The three idiots who couldn't become heroes are preparing a man's meal today as well. - Chapter 23

Volume 2

Episode 23: Daily Life

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A young man and woman were at the guild counter, reporting on their completed job.

Their task had been the extermination of magical beasts that had appeared in a nearby village.

However, the job was more akin to helping out the villagers than anything truly dangerous, and the reward was merely pocket money.

It was far from enough to make a living. Even the villagers had commented, “Well, you did your best! This year was a bit easier,” which hardly gave them any sense of accomplishment.

The extermination involved dealing with magical rabbits and moles.

The request was essentially to assist the villagers, who were conducting the extermination themselves.

In reality, these kinds of requests were quite common.

And so were the low rewards.

Nevertheless, newcomers often accepted such quests.

Though the pay was poor, they found security in working alongside others, and completing requests helped them build a track record.

Yet, deep down, there was always the lingering ambition—after all, they had become Walkers, hadn’t they? They couldn’t help but wish for something greater.

“That village wouldn’t share any food with us at all! We had to stay there for three whole days, and it was all at our own expense! We ended up spending more on food and lodging than we even earned!”

“Well, to be fair, the request never mentioned that food and lodging would be provided. It also clearly stated that the duration would be several days.”

The young man, who was clearly frustrated, was met with a wry smile from his companion, who was trying to calm him down.

Complaints that didn’t quite qualify as proper complaints were fairly common.

Especially among rookies.

“Even so, to treat Walkers dispatched to protect the village like that… It’s a bit much. We can’t save up money like this.”

“Well, technically, we were protecting the village, but it’s not like they were being attacked by giant boars or shadow wolves. This time, it really was just a ‘help out the village’ kind of request. Haha…”

The girl, while not as vocal as the boy, still grumbled under her breath with a sour look on her face.

This kind of attitude was also quite common.

After all, what they had dealt with were small fry.

And they had only driven them away, not even fully exterminated them.

They had only managed to take down a few in total.

Even so, they had been requested for help through the guild, and they had fulfilled that request.

Many young Walkers saw this as having “saved the village.”

But in reality, if they truly wanted to satisfy that kind of desire, they would have been much better off becoming soldiers rather than Walkers.

Unless one became “famous,” jobs like these required the kind of person who could endure even the most menial work without complaint.

“Even so, it’s just not fair!”

“Yeah! Exactly!”

“Haha… I understand, but all I can really say is that from now on, you should carefully review the request details and only take on jobs you’re satisfied with…”

It really was quite troublesome.

People became Walkers for all sorts of reasons—some wanted fame, others dreamed of striking it rich.

Some had no other job prospects and were left with no choice.

The last group was at least straightforward, but the first two often ended up like these two.

At the core of their frustration was simply a lack of planning—failing to properly calculate expenses and earnings.

And yet, they wanted to blame the guild for it.

“But in that case, shouldn’t the guild be assigning Walkers better-paying jobs?”

“You should stop right there, kid.”

Before the young man could argue further, a voice interrupted him.

It came from a bald-headed Walker seated nearby.

He had been in this town for quite some time and had a habit of looking out for younger or less experienced Walkers.

Though, due to his intimidating appearance, few people outside his own party seemed to appreciate his kindness.

“If you weren’t happy with the job, you shouldn’t have taken it in the first place. The moment you accept a job that might leave you at a loss, you’re admitting that you’re still a half-baked rookie. Hell, you’re basically shouting, ‘I’m just a clueless fledgling!’ And you think it’s okay to take it out on the receptionist girl?”

His words were on point.

The boy gritted his teeth in frustration but still refused to back down.

“E-Even so! It’s ridiculous that the guild even posts jobs that put us at a loss in the first place!”

“Oh? Was that job really a loss?”

“Huh?”

The boy tilted his head, confused by the unexpected response.

And rightly so.

Because, in truth, the bald Walker was correct.

Depending on how they handled it, they could have made money even from that job.

In reality, quests that left Walkers at a loss were extremely rare.

It all came down to their approach—how well they managed their expenses and cut down on wasteful spending.

No matter how low the reward, as long as one avoided unnecessary costs, they could at least make a small profit.

The guild would never post jobs that were guaranteed to result in a loss.

“While you were in the village, they didn’t charge you taxes or any kind of stay fee, right? Then you could’ve just pitched a tent inside the village. It would’ve been much safer than camping out in the wild, and more importantly, you wouldn’t have had to pay for an inn.”

“Are you kidding me? There was an inn nearby! You expect me to just pitch a tent there? That’s embarrassing! People would think I’m broke!”

“Aren’t you actually broke, though? That’s why you’re complaining like this, isn’t it?”

“W-Well, yeah, but…”

That was the real problem.

It wasn’t uncommon for a client to provide lodging for adventurers.

But that wasn’t always the case.

In situations like that, you had two options—if you had money, you could stay at an inn. If you didn’t, you’d have to find a place to pitch a simple tent.

That, too, was something that could be negotiated. But it seemed these guys had gone straight for the inn without a second thought.

“Next, let’s talk about the materials from the magic beasts you defeated. You brought in the exact number of horns and magic stones as reported, right? That means the village didn’t demand a share of what you hunted.”

“Of course they didn’t! We’re the ones who took them down!”

“Not every village operates that way, you know. If they were willing to let you keep everything, then you should’ve just hunted more. Enough to turn a real profit.”

“Th-That’s…”

He was bluntly pointing out things the guild couldn’t easily say.

The issue of lodging was something that could be mentioned subtly. But when it came to the number of beasts they hunted, it wasn’t exactly easy to say, “You just didn’t work hard enough.”

After all, they had completed the request. It just seemed like they never considered hunting extra for profit.

“And lastly—food. You guys bought street food in the village, didn’t you? If you had just survived on rations, you could’ve saved a lot of money.”

“What!? You expect me to eat that disgusting crap for three meals a day, for three or four days straight!?”

“If you want to cut costs, that’s what you gotta do. Not saying you can’t buy a little street food when you get sick of it, but if you hate it that much, you should just cook for yourself. Like ‘Hearty Eater’ does.”

“Who the hell is ‘Hearty Eater’…?”

Right in the middle of the conversation—BANG! The guild doors burst open.

The one who stepped through was a noble lady I’d seen before.

Without any regard for the other adventurers around her, she marched straight toward me, even shoving past the young adventurers standing before me.

And then—

“Airi-san! Have the members of ‘Hearty Eater’ returned yet!?”

“Ah… Even if you come every day, it’s only been five days. Those guys usually camp out for more than a week.”

“Even if I tell them there’s additional reward money and an invitation to dinner, they won’t come back!?”

“Ahh… About that, they sent a letter saying, ‘Sounds like a hassle, so we’ll pass.’”

“What!? But you’re a member of ‘Hearty Eater’ too, aren’t you!? Can’t you do something!?”

“Even if you say that… I’m just a temporary member, after all.”

The young lady had been kidnapped by goblins before, but she returned unharmed.

Ever since she got back to town, she’d been desperately trying to stay connected to them.

And yet, the moment they got their hands on new equipment, they immediately ran off into the forest again.

By the way, their current gear was yet another failed product made by Thoor-san’s apprentices. Their proper equipment still wasn’t ready.

“Do you have any idea when they’ll return!?”

“They move around pretty unpredictably. Unless it’s an urgent request, the guild has no reason to call them back… Sorry.”

That was a lie.

In truth, I knew they’d be back the day after tomorrow, thanks to some dealings with the Diabird.

But since they outright refused, and I couldn’t just go around leaking an adventurer’s private information, I kept quiet.

“Ghh… Fine. I’ll be back another day.”

“Yes, we look forward to your next visit.”

I sent the noble lady off with a practiced smile.

Even though I was technically a noble myself, the difference in our ranks was like heaven and earth. I couldn’t afford to treat her too casually.

And while I dealt with that headache, the other adventurers—

“Hey, what the hell is ‘Hearty Eater’ anyway? That lady was a noble, right? Why’s she chasing them around? Are they famous or something? Or criminals?”

The young adventurers, who just moments ago were complaining about their meager earnings, had now completely shifted their focus, watching the noble lady leave with keen interest.

“Well, you’ll understand if you meet them. They’re a party that’s been getting famous lately. They make a living just off routine magic beast exterminations—it’s kinda ridiculous.”

“Hah!? That’s one of the worst-paying jobs out there!”

Ahh, Kitayama-san.

Your party is quickly becoming the talk of the town.

Wiping out a goblin nest, rescuing a noble lady without a single scratch on her.

Earning the recognition of the formidable ‘Wind of War’ and causing the disbandment of BattlePrincess’ after working with them.

‘Hearty Eater’ had been at the center of all kinds of rumors within the guild.

Of course, not all of them were good. There were plenty of bad ones, too.

Well, I don’t really care.

Because I don’t care…

“Ahhh… I wanna go back ‘over there’… I wanna camp out…”

“Airi, the Walkers are watching you.”

The receptionist sitting beside me warned me, and I sighed as I lifted my face.

It had been a week since the branch manager ordered me to return ‘here’ for a while.

Has there ever been a week that felt this long? The reception work was so dull and suffocating.

On top of that, it was stressful.

I was amazed I had managed to endure it all this time.

Last week was great.

I could move around as much as I wanted, eat to my heart’s content, make noise, laugh—just enjoy myself.

Even though I retired as a Walker to become a guild employee, it was so much fun that I seriously considered going back to being a Walker again.

I didn’t even care about the monster meat anymore—I just wanted to go on adventures with them.

“Haaa… I bet they’re having fun right now…”

“Airi, focus on work.”

“Yes, yes…”

 

To the esteemed members of Hearty Eater, I hope this letter finds you well. I, however, am not well at all.

The branch manager refuses to accept my resignation—would you care to join me in taking him down?

As payment, you may have me.

Ah, not interested? A poor noblewoman past her prime isn’t appealing?

If possible, I’d be thrilled if you took me in.

At the very least, please let me rejoin the party. I beg of you.

Wishing you all continued success.

Sincerely yours.

――――

(Kitayama POV)

“Master, another letter from Airi-sama… It seems she’s struggling again.”

As always, a carrier pigeon arrived at our camp.

Minami took the letter, checked its contents, and let out a deep sigh.

She says she’s struggling, but if she has time to send us letters every day… isn’t she just bored?

“Well… let’s bring her back lots of souvenirs.”

“She said she’s tired of reception work, huh… I get it, I used to do desk work, so I totally understand how she feels.”

“I could never do that… Drowning in paperwork? Just imagining it gives me chills.”

Everyone shared their thoughts while we continued our tasks.

This week, we switched up our work assignments each day.

Today, I was in charge of sorting wild plants and medicinal herbs, Nishida was cooking, Azuma was handling dismantling, and Minami was making the fire and preparing our sleeping area.

It was supposed to help everyone expand their skill set, but honestly, the main goal was just to prevent boredom.

“Hey, Nishida, is this mushroom the one we usually eat? And is this herb the one that works as a wound medicine?”

“Sorry, Kou-chan, both are wrong. That mushroom is actually poisonous—see the different-colored lines under the cap? That’s how you tell. And that herb? Just a weed. The real medicinal one has jagged edges at the base of its leaves. Once you know, it’s pretty easy to spot.”

“You sure remember all this stuff…”

Apparently, he learned it from guild staff and by reading reference books.

Nishida was the best at memorizing things like this.

Even with regular wild plants, some were highly toxic.

Without him, we probably wouldn’t have dared to eat half the stuff we found.

And the man himself…

“I’m good at making soup, but… other dishes are kinda tough for me…”

“You’ll get the hang of it. If you can make soup, the rest is easy. Try adding a bit more salt.”

“Soup is easy because you can taste it anytime while making it… Huh, you’re right. The salt really sharpens the flavor. Should I keep it on high heat?”

“Cover it and let it simmer on medium first, then remove the lid at the end and turn the heat back up. That’ll give it some nice browning and cook off excess moisture.”

“Got it.”

They were both struggling with tasks they weren’t used to, but since they were teaching each other, it didn’t feel like a chore.

Meanwhile, the other two…

“Minami-chan, I finished draining the blood. Should I go ahead and cut open the belly?”

“That’s correct, but to preserve the hide, start from the wound on the stomach and work your way outward. That way, you won’t make any unnecessary cuts. Widen the wound first, then press the blade in like this…”

They were having their own difficulties.

We all took turns learning how to dismantle monsters, but none of us could do it as neatly as Minami.

Once that was done, it would be Minami’s turn to learn.

Now that we had a portable stove, we no longer needed to build a makeshift hearth for every meal, but campfires were still essential.

At night, we always used them, and they were necessary for certain cooking methods like roasting.

Then there was setting up the tent.

We had a relatively easy-to-pitch tent, but if the stakes weren’t driven in properly, it wouldn’t set up neatly.

On top of that, we had to find or prepare a good spot to pitch it.

“For the stove, you should lay down more stones—it’ll help keep the heat even. Are you alright? Don’t overdo it if the rocks are too heavy.”

“I’m fine. I’ve gained quite a bit of muscle these past few weeks.”

“That’s good. Oh, and about the firewood—you should pick drier ones. See how this one snaps cleanly with a ‘crack’ sound? That’s the kind you want.”

“Ah, the ones I picked still have some moisture in them…”

They continued chatting as they worked.

We’d gotten used to this lifestyle, but that was because we had each other.

If any of us had to survive alone, it would be a whole different story.

I doubt any of us could last even a day in the forest alone.

And that’s not even considering fighting monsters—we’d be dead for sure.

Even if just one of us left, it would throw off our balance.

Right now, no one had plans to leave Hearty Eater, but in the future, someone might want to pursue something else.

They might want to adventure with different people.

And if that happened, I wouldn’t stop them.

If someone finds something they want to do, something they want to try, or someone they want to be with…

I don’t want to be the one to deny them that.

We all lived lives where we had none of those choices before.

Now that we’re ‘here,’ we want to be free.

And I want my companions to have that same freedom.

Even Minami probably feels the same way.

So when the time comes, we’ll smile and send them off.

That’s why…

“There’s so much to learn.”

“Yeah, nothing about this is easy.”

“But that’s what makes it fun.”

We laughed as we continued our survival life.

Tomorrow, we’d start heading back.

We wanted to finish as much as we could while we still had time.

“Master, another letter from Airi-sama just arrived…”

“She really has nothing to do, huh?”

At this rate, we’d have to get back soon—otherwise, she might collapse from sheer frustration before we even returned.