Nikolas had thought his fears were unfounded; in his first real quest, everyone knew what they were doing and everyone had been kind to him. As long as he followed his role, there was nothing to fret.
But not every party leader was like Markus. Not everyone was as laid back as Magni, or as attentive as Willow. Sometimes his luck wouldn't always work either.
Gaius the Axe Warrior and his two lackeys—he really tried to find the kindest way to describe them—had sneered at his bronze badge the moment they met. Whatever Gaius said, the other two would follow. If Gaius scowled, they scowled. If Gaius laughed, they laughed. So when he sat down, Nikolas had felt small and outnumbered as they looked at him with derision.
"Let's make one thing clear. You two do as I say. You will heal when I say heal, and you will block when I say block. Got it? I won't tolerate any disobedience from you pipsqueaks who probably hadn't seen a drop of blood in your sorry little lives."
Nikolas had wanted to correct him: he HAD spilled blood, and he HAD slain goblins. He had stopped himself, realizing it didn't sound as impressive if he had said it out loud. If only he had his sister's sharp tongue, then maybe...
Claire, the Cleric, was different. She stood straight and alert, like the slightest detail deserved her attention. It was as if she had expected it from Gaius; but whatever she felt about it, Nikolas couldn't tell past her blank yet gentle expression. The two lackeys would snigger and say things even though she was in earshot, but she would let it all pass over her as if it was just the wind.
For a moment, Nikolas was reminded of a certain White Mage.
Was this casual abuse common among supporters in the Support Corps?
Before he could even think about everything wrong with the party, they were on the move. Claire had followed—so demurely, so serenely, that he found his feet following, too. By then it was too late to back out, and Nikolas realized there was no point in arguing. They were a party now. All he could do was trust in his shield and believe it would carry him all the way through.
They were out the door. They were following the path up the river, along Bard Street, and then walked past the few Merchants and Bards who remained in Risadel after the announcement of the Wild Hunt. By now, the party should be marching out of town...
...only to be stopped by a familiar face.
"—and that, gentlemen, is why I will loan you a special, one-of-a-kind Return Scroll! Tada~!" Magni pulled from her pockets a scroll decorated in symbols and lines that could make a layman's head spin. They glittered like fairy dust, humming with a power unmistakable even by Nikolas's untrained eye. "The real deal! Every adventurer should own at least one in these trying times!"
The blue-haired wolf girl was panting between words, sweat dripping down her brow as if she had just ran a marathon. Somehow the Merchant fast talked the obviously scary group of adventurers into a dialogue without a hint of fear or shame.
What... Why was Magni all the way out here? Shouldn't she be back in the guildhall, drinking Salamander Wine, talking with Willow?
She wasn't alone. Her riding bird Sven was right behind her, looking like he had been dragged into a day trip without his consent. But considering the piece of meat it had just thrown up into the air and swallowed in his beak, he had actually been bribed to come here.
"Hmph." Gaius crossed his arms. "Not interested."
"Oh, come on! Hear me out~! You can't miss out on this killer deal, mister!" Magni thrust out two fingers in a dramatic flourish, almost like a peace sign. "200 gald as collateral! That's almost a fifth of the market rate! If you use it, I keep the money. Don't use it, then you can return the scroll to me and get your money back guaranteed!"
But...was that not just a purchase and a refund?
"You can't fool me," Gaius growled. He flexed his arms and shoulders, making himself look bigger and taller. "I bet that thing doesn't even work!"
Behind Magni, Sven had paused from eating. He stared at the Axe Warrior, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Nikolas gulped. He had seen the Humblewing flip an ogre off the ground, and even if Gaius was a bit mean, he had done nothing to deserve getting ripped into next week. Not yet, at least.
Magni looked up Gaius in the eyes with a tut in her lips. "I can assure you that this item is the genuine article. See these lines? See the sublime craftsmanship of the mage who inscribed these symbols? The breath of the arcane that lies deep in the ink and parchment?"
The Axe Warrior didn't bother giving the scroll a proper look. "Just pretty dust and random pictures. Like I would fall for such an cheap scam."
Magni gasped. She waved her arms at him, never minding how it made her look like a petulant child. "How rude! Why, for slandering my good name, I oughta charge you for damages! A Merchant's success hinges on her reputations, and I thought an adventurer of your standing understood at least this much!"
"Why, you..."
What she was saying barely made any sense. Gaius grew irritated with every word she spoke. Anytime he would interject, she would blast back with five times the word count, refusing to let him get anything in word-wise with all her yapping.
Nikolas was biting his fingers because, Magni, please shut up!
One of the lackeys whispered, "Wasn't she the Merchant who crashed her cart?"
"Must be getting desperate, selling something so valuable," the other said. "It looks real, too."
"But it's too suspicious, don't ya think? It's probably a fake, like Gaius said..."
Was it? Uncle Markus had shown him around the market along the Bard Street of another town, once. He had shown him what a real Return Scroll would look like. Explained the signs. The feeling. No matter which angle he saw it, the scroll in Magni's hands was genuine. And at the price she was offering, it was practically a steal.
"Oh, shut up! Even if it's real, we don't need it." Gaius's armor rattled as he rolled back his shoulders, not-so-subtly showing the size of his muscles. He looked like was going to show her a world of hurt. "Only low-lives would be afraid of a bunch of slimes and goblins."
"O-Oho!" Magni acted like she wasn't the slightest bit fazed. "A customer who likes the thrill of danger, I see..."
Just now, was that a backhanded—?
"Then perhaps a seasoned, battle-hardened adventurer such as yourself would appreciate something like...this!" Magni reached behind her and pulled out a map! No, not just a map, but also a few sheets of parchment, and she raised them up high like they were the most sacred relics in the world. "This is a collection of notes and logs, built upon the blood and sacrifice of our brave adventurers! You will find all there is to know about the monsters that spawn around Risadel!"
Gaius growled. "So it's junk then. Don't need it."
"But my good sir, you must be new to the area. It hasn't been a week since you first arrived to our humble town of Risadel, yes?" Magni spoke mysteriously, acting like she had been a native for years. Nikolas knew for a fact she wasn't much better than the rest of them. She smirked. "I'll even cut you a deal: 100 gald, and all this will be yours~! Trust me, it'll be worth it."
Why did she look at Nikolas when she said that? And was that a wink?
"...Tch. Only I decide what's worth it and what's not. Lemme see."
Gaius tried to grab it, but Magni pulled away and clutched the papers to her chest.
"Nope! Nuh uh. With this one, you gotta pay up," she snapped her fingers, "or you're not seeing a word."
Whatever Magni was scheming, it failed because Gaius had completely lost interest. With a shrug of his giant axe, he stared down at the wolf girl and was seemingly a push away from taking a swing.
"What a waste of time. Just take your damn bird and scram. Don't need you pesky Merchants peddling your crap."