Becoming an Adventurer

When I woke, it was a little past noon. I'd been so exhausted I hadn't even noticed when I drifted off. Anyway, it was about time I headed back to the Achbari.

I stepped out of the inn and stretched hard, working the stiffness from my body. Then, on the way, I spent the last of my fortune — five silver — on a meat skewer and set off for the ship.

When I reached the docks, the captain of the Achbari was already out inspecting her condition. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The moment I spotted him, I walked over and greeted him first.

"Good afternoon, sir. The cleaning should be finished today. I've been working as hard as I can."

"Mm."

The captain still stared at me with those flashing whites of his eyes, as if glaring.

"I went up on deck earlier. You've been working harder than I expected."

"If you've given me the job, I ought to do it properly."

"What's that?"

He asked, looking at the robe I was carrying.

"Ah, this is a rag I'll use to finish the cleaning."

The truth was, it was a robe for Meruru to wear.

The captain nodded.

"Is that so. Anyway, wrap it up by tomorrow. We've got loading to do then. I'll pay you at that time."

"Understood. Leave it to me."

"Hmph. More diligent than you look. If you had a bit more stamina, I might've taken you on as crew."

The captain flashed me a grin, his eyes gleaming, then vanished back toward the streets of Kubel.

He really was a terrifying man. But he seemed like a far better person than he looked. If it weren't for that habit of opening his eyes so wide, he'd be a lot less frightening. Maybe years of rough work at sea had carved that look into his face.

I climbed back aboard the Achbari's massive hull and headed for the cargo hold where Meruru was hiding. I hadn't noticed while I was cleaning, but coming back in daylight, I had to admit I'd done a spectacular job. A strange sense of pride welled up in me.

Now then, which barrel had Meruru hidden in again? She should be fine. Nothing should have happened to her. It had better be that way.

"Hey, Meruru. You can come out now."

I called to her, tapping the bottom of the barrel with my foot.

A moment later the barrel shook, the lid popped open, and Meruru poked her rumpled head out.

"Uugh! Meruru thought you weren't coming! You're way too late, so it is!"

"Well, I'm here now. First, let's eat this."

I held out the meat skewer I'd bought with the last of my five silver.

"There's only one, so we'll take turns starting from the top."

"M-meat!"

Meruru's mouth fell open as she stared at the skewer with glittering eyes. I bit the topmost piece of meat and scallion off from the side, swallowed it, then passed the skewer to her. She pinched off the next piece of meat and scallion with her fingers and tossed it into her mouth.

"It's so delicious, so it is... Meruru has never eaten anything like this even back home."

Her cheeks puffed out as she chewed, and both her eyes grew moist. Just what had this kid been living on that a street skewer could move her to tears? Watching her eat like it was the best thing she'd ever tasted, I was glad I'd bought it.

We each took two turns, and the skewer vanished in no time. Honestly, it was nowhere near enough to fill us up, but I was broke, so there was nothing to be done.

"Here. Try this on."

After we'd finished the skewer, I handed Meruru the robe I'd haggled off a street vendor. Looking at it now, it really was awfully tattered and filthy. I just hoped it would cover her tail and ears properly.

"Eehh? Meruru has to wear this?! Meruru thought it was a giant rag, so it is!"

"If you cover your ears and tail with this, you should be able to walk around without too much trouble."

"Ugh..."

"Or you can wander around advertising, 'I'm a rare beastkin from far away! Please sell me for a high price!'"

At that, Meruru immediately pulled on the robe I'd given her. The hem was badly frayed, but it did an excellent job of hiding her ears and tail.

"Perfect. If you keep those covered, you should be fine for a while."

"It smells weird, so it is..."

Meruru pressed her nose to the sleeve, sniffing, and scrunched her pickled-radish eyebrows. That was everything I could do for her. I figured I'd paid her back well enough for helping with the cleaning.

"You said you had something to do on the continent, didn't you?"

"That is the case. Meruru has to find her big sister, so it is."

"Your sister?"

"When Meruru was little, big sister left home and went to the continent, so it is. And she never came back. Meruru wants to see her."

"Looking for family, huh..."

Finding family on a continent this vast wouldn't be easy.

"I hope you find her. You can go now."

I reached out and patted Meruru on the head. The rest of the Achbari's cleaning was just finishing work. I could handle it alone.

"The clothes and the meat — Meruru is grateful, so it is. Ah, but not the cleaning. Meruru is not grateful for that."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Tell Meruru your name, so it is. Meruru still doesn't know it."

"Yunoa. You can just call me Noa."

Meruru looked at me for a moment, then left the Achbari wearing the robe I'd bought her.

"She was an interesting kid."

After sending Meruru off, I finished the Achbari's cleaning perfectly on my own. I stood on the deck in the pouring sunlight, gazing out at the distant sea. I didn't have a single coin today, so I'd just have to go hungry and sleep on the ship.

Remembering Meruru's comment about pilfering the crew's rations, I checked the galley — but they'd already offloaded all the food and water during unloading. There wasn't a scrap left aboard.

The sunlit sea glittered with gentle waves. A breeze faintly laced with salt rolled in, carrying that distinctive smell of the ocean. This other world's scenery was definitely more beautiful than the one I'd come from. Not just the night sky — even a daytime view like this was enough to soothe you if you just stood and looked.

I'm not a hero who saves the world, and I'm not some famous adventurer of the continent. When I first arrived in this world, I'd aimed for that kind of life without knowing any better. But what was my goal now?

If I'd just had a little more breathing room, I could have enjoyed this world's beauty a bit more. Maybe I'd wanted to climb thousands upon thousands of stairs in a single step.

Strange that Narration was being so quiet. This was usually about when she'd pop up and start needling me for thinking like this.

Still, my desire to become an adventurer hadn't changed. What was different from before was that I no longer wanted to become the strongest in the world, or some great adventurer.

I wanted to travel this strange, beautiful world a little more. I wanted to see more varied, more interesting things. I wanted the luxury of wandering this world without worrying about my next meal.

That's why I want to become an adventurer.

How about that, Narration? I'm being pretty admirable, aren't I?

I thought that at her and waited, just in case a voice might answer. As expected, Narration stayed silent.

"She really won't praise me even if it kills her."

The sea wind was blowing hard. I moved inside the ship, toward the cabins, to get out of the wind.

"Good work. Here's the money I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠promised."

"Thank you."

The next day, the captain of the Achbari handed me my cleaning wages, just as promised. On the docks, sailors were lined up, hard at work loading enormous crates onto the ship.

"Honestly, I didn't expect much when I gave you the job, but you cleaned her properly. Better than most of the regular cleaning crew."

"I did my best."

"Hahahaha! Well, with that kind of grit, you'll be recognized wherever you go."

Standing before the captain as he laughed with those flashing whites of his eyes — a laugh that sent a chill down my spine — I checked the amount in the coin purse he'd given me.

Let's see... huh? It was a little more than we'd agreed on.

Seeing my eyes go wide, the captain spoke.

"Two gold. You cleaned far better than I expected. Looks like you're having a hard time making ends meet, so work hard. You're still young."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

I bowed again and again, thanking the captain of the Achbari.

Captain, I'm sorry I thought your face would send a kraken running just from looking at it. Judging people by their insides really is the right way, isn't it. Yes.

The first precious money I'd earned in this world from honest work and a fair wage. I wouldn't waste a single coin. I'd spend it only where I truly needed to.

With the captain's pay in hand, I returned to the streets of Kubel and decided to start with a proper, filling meal. How many days had I lasted on nothing but a five-silver meat skewer? This wasn't some twenty-four-hour starvation challenge. If I wanted to think straight and get anything done, I needed a full stomach.

Two gold would vanish in a week even if I pinched every coin — but just having ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the money made me feel rich. I walked down Kubel's restaurant street, savoring the food smells drifting from every direction. This time I planned to eat inside a proper restaurant, which meant a much wider choice of menu.

Just then, a voice suddenly spoke inside my head.

I hurriedly stuffed the coin purse into the deepest part of my clothes and looked behind me. A pickpocket following me? No. Absolutely not. If anyone tried to steal this money I'd earned with blood and sweat, I would chase them down with my entire life on the line and make them pay.

Narration had said it, so someone was definitely tailing me. But who?

Could it be a tracker sent by Bishop Xavier, who'd figured out I'd fled with the Saintess? A pickpocket waiting for a chance at my money? Or a slave trader licking his lips at my shabby appearance?

Uneasy, I resolved to find whoever was following me, no matter what.