The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 20

Chapter 20: The Rip-off Artist Entrusts His Life.

After being thoroughly pampered by Al for my work fatigue, the two of us headed to the Adventurer’s Guild.

Apparently, Quince had come to the hotel while I was resting and left a message at the front desk asking me to come to the guild.

“Is it about the reward?”

“It’d be fine if they just transferred the standard reward to my guild bank account.”

“Guild bank?”

“Ah, you don’t know about it, Al. You’re not an adventurer, after all.”

The ‘National Adventurer’s Guild Credit Bank’—commonly known as the Guild Bank—is a massive bank operated by the Adventurer’s Guild, which oversees all adventurers on this continent.

As long as you have your adventurer’s license and can verify your identity, you can deposit and withdraw money anywhere on the continent, so opening an account is essential for adventurers.

To open an account, you need an adventurer credit score, which is a comprehensive evaluation of an adventurer, so young adventurers work desperately.

“I see. I might want to open an account too.”

“I see, then I’ll give you this.”

From my magic bag, I took out a leather strap with a small metal plate attached and handed it to Al.

“What’s this?”

“Just to be clear, it’s not an accessory.”

I’d be in trouble if she thought this was the first accessory I’d ever given her.

I am planning on choosing something that suits Al at the right time.

“It’s a family tag for my guild bank account. I made it thinking you’d need it during our trip… but I forgot to give it to you. With this, you can use my account.”

“Eh, yours, Rody-san?”

“Yes, but?”

“Is it really okay to give this to me? It’s your money, Rody-san.”

I gently pulled the worried-looking Al closer by her waist.

“I’m giving it to you because it’s you, Al. You’ll stay with me forever, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then there’s no need to hold back.”

Al’s eyes teared up a little, and she pressed her face into my side.

I don’t know if she’s trying to hide her embarrassment, but it tickles a little.

“I’ll just hold onto it, I won’t use it!”

“You can use it if you need to, you know?”

“Just being with you is enough for me, Rody-san.”

Ah, geez! She’s so cute. Why is my girlfriend so cute!

“But I’m happy. I feel like you trust me, Rody-san.”

“Hey, hey, I’ve always trusted you, haven’t I? I left everything from the shop’s accounts to everything else to you.”

“That’s true, but…”

I gently squeezed Al’s hand as she chuckled.

“You know, in the dungeon, I was thinking.”

“About what?”

“That you were the place I came home to, Al. When I came back from the dungeon, I was always coming back to where you were, I’m sure of it.”

“Rody-san…”

Al quietly looked up at me.

The sunset faintly illuminated Al’s face in red, making her smile shine.

This is what I worked so hard to see.

“So, I want you to have it. When it comes to money, it might be a little… you know… but the gold coins piled up there are definitely the proof of my life. I’m entrusting it to you.”

“That’s a huge responsibility…!”

“Don’t worry, if it decreases, we’ll just earn more. Look, let’s have them add today’s earnings to it.”

I laughed and pointed, and in the distance, the giant Yaje Adventurer’s Guild, dyed in the sunset, was visible.

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“Here are the documents for the addition to your adventurer credit score, the payment amount of the reward, and other miscellaneous items. Please confirm.”

I looked through the several documents Quince handed me.

They all listed the standard information, and there seemed to be no problems.

Perhaps because it was a high-urgency ‘flyer request’, I almost laughed at the large ‘Special Reward’ stamp on the reward section.

“I’ve confirmed it. It’s fine.”

“Ah, yes, I’ll take them.”

I handed the signed documents to Quince.

Is it just my imagination, or does she seem a little shifty?

No, she’s definitely shifty. Her eyes are darting around.

“Hey, Quince.”

“Y-Yes?”

“You came to the hotel, right?”

At my words, Quince froze with a start.

She’s being so obviously strange.

Even guild employees aren’t exactly free.

When I returned from the dungeon and reported here once, I said, “I’m going back to the hotel.”

And yet, she left a message at the hotel front desk as if I had been absent.

Normally, if she had come that far, she would have called for me or come to my room.

“…You, don’t tell me.”

At my words, Quince looked away and blushed.

Al looked at our exchange, confused.

“Hey, hey, guild employee. You’d better spit it out.”

“W-W-W-What are you talking about?”

“You’re too flustered. Besides… you don’t usually make any footsteps at all, do you?”

At my words, Quince gave a humid smile.

Did she think she could fool me with that?

So she’s guilty after all!

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, ohohoho.”

You, ‘ohoho’?

Hah… good grief, what is a prestigious guild employee doing?

“Double the reward.”

“Eh?”

“Hey, hey, I’m Rody Vottark of the ‘Rip-off Company’, you know? Did you think you could get away with it for free?”

“No, um, that is…”

I whispered softly into the flustered Quince’s ear.

“—You know what this is, right? It’s hush money. Or should I go file a complaint with the Guild Master right now?”

“Ah, ahaha… a reward increase, is it! Understood! How about 1.5 times?”

“Are you in a position to haggle?”

“—Ugh! You… rip-off artist!”

I chuckled lightly at Quince’s words.

Don’t just call everything a rip-off. Honestly.