[ Wo-Woah! This much...? Really!? ]
[ Uwah... ]
[ Hmph! This amount is not enough... ]
As a pile of gold coins appeared in front of them, Zero, Will, and Alice form different reactions on their faces.
The four of them, together with Zear, finally came back to the guild after much grinding. And now, in front of them is the coins they traded with the mana crystals they have collected throughout their journey inside the dungeon.
[ I-I'm sorry, Will-sama... I tried to count and measure the mana crystals many times, but this is how it really totals to... ] Diana, who's inside the receptionists' desk apologetically said to Will who was the only person who was giving complaints. And since Will is very famous for being one of the pillars of the knights, Diana pretty much recognizes her.
[ ... ]
[ !!! ]
[ U-Umm... I shouldn't be here... ] Alice whispers in a murmur that only she can hear as she watches Will and Diana exchange words, while also being wary of her surroundings - looking back and forth to the adventurers that are watching and to her group.
Alice, the person who carried their load, actually wanted to leave the group immediately just after they traded the mana crystals and waited; saying she will only cause them trouble, but knowing that she was just shy and insecure, Zero made her stay over. Will, on the other hand, didn't want to separate at all - as if the idea of straying away from the group hasn't even crossed her mind.
In the end, they left the dungeon and went to the guild unseparated.
[ Hey, stop that, Will. ] Zero tried to calm Will down as she continues to bicker.
The guild - being his own workplace, is already familiar with him. But his two companions are still a bit of a surprise to them, especially Will, who's one of the 'the highest ranks of knights'. What is a high knight doing in the guild? The place and origin of the adventurers.
And why is she complaining so much?
Feeling that their pride is being humiliated by the presence of a knight stepping in their territory, they stare daggers and start to keep wary of her. Like any kind of wild animal that has territorial instincts, they cannot allow an intruder on their radius. And Will actually already knows this - as she can sense their gazes, but still ignores them as she knows she will have the same reaction if an adventurer steps foot in their territory, the Knights' Company'.... or maybe, she really just doesn't care.
Anyways - there was a reason why this discrimination and opposition exist:
Including the Magicians' Corps[Blue], and even the Syndicate of the Mercenaries[Red], the Adventurers' Guild[Brown] and the Knights Company[Yellow] has a hard time of accepting each other. The four groups act on their own and see the others as either nuisance or competitions - all this time, they have this kind of relationship and it seems that it still has no end whatsoever.
[ Hey, Zero... You shouldn't be surprised by this amount of coins anymore... ] mutters Will as she looks at the coins with disappointment.
[ You received 20 platinum coins from us, this amount doesn't even compare... Despite how hard and how many we've killed... this is all we would get as rewards? ]
[ No, that's not it, Will... that was a completely different situation... And - I still haven't even got the chance to use those coins Herald-san gave me yet... No one will trade them for anything, so it's actually better to receive this kind of coin. ]
[ Hu-huh...? ]
[ I tried to use it to pay for a whole set of my current armor, but they said they can't take that amount and instead offer me their best armor and equipment that doesn't even suit me... I then accidentally used it to pay a street merchant and he instantly loses consciousness. After he wakes up, he offered me all of his items saying it wouldn't even be enough... ]
[ Oh... ]
[ I then tried to use it as payment for the Inn I'm staying in and they said they'll let me stay for 10 whole years with it... It's not like I hate it, but it's just really too much. ] he told his story with a lack of energy, seemingly tired already with even only thinking about it.
[ I... Is that so...? ] the words barely escape her mouth, understanding what Zero meant. Soon, she just remained quiet without saying a word.
[ Haah... that's enough of that... let's just go already. ] suddenly, he forced his energy to spike up and made Will and Alice follow him - together with the coins that he had already stored in separate pouches.
And with confused looks on their faces, they hesitatingly followed Zero to one of the empty tables. And as he sat, Will does too, but Alice only remained on their side, standing up still as she waited for what's Zero's plan is - but as she does this, Zero himself had ordered her to sit down. He understands how she thinks and how she views herself compared to the two of them, that was why he also knows how he should treat her, he just can't let a person like her be treated differently.
[ Then... Thank you very much... ] she says as she began to sit, and as soon as she did, Zero spoke.
[ Now, let's plan how should we divide this. ]
And to his words, Will immediately replied, as if she was already expecting him to say it.
[ Don't worry about me, Zero. I'm a noble, I have enough money so you can just get it all for your self. ] expecting she would say that, he only nodded - then, he turns to Alice for her answer as well.
[ U-Umm! You don't need to pay me! You've saved my life so I really can't do something as to receive money from you....! I-In fact, here, Zero-sama! I'll pay you for saving my life! ] she took out a few numbers of copper coins and silver coins from her pocket and offered them to Zero with both hands - the amount of which can only feed Zero for at least two days.
[ Thi-This is all I can give for now, bu-but I promise I will give more later! ]
[ Un. ] and to her, Zero also nodded. Keeping the empty, poker-face smile on his face as he gets both of their answers.
( I wonder what I'm going to do with these two... )
~~~
[ Are you sure about this, Zero? ]
[ Un... Zero-sama... I think this is too much... ]
Will and Alice both have downcast expressions on their faces as they both receive a pouch from Zero, which they hold with their hands with a grip that will never make it fall.
[ Haah... I've already said it many times, but... even if it was short, we've still spent time together as a party. Of course, each member will receive a certain amount of rewards. ]
[ I... I guess so... ] with a thought, Will finally agrees, of course, only after she hears the phrase 'as a party'.
[ You too, Alice. Thanks to your help, we've been able to easily go further. ] he turns to Alice with his usual demeanor. But still, she is relentless, hesitating to receive such amount of coins. With this emotion showing on her face, Zero again tried to persuade her.
[ I'm sorry, Alice, but you get to receive the smallest amount. ]
[ No-no! It's fine! I couldn't receive even more... ] she only feels guilty to receive such an amount when she thinks she really does not do that much to help the two of them. But...
[ I hope you can help me again. ] with those words, Zero patted her head again, and as a response, she put a hand on the area where he touched her and caress it.
[ Hey, me too, Zero. ]
[ I know, I'll be glad to work with you again. ]
[ Tsk... that's not what I mean... ]
And so, they said their goodbyes just before the sun goes down. The three of them split up in three different directions, with Will and Alice still hesitating to continue.
While Zero proceeds normally, together with Zear on his shoulder.
His day has been productive but was a hassle, especially with Will's continues bothering, but nevertheless, he does not regret anything that had happened.
His first day inside the dungeon turned out to be more progressive than he had expected. With Will's help of clearing the waves of enemies, and Alice taking the lead, they were able to go further, but still, they were only able to scratch its surface; they were still far from completion, in fact, Zero still couldn't see his success of clearing it despite having an easy experience on this first day.
He will need to form a party if he wants to conquer it, as it's impossible if he doesn't. From this day on, he will need to find people who are strong enough to be his companions.
His conquest is still just beginning to start.