Chapter 27: Strong or Cool, That is the Question
The base in the suburbs had excellent natural lighting. Every day after breakfast, the group would sit together and enjoy a leisurely time. This other world, free from industrial pollution and the glitz of high technology, had a settled, medieval composure that seemed all the more simple and pure.
I really wish I could just be a shut-in like this forever.
Satou Kazuma couldn't help but sigh at how peaceful the world was.
Suddenly, Kobayashi walked in with a very serious expression. "Everyone, there's no time to continue lazing around like noble masters! It's time for us to do a quest!"
"..."
If it had been anyone else but the leader, Kazuma would have surely flown into a thunderous rage and started cursing.
He was confused by Kobayashi's words.
"Why the rush to do a quest? Besides, we made a lot of money from the cabbages. We shouldn't need to work for a short while, right?"
"Yeah, we earned so much. And the weather is nice today, I don't want to work," Aqua said, stretching and then flopping lazily onto the table, as if to say she only wanted to slack off today.
"Indeed, the weather is quite nice today."
"S~u~n~b~a~t~h~i~n~g~"
Darkness and Megumin had the same idea.
Kobayashi didn't get angry. Instead, he said, "It's fine if you don't want to do a quest. If you can all go without eating tomorrow, I don't mind."
"...Eh?" x4
Hearing his words, the party members instantly panicked.
"What do you mean, not eating?"
"I thought something was strange just now. Are we out of money?!"
"No way, didn't we earn 10 million? How could we be out of money?"
"What's going on, Kobayashi!"
Kobayashi didn't interrupt while they were all talking at once. Only after they had quieted down did he slowly speak. "The money... is indeed gone."
"How is that possible?!"
"Don't panic, let me explain."
Buying the Crystal Bombs cost 5,500,000 Eris. Although Kazuma and the others felt the bombs were useless, ninety percent of the harvest earnings were thanks to Kobayashi's efforts, so they didn't say anything.
As for the rest...
Besides the 550,000 spent on equipment, there were the expenses for treating everyone to appease them, as well as Aqua and the others' recent extravagant spending. Most importantly, the commotion Megumin caused at the guild yesterday had cost the party the last of their savings.
Of course, this was the official story. In reality, Kobayashi had still kept some savings for a rainy day, but no matter how much money they had, it would eventually run out if they continued to be lazy.
"So, let's go do a quest!"
"Yeah!"
"Okaaaay~"
His enthusiastic encouragement was only met with a loud response from Darkness. The others' laziness made Kobayashi very angry.
He lowered his voice and threatened, "Are you really not going to work? No work means no money. Aqua can't drink her sparkling liquor, Megumin can't eat her kid's meal, and Kazuma-kun can't buy his toys. Is that really okay?"
"Of course it's not okay without sparkling liquor!"
"I caused the trouble, so I'll make up for it!"
"Let's go show them what we're made of!"
The three of them responded one after another.
The moment they heard their own interests and pleasures were at stake, these guys perked right up.
Honestly, they're such problem children.
The group headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild.
In the guild, many adventurers were gathered together, discussing which quests to take. Their money had long since been spent. After all, not everyone could rake in a huge reward like Kobayashi's party.
"Kobayashi? You guys are here to do a quest?"
"How rare."
"You're working so hard! Are you trying to make the rest of us look bad?"
The adventurers, who didn't know the situation, all thought Kobayashi was there to do quests, level up, and earn money. In reality, they had just run out of funds.
But Kazuma and the others couldn't bring themselves to say that, so they just gave an ambiguous "yes."
The group didn't rush to take a quest. Instead, they first found a corner to sit down. They needed to decide on the type and difficulty of the quest; it had to match the party's current strength.
"Do you have any good suggestions, Kobayashi-senpai?"
"Mmm, I actually have a quest in mind already."
Kobayashi took out a quest form he had prepared in advance and placed it in front of them.
The group gathered around.
"A Crystal Deer...?" x4
It was a collection quest. The target could be dead or alive, as long as the Crystal Deer's antlers could be preserved intact.
The quest difficulty was 4 stars.
Medium-high, a bit difficult for the party.
Kazuma asked curiously, "A Crystal Deer's antlers? What are they used for?"
"They have a wide range of uses," the disguised Lady Darkness explained to him. "Not only are they a high-grade ingredient that can increase experience when eaten, but they are also a very suitable alchemy material for various top-tier potions, so their price has always been high."
"Oh, no wonder."
Kazuma understood that things with a wide range of uses were generally expensive, so he looked at the quest reward amount with great anticipation.
"Uh... a Shadow Dagger?"
Not money, but equipment?
Kazuma looked at his leader. "Kobayashi-senpai, don't you want to say something?"
Kobayashi turned his head away, his tone a little unnatural as he said stiffly, "S-say what..."
"Why is the reward a piece of equipment?"
"..."
Seeing Kobayashi turn away, looking awkward and at a loss, Kazuma seemed to understand something.
It's the equipment, it must be the equipment!
"Kobayashi-senpai, do you like collecting equipment? But with your tragically bad fashion sense, I really suspect you just randomly throw on whatever you find."
"Wait! Don't get the wrong idea! I care about whether the equipment is strong enough and if the build is practical! Whether it looks good or not is not within my consideration at all!"
"Yes, yes, I believe you."
"Hey—!"
Kobayashi's defense seemed pale and feeble.
They were definitely going to do the quest. It wasn't just because the party was out of money, but more importantly, this was the first time Kobayashi had secretly wanted their help with something. He naturally wouldn't refuse.
"You've already planned it all out, haven't you, Kobayashi-senpai?"
"Of course!"
"Then let's go do the quest!"
"Yeah!" x4
After discussing it, the group headed out of the city.
On the way, Megumin, who was walking at the very back, was silent, her head bowed as she trudged forward gloomily. Although she often acted this way when her stamina was low, Kobayashi felt that something was a little off.
He slowed his pace and came to her side.
"Megumin, what happened? You look so down."
"...I'm sorry, Kobayashi."
Her sudden apology baffled him.
"It's all my fault. I cost us a lot of money."
So she was blaming herself. Was she afraid of being kicked out of the party because of this, which was why she had been so down?
Looks like I need to comfort her.
He let out a small laugh and placed his hand on her head.
"There's nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong."
"But!"
"Money will always run out someday. We'd have to do quests sooner or later. The others in the party know this, which is why they weren't angry. And you are the best Explosion mage I've chosen—the Fledgling Phoenix! How can you let someone insult you? Fighting back is the right thing to do."
"Kobayashi, thank you..."
Megumin was deeply moved. She had joined several parties before, but they had all kicked her out after finding out about her uselessness. No one had ever trusted and comforted her like Kobayashi.
"Next time, if someone insults me, can I fight back with Explosion magic?"
"Of course! And you should hit them back hard!"
Kobayashi gave her his affirmation.
"Then, can I blast Kazuma if he insults and belittles me?"
"Blast away, until he apologizes to you."
I'm sorry, Kazuma-kun. Your days ahead might not be so easy.
He mourned for him in his heart.
"Then, can I blast you for insulting me before, Kobayashi?"
"Of... ahem, on that matter, I must ask Miss Megumin to be merciful."
"I refuse!"
Megumin beamed, then quickly ran a short distance ahead before turning around and saying playfully, "...But, if you treat me to a kid's meal, Kobayashi, I'll forgive you!"
"I'll get you a large one!"
Kobayashi shook his head and laughed.
What's with her? She's still a child at heart, isn't she?
(End of Chapter)