The Philanthropist (3)
“Ugh…”
“…Ain, you did sleep properly, right?”
“Of course. I crashed right after we split.”
“Just in case I ask, where did you sleep?”
Er glared at him with heavy suspicion as Ahin flashed a bright smile in return.
“The weather was warmer than I expected!”
“…”
Er kept staring at the man who casually claimed to have slept out in the open, scratching his cheek with obvious embarrassment as Ahin spoke.
“I’m used to sleeping outside, so it’s fine. And… from today on, we can sleep under a roof again.”
If Er’s promised twenty silver coins were true, he could cover at least a week’s rent without breaking a sweat.
“Cheap inn rooms cost two silver a day, so fourteen should cover a week, with six left over for daily meals…”
“…What are you going to do after a week?”
“If I earn more before then, all the better!”
“How?”
“Well…”
His mind suddenly cleared.
Someone had to put up a sign in the middle of the street and sit there because no one was willing to party with him.
He hadn’t known if any party would even take in the useless slacker who couldn’t deal a single proper blow.
“Looking at your face, it seems you haven’t thought about the next step.”
“…But I can figure something out, right?”
“Well…”
Er was about to answer when she shook her head.
Ahin was simply not cut out to be an adventurer.
With a curse that prevented him from harming anything living—people or monsters alike—he was no help to anyone.
That had been more than enough.
If he were ever going to receive help in the future, this was the best he could do for now.
Without anything to cover his penalty, he simply didn’t belong on the road.
“Anyway, why isn’t that guy showing up…”
“Who the hell are you calling a guy, you damn kid?”
Ahin’s offhand remark about not knowing what Er was thinking was cut off by the arrival of a single figure.
Always the same, the brown-haired man with his signature scowl and sharp features—Khal.
His back carried a slung bow, and his waist was packed with swords and pouches. He looked every bit the seasoned adventurer.
“Oh…”
Ahin couldn’t help but let out a quiet sigh.
Er in her light armor looked competent too, but there was something fiercer about her swordswoman vibe.
Khal in his cloak and layered gear looked more like a real adventurer than she did.
“What, you brat?”
“Nothing.”
“Take this, you pack mule, while you still have the time.”
Saying that, Khal tossed the bag he had been carrying straight at Ahin.
The man reached out to catch it mid-air, but the unexpected weight sent him off-balance.
“Ugh…!”
“Ain!”
“I’m fine… It’s heavier than I thought.”
“…Khal, was there really a need to bring this much baggage?”
Er lifted the bag that had rolled on the ground and asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Adventurers always prepare for the ‘what-ifs,’ right? Even if it’s just a day trip, what if something goes wrong and we get lost? I’m only getting ready for that.”
“Even so, this is way too much!”
“We’ve got three party members. What did you expect? If that bothers you, feel free to drop this useless baggage now.”
“Khal, you…”
Er was about to snap back in irritation when the conversation shifted.
“Just the bag, huh?”
“…Ain?”
“Yeah, that’s it. Having simple gear is better, isn’t it, pack mule?”
Khal’s mocking tone made Ahin look at him straight on, then he shrugged the bag onto his back.
“…Okay, this should be manageable.”
“Ain, you don’t have to—”
“I’m the pack mule, so I should carry my fair share. Just focus on the quest, party leader.”
“…”
Er’s eyebrow twitched at the overly polite way Ahin addressed her, but she eventually let out a small sigh and pulled a map from her pocket.
“If you’re sure it’s all right… then let’s get going.”
“This map from the guild?”
“Yes. Can you find it, Khal?”
“What do you take me for? It’s not even encrypted; the guild marked it clearly.”
Khal, acting as the party’s guide as a ranger, accepted the map from Er.
He glanced at it briefly, then alternated glances with the one Ahin had been holding.
“Not far at all. We’ll be there in no time if we head out the north gate.”
“Shall I lead?”
“No, we should move as a group. You never know what might happen.”
“Then I’ll take the front. Follow me, please.”
Er turned, her long blonde ponytail swinging, and stepped ahead. Khal fell in behind her.
Ahin brought up the rear.
Feeling the heavy straps digging into his shoulders, he took a single step forward.
As they left the city gate and entered the forest path, a dense woodland that dwarfed human height revealed itself.
At the same moment, Er tried to step onto the familiar forest trail, but Khal stopped her.
“The dungeon’s not this way.”
“It’ll be easier to stick to the road for the time being, won’t it?”
“No, that’ll only waste time. The straight path is faster and simpler.”
“But…”
With Er and Khal being light on their feet, the forest might have been manageable for them, but for Ahin carrying three people’s worth of baggage, the trail was a heavy burden.
His steps grew heavier with every stride, and the lack of a proper path made it even worse.
“What are you thinking? The quest comes first!”
“Khal, you…”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t want to bring along a runt like you. You just barge in anywhere and end up holding us back!”
Khal turned back with obvious annoyance as he spoke.
“Hey, Scrap Iron! If you can’t keep up, head back right now! Go whine to your mom! That’s the kind of useless brat you are!”
“Who said I couldn’t?”
Golden eyes that never lost their shine even inside the tight hood flashed as Ahin spoke.
“Lead on. I’ll follow.”
“Ain…”
“Er, stop worrying about me and focus on the exploration.”
Ahin’s concern hadn’t registered at all.
Er, without realizing she had even formed the thought, answered in a bitter tone.
“…It’s fine. Do whatever you want. I’ll focus on the quest like you said.”
“That’s right, that’s how it should be! Remember this, Er. If we keep babysitting brats who complain, we’ll never finish. We need to build them up strong from the start…”
Khal kept chatting away behind the leader, completely ignoring Er’s back as Ahin watched from behind with a heavy sigh and took another step.
The forest path untouched by human hands was even more uncomfortable than he expected.
Every time his foot hit an uneven surface, he had to brace his ankle harder, and he constantly had to stay alert not to step on hidden rocks.
For Ahin carrying the crushing weight on his shoulders, this was the worst kind of trek.
With every small climb in the forest, he couldn’t stop the occasional sigh.
Er kept glancing back at him, but each time Ahin’s words echoed in her mind, she turned away again.
Khal noticed their reactions and curled the corner of his mouth into a smirk.
The moment their thoughts finally settled was right after they spotted a small cave entrance.
“According to the guild info, monsters have been spotted coming out of here.”
“What kind of monsters?”
“Confirmed are goblins, kobolds… maybe a few others.”
“…Goblins and kobolds?”
Khal furrowed his brow deeply as he heard the composition.
“What kind of useless info is this? Where are there dungeons where two completely different monsters spawn?”
“That’s why it’s a secret quest. It’s unusual.”
Both goblins and kobolds were weak enough that even rookie adventurers could take them down easily.
But entering a dungeon changed things—those creatures lived in groups, and inexperienced parties often got into trouble the moment they stepped inside.
“If it were just one type, they wouldn’t have assigned even a bronze party. Two or three iron-rank parties should have been more than enough.”
“Tch, this is annoying. Goblins are dumb enough not to be a problem, but a whole kobold pack will make it rough.”
“Maybe there are other monsters too…”
“Unlikely. Goblins and kobolds… they probably just stuck together because they’re weak. Damn it, this is such a boring quest… the reward’s going to be pathetic.”
Khal kicked a pebble on the ground in irritation, then pointed at Ahin.
“Scrap Iron! Come here and hand over the bag!”
Without a word, Ahin set the bag down. Khal opened it, rummaged inside for a moment, then pulled out a single glass bottle.
“Kobolds have good noses, so this should help.”
“Ugh…”
Er’s face twisted at the sight of the cloudy liquid inside, but Ahin, who had no idea what it was, tilted his head curiously.
“What is this?”
“Kobold urine.”
“…What?”
“It’s the only thing that completely masks the smell.”
With that, Khal popped the cork, and a strong, pungent odor filled the air.
Er’s already pale face grew even whiter as she inhaled it.
“Do I really have to spray it?”
“If you don’t like it, bring along concealment gear instead of me.”
Khal’s cloak was enchanted to suppress his own scent—a cheap magic tool that lasted only a few uses, but it shone bright at times like this.
“Well, if I decide to, I’ll let you have some when the quest ends and I buy you a drink—”
“Give it to me.”
“…Suit yourself.”
Er sliced through Khal’s teasing tone, snatched the bottle, and gave him a disgusted look.
After a moment of hesitation, she began removing her armor and weapons, setting them on the ground.
She then cautiously tilted the bottle and sprinkled a few drops over herself.
Khal burst into laughter at the sight.
Er, having finished her task, grimaced and quickly dressed again.
“Ain, get ready too.”
Now it was Ahin’s turn.
He followed suit, removing his hood and setting it on the ground.
At the same moment, his face was revealed to the world.
A slender jaw for a man, dark golden hair, and eyes the color of molten gold—something about them carried a mysterious beauty.
“Hey, our pack mule is getting a special treatment!”
Khal snatched the bottle from Er’s hand and poured its contents over Ahin’s hood and robe.
“Khal!!!”
“Whoa, why the overreaction?”
Khal emptied the bottle completely and hurled it deep into the forest, then held up the smelly hood robe by a single finger and handed it to Ahin.
“Put it on quickly. Monsters might come running if they smell the scent.”
“Khal! You didn’t have to pour that much!”
“That’s only necessary for someone like me who can protect his own body. Not some brat like you.”
Khal took the hood back from Ahin and looked down at him.
“Since we’ll be rolling around in the dungeon, we need to cover the earth smell with something at least this strong, don’t we?”
“Now who’s the one who’s—”
Er’s indignation was cut off by Ahin himself.
“You’re right.”
Ahin answered calmly, then pulled the smelly hood back over his head and spoke with shining eyes.
“So, I’ll count on you till the end. Bronze-rank.”
“Ain…”
“Ha, ha ha…! Yeah, yeah, that’s the way it is!”
Khal’s stammering was due to the unexpected response. He had no chance of feeling any intimidation from the ridiculous sight of a slacker wearing monster urine.
Those unlucky golden eyes.
Every time he met them, Ahin…
“From here on, I’ll lead. Stay close and follow.”
With that, Khal turned sharply and headed toward the cave entrance to scout.
Er’s gaze followed him, and for a split second she turned back toward Ahin.
“…Ain?”
She had spoken his name without thinking.
His beautiful eyes were fixed on the back of a single man.
As if he had made up his mind about something.