Earth's Water, Their World's Treasure - 4
"...Hehe."
I stared blankly at the giggling girl as I entered the cafe.
Why's she suddenly laughing again?
I couldn't help but wonder. It wasn't like I felt some arrogant "How dare she laugh in front of me?" But I'd come here with her because she looked so precarious. She'd been on the verge of tears. It felt like if I didn't sit her down and let her vent right then, she might do something reckless. So I'd pushed aside my desire to get home early and come to the cafe with her.
But the girl who'd ordered coffee just stared at my face silently, grinning like an idiot without saying a word.
Has she gotten okay? If so, that's a relief.
The girl finally spoke.
"Oppa... Isn't being a gatherer tough?"
"It's my first time today too, but it wasn't that bad."
If you ignored picking up that lost item for the kid and having to go to a cafe, it could've been the sweetest side gig ever.
"Really? That's good..."
"Why?"
"Well... I think I might have to do it too."
I tilted my head.
"Aren't you a hunter?"
"Oh, you thought I was a hunter? You can drop the formal speech! I'm not... I'm an Academy student."
She was a student. No wonder she looked way younger than other hunters.
"Then... can't you just graduate from the Academy and become a hunter?"
"That's... I don't think I can keep going."
Her expression darkened again.
"I'm kind of... lazy, you know? I skipped classes and stuff..."
"That happens."
I nodded casually.
"I tried to make up for it in field training this time, but my results were awful... and I can't use flame spells for a while..."
"It's not like you'll get expelled right away."
"There's a test in two weeks for at-risk students. Fail that, and you're out. The timing's just terrible."
"Can't you just pass that?"
"It's a practical exam... My mana went berserk, so I can't cast spells for a bit. No way I'll pass."
She sighed gloomily.
"Sorry. You gave me courage, but even after cooling off and thinking it over, it seems impossible—"
"Courage? I just found your lost item."
"Still, you shouted around everywhere to deliver it."
"You could've come out if you heard."
"Sorry..."
"No need to apologize."
Kids get confused or flustered sometimes. It wasn't that big a nuisance.
"If you can't use spells, can't you test with something else?"
"Well, I could probably wrap flames around my fist or shoot fireballs instead of bullets."
She let out a deep sigh.
"But the expulsion exam isn't that easy. I don't have confidence in hand-to-hand, and I can't shoot guns."
"Have you tried?"
"Yeah. It didn't go well. Bullets miss the target, and I'm bad at fighting up close... Hehe."
She shook her head dejectedly.
"Even if you leave the Academy, you can still be a hunter. Pays better than gatherer, right?"
Sadness deepened in Shin Yuha's eyes.
"It's just... embarrassing. All my classmates will graduate and start hunter life, but I'd be the expelled one squeezing in among them. Kinda..."
"Don't wanna be a hunter?"
"Not that, but... can someone like me even be one?"
"Then you should do it."
Unfortunately, I wasn't a model adult either. I couldn't give her perfect advice. But as someone who'd lived a bit longer, I could share my take.
"If you want to, do it. You're still young, right? I don't know what mistake you made, but if you still have regrets, become a hunter."
No need to tell this kid about the pay gap between bottom-tier hunters no one's heard of and gatherers. At her age, she should chase something more essential.
"I've only done gatherer work a little, but... no real future in it. Just repeating the same thing."
That's how it was as a company man. If I didn't awaken, I'd figured I'd do the same job for years, decades—commuting to the same office building, same leisure time. No challenges, no change. A predictable future awaited.
"You're young, so aim higher than that. You can always do gatherer later."
"Ah..."
It must've hit home a little; her eyes glistened.
I was tackling something new. I'd gained the identity of a Multidimensional Merchant, building infrastructure for the future. Trying to escape yesterday's life for something fresh.
But this girl was diving headfirst into that "same old life."
Not that it's bad. Most people live without challenges. You don't have to find fulfillment through work or career risks.
Still, watching someone's dream shatter right in front of me wasn't pleasant.
"...Thanks! I'll do it!"
"Huh?"
True to kid form, she took my advice easily.
"I won't give up—I'll try hard! I'll be a hunter! For oppa!"
"Why do I come into this?"
I pointed it out, but she seemed lost in her own world already.
"But, um... expulsion's basically set, and I gotta leave the dorm, ugh..."
I sipped my coffee, mentally sorting her situation.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"If you pass that expulsion exam, you won't get kicked out, right?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. But it's tough."
"You can test in non-magic categories, and you can at least make fire bullets?"
"Right. Hitting the target is the issue."
"Can't you practice from now and make it work?"
"No way... probably."
I tilted my head.
Bottom line: to stay in the Academy, she just needed "bare-minimum shooting skills."
"Do you have to use designated guns for the exam?"
"No, no such restrictions."
"..."
I pondered briefly.
It might actually work.
Nothing's certain. But I could add a positive variable to her exam.
I looked at her seriously.
"What's your name?"
"Shi—Shin Yuha!"
"Got it, Yuha. Suppose I get you to pass the exam... what can you do for me?"
"Wh-what?"
Her face flushed in panic.
"Anything—"
"Forget it. Sorry."
I shook my head.
No need to nickel-and-dime everything. What could I even expect from a kid like her?
No risk on my end anyway. I'd have to fetch something from [Wasteland 2], and failure wouldn't cost me.
"Fine. Not sure if it'll help, but give me your contact. Might find something useful."
"Okay!"
Yuha handed over her phone. I called my number, confirmed it rang, and gave it back.
"I'll contact you when it's ready."
"Yes! S-see you next time! But..."
She hesitated.
"What?"
"What's oppa's name?"
"Jeong Isu."
"Got it, Isu oppa! You have to message me later! I'll count on you only!"
I shook my head.
"Nothing's guaranteed, so search how to land a hunter job post-expulsion too."
"That's mean!"
"Don't like it? Look into gatherer gigs."
"If I do gatherer, can I work with oppa?"
"Maybe a few times... but it's not my main gig. Could quit anytime."
"Huh? We could do it together!"
"You're supposed to be a hunter."
"Eeeh..."
She pouted. Seemed like a friendly kid.
"Coffee done? I'm heading out. It's late—get home safe. Mom'll worry."
"I live separately, so it's fine!"
"...Oh?"
For a second, I thought I'd touched a sore spot.
"Yeah, I'm in the Academy dorm!"
"Ah, gotcha."
False alarm.
"Anyway, see you later."
Chatting more would never end. I stood, heading to the subway home.
Pistol... yeah, I've got the perfect one for her.
Thinking of the new weapon she needed.
"Stoneville Village promised cooperation!"
"Great!"
Lisa, who'd set up the trading post base, raised a glass in victory with her Rangers. It held no fine liquor or cheap beer—just plain water.
"Kya~ Aren't we living the good life?"
"Sucks we can't hog it all... Those idiots should've held out longer..."
But that water-fueled feast felt more luxurious than any booze bash.
Most alcohol was just tainted water in liquid form—inferior to pure H2O.
"We should prep for the next trade."
"They didn't ask for specifics, right?"
"...This trade's one-sided. If he cuts water, the settlements will ditch us too."
To secure some settlements' aid, Lisa pledged drinking water. Even without that, most would've cut ties the moment Rangers sought water there. His supply was essential for Rangers to settle the region.
"We need stuff useful to that man—things he can use. To keep this base."
"Hey, we even built the base. Count our blessings."
"That was... luck. Good spot for it."
Fortuitously, the trading post sat central to nearby settlements. Surrounded by barren wasteland now, but ideal for a Ranger HQ.
"Finding such items right away's tough, so for now—"
Before Lisa finished, the speaker crackled with his voice.
"Excuse me, Lisa. You there?"
"Y-yes! Here! Just give the orders!"
Lisa scrambled desperately before his hologram, like a zealot summoned by god.
"Next trade?"
"Ah, maybe in two days. Sorry. But I've prepped way more water than before—no worries."
"If it's not rude, how many—"
"20? 30? Gotta test, but that much should fit."
"Even lowballing, double last time..."
"No, not 20L—20 units. At least 40L minimum."
"Such!"
That much water could save countless lives. Lisa steadied her trembling heart and asked carefully.
"Then, what can we offer in return?"
"Gremlin Pistols. As many as possible. Can you?"
"Gremlin Pistol?"
Less resource, more scrap. Smelt for junk iron if lucky, trash otherwise.
"We'll gather as many as we can!"
"No need to overdo—just five extras? Working ones, please."
"Understood!"
"Yes, thanks."
Comms ended. Lisa shouted, fired up.
"Water-drinkers, up! Fetch Gremlin Pistols now!"
"It's night though—"
"No time! Hit every settlement—grab everything available! Show effort, and he'll give water!"
The word "water" lit fire in the Rangers' eyes.
It was that vital.
"Got it!"
"That's the spirit! Let's go!"
Lisa beamed innocently.
Gremlin Pistols for water? Total steal!
His view of "water"'s value seemed higher than she'd braced for.