Chương 72: Guidance Fee

"Not bad." Zelier nodded in approval.

"Keep this up, and sooner or later you'll become a Mage Apprentice."

"I will!" Lante beamed after receiving Zelier's praise.

"So... when are we going on an adventure?"

"An adventure?" Zelier blinked.

"The promise you made last time. You said you'd take me with you." Lante's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"I'm ready now. We can leave whenever you are!"

"Uh..." Something suddenly felt off.

"Hold on. When did I ever promise that?" Zelier frowned.

"I only told you to keep training and get stronger. Then maybe, if the right commission came along in the future..."

"We can find the right commission together!" Lante said eagerly.

"And I've already gotten stronger."

"I promise I won't hold you back!"

"You've just made a little progress." Zelier rubbed his forehead.

"Don't get carried away just because you're improving."

"I know Ice Lance now! I can help kill monsters! I can carry supplies, help with anything! I don't even want a share of the quest reward!" Lante's voice was earnest enough to border on pleading.

"I've worked so hard... Just give me one chance. Please? Let me get some real experience." Zelier really didn't want to agree. But looking at Lante's sincere expression, he couldn't bring himself to reject him outright.... Fine. He'd just refuse him another way.

"Alright, alright. You want to come? Sure."

"Really?!" Lante's eyes lit up.

"But." Zelier raised a finger.

"You have to earn my teammates' approval first. I'm part of a team."

"If they agree, I'll bring you along."

"If they don't... then there's nothing I can do."

"No problem!" Lante answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Good. Then come to the Drunken Boar Tavern tonight. We'll meet there." Night fell. The Drunken Boar was as lively as ever. The rich aroma of ale mingled with sizzling roasted meat and the sharp bite of pipe smoke, creating the intoxicating scent of a tavern filled with adventurers. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Marcus's party occupied the largest wooden table in the room.

After the spectacular tavern brawl they'd won last time, the owner had learned his lesson. He'd quietly warned the other patrons not to pick a fight with this table. Grey grabbed another skewer from the mountain of grilled meat, tore off a huge bite, and chewed with grease dripping from the corners of his mouth.

"So... you're saying some rookie wants to join us on commissions?"

"Yeah." Zelier sighed and took a long drink of ale.

"I couldn't talk him out of it, so I'm counting on you guys."

"Another mage?" Vaelis asked.

"Yep."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Marcus shrugged.

"The more mages, the better."

"He's a complete beginner. Absolutely zero field experience." Marcus looked at him.

"You had absolutely zero experience when I recruited you."

"..." That shut Zelier up instantly. He sat there speechless for several seconds before finally protesting.

"That's different."

"I didn't have a choice. My family was poor, so becoming an adventurer was my only option."

"He's a noble."

"His family has money. He doesn't need to risk his life doing this."

"I get it." Grey nodded knowingly before ripping another chunk of meat from his skewer.

"So he's some young noble who's bored and wants to experience an exciting life."

"Honestly? If I were him, I'd never become an adventurer. I'd stay in the capital throwing parties and chasing girls."

"Marianne's right over there," Zelier reminded him.

"Keep your voice down." Grey immediately shrank back.

"I don't have the patience to babysit a child," Vaelis said, surprisingly agreeing with Grey for once.

"Is he really that unsuitable?" Marcus asked.

"Extremely." Zelier nodded without hesitation.

"Alright then." Marcus took another sip of ale.

"When he gets here, we'll let him down gently."

"Now that's what I call teammates." Zelier gave him a thumbs-up. Just then, the tavern door swung open. A figure completely out of place stepped inside. The moment Lante saw the shirtless miners shouting over one another, the cigarette butts and empty bottles scattered across the floor, he froze.... So this was what a tavern was like? He'd always imagined every gathering resembled the banquets at his family's estate—everyone elegantly dressed, speaking politely in hushed voices.

Just as he began wondering if he'd come to the wrong place, Zelier spotted him and waved.

"Lante! Over here!" Like a drowning man finding a lifeline, Lante hurried through the noisy crowd toward their table. He sat stiffly beside Zelier, back ramrod straight, both hands neatly resting on his knees.

"H-Hello, everyone..."

"So you're the kid who wants to join our team?" Before Lante could finish, Grey cut in, enthusiastically playing the bad cop.

"Y-Yes." Around strangers, Lante was nowhere near as relaxed as he was around Zelier. His voice came out noticeably smaller.

"Name?"

"Lante Taylor."

"Drop the noble act." Grey barked.

"Nobody here cares about your fancy family name. Adventurers earn respect through strength!"

"I-I understand." Lante immediately lowered his head.

"I'm sorry." Vaelis silently covered his face. A noble apologizing because a common adventurer yelled at him... Yeah. This kid really wasn't cut out to be an adventurer.

"How old are you?" Grey continued.

"Fifteen..."

"Hah! Fifteen? You're still wet behind the ears, and you think you're ready to be an adventurer?" Lante lowered his head even further.

"What spells do you know?" Marcus asked, finally steering the conversation toward something useful.

"I know Ice Lance... Light... and Fog Spell..." His voice was barely audible.

"Hear that?" Grey immediately piled on.

"Nothing but spells that won't do us any good."

"If we let you join, you'll just drag us down."

"You planning to get us all killed?"

"Lante." Marcus's tone softened.

"We're not trying to pick on you."

"But adventuring is dangerous."

"If you don't have the strength for it, you won't just get yourself killed."

"You'll get your teammates killed too."

"This isn't a game."

"You need to take it seriously." Marcus's words made Lante's shoulders droop even lower. Watching him, even Zelier began to feel guilty. He was just about to pat the boy on the shoulder and offer a few words of encouragement— When Lante suddenly looked up. His eyes burned with determination.

"I..."

"I can pay you a guidance fee!" The entire table fell silent.

"... How much?" Grey asked instantly. Under the table, Zelier kicked him hard.

"Three gold per person..." Lante hesitated before raising all five fingers.

"No... five!"

"I'll pay every one of you five gold coins."

"So please..."

"Please take me with you."

"I really, really want to become an adventurer." This time, even Zelier was stunned. Four people. Five gold each. Twenty gold coins. And Lante had offered it without even blinking. That was equivalent to the payout from three or four Low-Rank One-Star commissions. Grey, who had been acting like the intimidating veteran only moments ago, was equally dumbfounded.

After a lightning-fast mental calculation—and the realization that the boy in front of him was an absurdly wealthy patron—his attitude performed a flawless one-eighty. He cleared his throat.

"Ahem..."

"Oh, come on, Marcus." Grey shook his head with righteous indignation.

"Everyone starts somewhere."

"Why're you making things so hard for the kid?" Marcus stared at him in disbelief. His expression plainly read: Since when did you become the reasonable one?