Chapter 7 _ The Vanished Price, or the Request of a Bamboo Toy
The first room on the second floor… this should be it.
When I opened the door, I found a simple but clean room—more than good enough for a night’s stay.
The toilet seemed to be separate, located somewhere deep on the first floor.
Once inside, I took off my pants and draped them over a chair, savoring the feeling of release.
Lying down on the bed in nothing but my underwear, the scent of straw tickled my nose.
Before I knew it, I fell asleep.
Some time later—probably because of the ale—I felt the urge to go.
Relieved after using the toilet, I returned to my room.
The moment I stepped inside, my heart jumped.
The pants I had clearly left on the chair were now lying carelessly on the floor.
“…!”
A bad feeling made my hands tremble.
I reached into the pocket.
—Nothing.
The heavy pouch of coins, once so unmistakable, was gone.
Panicking, I rushed down to the innkeeper.
“E-excuse me!”
“Hm? What is it? Ready for a meal?”
“U-um! I went to the toilet and when I came back, the money I had in my pocket was gone!”
“Did you lock your door when you left?”
“…N-no.”
“That’s your responsibility, then. There’s nothing I can do.”
She shook her head coldly.
“Did you see anyone suspicious leaving?” I asked desperately.
“I’ve been here the whole time. No one’s come or gone.”
“Then—then could you check the other rooms—”
“Enough!” she snapped.
“I don’t have the right to do that. You and the other guests are all the same to me.”
Her voice hardened.
“Even a child knows to lock the door when leaving a room.
You didn’t. So tell me—who’s at fault?”
“…I am. I’m sorry.”
“Good. You’re honest. That’s right. That’s how it should be.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“That’s what I meant when I said you were different from two days ago.
Hold on to that innocence.
It might protect you someday.”
Back in my room, regret washed over me.
Why… why didn’t I lock the door…?
I crouched there for a long time, lost in thought.
Then it hit me.
Roger.
I asked the innkeeper for lunch, then ran to Roger’s place.
“Hah… hah… Roger! This is bad!”
“…What the hell… you’re loud.”
I told him everything that had happened.
“Huh? So?”
“So?! I mean… what should I do?”
“Nothing you can do. Your fault. End of story.”
“I know that, but… isn’t there something—”
“There’s nothing. Quit waking me up over stupid crap, or I’ll knock you out.”
With that, Roger went back to sleep.
Once again, I had lost everything.
After finally getting my hands on a fortune…
I stood there in a daze, then forced myself to think positively.
At least I’d paid for ten days at the inn.
Two meals a day included.
I had ten days.
Somehow, I had to find work and earn money, or I wouldn’t survive.
With that in mind, I headed to an area slightly away from the Adventurers’ Guild,
anywhere I could find work.
The neighborhood was just as dangerous-looking as ever.
But strangely, I wasn’t afraid.
With nothing left to protect, fear felt dull.
I stepped into the shady building Roger had entered the previous morning.
Inside were desks and chairs lined up, with several men seated around—probably job brokers.
I sat down at an empty seat.
“Hm? Haven’t seen your face before.”
“Sorry… it’s my first time.”
“Looking for work? Then pick from the list.
The pay listed already has our commission taken out.”
He continued.
“Higher pay means higher risk. Obviously.
Big jobs won’t take you without a track record.
Since you’re new, delivery jobs are all you can do. Pick one.”
He showed me a stack of parchment lists.
“Anything marked with an X is already taken or completed.
Cheaper jobs are lighter and closer. Common sense.”
As I flipped through the parchments, one request caught my eye.
The parchment was old—probably the oldest there—torn and worn.
But the reward was 1,000 Fanann.
Ten thousand yen? No—closer to one hundred thousand yen.
Every other job paid maybe five to ten Fanann.
I asked about it.
The color drained from the man’s face.
“D-don’t. That one’s suicide.”
He lowered his voice.
“That’s a request for Lady Frey, the great mage.
Plenty of people have vanished after angering her. Never came back.”
Lady Frey… that girl.
Strangely enough, I hadn’t felt fear toward her since the moment we met.
“I’ll take it.”
“…You sure? Don’t blame me for what happens.”
The shrine where Lady Frey lived was far beyond the edge of town—
near the place where we had dumped the corpses the night before.
“Wait here.”
After a while, the man placed a worn bamboo toy on the desk.
“Deliver this to Lady Frey.”
I took the bamboo toy into my hands.
And decided to leave the next morning.
