Chapter 40: A Disturbance 4

Afterward, I had the request report signed and received my reward.

“R-Reina? This is too much.”

“Ten silver coins are the reward. The remaining forty are an additional reward. The Master agreed to it as well, so accept it.”

“But I only reorganized the warehouse as requested.”

“The result exceeded everything we expected, which is why we’re giving you an additional reward. Also, completing this request has earned you a promotion. Congratulations.”

Reina returned my adventurer card.

The rank field unmistakably said Copper.

“Huh? Had I already accumulated that many achievements? I thought I still needed to complete more requests…”

“Normally, you’d need twice as many. However, you’ve received the highest evaluation on every request. You’ve also completed one subjugation request and repeatedly defeated monsters covered by standing requests. Considering all of that together, the guild decided to promote you.”

After listening to Reina’s explanation, I smiled at the adventurer card displaying my new rank.

“Ah, Reina, may I open an account now? Carrying this much money frightens me in several ways…”

“You’ve built more than enough of a record, so you may. Opening one costs five silver coins. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes. That’s inexpensive considering the guild will store my money and let me withdraw it from any branch.”

I paid the fee from the reward I’d just received.

I’d originally had ten silver coins on hand, and after the payment, my total savings came to fifty-five silver coins.

I’d left a little more at the inn, but I decided to keep that as living expenses.

“I haven’t been an adventurer long, but I’m happy I’ve already saved so much.”

“That’s true. You don’t waste money. Most of your equipment came from rewards too, so you have very few expenses.”

“Yes. Other than my room at the inn, I hardly spend anything.”

That was how I’d saved so much.

Deposits and withdrawals could be handled through my adventurer card, so I didn’t receive another unnecessary card.

I’d earned a promotion and opened an account.

I hadn’t been able to leave the city to level up, but it had still been an extremely satisfying day.

“My, Erik. You’re in an exceptionally good mood. Did something pleasant happen?”

“Yes! Look at this!”

I showed Amanda my adventurer card.

“My, you’ve already reached Copper rank. That’s impressive.”

“It’s partly thanks to you, Amanda.”

“Ha! All I did was introduce Reina. More importantly, this calls for a celebration. I’ll tell my husband to make dinner a little more extravagant tonight.”

“What? No, that’s all right!”

I tried to stop her.

However, Amanda was in such a good mood that my objections accomplished nothing.

A large steak appeared at dinner that night.

It wasn’t only for me.

Every person staying at the inn received steak, and the other guests congratulated me on my promotion.

Despite everything, I hadn’t spoken much with them before.

I left early in the morning and returned in the evening, so there hadn’t been many opportunities.

During the celebration, however, I spoke to all kinds of guests and enjoyed a lively dinner.

“…Come to think of it, is the disturbance around the royal capital going to be all right?”

The disturbance had apparently been continuing for several days.

I’d heard during lunch that high-ranked adventurers were responding to it.

However, they still hadn’t identified its cause.

“I hope it settles down quickly. I want to level up too…”

If I included other monsters among my targets, I could increase my leveling speed somewhat.

However, I still wasn’t confident I could fight goblins or horned rabbits.

“Other adventurers may think I’m a coward, but I don’t want to die.”

Goblins in particular were often underestimated.

In reality, they were extremely cunning and posed a threat to novice adventurers.

A horned rabbit’s charging attack was also extremely powerful.

Even while wearing armor, it was a dangerous blow to receive.

“Well, no matter how much I think about it, staying inside the city is the wisest choice for now. I’ll continue taking city requests tomorrow.”

With that decision, I lay down and fell asleep.

“——!”

“?!”

I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep.

However, violent shaking and a thunderous roar woke me.

The other guests woke from the sound and tremors as well and rushed from their rooms.

“Everyone, the shaking may continue! Evacuate outside the building!”

Seconds later, Anna shouted that warning, and every guest, including me, left the inn.

Once we were all outside, we waited anxiously to see whether the shaking would resume.

The next instant, the moonlit ground became dark.

I instinctively looked into the sky and saw an enormous creature.

“A-A dragon?”

The creature had wings that appeared several meters wide.

A dragon was flying overhead.

It passed above the royal capital and vanished into the distant sky in an instant.

We remained outside for a while.

The ground didn’t shake again, and Amanda and the others concluded that the dragon had probably caused it.

We returned inside and went to our respective rooms.

“That was the first dragon I’ve ever seen. It looked so powerful and incredible…”

I’d only seen dragons in picture books before.

Even from a distance, seeing a real one left me excited.

I had no desire to fight one.

I merely hoped that one day, I might see that beautiful form from somewhere closer.

“…I need to wake early tomorrow, so I should sleep.”

I’d been staring dreamily out the window. I hurried back into bed and fell asleep.