Unexpected Gratitude And Information

Late morning in the Royal Capital.

Sunlight from a slanted angle warmed the streets.

I went around with Liricia, delivering the keepsakes of adventurers who had died in the dungeon.

What I said was always the same.

“I cleared the East Dungeon, and I picked up their keepsakes, so I came to deliver them.”

Some people knew I had cleared the East Dungeon, and some didn’t.

But every single person who received the keepsakes cried and thanked me.

“Thank you, Alec-sama.”

“I thought I’d never see them again.”

“You brought back proof they lived and fought… thank you, Hero-sama!”

Young and old, men and women—everyone’s eyes shimmered as they accepted them.

I felt simply happy, but inside I was confused.

—I thought telling someone about a death would only make them sad.

I thought it would be nothing but a hassle for the one delivering the news, too.

But there were people who cried with joy.

…Maybe I shouldn’t have left it to others.

Somehow, it felt like it mattered that “Alec, the former hero who cleared the East Dungeon” was the one delivering them.

That was the impression I got.

Maybe it wouldn’t have meant the same if a government clerk had handed them over mechanically.

…I’ve done something wrong, all this time.

When I said that to Liricia, she lit up with a sun-bright smile.

“Just realizing that already makes you a splendid hero, Master!”

“I don’t know about that. You’re flattering me too much.”

“No, I’m not!”

Liricia happily jumped onto my arm, pressed her ample chest against it, and started walking with me linked arm-in-arm.

That gentle softness felt like it was supporting my heart, and it made me feel steadier.

After that, I continued handing out keepsakes to nearly fifty people.

At a clothing shop, they insisted on repaying me and held me back.

“I just brought them to you. Don’t worry about it.”

“No, no! This embroidered outfit uses a special tailoring method. My old man died before he could teach it to me… Now I can study it! Seriously, thank you!”

The tailor’s eyes were swollen red as he thanked me over and over, gripping my hands in both of his.

And he wouldn’t let go.

In the end, Liricia picked out clothes together with the young wife.

While that happened, the old man told me a lot.

Apparently, among the shopkeepers in the Royal Capital, dungeon delving had become a hobby trend, and then one whole party had failed to return.

…Angus, the real estate shopkeeper, had been among them.

It was a shock that they never came back, but most people had reacted with, “Ah… yeah, figures.”

Nothing was more dangerous than amateurs playing with fire.

By the time the story ended, Liricia returned carrying a bag with clothes.

“Then, may we accept this?”

“Isn’t that too little? You could make your husband even happier—”

“You’re fine.”

For some reason, the wife gave a big thumbs-up and flashed a bright smile.

The old man returned the thumbs-up with a “Good job!” response.

I didn’t really get it, but they seemed like a close couple in their own way.

I also delivered keepsakes to a diner around lunchtime.

Since it would’ve been a nuisance inside, I spoke with a girl working there at the back door—a lively girl with short hair.

“Ah… so the old man really didn’t make it… He was a kind old man who always brought us Great Boar meat.”

The girl smiled sadly, and her usual vigor seemed gone; she looked fragile.

“Sorry I couldn’t save him.”

“No! He’s been gone for a long time already, and just knowing whether he lived or died helps me sort out my feelings! Thank you so much!”

She bowed again and again, her short hair swaying.

Then a customer inside shouted an order in a loud voice.

The girl jerked her head up.

“Um… you’re Alec-sama, the potion shop owner of Puchi Eli, right?”

“Hm? Yeah, that’s me.”

“I have something I want to tell you, so I’ll come to your shop around evening.”

“Hm? Uh… I don’t really get it, but okay.”

“Then, thank you very much!”

She returned inside while bowing repeatedly.

And then she barked at the loud customer,

“If you’re a regular, you can wait a little!”

That was one heck of a personality flip.

I looked at Liricia.

“Alright, shall we go to the next person?”

“Yes, Master!”

Prompted by her cute voice, I held Liricia’s hand and resumed delivering keepsakes.

The Royal Capital at dusk.

After finishing the deliveries, I watched the shop.

I didn’t have anything else to do today.

Teti had gone into the forest with Liricia and Ciel, the pegasus foal, to search for medicinal herbs.

Sophiecia was on break.

I sat at the counter, spacing out.

I was mentally tired from meeting so many people to deliver keepsakes.

But it was a strangely pleasant fatigue.

I’d expected at least some complaints, but everyone had thanked me far more than I imagined.

—I’m glad I did it.

Even while bored, my heart felt oddly uplifted.

I did handle one customer, at least.

Someone really did come and buy Puchi Elixir by the dozen.

—I probably should deal with reselling more seriously.

But I couldn’t move without funds. I wanted to rejuvenate first.

Well, it was only five million more. I could deal with it after I got younger.

While I was thinking that, someone entered the shop.

It was the diner girl I’d met earlier.

She came in briskly, her short hair bouncing.

When she spotted me, she smiled.

“Hello, Alec-san! Thank you for earlier today!”

“No, it’s fine. It was just on the way. I’m glad it made you happy.”

“Yes! Thank you for letting us move forward!”

She bowed deeply with momentum.

Not understanding, I asked,

“Move forward…? What do you mean?”

“Well, if you don’t know whether someone’s alive or dead, you cling to the past forever, don’t you? I figured he was probably dead, but I couldn’t bring myself to accept it. By bringing back the keepsakes, our family can move forward! Alec-san, thank you!”

She bowed deeply again. Her bright short hair swished.

—I didn’t do anything that big. It was just on the way.

But to the bereaved, it really was that important.

What had I even been doing as a hero…?

Feeling awkwardly itchy inside, I said,

“No, you don’t have to worry that much. I get how you feel—thanks. …So, wasn’t there something you wanted to tell me?”

“Ah, right!”

The girl snapped her face up.

Then she moved closer to me at the counter and started talking in a conspiratorial whisper.

“A customer at our place was talking about this shop’s Puchi Elixir.”

“Oh?”

“I overheard them whispering, and they were talking about diluting the Puchi Elixir sold here with water and selling it off!”

“What—seriously!?”

“Seriously. Alec-san, have you registered the recipe or set up a way to distinguish counterfeits from the real thing? At this rate, this could turn into a big incident…”

She furrowed her brows anxiously.

I couldn’t answer.

“Sorry. I haven’t done anything… I was thinking I might ignore reselling, but… diluting it with water is no good. It’s way too dangerous.”

“Yes! That’s already a counterfeit! If adventurers on the verge of life and death get stuck with fake Puchi Elixir, they’ll really die!”

She spoke forcefully, her expression serious.

—Maybe because she’d lost that adventurer old man, her sincerity came through in full.

All I could do was nod.

“Got it. Thanks for telling me. I’ll deal with it as soon as tomorrow.”

“Ahh, thank goodness… Then I’ll be going. Thank you very much!”

She gave a quick bow and left the shop.

Resting my cheek on my hand at the counter, I thought.

—That was extremely important information.

If I handled this wrong, even my credibility would crash.

People used Puchi Elixir when they—or their party—were in a critical situation.

If it turned out to be fake, there would definitely be deaths.

People would look at me with suspicion, and even if I insisted “This Puchi Elixir is real,” there was a chance it wouldn’t sell at all anymore.

…What do I do?

Even if I tried to get a recipe patent or whatever, I’d probably have to reveal that I was a dungeon master.

Because I was making it using dungeon abilities.

That was impossible.

Kou could end up being targeted for extermination.

“Gah—! Could it be that ‘living by my own will’ is a huge pain in the ass!?”

I clutched my head and groaned.

Back when I was a hero, I just moved as I was told.

It was easy because I didn’t have to think. Everyone else handled the annoying stuff.

Now it was different.

The moment I tried to obtain what I wanted, hardship kept piling on one after another.

I could just give up. The profits, Kou, a long life together with Liricia…

—But I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to stay with Liricia forever.

But then what was I supposed to do?

—And then.

While I was writhing in frustration, someone entered the shop.

When I looked, it was Edgar—the tall, skinny man with messy hair.

All I could do was stare in shock.

That investigation was way too fast.