Dah-rah!　I don't want it!　I don't understand you, old lady!

You're not my grandmother!　I'm only in my forties!

We get paid enough by our clients!

I said, "Just take it!　You have to listen to your old man!

You call yourself old, old man!

Who's your grandmother?　I'm only in my forties!


　After returning safely to the city of Tria, Aldis and the others reported to their client and handed over the students to the officials who had come from the school.
　They received the full amount of the reward for bringing them all to safety, and Michelle and the rest of the group attended the "party at the bar".

　Aldis and the others had no particular business to attend to, but apparently Michelle didn't think so.
　That's why Aldis and the others and Michelle have been in a dispute over how to handle their compensation.

　However, the way the dispute was handled was a bit strange.

　Normally, the mercenaries would insist that the compensation be increased and the peddlers would argue that the amount of money should be reduced, but what is currently going on between Ted and Michelle is the exact opposite of that.

　In return for escorting the students from the forest to Tria, Michelle offers Aldis and his friends twenty gold coins.
　However, Aldis and his friends had no reason to accept this money.
　Ordinary mercenaries would be happy to accept it, but unfortunately, Ted was a man who was obsessed with strange notions such as the legitimacy of his reward.

　This is how the unusual situation of a "mercenary refusing to accept his reward" and a "peddler trying to force his reward" was created in a corner of the tavern.

''Hey, do you mind if I stay in bed until it's over?''

What are you talking about? You're in this together. You need to stay awake.

　Orphelia blames Aldis for biting down on the yawn.
　In the meantime, the arguing between Ted and Michelle shows no sign of abating.

　It's a good thing that Ted was paid an unbelievable amount of money for the 150 gold coins he received from his original client, and he was able to accomplish his request without much effort.
　If it weren't for Michelle and her friends protecting the students, Ted and his friends would have spent days wandering the forest looking for their belongings, and if they hadn't been able to find them, they might have gotten tired of looking for their belongings and ended up with no money.

　But thanks to Michelle and her team, they were able to rescue all of the students intact.
　Their help is worth more than a hundred gold pieces.

　In addition, Michelle even consumed beast avoidance and precious magic stones to protect the students, spending time that was more important to the peddlers than anything else.
　Normally, Ted and the others should have split a portion of the reward and thanked him, but he said to Michelle, "It's something I did on my own, judging it on my own. I didn't do it because I wanted the money.
　There was no way they could get any kind of compensation from her," Ted insisted. Ted insisted.

　Michelle, on the other hand, is obligated to pay for the results of her request, no matter how it went, because she asked for and got the results she wanted.

''But Michelle-san. From what I've heard, you even used the magic stone?　Isn't that a huge expense? On top of that, if you put out 20 gold coins, you must be in the red. And to have nothing to gain from it: ......

　Orphelia opened her mouth apologetically.

　It is true that peddlers are creatures that seek and operate on profit.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the market.

'There's nothing to gain, hey ......'

　Michelle grins.

'Then let me pursue my interests like a peddler, shall we?

　With that preface, Michelle asked for a connection with Ted and the rest of the "Byakuya no Meisei".
　It's not an exclusive contract, but it's a condition that they will take over Michelle's escort on a priority basis when needed, and regularly contact Michelle about her whereabouts.

"The 20 gold pieces are, well, just a small deposit in advance. I'm not going to ask you to give up any of the jobs you're doing or to work for free. It's fine as long as you take as many of my requests as you can when you're free. If you can't do my request, you can refuse it.

'How does that benefit you, Michelle?'

　Orphelia speaks out with a simple question.

It is important for a peddler like me to have good mercenaries and good contacts. It's a direct result of life and death, and the more skilled professionals you can hire, the more dangerous places you can go to do business.

　Michelle says that it's quite difficult for a mere peddler to hire a truly competent mercenary.
　Not only are there few mercenaries themselves who are capable and have no problems with their personalities, but if they sell their name for a bit, they will be held by nobles, lords, and large merchant associations.
　Making a connection with a powerful mercenary before his name is known is worth the money in the upfront investment.

'You can always make money. But fate is not something that can be obtained just by piling up gold. You can get it for just 20 gold coins, so it's a small price to pay. So don't hesitate to take the money.

　So pushed through, Ted reluctantly accepted the twenty gold coins.

'Well, end of petty talk!　I suppose we could spend the rest of the time drinking and fellowshipping!　Today, it's my treat!　Eat and drink as much as you want!

　Under Michelle's orders, the group rushes into the barroom for a party.

　Including Ardis, there are ten people in total.
　Food is brought incessantly from the kitchen, and Ted's face turns red as he exchanges cups with Clente.

　Orphelia seems to be having a woman-to-woman talk with Helena.
　Norris was peeking here and there among Michelle's guards, chatting happily with them.

'So, can't you just have a little more fun drinking?

　Aldis was drinking a glass of beer by himself when Michelle spoke to him.

"I don't like drinking. I'm sleepy.

Well, well, that's not very polite. Well, it's better than being jittery and getting into a tangle. Have a drink.

　With a caracara laugh, Michelle sits down in the chair next to me. At the same time, he began to pour the wine into the cup of Aldis, which still had its contents.

You said your name is Aldis. How old are you?

What is it?　Are you trying to pick up a kid like this?

'Huh ......?　............ na na, pick up, ............ kukku, kukku... ...Hahahahaha!　You get this old lady and you call me a pickup artist!　I thought it was an oddly shaped tree, but you have a surprisingly interesting point!　Hahaha!

　Michelle started laughing as she banged on the table, wondering what had gotten to her point.

'Kukuku ....... Well, there are still guys who joke around and pick you up every now and then, but you're the first one to start saying 'I'm going to get picked up' by an old lady like this. Well, have a drink.

　After laughing for a while, Michelle asks Ardis again while forcibly pouring more alcohol.

It's not that I'm trying to pick you up, but you look to be the same age as those students, and yet you're used to fighting. Have you been working as a mercenary for a long time now?

You know what?　I don't even know how long it's been, myself.

　Aldis' words are not false.

　I can't even remember how long the days were when I struggled selflessly to survive.
　Seasons were only perceived as factors that changed the circumstances and conditions of battle, and months were only indicators of the timing of operations.

　Daily conversations were exchanged as 'after the battle in which he died' or 'before that unit was wiped out', and no one, with the exception of a few people, cared about the calendar.

　Aldis himself didn't know his own age, nor did he know how many years he had been fighting. In those days, no one had the luxury of being conscious of such trivial matters.

Well, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you to. You're not going to be able to get it out of me. More importantly...

　Michelle, perverting Aldis's words, changes the subject while pouring herself a drink.

'Your magic, what is it, then?　This is the first time I've ever seen a sword fly through the air and attack by itself. Is that kind of magic in vogue in Naglas these days?

'I don't know, at least in this country I haven't seen anyone else use it except me: ......

Does that mean you're the only one with a uni-holder?

'Well?　Maybe there's someone else out there who could use it besides me?

'So it's rare, at least to the extent that it's 'maybe' there. Well, drink up.

　Michelle is biting off more and more into sword and sorcery.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of the game.
　It's a good thing that you don't have to keep your cup of tea, but when you do, you can't help but put your mouth on it.

I'd like to keep in touch with you. This is a request from an old woman with a short life expectancy. You won't say no to me, will you?

　Michelle tries to get upset when Ted tells her, but she uses her age as a source of information for her own stories.
　In addition, the fact that she tries to use that as a shield to get the upper hand in the conversation is exactly what you'd expect from an old peddler. It was cunning and cunning.

Of course, business is give and take. If there is something you are looking for or want, I will be happy to help you with your modest profit. Have a drink.

'Okay, I'll keep that in mind. I'll let you know if I need anything else. If you need an escort, I'll help you to the best of my ability. But you'll be paid handsomely.

Yeah, that's all right. Well, I guess I'll just have to say goodbye to that in the future.

That's okay, but I'm not going to spend all that money on a single--

'Aruidaifu!　It's not fair to leave your friends out in the open like that!

　The one who comes to bodily attack Ardis from behind, who was about to complain, is the red one from the "Byakuya no Meisei", literally Orphelia with bright red hair.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to leave you alone," he said. I'm sure you're not the only one who's interested.

　While frowning, Aldis is calm in reply.

I've been wondering if I could pick a dinner supper at the inn. It's a good idea to have a balding father who said he'd be happy to spend some time with you and that he's a balding, balding guy ....... I can't get enough of that bald guy.

　But it was impossible to have a conversation with Orphelia, who was already becoming suspicious of the rottenness.
　Fast forward thirty minutes to the start of the feast, and the red-haired sorcerer was fully formed.

　His long hair, which is usually hidden under his hood, stretched across his shoulders to his chest.

You see, there's something for you. Eat this. It's so awful!　I'll pay you back already. Let's eat! Let's eat!

　Orphelia is the conscience of Byakuya no Moshi.
　Ted, who is straightforward at heart but has a tendency to speak and act rudely, and Norris, who appears to be good-natured on the surface but is actually cold-hearted, are the most decent of the two, but that's just the case with Sober.

　But that's just the case with sober people.

　Orphelia does not go well with alcohol.
　She may not care about it because she is happily drunk, but frankly speaking, it's annoying to those around her.
　To put it mildly, Orphelia who has been drinking can be described as 'bad at drinking'.

　First of all, it makes me lose my nerve. And he becomes incoherent. On top of that, she gets involved with others.
　In particular, the habit of trying to get others to eat bad food is more apparent than it was when she was sober.

I'll eat it. I'll eat it, so don't be so picky.

Yeah, that's why it's there.

　And the main victim of this 'being fed bad food' is Aldis.

　Aldis shoots the small piece of candy that Orphelia offered him into his mouth.
　A mouthful of gouging. The sticky texture is unpleasant.

　Why did they make this stuff, and did the manufacturer properly taste it with his own tongue? It was such a misguided and angry taste that it even made me angry.

'Yes, it's edible.'

　But what came out of Aldis's mouth was a single word of fact that could not be described as such an impression.

　When you think that Michelle, who had similarly sipped the candy next to me, showed an expression that looked like she had just bitten down on a bitter worm, she immediately spat out the candy and gulped down the water in the glass on the table at once.

''Ah, you're okay with that!

　Michelle asks Aldis, coughing lightly.

'Well, ......, it's a meal.

　It was Michelle who looked at Aldis's reaction as if she were looking at an oddball, and Orphelia who nodded in dismay.

'Aru deefu, tsunaaaaay!　Hey, hey, guys!　It's a food truck!　Look, look, look, you can have it!

　After leaving a disappointed voice, Orphelia approached the other mercenaries who were getting excited to scavenge for their next victim.

　If one looked closely, Helena was already plopped down on the table and knocked down.
　She must have been baptized by Orphelia before Aldis.

''Who?　Candy?　I'll take it for the sake of it.

Hey!　Don't do it, Clente!

　Clente and the others, who knew nothing about it, reached for it.
　Ted and Norris, who knew of Orphelia's vices, rushed to stop them, but it was already too late, and the drunks said it without hesitation - and soon they were all sunk.