Chapter 58: Favor Work 3
TL/Editor: Raei
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Despite Grace's high hopes, Count Kolmar's territory was disappointing.
It had lost most of its mages, alchemists, and blacksmiths to the City of Mages, a three-day journey away.
And if you want to make a living, you head to the City of Adventurers.
It's like sending people to Seoul and horses to Jeju.
Nevertheless, Grace was pleased, smiling constantly.
She snacked as we meandered through the market, our arms entwined.
It was bizarre to see chicken skewers and spiral potatoes for sale in a medieval European-style market, but so it was.
The hovering camera was a little annoying, but overall, wasn't this a successful date?
Her smile never left as we enjoyed street food and bought inexpensive bracelets.
"By the way, where are we meeting up?"
"We didn't set a meeting point. How about the temple?"
I wasn't concerned, even though we hadn't picked a place to meet.
***
Raei Translations
***
As our brief market date ended and the sun began to set, I heard a voice behind me.
The camera drone allowed her to track us, and she could pretend to stumble upon us coincidentally.
"Ah, there they are."
"Roland! Grace!"
Sure enough, the rest of the party emerged from the end of the street as we were leaving the market.
They had just come from the temple and planned to find us on the market street.
So, we all gathered and went to an inn recommended by the coachman.
It wasn't extravagant, but it was touted as the cleanest and priciest inn in town.
It catered to ordinary people, despite the rural coachman calling it expensive.
We settled down in the bustling hall, gave the remainder of our coins to a working kid as a tip, and ordered food.
"There's a carriage leaving for the City of Adventurers from the temple tomorrow morning. We can catch that."
"Perfect timing."
We dug into the hot sausages and began to chat.
Of course, when the camera wasn't focused on me, I was discreetly checking the chat.
Looks like my date with Grace was secondary.
Han Se-ah was trying to win over Irene.
Not of the romantic kind of course, but according to the chat, you can prevent party members from leaving by simply making them like you more.
Things like enjoying a beer after work or working hard together to earn a retirement fund.
The consensus was that a good relationship without friction was enough.
-Stop spamming baseless theories.
-Isn't it enough to just get along?
-What do you mean by getting along?
-I'd be popular by now if I was the kind that could get along with everyone.
While munching on a sausage and glancing at the chat, I watch Irene and Han Se-ah.
They seem closer than before.
I guess I'm low priority since I was the one that approached her in the first place.
I recruited a mage and plan to continue climbing the tower, so I'm not going anywhere.
And Grace simply needs to stay by my side.
So it's her relationship with Irene that needs to be strengthened.
Irene, is kind and seems to enjoy looking after people.
She's the type that won't leave once attached.
'People are so transparent.'
Who else could better embody the phrase 'wearing one's heart on their sleeve'?
Even so, it's not like Han Se-ah's intentions are malicious.
Combined with her appearance, it's charming if anything.
If she was unlikable, she wouldn't have found success in streaming.
After our meal, we book five single rooms.
It was in consideration of the cross-dressing Kaiden.
Irene seems to think it was a little extravagant but Han Se-ah, who needs to log out, and Kaiden, who had her own personal circumstances, agreed without fuss.
Grace seemed to have no problems either.
After spending a day at the inn and another on the carriage journey back to the city, I thought our daily tower exploration routine would continue but-
"Why are you still here?"
"You got an issue, punk?"
Unexpectedly, a group of familiar but seldom-seen faces have gathered.
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Raei Translations
---
Having lived in the adventurer city for a decade, I naturally had numerous acquaintances.
People like Ellis from the Guild, Rebecca from the mercenaries, and others I'd met while ascending the tower, completing requests, and accumulating wealth.
Though it might be stating the obvious, most of those I knew were high up in the tower.
They're likely hunting monsters on the 30th or 40th floors or at the front-lines which was the 43rd floor.
So, while I knew many people, there were few I could meet up with at any given moment.
Or so it should have been
Suddenly, Rebecca, her fiery red hair flowing like a lion's mane, charges at me and gives me a hearty slap on the back.
My party's eyes widen, especially Kaiden, who was once part of Rebecca's mercenary crew, shrinking back.
"You haven't changed a bit. You didn't think I'd want to see a marvel like the gate?"
"I don't really know what you would do."
"It's nice to slap someone after such a long time."
Rebecca, grinning, points over my shoulder.
All the adventurers around are fixated on a singular table.
The table that drew everyone's attention is surrounded by vaguely familiar faces, difficult to fully recognize.
...This means my acquaintances now bear stars.
"Old man, you look lively. Did you eat something good alone?"
"Isn't it because you picked something up in the tower that your wrinkles have smoothed out?"
The ones seated at the table and laughing are a bearded old man with a blend of white and grey hair, and an old mage with full white hair.
Both the grey-haired elder and the white-haired mage exude an aura that can only be classified as senior elegance.
I didn't know any elderly gentlemen as suave as these two.
The chat was buzzing as their stars glowed radiantly.
"You all came down even with asses as heavy as yours. Why are you looking for me? Shouldn't you be heading to the Magic Tower?"
"My butt might be big and heavy. It's damn firm though."
"Oh, you lewd hag."
With Rebecca joining in the conversation, the eyes of the watching adventurers twinkle, like fans meeting a celebrity.
As more individuals began to congregate around the table, their awe became increasingly visible.
Adventurers' Guild Master 5 'Cunning Old Man' Graham.
Mercenary Group Leader 5 'Mercenary Queen' Rebecca.
Researcher Who Ascended to the 43rd Floor 5 'Truth Seeker' Antenor.
High-Ranking Member of the Intelligence Guild 5 'Silent Whisper' John Smith.
The remaining people had at least 4, so when around ten of them sat down, the combined radiance of their stars was dazzling.
Watching them with Han Se-ah, a woman casually lounging in her chair waves her hand toward me.
"Roland? What are you doing over there?"
"What am I doing? Just watching. Seems like everyone I know has decided to show up today."
"Seems so. The commotion must have drawn everyone down."
A beauty with drooping eyes, reminding one of a puppy.
I couldn't recall such a strikingly beautiful woman, but I immediately recognized her due to her unique equipment.
A long spear, longer than a person when held upright, there was only one individual I knew who wielded such a weapon.
Lily Deb, a young lady born into minor nobility who fled with but a single spear to avoid a politically arranged marriage.
"Is the person next to you part of your group? You've finally recruited a mage. Planning to go all the way?"
"Yes. I intend to take her to the frontlines on the 43rd floor."
"By the time you get there, it'll probably be the 45th floor."
Aside from her beauty, we had previously been quite friendly up in the tower.
While we talked, I felt a gentle pressure encircling my arm.
Grace, who had stealthily moved closer, leaned against me naturally.
What? In the meantime, a conversation started between the two women.
"Are you also a member of Roland's party?"
"Yes. I met Roland in the tower and asked to join his party, and he kindly accepted."
"Well, having a scout in the tower is essential."
"Yes, I am essential. Essential to Roland."
Both of them were wearing bright smiles, but I sensed the atmosphere around us turning frosty.
Despite being so close to Grace that I could feel her warmth through my arm, a chill swept over me.
I'm hardly the protagonist from an old-school romantic comedy, but even I can't ignore such an obvious display of affection.
The problem was the people gathered in this place.
From the head of the Adventurer's Guild to esteemed members of the Magic Tower, various people had gathered, watching me as if I were the lead in their favorite drama.
"This fellow's been showing off his face since descending from the tower."
"He tried to charm our girls as well, and now he's wooing someone from another party? No wonder his information sells for such a high price."
"Really? It's surprising to hear that from someone in the Information Guild."
"Servants from noble houses keep asking about this and that. Seems there's no shortage of lonely ladies in the evenings."
As Smith grinned and poked fun, aged women who looked like they'd never seen combat glanced at me and chuckled.
When they became gacha characters, they lost their wrinkles.
Did they also lose their dignity and their decency?
Naturally, it wasn't just these old men chortling at my expense.
Whether they found my quiet appearance sandwiched between the two women amusing or something else, the chat erupted at the sight.
-How is this a realistic game? It's purely fantasy
-Does he have a lover per star?
-Seems the genre's changed to a morning drama.
Rebecca, seated at the table, let out hearty laughter,
"Hey! I'll reserve a room for you three, so you can go enjoy yourselves! Or, I know a cozy inn with plush beds, should all four of us head there?"
"...No, we can't delay the meeting about the gate any further."
"..."
Their expressions turned sullen.
The two beauties were no match for an insane one.
I never imagined the day when Rebecca's wild nature would be a blessing.
***
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