“T-That can’t be…! T-Then! What on earth should I do!?”
“That is the problem…”
Just because we know the cause, it doesn’t mean there’s a simple solution. After all, she cannot release mana properly. There is no way she can make her skills as a Saint function in such a state.
Technically, there is a method to make it better than it is now, but it’s very much a stopgap measure and can hardly be called practical.
“It might be a bit difficult…”
“N-No way!”
Retina’s gaze pierced me—anxious, yet clinging to hope.
“Because I’m like this, I couldn’t be of any use at the Church either… But since I am undeniably a Saint, I was treated like a tumor…”
She suddenly started talking about heavy stuff…
“I was treated almost like air, and it was so uncomfortable… That’s why I wanted to change my helpless self and forced my way into being assigned to the Guild… I want to become useful to someone… to everyone…!”
“Even if you say that…”
“I heard from Elanza-sama that if it’s Adem-sama, you might be able to do something…!”
I held back Retina, who was closing in while on the verge of tears.
Linfa’s eyes looking at Retina turned concerned, and Yuno also leaked a cool-colored light as if empathizing with her sadness.
“Adem… can’t you do something for her?”
“P-Please don’t abandon meeeee…!”
“Ah—geez, I won’t abandon you! I’m not going to abandon you!”
Cannot release mana… but has a lot of mana… hmm… hm?
“Hey, you want to be useful, right?”
“Yes!”
“…No matter what form that takes?”
“Of course!!”
“It will be a harsh road…”
“I do not mind!!”
There is a way to make Retina active as an adventurer.
But, is that method really okay…? There was a conflict within me.
I looked into Retina’s eyes. I could see a definite determination dwelling in them.
“…Alright. Let’s give it a try.”
“…! Please do!!”
Retina showed a smile like a blooming flower, befitting a Saint.
“…Sorry to interrupt the excitement, but how long are you going to keep holding that hand…?”
Linfa, who had been trying to stay quiet until then, interjected as if he couldn’t bear it anymore. I felt like his gaze was damp and heavy.
“Whoops, my bad…”
“Eh, ah… no…”
When I hurriedly let go of the hand I had inadvertently kept holding, Retina stared at her hand and squeezed it open and shut a few times.
Was my hand sweat gross or something…!?
“…If you’re done, shall we go? Or do we still have business in this labyrinth?”
“N-No. Sorry for taking up your time.”
“I-I’m sorry… for making you accompany me for my sake…”
“…No, I don’t mind. We’re a party, after all.”
Though she seemed somewhat grumpy, her words and actions were entirely respectful of the other person. Feeling Linfa’s mental growth, I let out a small smile.
–Several days later.
“That way of polishing is no good! Lower your center of gravity more and put your back into it! Think of that glass as your own soul!”
“Yes, sir!!”
I was giving strict instruction to Retina, who was polishing the window with single-minded focus.
“…Eh? What in the world… what?”
“Hm? Ah, Elanza. Good morning.”
“Ah, y-yeah, morning… wait, not that… What is this?”
“What, you ask… it’s window cleaning.”
You can tell just by looking.
“Ah, hmm, window cleaning, I see………… WHAT ARE YOU MAKING HER DO!!??”
Elanza’s scream echoed through the early morning guild.
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“Ow, my ears… What’s with you all of a sudden!?”
“I should be asking you ‘what’!? What are you doing!?”
“Like I said, it’s window cleaning. A quest, a quest!”
“A queeest…?”
Elanza narrowed her eyes suspiciously behind her mask.
“That’s right. …Didn’t you know? You know, the newbie relief…”
“…Ah… come to think of it, there was something like that… Basically no one takes it, so I forgot.”
Adventurers have two main sources of income. Selling artifacts found by exploring labyrinths or magic stones obtained from defeated monsters. Or, accepting various quests brought to the guild, completing them, and receiving a reward.
Experienced adventurers can easily earn enough for daily expenses one way or another, but rookies who have just become adventurers often can’t do that.
Even in low-danger labyrinths, exploration is always a life-or-death struggle for rookies. To explore as safely as possible, they need to prepare appropriate equipment, and that costs money.
It would be fine if they could produce results in the labyrinth they spent their budget challenging, but it’s not guaranteed they’ll end up in the black. If they get injured fighting monsters, they consume potions; if their weapons get damaged, they have to send them for maintenance.
Quests are the same; if they end in failure, they could lose everything.
For adventurers who end up with their funding stuck due to a string of such events—unable to explore, unable to take quests—cleaning the guild exists as one of the relief measures.
Of course, the reward amount isn’t much, just pocket change, but combined with other aid, it allows them to at least scrape by for the day. If they continue for a while, they will eventually be able to accept exploration and normal quests again.
However, in reality, it is almost nonexistent for this quest to be accepted, and it has become half-obsolete.
Among the quests, there are many involving physical labor in the city or simple tasks that don’t involve labyrinths or monsters.
Those quests are basically free of mortal danger, can be done with just one’s body, and generally pay more than cleaning the guild.
However, on the off chance that bad timing leads to none of those quests being available, this one remains permanently established just in case.
By the way, it’s actually possible to accept it even if you aren’t pressed for money. Though no one willingly accepts it due to the low wages.
“That’s the situation. Are we done? I’m not exactly free either.”
“Eh, sorry… wait, no, no. Wait, wait. That doesn’t answer my question. I’m asking why you are making a Saint-sama clean windows!? Also, you say you aren’t free, but you’re just watching!”
Jeez, she’s noisy…
Just as I was thinking about how to talk my way out of it, Retina stopped wiping the window and turned to face Elanza.
“Elanza-sama, this is training.”
“What…?”
“It is necessary for me to fulfill my duties as a Saint and to be useful to everyone as an adventurer…”
“Window cleaning is…?”
Elanza let out a groan of confusion at Retina, who declared this with clear eyes.
“Adem, I finished wiping the other side.”
In the midst of this, Linfa returned from the hallway side, carrying buckets in both hands, having been tasked with the windows there.
“Even you are joining in… Don’t you, like, feel any doubts…?”
“Eh… Well, it’s what Adem says, so I figure he must have some idea.”
“Oh no, she’s been completely poisoned…”
Elanza covered her mask with her hand.
What is “poisoned”? How rude.
“…Well, I’m sure he actually has an idea… and as for me, I suppose it’s fine if the guild gets clean…”
Elanza muttered as if trying to convince herself, though she still didn’t look fully satisfied.
“Adem-sama, how is it!”
Ignoring that exchange, Retina asked about the quality of the wiped window.
Under my guidance, the polished windows were without a single smudge, sparkling as they caught the sunlight.
“…Alright! It’s a passing grade!”
“Thank you very much!”
“That only gets a passing grade…”
Anyway, with this, we have finished wiping most of the windows in the guild.
“Okay, let’s pause the cleaning here for now. We’ll do the other spots when we get back.”
“What, are you going exploring?”
“No, a quest. We’re going to go chop some wood.”
Saying that, we hurriedly left the guild.
“Hoh, wood……………… Wood? WHAT IS WOOD!?”
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