Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Kobold Hunt
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I passed by a guard who looked utterly exhausted and returned to the city.
Even though he must have just started his shift, he couldn't hold back a yawn. What an easy job. If I had to pick the best job in this world, it'd be guard duty.
A job where you just had to endure the boredom.
And fights were rare, to boot.
Who in their right mind would mess with the city guards?
"Mr. Katt. Good work out there."
"Heh heh heh, the real work was all you, Sister. It felt like you handled everything from start to finish."
I exchanged goodbyes with Elise.
This was basically a carry job courtesy of Elise spamming holy skills left and right. All I'd done was smack a few kobolds. The money aside, I couldn't help but feel deeply grateful.
"Oh, by the way. Do I need to escort you all the way to the church?"
"No need."
I handed Elise the bundle of kobold hides. She smiled and took the creepy things without hesitation.
"Thanks to you, we wrapped it up nice and easy. Here—this is your fee."
Elise held out a 1 silver coin. One silver was worth a whopping 100 coppers—a massive sum.
I was so thrilled and pumped that I felt like foam might bubble from my mouth. Earning this much cash at once was a first for me. My hands and feet trembled, some inexplicable urge surging up. If I let my guard down for even a second, I might seize up right there.
Now my total savings stood at a grand 1 silver and 27 coppers.
My mouth curved up so wide it hurt.
I waved cheerfully at Elise.
"Take care, Sister! I'll never forget today! You're basically my benefactor now!"
"No need for... Well, good work to you too, Mr. Katt. Take care."
Elise hoisted the kobold hide bundle over her shoulder and strolled off. I tucked the silver into my wallet and headed lightly to the smithy. Time to offload that giant spider carapace.
The east gate area was packed with buildings, so I ducked into the first smithy I spotted.
Inside, a burly muscled uncle paused his hammering to look my way. His bulging arm muscles screamed skill and experience. I thrust out the carapace. He set down his hammer and stood.
"Here, smith. You need this? Freshly harvested today—super fresh."
"Need it bad. 1 copper each."
The sweat-drenched smith took the carapace, inspected it everywhere for quality, then handed me a 1 copper coin.
"Bring any good shells, I'll buy 'em all at 1 copper. Hit any more giant spiders, come to me."
"You got it."
I pocketed the copper and browsed the smithy, but nothing caught my eye worth buying. Even if there was, I was broke. Gear cost at least 3 silvers—one silver wouldn't cut it.
"Need something? I could let it go cheap right now."
The smith tossed out the line casually as he resumed hammering. No one would buy that "cheap" pitch.
"Just browsing for now."
Shoulderguards or a breastplate might be doable, but armor was pricey as hell. The smiths' guild colluded like crazy. The price tags alone made my head spin.
Take that [Giant Spider Shell Breastplate] on display. Made from a dozen shells that cost 1 copper total at most, and they charged 3 silvers. No wonder they say learn a trade—but this was bullshit.
I wasn't uninterested in gearing up, but no money was the issue. Saving for gear was high-level stuff for a bottom-feeder like me.
Damn alchemist guild bastards.
"Our prices are way cheaper than elsewhere."
The smith spouted nonsense like it was nothing. Prices were the same everywhere.
Fucking scamming shits. No fair trade laws here meant guilds monopolized and colluded as daily routine.
Free markets? Not for us. All merchants and craftsmen were guild-bound. Independents trying to make a buck got hit with fines or worse—swords. Prices never dropped.
Couldn't complain. I was just a guildless adventurer with no resident ID. Smiths were legit businesses paying taxes to the lord. Big difference.
"Catch you next time."
I left the smithy. Next stop? Alchemist guild, obviously. Needed to unload yesterday's hookfang mushrooms quick. Plants and shrooms lost value fast post-harvest.
Only a day had passed, so it should be fine.
Past the central fountain square, around the corner: a five-story building with exotic roofing. The alchemist guild.
The sign had writing, but I couldn't read it. Every time, I wondered if their script sucked or it was some foreign tongue. Didn't care, anyway. I could read normal stuff, just not magical languages.
Early hour, so not crowded.
I entered and went to the materials counter.
"Hey. Here to sell."
I pulled the hookfang mushrooms from my pouch. They looked prime—easily 3 coppers worth. A bit boastful, but my sharp eyes meant instant appraisals. Talent, I guess?
People always said I was observant growing up.
Not why I became an adventurer, though.
"This... hookfang mushrooms."
The bespectacled alchemist peered through a magnifying glass and spoke. Appraisal took under 10 seconds. Lazy fucker.
"Condition's not great, though. 2 coppers."
"Wait, it's barely a day old!"
I nearly screamed at the lowball. Where'd my eye go...? Like I said before, alchemists were all scammers who hammered material prices.
"Pardon? A day? Make it 1 copper then."
"No, no—harvested last night, not even a full day!"
Haggling more would've tanked it, so I took the 2 coppers. Hated that smug grin. He pocketed at least 1 copper profit, the bastard.
Anyway, I'd made 1 silver and 3 coppers in a day, so I let it slide. Left the alchemist guild without regrets.
"Too early to goof off."
Still morning—too awkward for a wash and nap. I'd rushed to town right after waking, basically commute time. Could hit the bathhouse, crash at the inn to recover, but slacking in this world meant instant ruin.
Laziness leads to doom. No work, no survival. No one else to rely on but yourself. That's isekai life.
"Might as well work."
Bed was uncomfortable, but I'd slept. I chewed yesterday's rations as breakfast and trudged to the adventurer's guild. Not far—arrived quick.
Busy with folks coming and going, peak hours. Avoided eye contact as I opened the door.
Screeech.
Wonder if there's work today.
Usually, I cleared two or three quests a week at 20-30 coppers each. Could do more, but lately no jobs or party invites maxed me out.
Weekly living expenses around 30 coppers—two quests covered it. But that was treading water. Days like today with 1 silver meant pushing harder for level-ups.
Anyway, to the receptionist. These days, just seeing her made my back burn with shame and guilt.
"U-um, Receptionist. Any jobs today?"
My turn. I asked timidly.
"Who is it? Mr. Katt? What brings you here?"
She acted shocked I'd come for work, clasping hands in exaggerated delight. My face burned red. Already feverish.
"So, uh... any jobs?"
Tsk.
I pulled my most pitiful face, and she clicked her tongue with a sigh.
"Sigh... Mr. Katt."
"Yes?"
"Make a promise with me."
"What kind?"
Her serious face continued.
"Honestly, you know you've botched—not trashed, I mean—a bunch of quests, right?"
"Of course."
Five came to mind off the top, but zero percent my fault no matter how I thought. In any five-person group, one's always a dumbass. Mine? Everyone else was.
Four idiots and one sane guy couldn't handle shit. Adventurers were all morons.
"So I hesitate to give you work, but promise this, and for pity's sake, I'll hook you up."
"I promise. Absolutely."
I nearly stripped for a bow but got stopped. Isekai sucked with nothing but beggar jobs, but saints like this receptionist made survival possible.
Resolved, I grabbed her hands, ready to sign anything.
"Okay, promise."
"I promise."
"I haven't said it yet. 'I'll complete any quest I take, even if it kills me.' Repeat."
"Not a hard promise..."
I lived on the edge anyway. This time, I'd stake my life. I repeated with gusto.
"Also, I checked— one more failure and you're demoted."
"Wha...!"
I froze like a statue!!!
"You know E to F is game over. You've seen it happen. Your turn's coming. Demoted folks all quit adventuring. Where'd they go?"
I knew the demoted's pitiful fates...
"Knowing that, come to the guild before dawn tomorrow. Got an E-rank frontliner/misc job—no, skip that. Anyway, a party needs one more. This'll work."
I knew demotion loomed, but not it was the last chance. Couldn't drop to day laborer. No way...!
"Precisely, a D+ subjugation quest. C-rank mage in the party, so no issue. Before dawn. Look for the cockatrice subjugation party."
Cockatrice and a mage.
"Thanks anyway... I'll repay this favor."
"Demote and we're done. Next!"
I clutched shaky legs leaving the counter. Ignored my record too long—now it was the final defense. Tense as hell.
"Fuck, gotta nail this."
Paused for a grim vow, then bolted from the guild to the public bathhouse. Prep hard and sleep early for tomorrow.
The [Golden Pot] bathhouse charged a steep 1 copper per soak—the priciest around, but the only one nearby. Had to grit teeth and pay. Others were farther.
Baths cost a fortune in this world.
Splash.
Washing away the grime let me forget the harsh world's storms for a bit. Scrubbed every inch clean for a fresh start, then emerged.
Post-bath, wandered the market street buying supplies for tomorrow's fight and grabbing food.
One more flop and back to F-rank... Only grim futures in sight. Couldn't let it happen. Receptionist was doing me a solid. Fine. Tomorrow, unleash the beast.
Prepped, I hit the inn and slept the day away. Full recovery.