Weekend Cleanup Duty

A weekend that should have been leisurely.

Under the scorching sun.

Zien checked his phone.

Out of the off-campus activity requests, there were 166 that first-years could accept. The one Zien chose was number 1: off-campus activity.

'In polite terms, it's an off-campus activity.'

Students got money and service points in exchange for work, while the school collected fees and boosted its image—a system that was blatantly commercial for an educational institution.

But that was exactly what he liked about it.

'I need the money.'

［Broom of Extermination］

Heads craned back at the towering skyscraper. A broom-shaped sign adorned the building.

"Been waiting~."

The woman who emerged from the building was Irel. She slid her sunglasses down and scanned Zien from head to toe.

"Heh, the real thing's way hotter."

Irel grinned with a creepy look on her face.

Zien sensed danger in a different sense altogether.

"Hello."

"Skip the stiff greetings. Everyone's waiting, so let's talk on the way."

The two headed inside. Dozens of employees bustled in the high-rise. Broom of Extermination was a guild on par with major corporations.

The peculiar thing was the artificial trees planted everywhere inside—money trees, to be exact.

"This is way different from what I imagined."

Zien commented on the unexpected sight. It was the polar opposite of the rough image he'd pictured.

"Hmm, what image did our little chick have in mind?"

'This woman calling me a chick.'

Still, the arm slung casually over his shoulder wasn't so bad.

"Something that fits a cleaning crew, I guess?"

"Monster heads mounted on the walls, burly guys looming around?"

Irel stuck out her tongue with a "Eek."

"Ugh, that's straight out of some old-school movie. Cleaning's an intellectual job these days."

"I like it."

"For real?"

The elevator was spacious, but Irel pressed close to Zien anyway.

"Wanna sign a contract then? I'll talk to the guild master about the signing bonus as much as I can~, yeah?"

"I don't have any track record yet. Off-campus activity pay is plenty."

"Too modest isn't cute, you know? No student wields a sword like you."

Irel poked Zien's bicep. Just then—

The elevator doors opened.

"One wrong glance and you're done."

The newcomer was Jackson.

He swung his hand lightly.

Thwack!

Irel yelped and staggered back, clutching her nape. Jackson eyed her with contempt.

"Flirting with a minor again."

"Aaaah! That hurts! Are you insane, senpai?! You can't just chop someone's neck like that!"

Irel shrieked, but Jackson didn't blink.

"Whatever. You, get lost. Last time I left scouting to you... all you brought back were pretty boys."

Jackson tsked with a pitiful look.

"Why bring that up? I told you, the strong ones just happened to be hot! Argh! The order's all wrong!"

Zien pictured a feline at Irel's growling outburst.

"Where's this attitude coming from? That's why you keep groping kids. The guild rejected you too. What are you doing to a student here for a gig?"

Jackson tsked again.

"No, that's why—I'm trying to cheer him up since they rejected me..."

Irel's voice trailed off.

Jackson's overwhelming victory.

Only then did Jackson glance at Zien.

"Zien, right? Impressed by your exam."

"Thank you."

"...Just don't get hurt and fill the headcount."

Jackson grumbled curtly. He didn't like students taking cleaning jobs. Simple reason: too dangerous.

That's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why he doubled as a scout. Irel picked 'em, Jackson vetted 'em. That was their dynamic.

"Here we are!"

Irel opened the door labeled ［Cleanup Team 3］. Three people inside. Zien summed them up by traits.

The silent thick-eyebrowed man: Eyebrow Guy.

"Said I liked him, and he quits on the first day..."

The scarred-cheek grumbler: Scar Guy.

"Whoa! Look at that fresh-faced kid. First time teaming with a student."

The punky goth with a cheerful vibe despite her look.

All in their mid-to-late twenties.

"This guy's new to cleanup, so take good care of him."

At Irel's words, Scar Guy furrowed his brows.

"Irel, a student as backup? This ain't a daycare..."

Scar Guy scowled, his already rugged face growing fiercer.

"Come on~, don't be like that. Quick briefing, then portal up?"

Scar Guy's expression softened at Irel's cheeky grin.

Beep.

Irel activated the beam projector.

"Don't go after random stuff~."

Cleaning jobs split into two types.

Hunting and clearing.

Hunting gathered byproducts from monsters beneficial to humanity, like the Red Tree Slug used in high-end cosmetics.

Clearing erased manifested dungeons from failed gate raids.

In low-difficulty clear spots like Ebes Mountain, the dungeon vanished as you hunted monsters.

'If the initial raid team hadn't failed, dungeons like this wouldn't spawn.'

Failing to clear a gate was unacceptable to Zien, who pursued perfection.

"Alright! I've got other stuff, so briefing ends here. Good luck, everyone!"

Irel activated the portal.

Vrrr.

The destination: a mountain 400 kilometers away.

A train ride would've taken ages, but one portal hop and they were there.

"Aja ja ja! Everyone, fighting!"

The dark goth cheered brightly.

Scar Guy, Eyebrow Guy, Zien, and two porters—six in total—stepped through.

Ebes Mountain.

Amid stunning scenery and birdsong, retching echoed sporadically.

"Grraaack! Urk! Sluuuurp... Ah, it's rising. Portal sickness never gets easier."

The dark goth turned to the group, eyes more hollowed.

"Uh... sorry. Made you wait? Stomach's acting up... How should we split the team?"

Leather jacket, silver earrings, choker—flashy outfit, but her attitude was polite.

"Pair up closest folks and split."

Scar Guy's suggestion.

Eyebrow Guy paired with Scar Guy.

Scar Guy had been blatantly signaling he didn't want to team with Zien.

'Here to earn a day's pay, not wipe some kid's ass.'

"Sure~, works for me. Everyone good?"

The dark goth agreed, and Eyebrow Guy nodded.

'Total baggage treatment.'

Zien's mouth soured at Scar Guy's blatant attitude. Worse were the two porters in the corner.

"Then~ I'll join Gale's party."

The senior-looking porter stuck quick to Scar Guy—Gale—while the one shoved to Zien looked doomed.

"Ah... then I'll tag with Marceline's party."

The porter's gloom stemmed from pay scaling with byproduct volume per party.

The burly man slumped his shoulders, and Marceline patted his back.

"Hey! Smile! Cheer up~. I'll catch plenty."

Teams divided.

The two parties split opposite ways.

As they trekked the mountains, Marceline asked Zien,

"What weapon you prepped?"

Zien instantly knew why.

Red Tree Slug.

This monster, over 2 meters tall, regenerated fast. Most efficient kill: pierce the core in its center.

Long, sharp weapons were ideal.

"Magic tool's a sword."

"Perfect. No wonder no pocket."

"Pockets are too pricey for a student."

He said that, but Zien had his eye on one.

The ［Wristband Pocket］ from Cozone.

One spec check on the site, and he felt destiny.

'Sleek design hugging the wrist. All-black aesthetic. Mage Tower quality.'

That slim band held over 100kg.

Century-old belt pockets topped at barely 1kg.

'If only I had the money.'

Price was the issue.

Mage Tower premium: 75 million coin for the band pocket.

'Someday I'll get it.'

Zien's gear obsession hit past-life levels. That's why he'd hoarded artifacts before.

Smacking his lips,

Marceline teased.

"Back in my day, students wrapped in artifacts. Rich families got endless cash."

"Ah, I'm an orphan."

The mood chilled instantly.

The porter rolled his eyes, sweat beaded on Marceline's long nose.

"Ah... I see. Sorry!"

"It's fine."

Zien chuckled inwardly. Her expressive face was fun to tease.

"H-Hey, you could afford a pocket, right?"

As the vibe died, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the porter pulled out a burlap-sack pocket.

Pockets had expansion and weight enchantments for lots of gear.

Unlike Mage Tower premium, this cheap sack was low-grade.

"What! Gotta buy from home? Earn and buy your own... Haah... Sorry. Drop the pocket talk."

Marceline gave up everything.

Then, the porter shouted like spotting a savior.

"There! Slug sighted!"

"Where ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠where?"

Porter's key skill: spotting monsters.

"Size check? At least 400,000 worth."

Marceline looked up. The Red Tree Slug clung to an ancient tree trunk like its namesake.

"Ugh, that slime's killer for skin, they say."

"Slug cream? Cozone hot item. I can get it cheaper than cost..."

Marceline shook her head at the porter's sales pitch.

"Sigh, who am I kidding. Baker doesn't eat his own bread."

Glancing at Zien, she drew her spear-shaped magic tool.

"Pro's touch. Watch close."

Not wrong. 3rd-rank Saber or not, active was active. Marceline aimed at the slug, crouched, and hurled using recoil.

Shwaaak!

Red mana traced the spear's path.

"Ooh!"

Porter's admiration. Slug flesh burst, clear blood sprayed. But the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spear missed the core.

Marceline trembled, fists clenched at the fleeing, oozing slug.

"Ugh, look at that slime trail. Damn it!"

"I'll take it."

Zien channeled mana into his feet.

First leap: stuck to opposite tree. Second: stabbed the slug's core dead-on.

Clean one-shot.

Core shattered; the body crumbled like jelly chunks.

"Ooh! Nice shot! Arcana skill matches pros, huh?"

The porter beamed, bagging the slimy corpse. He hummed happily.

'This size? 40,000 for me. Five catches a day's pay!'

Marceline scratched her head, embarrassed.

"...You're good."

Zien eyed another slug.

"Then, let's pick up the pace. Senpai."

Looking at Marceline, Zien thought inwardly.

'Hurry it up. Weekends are short for students.'