Chapter 58

My house was on Third Street, on the west side of First Street.

Third Street seems to be the oldest residential area. The town had a row of streets older than even the slums, like Twelfth Street.

Still, compared to the slums, the buildings were not in disrepair and were quite solid.

In the middle of this street, there was a small house surrounded by vacant lots.

This small 1K shack was to be my new home.

It wasn't particularly new or beautiful, nor did it have any innovative design. It was just an ordinary house.

However, the cloudy windows were not broken, and there were no cracks in the walls. Just that alone made it look like a clean, new house to me.

Inside, there was nothing particularly unusual.

There wasn't even a single piece of furniture. Well, I could always get them as needed.

In the empty room, I leaned against the wall and crouched down a bit.

This room was my starting point.

I had become a citizen. What should I do from here?

Gustav assured me that I could do anything. If Gustav said so, it must be true.

I can do anything.

But that's why I'm hesitating.

I became an explorer. From now on, I'll explore, gather materials, and sell them.

By repeating this, I'll earn money, but then what will I do?

There was no noble reason. I just wanted to show those who mocked me for being a kid from the slums that I could make it out.

They haven't laughed at me yet. My goal hasn't been achieved.

It might be too early to worry, but what should I do after that?

I exhaled deeply, stood up, and stretched.

...I'll worry about it later. For now, I need to tackle the task at hand.

I'll worry about it again when I stop to think.

For now, I'll go to the Explorer's Guild today and check what jobs are available.

"The rewards are so low..."

I muttered as I looked at the quest board.

After muttering, I looked around, worried that someone might have heard me, but no one seemed to be interested in me, so I sighed in relief.

But they really are low.

For example, there was a request to bring Hin grass, which is needed for the development of medicine.

Hin grass is a plant shaped like okra and has a taste similar to scallions. It grows in the mountains far to the west of Iline. When you eat it, you feel refreshed and as light as a feather.

As usual, there are monsters around it. The Chinmori and Steniarbird, which are bird-like creatures. They are about the size of sparrows and have stingers like bees, and their poison is terrifying.

Once, a tree withered instantly when one of these birds stung it.

I saw it happen to a tree when I encountered one before. The green leaves withered instantly, and the bark cracked and split with a loud sound, which chilled me to the bone.

Gustav had said, "It should be easy," so I was careless, but since then, I've been knocking them down whenever they get close.

The price for one Hin grass plant is half a copper coin.

Considering the risk of collecting it in an area full of poisonous birds, it's too cheap.

At the Rock Shop, they buy it for two copper coins per plant.

I don't know which price is fair, but if the price is set like this, I'd rather sell it to the Rock Shop.

There are other requests as well.

However, the collection requests are all like this.

They all sell for more at the Rock Shop.

"You don't look happy."

I must have had a sour face while looking at the board.

Someone behind me pointed this out. I recognized the voice immediately.

"Wouldn't anyone make this face if they saw this?"

"It's much cheaper than the old man's shop if you look at it individually. But..."

Rashid chuckled and tapped the board.

"You have to look at different requests as well."

As he said this, he looked at the hunting requests rather than the collection requests and narrowed his eyes at one.

"For example, this one."

The request he showed me was to hunt a different monster nearby.

"Hunting a Clayker, huh?"

"Yeah, you can collect it on the way. That way, you can earn a lot in one expedition."

"Still, the Rock Shop seems more reasonable."

Even if I did the calculations, selling the Hin grass to the Rock Shop would be more efficient.

"That old man sells it at a lower price than others, even though he buys it cheap... Well, there's nothing we can do. You just have to accept it here."

Rashid nodded, folding his arms.

"If you want to take high-paying requests, you should get a nickname and take commissioned requests. Those are in a different league."

"I hope I can do that someday."

A nickname isn't something you can just claim. First, you have to become famous.

"By the way, why are you here?"

"What's wrong with that? I'm an explorer too."

"True, but looking for requests here is... surprising."

When I said this, Rashid took a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it.

"It's a report on a completed request. This place was the closest, so I stopped by and happened to see you."

"I see."

As the conversation paused, Rashid tilted his head as if he had just noticed something.

"By the way, why are you here? Could it be..."

"Ah, I became an explorer today. Please take care of me, senior."

I greeted him with a smile and bowed. Rashid greeted me with a complicated expression.

"...It feels a bit late, doesn't it? It's not much different from the old man's place."

"It is different. Didn't you see how surprised I was? The rewards are too low."

"That's just how it is. If you sell magic tools, you can earn a decent amount, and with proper exploration..."

Rashid suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

His gaze wandered as if he had noticed something, and he seemed a bit troubled.

"What's wrong?"

"...No, it's nothing..."

Rashid's attitude was uncharacteristically indecisive. He seemed to be hiding something, which was concerning.

While I was trying to get him to reveal his secret, Rashid seemed to have made up his mind.

He opened his mouth as if he had decided.

"Alright, I'll help you get a commissioned request faster."

I couldn't help but frown at his offer.

"...What do you want me to do?"

"It's not much. You can do it."

He smiled, showing his teeth, a smile that seemed to be enjoying something, and reminded me a bit of Gustav.

"Let's go to the guild's secret promotion exam!"

What does he want me to do...?

...I just joined today.