Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Rebecca
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"Should've come a bit later."
The person who approached the two smiled toward Rin and Ian.
The moment they heard footsteps, Rin and Ian quickly pulled apart. But with their beet-red faces, anyone could guess what had happened.
"Want me to head somewhere else for a bit?"
"...No. It's fine."
The mercenary—with her wild blonde hair roughly tied back and dangling—saw the odd vibe between them and let out a chuckle.
She had a single spear slung lightly over her shoulder, dressed in casual clothes as if armor wasn't needed in a place like this.
Ian recognized her right away from those traits.
It was Rebecca, one of the guild's mercenaries.
Rebecca teased the two people sticking close behind her.
"Kids. You didn't rush ahead too fast without any tact, did you? The leader's gonna chew you out later."
As Rebecca laughed, Tanya and Mika—who'd been hidden behind the rather tall Rebecca—peeked out cautiously.
Noticing that, Rin's face flushed even deeper, and she hurriedly covered herself with the wet clothes strewn on the floor.
"Enough gawking. Hand over what you brought first. Your leader's gonna freeze solid."
"Ah... right!"
At Rebecca's words, Tanya finally snapped to and ran over, handing towels and clothes fetched from outside to the pair.
"......Thanks."
Rin took the clothes, desperately trying to calm her burning face.
Ian changed into the outfit Tanya had brought while eyeing Rebecca.
Rebecca had tactfully stepped away while they swapped clothes. Now she leaned against her spear a short distance off, scanning the sewer here and there.
At first glance, she looked like she'd only brought that one spear. But a closer look revealed her rings and earrings occasionally glimmering with faint blue light amid the Underground Sewer's darkness.
Every single one was an item the Ian Mercenary Corps couldn't dream of affording right now.
She was a guild mercenary, sure—but not the type to come help out in a dump like this.
Ian wondered how those two had managed to bring someone like her.
Sensing his gaze, Rebecca turned to Ian and spoke first.
"Huh? All changed up?"
"Yes. Thank you for the help."
"No sweat—those two did the heavy lifting. They burst in begging for aid and then keeled over. Thought a drake had shown up or something."
Rebecca jabbed a thumb at Tanya and Mika with a grin, turning their faces a light shade of pink.
"I'm Rebecca. You're Leader Ian, right? Heard plenty about you."
"About me? From who...?"
"The staff. Word is you're the guy handling the Underground Sewer on the regular."
Rebecca tapped the sewer floor with her toe.
"No mercenary wants to hole up in a creepy spot like this for chump change, y'know? Staff are always freaking out about finding people."
Rebecca chuckled to herself, recalling something from the guild before heading down.
"They heard the story and came begging me. 'If Leader Ian gets hurt, it's a disaster—please help out.'"
"......"
Ian had wondered why the staff kept bringing him up. He never imagined it was for a reason like that.
Rebecca caught his expression and laughed.
"Sounds kinda off, but if the staff like you, can't be a bad thing."
"Yeah.... True."
Of course, from Rebecca's standpoint... a mercenary like Ian was a good thing too.
Managing the Underground Sewer was a city commission—they couldn't just leave it hanging if no one signed up.
In the end, if nobody stepped up, guild mercs like her got forcibly thrown in for cleanup duty.
For that reason, even though this was her first time meeting Ian, she definitely leaned toward liking him.
Rebecca's smile slowly faded as she regarded Ian.
That casual chit-chat was one thing. The real business ahead called for a more serious tone.
Rebecca stepped right up to Ian.
She was taller than him, so Ian had to look up at her.
Rebecca gazed quietly down at him, their eyes locking.
"But anyway. Got a personal question."
Rebecca drew something from inside her clothes. Ian knew it well.
It was the Underground Sewer map he'd sketched.
"This tactical map... you drew it, Leader?"
The map fluttered in Rebecca's grip.
Ian followed behind Rebecca as they left the Underground Sewer.
He'd thought they'd been trapped for ages, but the sun outside hadn't set yet.
Ian squinted and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding light.
Probably because Rebecca had wiped out every monster on her way in.
Ian had hoped to catch her in action, but they made it out without spotting a single foe.
Heading wordlessly toward the guild like that.
Tanya sidled up close to Ian from behind and whispered.
"Sorry. It was urgent, so I grabbed your map and ran..."
Recalling how Rebecca had grilled her about the map back in the sewer, Tanya asked uneasily.
To find their way, they'd had no choice but to check Ian's map. Rebecca had spotted it, demanded to know where it came from, and snatched it away.
He couldn't openly eavesdrop on their talk, but even from afar, the pair discussing the map hadn't looked relaxed.
"Did I mess up?"
"Nah. You did great."
What Rebecca had said after pulling out the map and showing Ian... it really wasn't much.
Did you draw it yourself? Where'd you learn? What for...?
Rebecca had eyed him strangely, then handed the map back without a word.
It was safely tucked back in Ian's clothes now.
A few minutes of silent walking later, the group reached the guild.
The staff spotted Rebecca entering, followed by Ian, and rushed over.
"You alright? We heard you went missing after a monster attack..."
"Was it a dangerous mutant?"
Tanya's panicked ramblings from her dash to the guild had apparently ballooned into something huge.
"No, just fell in some water..."
Ian glossed over it, stopping short of admitting a mere slime was to blame.
After wrapping up return procedures with the staff, Ian headed to Rebecca, who was lounging in a corner chair of the waiting room.
Her posture made it clear she was waiting for him to finish, so Ian spoke up first.
"Rebecca. Thanks again. About the pay..."
"Forget it. Pay's whatever."
Rebecca waved it off casually.
She'd gone at the staff's request anyway—no intent to take pay. And hers wasn't an amount a freshly D-rank corps could cough up.
"But... which inn you staying at?"
Instead, she asked Ian in a low voice.
"Purely personal interest. Won't be anything bad—don't sweat it."
Rebecca got the inn's name, tossed out a "see ya later," and left the guild ahead of them.
"Huu..."
Back at the inn, Ian sat on the bed and let out a sigh.
Less than a full day by the clock, but exhaustion hit like he'd pulled several all-nighters.
He wanted nothing more than to collapse and sleep, but chores remained. As he sorted his gear simply.
A knock came at his door.
It was Rin, who'd gone up first to drop her stuff.
Ian opened the door. Rin stepped in awkwardly and broached the topic gingerly.
"Ours is all sorted. Nothing lost... and no injuries on the two either."
"Good to hear."
The report on what he'd asked her to check wrapped up quick.
That finished today's schedule completely. Normally, Rin would've just said goodnight and headed out for her free time, no second thoughts.
But she hesitated, stealing glances at Ian's face before asking carefully.
"Leader. You feeling okay?"
"Uh.... You, Rin?"
"I'm good too."
An awkward air hung between them.
Their eyes met, and Rin flinched in surprise, slyly looking away.
Ian could see her face gradually turning redder.
She fidgeted with her hem as if she had more to say, but in the end, she just turned her head.
"W-well... I'll head out then. Sleep well."
With that clumsy farewell, Rin bolted from the room.
─Creak.
But a short while after Rin left.
The sound of Ian's door opening again rang out.
Ian turned his head.
"Rin?"
"No. It's me."
Mika peeked her head through the cracked door.
"You got plans with Rin?"
"No, nothing. What's up?"
"Dinner time. Got a table."
"...Yeah, be right down."
...Ian and Rin ended up facing each other again just minutes later.