The day after the barter exge, I visited Nel's house again.

  "Here, this is Liberta's share."

  The reason was to receive the reward from yesterday's quest.

  Even though it's a fair and proper pensation for bor, receiving money from a girl gives me a strong sense of guilt.

  The final amount obtained from the tanuki pelts through Nel's iatioerday was 2,500 zeni, which is equivalent to 250,000 yen in Japanese currenel handed me half of that, 1,250 zeni.

  "No, I only helped a little. This is too much.""No! This business was a joint effort between me and Liberta!"

  Holy, with this much, I won't o worry about money for a while. I do want it.

  However, it was Nel who collected the pelts and did the maiiation. All I did was give some advid teach her some methods. I didn't work that hard. Receiving money from that makes me feel a bit guilty.

  "Then, Teresa, this is for the rent and food expenses so far."

  As a small resistance, I tried to give Teresa 750 zeni from the reward as rent.

  "That's too much. That's money you earned, and it's fio use it freely. We're also asking you to take care of Nel. I'll only take 250 zeni."

  But she only accepted a third of that, leavih 1,000 zeni.

  "...Uood."

  There's no way to pay more, and I tell from Nel's gaze that further resistance is futile.

  Setting aside the guilt, it's safe to say that my pockets are now well-lihat's definitely something to be happy about. Thanks to this, I do more things.

  "...By the way, Nel, doesn't this prove that being a mert is amazing?""Ah."

  And when I put the money in my wallet, I asked, thinking that this quest successfully showed up that Dasse guy.

  In this quest, we mao obtain the essential "war funds" for pying as a mert. Although we borrowed the power of the adult Dent in the process, it's not an exaggeration to say that we achieved the rest through our own efforts.

  So I thought she might have fidently goo report, but...

  "Don't tell me you fot?""...Yeah."

  I didn't think it had bee so unimportant that she would fet.

  "...I'm gd you e."

  I only saw that Dasse guy from a distance, but judging from his attitude, the most damaging thing might be being fotten. I thought that, but I didn't say it because I somewhat uand his feelings.

  It's not a good thing, but not being able to direct emotions towards him is pitiful, so I decided not to tou that.

  "Yeah! It was fun! Hey, when are we doing it ?"

  Talking about him any further seemed futile, so I thought to quietly end the versation, but uedly, it tinued.

  "ime, huh?"

  Seeing her get hooked on adventures makes me happy, as if I've gained a fellow FBO pyer. After seeing Nel's real luck, I 't help but feel joy at the thought of her joining the party.

  I'd like to move on to the opic, but...

  "his time the pce we went to was safe, a was there as a guard, so I let you go, but it's usually dangerous, you know?"

  sidering her age, her parents would naturally stop her.

  "Then! I'll save up money, no, use this as special funds to increase it and hire Dent again! That's fine, right?"

  Normally, she would resider and agree, but it seems she 't be stopped now that she's tasted the fun of the outside world. Setting ditions was a mistake.

  "Hmm, I guess that's fine? But only hire Dent. I 't trust anyone else, so absolutely no one else. Promise me that.""...Okay.""I hope you uand, this is because I'm worried about you, Nel.""Okay."

  But it seems Jinx uands his daughter's personality well, as he firmly id down the rules.

  Hiring a k adventurer and borrowing horses would cost a lot. It will take time to earn enough to go out again.

  With the momentum from earlier, she's already thinking about the rip, as if to strike while the iron is hot.

  "So, what are you going to do now?"

  Seeing Nel ihought, Jinx smiles wryly and turns to me, probably thinking she won't be back for a while.

  Somehow, we've bee close, but I'm still a depe. I have things to do to bee indepe.

  "Thanks to Nel, I have some leeway now, so I'll go shopping today. Depending on the results, I might have something to discuss.""'t you say it now?"

  If I could get a protector like Dent, I could push my limits a bit, but there's no doubt I could do more. With that in mind, I should get things done early.

  Since I mentioned a discussion, he looked worried, but I ughed it off, saying it's nothing to worry about.

  "Yes, I o take on a small challenge, and I 't discuss it until it succeeds.""I see, okay."

  I mao vince him.

  Maybe he thought that si's something a kid would do, it wouldn't be anything strange? If so, that's fine.

  I feel his worried gaze pierg me, but I give up.

  "Then, I'll be going out now."

  I stand up, thinking it's time to take a.

  "I'm ing too!"

  I didn't expeel, who had just returned from deep thought, to raise her hand and say she's ing along.

  "Uh, I'm just going shopping.""That's fine! Market research is a mert's basics!""There's no shop work today, so if Liberta is okay with it, take her along. I'd feel better if she's with you."

  I don't pn to do anything special, so there's nothing iing, but she's eager to e. Even though we're not going outside, her enthusiasm makes me wonder if it's okay. I g Jinx, and after nodding, he gives permission.

  With Jinx's permission, I 't refuse.

  "Then, shall we go together?""Let's go!"

  I hope nothing happens, but I make sure t my bamboo spear and other equipment. Nel, dressed not in her outdoor clothes but like a town girl, follows behind and quickly walks beside me.

  "Where are we going today?""First, the alchemy shop.""That shop in the west?""Yeah."

  I have things to do, so I head to the destination based on memory.

  "Are you buying something at the alchemy shop?""I'm going to request a synthesis. If that succeeds, I pn to visit the on shop o enhahis bamboo spear.""Hmm, I thought you'd do something more amazing, Liberta.""Like I said earlier, I'm not doing anything iing. What kind of person do you think I am?"

  The journey is b. Just walking, not buying anything else.

  "Hmm, Liberta is Liberta?""What's that?""Hmm, I don't know! But being with Liberta makes me excited because it feels like lots of fun things will happen!"

  Don't make me sound like the protagonist of a geor. Unfortunately, in this world, I'm just a mob character with no es.

  As far as I remember, I haven't met any named characters or touched any grand quests.

  At this rate, I might gh life without entering any. I think I 't meet Nel's expectations, but I don't say it. However, Nel seems to be enjoying herself regardless.

  "I see."

  From my perspective, I'm just moving acc to my goals. To hat must be iing.

  From there, we pass through the market, listening to Nel's expnations, and when we reach the destination...

  "Ah.""Ugh."

  Why is he here? Both Dasse and I are stunned, while Nel makes a face like she's seen something she didn't want to see.

  "Why are you here?!""That's my line! You, who only swing a stick, don't belong in this shop!""Shut up! Unlike you, who's weak, I o get stronger! Look at this! A physical attack power enha pendant from my dad! I just had the alchemist enhas effect!""What's that? It's worse thaems in our shop."

  Kids want to show off. Especially boys.

  As Nel said, what Dasse is showing is the lowest-tier physical attack power accessory. It has some value early on, but after the early stages, it's barely useful.

  You'd be better off equipping a training bracer or something.

  "What did you say?!""What about it?!""Hey, Nel, no fighting. Making a se will trouble the shopkeeper. Is it okay to trouble someone who's running a business?""...Hmph!"

  But I don't point that out. If they keep making noise, we might get kicked out before we shop. It might be a case of tit-for-tat, but it's best to calm things down.

  Fortunately, she seems to listen to me. She's not vinced, but she seems to uand.

  Unhappily, she avoids Dasse in her line of sight, promising.

  "You too, the shopkeeper is giving you a scary look from behind.""Tch, mind your own... Hey, you guys, let's go!"

  After admonishing Nel, I point out the shopkeeper's gre to Dasse. A gnce shows it's not a full-on gre, but it's scary enough for a kid. He clicks his tongue, gives me a resentful look, and leaves the shop.

  "Really! What's with that guy, bleh!""Just ignore him. Sorry for the noise."

  Seeing his retreating figure, I smile wryly at ig out her tongue and apologize to the shopkeeper.

  "Don't let it happen again.""Yes, I'd like to request an item synthesis."

  The shopkeeper, who looks to be in her forties, nods. In this world, the higher your level and css, the slower you age and the longer you live.

  So appearances 't be trusted. She has the demeanor of a witch with gsses and sharp eyes.

  The witch-like shopkeeper's attire hasn't ged in over a decade.

  "What item?""I'd like to synthesize this key and the Proof of the Weak."

  Relieved that she'll do the job, I take out the key Nel gave me the other day and the Proof of the Weak from my bag.

  "This is a dungeohe tents are... oh, mochi."

  Dungeon keys are rare items that create a dedicated dungeon whehe witch's eyes light up for a moment, but when she realizes the dungeon is mochi-based, she loses i.

  Why is that? If she ks utility and value, she wouldn't react like this.

  "Why do you want to synthesize these two?"

  Her tone suggests she might not know. In the game, this wasn't discovered until some time after release.

  Could it be that this is unknown?

  "It's a little experiment. I'll pay, so please!""Well, alright, but if it fails, the key will be lost. Is that okay?""Yes!"

  Sihere's still a lot of time before the inal story starts, I thought it might be the case, and if it's true, it gives me a signifit advantage.

  "The fee is 30 zeni, paid upfront.""Okay, here are three rge copper s.""Got it. I'll do it at the alchemy table over there, so watch."

  This requires serious effort.

  Suppressing my excitement, I follow the witch to the ter and watch her work at the alchemy table with Nel.

  "Here we go."

  I know the result, but there's always a ce. The alchemy table has a magic circle drawn on it. The witch pces the key and the Proof of the Weak on it, els her magid after a few seds, it glows.

  "Here, done."

  Just like that, I obtained a cheat item that be useful not just in the mid-game but even ie game, depending on how it's used.

  "Thank you!""It's my job. Polite kids like you are wele to e again.""Yes!"

  I stare at the item I received from the witch. The dungeon key, now fused with the Proof of the Weak, has gaihe Iructible skill, shedding its able status.

  Among us FBO pyers, it's only known as...

  The 'Key of the Weak.' And so, I had obtai.