Chapter 45: Tub

Eventually, Norton spoke, "I'm sorry for the delay, here are the rewards." He handed me the pouch and I counted 18 Gold.

"Yep, the amount is right. Thanks, Norton."

"Your welcome. And please forgive Miss Jenny here for doubting the authenticity of your deeds. It's procedure for junior clerks to pass on any reward handlings that are considered… irregular to senior clerks."

"Ah, I see," I gave a nod and smiled to Jenny, she in turn, smiled in appreciation of my understanding.

"Anyway, Adventurer Mike. I seemed to notice that the request you handled is guaranteed by one of our own. If possible, would you mind telling me about it?" Norton asked casually.

I arched my eyebrow slightly. It seems he still has his doubts about me. It might seem counterintuitive to attempt to ascertain the truth after handing out the rewards to us, but it's actually the right course of action if you want to avoid open conflict. Adventurers are, by nature, violent people. That's how they get most things done in the first place.

Having read through the Guild's rulebook, I learned that the punishment for falsifying requests is punishable by paying a fine three times the sum of falsified rewards and a permanent ban from every Adventurer's Guild in the continent.

If I refused to elaborate on the details regarding the request, no doubt they would send an investigation team after me. It's not like I have anything to hide or anything, except for the fact that  I'm a Transcender from another world. And knowing the threat that might come to me (Transcender Hunters, gulp), I should avoid being under scrutiny at all costs.

So I narrated the events from when I arrived at Canta Town, altering the story to exclude as much detail as possible whilst still making it seem plausible.

The final result of the story goes like this, me and Lia went to Canta Town to hunt some Greater-Tusked Pigs, and we got a heap of them (I didn't explained how). After realizing that Bastion had gone missing, Rando came to us and desperately made a request, offering 10 Gold as reward for each of us. The reason being that there were no other Adventurers at reach in town. We went to the woods, dealt with some "beasts" and rescued him from their filthy paws. Oh, and I also mentioned that Sigrid was there and how we managed to convince her to help. Hearing her name and how she was involved, Norton nodded in comprehension. Her presence seemed to answer the question of how a mere Iron-Rank Adventurer coupled with a Healer, along with an ex-Silver-Rank Hunter could deal with massive hordes of beast unschathed, rescuing a person in the process. Well, I might've exaggerated the amount of creatures trying to kill us, but it sounds more convincing that way. Makes paying 10 Gold sounded like a bargain.

Another thing I omitted from my report, is how I was forced into a deal where I had to house the soul of an unknown being inside my body.

Adelrinthia went dormant as soon as the contract was made, just like Ellariel once did, in a futile attempt to recover her power. I could almost imagine her flying into a rage as soon as she discovers that I have zero magical affinities - conducting magical power through my body as crappy as a piece of rubber conducts electricity. Hah, serves her right for coercing me into forming a pact with her. After the ordeal, at night in my cozy room within the inn, I called up Ellariel for a chat.

"Alright, cough it out. Why do you so easily accepted Adelrinthia's intention to dwell within me? Shouldn't you feel… I don't know, kind of disgraced for sharing a host?"

She curled her lips, "I have no idea-"

"Yeah, spare it. I'm not buying it."

She snorted disdainfully and said, "For one, she gets to suffer as I do, trapped in host that isn't able to draw any power from outside, fated to be inept until released."

"Wow. That sounds kinda… dark."

"But most of all, it increases the chance of you to succeed in fulfilling the contract by gaining more power."

"That makes sense," I pursed my lips. I had apparently underestimated Ellariel's ability to scheme. I should really give her more credit for that. "So did you find out what she is?"

Previously, we had assumed that Adelrinthia was a spirit. But based on the conversation I had with her, turns out, she isn't. And I haven't got the chance to ask her before she went dormant.

"I'm not sure yet, her presence is too faint as she is right now. It's like trying to recognize someone from far away."

By the time I finished narrating the events, the sun had already set. Though most of the administrative employees were already off the clock, there were still plenty of people lingering around the Guild. Looking up requests, gathering party members, or even having some dinner.

Me and Lia divided the rewards equally. After subtracting the cost of our expenses during the trip (travelling costs, lodging, food, and potion ingredients), we each earned a sum of 8 Gold and 6 Silvers. That's excluding the money we'll receive from selling the 100 pairs of tusks. Since it's a hassle to haul it all back, we decided to let Rando handle the sales, taking 80% of the transaction price. A good tusk can fetch up to 2 Silvers each. Times two hundred and minus Rando's commission, we can expect to earn another extra 25 Gold. Not bad for a week's worth of work, excluding the traveling duration of course. But the greatest reward I reaped from Canta Town was the exquisite leather armor I received from Bastion, which saved me a heap of money from buying an armor. Sure, I can probably heal up deadly wounds without leaving any scars, assuming I didn't immediately got insta-killed by anything. I don't know whether or not Ellariel's power is enough to bring me back from the dead, but I'm sure as hell not eager to find out.

We both bid farewell to Norton and Jenny, leaving the Guild's building and headed to Waldo's.

We paid a week's worth of rent in advance, 15 Silvers for each, dinner and breakfast included. Much cheaper than 3 Silvers a night.

"And rent for a whole month only costs 5 Gold," Jena, one of Waldo's daughters said.

Despite so, we still decided to go with the one week plan. Can't know when we're hitting the road again, but one thing's for sure: we deserved that one week of respite.

I handed 8 Coppers to Jena and had her draw a bath for me, then settled to my room to unbuckle my leather armor, changing into a light outfit. About fifteen minutes later, I heard a knock on my door, "Bath's done, sir," Jena called from the other side.

"Be right there," I replied.

I got into the bathroom and began to strip. I dipped my fingers to test the water temperature and slowly submerged myself inside the tub of heavenly hot, clean water - making and ecstatic expression as my body adjusted to the heat.

"Awww, yiss."

I love being alive. Being alive is great.

-A Familiar New World-

End of Volume 01