Chapter 22: Level 2

Afterward, the evening bell rang, so I decided to return to the royal capital.

In the end, I’d managed to hunt several more monsters.

◇

Monster defeated.

1 EXP acquired.

EXP until next level: 5/100.

◇

“Defeating five raised it by five. That means I still gain one EXP per monster at Level 2.”

That alone was welcome information.

I’d learned many things today and was satisfied.

Once I returned to the capital, I went to the guild and received payment under the standing slime-subjugation request.

“Welcome back, Erik.”

“I’m back. Reina, I defeated some slimes, so could you process them under the standing request?”

“Of course. How did it go today?”

“Thanks to what Ryan taught me, fighting was much easier than before.”

I answered honestly, and Reina smiled.

After she completed the paperwork, I accepted my reward and returned to the inn.

“Welcome back, Erik.”

“I’m back.”

Reina had said it too, and now Amanda welcomed me home as well.

When I’d lived with my family, there hadn’t been anyone who said those words to me.

Now I heard them as an ordinary part of every day.

Feeling secretly happy about that, I went to the dining hall.

“Huh? Isn’t there more food than usual?”

“Ted said breakfast alone wasn’t enough of a reward for you, and he wouldn’t listen when I told him not to give you a little extra at dinner too. I warned him that doing so much would only make you uncomfortable.”

“…I’m very happy about it, but I think I’m receiving too much if you give me this much.”

“Hee hee, I knew you’d say that. I’ll make him return it to normal tomorrow, so will you eat it just for today?”

In my mind, breakfast was already full payment for helping with the laundry.

Because I viewed it that way, receiving extra food at dinner made me feel as though they were giving me too much.

When I told Amanda that honestly, she gave me that answer, and I began to eat.

“Ted, thank you for another delicious meal today. Um, but breakfast alone is more than enough as thanks.”

“Is it? The inn produces a lot of laundry, but you help without a single complaint. I thought we weren’t giving you enough in return…”

“That’s not true. Being able to eat so much of your delicious cooking first thing in the morning is more than enough payment.”

After dinner, I approached Ted and told him that.

He fell silent and thought for a while after hearing me.

“All right. If that’s what you want, Erik, we’ll keep it to breakfast… Still, you’re very modest. Wouldn’t most people take whatever they could get?”

“I do accept things occasionally, but I’ve already received many things from you and Amanda since I began staying at this inn.”

There was the complimentary service on my first day and permission to use the backyard for training.

They’d also introduced me to people like Reina and Harold.

“I’ve already received plenty, so I’m actually the one who ought to repay you. And that means you should let me help tonight!”

“How did you reach that conclusion?!”

Ted shouted, then burst out laughing.

Amanda and Anna looked surprised to hear him laugh aloud.

After that, I asked Ted to let me help clean up.

“…You’re truly good at cleaning. We finished in no time.”

“If it took me too long, there wouldn’t have been any point in helping.”

“And it’s even cleaner than when we usually do it… Whenever Anna wipes things down, she always leaves wet spots somewhere.”

“Dad, was that really something you needed to say right now?!”

Anna shouted at Ted’s remark, making Amanda and me laugh.

Once I’d finished helping them clean up, I went to take a bath.

I’d managed to repay Amanda and Ted a little, so I soaked in the bath feeling satisfied.

“Today was a good day. I leveled up, and I also repaid the inn a little.”

Submerged up to my shoulders, I looked back over the day.

Because my EXP requirement was fixed, I’d need to defeat another one hundred monsters to level up again.

However, defeating one hundred monsters wasn’t a hardship for me.

I should also be able to acquire a skill if I learned to swing my sword more properly.

Many things I wanted to do from tomorrow onward swirled through my mind. As soon as I left the bath, I went straight to my room.

“Acquiring [Swordsmanship] is next.”

With that thought, I lay down in bed and fell asleep.