."

Midori didn't reply and instead used his energy to approach me.

"I think Rowl should go with you Akaba. You can give him some pointers about fighting and all that."

Said boy's eyes lit up at that idea. This kid is as simple as any kids get obviously, and I'd be damned if I don't use that to my advantage.

"Come on then. We don't want to take any risk and wander around for too long, there might already be some animal dining on the corpses."

We didn't even bother to do much with the bodies beside taking their weapons, which reminds me we need another spear and sword for the married couple.

And so the three of us depart to earn our supposed bounty.

Not gonna lie doing something that has an actual reward was more than enough to make me happy, and if my deduction is correct this is going to make our enrolment to become an adventurer much easier.

And so we took our first step in finding our way back home.