Accepting Requests And Heading Outside The City

“Luca, what should we do now?”

After submitting the party registration and finishing the sale of materials, Rebecca and I looked at each other. It was already too late in the day to actually take on a quest now.

“How about we review the quests and just accept them, then actually start them tomorrow or later?”

“That’s a great idea!”

“…Come to think of it, Rebecca, can you really work as an adventurer every day? I don’t think your mother has fully recovered yet.”

After thinking about my question for a moment, Rebecca smiled brightly and nodded.

“I think it’ll be fine. She was able to move around inside the house, so I think it’s better for the family if I work outside and earn money.”

“I see. Then let’s work hard and earn some.”

When we headed to the notice board where Fifth Rank requests were posted, about ten quests remained unclaimed. Some of them had even been sitting there for weeks.

“I was thinking a monster subjugation quest might be good. What do you think, Rebecca?”

“We’re doing it together, so I think that’s good too. Maybe we could also take plant gathering quests from the same area, or a medicinal herb gathering quest that can be done anywhere.”

“That would definitely be more efficient. …Then how about these?”

The quests I chose were a request to exterminate Horn Rabbits, which had been multiplying rapidly, and a request to gather Luca Fruit that could probably be found in the same area where Horn Rabbits had been frequently spotted.

“I think those are good.”

“Alright, let’s take these two.”

After completing the request acceptance at the counter, we left the guild and slowly walked along the main street.

“About how we’ll fight, I’ll basically take the front line with a sword while you stay in the rear with a bow. Does that sound good?”

“Yeah, that works. I mainly fight with a bow and only use a knife if enemies get too close.”

“Got it. I’ll probably combine sword fighting with magic.”

When Rebecca heard that, she glanced around cautiously before leaning close to my ear and whispering quietly.

“You can probably use every attribute of magic through Divine Power Manipulation, right? Which attributes are you going to make public?”

I needed to think about that too… normally having three magical attributes was already considered quite rare, so I shouldn’t reveal more than that.

“For now, I’m thinking fire magic, water magic, and light magic.”

“That might actually be the best choice.”

Light magic was essential because it included Heal and Light, and while fire and water magic were also useful offensively, being able to create fire and water instantly outside the city was incredibly convenient.

“I’ll remember those three.”

“Thanks. Well, I’m heading this way. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Luca, see you tomorrow!”

Being able to say “see you tomorrow” with Rebecca made me happy, and as I watched her figure grow smaller in the distance, I savored that feeling of happiness. Back when I endured life in Adolf’s party, I could never have imagined a future like this.

‘Lady Seremees, thank you very much.’

‘Hehe, what brought that on all of a sudden?’

‘I just felt like saying thank you.’

‘I see. Then I’ll accept it honestly.’

After that, I returned to the inn while talking with Lady Seremees, did some light stretching for tomorrow, and went to bed early. I was looking forward to tomorrow… it had been several years since I felt that way.

The next morning. I left the inn early and headed toward the plaza in front of the gate where I had arranged to meet Rebecca. The Royal Capital, surrounded by massive outer walls, had several gates leading outside, and each one had a plaza spread out in front of it.

“Ah, Luca! Good morning!”

“Morning, Rebecca.”

I saw Rebecca running toward me energetically from a distance and raised one hand to greet her.

“Did you wait long?”

“Nope, I just got here. Was everything okay at home this morning?”

“Yeah. My mom’s been recovering really quickly, and we even made breakfast together today.”

“Oh, that’s great to hear. Then you can focus on the quest without worrying.”

“I’ll do my best!”

As Rebecca and I, both full of motivation, left the city together, I suddenly stopped walking. Even though it was the same place outside the city as always, the scenery spreading out before me somehow felt completely different.

Just by feeling positive, the world could look this different… before, whenever I came here, I felt gloomy thinking about the suffering ahead, but now what filled my chest was anticipation.

I no longer had to carry everyone’s heavy luggage until I felt like throwing up, and I wouldn’t be forced into random fights with monsters that nearly killed me.

“It was this beautiful all along…”

“Hm? Luca, what’s wrong?”

Rebecca, who had walked a little ahead, noticed that I had stopped and turned back. With the blue sky behind her, Rebecca looked dazzling, and after narrowing my eyes slightly… I took a step forward.

That step felt incredibly light, as if it reflected the joy in my heart.