After parting with Kyunei, I returned to the cheap hotel. It's already late today, so I will start to take action tomorrow.
"So, do you have any means to make money, partner?"
The day was over and only the starlight illuminates the alley. Since there's no presence around us, Gram spoke to me aloud.
"I think you get it even without me telling you, but the amount told by that oppai-chan is extremely high."
Oi, who are you calling oppai-chan. Though she's certainly big. Bouncy. And her boobs are big (I said it twice because it's important).
"I know. If I do farming normally, it would surely take years to earn it."
The money that I have right now is the amount that I've saved patiently until now. Even if I seriously focus my effort on saving and earning money, I would need time as I said just now.
"But it doesn't mean I have no option. Luckily, I obtained a means at a cheap price the other day."
"Are you talking about me?"
"Yeah. Change of plans, Gram. Sorry, but I'm gonna have you let me use you to the fullest."
"Hahaha! You don't have to hesitate at me, partner!"
Gram laughed to his heart content.
"I'm a weapon. Being wield in accordance with my user is my long-cherished desire. Moreover, I will be able to help you rent that woman! It's gonna be my honor as a weapon!!"
Gram continued to laugh once again.
"So, I gonna ask you again, but how will you earn money?"
"I've decided."
There's only one method for a mere villager to actually earn a money using a weapon.
"I will be a mercenary."
--- A mercenary is an occupation who undertakes any job depending on money.
Originally, it refers to those who are hired for money and recruited into battles between fellow humans.
At some point, the ones they were fighting have become against monsters and soon, they began to collect resources from the corpse of the monsters that they exterminated, and eventually, it turned into a guild for anything where they would do some troublesome task and get paid, not just to fight.
In the present, the job of dealing with humans is just one of the jobs of mercenaries.
The name 'mercenary', which have deviated from the original mercenary, is still being used even now, because the society that was arranging work for the mercenaries in the past has changed to an organization that manages the current mercenaries.
"It seems that the reason is that it's more easier to operate as it is than to change the name poorly."
"Heee, so that was how it was. I didn't know that."
"Why do you, who's a human, know less than me who's a weapon? This is the most basic knowledge for mercenaries."
"My main job is farmer, not mercenary. So, the mercenary job is only like earning extra money."
To my frank question "Why is the name 'mercenary' in the first place?", Gram carefully gave me an explanation. I wonder what's wrong with this spear.
I'm now going to a forest near the Royal Capital.
--- Just about two hours ago, I went to the building of the 'Mercenary Guild' that arrange a work for mercenaries.
Of course, it's to register as a mercenary.
The registration itself was easy. All I have to do was pay a charge and get issued a mercenary license. There's no any particular test.
It's easy to become a mercenary, but climbing to the top from then on is no easy matter.
A mercenary starts from 5th Rank to 1st Rank. Furthermore, including the special rank, it is divided into a total of six classes. Naturally, the lower the number, the more proof that one is indeed a capable mercenary.
Currently, I've just registered, so I'm at the lowest 5th Rank. To move to a higher rank, I must complete many requests and accumulate achievements.
However, what I want is not the position as a mercenary, but the money to rent Kyunei. There's no job better than a mercenary to earn money quickly.
"If I'm registered to the Mercenary Guild, the guild will also buy the corpse of the monster from the extermination request. It's killing two birds with one stone."
"I hope everything goes well, partner."
Gram's uncertain words was actually on my mind as well.
Mercenary was a job where one could earn a considerable amount of money if they're lucky, but at the same time, it also carries great danger.
Although they accept tasks for anything, most of their work is to exterminate and subdue monsters. Those who lose their lives by being killed instead by the monster that was their subjugation target are endless. If I'm unlucky, I could be one of them.
Therefore ---.
"I won't aim for big ones, just the small ones!"
I firmly grasp my fist and declare.
"You're a nitpicky partner."
"Shut up. If I'm embraced by the god of death before I'm embraced by a woman, it wouldn't be a funny story."
Perhaps, if our eyes could meet, I would have been stared with scornful eyes by Gram. I would surely have similar eyes If I could also look at myself from outsider's perspective. But that doesn't mean I'm going to change my course of action.
If I have an ambition to rise up, I would go after the big ones, but at this present time I don't really have intention of making a living as a mercenary. My first goal is to earn enough money to rent Kyunei and once that's fulfilled, all that's left is to live leisurely in the Royal Capital until Relix embarks on a journey to subjugate the Demon King.
Without further ado, let's get serious on defeating the monsters.
"Oh, one immediately appeared."
Shortly after entering the forest, I immediately found the monster that I was looking for.
At first glance, it was a completely ordinary rat.
However, it's much bigger than a normal rat. It's about the same size of a medium-sized dog.
It's a monster that I'm familiar with.
Its name is also 'Big Rat'. Its name is exactly what it looks like.
The request I received was exactly this. Extermination of Big Rats.
Big rats often infest fields and devour the crops, and when they turn ferocious, they also attack small livestocks such as chicken. Anyway, it is well known for its extremely omnivorous nature that devours anything. It's a monster that can be exactly called a natural enemy of agriculture.
But, although the Big Rat has a lot of harm, it isn't without its advantage.
Unlike ordinary rat, the meat of Big Rat is quite delicious. It tastes better than regular livestock, if not as good as the finest meat.
When the Big Rats infests, a strange phenomenon occurs in which its meat is served on the table for some time instead of the crops being ruined. However, when a large number attacks, the damage is overwhelmingly large, so quick extermination is still necessary.
There are quite a lot of people who avoid its meat because its appearance is just like a rat, but it's a familiar meat ingredient for those who exterminate it everyday.