"Ah, I Live in a Heartless Fantasy World." Episode 3 [#CreativeAward2024] [#MangaOriginalWorkCategory]
《Episode 3: Conditions》
"It's an unreasonable request to ask me to abandon an apprentice halfway through. If their skills aren't developed yet, it's even more irresponsible to do so—and besides, if it ever got out that I just dumped an apprentice on some suspicious person who keeps their face hidden, I'd lose my own livelihood."
"…A fair point."
Lulunaria-san mutters, seemingly impressed by the master's words.
The assumption we had made on our own—that not only Teden but the master also wanted to kick me out—was completely wrong.
Things aren't progressing easily, and it feels slightly troublesome.
"…Then, may I ask what I must do to receive your permission?"
"Well, obviously, it would be easiest if you just ripped off all that cloth covering your face and showed me some proof of your identity."
"—I'm sorry. I cannot do that."
"Haa... Then at least prove that Grin can stand on his own two feet. No matter how much you coach him, I don't think he's capable of that..."
"Proof, you say? What kind of proof, specifically?"
"Hmm... Let's see—..."
And so—,
As a result of the discussion between the master and Lulunaria-san, the general conditions for me to become Lulunaria-san's apprentice were decided.
・First, earn all the necessary funds for changing jobs on your own.
・Second, pay the master for the earnings lost during the days Grin was away from the training grounds.
(Calculated at roughly five coins per day)
・Third, the deadline is one year. If you cannot keep these, give up on the apprenticeship.
That was what was written on the paper—a mere piece of thinly sliced wood, barely deserving the name 'paper'—that Lulunaria-san handed to me.
Getting permission to leave the training grounds is a big deal.
With this, can't I use the money-making schemes I've been keeping in reserve?
"If I make 100 Rupika a day, that's about 36,000 Rupika in a year... Hmm, I guess it might actually be manageable?"
"Pfft..."
Beside me as I muttered to myself, Lulunaria-san removed the cloth that had been covering her face. She did this after leaving the master's house and confirming there was no one around on the outskirts of the village.
I offered a word of farewell to Lulunaria-san, who was fanning herself with her hand.
"Well then, I'm off—..."
The moment I took a step forward, I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck again with full force.
"Gah—!?"
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Where? ...To the royal capital, of course?"
"What are you going there for?"
"Uh... well, I was thinking of doing some shoe shining to earn some money..."
"I don't mind you trying to earn your own way, but you won't make it in time even if you shine shoes for a year, you know?"
"Well, I mean... that's probably true if I do it the normal way, isn't it?"
"So, you're saying you don't intend to do it the normal way?"
"Yes... I intend to become the best at shoe shining. Besides—I have to go before someone else beats me to it, so I'd like you to let go of me right now..."
"No way. I won't let you go unless you tell me exactly what you're planning to do."
"Ehhh..."
"I get a strong vibe that it's dangerous to let you do whatever you want on your own. You might use your knowledge from your previous life to do something awful... And if that happens, it'll tarnish my name, won't it?"
"I... wouldn't do anything like that."
"Then you can tell me, right?"
When I glanced to the side, Lunaria's eyes were fixed on me.
"Ugh..."
Ah, there's no way I can talk my way out of this... Resigned, I decided to start from the beginning and explain slowly.
"Well... when I came to the royal capital before, I saw a small child shining shoes and it clicked. I remembered that if you use a fine-textured cloth for the finishing touch, leather shoes get really clean. So, I was confident that if I targeted people who looked high-ranking and polished their shoes with scraps of high-quality curtains, I could easily become the best, and with that money..."
"Wait a minute, where were you going to get curtain scraps from?"
"That's, um... I was planning to borrow some curtains from the theater..."
"I see. So you were planning to steal them."
"No, but I never intended to cause any trouble for the master or Lunaria...! Even if I were to get caught, if I leaked the secret of the curtains to the slums, the kids would break into not just the theater but also noble houses, and it would become a situation where they wouldn't even have time to catch me... And even if I were caught, wouldn't the jail be packed with kids? Then there's a high chance I'd be acquitted and released—..."
"Haaah..."
What came back was a massive sigh.
Do you really think I'd give you permission after hearing that?
Ahaha... I suppose not.
...You're an unbelievable brat. I'm really glad I didn't just leave you to your own devices.
With an exasperated look, Lunaria let go of me and pulled a small metal plate from her chest. It looked like a dog tag, and it was literally proof of being an adventurer—an adventurer's license.
And while I'm at it... you're under a misunderstanding to begin with, you know?
A misunderstanding...? What on earth do you mean...?
The money you need to pay the master is 18,000 Rupika, but to become my apprentice as an adventurer, you need an additional 500,000 Rupika.
...Huh? F-five hundred thousand...!?
That's right. Exactly 500,000 Rupika. Unlike other professions, adventurers aren't exempt from taxes during their training period, so you need to pay 100,000 Rupika per year for five years, totaling 500,000, in advance.
What kind of ridiculous amount of money is that...
That's not an amount a ten-year-old can just come up with in a year...
Don't tell me... I have to earn that on my own too, right?
Of course. It's clearly written as the first condition, isn't it?
I cast a glance at the paper.
It's written there, alright. It's written there, but...
Isn't that absurd!? There's no way to earn that much without committing some huge crime!?
Lunaria slapped me on the head as I pressed her for an answer.
Why is a crime your premise!? It's your warped sense of ethics that's absurd, isn't it!?
I think I'm just being rational...
When I protested in a small voice, she glared at me.
But I won't give up.
Because that just means it's impossible to become an adventurer without a skill, right!? If I can't earn it through honest means and I can't commit crimes, what do you expect me to do...?
...You were trying to die just a moment ago, so where is this passion coming from...? Just the other day, you were saying things like, 'I definitely don't want to be an adventurer, it's a profession with such a high mortality rate.'
That's...
What? Do you like earning money easily even if it means causing trouble for others?
No, that's not it...
Then what is it?I looked away, feeling too embarrassed to put it into words while looking at Lunaria's face.
...---is what I said.
I can't hear you.
...*inhale*.
I've decided! I'm going to travel the world that you've seen, Lunaria!
...
Can't you overlook a little crime for once!? I'm doing my best even though I can't use my skills! I don't have time to be lazing around in a place like this--... *oof!*?
In the middle of my loud protest, Lunaria suddenly hugged me.
A gentle voice rained down on me as I was forced to bury my face in her stomach.
Hey--
?
If I said I'd give you a new skill if you could keep a promise to me, what would you do?
I looked up with a start, and there was Lunaria's happy face.
...Can you really do that!?
Yes. Of course.
The look in Lunaria's eyes as she answered was completely serious. A sense of absolute confidence seeped through.
She didn't look like she was lying at all.
What kind of promise...!?
That is--
Lunaria paused, as if to build suspense.
What kind of impossible condition could she possibly be asking for...?
Without realizing it, I gulped.
To use your power for the sake of someone other than yourself.
Huh...? Is that all it takes?
That's a hundred times easier than the condition the master gave me...
Taken aback, I could only look up at Lunaria.
--Okay? Do you understand?
Oh, yes...
Without thinking it through, I immediately nodded--that's me.
And so, at that moment—,
I, whose head was filled with the joy of receiving a skill, failed to notice the meaning of the coldness dwelling in Lulunaria-san's eyes—.
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