Having slipped out of the guild while dodging the glares from the other adventurers, I found that mage from earlier waiting for me, arms crossed.
"There you are. Let's go."
"Uh, go where exactly?"
"...."
I'd only just arrived and gotten suddenly singled out to come outside, so I had no clue what was going on and asked. But this woman shot me a pitiful look, let out a sigh, and opened her mouth in a voice like she was barely holding back her anger.
"Where do you think? Didn't you hear the request details earlier? The forest to the east of the city. They need someone to guide them to the ruins inside it."
"The east forest..."
It was the forest I often visited when hunting goblins.
There weren't any particularly dangerous monsters besides goblins, no hazardous plants either, so it was a forest where even beginners like me could wander around with some peace of mind.
And the ruins in that forest...
"You mean the ruins in the center of the forest?"
"Yeah. Ha. You agreed to take the job without even listening to the details... Hoo."
Maybe irritated by me asking over and over, the mage woman's face twisted like she was about to unleash a tirade of curses but held it back.
But what was I supposed to do? She was the one who'd picked me by mistake...
I hadn't even pitched myself for the request in the first place.
"Um, sorry, but I'm like those guys from earlier..."
"What, you need me to repeat the pay too? Five silver per day. You just guide me, and if my work at the ruins takes longer, the job might extend. I clearly said..."
"...Just leave it to me! I know the east forest like the back of my hand!!"
The anger that had been welling up from her needless misunderstanding vanished in an instant.
What? Five silver a day? And not for anything dangerous—just guiding? Five silver for that?
On top of that, it might not be a one-off job but last several days. This was seriously...!!
"Let's get going! Oh, do you need to prepare anything before we head out...?"
"...What? Your attitude flipped all of a sudden... Whatever. We're leaving right now. You got anything to prepare?"
"Nope!"
Her tone still came off as rude, but since she was offering such a sweet gig at five silver a day, even that sounded like the whisper of an angel.
I was surprised at myself for having this kind of talent, grinning obsequiously and bowing as I led the mage along.
"...Annoying."
But when I saw her genuinely disgusted look at my attitude, I stopped immediately.
"...Um. Mind if I ask one thing?"
To subtly check without pissing off the mage, I pretended to confirm the request details again and voiced my biggest curiosity.
"There were plenty of adventurers who wanted the job earlier... Why me?"
From what I could tell, not just E-rankers like me, but even some D-rankers had been mixed in... What made her suddenly point at me?
"You smell the least."
"...."
Her answer hit me like a ton of bricks, and I shut my mouth, starting the guide without another word.
Coming from the 21st century modern world, I at least maintained some hygiene, like washing up occasionally at forest streams.
Thanks to that, this stroke of luck had rolled my way, so I'd give it my all...!!
"Turn left in 200 meters ahead."
"...What? That tone."
"Optimized for navigation."
"...Shut up and just lead."
"Got it."
I took another verbal lashing, but unable to hold back the grin, I beamed as I walked ahead. The mage, mulling over my words, muttered.
"And meters? What's that? If you're talking distance, use miles."
"......"
My smile vanished in an instant.
'Fuck. No wonder they call mages nutjobs.'
Mages really were all crazy, it seemed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Haa... Why did Master have to set that condition.'
A mage affiliated with the Magic Tower, on the verge of advancing from apprentice to full-fledged Formal Mage.
Laila grumbled as she watched the black-haired adventurer grovelingly guiding the way.
Mages in the Magic Tower were divided into ranks: Apprentice Mage, Formal Mage, Advanced Mage, and Elder Mage.
To advance to the next rank, mages had to contribute sufficiently to the Tower or demonstrate enough achievements.
As the disciple of an Elder Mage, Laila had long surpassed her peers and amassed more than enough accomplishments for promotion to Formal Mage.
However...
'An external request. Such a hassle.'
To advance ranks, those affiliated with the Magic Tower needed records of completing a certain number of external requests.
Rumor had it there used to be no such rule, but during an operation where the Tower allied with the temples to purge Evil God cultists, problems arose.
Apparently, desk-bound mages who couldn't perform properly ended up dying en masse.
After that, the Tower deemed a minimum of real combat experience essential for mages, making external requests mandatory for rank advancement.
Laila, aiming for Formal Mage, was no exception. Under her master's orders, she'd come here to fulfill an external request.
Laila recalled her conversation with her master.
'Listen well, Laila. These requests for apprentices are all easy ones, so you can handle them no problem!'
'A routine survey of already fully explored ruins... Sounds simple enough. I'll be back soon, Mas—'
'Ah, but Laila? When taking requests, always register them at the Adventurer's Guild and form a party.'
'Huh? The conditions for external requests from the Tower don't specify that...'
'You've grown up in the Tower since you were little and never interacted with outsiders. While you're out, try mingling with others.'
'But Master...'
'No buts!'
Her master ordered her to hire an adventurer as a guide or guard and tackle the request together, to gain some social experience.
If not for that, she never would've teamed up with some adventurer.
Harboring such thoughts, Laila eyed the black-haired man accompanying her.
Unlike the other reeking adventurers, he at least grasped basic cleanliness—his beard was somewhat trimmed, his skin far better than those with grime caked on. And his breath wasn't too bad, like he'd brushed his teeth.
His rare black hair had influenced her choice too, but Laila picked Yuseong mainly because he didn't stink.
'He's just someone I'll see once or twice anyway.'
She'd only deal with him for this request, never again after.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Why did I even bring this guy?'
Despite being hired as a guide, I wasn't leading; instead, I trailed behind the mage who'd introduced herself as Laila.
She'd said she needed guidance, but she advanced straight ahead without hesitation, like she knew the way...
-Crunch!!
"Kerrrk!!"
"Cold Spear."
-Spurt!!
"Gerk..."
Whenever a goblin popped out midway, before I could even draw my weapon, her magic pierced its skull in a flash.
'Jackpot.'
And since Laila ignored the slain goblins entirely, I snuck behind her, slicing off their ears to pocket.
I hadn't even gotten my request pay yet, but the goblin ears alone were adding up nicely.
This was why adventurers chased sweet gigs.
'Tch. When I get back, those bastards will definitely try to rob me...'
Vowing to hide my face and hair for a while upon return, I pressed on through the forest until the target ruins finally came into view.
"That's it. The ruins you're after, right?"
"Yeah."
An ancient ruin sitting smack in the forest's heart.
Even with my zero archaeological knowledge, it screamed old—like some temple.
I'd ducked in here often enough for shelter during hunts when it rained.
"Why come here, though? I heard all investigations related to these ruins wrapped up ages ago..."
"Quiet. Your job's just guiding. Do that well on the way back."
'...She's prickly.'
But as long as she paid properly, I didn't care.
I left the mage—who was staring at the wall murals and examining the messy footprints on the ruins' walls—to her work and tended my gear.
-...Rustle.
'Hm?'
Midway through wiping mud off my armor and boots, I caught a faint rustling from deeper inside the temple and turned toward it.
'...Wild animal?'
Or maybe another adventurer.
Any adventurer working this forest knew the ruins; some even visited for a look.
I'd poked around curiously myself the first time.
Weather was clear outside, so not someone rain-seeking.
'...Still. Better safe.'
Hand hovering over my handaxe, I crept silently along the wall toward the sound, body pressed close.
Couldn't afford carelessness with bandits preying on adventurers sometimes.
-Grip...!!
Ready to hurl the axe anytime, I advanced down the sound's corridor when—
-Whoosh.
"...What? Nothing here?"
Despite my tension, the corridor held no one—not even a mouse.
"What?"
Maybe my prowling annoyed her, as Laila frowned and approached.
"No, I... thought I heard something..."
"Heard something?"
She muttered some incomprehensible words, and a clear energy spread from her body, sweeping the area.
"...Detection magic shows nothing."
She glared like I'd made it up, so I shrank under her gaze and mumbled it was a mistake.
"Ha... I didn't ask you to do anything, but at least stay quiet. Don't interfere."
After one more scolding, Laila returned to her unfinished survey.
Scratching my head, I glanced back toward the sound.
'Maybe a bird got in?'
Grumbling about getting chewed out over nothing, I turned and headed back.
-...Fsssh...
Unaware of the faint dust still drifting, as if someone had just been there.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The tedious survey dragged on for hours.
As the sun dipped low, Laila and I returned to the city.
"Today's pay."
"...! Thank you!!"
I bowed deeply, joyfully catching the silver coin she tossed indifferently.
"We'll go tomorrow too. Same time at the guild... No, east city gate."
"Huh? Tomorrow too?"
"What, you don't want to? Then I'll find someone els—"
"No! Not just tomorrow—even a week, months, whatever!"
Just a casual stroll to the ruins and back for five silvers? No sweeter deal existed.
I offered Laila my deepest bow of gratitude.
-Thud!!
"Ack!!"
"...What the hell..."
She gave a pitiful look at my failed balance and flop, then headed toward an inn far classier than my dump of a lodging.
"Ugh. Guess my gratitude wasn't enough."
All those insults must've dulled my thankful heart. A grand bow gone wrong...
True grand bows required unwavering sincerity.
'Perfect. If this lasts a few more days, I can gear up decently.'
Fearing familiar adventurers might latch on, I hustled back to my room with the coin.
Hoping the job dragged on, I quickly maintained my gear and flopped onto my familiar bed.
"Can't slack on this though..."
I wanted sweet dreams, but stuck to my daily routine, murmuring familiar words.
"Status window, inventory, quest window..."
As always, no reaction.
But with five free silvers today, I could laugh it off.
"Alright. What to practice today. Bed again...?"
Like last night, hunting for an item to train 'Replication' on, my thoughts hit today's silvers.
"Come to think, I've replicated coppers but never silver."
Perfect. This it is.
I'd tried money before but chickened out fearing counterfeiting charges, avoiding it subconsciously since...
As long as I didn't use the copies, it'd be fine, right?
'Alright. Focus...'
Pulling out today's silver, I tried imprinting its weight and feel deep in my mind.
From my experiments, Replication eased with greater knowledge of the target—what I'd dubbed 'comprehension.'
Eyes closed, I rolled the coin on my palm, heightening comprehension through touch.
-Rustle.
'...Huh?'
Suddenly, amid the metal's chill, something thin and silky brushed differently.
'Hair?'
Peeking, a slender purple strand clung to the coin.
Must've stuck when she handed it over.
Its color screamed Laila; recalling her sparked a chain of thoughts.
'Her face really was pretty.'
'Baggy robes, but those breasts were huge.'
'Mage using shampoo? Her hair had a faint floral scent.'
'Shorter than me. Chin height maybe? Never stood side by side.'
Focused on the job, I hadn't noticed, but among women in this world, she was the prettiest by far.
And the faint stir below...
'...Damn. Jerking to a girl I've never even touched? Me.'
Two years here without proper relief, maybe?
Deepening thoughts on today's Laila bred more stray ones.
Distracted, I sighed and set the coin down.
From experience, Replication failed when my focus slipped like this.
Instead, fiddling with the hair on the coin, I indulged the lewd fantasies.
'Rude mouth, but bet she has a boyfriend.'
'Gruff tone, but such a beautiful voice.'
Mind wandering deeper, Laila's image sharpened vividly.
Pent-up lust plus craving for my first stunner here? Focus peaked, detailing today's observations.
Suddenly, pathetic for fantasizing, I sighed softly and muttered.
"Ha. What am I doing. Haven't even practiced today's 'replication' ye—"
The word 'replication,' muttered while toying with the purple strand.
Not intentional, just a grumble, but—
-Flash!!!
"...Huh?"
I felt energy drain rapidly from my body, witnessing a pale glow gather.